red brand chicago heatwave
source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

Well, we are back again for yet another RAW In A Nutshell. Can the red brand hit Chicago with a heatwave?

Honestly…I am not holding my breath.

While WWE hit big with the return of SmackDown and followed up with a strong Money In The Bank...RAW has, for the most part, not been nearly so strong.

The one bright spot, in my own opinion, was Nikki cashing in. Some other segments were good…but just not wowing me.

Will tonight be different? Can the red brand hit Chicago with a heatwave?

There is only one way to find out, really.

It is time then…

RAW In A Nutshell: Can Red Brand Hit Chicago With A Heatwave?

red brand chicago heatwave

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

It’s time to crack open this Nutshell and find out!

Best Match of the night:

I am going with Charlotte versus Nikki.

Crowd was into it, which makes a big difference. I like that Nikki got the win after taking a tremendous beating.

Win didn’t seem like a massive fluke. More like a way to remind Charlotte that while she can control the match, Nikki is still crafty and capable.

Worst match of the night:

Not really feeling the handicap match tonight. Not sure where this goes, because three men the size of Jinder, Veer and Shanky ought to be able to get some wins against an out-manned Drew.

raw in a nutshell

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

And I’d be curious to see who Drew could get for his logical backup. Assuming it even heads to a six man match (my guess is it would, and my pick would be the Raiders).

Crowd Chants of the Night:

Goldberg (Or was it Oldberg?)

CM Punk (naturally).

We want tables

This is awesome

Star of the Night

Nikki A.S.H

RAW In A Nutshell

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

Why not…a week after getting beat and beaten by Charlotte, your RAW Women’s Champion challenged for a re-match.

Got herself a no holds barred match, it was a train wreck, and Nikki pinned Charlotte.

I will also say, honorable mention to Omos and Riddle. Not a stellar match, but not too shabby for the still-learning Omos.

Those two were the RAW Nutshell highlights for me.

Spot of the Night:

I am going to go with Charlotte putting Nikki through the announce table. Big impact spot, for sure.

Jobber of the Night:

Mustafa Ali. Not for the loss (Mansoor took that pin), but for doing the “hero” thing and taking the double choke slam instead of his partner.

Considering how he was for the last several months (longer, really), if WWE wants Ali back as a face, it needs to do some repair work.

Upset of the Night:

I mean, she’s the champ…but they did sort of frame Nikki beating Charlotte as an upset.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Karrion Kross lost AGAIN.

Maybe there is some truth to the rumors that he’s going to lose a lot on RAW, until Scarlett comes in and restores his power.

I guess she’s his urn? But that’s just…I don’t know.

I think it’s a silly idea, but the WWE Creative folks get paid to do it…so surely they know better, right?

Or, how about…Nia Jax was a busted open, bloody mess. I missed the spot that did the damage, but talk about the crimson mask…

Heck, even Charlotte drew blood during the main event. On herself, but blood.

Botch of the night:

Graves, referring to Karrion Kross: (paraphrasing here) “This man has dominated NXT and now RAW ever since he arrived”

Um…Graves? He lost in his RAW return debut in stunningly bad fashion.

He probably only beat Keith Lee last week because someone dislikes Keith Lee more than they dislike NXT.

Commentary of the night:

“Well, I want a pet grizzly bear, but it’s just not a good idea”-Graves.

LOL Moment of the night:

Damien Priest interacting with Riddle. Riddle is funny, as much as making him a goof ball bothers me…but it’s working, I guess.

raw nutshell

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

It was enjoyable banter between them, and part of it makes me wonder if WWE won’t like, fire Randy and swap in Priest instead.

Would such a move really shock anyone anymore? I mean…is any Superstar safe?!

Noteworthy Moment:

Goldberg and Lashley is, as expected, officially official for SummerSlam. Yay…

raw in a nutshell

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

It feels like we are heading for a women’s tag match between the team of Doudrop and Eva versus Alexa and….who knows?

raw in a nutshell

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

Overall lowlights:

We had some good moments, but we had some off moments too.

Drew is over…but Jinder and his guys…I just don’t know where that realistically goes. Unless…could WWE bring us back Heath Slater!?

I kid.

Tamina did OK…but with Natalya set to miss some time, I think I’d rather see…less singles matches and just bide time till she’s back.

So it appears we will get Nia Jax splitting from Shayna Baszler. It’s a team I don’t think I expected to last as long as it did.

But…who of those two becomes the face? Or neither?

Overall highlights:

As someone who remembers Mikey Whipwreck beating Steve Austin in ECW…I am honestly digging Nikki’s lovable underdog thing now.

Not sure she will end up keeping the belt too long…but she’s enjoying every moment of it while she can.

After the final bell:

A few weeks removed from the RAW return to live fans…I feel like RAW has returned to largely the way things were pre-pandemic.

Which means…kind of bland RAW In A Nutshell recaps, too.

That is not in any way a compliment.

Some moments were good, some nearly great. Too many others were just filler, and not even good filler.

The top two matches from each brand are set, and it is what it is.

No CM Punk or Daniel Bryan (not that we should have thought those were coming). No Brock Lesnar or Becky Lynch, either.

Instead…Goldberg and a most unexpected triple threat match. One has more promise than the other.

red brand chicago heatwave

source: custom, WWE twitter screenshot

So, that’s another RAW In A Nutshell in the books. Did the red brand give Chicago a heatwave?

Not really. Some good, some bad, but honestly nothing super special or crazy.

Share: 

Mentioned in this article:

More About: