7 Ups And 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE Raw (July 24)

3. Who Invited This Guy?

Ariya Daivari
WWE.com

There were no cruiserweight matches on Raw, but we did see developments in the title scene. It started with Akira Tozawa requesting another bout with Ariya Daivari following the previous week’s injury, before Neville interrupted. ‘The King Of The Cruiserweights’ ran Akira down with heelish panache, prompting an attack from Tozawa, who couldn’t take full advantage due to his injured shoulder.

Out came Daivari, and down went the other two. Akira and Neville both ate Harmmerlock Rainmakers, and 205 Live’s next title feud looks very much like a three-way, which would be fine if the new antagonist was a tad more exciting.

WWE have essentially replaced one of 205’s most compelling performers (Austin Aries) with one of its least interesting. Daivari is vanilla ice cream, dry toast, or a glass of tap water: totally fine, but nothing to get excited about. He’s solid, but comfortably the division’s least exciting wrestler. Here’s hoping his injection into the title hunt is just a diversion, because Neville vs. Tozawa is better off without him.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.