We’re 2 weeks away from WWE’s marquee summer event, SummerSlam. Live from the titanic Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. A large portion of the card is already set. But that doesn’t mean we can stop now. The home stretch is closing in. And WWE Raw makes its way to Tampa Bay. The home of WrestleMania last year as the show emits from the Amalie Arena.
Previously dubbed ‘The Ice Palace’, the venue hosted a rather notable Survivor Series 2000. The event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin battle Triple H in a No Disqualification match that culminated in Stone Cold trapping the future COO in a car which he then proceeded to raiser with a forklift. And drop it. Triple H returned without a scratch just a week later.
Get ready for #WWERaw TOMORROW NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/tCbEmie9x5
— WWE (@WWE) July 24, 2023
Cody Rhodes Calls The Beast Out Yet Again
For a month now, it seems like a running gag for Cody Rhodes to just come out and call out Brock Lesnar. However, last week, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ answered. With the WWE in ‘The American Nightmare’s’ home of Atlanta, Georgia, things did in fact turn into a nightmare when Brock Lesnar finally answered the call and attacked Cody in front of his own mother, friends, and family.
Dropping him with the F-5 and applying the Kimura twice, seemingly breaking Cody’s arm again. How could Cody Rhodes really think things will be different this time? That’s the thing. It’s pretty clearly not a matter of getting the upper hand. But showing no fear in facing The Beast Incarnate. After all, he isn’t unbeatable. And Cody Rhodes has done it before. What does The American Nightmare have planned? Perhaps his own nightmare to deliver to Lesnar?
Sealing The Deal
Another of WWE’s more typical segments is set with a contract signing. As Seth Rollins and Finn Balor will sign the contract for their World Heavyweight Championship rematch at SummerSlam, Finn Balor has been hellbent on taking revenge against the man that injured him at SummerSlam 2016, costing him his first World Championship as soon as he won it and seemingly derailing his career.
The contrast of two men who have faced similar derailments in their career has not been lost on WWE and the feud has become a highlight of many episodes of WWE Raw. Now, it’s time to seal the deal. Will things go as they should? Can Finn Balor truly trust his comrades in The Judgment Day despite the previous issues with Damian Priest, Mr. Money In The Bank….. Or rather Señor Dinero En El Banco?
Lucha De Apuestas, I Think?
Much like Cody Rhodes and Finn Balor, Becky Lynch has been pursuing a rematch with Trish Stratus since Zoey Starks cost her the first one at Night Of Champions. Last week, Becky Lynch just demanded it. And managed to persuade the WWE Hall of Famer and off-handedly agreed to her conditions. Which were to face Zoey Stark again. And if ‘The Man’ loses, she has to get on her knees and thank Trish Stratus personally for everything she has done for women. And then tattoo that on her chest.
No, seriously. But Becky Lynch did not care. As she just stared on with stern determination, Can Becky Lynch truly just plow on and ignore all these potential consequences so easily?
Gunther, Drew, Face To Face
Wow. It may be a bit of a cliche lineup of segments. However knowing who’s involved in these, you can’t just poke fun at them. Because you know something interesting might come from them. After a week off on assignment, Drew McIntyre is back and Gunther wants to look him dead in the eye to see what he wants. And if he truly has the courage to demand and potentially take it away from him. We all know the answer. It’s the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Gunther is at 409 days as WWE continues its peculiar fascination with breaking records. And the Honky Tonk Man’s record of 454 days as Champion is fairly close. We already saw an instant classic at WrestleMania for said title when Gunther and McIntyre faced off alongside Sheamus. We just need the challenge to be made.
Ricochet Tries Again
Is anyone noticing a theme with tonight’s WWE Raw? No rematch here. Unless you count the Money In The Bank Ladder match and the Royal Rumble. Which are the matches that set this feud in motion. But there is a common thread that links all of tonight’s segments together.
Ricochet challenged Logan Paul to a match at SummerSlam. Despite Logan Paul refusing, reports of him wanting to open the show surfaced. However, as it stands, the match is not truly official. So Ricochet once again has to try to either appeal to the influencer. Or just confront and goad him into the match. This has certainly brought much-deserved attention to the ‘One and Only’. Let’s see if things continue well for him.
All that, plus Tommaso Ciampa vs. Bronson Reed and more are set for tonight’s episode of WWE Raw. So tune in and get ready.
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