RAW: 7/29

[Jack-Hammer]

A few things are on tap for this week's Raw:

A Samoan Summit is scheduled to take place between Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe, though I have no idea why really if the purpose of this is to continue their program. To my knowledge, Joe owns a single win over Reigns and that was a couple of years ago and Reigns defeated him last week.

A gauntlet match is scheduled for tonight's Raw to determine the new #1 contender for the United States Championship. The competitors will consist of Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, Andrade and Cesaro. This has the potential to be all kinds of fun if they're given a good amount of time and are allowed to leave it all in the ring.

A Raw Tag Team Championship threeway bout is scheduled with the Revival taking on the Usos and Gallows & Anderson. With SummerSlam just a few weeks off, it seems unlikely there'll be a title change here but it could still happen; if so, it almost certainly won't be the Usos as it looks bad since rewarding someone with a championship run who only days ago was arrested for DUI, again, clearly sends the wrong message.

A non-title match between Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss is on tap for tonight. Probably a tool primarily designed to move along Becky's program with Natalya with Nattie either costing Becky the match or beating her down.

The main event for tonight's show is a singles bout between Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler. Brock Lesnar is advertised locally in Little Rock, Arkansas as being on the show, so he might show up and then he might not. It'll be a decent enough match but pretty pointless all in all.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Dolph Ziggler in the main event and Reigns vs Joe continuing even though Reigns beat him clean in like 6 minutes?

...sure.

The gauntlet match should be very good if they give it time. I wouldn't mind if it goes over an hour.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

Other than the Gauntlet match (That should be the main event) ...the rest sounds boring.

[BaconBits]

I’m gonna guess Drake’s wife has signed a contract if she’s working a match.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Probably.

[BaconBits]

Mike’s Vagina clapclapclap

[#AbsoluteUnit]

That was cool.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Styles vs Ricochet should be great again, but after they scrapped the automatic rematch clause, I expected fewer rematches.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Get Ricochet a manager.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Please don't let that lead to a miscarriage angle.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

That would be terrible.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Alexa and Nikki have been great together.

[BaconBits]

Alexa and Nikki have been great together.

I don’t want either one of them to turn. Just let em be friends long term.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

There was a TNA joke in there somewhere with the empty arena.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

Looking closely to see if one of them is drunk or not....

[BaconBits]

Wonder if the Usos are eating the pin because another DUI.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Wonder if the Usos are eating the pin because another DUI.

They'll probably win the match.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Wonder if the Usos are eating the pin because another DUI.

Exactly my thought.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

OC for the win.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Sad that the only team with any sort of personality are the ones constantly getting arrested.

[BaconBits]

I’m enjoying an icy cold beer while I watch these alcoholics lose.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

RVD got caught with weed in his car and they ripped the WWE Title off of him. Samoan Uso drives drunk, twice the speed limit, gets a title shot.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

Why cant it be triple threat in this situation? That's so stupid they have to wait for a lucky tag.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

#EndViolence is trending on Twitter, so sorry guys. Gotta shut WWE down.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

Man that over the top rope suplex was a broken neck waiting to happen

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Cole didn't say Uso Crazy! I'm cancelling the Network!

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I nominate "Why is your hair so wet?" for sign of the year.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

Good for Gallows and Anderson.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I love how WWE doesn't care about wins, losses, or consistent booking and just puts the titles on whoever's threatening to go to AEW.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

*Backstage meeting for Reigns vs Joe*

"How do we make this sound as least interesting as possible? Call it a Samoan Summit."

[BaconBits]

I love how WWE doesn't care about wins, losses, or consistent booking and just puts the titles on whoever's threatening to go to AEW.

But they’re not threatening to leave. Latest reports are that they’ve signed new deals.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

But they’re not threatening to leave. Latest reports are that they’ve signed new deals.

They re-signed because WWE promised to push them.

[BaconBits]

They re-signed because WWE promised to push them.

You have no idea if thatâ??s true or not. Quit believing all the bullshit Meltzer spouts.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

You have no idea if that’s true or not. Quit believing all the bullshit Meltzer spouts.

Could be wrong, but I don't think it's a coincidence that they re-formed the Club and gave them the titles weeks after they re-signed after doing nothing with them for nearly a year.

[BaconBits]

Could be wrong, but I don't think it's a coincidence that they re-formed the Club and gave them the titles weeks after they re-signed after doing nothing with them for nearly a year.

