Re: WWE RAW & Smackdown Thread

[Majingir]

Saudi likely won't allow WWE to mention that certain wrestlers don't want to compete over there because it makes them look bad. Though, it would have been something if he said if he wants the match, he has to put his pride aside and fly to Saudi or something like that.

To be fair, Punk was kind of alluding to it as well. Saying in order to end Cena he has to channel his inner monster. Which could be taken as saying Punk is doing something he hates to do in order to beat Cena.

With the way they've spent the last week talking up the "Jey's been taking too much damage!" thing, I knew he was losing. I thought it'd be to a cash-in though, so I was surprised by the ending.

Good show tonight

Note to all future superstars, never face Gunther with your kid sitting front row.

Gable lost, Jey lost, who's next? Didn't Sami lose too with his kid in the front row the first time around and kept his family away for the rematch?

I got it spoiled before I got to the match, but if I were watching live, I wouldn't even think Gunther is winning but I would've fully believed Rollins was cashing after Jey retains.

[UFCMPunk]

That was a fun episode of Smackdown.

[Dead2009]

Cody wins again LOL. I guess him winning KOTR is his way of getting the rematch with Cena.

[Majingir]

I get they're doing it because of "secret hervice", but they should let Alba and Piper have actual gear. Can't imagine what it feels like wrestling in that.

It's like Constable Corbin when he always wrestled in a dress shirt and pants. Just give them proper wrestling gear too. Even just have the gear themed to fit their suit.

Or in Piper/Alba's case, maybe their gear is reminiscent of Chelsea's.

I wonder when the KOTR/WHC plans happened, but everything right now sets up so much for a Sami vs Jey finals.

Sami getting his moment at Summerslam perhaps? I hope it happens and they treat it like a Kofimania or even just like Samis first NXT title win (minus the KO attack)



But assuming Jey wins, of the 4 possible finals scenarios, we have almost all of them with a good story going in.

1. Sami vs Jey. Uso vs Honorary Uce!

2. Orton vs Rhodes. Former legacy members facing off. Haven't faced off one on one since 2013, and haven't faced off on a PLE/PPV since 2011.

3. Sami vs Cody. Not as compelling as the first two options, but still some obvious history there with Sami and Cody's friendship as we've seen them in multiple promos and matches, both as friends (such as Wargames) and enemies (tag title feud).

4. Orton vs Jey. This would be the least compelling story of the 4 options, but despite that, those two have history going back to the Bloodline taking out Orton.

I don't think Orton or Cody need to win to face Cena at SS. If anything, I could see Regins coming back at some point and being the one to challenge Cena. Would there be a bigger Summerslam match that they can do right now than Reigns vs Cena?

Jey or Sami winning would lead to a match vs Gunther, and it seems stupid to have Jey lose the title just to face Gunther again. Sami winning would be the underdog story. Don't forget, Raw and SD are in Montreal/Quebec City in August (first SD after Summerslam and following Raw). Sami Zayn walking in there as a world champ would be a bigger reaction than the one he got a few years back, and that reaction already is up there for one of my faves in wrestling history

[UFCMPunk]

Pat McAfee still out, Corey Graves & Michael Cole reunited for RAW tonight.

[UFCMPunk]

The rumors were true............ and Gunther, YOU'RE NEXT! I actually don't mind Goldberg vs Gunther but did Jey's title reign have to be sacrificed so it could be a World Championship Match. This is such a Vince move if it really was a Triple H decision to have the title on the line.

[UFCMPunk]

Well I see Seth converted Becky to being a Bears fan.

[Majingir]

The rumors were true............ and Gunther, YOU'RE NEXT! I actually don't mind Goldberg vs Gunther but did Jey's title reign have to be sacrificed so it could be a World Championship Match. This is such a Vince move if it really was a Triple H decision to have the title on the line.

I'm glad I managed to stay away from some rumors. I haven't followed that rumor at all so I wasn't expecting anything and it led to a great surprise.

Feels like a TKO/NBC decision to have a huge SNME match in Atlanta, and what bigger match in Atlanta than Goldberg for the world title?

The fact that it's happening at SNME though...maybe that's a good sign that the KOTR winner faces Gunther, because why else wouldn't they do Gunther vs Goldberg at Summerslam unless there's other plans? I'm fully on board Sami Zayn for KOTR.

[UFCMPunk]

Feels like a TKO/NBC decision to have a huge SNME match in Atlanta, and what bigger match in Atlanta than Goldberg for the world title?

The fact that it's happening at SNME though...maybe that's a good sign that the KOTR winner faces Gunther, because why else wouldn't they do Gunther vs Goldberg at Summerslam unless there's other plans? I'm fully on board Sami Zayn for KOTR.

Oh no... AEW All In has them shaking in their boots so much that they needed to bring back Goldberg for a World Title match lol, jk. Honestly, I don't mind the match happening I just wish the title wasn't involved. It really feels like the winner is going to be Sami or Cody, Sami would challenge Gunther while Cody would challenge Cena for his Mania rematch.

[UFCMPunk]

I really hope Liv Morgan will be ok. That was a standard fall and bump, the slow motion video of it makes it even worse. Not what the WWE wanted to happen ahead of the big Women's PLE Evolution in a couple weeks. So whatever plans they had between Liv & Nikki might be out the window now, but does that mean they will finally strip the Women's Tag titles from Liv & Raquel? With Evolution coming up, it would be a good way to get them on the card by having a match for the vacant tag titles.

[Majingir]

Liv dislocated her shoulder?!

Doesn't sound like she'll be back soon.

Return of the curse of the women's tag title?

One positive perhaps, instead of Liv and Raquel vs the Bellas, maybe they do some women's tag team gauntlet for the tag titles at Evolution. Even use some alumni to come back as teams too.

[UFCMPunk]

So depending the severity of the dislocation, she could be out up to 16 weeks which would mean she's out the whole Summer, missing the first Evolution PLE in 7 years, missing Summerslam in her home state of Jersey, Clash in Paris and maybe returning in October. Maybe return at Crown Jewel in Perth?

Terrible timing.... the bad luck with Women's injuries continue.

[TheMatrix31]

Who the ****** is asking for Goldberg to be involved in anything. They really need to stop wasting Gunther on this dumb *** ****. They could have had Goldberg face Breaker if they wanted to involve his unnecessary worthless ****ing overrated insufferable ***.

Great show otherwise. Raw is *significantly* better than Smackdown week to week.

Really really infuriating that Liv is hurt. Hope it's BS but I guess not considering the way they address injuries directly now.

[Majingir]

Some people suggest it could be a work but that seemed like such a basic/weak spot to sell it as an injury spot. Especially when earlier on, Finn even told Roxanne to come with him and they'll come up with a plan to help Liv win her match.

Regardless how long she's out, maybe they really make Roxanne sub in for Liv and become the champ in her absence which causes more dissension.

[TheMatrix31]

Some people suggest it could be a work but that seemed like such a basic/weak spot to sell it as an injury spot. Especially when earlier on, Finn even told Roxanne to come with him and they'll come up with a plan to help Liv win her match.

Regardless how long she's out, maybe they really make Roxanne sub in for Liv and become the champ in her absence which causes more dissension.

That would be a good way to use it in story for sure. They should definitely do that.