The Raw Exposé: The Get Well Soon, Finn Bálor Edition (8-22-2016)

By: Keila Cash 

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This has been a whirlwind weekend in professional wrestling. We had NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II living up to the hype on Saturday night followed by a super-sized SummerSlam PPV which featured Randy Orton getting busted open the hard way by Brock Lesnar’s sharp elbow and the new WWE Universal Championship generating more heel heat than Roman Reigns on a good night. It was a crazy show that was filled with ups and downs. Sadly, we would experience more downs as Finn Bálor suffered a shoulder injury during his Universal Title match against Seth Rollins last night. WWE broke the news that Bálor would have to relinquish his title which put a damper on things before Raw went on the air. One would have to assume that a tournament of some kind would be used to determine a new champion. Did the company manage to adapt and deliver a good show despite Bálor’s injury or would this depressing news carry over into the rest of the broadcast? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw in no particular order.

·         Even with Finn Bálor wearing a damn sling, he still oozes charisma.

·         If Seth Rollins was looking for a way to get legitimate heel heat, he finally succeeded by sneaking his way into the WWE Universal Title picture.

·         And here comes the parade of Superstars vying for a chance to become the next champ.

·         And here comes the raucous boos for Roman Reigns. Reigns holding the red kryptonite championship would totally suit him.

·         After Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Enzo & Big Cass, and Roman Reigns made their way to the ring, Mick Foley announced that there would be a serious of matches taking place tonight which will culminate next week with the crowning of a new WWE Universal Champion. Zayn vs. Rollins would kick things off, but Rollins attacked Zayn from behind as the show went to commercial break.

·         Considering the circumstances, a two week tourney to determine a new champion is the smart thing to do. It will fill time and the matches should be competitive. It removes the sting of Bálor giving up the title due to injury. Slightly...

·         Corey Graves stating that Rollins is so good that he didn’t even have to touch Zayn to hurt him was pretty damn hilarious. Here’s hope that Zayn is selling his right ankle for dramatic effect only. We don’t need another wrestler on the injury list.

·         Zayn tried his best, but he came up a little bit short as Rollins defeated him with a Pedigree. The match was very good and I loved how Zayn’s injured ankle played a role in his downfall. Zayn dropping Rollins with a power bomb from the top rope and getting the near fall was the highlight of the match. Zayn is such a believable babyface because you can feel his passion and determination with every move. However, the outcome was never in doubt as Rollins continues his quest towards becoming the new WWE Universal Champion.

·         Neville delivering German Suplexes to Kevin Owens never gets older.

·         Neville and Owens had a nice match which featured Chris Jericho stirring up trouble at ringside. Neville had a good showing in the ring as he had Owens on the ropes a couple of times, but Owens got the win with an Argentine Neckbreaker to secure his spot in the Fatal Four Way Match.

·         The winners of Rusev vs. Big Cass and Roman Reigns vs. Chris Jericho will also move on to the Fatal Four Way match next week. Expect some shenanigans from these bouts later tonight.

·         Big E. is serving up a big bowl of Booty-Os to fans as he and the rest of The New Day make their way to the ring. I can taste the positivity from here.

·         Big E. successfully made his in-ring return by defeating Karl Anderson. The action was solid as Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods neutralized Luke Gallows at ringside. I will say that Anderson did a great job scouting Big E.’s dive through the ring ropes. He spared us from seeing E. defying gravity and facing certain doom. I think that’s a decent consolation prize despite eating the loss.

·         The Dudley Boyz are calling it quits? This is a full circle moment as Bubba Ray and D-Von made their surprise return in Brooklyn last year. The irony is not lost on me. Plus, I can smell a swerve a mile away.

·         Titus O’Neal is butchering his promo something fierce.

·         This O’Neal segment is dying a slow and agonizing death.

·         Bob Backlund almost saved this segment when he locked O’Neal in the Crossface Chickenwing. Emphasis on the word almost. This was hard to watch.

·         Well, that was unexpected. Rusev decided to give up his chance to vie for the WWE Universal Championship by getting counted out and giving Big Cass the win. The match was solid while it lasted and it makes sense that Big Cass remains strong in the win-loss column and is slotted in a high profile spot next week. The odds of him winning the championship is slim at best, but he will get some much needed main event experience.

