6 Ups & 3 Downs from WWE Raw (30 June - Results & Review)

3. Exactly What Rusev Needed

Those fretting (and this fan was one of them!) about incoming ex-AEW stars like Aleister Black and Rusev struggling to regain their footing in WWE can take it easy. Things are starting to come together for both across major shows like Raw and SmackDown. On the latter, Black has something simmering with Damian Priest. On Raw, Rusev is on the up and up following a win over Sheamus.

He could smash through any number of lower card workers all he liked, but beating someone as credible and physically threatening as Sheamus will stand Rusev in good stead. Personally, this guy could go for seeing more from these two in the future. The most important thing will be follow up and capitalising on newfound momentum stemming from this victory, but this was a strong match for Rusev against a former League Of Nations pal.

These boys hit hard, as expected.

Sheamus has found his sweet spot in WWE as a workhorse who puts on hard-hitting bouts but doesn't necessarily ever need to win many of them. Fans still respond to him in kind, and he'll always carry a threat just because of his history and because he's so damn believable as an arse-kicker. Dude's Miz-style Teflon in 2025.

This was exactly what his real-life buddy needed, wasn't it? Rusev had to score a win over somebody higher profile, and now he's done that. A title feud will be in his future sooner rather than later, one would imagine. Dominik Mysterio should be shaking in his Eddie Guerrero boots!