cell is heating up
source: custom, WWE Twitter screenshot

It’s time for another RAW in a Nutshell, and we can’t help but notice that the path to Hell In A Cell is heating up.

We are nearly into the summer months, after all. Things are heating up all over, so why wouldn’t Hell In A Cell be too?

With WWE’s next PPV just about a month away…and the return of live fans not far behind that…things are heating up all over.

So yes, the Cell is heating up too. We don’t yet know some of the biggest matches for the Cell itself…like, for Rhea Ripley and Bobby Lashley.

You’d think lining up the title matches would happen soon, right? That’s all part of the Cell heating up.

Things between Asuka and Charlotte Flair have been simmering, with both Superstars eyeing Ripley’s gold.

On the men’s side, you’ve got Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston, to name the top few, eying Lashley’s belt.

So, no sense in delaying things much more…it is time for…

RAW In A Nutshell: Path To Hell In A Cell Is Heating Up

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!

Best Match of the night:

Xavier Woods and Riddle.

raw in a nutshell

source: custom, WWE Twitter screenshot

Lots to love about this match, to be honest.

My honorable mention goes to Humberto Carillo and Sheamus, because I like what we are getting out of those two…plus the added wrinkle with Ricochet.

Worst match of the night:

I love me some Nikki Cross…so only getting a two minute chunk of pointless was the low point tonight.

Star of the Night

This one will be split tonight.

I think Xavier Woods and Riddle delivered the goods. This one made my RAW In A Nutshell.

Riddle won, but I think Xavier was every bit as good.

raw in a nutshell hell in a cell

source: custom, WWE Twitter screenshot

The chatter might be all about Kofi possibly getting a title shot at Hell In A Cell…but Xavier has been quite impressive.

No, I doubt Woods gets a title shot. Just pointing out, he’s been sneaky good.

Spot of the Night:

Omos, battering Elias into the LED board.

Jobber of the Night:

Here is my unorthodox take tonight.

Shelton Benjamin.

Here’s a Tweet supporting why:

Here’s my explanation: Shelton Benjamin is, and has been, one of the best pure wrestlers-actual, legit wrestlers-WWE has ever employed.

Benjamin worked a great match, but did the job in putting Alexander over. Consummate professional.

Upset of the Night:

Closest we have is Nikki Cross “beating” Rhea Ripley. She didn’t really win, but she did beat the clock…

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Well, instead of having Shayna Baszler be one half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions…or challenging for a singles title…we have her flipping out on Reginald.

And, with that, we closed RAW with Shayna challenging Reginald to a match next week.

This is more of a…holy sh!@, that was a bad way to end the show.

It did not further anything, except maybe the split of Nia and Shayna?

I mean, we saw more Bliss interference…but still no physicality…and just not into the Bliss-redoing-Fiend schtick.

Also, I’d be bad if I didn’t say…why is WWE having AJ lose to Jaxson Ryker?

Botch of the night:

WWE, by letting Alexander speak.

raw in a nutshell

source: custom, WWE Twitter screenshot

He may make a fine heel…that may be the best spot for him…but his voice, his promo delivery? It’s just not top notch.

It’s not even mid-card. He’s the type of Superstar that would supremely benefit from a mouthpiece.

Which, you know, is why he (and Shelton) were so perfect in The Hurt Business…and why breaking that group up remains one of WWE’s biggest blunders of the year.

Commentary of the night:

A critique, not a line.

Virk is not growing on me. Not sure if I am alone there, but I assume I am not.

I liked him on his radio and TV gigs. However, he still has a tendency to come on too strong.

Like…I can’t put my finger on it, but he just seems too excited about every little detail. Can he work, yes…but here’s hoping someone reigns that in.

Scary thought is…he’s likely getting fed instructions on the headset…which means…he may be doing exactly as they want.

LOL Moment of the night:

This picture…best moment of the Nutshell, at least photographically.

OK, maybe not, but it made me laught…and it’s my putting this RAW In a Nutshell together…

hell in a cell is heating up

source: custom, WWE Twitter screenshot

Noteworthy Moment:

Charlotte defeated Asuka and in doing so, earned the RAW Women’s Championship title shot at Hell In A Cell.

Based on how things went at the early stages of RAW, next week we will see Drew McIntyre battle Kofi Kingston, one on one, for the chance to take on Lashley.

raw in a nutshell

source: custom, WWE Twitter screenshot

The twist on that match: if Lashley or MVP intervene, they would be suspended 90 days without pay.

Overall lowlights:

Saw no point in that impromptu beat the clock challenge. It does nothing…if anything, it hurts Nikki Cross, you could argue.

And, unless I missed something, was that perhaps the worst RAW television main event this year?

Like, Reginald interfered…Alexa Bliss interfered…and the show closes with us getting an inter-gender match set for next week that NO ONE wants to see?

You book a title match in the main event slot, it should be to either build up the champions or for us to see a title change. Outside chance of setting up a major angle.

We got…none of the above.

Like, if Alexa Bliss actually got physically involved? Maybe…but having her get involved in a tag match makes no sense, unless she’s got a tag partner we have yet to meet.

Overall highlights:

There was, as you can see, a lot to not like…but still some good stuff too.

In a sense, it’s a shame to see what WWE is doing with Kofi, because the New Day/R-K-Bro program is fun.

Riddle and Woods…and my view was backed up by someone much smarter than me…

Enjoying some neglected talents get into an interesting spot, with Ricochet and Carillo both tangling with Sheamus. I just hope they don’t cancel each other out…but I also doubt WWE puts either over.

After the final bell:

Well…that was an interesting RAW, which means we got a busy RAW In A Nutshell too.

The poor finish kind of was a wet blanket. But there was still plenty to be satisfied with (I think, at least).

One comment, relative to the WWE Championship picture…

We’ve got Drew McIntyre and Kofi Kingston, vying for the #1 spot to face Bobby Lashley.

Kofi wasn’t wrong about the number of chances afforded Drew. However…WWE has kind of screwed themselves with regard to viable contenders.

It’s hard to imagine Kingston has a shot, a legit shot, against Lashley. Lashley is just another beast, and we saw what Lesnar was meant to do to Kingston.

Drew and Braun? Believable options.

No matter what, next week we have a definitive #1 contender match. The path to the Cell is heating up.

But, on the sidelines, somewhere, WWE has an even better, completely fresh option.

Keith Lee…perhaps he’s in Vince’s dog house…maybe he’s not cleared?

But if he was cleared, if he IS cleared…sign me up for a Lee-Lashley program.

In any case…catch you next time with another RAW In A Nutshell!

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