·         As for Rusev, I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of the United States Champion. Spoiler Alert in full effect.

·         It’s Bayley!!! Welcome to Raw!!!

·         That was a wonderful surprise and I am glad to see Bayley’s official debut on the main roster. ¾ of the Four Horsewomen have been reunited and that makes me a very happy camper. It’s about damn time.

·         Nice win for Bayley as she finished Dana Brooke with the Bayley-to-Belly Suplex. It was a decent match and here’s hoping that Bayley can forge a connection with causal fans who are not familiar with her hugging ways. She is a special talent who should be handled with the utmost care. Fortunately, Triple H is there to guide her through the process and help Vince McMahon see the light on this potential goldmine.

·         We now have an official date for the Cruiserweights arrival on Raw. They will debut on September 19^th and it appears that Rich Swann, Noam Dar, The Brian Kendrick, and TJ Perkins will be the cornerstones of the division. It’s a solid lineup with TJP being the key acquisition in my opinion. WWE would be wise to show in-depth profiles on the wrestlers each week leading up to their debut. It will give fans a reason to care about their backstories and fully invest in their matches once the division is firmly established.

·         Johnny Knockout. Hell of a name. And he likes big, sweaty men. Okay then...

·         Braun Stroman claims another victim. He destroyed Johnny Knockout so quick he did it twice. It was a serviceable ass whopping.

·         The Shining Stars are interrupting the Dudley Boyz’ farewell? That is not a smart idea.

·         That was one hell of a sendoff for The Dudley Boyz. Gallows and Anderson took out Bubba Ray and put D-Von through a table with The Magic Killer. I guess the Dudleys have been written off television. I thought that Bubba was going to turn on D-Von because he has been giving him dirty looks after a series of losses over the past couple of weeks. This was the perfect time to do a heel turn, but I guess the creative team had other plans in mind. If this allows Gallows and Anderson to be taken seriously for a change, I am all for it. The testicle comedy bit has run its course.

·         Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns was a match that was bizarre for so many reasons. The match was good, but the fans flipped the script by chanting for Jericho and booing Reigns. It was quite the atmosphere. If Jericho wasn’t in the match to balance things out, this could have been a disaster. Kevin Owens tried to return the favor by coming out to help his best friend and he almost succeeded as he kicked Reigns in the face behind the referee’s back which allowed Y2J to nail him with the Codebreaker. Jericho waited a bit too long to make the cover which allowed Reigns to kick out at two. Jericho slapped Reigns across the head a few times which fired Reigns up. A few expletives were bleeped and the match ended when Reigns dropped Jericho with a Spear to pick up the win.

·         Reigns actually reveled in the boos and proceeded to celebrate as Raw went off the air.

·         The Fatal Four Way is now set as Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Big Cass, and Roman Reigns vie for the WWE Universal Championship. It should be a great match and I am on the fence about who will win. There are a couple of safe picks that would maintain the status quo, but my gutsy pick is currently involved in a feud with Enzo and Big Cass and that must continue for another month or so. Reigns is in a similar situation with Rusev and Big Cass has unfinished business with my unnamed choice. If we complete the process of elimination, Rollins is walking out the championship next week. Perhaps WWE will shock us all and go with Kevin Owens to steer the ship to the Promised Land. We shall find out soon enough.

·         Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw was subpar at best. The first hour was strong with Rollins vs. Zayn and Owens vs. Neville delivering the goods in the ring. The second hour fall off a cliff with the horrible Titus O’Neil/Bob Backlund/Darren Young segment, but rebounded nicely with the main roster debut of Bayley and Jericho vs. Reigns during the final hour of the show. If we trim the fat, this would have been a good two hour broadcast. Unfortunately, this is not SmackDown Live! and I don’t expect things to change anytime soon unless WWE answers the clue phone and get rid of that pesky third hour. The money is too good for them to give it up, but that might change if the ratings continue to sag. It’s not going to get any better as the football season is just around the corner.

