WWE returns stateside for WWE Raw after another very successful excursion outside the continental United States this weekend for SmackDown and Money in the Bank in London, England. We have Mr. & Ms. Money in the Bank coming out of the event and for the first time in a few years, both participants exit the event with their respective briefcases still active. WWE makes its stop at the CFG Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
The former first Mariner Arena and Royal Farms Arena. A very seasoned venue for pro wrestling, it has hosted events for WWE (or WWF) and World Championship Wrestling. In particular, this venue has hosted six of the ten Great American Bash events that were promoted officially under the WCW banner. And one that was just before the change-over from the National Wrestling Alliance to WCW.
TOMORROW NIGHT on #WWERaw
Women’s World Champion @RheaRipley_WWE defends against @NatbyNature! pic.twitter.com/A4mzQIW6Eg
— WWE (@WWE) July 2, 2023
Mr. Money in the Bank Is Here to Punish
Coming out of Money In The Bank, Damian Priest walked out possessing the Men’s Money in the Bank briefcase. Securing a future championship match at his discretion. Amid the World Heavyweight Championship Match between Champion Seth Rollins and fellow Judgment Day stablemate Finn Balor’s match, Damian appeared teasing the use of the briefcase.
But ultimately, his tensions with Balor wound up costing them both the opportunity to walk away with the new incarnation of the Big Gold Belt. What will happen next between these two? As of now, we seem to be echoing the group tensions from The Bloodline onto The Judgment Day on the WWE Raw brand.
Natalya Tries Yet Again
After previously trying at Crown Jewel, Natalya fell short against then SmackDown Women’s Champion, now World Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, of The Judgment Day. She’s set to try again tonight, as she challenges for the World Women’s Championship again.
What’s different this time? Well, WWE has hinted at some sort of character change for the veteran and member of the Hart family. However, we have yet to see it occur. Not to mention, Natalya went into her previous match with Rhea Ripley cold. This one feels even colder. But let’s see how things play out in the end. This would be Rhea’s defense of the month given that she did not do so at Money in the Bank. It will also be the first defense of the rebranded World Women’s Championship.
The Nightmare Triumphs
At Money in the Bank, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes was successful in defeating the fourth member of The Judgment Day, Dominik Mysterio. An interesting clash of second-generation stars, but now Cody has freed himself from one of his distractions since coming up short at WrestleMania.
The question is pretty clear now. Is Brock Lesnar through with his “hibernation” as Cody coined it? Both men are still one victory apiece. And it’s pretty clear Unified WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is too busy with his “Civil War” to now jump into a rematch with Cody Rhodes for SummerSlam. Perhaps WWE has another distraction in mind for Cody to deal with.
The Ladder Is Out Of The Way Now
The Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus feud has been going strong for months now, though Money in the Bank kept the two and Trish’s new protegee Zoey Stark busy for the month trying to capture Money in the Bank. They all failed, as IYO SKY secured the briefcase at the event. But now the sky is clear for the story to continue into SummerSlam. Where we will likely see a big rematch between the WWE Hall Of Famer and “The Man.” The big question is how we get to that destination.
All that and more as our next major destination is SummerSlam from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Logan Paul has returned, people expect Brock Lesnar to return and given the massive size of the venue and the typical caliber of the event, it’s likely to be an “all hands on deck” kind of season now leading to WWE’s big summer event this coming August 5 as we get a very uncharacteristic TWO months to build up to this massive event. All that and more tonight on WWE Raw.
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