Karl especially has been very complimentary of WWE the entire time. The pure conjecture from dirtsheet writers is just neckbeard fuel.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Karl especially has been very complimentary of WWE the entire time. The pure conjecture from dirtsheet writers is just neckbeard fuel.

They're not going to say anything publicly.

[BaconBits]

They're not going to say anything publicly.

So, again, back to pure speculation from the neckbeardy part of the internet.

Dirtsheets put out shit that their audiences want to hear. The faster you realize that, the better off you’ll be.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

So, again, back to pure speculation from the neckbeardy part of the internet.

Dirtsheets put out shit that they’re audiences want to hear. The faster you realize that, the better off you’ll be.

I don't always believe the dirt sheets, but this story makes a lot of sense to me. Why push the Club now?

It's much more unbelievable that every WWE wrestler is 100% satisfied and has no interest in AEW.

[BaconBits]

I don't always believe the dirt sheets, but this story makes a lot of sense to me. Why push the Club now?

It's much more unbelievable that every WWE wrestler is 100% satisfied and has no interest in AEW.

Nobody said theyâ??re all happy. Iâ??m saying most of this conjecture is stupid, because the business of professional wrestling revolves around money. The WWE is very much still the best place to make good money consistently. AEW could very well fail due to a complete lack of star power and even less brand recognition. Then that gravy train goes away.

Artistic freedom means fuck all. It wonâ??t pay the mortgage. It wonâ??t put food on the table. It wonâ??t put your kids through college.

You have to look at this shit like an adult.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Nobody said they’re all happy. I’m saying most of this conjecture is stupid, because the business of professional wrestling revolves around money. The WWE is very much still the best place to make good money consistently. AEW could very well fail due to a complete lack of star power and even less brand recognition. Then that gravy train goes away.

Artistic freedom means fuck all. It won’t pay the mortgage. It won’t put food on the table. It won’t put your kids through college.

You have to look at this shit like an adult.

Dean Ambrose, Tye Dillinger, Neville, and Goldust all left for more freedom. That may not mean anything to me or you, but it does to a lot of wrestlers. The safest and smartest financial option is re-signing with WWE. AEW can't/won't pay as much and could fail, but that's a risk these guys were willing to take. Not everyone is, but I'm sure others will.

Could it all be speculation? Yes, but again why push the Club now? I find it hard to believe that they do next to nothing with them for around a year or longer and then push them after they re-sign.

Edit - Forgot that Luke Harper and Sasha Banks requested their release for the same reason.

[BaconBits]

Could see that one coming a hundred miles away.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Well that happened.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

That was weird

[BestSportsEntertainer]

"Maria talks about what it's like being pregnant, and then Strowman growls"

Someone actually wrote this in a script for a wrestling show.

[BaconBits]

Dean Ambrose, Tye Dillinger, Neville, and Goldust all left for more freedom. That may not mean anything to me or you, but it does to a lot of wrestlers. The safest and smartest financial option is re-signing with WWE. AEW can't/won't pay as much and could fail, but that's a risk these guys were willing to take. Not everyone is, but I'm sure others will.

Could it all be speculation? Yes, but again why push the Club now? I find it hard to believe that they do next to nothing with them for around a year or longer and then push them after they re-sign.

Dean Ambrose was paid fuck you money for a handful of years, and he’s gone out of his way to not burn that bridge. He’s worked more for NJPW than he has AEW. Tye Dillinger was in developmental for a fucking decade. Acting like he’s a big deal is insane. Neville’s post WWE career has been a disaster, and despite how much AEW hyped him, he still isn’t wrestling for them because all that artistic freedom means he has to protect the DG championship. Is that even freedom? Golddust is Cody’s brother. If Cody hadn’t found a money mark, do you really think he would have left to go wrestle somewhere else?

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Dean Ambrose was paid fuck you money for a handful of years, and he’s gone out of his way to not burn that bridge. He’s worked more for NJPW than he has AEW. Tye Dillinger was in developmental for a fucking decade. Acting like he’s a big deal is insane. Neville’s post WWE career has been a disaster, and despite how much ARW hyped him, he still isn’t wrestling for them because all that artistic freedom means he has to protect the DG championship. Is that even freedom? Golddust is Cody’s brother. If Cody hadn’t found a money mark, do you really think he would have left to go wrestle somewhere else?

Yes, and they all left because they were unhappy in WWE.