·         I will say that WWE made the best of this situation as they had to book on the fly due to Bálor’s injury. It sucks, but the show must go on. Get well soon, Demon King! *sniff*

On that note, this wraps up another installment of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will back tomorrow night with a brand new edition of the SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls!

Preview and Predictions for WWE Summerslam 2016

Submitted by: Joren B. Apiquian, Pro Wrestling Writer

17 August 2016

            

        Before every Pay-Per-View, the Geektified Team is going to make their expert predictions on what we think should and will happen on the show. We are going to kick things off by guessing what’s going to happen at the biggest part of the summer, WWE Summerslam. With Summerslam being the second biggest pay-per-view in WWE, they have to live up to the hype and relay that message to the WWE Universe. As we have seen in the past, Summerslam has lived up to the expectations of the audience, but it has also left us scratching our heads on more than one occasion. For instance, during one of the WWE’s darkest times, someone probably named McMahon backstage believed that Diesel versus Mabel for the WWE Championship would have been an amazing main event. Not only was it a complete disaster, but Mabel nearly ruined Diesel’s career with a botched spot. Back to reality, this year’s Summerslam has an impressive card that has a lot of potential to be recognized as one of the best pay-per-views in the event’s storied history. Let’s take a look at the card.

·      Naomi, Becky Lynch & Carmella vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss & Eva Marie

·      Cesaro vs. Sheamus

·      Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens

·      The Miz (C) vs. Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Championship

·      The New Day (C) vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson for the WWE Tag Team Championship

·      Rusev (C) vs. Roman Reigns for the United States Championship

·      John Cena vs. AJ Styles

·      Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

·      Sasha Banks (C) vs. Charlotte for the WWE Women’s Championship

·      Dean Ambrose (C) vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE World Championship

·      Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollin for the Universal Championship

Honorable Mentions

          

           Although one of the aforementioned matches may be added to the pre-show, there is a good chance that WWE may just throw an unannounced match onto the card as they’ve done numerous times before. The following matches aren’t guaranteed to be on the card, but anything can happen.

           With that being said, we may be doomed to see the continuation of the lackluster feud between Darren Young and Titus O’Neil. The chemistry simply is not there, but considering WWE’s (and Bob Backlund’s) persistence in making Darren Young great again, expect him to walk out of Summerslam with a win if they do end up locking horns, but due to their former partnership, this will not be the last time we’ll see them mix it up in the ring.

Result: Darren Young defeats Titus O’Neil

           Baron Corbin has tormented Kalisto backstage ever since the former Lucha Dragon “cost” Corbin his shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Although this particular mini-feud has given this writer horrible flashbacks to Heidenreich and Michael Cole as well as Ryback’s failed run as a heel in 2013, this rivalry has a lot of potential to give the two NXT transplants larger pushes in the future. Corbin’s “take no prisoners” attitude is nothing new to the WWE Universe, but that fact that he takes out both heels and faces is a breath of fresh air. The pop he received after flooring The Miz a few weeks back on Smackdown Live was quite commendable. Kalisto has been in limbo since dropping the U.S. title to Rusev. Expect Corbin to bring the “end of days” to Kalisto.

Result: Baron Corbin defeats Kalisto

          

Naomi, Becky Lynch & Carmella vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss & Eva Marie

     

     

           The finest women performers on Smackdown Live will go to war in 6-woman tag team action. Since this is the final official addition to the Summerslam card, don’t expect it to get a lot of time. This is a shame because all of these women are extremely talented and have a lot of potential. Yes, Eva Marie has been training endlessly to become a force in the ring too. She may not be the next Trish or Lita, but she’ll turn some heads when she gets in the ring. He reluctance to get in the ring has been one of the more interesting aspects of Smackdown Live. With that said, Eva will avoid every tag she is offered, much to the dismay of the Queen of Black Harts and Miss Bliss. Naomi’s recent gimmick change was well received from the crowd and it is great to see her simply having fun out there. That’s something that will definitely catch the eyes of the creative team. Becky Lynch is one of the best performers today regardless of her gender. She is receiving the slow-burn approach to success, which will benefit her. Carmella has the toughest task ahead. Despite making great strides in the ring over the last year, she is still green as a performer and would have thrived with Enzo and Cass. With a mass array of fresh talent in the women’s division on Smackdown Live, this is one of the more difficult matches to predict. Eva Marie will resort to dirty tactics to pick up the win, making her heat with the crowd even more substantial.

