6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (17 July - Review)

UPS…

6. Reversing A Trope

Vince McMahon made a habit out of tormenting and embarrassing wrestlers in their hometown, to the point where it became the worst kind of trope. Under Triple H, that trend reversed itself somewhat, with home court advantage becoming an actual thing.

That change in tenor made what happened Monday night with Cody Rhodes in his hometown of Atlanta actually mean something instead of being another cruel jab at the paying fans. Cody firmly established his family and friends were ringside during his show-opening promo, only for Brock Lesnar to jump and beat down Rhodes in front of those loved ones, including his mom.

The result was a deafening chorus of boos and “You suck!” chants at Lesnar as he walloped Cody with a chair and then locked in a Kimura before accepting his SummerSlam challenge.

Two years ago, this might have worked, but the reaction would have been muted and eyerolls would have been aplenty, because of course a babyface got beat up in their hometown. While it wasn’t a shock here, it meant something because homefield advantages have started to mean something in WWE. That can’t be ignored here.