Tonight’s WWE Raw: 6 Hits & 4 Misses (July 28)

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During tonight’s WWE Raw, WWE laid the groundwork for several major matches at SummerSlam, adding intrigue or excitement to many of them before wrapping up the show. The program showcased some of its top performers while also developing its emerging stars. However, there are still some superstars seeking crucial victories and a coveted place on the SummerSlam lineup. Let’s analyze the evening’s key highlights and determine which were successful and which missed the mark, so let’s dive right into the first significant segment of the night.

Hit: Paul Heyman’s Manipulative Promo

Paul Heyman and Jey Uso began their verbal confrontation on Monday Night Raw, and though it took some time to gain momentum, Heyman ultimately delivered a powerful promo. While his crowd engagement abilities are unmatched, what truly stood out in this exchange was when Heyman started to focus on Jey’s position within the original Bloodline.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but appreciate how Heyman skillfully revisited pivotal Bloodline history. It’s like he’s sowing seeds of uncertainty within the bond shared by Jey and Roman. The revelation that Solo was chosen over Jey to lead the Bloodline—a tidbit I wouldn’t forget if my life depended on it—was a brilliant move, fueling anticipation for a potential showdown between Solo and Jey. If this alliance is to endure, more doubt-sowing encounters like that would be nothing short of thrilling!

Hit: Return of Mixed Tag Team Matches

In recent weeks, WWE has been exploring more mixed tag team matches, and tonight’s contest is a prime example. The team-up of AJ Styles and the Kabuki Warriors squared off against Dominik Mysterio, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez from Judgement Day. While we’ve followed their individual stories for some time now, bringing them together adds an exciting twist and propels their narratives forward, even if in a smaller capacity. Here’s hoping this trend continues!

Hit: Truly a New Day

Last week, Grayson Waller reappeared and began engaging with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston from New Day, and this week their partnership was officially formalized. I was curious about what New Day’s strategy would be following their defeat and stepping out of the Title scene (for now), and it appears that they are receiving some support in their efforts from Waller.

Though I wouldn’t have anticipated New Day’s next transformation in this manner, it’s not false to say that this could turn out quite effectively. Waller seems an ideal match for this villainous version of New Day, and he infuses them with the element of surprise they need to keep their place relevant on Raw. The future development is still uncertain, but as a team, they show potential.

Miss: Missing the Payoff

Sadly, the collaboration between Waller isn’t without its flaws, and it’s unrelated to New Day. If you’ve been tuning into both Raw and NXT over the past year, you might have noticed a protracted narrative: the disintegration of A-Town Down Under, the Tag Team consisting of Waller and Austin Theory. For quite some time, the split was hinted at, and on several occasions, the audience seemed to favor Theory as he distanced himself from his self-centered and arrogant partner.

Unfortunately, WWE didn’t get a chance to finish the storyline with Theory due to an injury that has kept him out for quite some time. As a result, they’ve shifted Waller into another plot, and it’s uncertain if the original one will ever be resolved when Theory recovers. If it does, it won’t have the same impact as it once did, which is unfortunate because Theory could have benefited greatly from that storyline as a babyface character. Although extended story development is great, there are instances where stories get prolonged too long, and this seems to be one of those cases. We wish Theory a swift recovery and hope for the best.

Miss: This Isn’t Clicking…right?

Regarding Waller, it appears his tale was interrupted by Sheamus, who’s currently embroiled in a conflict with Rusev. Their recent fights have been intense and brutal, leading many to anticipate another confrontation between them. However, this upcoming match might be just as exciting, but I can’t quite put my finger on why this specific rivalry doesn’t seem as captivating. I’m hoping both wrestlers will soon shift their focus to a more engaging storyline.

Miss: Weaker Than Usual

The conflict with Becky has taken Lyra Valkyria to a new stage in her career, enabling her to forge a deeper bond with her audience. This is evident from the very moment she enters the ring, as the cheers of “wooos” echo rhythmically. Her powerful moves also resonate well with the crowd, who seem to embrace her as an underdog willing to get her hands dirty. Working alongside Lynch has helped bring out these qualities in Lyra.

