WWE Raw – June 10, 2019 (Review)

The Worst of Raw

An Architect, a Corbin, a Critic and a Wild-Card

Judging by the opening segment to Raw, WWE evidently treats its microphones like prizes on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Everyone gets one.

Seth opened the show by marching to the ring with a steel chair – presumably the same one he had used to fend off Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown. Why he went through the hassle of bringing it back with him I’m not sure, as the chair had no role in anything that happened throughout this opening segment.

Seth claimed the Raw locker room had three options if they wanted to dethrone him: fight him, wrestle him or take the “hard way” like Brock Lesnar. Without delving into what the words “three” or “options” mean (as all three seem to be largely the same to me), it appeared that invitation was enough to convince Baron Corbin to come out.

Now I don’t hate Corbin, he’s a largely decent wrestler. I’m just bored of seeing him. He does nothing for me. He’s the physical embodiment of the word ‘meh’. Anyway, he reminded Seth about their upcoming match at Stomping Grounds, revealing that he gets to handpick the referee for that encounter. Expect some contrived officiating shenanigans in two weeks.

The WILD CARD RULE has brought @FightOwensFight to #RAW tonight…and he ALSO believes @BaronCorbinWWE would be a better #UniversalChampion than @WWERollins?! pic.twitter.com/ZHHZRp7gii

— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2019

Pretty soon, Corbin was followed by Sami Zayn and the night’s first Wild-Card, Kevin Owens. They had very little of value to add, until eventually a match between Seth and KO was booked for later in the night.

This was such a lacklustre, pointless – and loooong – start to the show. Everyone came out one-by-one like marching ants, said their bit and then just stood there while the next guy made his entrance. On a night when Raw was looking to recover from Friday’s disaster, this was an uncreative way to kickstart a program.

The ‘Man’ and Her Man

I generally have no objection to real-life couples being featured as such onscreen. And I’m glad that Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins seem to have a good thing going.

UP NEXT: #RAW #WomensChampion @BeckyLynchWWE and the #SassySouthernBelle @LaceyEvansWWE will sit down for an exclusive interview just 2 weeks before their big rematch at #WWEStompingGrounds! pic.twitter.com/0y0R6x9uo7

— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2019

But between last week and yesterday’s Raw, I’m tiring of their relationship being peddled on weekly TV. It adds absolutely nothing to the product, and it could be argued, actually detracts from Becky’s character. She’s meant to be this single-minded, uncaring badass, however too often is portrayed as ‘concerned and/or supportive girlfriend’. I don’t see the need to blur the line between real life and fiction in this instance.

Lexie Two-Face

The ‘Goddess’ was back to cheery mode this week. Of all the annoying modes for a human to have, cheery is second only to Brie. Because the Bellas are and forever will be the absolute worst.

Regardless, Alexa Bliss was once again merrily chatting to Nicki Cross this week. In complete contrast to her heelish persona on Tuesday night. Does Cross not watch SmackDown? I mean, I know barely anyone does these days, but still…

All seems well between @AlexaBliss_WWE and @NikkiCrossWWE on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/HTFAqRU2zy

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 11, 2019

At least Alexa was subtly putting down Bayley in a similar fashion to her disparaging comments towards Becky last week. So there is some consistency. Regardless, I’m yet to fully grasp why Cross should care whether Bliss is nice towards the rest of the women’s roster, nor what Alexa’s endgame is in keeping Nikki around. Whatever the case, I’m quickly losing patience. Continuing this bizarre charade without a payoff makes Cross look like a naive chump and Alexa like a vindictive sociopath with no purpose.

The Interview of Champion and Challenger

Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans were interviewed in separate locations by Michael Cole this week. The weird arrangement of Michael Cole at ringside, Bliss on one side of a split screen and Evans on the other really stunted the rhythm of this interview.

The #SassySouthernBelle.#TheMan.

This is gonna be good. #RAW @LaceyEvansWWE @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/LNZ2mQzCdA

— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2019

The two women alternated between awkward silence and speaking over one another. Also, whereas Becky was her usual good self, Lacey’s delivery somewhat undercut the desired tough tone. Although I generally quite like Lacey, her sing-song style this week was more reminiscent of a nursery rhyme than a tempestuous confrontation. It just didn’t quite work.

Of course, all of this could have been infinitely improved had interviewer and interviewees been occupying the same space backstage, à la Rock and Stone Cold before WrestleMania X-Seven. But then again, why use a good idea?

The US Championship Roundabout

I’m all for elevating the prestige of the US Championship. But just throwing a handful of names in a program and seeing what sticks isn’t the way to do it.

Samoa Joe was the guest on MizTV this week. Things started to get a bit tense after The Miz began pressing Joe on the manner in which he won that title. This prompted interruptions from Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, Ricochet and Cesaro in quick succession.

The #AllMighty @fightbobby isn't done with @BraunStrowman quite yet, but it looks like he also has his sights set on championship gold! #RAW pic.twitter.com/ajFqrSyrC7

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 11, 2019

This menagerie of big bodies predictably resulted in a brawl and the declaration of a six-man tag bout. We’ve been bombarded by so many brawls and six-man tags in recent weeks that they seem to lose all meaning after a while. They’re like Kardashian sisters in that sense.

Not only was it a fairly boring segment, but it’s entirely unclear how this muddled mess of humanity advances a US Title feud.

Who is in Charge?

Sami Zayn petitioned Shane McMahon to be the special guest referee in the night’s main event, which gave rise to all sorts of problems in my mind.

Last week Stephanie McMahon was referred to as the Raw Commissioner, indicating that the McMahon offspring had returned to their previous positions of power – crucially then, that Shane was once again the SmackDown Commissioner.

The #BestInTheWorld @shanemcmahon has decreed: @SamiZayn will be an outside referee TONIGHT for @FightOwensFight vs. @WWERollins! #RAW pic.twitter.com/nvuqt5j5Um

— WWE (@WWE) June 11, 2019

But Sami approached Shane to adjust a match on Raw. And Shane obliged. I have no idea who anyone is anymore! WHO’S RUNNING THIS STUPID SHOW?

Paul Heyman’s Insinuations

Paul Heyman randomly showed up to remind everyone that Brock was still the “Beast in the Bank”. As if any of us could ever forget. That 300-pound buffoon with a plastic ‘Beast-box’ haunts my dreams.

Heyman went on to assure us that Brock will show up when and where he chooses, perhaps even being the special referee in the championship bout between Rollins and Corbin. Here’s a spoiler: that definitely won’t happen.

Threat. Promise. Guarantee. Repeat.@HeymanHustle & @BrockLesnar are DONE being transparent about when #TheBeast might cash in his #MITB contract… #RAW pic.twitter.com/qcpKGCEk4S

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 11, 2019

Shane McMahon Appreciation Night

I struggle to remember a time when WWE programming didn’t feature some form of Shane McMahon Appreciation Night. And the quality of these segments has performed about as well as Shane’s antiperspirant.

This week, Shane drank champagne, derided the crowd and reminisced about his victory over Roman Reigns at Super ShowDown.

Then Drew McIntyre, loyally standing by McMahon’s side, cut an impassioned promo about how he would inflict pain on Reigns in two weeks. This part was fairly decent. But hearing Drew McIntyre affirm that Shane McMahon is the ‘Best in the World’ made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. And something tells me we haven’t seen the end of these tedious “celebrations”.

This party just got lit.#RAW @shanemcmahon pic.twitter.com/ngNRuLcZlj

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 11, 2019

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