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Add FightsATW on GoogleTonight’s WWE RAW acted as the ‘go-home’ show for this weekend’s SummerSlam event in Minnesota, with the two-night event taking place Saturday and Sunday. The RAW ‘go-home’ episode has been the main feature in the current promotional era of WWE, and tonight’s show was no different as it presented the best ‘last look’ before heading into the ‘biggest party of the summer.’
In Los Angeles tonight, WWE hit up one of the biggest markets in America to make their final promotional pushes to this weekend’s event—the second biggest PLE of the ‘four pillars.’
ROMAN AND SETH FACEOFF… THE BLOODLINE’S BLOODY MESS
Jey and Jimmy Uso were first out in a segment before the Final Boss’ appearance, but it felt very misdirected. Solo came out to undermine The USOS with his comedy schtick that has helped make him more favorable in the eyes of fans. Jey warned Solo to stop pretending The Bloodline wasn’t the best thing to help his career.
Solo made more jokes claiming that he had no reason to fear The Bloodline because what was Jey going to do, ‘Yeet him to death.’ It was a funny line that helped echo the frustrations of fans that have had enough of Jey’s aging persona.
Solo commanded the mic while the generic faction members of Jey and Jimmy were openly mocked until LA Knight made his way out in a show of unity with Solo. It was not long before Jacob Fatu crashed the party, with Royce Keys to follow. All six men were going at it with Royce, Solo, and Knight getting the upper hand and standing tall in the end.
As for Roman and Seth, it was mostly the same story under the same theme. Of course, you want to tell a story grounded in consistency and continuity, but it is hard to raise the stakes when the same story elements are used week after week.
Seth admitted that Roman is the bigger star by many metrics, but he said he will always be the better ‘pro wrestler’ compared to the “Tribal Chief,” claiming he ‘owns Roman’ in every way that matters between the ropes. He said Roman is doing the same old schtick and using a DQ angle to escape would play into his motto, or perhaps calling in The Bloodline.
Seth reminded about the Shield turn early in this program, and tonight he remembered cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase and making his family cry on the night they thought was to belong to Roman. He said Roman is a loser dad and his family will find out he is a “b***h.’ Roman snapped, hit Seth with the Superman punch before nailing him with a spear.
Roman grabbed a chair, perhaps to use it against Seth the way he did in his Shield-ending move, but Seth was able to hit the ‘curb stomp’ to escape the situation and send this feud home.
BROCK LOCKED OUT… OBA WEIGHED IN???
The show started by featuring what is potentially the most anticipated match on the show, and certainly outside of the world title(s) picture. Oba began his walk to the ring with the Hell in a Cell cage lowered before him and GM Pearce standing with a half-dozen WWE officials and security.
Before Brock made his way to the ring, Oba was weighed in, as in the day-before proceedings of a combat sports fight. This plays into the narrative that creative has wanted to push with Lesnar representing the most ‘decorated combat sports athlete’ in all of combat sports with UFC, NFL, and collegiate wrestling nods of varying degrees of success.
When Lesnar finally came out, he decided to lock everyone in the cage with a padlock that was out there for some reason. Lesnar then put the key in his mouth like a toothpick dangling out of Razor’s mouth, but it almost looked like he was going to cartoonishly swallow the key. It was a pretty weak-looking optic, but Heyman’s promo set the tone even if his mic came going in and out of service.
Lesnar reportedly weighed in before the segment, and according to Paul, weighed 300-plus pounds. Oba responded by asking Brock to show him ‘how big he is’ in the cage. Lesnar picked up the mic and said “I’ll see you at SummerSlam, b***h” without a single mention of the show being in his hometown.
RYAN GARCIA TURNS HEEL ON DANHAUSEN AND JOE HENDRY
There was a ‘special concert’ between Joe Hendry and Dan Hausen that combined both of their gimmicks for the sake of the chorus: “I believe that you are CURSED.” Dan on an old school organ that looked fresh out of the ‘Adams Family’ remake. This was a big night for Dan Hausen as it was also announced that he will be unleashed on the city of Minneapolis, tossing out ice cream from his very own Ice Cream truck made in his image.
The song went on way too long with way too many dancers, but the randomness continued when Ryan Garcia, the boxer scheduled to face Conor Benn in September in Las Vegas, came out to join the ‘conga line’ that busted out mid-performance. With everyone in the ring, Ryan Garcia grabbed Hendry’s guitar and blaseted him over the head with it, Jeff Jaret/Honkey Tonk Man style, and The Judgment Day came down to complete the beatdown on Dan Hausen.
The mini Hausens and the dancing Hausens could only watch as Dom Mysterio and JD McDonagh assaulted the singing faces while Garcia attempted to aura farm in the corner. It was very interesting seeing Dom and Ryan paired together, and it is likely an effort to promote the fight, but it is curious to see Garcia used over Benn, being that the latter is the one signed to the Zuffa boxing promotion whereas Ryan is signed to Golden Boy Promotions run by Oscar De La Hoya.
So much storyline here, it is easy to blur the line, and that is exactly how you produce quality programming in today’s wrestling market.
RAQUEL WINS THE IC TITLE OVER SOL RUCA
There was an excellent video package prepared for Chad Gable and Iyo Sky ahead of their title matches at SummerSlam, respectively. Gable’s video promo focused on his long journey to the IC title, specifically his story with Gunther back when he reigned as the longest IC title holder in company history. Sky’s focused on her own road to the title from being Rhea’s partner to now hoping to claim the title for herself.
Liv Morgan got her own video package, and the two would once again face off during a match between two other foes, in this case, Sol Ruca and Raquel Rodriguez during their IC Title match. Ruca won the IC title just under two months ago, but it was Rodriguez’s night tonight despite the heel persona being undermined with a face storyline erupting between her and Liv Morgan.
Liv tried to help Raquel, but it was Sky that prevented her from being a deciding factor. In the end, Raquel did not win the cleanest of decisions, but her pinfall victory was nullified on both sides, meaning it was as fair as it gets with The Judgment Day. Hopefully, we will see Raquel’s face transformation fully play out this weekend.
ETHAN PAGE VS REY MYSTERIO JR
Ethan Page defeated Mysterio in singles action in another clean victory on the night, but it was interesting timing. First, the match took place immediately following Dom and Garcia’s duel segment. It is also interesting that Ethan Page was given a ton of work and put over in front of the AAA crowd during his time working that promotion.
It seems like Page is getting a very specific push right now, and it would make sense if this feud is exploited during TripleMania’s big two-night event.
OTHER TIDBITS
– The tag champs defended their titles successfully against Tazawa and Otis after the match was booked last week following the heartbreaking separation between Maxxine Dupri and her former “Alpha Academy” squad. Breakker and Theory won the match after hitting their double team finisher on Tazawa, but Otis came in after the match to help out his partner from a beating. That said, both Otis and Tazawa still received a beating, and it was especially bad when a steel chair was smashed on Otis before claiming Maxxine was ‘with him.’
– Je’Von Evans hit his OG Cutter on Rusev for the clean pinfall victory in singles action tonight.
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