6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (July 25)

5. Doing More For Theory

Say what you will about Theory’s ongoing push on Raw, but Monday’s opening segment actually did a fair bit for him, more than had been done the past couple of months.

Theory came down to ringside during a Bloodline promo, regurgitating the same lines he has the past couple of weeks: He’s going to cash in on whoever wins the Last Man Standing match and win the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship.

But then Roman Reigns dressed him down, inviting him into the ring and telling him that his daddy (read: Vince McMahon) wasn’t here anymore. This could have led to Theory shrinking and slinking away. Instead, when the Bloodline left, Jey Uso bumped him, and Theory responded by blasting him with the Money in the Bank briefcase, yelling for them to step to him.

That simple act, and then standing his ground as Roman stared him down, showed a bit of fight and character in Theory, even as a cowardly heel. That alone piqued some curiosity about him – though a lot of that could be to the new creative direction, which likely will color a lot of curiosity in the short term.

And then Theory ate a double superkick later from the Usos, a receipt for his brash action, which again, actually makes sense.