The July 20 episode of Raw, held in Detroit's Little Caesar's Arena, showcased a mix of intense rivalries and intriguing storylines, setting the stage for the upcoming SummerSlam event. The show's main event, LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu, lacked the spark expected from a main event, with the result leaning towards The Bloodline's dominance. However, the pre-match promo from Knight was a standout moment, exuding intensity and conviction, which could be a pivotal moment in his journey to establish himself as a main eventer.
One of the most intriguing segments was the return of Danhausen to his hometown, Detroit. His brief encounter with The Judgment Day and subsequent match against JD McDonagh, graded C, served as a brief interlude that didn't significantly impact the overall narrative. The real highlight was the introduction of Oba Femi, who dominated McDonagh in a C+ match, showcasing his potential as a future world champion. This victory, coupled with his impending war with Brock Lesnar at Hell in a Cell, positions Femi as a rising star in the company.
The show also featured a C+ match between Joe Hendry and Dominik Mysterio, which, while inoffensive, failed to leave a lasting impression. The women's division's absence from the main event was a notable shortcoming, indicating a lack of importance placed on women's wrestling on WWE TV. The tag team match between Penta and Chad Gable against Ethan Page and Rusev, graded B+, was a strong outing, with the crowd's engagement and the match's high-quality execution.
The episode's MVP was LA Knight, whose promo and ability to sell the conflict with The Bloodline, despite the main event's underwhelming result, showcased his potential as a main eventer. However, the overall show felt like a placeholder, with little in the way of major story developments, and the focus on in-ring action and character development may not be enough to sustain long-term interest.
In summary, while Raw provided some entertaining moments, the lack of significant story progression and the underwhelming main event result may leave viewers yearning for more substantial narrative developments as the build-up to SummerSlam continues.
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