Result: Natalya, Alexa Bliss & Eva Marie defeat Naomi, Becky Lynch & Carmella

Cesaro vs. Sheamus

          

           Cesaro just can’t catch a break, can he? His frustrations with his role in the company have been on display both on and off of television. In the latest chapter of Cesaro’s pitiful booking, he now has to take on Sheamus in a Best-of-Seven Series. This is a feud that nobody wants to see go on, let alone for a maximum of seven times in a row. Sheamus has been irrelevant since dropping the WWE World Championship to Roman Reigns last year, yet he is still featured more prominently than a lot of the so-called “New Era” performers. On the other hand, the Cesaro Section is still alive and well. These two will have a good match with a fair balance of technicality, brawling, and brute strength. Since this will be the first encounter in the series, Cesaro should pick up the first win to not only please his internet fans, but the Brooklyn crowd as well.

Result: Cesaro defeats Sheamus

Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens

          

           Given all of the charisma involved in this feud, the build-up should have been golden. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Enzo and Cass have been arguably the most successful of the NXT alumnus in recent memory. Kevin Owens is the next big thing in the WWE and consistent on a weekly basis. Chris Jericho is a future hall of famer who has effectively reinvented himself once again, proving that he really is the best in the world at what he does (Drink it in, maaan). This match may not be remembered even a few months from now, but it will be a fast-paced showdown. The New York and New Jersey boys have been on fire since their debut, but this is where Kevin Owen starts rebuilding himself into the main eventer that he is destined to be. Expect KO to pull Big Cass out of the ring after Jericho rolls out of the way of the Bada-Boomshakalaka, leading to a Codebreaker straight into Amore’s skull.

Result: Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens defeat Enzo Amore & Big Cass

The Miz (C) vs. Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Championship

          

           Like it or not, The Miz has been awwwwwwesome since taking the Intercontinental Championship from Zack Ryder the night after Wrestlemania 32. He is one of the few performers in the WWE today that can still garner heel heat from the audience on a regular basis. After thwarting every challenger like a modern day Honky Tonk Man, he is now presented with his latest challenger in the form of up-and-comer Apollo Crews. If anyone is familiar with his work on the independent scene, they know that Crews is destined for big things in the WWE. However, the crowd hasn’t fully opened up to him. There are a few underlying factors, whether it is the corny, never-ending smile or lack of character development. Crews’ time will come, but don’t expect it to be at Summerslam. Although he undoubtedly deserves the strap, him winning it at the biggest party of the summer will be too underwhelming due to the current storyline. He won’t go down cleanly because that’s not how The Miz operates! Maryse will definitely have some involvement as well.

Result: Apollo Crews defeats The Miz via DQ, The Miz Retains

The New Day (C) vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson for the WWE Tag Team Championship

           The New Day has ruled the tag team division for well over a year now. Many tend to forget that The Primetime Players ended their first run with the titles before dropping them back to them at last year’s Summerslam event. They have been one of the more consistent acts in WWE, proving to be both comedic and serious when called upon. However, all good things must come to an end and this is where the New Day falls. They will be taking on Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson without the muscle of the group, Big E, who is recovering from “ring-post-itis.” The better part of this feud is the Gallows and Anderson have proved that they’re capable of thriving without AJ Styles by their side. Many found their penile jokes childish, but it shows that they’re more versatile than they have been presented up until this point. The wily veteran Kofi Kingston and the psychology genius of Xavier Woods are going to put up a valiant effort, but once the Boot of Doom falls upon them, the reign of the longest WWE World Tag Team Champions will come to an end.

