Dolfan in NYC Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 To say this is going to be one of the more interesting weeks in WWE would be a bit of an understatement. THAT'S RIGHT, RAYMOND STEREO HAS JUST REACHED TWENTY YEARS IN WWE!!! Nothing else of note is happening! Nothing at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 8:00 and 5 seconds tonight: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Tonighto The Bloodline vs. Riddle and the Street Profits The Mysterios vs. The Judgment Day Logan Paul presents “Impaulsive TV” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoFistsJustFlips Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 Man if it's me... they're in MSG tonight. There's a new head of creative for the first time in 40 years. There's buzz. There's optimism. Punch that shit up and give us something exciting and new. Capitalize on the interest in Triple H taking over. But I'm fairly certain they will be rolling with whatever was already written. It's a big mistake in my opinion. But it's just the way WWE operates these days. No big new splash and exciting first night, just business as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 I could be wrong. It'd be nice to be wrong. But WWE more than any company I think I've ever encountered, is built upon the principle that there's one way to do things. There's a right way and a wrong way and there was a winner to history and losers. The company is based on papal infallibility. The quick cuts were deemed necessary due to HD and now there are generations of people on the production team, multiple iterations who have not just only known that way but who were trained by people who were trained by people who were trained by people who only knew that way. If this happened twenty years ago, it might be different. If it was someone but Steph in there, who was born and raised and spent her entire professional career in this environment, maybe it'd be different. WWE isn't a wrestling company. It's not even a sports entertainment company. It's a company that produces WWE product, the chemical makeup of which, is one thing and one thing only and can be one thing and one thing only. It's made on an assembly line that is elaborate and complicated and precise. It's also completely convoluted, with pipes going every which way in order to please one person who ruled over all others and had crazy whims. But that's not the point. The point is that it's a factory and pretty much all anyone can do right now is either press a button to make it go or dismantle the whole thing. If there are manuals on how to do things for new hires, they're ones that only envision the WWE product as we see it right now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 25, 2022 Share Posted July 25, 2022 MSG tonight for Raw is mostly sold out, only two tickets left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 (edited) Chains are off. At least for now. EDIT: All I watched was the last couple minutes, so your mileage may vary Edited July 26, 2022 by Curt McGirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEAN Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 It's Theory (maybe he'll go back to Austin Theory!) versus Drew McIntyre. Theory is moving from being a Farther Along Daniel Garcia to now being the WWE Darby Allin, as he is completely ragdolled by McIntyre. Oh man, Drew Beels Theory way across the ring and hits a released Belly to Belly Suplex into a DDT. He then beats on him on the floor. McIntyre is fun but he's not as fun as Brodie King but I dig the fact that they are MIRRORING the Allin/King match- even down to the one hope spot by Theory. NICE Spinebuster by Drew. Since this is the WWE, Sheamus and the boys hit the ring and the shitty finishes CONTINUE! YEESH. I see that Heyman is booking this as they ECW it into a tag match with Lashley tagging with McIntyre and Sheamus taggin with Theory. This should be good. McIntyre becomes our face in peril. Sheamus brings the clubbing forearms! Lashley makes the hot tag after there is some kind of dissention between Theory and Sheamus, so they didn't really get a lot of heat on Drew. Lashley is s ROBOT as he hoists Sheamus up and hits a vertical suplex! Oh no! They have a suplex on the floor involving Ridge Holland! You shouldn't have him anywhere near that. Jesus! Theory has Lashley in a chinlock as we get back from the commercial. I think they are going to have an actual heat segment on Lashley, as RAW has now broadcast more wrestling in this hour than I can ever remember since I started watching RAW again. Theory goes back to channeling Darby Allin after Drew makes the hot tag. McIntyre bumps on both side of the ring to the floor and takes the White Noise to the floor! Drew McIntyre IS Darby Allin! Theory goes to hits his finisher and Dolph Ziggler stands up and Theory takes a second to acknowledge it allowing Lashley to apply the Full Nelson and get the win! That was good. I wonder why you just can't have a