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Add FightsATW on GoogleTonight’s go-home episode of WWE Monday Night RAW was broadcast live in the afternoon for those residing stateside within the WWE Universe, as London’s famous O2 Arena played host. With Night of Champions this Saturday in Saudi Arabia, the biggest storylines concern the King and Queen of the Ring finals, especially Oba Femi‘s highly anticipated showdown with “Main Event” Jey Uso. With SD prerecorded for Friday, tonight will be the final time we see WWE superstars live until Saturday at NOC.
OBA IS OVER IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD
RAW started with Oba Femi delivering one of his powerful promos, where he spoke about destiny and how it is connected to his march towards the crown. Of course, he brought up Brock Lesnar, but it almost felt like Jey Uso was not relevant to the conversation.
Jey Uso, on the other hand, is under strict orders from his “Tribal Chief” to win the KOTR and challenge Cody Rhodes for the title. You could argue that Jey Uso is in a storyline more poised to win this weekend’s finals, but on-screen, it is all the ‘Oba Show.’
Jey Uso came out and Yeeted all over the U.K. fans, but a funny moment occurred when Oba tried to ‘shut down’ Jey from running back his entrance. It was also funny how the segment’s dynamic showcased the real push Oba is currently receiving in terms of fan reception, and how lame Jey’s own run seems by comparison.
This entire segment feels like Jey is being set up for the turn, though you could argue that Jacob Fatu’s place amongst the Roman-led Bloodline reformation has already begun a corruption that Jey is unable to match.
JIMMY USO VS LA KNIGHT
In the night’s feature match, Jimmy Uso and LA Knight had a concelation main event after both were snubbed from the finals (Jimmy did not even get the chance to compete). It was a stake-less match, but it did advance the Bloodline story.
With things between Solo and Roman becoming contentious, the former ‘tribal chief’ interfered in the match to cost Jimmy. LA Knight won and looked super confused, so did some of the fans, but it did continue the program that is becoming increasingly interesting.
THE VISION (c) VS STREET PROFITS—Tag Team World Titles
The match was booked only a week ago, but the build has been ‘pumping change’ into the metaphorical story meter for months—coinciding with The Street Profits’ return to WWE TV following Mania. It has been difficult to carry out even short-term programs with The Vision, considering they have all been injured or returned from injury (maybe it is a prerequisite?). At the same time, their advisor, Paul Heyman, is being drawn into various situations, such as Lesnar-Oba.
The tag match was the main event of RAW, and Breakker filled in for the ‘injured’ Logan Paul, who wore his arm brace out to the ring after returning to WWE TV last week. In the match, Paul removed his brace and used his arm to show he was no longer injured—which got him booted from the match.
Paul returned from the crowd at the match’s climax, but he was chased away by Joe Hendry. Immediately after that, Seth Rollins music hit, and he used Logan’s own brass knuckles to strike Theory. Then, like a cartoon cat chasing after a mouse, Breakker ditched his partner to get his hands on ‘The Architect.’
While Breakker was in the chase, Montez Ford landed his high-risk maneuver for the win as the Profits claimed the tag titles in front of the London crowd, and Rollins returned the favor to Ford.
SKY STAYS ON TOP; LIV GIVES ASSIGNMENTS TO UNHAPPY TROOPS
Iyo Sky was given far less time than her male counterparts, as her entire segment was built to show her standing tall over Liv Morgan. It was a terrific way to show just how much more effort is being put into the men’s side of the KOTR compared to the women’s. Imagine Oba Femi wrestling Jey Uso in the Finals for the KOTR to earn a title shot against Roman Reigns.
Later in the back, Raquel was seen complaining to Roxxane, presumably about Liv upstaging her. Roxanne tried to keep the peace before JD McDonaugh came in, shaking, and introduced himself after an accident with Dan Hausen.
Liv ordered Raquel to go after Sol Ruca’s IC title before dismissing Perez altogether.
THE SONG SOUNDS LIKE GABE-BULL!
You would be hard-pressed to find more true believers in the Chad Gable version of the El Grande Americano character than right here at FightsATW.com. Chronicled through weekly recaps, there is a certain level of respect that the athlete and entertainer Chad Gable has earned from every wrestling fan, but the bandwagon to give him a real shot at the top has always been occupied by the writers, podcasters, and content contributors of this site.
However, tonight’s full-on rollout of what Gable is and where he is headed as a character was put on display tonight in London—an American hero character with a super 80s-inspired theme song sure to give you all the baseball, apple pie, and Arnold/Stallone movie feels from that era (if you lived it, you know).
It isn’t that those nostalgic 70’s/80’s acts have no chance of getting over, you can look at the success of the Bladerunners in AEW to understand that, but Gable is better than a cheap attempt at capturing his American heroism at the Olympics by catering to an era of Americana that he was not even born in; and if that is too nitpicky than it could simply be argued that he has done enough “silly” to be taken anything but serious.
[Not for nothing, but the soft launch that Gable has gone through was understandable, throwing him out there in front of a U.K. audience in his biggest moment post the Americano character]
Gable came out, sang his song out loud, and tried to get ‘the clap’ going amongst the U.K. crowd. He grabbed the mic and called out his former Alpha Academy to apologize one by one, acknowledging Maxinee Dupri’s ability to pick up singles gold. Otis and Tazawa received their apologies while Maxinne looked on unimpressed.
Maxxine picked up the mic and unloaded on Gable, while Otis, whom Gable said he missed, stopped for a moment to look back at Chad, suggesting he missed him too, but eventually walked off with the rest. The group was sporting new, darker colors, and it looks like Maxxine’s heel turn is finally here as her pairing with Austin Theory becomes on-screen canon.
LYRA TURNS ON BAYLEY
The tag team champs successfully defended their titles as Brie Bella and Paige (any Nikki plans? She has to be close to ready) defeated Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in front of Paige’s countryman. The match was decent, but the lack of use of Paige makes you question whether WWE only brought her back for a WM pop.
Lyra was super pumped before the match, so it made sense that she crashed out after losing their tag title shot. Bayley was trying to comfort Lyra when Lyra viciously threw her into the ropes, causing her head to bounce hard off the mat.
OTHER TIDBITS
– The Announcement of UNREAL Season 3 was announced for July 21st.
– WWE announced that both the King and Queen of the Ring finals will be shown ‘for free’ on regular ESPN before the NOC PLE switches over to the paywall app.
– Derek Chisora was in the building tonight for all the boxing fans, so was Lee Cutler, who was called a ‘bright young star’ alongside Alex McMillan. It would be awesome to see Chisora get involved in a storyline with WWE or just in wrestling anywhere. Michael “MVP” Page was also in attendance for the MMA fans.
– The Great American Bash: Orlando is scheduled for Sunday with the first-ever PLE being broadcast on the CW.
– Tonight’s trend of the ‘new guys’ beating up on the more seasoned portion of the roster continued with this one as “All Ego” defeated the former co-tag champion in Dragon Lee.
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