Result: Gallows & Anderson defeats The New Day to become the new WWE World Tag Team Champions

Rusev (C) vs. Roman Reigns for the United States Championship

          

           Similar to the 6-woman tag match, this is one of the harder matches on the card to predict. Since becoming a two-time U.S. Champion, Rusev has been transformed into one of the best natural heels in the company despite using the evil foreigner heel formula that has been used repeatedly over the years. On the other hand, Reigns has taken a back seat following his suspension for violating the wellness policy, but has he really? His feud with Rusev has been the focal point for the last two episodes of RAW. Instead of pushing the new Universal Championship, Reigns is still being portrayed as the main attraction. His reactions have been much more positive lately, but that could be due to Rusev’s amazing heel work. Rusev could be dropping the title to Reigns so he and Lana can go on their honeymoon, but it would be a shame since his run would end prematurely. On the other hand, Reigns could still be serving his punishment and take another clean loss. The odd booking decision on the go-home episode of RAW saw Reigns cleanly pin Rusev in a non-title match and if WWE’s booking has proved anything over the years, it can prove that Superstars with the most momentum heading into pay-per-views usually end up losing their match unless their name is Brock Lesnar. It probably won’t be their final encounter, so expect Rusev to retain somehow against The Big Dog.

          

Result: Rusev defeats Roman Reigns retains the United States Championship

John Cena vs. AJ Styles

          

           In the span of eight months, AJ Styles has become one of the most intriguing aspects in WWE and he will truly be someone to benefit from the brand extension. John Cena’s in-ring career is definitely coming to a close in the near future unless he begins a part-time schedule to pursue other career opportunities. He has been preaching that the New Era Superstars have to go through him before they can begin their journey towards prominence. The only odd thing about that statement is that Styles is only two months younger than Cena. These two have had the hottest feud of the summer and after Styles’ heel turn a few months back, he has been on fire both on the microphone and in the ring. After losing feuds to Chris Jericho and Roman Reigns shortly after his debut, it is time to solidify Styles as the real deal. Despite being 39, Styles is in tremendous shape and puts on breathtaking performances on a daily basis. He needs this definitive win here, but if history has proven anything, it is that the top guys in the company, no matter how long their run on top has been, always come out the victor. Just take a look at Cena’s feud with the Nexus, Ryback, Bray Wyatt and Rusev. This is where the tides should begin to shift, giving the possibility of the impossible: A John Cena heel turn.

Result: AJ Styles defeats John Cena

Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton

          

           This match has been 14 years in the making and the WWE Universe will finally be able to see it. Suplex City meets Viperville. The RKO meets the F-5. The Beast Incarnate meets The Viper. This is the one match that will definitely be remembered for years to come without a shadow of doubt. The main question surrounding this bout is simple: Is this where Brock Lesnar finally falls? Since his return to WWE television in 2012, Lesnar has been portrayed as unstoppable. Foreign objects and unclean finishes have been the only times Lesnar has fallen to opponents since then, but that was a rarity in of itself. He remains the only one who decimated John Cena in decisive fashion at Summerslam 2014. However, if anyone can do it, it is Randy Orton. The third-generation superstar has been a valuable asset to the company as he has expressed his love for the business every time he steps in the ring. The RKO is also arguably the most beloved finishing maneuver since the Stone Cold Stunner. Although it seems impossible to pull off, but the only way Orton should slay The Beast is if an F-5 is reversed into an RKO. Again, it doesn’t seem possible to do, but if anyone can do it, it is Randy Orton. Unfortunately, not even that will be enough to put Lesnar down for the count. Lesnar said it best during the video package aired on Smackdown Live: “Randy Orton is not the one to defeat me.” Orton can recover from a loss to Lesnar and based on their stare down on the last episode of Smackdown Live, it is possible that Bray Wyatt makes an impact in this match. Isn’t it odd that he is not featured anywhere on this year’s card? Suplex City will remain intact while Viperville crumbles.

