CM Punk will get the strap, Liv Morgan shoots her shot, and Randy Orton reminds GUNTHER who he’s on this week’s Monday Evening Uncooked.
Prepared or Not
VIPER vs. GUNTHER#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/9fw9dZDe7Y
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2024
The Randy Orton & GUNTHER program fascinates me increasingly. They began at a spot the place the World Heavyweight champ denigrated Randy’s profession. Once more, it sounded bizarre kicking grime on a person with that rap sheet whereas additionally acknowledging stated rap sheet, however that’s a part of GUNTHER’s conceitedness.
All the pieces after that time, particularly GUNTHER mentioning Randy’s father and grandfather, is all about turning the tables on probably WWE’s most dominant wrestlers. That’s the factor about feuds involving seemingly superhuman people; they undergo with out credible threats. Making Randy the Ring Normal’s first challenger places the champ on his heels. It began with Randy copping to the truth that GUNTHER made this private, then the Viper getting the large man flustered on the microphone. GUNTHER isn’t used to anybody speaking to him like this, a lot much less a wrestler of whom he thinks so little.
They confirmed this once more when Randy noticed the Ludwig Kaiser sneak assault coming. I’m glad they’re not treating Randy like a standard wrestler right here. They’re utilizing his accolades and expertise as a weapon; one which places GUNTHER in a really completely different place.
He’s nonetheless the champ however he’s the underdog. Even when he and Ludwig bought a bonus on Randy, as they need to contemplating it was two vs. one, I by no means felt like they outmatched Randy.
That continued in the course of the match between Randy & Ludwig. Ludwig figured after banging up Randy’s knee earlier within the episode that he’d have a bonus in the principle occasion. Yeah, nah.
That Viper is WICKED!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/IpOGcWdqfu
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2024
Regardless of Ludwig giving displaying, flashing his violent streak, ramming Randy’s knee into metal steps at a full dash, and with the large man lurking outdoors the ring, I by no means as soon as felt like Ludwig had the higher hand. Not even for a second. And with good motive contemplating Randy received the match, which was the correct name.
Randy manhandled GUNTHER after the match as nicely. A pleasant contact for a narrative a couple of man (GUNTHER) who barked up the fallacious tree. This doesn’t imply Randy wins in Berlin, nevertheless it does put GUNTHER in jeopardy. Proper now, Uncooked’s champ seems out of kinds. When’s the final time that occurred throughout his WWE profession?
Randy is a unique animal who calls for a unique technique. Does the champ have it in him? We will see.
Gold Mud Girl
The Judgment Day simply WRECKED the Terror Twins on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/bmB5aMm0OV
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2024
I love that they discarded all of the pretense with Soiled Dom vs. Damian Priest. Damian went in figuring out it was a visit and faster than you possibly can even consider Admiral Ackbar, Judgment Day sprung their entice. The match didn’t even begin earlier than Carlito got here out swinging however Damian anticipated it.
From there, the brawl ensued with Damian taking over all comers and making them look foolish. Then it took one other flip when Rhea appeared. She and Damian took turns laying arms on Dom. Let me skip to the half when Liv Morgan got here to the rescue.
Liv regarded unbelievable whereas decimating Rhea. It is a facet of Liv I like but additionally one crucial. Their first match went Liv’s course due to Dom. Liv not often regarded like able to hanging with Rhea a lot much less defeating her. She regarded scrappy at SummerSlam; right here she regarded harmful. Rhea’s promoting went a great distance into making that occur however the champ regarded like a plausible violent particular person. I don’t bear in mind the final time I noticed Rhea look so mortal. It additionally illustrates simply how outmatched the Terror Twins are. They want extra firepower if their newest foray into the breach is any indication. However the place do they discover it?
B-Sides
Clap Yo Fingers
Payback’s a BUTCH…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/emeb02kFot
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2024
Butch Pete Dunne busted Sheamus’ hand with a shillelagh final week. Sheamus, he of famous ill-temper, wished his get again this week, not subsequent. Not even as soon as his hand totally healed. That meant Sheamus, whereas sporting a forged, walked right into a match with a man recognized for ripping aside fingers with an enormous bullseye on his hand.
