Get ready for WWE SummerSlam in just two weeks’ time! Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw aimed to solidify the event lineup and introduce some crucial elements like stipulations and feuds. There were several significant moments from tonight’s show, as well as a few perplexing ones that left us scratching our heads. Don’t worry; we’ve gathered all the highlights and analyzed whether they were successful or not in one convenient location – welcome to Hits and Misses, our new regular segment where we dissect the biggest events of the night! As always on Monday nights, you never know what will unfold, and tonight’s Raw was no different, so let’s dive right in.
Hit: The LWO
On this Monday’s Raw, The LWO finally had an impactful showing after a while, which was delightful. Although the specifics of their ongoing push are yet to be determined, it was heartening to observe Dragon Lee frequently on screen and appreciate Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro demonstrate their ring skills. What made this even more enjoyable was that The LWO managed to secure a clean victory against The New Day and The Creed Brothers, setting them up for a challenge against The Judgement Day for the World Tag Team Championships. Although the outcome of this battle is uncertain, it’s refreshing to witness them given an opportunity to excel in a division that can accommodate their frequent showcasing.
Miss: New Day
Regarding Raw’s Tag Team Championship scene, it’s thrilling to see the League of Nations of Wrestling (LWO) in action, but I find myself puzzled about the future direction for New Day. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have remarkably turned their cherished group into a genuine heel act, which is quite challenging. However, they seem a bit out of place within Raw’s Tag Team division at the moment. This is because the division currently houses two other full-blown heel teams – American Made and Seth Rollins’ as yet unnamed team comprising Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, not to mention the somewhat heelish Judgment Day group.
Among all characters in their division, LWO stands out as one of the few genuine personalities (since Alpha Academy has disappeared). If they lose tonight, it’s uncertain where New Day will head next, given the present lineup. A change in image isn’t imminent, so unless they move to SmackDown during the upcoming WWE Draft, they appear directionless, and their loss tonight doesn’t make things any clearer.
Hit: The Entirety of the Women’s Tag Team Championships Match
In the Tag Team division, I found myself captivated by an additional showdown, but this was so much more than just a single spot. It served as a brilliant limelight for the Tag Team segment, offering an exhilarating and surprising clash between Bayley and Lyra Valkyria against Judgement Day’s Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. This battle not only advanced the storyline for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, but it also intensified the rivalry in a way that makes me eagerly anticipate Liv Morgan’s comeback. The budding partnership between Raquel and Roxanne is proving to be an entertaining spectacle, and the escalating feud between Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch is shaping up to be title-defining, all while catapulting Lyra into the realm of true superstardom.
Miss: Bayley
This contest, however, carries an exception, which I’ll discuss later. Interestingly, it was Bayley who played a crucial part in setting up this encounter by choosing Valkyria as her partner. Yet, the circumstances surrounding their partnership seem unclear. If Bayley had betrayed Valkyria during the match or used it to gain an advantage over Lynch, this would have been more understandable. However, given Bayley’s sincere cooperation with Valkyria throughout the contest, her role in this scenario remains puzzling, and the conclusion of the match failed to offer any explanations.
Keeping that in mind, let’s address a potential issue. If the intention is to push Bayley to her limits and eventually turn her into a villain, then this strategy might be effective, and I could overlook some unusual moves due to the desired outcome. However, from a storytelling perspective, this aspect appears not fully developed yet. While I’m always open to excellent matches happening for their own sake, it seems that this part of the narrative lacks clarity at the moment.
Hit: AJ Styles
Over the last few weeks, AJ Styles has been a standout entertainer on Monday Night Raw. He’s been secretively tracking Dominik Mysterio, aiming for a chance at the Intercontinental Championship. Tonight, Styles took things up a notch, appearing in different disguises such as a valet, a janitor, and ultimately a WWE official, relentlessly pursuing Mysterio and taunting him throughout the show. Their match is scheduled for SummerSlam, but the lead-up to
Hit: Karrion Kross
One of the most organic narratives we’ve seen lately revolves around Karrion Kross, who has been resonating with the audience and delivering top-notch promos. This has fueled an engaging rivalry with Sami Zayn, but there was a challenge: Kross hadn’t accumulated enough victories to sustain his momentum, until tonight. Tonight’s victory against Zayn serves as a crucial catalyst for Kross, amplifying the impact of his words and future promos, whether in this ongoing feud or in any new conflicts that may arise.
Hit: Stephanie Vaquer and Iyo Sky
How do you continue the exciting first-time encounter between Stephanie Vaquer and Iyo Sky? Tonight’s episode of Raw successfully delivered another match between these two talented superstars, keeping it under wraps until the last moment. Although the initial clash was cut short, this time around, they had an outstanding match that showcased each performer’s distinctive abilities in various imaginative moves and counteractions. The audience is always a winner whenever these two share the ring, hoping one day they will have the opportunity to finish their battle without interruption.
Miss: Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice
I’d like to make it clear that Chelsea Green and The Secret Service are truly captivating, and I genuinely appreciate them for numerous reasons. One of these reasons is their ability to entertain in any situation during a match, which was evident tonight as they targeted Vaquer. However, much like Kross, when a heel or heel faction doesn’t have significant victories to showcase their power, their effectiveness can be limited. It seems that since Green lost the Women’s United States Championship, their performances have been entertaining but mostly ending in defeat. Tonight was no exception, as they attacked Vaquer but were quickly overpowered by Rhea Ripley, Vaquer, and Sky. For this team to continue thriving, it’s crucial for them to achieve more victories and advancements, and at the moment, that doesn’t appear to be in their near future.
Hit: Roman Reigns
Last week, the Tribal Chief made his triumphant comeback to WWE Raw, and tonight he emerged to challenge the individual who deceived him at WrestleMania 41. Eventually, Reigns found himself squaring off against Heyman’s fresh team consisting of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. After a fierce rebuke of Heyman and his part in Reigns’ rise, Reigns also took aim at Breakker and essentially outplayed him. This encounter, though, held potential as Breakker might respond with an impactful promo that suggests this rivalry will endure, regardless of whether Rollins is absent for a while.
Miss: Paul Heyman
Heyman always delivers on the microphone without fail, and he didn’t disappoint here either. My criticism isn’t about how he spoke but what he said. Heyman is known for being a master opportunist, so when he tried to appease Reigns by giving him a shout-out or calling him the tribal chief, it wasn’t out of character. However, I found it strange that Heyman abandoned Rollins now that he’s injured, especially since he still has two dangerous men by his side in WWE. This action seemed odd considering their past on-screen interactions. Moreover, when Heyman proposed a team-up to Reigns again, either Breakker or Reed reacted negatively to the offer, which also seemed unusual given their previous screen time with Rollins. This moment somewhat broke the reality of the storyline for me in several ways, and while it elicited great reactions from Reigns, I never found it convincing, and nothing Heyman said managed to sell it to me.
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2025-07-22 07:10