clean finish. I mean it was kind of a clean finish, but why have the Ziggler crap involved. Either way, that was good. It's the Mysterios against Judgement Day AGAIN! Rey is feeling it. Rey flies into the turnbuckle like a CHAMP. Damien Priest takes Rey's offense like a pro before cutting him off and tagging in Finn Balor! Balor hits a double stomp and Dominick makes the save! An ode to Eddie! A Love Machine Splash! A BIGGER ODE TO EDDIE! Rey gets the win! So Vince is definitely gone because I don't think you would get a feel good finish like that. Vince was too much like Bill Watts to put up with that. You'd want your heel to ruin the celebration and gather up the heat. The edges are softening! OH NO! THERE'S A CAKE! Hey! Rhea Ripley is back! They kind of got the Judgement Day's heat back. I can't believe that Heyman would SHOW A CAKE on a wrestling program and the cake SURVIVES! Total blasphemy. Big Time Becks is back to dressing like David Bowie, post Ziggy Stardust, more like Station to Station. Staaaay, all I want to say is stay or do sooomething.... That was a fun pull apart! Alexa Bliss takes on Doudrop! It was perfectly fine. The Alpha Academy take on Dolph Ziggler and AJ Styles. Dolph Ziggler had a really fun run in NXT a few months ago so I look forward to see his wrestling stylings again. AJ Styles starts this off and reminds one that he is completely awesome without really trying. We return from a commercial and Styles is being beaten to death. Otis CRUSHES Ziggler with a Urican on a running Ziggler. GREAT fucking EVEREST GERMAN SUPLEX by Chad Gable. Cool finisher by Ziggler for the win. That was good, if too short. It's Roman Reigns and the Usos versus Riddle and the Street Profits! Montez Ford hits a beautiful Tope Con Hilo after the Usos and the Street Profits do what they do every week for the last- what?- four months? We await Roman Reigns to tag in and he does and he beats the life out of Riddle. It's been a while since Riddle has sold as assbeating. They kind of cut it short. Reigns CRUSHES Ford with a Urinagi! Ford is bleeding! I assume it is hardway as it looks like the bridge of the nose. Reigns beats the hell out of Ford and it's pretty great. Ford is assuming the Riddle role and Riddle is assuming the Randy Orton role. Riddle with stereo Exploiders! Riddle with a Asai Moonsault! I was wondering where Angelo Dawkins was as he hits a POUNCE! Reigns then destroys Dawkins by throwing him through the stairs! Riddle hits the Orton DDT and he goes for the RKO but Reigns powers out and hits the Spear for the win! That was a fun match. Roman Reigns is awesome. That was a good episode. Didn't feel overly different. It was a little tighter than usual. Postmatch, Seth Rollins beats on Riddle for reasons I didn't follow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 The Riddle beatdown felt more vicious than anything I've seem from them in awhile, thus my comment. Plus Rollins was dressed like a cooler trashbag fuck than before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Whole first hour was basically one segment; felt very ECW. Seems like the talking was way cut back, or at least held off until hour 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I usually watch all hours of Raw. This one felt more NXT 1.0? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyld Samurai Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I've never seen a Dominik Misterio match before... but he reminds me of a very young, very uncoordinated El Dandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Angel Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 "Daddy's gone." Roman is awesome. That is all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eivion Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 The opening with Bloodline and Theory was solid. Dug how it led into Theory/Drew and how that led into the tag match with Sheamus and Lashley added. Fun series of segment/matches. Judgement Day vs. Mysterios was solid. Dug the tribute to Eddie as the finish. Was fine with JD getting their heat back by beating the shit out of Rey with a returning Rhea. Bloodline vs. Riddle/Profits was unsurprisingly good stuff. The post match beatdown on Riddle by Seth was fine. Show felt a bit tighter than the norm, but mostly the same as usual which is what I was expecting. I figure any real change will take place over the next few months. Still its always nice when these shows run like this pacing wise. Makes them easier to digest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Lord Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Show was good tonight. Roman torched Theory and it was amazing. I didn't understand why Drew and then The Brutes were on RAW, but it led to a good tag match. I really hope over the coming months that sort of thing changes. It just makes no sense when someone from Smackdown shows up on RAW for no reason. Plus I cant stand the trope of everyone fighting and they make it a tag match during