The July 15th episode of WWE RAW aired live from NYBC Live (Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum) in Uniondale, New York. It was the first episode of RAW following WWE Extreme Rules 2019. In addition to the takeaways below, R-Truth captured the 24/7 Championship once again.
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Paul Heyman Announced A Battle Royal To Determine The #1 Contender For The Universal Title
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman made their way to the ring to begin this week’s episode of WWE RAW.
Paul stated that he has been waiting to introduce Lesnar as the new and reigning Universal Heavyweight Champion for several months. The crowd had a mixed reaction as Brock stood next to Heyman with a smile on his face.
Heyman said that he told everyone that this was going to happen and people didn’t believe him. Paul told the crowd to boo themselves for not listening and that prompted the WWE Universe to boo even louder.
He added that he told everyone that Rollins is not going to be defending the title at SummerSlam and boasting about having all of the stroke around RAW right now. Heyman announced that there is going to be a duel branded 10-superstar Battle Royal tonight on RAW. The winner of the Battle Royal will face Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam for the Universal Championship.
Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Big E, Cesaro, Braun Strowman, Rey Mysterio, Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, Bobby Lashley, and Roman Reigns were announced as the superstars that will compete in the Battle Royal later tonight.
Paul Heyman stated that anyone that steps in the ring with Lesnar is risking their health and their manhood because in this Universe, you are all Brock’s bitches.
The Paul Heyman era of WWE RAW started off with an announcement that certainly got the crowd excited. However, half of the superstars in the Battle Royal don’t make sense. Aleister Black defeated Cesaro last night at Extreme Rules, why wouldn’t he be in the Battle Royal? I don’t understand what Sami Zayn or Randy Orton has done recently to earn this spot. Rey Mysterio was embarrassed last week by Bobby Lashley, who also lost last night at Extreme Rules as well.
Cedric Alexander Upset Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre confronted Cedric Alexander backstage during tonight’s show. McIntyre vowed to humble Cedric Alexander tonight for dressing up as a masked janitor last week and teaming with Roman Reigns. Alexander told McIntyre that the joke will be on him tonight.
McIntyre went right after Cedric to start off the bout and launched him to the corner of the ring. Drew connected with a loud chop to Cedric’s chest and Alexander responded with an Enziguri.
Drew rolled out of the ring to regroup and Alexander flipped on him. Back in the ring, McIntyre hit a Belly to Belly Throw that sent Alexander flying into the turnbuckle. McIntyre leaped off the top rope and Cedric countered with a Dropkick to the face. Drew went for an Alabama Slam but Alexander countered into a roll-up for the pinfall victory.
Bray Wyatt Returned & Attacked Finn Balor
Finn Balor squared off against Samoa Joe tonight on RAW. Both superstars lost last night at WWE Extreme Rules.
Balor started off the match in control and applied a Headlock. Joe broke free and rolled up Finn for the pinfall victory. After the match, Samoa Joe beat the hell out Balor and locked in the Coquina Clutch. Balor escaped and hit a Slingblade. Finn sent Joe to the corner with a Dropkick and followed it up with the Coup de Grace and Joe rolled out of the ring.
The lights in the arena then went out as Balor was alone in the ring. Bray Wyatt was then shown and planted Finn Balor with the Sister Abigail as the crowd chanted “holy sh*t!”.
Yowie wowie! Bray Wyatt looks great and I just hope WWE doesn’t screw this up. Wyatt has always been an excellent promo, but he would constantly lose matches and thus his words ultimately didn’t mean anything. The crowd ate this up, so hopefully WWE capitalizes and continues to build Wyatt up.
Natalya Will Face Becky Lynch At SummerSlam
Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Natalya, and Carmella battled in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match tonight on RAW. The winner of the match will go on to face Becky Lynch for the RAW Women’s Championship at SummerSlam. Nikki Cross was in Alexa’s corner for the match. RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch was also ringside for the match.
Bliss rolled out of the ring to start things off and had a chat with Nikki Cross. Naomi hit Natalya with a Dropkick and then they took each other out with a Clothesline. Carmella tripped up Alexa and tried to pin Naomi and Natalya several times but they both kicked out.
Alexa Bliss got into the ring and rolled up Carmella from behind for the elimination. Naomi hit Natalya with a Blockbuster off the steel steps. Bliss brought Naomi back into he ring and applied a Headlock as Becky Lynch looked on from ringside. Naomi escaped and hit a Leg Drop for a two count on Alexa Bliss.
Natalya got back in the ring and leveled Naomi with a Clothesline for a near fall. Naomi went for a Moonsault but Bliss distracted her. Natalya planted Naomi with a Powerbomb and went for the cover but Naomi kicked out at two. Nikki Cross slammed on the mat in an effort to get the crowd to make any type of sound but it didn’t work as Bliss shoved Naomi to the mat and applied another Headlock.
