7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (5 Aug - Results & Review)

2. Priest’s Face Turn Is Complete

The implosion of the Judgment Day at SummerSlam cost Damian Priest almost everything – his title, his friendship with Finn Balor, and his family with the group – but the former World Heavyweight Champion gained a couple of things on the back end.

Priest stormed out to the ring Monday night, demanding that Finn come get the beating he deserved for costing him the match. While ranting, Damian noted that the Judgment Day gave him purpose and a group to join and feel belonging. However, he learned during his title reign that the fans were behind him, and they were another family who had accepted him.

Having the fans in his corner cushioned the blow of Balor betraying him, but it also meant that he felt like he let them down by losing the title. And just like that, Priest had fully embraced being a babyface and fan favorite, and the crowd responded in kind.

Cue Balor, who was smartly framed tight and sneering on the screen, claiming he’d been plotting this revenge for a full year, waiting for the right moment to strike and stab Damian in the back. He then revealed that the rest of the Judgment Day (sans Rhea Ripley) remained united and would join in targeting Priest (and presumably Rhea), making for some interesting times ahead.

The challenge here will be that Priest doesn’t pander to the fans too much. He needed to align himself with the crowd after being part of a heel faction for more than two years, but he could go too far in sucking up to crowds, and that wouldn’t serve anyone well.