RAW In A Nutshell: It’s Time To Go Home And Go Away!

Yes, it’s RAW In A Nutshell, and you have to love this theme: it’s time to go home and go away!

As in, it’s the go home show as the red brand heads to Money In The Bank. And, it’s time for ThunderDome to go away.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve finally reached the apparent end of WWE’s time in ThunderDome.

This week’s RAW marks what everyone hopes is the final night in the virtual fan setting. SmackDown happens on Friday in front of fans for the first time in nearly 500 days.

Money In The Bank on Sunday? Full arena, live fans.

Next Monday’s RAW? Full arena, live fans.

And we hope it stays that way moving forward, but who knows anymore.

So yes, we are looking at the RAW go home show, with less than a week to go before Money In The Bank.

And, it’s our last go home show in ThunderDome. It’s time to see that setup go away.

So, without delaying things too much more, there is final Money In The Bank hype to get to…so let’s do that.

It’s time for…

RAW In A Nutshell: It’s Time To Go Home And Go Away!

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!

Best Match of the night:

For me, give me Ricochet and John Morrison.

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

Plenty of action and spots and I am OK with that.

Worst match of the night:

Not going to gripe about anything tonight.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

One more week…

The waiting is just about over…

Star of the Night

Lashley could have been a contender…but that flub of the last promo…

Honestly, for me…I really think Ricochet impressed. Some big spots, good action.

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

Spot of the Night:

There were a few in the Ricochet/Morrison match to call out.

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

Makes me think Sunday should be special. I have a feeling we see some insane spots at Money In The Bank, first PPV in front of a packed house in 18 months and all that…

Upset of the Night:

I’d have to say this goes to Xavier Woods, for the upset win over Lashley.

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

I do believe it is all done to make us see an angry Lashley, ahead of someone bigger to challenge him for SummerSlam.

But…who?

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Wow…they let Lashley curse? Or, someone in the truck missed their cue to bleep that out.

Botch of the night:

See above. Maybe WWE wanted to present Lashley as super edgy this week, so they let one slide…

Or maybe, someone goofed (and that could have been the truck, that could have even been Lashley going off script).

Speaking of Lashley though…he had an all-over-the-map closing promo.

Some of it was great, passionate and on point. Other pieces, you saw him either forget his lines, or flub them, or a combo of both.

Like, that whole circus comment? Cringe.

LOL Moment of the night:

I can pick a few.

The reveal of the Jinder-ized sword? I mean…I guess it’s funny?

Sort of was feeling like when Kama (AKA, The Godfather) “stole” Undertaker’s urn and melted it down for a gold chain.

Then, another-and this is totally an inside my head thing-I laughed as Lashley did a few things. One, told the girls to leave the last segment, because he wanted to talk to MVP “alone”.

Hard to do, champ…live television and all.

Also laughed at the tossing of furniture. Because it’s stupid stuff like that that leads to some freak injuries at the wrong times.

Last?  A picture is worth 1000 words…

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

source: custom, YouTube TV screenshot

Noteworthy Moment:

For me, I just have to use this to say the wrestling world lost another legend on Monday.

Mr. Wonderful, Paul Orndorff, was one of those who did amazing things…but was often overshadowed by many of his peers.

So, condolences to his friends and family.

In memory of WWE Hall of Famer “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/AsSTuPZ5Ym

— WWE (@WWE) July 13, 2021

Overall lowlights:

Just not in the mood to complain about too much…

But, Lashley speaking to close the show did remind everyone why he needed MVP talking for him more than not.

Overall highlights:

As much as I can and will mention the verbal goof, I will say this: Lashley brought the intensity, and I will take it.

Like, come off like an unstable and dangerous man? Worth fumbling over some lines.

Overall, a relatively satisfying go home show.

Although…I did want or hope for some major send-off to ThunderDome.

Like…have one crazy, board destroying spot perhaps?

After the final bell:

Wow…we made it. I think we made it, anyways?

Good bye, go home…call it what you wish. It was our last RAW In A Nutshell from inside ThunderDome!!

Friday is SmackDown.

Sunday is Money In The Bank.

Neither of these will take place in Florida, and neither will have or need the massive number of ThunderDome screens…because the WWE Universe will be back!

Yes folks, no more ThunderDome Nutshells…at least, we hope that holds.

Next RAW In A Nutshell, a week from now? Real live fans, real live chants, and who knows what else!

So yes…ThunderDome can go away, while the rest of us get to see things go home to Money In The Bank!