The crowd got restless and started chanting “this is awful!”. Natalya then rolled up Naomi to eliminate her and we were down to Natalya and Alexa Bliss. Nikki Cross grabbed a microphone and shouted at the crowd to start cheering for Alexa Bliss. Cross tried to start an “Alexa!” chant and the crowd opted to chant “you suck!” chant instead.
Natalya tried to Clothesline Alexa but she ducked and hit Nikki outside the ring. Back in the ring, Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter for the submission victory. After the match, Natalya stated that Alexa Bliss sucks and it is great to go back to her home country of Canada to face Becky Lynch for the RAW Women’s Championship.
Becky Lynch grabbed a microphone and said that nothing makes her happier than fighting. Lynch told Natalya that she likes her, but challenged her to step up or else she will wipe the floor with her in her home country. Becky added that Natalya’s career needs something and she is it. Lynch stated that she has learned that she does a lot better in war than in love. Natalya stated that Becky must be a terrible lover then. She then told Becky that she was going to pull the horseshoe out of her ass and beat the living hell out of her at SummerSlam.
The crowd was absolutely ruthless during this match and deservedly so. The majority of this match was painfully dull and it sure seems like the crowd has seen enough of Alexa Bliss in title matches. I know I sure have. It made no sense that she was even a part of this match when she lost her title match last night against Bayley. Bliss barely did anything during this match besides stand outside and try to steal pinfalls. She occasionally shocked the world by locking in a rest hold before rolling back outside to smirk for the camera. I would have preferred to see a talented superstar like Ember Moon compete in this match instead.
The fact is that I don’t think I would have been excited no matter who won this match. Natalya and Becky had a good promo following the match, and I guess it makes sense that she won because SummerSlam is in Canada. I just hope WWE gives us a good story leading to the match next month. This match was absolutely terrible, but at least the promo after it provided some entertainment.
Seth Rollins Will Once Again Battle Brock Lesnar For The Universal Championship
Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Big E, Cesaro, Braun Strowman, Rey Mysterio, Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, Bobby Lashley, and Roman Reigns competed in a 10-superstar Battle Royal to determine the #1 contender for the Universal Championship. The winner of the Battle Royal will go on to face Brock Lesnar for the title at WWE SummerSlam.
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar took a seat on the entrance ramp with Paul Heyman to watch the Battle Royal. Rollins went right after Corbin but got a Chokeslam for his troubles. Corbin tried to eliminate Rollins but Seth was able to hold onto the ropes.
Cesaro hit a ton of uppercuts and then hit Rey with the Cesaro Swing. Lashley hit Cesaro with a Crossbody and then eliminated him. Strowman then eliminated Lashley and Big E got in his face. Strowman leveled Big E with a shoulder tackle but Big E got back up and planted him with the Big Ending.
Orton connected with an RKO to Big E and then Sami eliminated him. Zayn celebrated and turned around into an RKO. Rey hit Sami with the 619 and Orton eliminated him. Randy planted Reigns with an RKO. Reigns battled back with a Superman Punch that sent Orton through the ropes. Baron Corbin hit Rey from behind and then eliminated him.
Strowman, Rollins, and Reigns surrounded Baron Corbin and beat the hell out of him. Rollins launched Corbin over the top rope to eliminate him and we were down to Seth, Braun, Roman, and Randy Orton. Reigns went for a Superman Punch but Strowman blocked it.
Roman went for a Spear on Strowman but Braun dodged it and Reigns leveled Seth. Strowman brought Reigns to the apron and Seth Rollins shoved Strowman behind and both Reigns and Braun were eliminated. Orton got back into the ring and sent Seth to the apron. Orton planted Rollins with a DDT and stared at Lesnar on the entrance ramp.
Orton took his time setting up for the RKO as Rollins slowly made his way back to his feet. Rollins blocked it and hit Orton with The Stomp. Seth Rollins then eliminated Randy Orton to win the match. Seth Rollins will once again face Brock Lesnar at WWE SummerSlam.
Paul Heyman got on the microphone and said that Rollins will be victimized at SummerSlam. Rollins grabbed a microphone and told Heyman to shut up. Seth said he was a man possessed and told Brock that SummerSlam will look a lot like WrestleMania. Rollins vowed to stomp Lesnar’s head into the mat and take back the Universal Championship.
The absolute silence during Rollins and Lesnar’s promo tonight says it all. I have zero interest in seeing this match once again and tonight’s Battle Royal was ultimately a waste of time. I saw no changes during tonight’s episode of RAW that suggest the product is going to improve. There were several squash matches, a horrifically bad women’s Fatal 4-Way Match, and a Battle Royal that resulted in a SummerSlam main event that we have seen several times before.
I have no idea how anyone can be excited to see Rollins versus Lesnar again. WWE is just running in circles and not providing the audience with fresh storylines and a reason to tune in every week. The best part of tonight’s show was Bray Wyatt finally showing up,
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