So naturally, Pete took took intention and didn’t miss. A minimum of within the first half of the match. Issues took a flip when Mr. Dunne realized that Sheamus can’t be beat and he received’t be beat. The previous world champ even known as Pete out his identify in the course of the match to egg him on and get in his head.
And it labored.
The best second got here in the direction of the top when Pete wrapped Sheamus’ hand within the turnbuckle padding. He then beat on that hand till Sheamus seemingly may take no extra. However all that fired up the Irishman, who changed into the Unbelievable Hulk and ripped the turnbuckle off the ring publish. He then completed the match a Brogue Kick.
Enjoyable, bodily match however I believe the fallacious man received. Whereas I beloved Sheamus ripping that padding off the turnbuckle, it weakened Pete a bit. He couldn’t beat a person with one hand wrapped in a forged, even after decimating that hand. There’s no disgrace (pun meant) in Sheamus taking the L on this scenario, so give it to him. Particularly since Pete has an enormous match developing in NXT.
Singles
- So New Day are nonetheless at factor? Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods had a heart-to-heart earlier than their trios match towards Remaining Testomony. X stored it actual: He felt Kofi introduced in Odyssey Jones as Large E’s alternative. Kofi apologized for the miscommunication on his half whereas saying nobody may ever exchange E. The previous WWE champ simply noticed a kindred spirit in Odyssey and desires to assist Odyssey the best way nobody helped them. X revered that then seemingly welcomed Odyssey into the fold. Then…they defeated Remaining Testomony and that was it. Is that this complete factor only a method to get Odyssey into their fold and for New Day to strengthen their bond? Perhaps so. But when that’s not it, this rubber band goes to pop quickly. There’s solely however a lot you possibly can stretch the story earlier than it wears out its welcome and loses emotional effectiveness.
- Earlier than I get into the Wyatt Sicks’ newest assault, permit me a fast rant on American Made. WWE’s chyron referred to them as Chad Gable & American Made. Virtually like Michael Jackson & The Jacksons. Or David Ruffin & The Temptations. But Chad himself referred to all of them, together with Ivy Nile, as American Made. The announce group additionally known as them all American Made. What precisely is the nomenclature right here? Anyway, the large deal right here is the Wyatts interrupted Maxxine and Ivy Nile’s grudge match, firmly setting the stage for an enormous showdown with “Chad Gable & American Made.” I actually hope somebody in Alpha Academy will get their payback one among lately. For a second, I assumed the Maxxine & Ivy drama may transfer some chess items away from the Wyatt vs. Chad battle. Yeah, I used to be fallacious. And that received’t be the final time, dudes and dudettes, however I apologize. So bottomline? I need extra of this feud however I additionally need justice for Alpha Academy, who look like they’re all the time bridesmaids.
- CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in a strap match in Brazil. Punk strolling out with the straps round his neck for the promo regarded nice. Drew rocking the bracelet when he got here out and virtually giving it to Punk when the Chicagoan stated he’d name off the match if Drew O’Mac merely handed it again additionally made sense. In fact he was by no means going to do it however I can see a world the place he does if solely to rid himself of this Punk drama.
- The Unholy Union retained their championship in a triple menace tag match. Enjoyable, fast, and confirmed the Union’s domination over two groups who can’t get out of their very own means.
- Bronson Reed defeated Miz in a No DQ match. Miz performed the sentimental favourite avenging R-Reality. Didn’t go the best way he wished however a pleasant character second for Miz, who retains doing good work as a face. However it additionally arrange Bronson vs. Braun Strowman. That’s loads of meat.
Very tremendous Uncooked this week. They devoted sufficient time to large tales and ended with a narrative that fascinates me.
How’d you’re feeling about Uncooked? How’s the New Day story working for everybody?