The issue at hand here is that Valkyria’s promo during her segment was not as strong as usual, despite maintaining a strong connection with the audience throughout. Even when Becky attacked her, Valkyria’s promo fell short compared to her recent performances on the microphone, lacking the same level of conviction and confidence. However, Valkyria made up for it by going into beast-mode with the kendo sticks against Becky, which helped wrap up the segment effectively. As we move towards SummerSlam, this minor dip in performance is likely to be overshadowed by another classic match between these two wrestlers, making this slight setback almost irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

Hit: Bayley’s Turn Seems Inevitable

It seems like Bayley is unsure about her upcoming plans, as she’s already missed WrestleMania and now she’s missing SummerSlam. In her career for the first time, she finds herself speechless. #WWERAW

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) July 29, 2025

Last week, Bayley experienced another frustrating defeat in the Tag Team Titles fight, and I mentioned then that this loss could be significant if it was leading to a villainous transformation. Surprisingly, it appears we are witnessing just that, as this week’s backstage scene sets things up perfectly for such a turn.

Bayley was questioned about her absence from SummerSlam, and she seemed genuinely sad and disheartened about the way things have been going for her. She mentioned missing out on the Intercontinental Title, the Tag Titles, WrestleMania 31, and a match at SummerSlam. The signs suggest that she will soon take a new direction, particularly when she said, “for the first time in my career, I’m speechless.” It appears that a heel turn for Bayley could happen at SummerSlam, which might be one of the biggest surprises on the list.

Miss: Not the Only One Missing Out

As a diehard cinema fan, let me express my thoughts: It’s not just Bayley who’s missing out on SummerSlam, but Nikki Bella’s absence seems to lack any narrative context. Tonight, however, we witnessed a tantalizing team-up, with Nikki joining Stephanie Vaquer, Iyo Sky, and Rhea Ripley against an equally impressive squad of Naomi, Chelsea Green, Alba Fyre, and Piper Niven. Each member had their chance to captivate the audience, making this match a spectacle not easily forgotten.

Bella had some key moments in the game that added fuel to her feud with Green post-return, however, these moments didn’t lead to anything significant for SummerSlam. Nevertheless, something unexpected might be announced this week, but it may not live up to its potential due to the lack of buildup or crucial conditions. It seems odd that they can arrange a tag match between Jelly Roll and Logan Paul without any stakes, yet struggle to find a place for a WWE legend who just came back at Evolution.

Hit: Best in the World

Gunther stands out as one of the most dominant figures in WWE, seldom does anyone, even legends such as Goldberg, diminish his imposing presence. However, CM Punk stepped up with an intent to prove why he’s known as the Best in the World, particularly when it comes to delivering powerful blows through his speeches on the microphone.

Punk thoroughly criticized Gunther during their match, pointing out his flaws multiple times, yet managed to compliment him on his skills simultaneously. Despite the harsh words, he didn’t undermine Gunther’s abilities. This performance demonstrated a unique way of tearing down an opponent in the ring while enhancing the match itself. If Gunther wins, it will be a significant boost for him, but if Punk wins, it adds another impressive feat to his already stellar career, setting the stage for potential victory in this ongoing rivalry.

Hit: The Next Rollins

Tonight’s headlining bout was initially scheduled between Jey Uso and Bronson Reed; however, as the show progressed, it became clear that the main event served as a collision of the two dominant figures in WWE, shedding light on their future trajectories. The match ending in a disqualification further emphasized this, and when Roman Reigns intervened to save the day, I didn’t foresee the final message from the ensuing pandemonium.

By the close of the evening, it became evident that WWE has identified their next star akin to Seth Rollins, and that individual is Bron Breakker. However, please note that I’m not suggesting that anyone will take over from Seth Rollins any time soon. They possess distinct skill sets, so a replacement comparison wouldn’t be appropriate even on that level. What I’m trying to convey is that Rollins experienced a pivotal career moment when he betrayed The Shield, which marked the beginning of an exceptional run as a villain that he has revisited at various points in his journey, including now.

WWE consistently emphasized during the program that Breakker has unique strategies and thoughts, which was evident even when Rollins was still active. Since Rollins is currently injured, Breakker is capitalizing on the opportunity, surprising Paul Heyman, and tonight’s performance was a clear message to Heyman, Rollins, Reigns, and the WWE audience that this territory now belongs to him. In a reminiscent move of Reigns’ well-known “this is my ring” promo from his rivalry with Brock Lesnar, as Reigns and Jey were knocked out in the ring, Breakker took it a step further by spearing both of them through a barrier. It appears that Breakker will be the one to serve Rollins a dose of his own medicine, and though it may take some time, Breakker’s reign will eventually become the main event, and he wants everyone to understand that.

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2025-07-29 08:11