In the lead-up to Saturday Night's Main Event and SummerSlam, WWE Raw delivered an enthralling episode from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The show was a masterclass in building anticipation, with a lineup that included a contract signing, a high-stakes gauntlet match, and the ever-present Brock Lesnar. Here's a deep dive into the key moments and the commentary that made this episode truly memorable.
The Main Event: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
The highly anticipated contract signing between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns was a highlight of the night. Rollins, the ultimate instigator, relished in the fans' serenade drowning out the 'OTC' chants. His fiery, pissed-off persona was a great look for the challenger, especially entering a match against Reigns that few expect him to win. In my opinion, this rivalry never gets old, and the mind games between the two were a nice touch. However, the segment felt a bit long-winded, and the question remains: can Rollins manage to stay focused and not let the mind games affect him in the middle of their upcoming match?
The No. 1 Contender's Gauntlet Match
Chad Gable was crowned the next challenger for Penta's Intercontinental Championship, outlasting six other superstars. The match was a showcase for the talented Raw midcard, blending different ongoing stories. Je'Von Evans, in particular, stood out with a gutsy performance that made up the heart and soul of the match. He worked three different styles of matches and built a rapport with the audience, making him one of the most charismatic and entertaining performers on the roster. The gauntlet match ate up a large chunk of time, and Evans' performance was a highlight, earning him an MVP nod.
The Vision Promo
Fresh off of Maxxine Dupri's shocking alliance with The Vision, the former women's intercontinental champion made her way to the ring alongside new beau Austin Theory, Bron Breakker, and Logan Paul. The segment felt like a star-making moment for Dupri, with the majority of the attention paid to her. However, Breakker has never felt less important in his main roster run, and that is an indictment on the part of the creative team. The love triangle storyline needs to find a way to make Breakker more central to the narrative.
Bayley Called Out Lyra Valkyria
Bayley rediscovering her edge and reminding the WWE Universe of who the hell she is was a great bit of character work. Lyra Valkyria has clearly worked on her promos over the last 12 months, and her recent performances on the mic have been great. The segment was short, succinct, focused, and well-executed, with Valkyria delivering some deep cuts. The commentary, including Corey Graves' witty remark about Valkyria's appearance, added to the entertainment value.
Brock Lesnar's Obsession
Brock Lesnar's obsession with Oba Femi was a fascinating twist, and the former's mic work was fiery and entertaining. The fans in Dallas were overwhelmingly in favor of Femi, and his mic work was exceptional. The segment was a quality heat spot, and Femi's explanation for giving up his world title opportunity to face Lesnar at SummerSlam was a nice touch. However, it is about damn time the King of the Ring offered up something more substantial.
Iyo Sky vs. Roxanne Perez
Iyo Sky won the battle, but lost the war when women's world champion Liv Morgan left her lying ahead of their upcoming clash at SummerSlam. The match was a quality segment for the top of the Raw women's division, with Sky overcoming a knee injury and countering a rollup for the win. The post-match beatdown was a decent heat-building moment, but keeping Sol Ruca in the same stratosphere as The Judgment Day and Raquel Rodriguez may not be the most appealing option.
Royce Keys vs. Jimmy Uso
Royce Keys defeated Jimmy Uso via disqualification, and the post-match activities elevated the segment exponentially. LA Knight's involvement and the six-man tag match at SummerSlam added a layer of intrigue to the story. Keys' increased exposure and Sikoa's natural charisma make him a potential star, and if an actual babyface run is in the works, he could become a hugely popular star.
Overall Grade
This was another strong effort by WWE, with a show that built to something bigger and better. The gauntlet match, in particular, was a showcase for the talented Raw midcard, and the main event set the stage for an exciting SummerSlam. However, the show did need to find a way to convince fans to travel to Minneapolis for the event, and the ratings may reflect that. Despite some minor flaws, the episode was a solid outing from a company that still needs to find its footing in the post-Triple H era.
.jpg?w=1120&h=630)
