6 Ups & 2 Downs For WWE Raw (20 Oct - Results & Review)

Ups…

6. Becky The Miracle Worker

Maxxine Dupri is very likely never going to become a class wrestler, capable of main-eventing Raw or carrying someone else to a good match.

But she has found something in recent months that clicks, and WWE has managed to figure out two small steps to maximize what they have: pit her against Becky Lynch, one of the most selfless and surehanded wrestlers on the planet, and hold that match in Maxxine’s hometown.

Monday night, Dupri challenged for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, fresh off a count-out win two weeks ago. Maxxine struggled to stay in the match for a while, and it threatened to go off the rails a couple of times, but fans were into it regardless and fully behind the challenger.

Then Maxxine found a bit of a spark, whiffing on a spin kick, only to rebound kick and drop Becky for a two count. When Lynch kicked out, Dupri plucked the ankle to try to force a submission. She bridged and flipped out of a Disarm-Her, locking in another anklelock. A diving crossbody garnered a two count, but Becky became so frustrated beyond being unable to solve Dupri and having to deal with Jessika Carr as referee again that she grabbed her title and used it for the disqualification.

DQ finishes are often viewed as lazy shortcuts for when WWE doesn’t want to book boldly, but it worked in this situation, with Lynch clearly disgruntled at not being able to put away a vastly inferior opponent. The DQ also allowed Dupri to win in her hometown and sets up the possibility of a stipped-up rematch where they could get creative to showcase Maxxine one more time.

Far from a great match, but this deserves some praise for maximizing what was available and winning over the crowd.