WWE RAW - Best and Worst - Cody Rhodes appears for one reason only; CM Punk's next feud confirmed
And just like that, WWE RAW is back to two hours. The show after Bad Blood went by at a fast and furious pace, as we will get to. But was it any good?
In truth, tonight's edition of the red brand was a mixed bag. We'll get to the issues, with a lot of them coming up. However, there were some positives as well, including CM Punk's emotional show-opening promo. Despite being short, it was a huge success.
So, with that in mind, let's get to the rest of tonight's episode of WWE RAW.
#3. Best/Worst: Bron Breakker leaves no doubts on WWE RAW
Before the explosive post-match angle, we must address what happened between Jey Uso and Xavier Woods. Their Intercontinental Title bout on WWE RAW was washed away by commercials, unable to truly get going. It ended before Uso and Woods could turn it into something memorable.
Fortunately, after further tension within The New Day, Bron Breakker showed up. The former IC Champion confirmed he is still a heel, as he speared Jey Uso, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods. This role is a better fit for Breakker than the babyface he hinted at becoming last week.
Expect him to regain the Intercontinental Championship from Main Event Jey soon. Such talent cannot be wasted any longer.
#2. Worst: A rough start
As hinted at above, WWE RAW's move to two hours hasn't been a huge success so far. Matches getting drowned out by commercials and production issues contributed to a lot of the issues.
Furthermore, fewer superstars were featured live, and segments were rushed through. For a show that needed to maximize its minutes, Sexyy Red got way too much screen time. This is a negative for now.
However, it remains to be seen how WWE RAW adapts to its reduced length. The only way seems to be up.
#2. Best: Donnybrook destruction
Amid the problems, Sheamus and Pete Dunne were able to pull out a fantastic brawl on WWE RAW. The two ended their feud with a brutal Good Ol' Donnybrook Match, that saw some unbelievable spots.
Among them was a White Noise from the top of some whiskey barrels through two tables. Meanwhile, Dunne used a cricket bat and zip-tied Sheamus' hands behind his back. However, that wasn't enough to keep The Celtic Warrior down.
Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick with his hands tied to pick up the win. That was an impressive end to one of WWE RAW's more underrated rivalries all year. Hopefully, this isn't the end of Pete Dunne's singles push, as The Bruiserweight had another great showing.
#1. Worst: We're outta here
Some superstars still had great segments with their reduced minutes on WWE RAW, like CM Punk and Seth Rollins. Their mini-interaction was particularly exciting. However, this change affected one group more than any other, leading to some baffling creative.
After Raquel Rodriguez's botched return at Bad Blood, she needed to have a strong follow-up on WWE RAW. However, instead of being confirmed as the newest member of The Judgment Day, Rodriguez was essentially a chauffeur.
She drove Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio to the arena, opened their car door, and didn't say a word during their promo. The trio simply bailed on the show, with Raquel Rodriguez driving them away. Meanwhile, there was no mention of Finn Balor's side of The Judgment Day at all.
#1. Best: A great main event
For all the pacing issues with the show, Sami Zayn and Gunther closed out WWE RAW with an incredible battle for the World Heavyweight Championship. Ironically, putting the match on tonight's show instead of Bad Blood made it so much less predictable.
However, Goldberg was a complete non-factor as The Ring General retained his world title with minimum fuss. Zayn put up one hell of an effort, though. Gunther took multiple Helluva Kicks, while his challenger kicked out of a Powerbomb at one.
The Ring General stood tall in the end, after making Sami Zayn pass out via the Sleeper Hold. This has now confirmed the Crown Jewel main event, as the two world champions will face each other for a brand-new belt.
Cody Rhodes came out at the end of WWE RAW to have a face-off with Gunther. While he wanted Zayn to win the World Heavyweight Title, this must be a welcome change from the dark situation he finds himself in following Bad Blood.
Kevin Owens' post-show attack on The American Nightmare was mentioned tonight, but never shown. That was an interesting way to go about it. We shall find out what the fallout is this Friday on SmackDown!