Result: Brock Lesnar defeats Randy Orton

Sasha Banks (C) vs. Charlotte for the WWE Women’s Championship

           Sasha Banks dethroning Charlotte on the first episode of RAW following the brand extension was a breath of wonderful fresh air. It’s a shame that titles don’t switch hands on RAW and Smackdown as much as they used to. When it does happen, it is a great sight to behold. Banks is one of the most over performers in all of professional wrestling and her reign will not end. This is the easiest match on the card to predict. Charlotte has had a lengthy reign with the title considering her run with both the Women’s and Diva’s titles. Banning Dana Brooke from ringside is only going to help Sasha’s chances. She has done it before and she can do it again. The Women’s Revolution finally seems as if it is happening. It’s amazing to see the transformation of women’s wrestling in the last couple of years. These females can give the men a run for their money because they’re not subjected to Bra and Panty matches and mud wrestling. The Banks Era has just begun.

Result: Sasha Banks defeats Charlotte to retain the WWE Women’s Championship

          

Dean Ambrose (C) vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE World Championship

           Dolph Ziggler always takes advantage of every opportunity given to him. Despite the worst booking of any other Superstar in this era, he still puts on one hell of a show every time he steps in the ring. His willingness to prove the naysayers and Dean Ambrose wrong has been a delight to see on Smackdown Live. His emotion, whether it’s on the microphone, backstage, or on commentary, it is apparent every time he speaks. His facial expressions makes one want to believe in him. The only thorn in this rivalry is the face vs. face dynamic. It shouldn’t be a concern in every rivalry, but it is hard to get in Ziggler’s corner when he is going up against one of the most over Superstars in WWE today in Dean Ambrose. Ambrose’s appearance on the Stone Cold Podcast definitely has him more motivated to be the top guy and he has been set ablaze since then. Ziggler’s frustration has been on full display, but Ambrose’s heart will overcome him in this bout. After failing to grab the biggest title in the industry, expect Ziggler to let out a vicious attack on Ambrose, leading him to the dark side, where he has had great success throughout his career.

Result: Dean Ambrose defeats Dolph Ziggler to retain the WWE World Championship

Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor to become the FIRST EVER Universal Championship

           Despite all the criticism surrounding the name of RAW’s newest title, this match will be simply amazing. Anyone familiar with Bálor’s work in NXT will know that he is fully capable of being the next face of the company. Rollins does not need any explanation. He is one of the best all-around performers in the entire world. The buildup leading up to the match has been the biggest drawback. Finn is still adjusting on the mic from the NXT crowd and the main roster crowd. That’s always been his biggest weakness, but he will figure it out like he did in NXT. Luckily, Rollins (along with his awesome laugh) has been able to take the reins from a talking standpoint to make their feud compelling to watch. The decision of debuting The Demon King for the first time on the last episode of RAW before Summerslam was questionable booking at its finest, but it was still a sight to behold. The appearance of Bálor’s alter ego not only allowed the crowd to voice their favorite profanities towards the Irish-born competitor, but it gave people who aren’t subscribed to the WWE Network their first taste of why Bálor has been put in this position immediately. He has all the tools to be the biggest name in WWE since John Cena due to his marketable look, in-ring repertoire, and intriguing character. As every WWE fan knows, Seth Rollins is as opportunistic as Edge, so he may pull some strings to help him achieve victory. However, Finn’s, along with the Demon King’s, credibility will be diminished immediately if he loses in the alter ego’s in-ring debut. Much like AJ Styles, Bálor needs this win way more than Seth does, especially if WWE wants to make the New Era feel as new as possible.

Result: Finn Bálor defeats Seth Rollins to become the FIRST EVER Universal Champion

What our your thoughts and predictions on WWE Summerslam this year? Share your comments below!

The Raw Exposé: The RKO Outta Nowhere Edition (8-1-2016)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The Raw Exposé. Tonight’s episode of Raw emanated from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA. I am a proud ATLien who is not ashamed to admit that the hometown crowd tends to lack energy at times. Some fans think they are watching the opera or ballet which kills the overall vibe of the show. However, Raw was a pretty damn good show last week and that positive energy could easily translate in Atlanta to keep the hot streak going. Or did it flame out like an ember erasing all the goodwill the red brand’s creative team built? The answer to this pressing question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of Raw in no particular order.

·         What the hell is growing on Chris Jericho’s face?

