It should be a festive RAW In A Nutshell, as we wish everyone a Happy 4th of July eve.
Hot on the heels of Money In The Bank, the RAW roster is back stateside.
The Superstars have congregated in Baltimore, fitting given it’s not all that far from where things all started (Philly) or where things run today.
But…no politics here.
With MITB all done, it’s all eyes on SummerSlam. There are rumors about a good chunk of the card, but nothing is officially official just yet.
That is fixing to change as soon as tonight, so let’s dive in to…
Happy 4th Of July Eve : RAW In A Nutshell
Let’s see how this Nutshell cooks up!
Best Match of the night:
Has to be, hands down, Dom and Seth.
The match was good, the after action better.
A teased cash-in, the very real tension within Judgement Day…lots to unpack there.
Honorable mention for Cody and Brock, as well as Shayna’s big night at the expense of Ronda Rousey.
Worst match of the night:
The women’s tag turmoil match…and here’s why.
I fully appreciate the creative effort and attempt to get women more screen time. But, cramming a bunch of teams…and I use that term loosely…into this match?
Not the way.
Of those involved, two are teams, one is sort of a team, but I can’t remember if they ever teamed in NXT…and the other two didn’t exist until probably this morning.
Either have a triple threat match…or, with five weeks until SummerSlam…have a tag tournament.
In doing so, you’d actually be able to give each women’s tag match 8-10 TV minutes, so that those newly formed teams could actually gel and work.
The only upside here is I do agree with Chelsea and Sonya getting the title shot.
Crowd Chants of the Night:
No chants, but Baltimore was pretty lively. Not London lively…but good enough.
Star of the Night
Not an understatement, but Shayna has not often looked or sounded that good on the main roster. Last time I can think of her looking that dominant would be her crazy Elimination Chamber run.
But…tonight was really good and hopefully Triple H gets her back to NXT form.
Spot of the Night:
I have one issue here, and it’s with Ronda. Like, that was a wicked stiff shot…and not 10 seconds later, Rousey is like…Shayna come back.
For God’s sake…SELL THE SHOT!
Like…this guy…
Jobber of the Night:
The tag team turmoil match was bound to have a few…and it did.
Tegan and Dana…Emma and Nikki…Indi and Candace.
Upset of the Night:
Marginally could say Alpha Academy over the Viking Raiders, considering Maxxine Dupri’s role in all of it.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Now THAT is how you make Baszler a bad-ass babyface like Steve Austin.
You have her say what we ALL have been thinking about Ronda Rousey.
Telling her not to speak, we are all tired of hearing her on the mic…and explaining that she owes Rousey nothing.
And, apologizing to us all for bringing Ronda to WWE.
I will say it now…but you build up Baszler, back to how dominant she was out of NXT…and you have her defeat Rhea Ripley for the gold eventually.
Botch of the night:
Maybe it went as scripted, but Ronda needed to sell that stiff knee.
Like, two MMA warriors go at it, that was a stiff knee that could have legit done damage…and she sold it for like two seconds, tops.
That, right there, sums up the not-so-good bits of Rousey’s WWE run. Sure, she could have run away now instead of going along as she may exit the company…but…it is what it is.
LOL Moment of the night:
Noteworthy Moment:
A couple days later than expected, but Brock Lesnar did not waste much time appearing in Baltimore, going after Cody Rhodes and presumably heading for the airport to be home in time for a BBQ.
We have a Tegan Knox sighting! And…Indi is back!
Even if neither Superstar…nor their respective teams…made it out of the women’s tag team turmoil match.
Overall lowlights:
The women’s tag turmoil match…but I said that already.
I wish for a better run for Natalya. And, quite honestly…she could be in a good tag team, as she’s done before.
Overall highlights:
Cody. Brock.
The Judgement Day…the highs and the lows.
Like…Balor and JD McDonagh going against Damien Priest and Dom? I could see that in Detroit.
Shayna Baszler…yes…Shayna Baszler.
After the final bell:
Lots going on this week, in a really good show from where I sit.
Surely looks like we’ve got plenty set up for SummerSlam, including some that perhaps weren’t quite on the radar.
