Raw is Still Predictable As Ever - Next Day Raw The Daily Culture

When it comes to WWE Raw on Monday night, stay up til 11 on a school night? You must be out of your mind? No really, I’m one of the growing numbers of people who cut the cord years ago. If it’s not on streaming or doesn’t air the next day on Hulu, I don’t watch it. That’s where Next Day Raw comes into play, taking a 3-hour showdown to 1 1/2. The opinions might be a day late, but still valid none the less, so let’s dive in.

The show up with an “In Memory Of” for “Kampala” James Harris, who was pronounced dead at the age of 70. Harris known as the Ugandan Giant debuted on January 25th, 1993, and wrestled until 2006 for WCW and WWE. Mostly a heel in his days, Kamala wrestled against the likes of Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, and The Undertaker. His gimmick, tribal war paint, and head games and overall size would brutalize in the ring.

Once Raw opened up its clear that if anyone needed the pandemic to end, it’s the WWE. Just getting back into wrestling, I have to admit this is the worst time to try. As a fan, you never realize how much the audience brought the energy to the show until it’s no longer there. Big into wrestling in the ‘80s and ‘90s, mic work was key to cutting promos and it really hit its stride in the attitude era. Today’s WWE doesn’t have the same mic skills so without the audience, the show is lacking.

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SummerSlam is a week from Sunday and building up to the PPV, tonight will surely be build-up for that event. It opens up in the ring Samoa Joe brings out Seth Rollins to sign his contract to face Dominick Mysterio, who is signing his WWE contract as well. To be honest, having only watched the past few weeks the Monday Night Messiah gimmick is old already.

This here is the exact reason I stopped watching WWE, its predictable. Guaranteed to happen at SummerSlam, Seth Rollins beats the living crap out of the kid, and Samoa Joe jumps in to save him, setting up their match at the next PPV. Are they ever not predictable?

The first match, Seth Rollins dives right into a match with Humberto Carrillo with Murphy and Mysterio ringside. Rollins pulling every move out he could to send a message. Of course, he and Murphy attack Mysterio after the match, but the kid fights through. Again another set up for the post SummerSlam feud with Samoa Joe, who by the end of the match will have “had enough”.

I hear the Woman’s division has stepped up a ton while I was away. Now Zelina Vega is going through a quick trash talk session after last week she was accused of poisoning Montez Ford. This leads to back to back matches between Angelo Dawkins and Andrade. Then Bianca Belair vs Zelina Vega. The two tag teams will face at Summer Slam and solo matches fuel the fire. Dawkins and Belair both walk away with a win. Good chance this is a bad omen for the Street Profits at SummerSlam.

A quick Drew McIntyre promo and it’s on to Underground. While these may be “unsanctioned” matches these need to be somewhat organized. Maybe we don’t need the entrances but at least an introduction or some sort of acknowledgment of who these guys are.

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Asuka vs Smackdown champ Bayley. A quick set up for Asuka to face Sasha Banks at SummerSlam. Why do we need a “challenger gets” .. while their opponent has zero stipulations. It almost always gives away the results. Bleh. Of course, Bayley loses this match and Asuka goes on to fight in the PPV.

Or more of the Undergound, and look introductions this time. Oh and now Shayna Baszler attacking and being attacked by bystanders. This is a CF. Hit starts with cluster. Its a weak attempt to push their brawlers.

Finally a guy I recognize, Randy Orton, and of course Rick Flair. Orton is fighting Kevin Owens. This was actually a good match to cap off the night. Its not PPV quality but it does finally pick up the pace of the show. A quality match that would’ve been a huge pop if they were back in arenas.

And now Orton attacks Flair? Okay, Why would anyone ever trust this guy. This is just lazy writing. Anyone who ever wrestles with this dude or sides with him gets turned on. We get it, he’s a loner. Randy is a hell of a talent, but they’ve painted his picture so poorly throughout the years.

Quick thoughts on Raw:

The Retribution angle is lame. Do we really need a rogue group that mimics social and political groups right now? I get it, they’ve always worked that angle, but its another half-baked idea.

Predictability is why WWE is losing ground to AEW. They’ve been writing the same style for about 30 years, just with different flare. Even when they were being unpredictable, it was predictable. What’s the least likely thing to happen? Boom, happens. Its not the lack of fans, its the poor set-ups.

Women pulling off finishers is exactly what they’ve been lacking since I watched last. I’m not taking the moonsaults off the top rope, or submission moves. Belair pulling off a KoD, okay that’s impressive.

Raw Underground is trash. Let’s be honest, its just a push for Dabba-Kato and some other brawlers. They’re not taking it serious at all. As soon as they get pushed to a main feud, Underground will end.