But there's NO way Gallows and Anderson could've wanted to leave.

[BaconBits]

Yes, and they all left because they were unhappy in WWE.

But there's NO way Gallows and Anderson could've wanted to leave.

You have devolved into a smark. That’s kinda sad, actually.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

What are they going to do with 25 minutes left?

[BestSportsEntertainer]

What are they going to do with 25 minutes left?

Apparently Brock is going to kill Seth.

[BaconBits]

What are they going to do with 25 minutes left?

Looks like Brock is just gonna beat that ass for a half hour.

[BaconBits]

I want Brock to go back on the tren and d-bol again and get swole as fuck. Make him that much scarier.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Wait is the Samoan Summit actually going to main event, or did they hopefully scrap it?

[BaconBits]

Wait is the Samoan Summit actually going to main event, or did they hopefully scrap it?

What if a certain Samoan is in the house?

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Goodbye TVPG

[BaconBits]

Goodbye TVPG

Thatâ??s a recently popular opinion, but they confirmed itâ??s not happening.

[BaconBits]

Holy shit Brock really is beating that ass for a half hour.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

That’s a recently popular opinion, but they confirmed it’s not happening.

ok.

[BaconBits]

That was fun.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

I got to say, I dig the addition of Cedric Alexander in that.

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

Brock killing Seth was pretty rough looking, looked like he was legit hurting the guy in disturbing fashion. Bravo!

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Overall great episode of Raw.

[klunderbunker]

Monday Night Raw
Date: July 29, 2019
Location: Verizon Arena, North Little Rock, Arkansas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Renee Young, Corey Graves

The rapid fire build to Summerslam can build tonight as we have less than two weeks to go before the show. A lot of the matches have already been set, but there are several more to go and the ones that already exist need some more time to really be ready. The shows have been somewhat better as of late so hopefully the trend can continue. Let’s get to it.

Click on the link below for the full review.

Something Old Something New (http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/07/29/monday-night-raw-july-29-2019-some-old-some-new/)

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

That empty arena training schtick, did they not do the exact same bit a year or so ago with Charlotte and Becky Lynch / Sasha Banks?

[Jack-Hammer]

Definitely the best episode of Raw in quite some time. Solid SummerSlam build, some good wrestling action, nothing overstaying its welcome, no Baron Corbin or Shane McMahon in sight, a great beatdown segment with Rollins and Lesnar, new Raw Tag Team Champions with the O.C. claiming the titles, a 24/7 Champion who happens to be preggers, solid build for the Raw Women's Championship bout, nice little chaotic brawl to end the show with. Even though the show didn't drag, I kept thinking that tonight's show would've been just about the perfect wrestling TV program if it'd been a hour shorter. Still, the strongest episode of Raw in a very long time.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Definitely the best episode of Raw in quite some time. Solid SummerSlam build, some good wrestling action, nothing overstaying its welcome, no Baron Corbin or Shane McMahon in sight, a great beatdown segment with Rollins and Lesnar, new Raw Tag Team Champions with the O.C. claiming the titles, a 24/7 Champion who happens to be preggers, solid build for the Raw Women's Championship bout, nice little chaotic brawl to end the show with. Even though the show didn't drag, I kept thinking that tonight's show would've been just about the perfect wrestling TV program if it'd been a hour shorter. Still, the strongest episode of Raw in a very long time.

I wonder how much of this is due to Paul Heyman. The show has been far from perfect, but aside from his 2nd week, it's been noticeably better since he took over.

[Jack-Hammer]

I wonder how much of this is due to Paul Heyman. The show has been far from perfect, but aside from his 2nd week, it's been noticeably better since he took over.

Reportedly, this was Heyman's most heavily influenced show yet and it's gotten a lot of positive feedback among fans, writers, wrestlers, etc..

Of course, there's only so much that can be done when you get right down to it considering Vince is still the one in charge. For example, Vince has allegedly changed the main event of tonight's SD Live episode twice over the course of today and has had the entire show re-written.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Reportedly, this was Heyman's most heavily influenced show yet and it's gotten a lot of positive feedback among fans, writers, wrestlers, etc..

Of course, there's only so much that can be done when you get right down to it considering Vince is still the one in charge. For example, Vince has allegedly changed the main event of tonight's SD Live episode twice over the course of today and has had the entire show re-written.

If Shaneâ??s opening promo holds true, then he did a good job at at least one thing. Weâ??ll see though.