WWE RAW - Best and Worst - Former World Champion shockingly returns, 5th member of OG Bloodline confirmed?
After Bronson Reed joined Solo Sikoa's team on SmackDown as its fifth member, the fallout was likely to continue on the ensuing episode of RAW. Sami Zayn and The Usos attempted to recruit Seth Rollins again, and his answer may have changed following the main event. The women's WarGames match also saw a huge shift in dynamics, thanks to the return of a major player.
Bron Breakker put the Intercontinental title on the line against Sheamus. The War Raiders took on The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and Carlito ahead of a shot at Finn Balor and JD McDonagh.
Here's the best and worst of the latest episode of RAW (November 18, 2024).
#3. Best - Rhea Ripley is back
The Women's WarGames angle opened this week's RAW. Liv Morgan came out with Raquel Rodriguez and then called out the SmackDown reinforcements. Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae joined Morgan in the ring.
Bianca Belair then came out with her super team but was one member short. Liv mocked her for this but turned tail when Rhea Ripley returned with a facemask to protect her broken orbital bone.
The women's division desperately needs big names and other faces that can be featured. It's nice that Morgan and Jax have had time as Champions in 2024, but both of their runs have been average.
#3. Worst - The logic behind building both women's WarGames teams
The face team for WarGames includes Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, IYO SKY, Naomi, and Ripley. Belair, Cargill, and Naomi have been friends on and off on SmackDown and are friends again for WarGames.
SKY battled Belair and Cargill while pursuing tag team gold. Since she's now focused on singles gold, that facet of their relationship has been glossed over. The heel team has the same problems.
Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax have been feuding with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the last month. Morgan cheated to beat Jax at Crown Jewel and Jax simply said she didn't like either woman. Paving over the literal last few months of storytelling is something that Vince McMahon was famous for.
Had there been a few more segments with conversations between the sides, the building wouldn't have felt random and illogical. Another problem is that, like last year, the face team has three super faces (Belair, Cargill, Ripley) and won't lose.
#2. Best - Final Testament/Wyatt Sicks feud gets dueling promos
While appearing again would have been more effective, both Karrion Kross and Bo Dallas are great at selling their feuds in promos. These can be in the ring, backstage, or pre-taped offerings like the latest RAW.
Kross and The Miz shot first, claiming that they were the ones dealing the hand that was being played with The Wyatt Sicks. Kross has cut numerous promos that should have aired on RAW. Instead, they were saved as digital or social media exclusives.
Dallas also cut a tense promo warning Miz that he was warned. Everything that comes next, including the blood on his hands, is his fault. Pre-taped feuds and vignettes don't always land, but both Kross and Dallas hit home runs on RAW.
#2. Worst - Not proud to be American Made
When Chad Gable ditched Alpha Academy and formed American Made, it felt like this stable would move him up the card. After a few months, that is clearly not the case. Gable's group was the first prey of the Wyatt Sicks and lost the feud.
Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega defeated Gable and Ivy Nile in mixed tag team action. Neither faction accompanied their team. The Creeds only emerged after Gable's side lost. He slapped them and got in their face. They eventually fired each other up and then posed like they won a match.
The whole RAW segment leaves too many questions. Where were the Creeds, and why did they pop up so quickly after the loss? Why did they pose like they did something meaningful? The entire partnership has been a missed opportunity.
#1. Best - The Bloodline forces Seth Rollins' hand
Seth Rollins turned down another offer to join The OG Bloodline for WarGames. He claimed he'd fight beside The Usos and Zayn but not for the "tyrannical" Roman Reigns. He's not wrong for his feelings due to Reigns' years of lording over WWE.
Just because he's being cheered currently doesn't absolve him of his misdeeds in the recent past. That logic makes sense and doesn't insult the fans' intelligence like the random building of the women's WarGames teams. Solo Sikoa's team then made its presence felt in the RAW main event between Rollins and Bronson Reed.
Sikoa distracted Rollins as he went to the top for a Frog Splash. It allowed Reed to take advantage and get the win. While Rollins wanted to stay out of it, his hand was forced by the upstart Bloodline.
Will he reluctantly agree to join Zayn for one night like last year? Will Roman apologize or recruit Rollins himself? That would mean a lot more than sending everyone else out to do all the work.
#1. Worst - Does RAW still have World Tag Team Champions?
JD McDonagh and Finn Balor won the World Tag titles by defeating the Awesome Truth back in June. Since then, they've only defended the titles once, on September 16, against The New Day.
Instead of having a random tournament to determine challengers, the Champs should have already put the belts on the line. They could have faced the War Raiders on this week's RAW, but Erik and Ivar had to fight Carlito and Dominik Mysterio instead.
The booking has been among the worst the titles have seen over the last five years. The Motor City Machine Guns have been involved in three title matches since debuting last month. What's the holdup?
#1. Best/Worst - Sheamus vs. Bron Breakker had great potential
On paper, Sheamus' challenge for a title while he's nearly 46 may not be appealing in 2024. He's been a trusted veteran since 2009 but has slowed down a lot over the last few years.
Bron Breakker is a force of nature and one of the focal points of the New Era. He should be facing other names like Dragon Lee, Bronson Reed, or even Rollins, but all three are busy elsewhere on RAW.
Despite that dynamic, the two put in one of the better matches on RAW of the last few months. Sheamus matched Breakker's physicality and could have legitimately won a few times.
Ludwig Kaiser interfered and the match ended via disqualification, killing the great momentum built by the two competitors. It feels like WWE wants to give Sheamus a run as Intercontinental Champion since it's the one title he's never held.