6 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Raw (26 Aug - Results & Review)
Punk and McIntyre end on a high note, Orton waxes about title lore, Howdy makes in-ring bow.
WWE is bearing down on its latest PLE this weekend, with Bash in Berlin just a few days away. But with only a five-match card, a good portion of Monday’s three-hour go-home Raw wasn’t in service of Saturday’s big show.
Still, Raw overall delivered on its biggest moments, with the Judgment Day’s heel act continuing to stir up fans, Drew McIntyre and CM Punk keeping this simple and ending on a high note, and Randy Orton waxing nostalgic to generate more interest in his world title feud with Gunther, despite the Ring General being a continent away.
But Monday’s program also fumbled the start of a tournament to crown a new challenger for Bron Breakker’s Intercontinental Championship, and the in-ring debut of Uncle Howdy seemed to foreshadow diminishing returns the more the Wyatt Sick6 gets in the ring.
The biggest success story out of Raw though had to be Bronson Reed, who continued his inconceivable rise by resorting to doing to Braun Strowman what made the Monster of All Monsters so popular: performing an absurd stunt that leaves fans gobsmacked. Reed is probably one or two moments away from being made as an attraction at this rate.
Overall, Raw did its job hyping most of its share of matches for Bash in Berlin, and there are feuds that will continue on past this weekend’s PLE to follow. Mission accomplished.
Let’s get to it…