·         It was refreshing to see Sasha Banks and Charlotte kick off Raw. They threw a few verbal barbs at each other that made the crowd ooh and ah, but things got weird when Jericho and Enzo Amore got involved. Enzo is always golden on the microphone and tonight was no different. Jericho was pompous and annoying as usual. I just felt that the segment went too long until Mick Foley came out to book a mixed tag team match between Charlotte and Jericho vs. Enzo and Banks. Besides that minor hiccup, I thought it was a good way to start the show.

·         Quick Tip to Sasha Banks: I love her to pieces, but she needs to improve on enunciating her words. Banks has a slight case of mush mouth where certain phrases are jumbled which messes up the cadence in her promos. It will leave a crowd deader than dead if she keeps this up in a live setting. I am guilty of having a slight stutter when it comes to talking too fast. Nerves is the usual culprit, but it can be corrected with practice. Maybe Enzo can give her some tips so she can be a complete boss in the verbalization department as well.

·         I am not a huge fan of seeing a newly crowned champion pinned so quickly during his or her title reign, but Banks gets the out due to Dana Brooke interfering on Charlotte’s behalf. Banks and Charlotte traded a couple of rollups which kept the match alive until Banks lost her focus and slapped Jericho which allowed Charlotte to nail Sasha with a kick to the leg from behind followed by Natural Selection to pick up the win. The match was decent while it lasted, but everyone was holding back a bit which is understandable.

·         Big Cass came out to save Enzo from Jericho which plays into a storyline that took place between the two of them a few months ago. Cass was supposed to face Jericho on an episode of Raw, but it never happened. Therefore, logic was used to play into their quasi feud which is a miracle. If not, it’s pure happenstance. Either way, I am glad that small detail was acknowledged.

·         Dear, sweet Evan...At least he can take comfort in the fact that he made $1,000 in one minute by getting destroyed at the hands of Braun Stroman. It’s noble and idiotic at the same time.

 

·         Stroman and his ponytail...No comment.

·         Mark Henry is fighting his demotion until the bitter end. I admire his passion. He is totally going to fail in his quest to win the United States Championship from Rusev, but it’s the effort that counts. Right? Right?!?

·         The Shining Stars win and no one cares. Literally.

·         This Pokémon Go gag involving the Golden Truth is getting on my nerves now. I know they are playing it for laughs, but I am not seeing the humor in it at all. They are a joke tag team who will continue being perceived as such until they take themselves more seriously. This sophomoric crap is not going to carry over into the tag team title scene if the creative team vaults them into that position in the immediate future. I like both men as individuals, but their talent is being wasted by doing silly stuff like this.

·         Seth Rollins gets instant heel brownie points by saying that the Atlanta Braves suck. He’s not lying. No amount of tomahawking is going to change that. For now, at least.

·         Finn Balor and Seth Rollins had a nice promo exchange to kick off the second hour of the show. Balor held his own on the mic while Rollins was at his wormy best. When Balor vows to kick someone’s ass, he sounds so proper and classy. Rollins got a quick demonstration of that when Balor countered his sneak attack with a series of kicks followed by a Pele Kick to shoo Rollins away.

·         I am looking forward to seeing Rollins later tonight as he faces Sami Zayn. If they are given enough time, that match should be great.

·         The Redemption of Roman Reigns is in full effect. Reigns is temporarily out of the main event scene, but that doesn’t mean he’s shut out of the upper card as he embarks on a feud against Rusev. If WWE wants Reigns to get unanimous cheers, this is the way to do it. If both men can cut loose, they should have one hell of a fight. A down and dirty brawl at SummerSlam can definitely help both guys. If fans still want to boo Reigns, so be it. I am going to enjoy myself nonetheless. I am sucker for smash mouth wrestling. Plus, the United States Championship needs some much needed shine. It’s a win-win.

·         Titus O’Neil is a shady Florida Gator by questioning Darren Young’s greatness. He has a valid point, though...

·         Titus, Titus, Titus. He pulled Young’s tights to pick up the tainted win. I am shocked. If they are trying to re-create the Young-O’Neil feud from a few years ago, I hope it is not a giant pile of suck this time around.