the break. I dug the tribute to Rey Mysterio. He's put up with a lot from this company over the years and it was nice to see him be celebrated. The Judgement Day beat down was fine later. I'm just wondering who they find to counter Rhea so the odds are even. AJ/Dolph vs. Alpha Academy was a fun little match. In a different world, Otis would be the new Ivan Putski in MSG. But thank God for Gable and his whole SHOOOOSH thing taking off. The Six man was a damn good match. I wish Riddle could still challenge for the title because him and Roman have good chemistry together. The Profits are on a roll so I really hope they take the titles at Summerslam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 My goodness, Meltzer is really old and dumb sometimes. He thought the "your daddy's not here" was in reference to Johnny Gargano. Alvarez thankfully corrected him and said it was in reference to Vince and Dave was just like, "oh, well, I guess that makes sense too." 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Moneghetti Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 (edited) 9 hours ago, Phantom Lord said: I didn't understand why Drew and then The Brutes were on RAW, but it led to a good tag match. I really hope over the coming months that sort of thing changes. It just makes no sense when someone from Smackdown shows up on RAW for no reason. They ended the brand split several months ago. edir: Blue Dragon says brand split still on, so I dunno for sure. Fairly sure people not holding or chasing titles have been on both shows lately Edited July 26, 2022 by Tarheel Moneghetti Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryArchieGus Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 It's been awhile since I've seen a Raw, but found myself curious to see what might happen following the changes. And hearing that the show was taking place at MSG. I'm assuming WWE doesn't regularly or often open their shows in the midst of a brawl. I'm all for new ways of opening the show. Not sure this entirely worked tho. I'd never seen this Logan Paul before. Then I saw these ridiculous looking and massive computer generated characters on my screen of Reigns and the Usos. Bizarre. Felt like a bad sci-fi TV series there for a sec. Reigns comes out with great presence. And I've long missed seeing Heyman cut promos. Then he starts and I'm reminded of the long-winded Raw opening monologues I gladly removed from my life 15 years ago. Reigns follows with solid delivery and next to nothing of importance before 'Theory' interrupts. I'm not sure how Theory here punking out one of the Usos and standing up for himself without consequence is supposed to come across, but it felt like the opposite of the intention. The 'Daddy' line is cute, but it's good to be reminded of 'He' the reason I stopped watching and supporting in any way. I'm ready to turn off the show after this tired opening segment, but sit thru a commercial break. Back on Raw and this Theory I've been hearing about is wrestling, and against Drew McIntyre whom I've only seen once before (from a British Indy highlighted on Youtube). Nothing is particularly bad, but quickly I'm reminded of WWE's in ring style. And I'm out. The whole thing felt dirty to me, like getting inebriated and hooking up with an old flame whom you don't like and doesn't like you, and finding yourself together after the alcohol and/or drugs subside. Or maybe this was more like being presented said scenario, but escaping after some pleasantries. This WWE audience feels like an unsavoury political rally to me, and I wonder if AEW's audience feels the same to somebody tuning in randomly or for the first time? I'm not sure that the opening half hour of Raw is the fairest indication to conclude what WWE is all about, but I'm going to stick to my 'alternatives'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 The brand split is still in effect. The people who hold the combined top titles (Undisputed WWE Universal title and the Undisputed tags) can cross over to Raw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Reportedly last night's Raw was largely written by Vince. So maybe after Summerslam is when they run out of Vince scripts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Comedian Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 17 hours ago, DEAN said: Big Time Becks is back to dressing like David Bowie, post Ziggy Stardust, more like Station to Station. 10 hours ago, Blue Dragon said: The Thin White Duchess? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 AllSpark-affected Sydney Opera House. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kang Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HumanChessgame Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Advertised for tonight's NXT: Diamond Mine vs Tony D’Angelo’s crew Apollo Crews vs Xyon Quinn Wes Lee vs Grayson Waller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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