WWE RAW before Saturday Night's Main Event - Best and Worst - A huge mistake with The Judgment Day; Wyatt Sicks buried?
The last episode of WWE RAW before Saturday Night's Main Event was different from the norm. It still featured several matches, backstage segments, and promos.
However, what really stood out on the night were many of the promos given by WWE's top stars. Gunther's opening words weren't earth-shattering but worked.
CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre showed why WWE has some of the best mic workers in the game. The New Day witnessed the fallout from Big E's betrayal as people refused to fist-bump them backstage.
The live crowd treated them like Dirty Dom by booing them when they tried to speak. What hit the mark, and what missed the target completely? Here's the best and worst of RAW ahead of Saturday Night's Main Event.
#3. Best - Dueling promos from Seth Rollins and CM Punk
Jackie Redmond sat down with CM Punk for a brief interview between segments. She asked him about the "favor," but he declined to answer. Instead, he rattled off his history with Rollins and how he helped get Rollins into the business.
Punk claimed to have done everything Rollins did but better before calling him a backup. The Best in the World also said he "shielded" Rollins from getting fired.
WWE teased the hostility between the two but never gave reasons for it. Rollins said the relationship changed when Punk left, badmouthed the company, and wouldn't return any calls. He blacklisted everyone from WWE.
When wrestling blends real-life issues with in-ring storytelling, it can lead to gold. Rollins had the last word by claiming Punk only returned for money after he burned every other bridge he had.
#3. Best/Worst - Lyra Valkyria returns after a strange hiatus
Lyra Valkyria was among the newer stars getting pushed following the 2024 WWE Draft. She made the finals of the Queen of the Ring tournament and qualified for Money in the Bank.
However, when it came to starting the build to WarGames, several stars disappeared so the teams could show up on RAW and SmackDown. Valkyria was one of those names who had been off RAW for weeks.
WWE even aired a vignette so fans wouldn't forget her. The former NXT Women's Champion won her Intercontinental Championship match against Ivy Nile and Zelina Vega. It's just a shame she was pushed to the back burner for a few weeks.
#2. Worst - Dakota Kai loses a week later after a huge win
Dakota Kai was the first RAW star to advance in the Women's Intercontinental Title tournament. She defeated Katana Chance and Shayna Baszler in her match last week.
King Kota faced Women's World Champion Liv Morgan tonight and lost after interference from the Pure Fusion Collective. It was a step back for Kai to lose so soon after getting an emotional win last week.
The attack was a setup for Damage CTRL to make the save, but Kai could have lost by disqualification or in another fashion instead of eating a pin.
#2. Best - Drew McIntyre shows Kevin Owens isn't so delusional after all
Drew McIntyre also cut a great pre-taped promo explaining why he targeted Sami Zayn last week. He didn't have a problem with Punk agreeing to team with Roman Reigns at WarGames because he "took a bribe."
His issue was that Reigns badly mistreated the Usos and Sami Zayn, yet they fell in line at his feet after only a few encounters. McIntyre also admitted to taking out Jey Uso last week, for which Zayn blamed Rollins.
Zayn actually apologized to his friend. If Roman Reigns had done that to a few people like Kevin Owens, things wouldn't have been so chaotic from week to week. When more than one person points out a problem, they're not so delusional.
It's just that bookers want a star like Owens to be the bad guy in the storyline. Reigns' actions over the last four years greatly altered the career trajectories of many WWE performers. Fans and commentators quickly absolved him of those sins.
#2. Best/Worst- Judgment Day's actions lead to a triple threat
Finn Balor cost Damian Priest the World Heavyweight title on two occasions. The first attempt led to the fracture of the Judgment Day.
The two former brothers have feuded since SummerSlam and will combine in a triple threat against Gunther after Judgment Day's actions on RAW.
A "Loser Leaves RAW" match may have been better had Priest interfered at Saturday Night's Main Event. Adding him to the match gives bookers an out if WWE calls an audible for Gunther to lose without being pinned.
RAW GM Adam Pearce banned Judgment Day from next week's tag team title rematch but didn't do the same for the triple threat this weekend. There still could have been no disqualification, just with the group banned from ringside.
#1. Worst - Uncle Howdy eats a pin on RAW
Certain stars should rarely take pinfall losses. WWE heavily protects most of its top stars, making it a big deal when one is pinned by a star lower down the ladder.
The Final Testament defeated the Wyatt Sicks when Karrion Kross pinned Uncle Howdy. The outcome could have been the same, with Dexter Lumis or Joe Gacy taking the pinfall instead.
Uncle Howdy lost some of his aura because of the pin. Once The Fiend lost his first match, even with all the damage it took to end him, it killed some of his aura. WWE should have done a better job protecting one of the more unique acts on RAW.
#1. Best - Main-event Mayhem featuring Rhea Ripley
Most of the in-ring action on RAW was run-of-the-mill. Stars went through their paces and advanced angles.
However, the "Anything Goes" match between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez was easily better than every other match on the show. The women eschewed law and order to destroy each other, which makes sense given the heated rivalry between Ripley and Morgan/Rodriguez.
Morgan interfered but couldn't stop Mami from putting Rodriguez through a table after a Riptide. On a night of average action, the final match ended on a great note. SKY and Ripley grabbing the title was also a good tease for the future.
#1. Best/Worst - The Wyatt Sicks show up but lose
The Wyatt Sicks have had a passive ongoing feud with the Miz and the Final Testament. Their exchanges were kept on RAW, but the entire Sicks faction didn't show up weekly.
They appeared on this week's RAW for a big eight-man tag team match, which the Final Testament won. It was great to see their entrance, as it's one of the more unique ones in wrestling.
However, the feud was booked into a corner due to each group's previous handling. The Wyatt Sicks rarely compete, so every match is all the more important.
Losing in one of their few appearances on RAW hurts the group's credibility. Kross's group also needed a win because it was constantly booked to lose.