·         Mick Foley using draft board strategy to explain why Cesaro and Sheamus were drafted so low a couple of weeks ago made complete sense. Cesaro’s bum shoulder would be a major cause for concern when it comes to positioning him as a top tier talent if he’s susceptible to injury. Sheamus has been stale for quite some time and he needs to find something to get him back on track. Therefore, Foley booked them in a match against each other with the winner receiving a title shot in the near future. That seems fair enough. And it makes SENSE. WWE using logic twice in one night is a little jarring.

·         Thanks for coming, Ariel Monroe! Nia Jax claims another victim. Short and sweet.

·         The sexual double entendre of the banana and the ball shaped nectarines by The New Day was positively filthy, yet nutritious at the same time.

·         The New Day might have won the match, but Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows won the war by kicking their asses. Big E. got nailed with two Boots of Doom. Xavier Woods tried to make the save, but he got his head kicked off as well. Figuratively, of course.

·         To add insult to injury, The Club pulled Big E’s legs and rammed his family jewels into the ring post to end the segment. Anderson and Gallows sent a message that they are after the tag team titles. The New Day can’t joke their way out of this one. It’s time for the two- time tag team champs to take their opponents seriously for a change.

·         Cesaro is in line for a title shot by defeating Sheamus in an entertaining match. They were slotted in the 10:00 p.m. lull period of death, but Cesaro and Sheamus managed to wake the crowd up down the stretch. Here’s hoping that Cesaro can build on this win. More importantly, let’s hope that the Celtic Warrior can find a meaningful sense of direction as well. He’s been swimming in mid-card hell for a few years now. It’s mainly due to injuries, but Sheamus has not been able to recapture what made him special in 2011 and 2012. He needs to find that fire and set it ablaze for the world to see. He has it in him. Some semblance of creative direction wouldn’t hurt him either.

·         It looks like Heath Slater is trying to reform 3MB by recruiting Jinder Mahal.

·         So much for the reformation of 2MB. Mahal’s Employment > Mahal’s Friendship with Slater. It’s basic mathematics.

·         Y2J and Kevin Owens teaming up to take on Big Cass and Enzo sounds like a summertime treat. The buildup leading up to their presumed match at SummerSlam should be fun.

·         I would personally like to thank Sami Zayn and Seth Rollins for waking up the sleepy Atlanta crowd. Their match kicked into second gear after the commercial break. Zayn had a couple of hope spots, but the outcome was never really in question. Rollins picked up the win with a pedigree to build momentum towards SummerSlam. Simple, but effective.

·         Oh my damn...Randy Orton hit Brock Lesnar with an RKO out of nowhere.

·         Paul Heyman was great as he talked about how Lesnar was going to beat Orton’s ass at SummerSlam and drag him to Suplex City in the process. I figured that he was laying it on a bit too thick as Orton had an answer for The Beast right away. It was a great moment that sent fans into an absolute frenzy inside Philips Arena. Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley came out to diffuse the situation, but Orton already ran into the crowd to soak in the moment shirtless as Raw went off the air.

·         This was a hot way to end the show and one can only assume that Lesnar will be paying a visit to SmackDown Live! in the very near future to cash in his receipt on Orton with an F5. Let the games begin, ladies and gentleman!

·         Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of Raw was decent at best. There were a few moments that captured the crowd’s attention, but the biggest area of concern is the lower mid-card scene. The crowd was dead for a few segments because some wrestlers are cold as ice. They need to be revamped in order for fans to invest in the action unfolding in the ring. Otherwise, I thought the show didn’t fall off the rails for the most part. WWE scored big check marks with Rollins-Balor, Reigns-Rusev, and Lesnar-Orton. These feuds have been doused with some hot sauce which will only get even hotter in the weeks to come. The secondary titles have been spotlighted in a meaningful way as well. This is shaping up to be a stacked SummerSlam card and WWE is playing with house money if they don’t screw things up. Raw is not going to be a blockbuster show every week. If they mix in enough good segments to placate fans, the boring stuff will be negated. They need a long-term fix to ensure that these three hour shows won’t drag, but I get the feeling that the Cruiserweight Division will fill that void in due time. Fingers crossed!

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The Raw Exposé. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back tomorrow night with brand new installment of The SmackDown Files. See you later, boys and girls!