WWE Monday Night Raw this week comes to us from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Formally known as the Quicken Loans Arena and more famously, the Gund Arena. Home to many events during the WWF’s “Attitude Era.” However, it’s also a pretty well-known arena adjacent to wrestling.
This is the venue where UFC 203 took place. And saw the MMA and UFC debut of one CM Punk. Suffering a strong loss to Mickey Gall. There is quite an abundance of pro wrestlers native to Cleveland. Many of these in WWE actually such as The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke, WWE agent Abyss and Johnny Gargano with a few others from nearby like Alexa Bliss (Columbus), Wes Lee (Dayton), The Creed Brothers and such.
Did you miss @LoganPaul?! 😉
See ya tomorrow night on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/IByPhxy5bB
— WWE (@WWE) June 19, 2023
Logan Paul Returns
Oddly missing en route to WWE Backlash when the event was set to take place where he currently resides, instead, Logan Paul makes his return to WWE when they’re in Cleveland. Sure, it is his hometown. It’s just odd that WWE did not use him for both. Maybe the Puerto Rican government wanted no part of him? Regardless, the man is back. And is more than likely returning to set up some type of new program.
Will he perhaps see interaction with another Cleveland native who’s been slated for a return in Johnny Gargano? Or perhaps someone else? Would said program set up a match for Money in the Bank? Or delay it for SummerSlam?
Can the Legend Grow Even More?
In what is a heck of a surprise, the participants for the final Women’s “Money in the Bank” Ladder Match have been announced as former NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Rodriguez takes on none other than the WWE Hall Of Famer herself, Trish Stratus. Rodriguez, being born and bred deep into this modern world of women’s pro wrestling, is no stranger to Ladder matches. As she’s had such matches in NXT, including Last Man Standing and WarGames.
However, Trish Stratus, coming from a generation that was far less about such skills, has only really had one or two hardcore matches in her career. Most notably during her feud with Victoria in 2002 which saw them have several. However, given the current status of the two, is it possible that we might actually see the legendary Trish Stratus go on to Money in the Bank and even go so far as to add the briefcase itself to her Hall Of Fame resume?
Clash of New Japan Alumni
Despite his failure to qualify for Money in the Bank, Bronson Reed continues his path of rage against two men that have qualified, Ricochet and Shinsuke Nakamura. Interfering in their matches and arguing with them backstage. As such, “The King Of Strong Style” has challenged him to a match for today.
A rather peculiar feud on the way to Money in the Bank as two participants of the titular match feud with a person that isn’t involved in a three-way feud no less. However, the three all share the fact that they’ve been New Japan Pro Wrestling alumni close to each other, but not really at once. Can Shinsuke Nakamura defeat the man that once defeated Nakamura’s protege, Kazuchika Okada? Or can Bronson Reed win and perhaps open the argument to be added to the Money In The Bank Ladder Match?
“Mommy” Is At It Again
Despite a very decisive defeat at WWE Night of Champions, Natalya is going head to head with the now-re-branded WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley. The Judgment Day’s female representative and Dominick Mysterio’s “Mommy” has her first match since her title’s rebranding last week on WWE Raw. Though that isn’t really going to change her intense attitude in the ring.
Though one has to wonder what’s the direction for her. Will there even be a title defense for her at Money in the Bank? It might actually not be the case given how so many of WWE Raw’s more prominent women seem involved in the Ladder Match.
A Riddle for Imperium to Solve
As Money in the Bank approaches, it seems pretty clear now that Matt Riddle looks to challenge Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. What started as mentions became backstage brawls and now, “The Original Bro” is set to go one on one with Gunther’s right-hand man, Ludwig Kaiser. Despite Gunther and Matt Riddle being such prominent rivals, Riddle never faced Ludwig Kaiser. Not even when both participated in wXw at once. Let’s see how things go en route to this inevitable match between Matt Riddle and Gunther.
Two Weeks to Money in the Bank
Most of the card seems set for Money in the Bank, though there might be some space to fit in matches for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships with Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens who have been embroiled in a feud with Imperium. Perhaps a Trios Match also adds Matt Riddle and Intercontinental Champion Gunther to respective sides rather than two separate matches?
We also don’t have anything announced for the show revolving around Dominick Mysterio and Money In The Bank opponent “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. So let’s see what Raw chooses to do. All that and more, tonight on WWE Monday Night Raw.
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