RAW PRIMER 8/7: Summerslam hype with Lesnar, Joe, Strowman, Reigns, Jordan, Angle, Cass, more

RAW PREVIEW
AUGUST 7, 2017
TORONTO, ONT. AT AIR CANADA CENTRE
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTorch contributor

“THE LAST WHO STANDS”

Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns are at it again. When this feud began nearly seven months ago, no one expected for it to have left such a path of carnage, or produce such entertaining storytelling. Tonight in Canada these two slabs of beef will continue to chop each other down, this time in a Last Man Standing match. That could only leave Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar smiling as we countdown closer to Summerslam. The real question is whether the latter two will get involved to further damage their opponents before Brooklyn. One thing that’s for certain is that WWE has done a phenomenal job utilizing Brock Lesnar these last few months. Every action, every segment seems vitally important. I’m digging it.

“YOU CAN’T HUG WITH A WOUNDED SHOULDER”

We’ve had Bayley on our WWE main roster for close to a year now and what an up and down year it has been. I wish I could say that I still felt the same way about the Hugger as I did during her NXT tenure but that would be dishonest. Her presentation has made me beg for something greater, especially considering her potential to be the biggest face for the company female or not. So when word broke out that Nia Jax injured her during last week’s “match” I wasn’t too bummed. I would much rather see Sasha have her moment to shine atop the division since she never got that with Charlotte around. However, WWE is odd when it comes to rebooking things, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn the Raw Women’s scene into a multi-women match. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

“THE ENEMY OF MY FRIEND IS NOT MY ENEMY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FRIENDS”

Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose have always had amazing chemistry together. Go back and watch literally any of their matches in the past three years: the level of competitiveness is uncanny. That all adds to this wonderful next reunion, where Seth is finally coming to terms with his horrid betrayal on that cold Monday night, and Dean refuses to give him one ounce of forgiveness. Perhaps they work better this way, because it seems that Cesaro and Sheamus have just opened up an opportunity for them to claim some championship gold. Dean may believe that Seth orchestrated the events of last week, but eventually even the Lunatic Fringe has to see the bigger picture. This couldn’t have come at a better time for these two, as both had been starting to fade into an odd middle ground.

“SMOKING MY BRAIN INTO MUSH”

-Last week’s main event saw Big Cass and Big Show slugging it out while Enzo ferociously cheered in Show’s corner. NEVER AGAIN. As for this conflict… I suppose Cass will need to continue to look strong if this break-up angle plans to produce anything positive, because as of right now it’s taking a sharp turn into irrelevancy.

-The Hardys have AWOKEN, and their new WOKENESS seems dangerous for the Club and The Revival. While this is all headed to a triple-threat tag match at Summerslam, the big question in my mind is how will Impact respond to said WOKENESS since it so clearly resembles a familiar BROKENESS. (I like typing in all caps.)

-Akira Tozawa may have earned himself another shot at Neville’s cruiserweight championship, but at what cost? His shoulder has taken some serious damage the past couple weeks and Neville’s dangerous Rings of Saturn finisher targets that very area. Hopefully Titus O’Neil can talk some sense into his most profitable client, and keep the AHHH man healthy until the fight.

-I know you’ve heard this a lot, but I’m going to go ahead and say it: Bray Wyatt is an amazing WWE talent, and one of the better talkers that the company has ever had, but EVERY feud is the same. All the stakes are always the same, and even whether Wyatt wins or loses he never learns anything as a character. Storytelling 101 teaches us that by the end of a tale, a new stasis must emerge. I hope that Balor can help Wyatt learn something, or at least produce something different than the norm.

-Jason Jordan had some words with the Miz and now it seems that the two are destined to face-off for the I.C. Championship. Will it happen at Summerslam? With an already stacked card I’m not so sure, but that seems to be the route. More to come tonight.

Twelve more days until a MONSTER of a card comes our way. Thankfully we have the G1 to hold us over until then.

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: RAW PRIMER 7/31: Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, more with Jason Jordan, Sasha’s reaction, Big Cass