RAW In A Nutshell: Heading Home To Hell This Sunday!

It’s a holiday RAW In A Nutshell, and after this one we are heading home to Hell this Sunday!

As in, you know…Hell In A Cell.

But, before heading home to Hell this Sunday, it is Memorial Day and I would be a bad person if I didn’t say…thank you.

Thank you to all of those who served. And a bigger thank you to those who are relatives of those who served and gave all.

It is because of those veterans, living and deceased, that we can all enjoy this each and every week. So…thank you.

Of course, there is a premium live event this weekend, so the big RAW focus is on that.

Heading home to Hell matters a lot for some…and maybe others…depending on how things go this week.

We know Rollins and Cody Rhodes will do battle in the Cell. That rivalry has not disappointed since Rhodes returned.

Lashley and Omos lock up too.

After throwing down a challenge on SmackDown, we will see the new team of Shinsuke Nakamura and Riddle challenge The Usos.

Ezekiel and Kevin Owens too…and you see how much is set to be hyped this week.

So, without any further delays…it is time for…

RAW In A Nutshell: Heading Home To Hell This Sunday!

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and see how things go!

Best match of the night:

I think for me, I would say the tag title contender match.

WWE has done a lot in short order to make sure we see this merger of Riddle and Nakamura as a legit threat to The Usos.

I’m in.

Worst match of the night:

Not much bothered me tonight. I did not like that not one, but two matches with title implications wound up going the DQ route.

Also, was not loving the placement of Omos, MVP and Lashley as the main event slot.

Contract signings can be a big deal, but their match has always felt like mid-card filler type stuff. Why their contract signing garnered the last slot on the go home show baffles me.

Star of the Night

I said it Friday as well, but it remains true now.

There is no RAW, no Nutshell, no nothing, without the sacrifices so many have made.

As the saying goes..all gave some, some gave all. Memorial Day is for those who gave, especially gave all.

They are the stars of the night. Hands down, no second thought from me this time around.

Spot of the Night:

This one was pretty nice to see…

Jobber of the Night:

The easy one this week would be the security guards that Omos got to toss around.

Upset of the Night:

Once again, not a match result…but as a result of a match result.
As in, Kevin Owens was upset.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

That was a fairly intense brawl between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

Satisfying, for sure.

As we are heading home to Hell In A Cell this Sunday…I feel like their rubber match is the most tantalizing one on the card.

LOL Moment of the night:

Tamina won the 24/7 belt, and then kissed and made up with Tozawa.

He then got one over on Tamina and made her a former champion.

The facial expression says it all…

Noteworthy Moment:

While I will go off on this in a moment…

Mustafa Ali gets his actual United States Championship match at Hell In A Cell…in his home town of Chicago. Would WWE actually do a title change, as much as they love Theory?

Nakamura and Riddle will get a title match against Jimmy and Jey Uso too, though not yet announced when.

Overall lowlights:

Now, we’ve seen matches decided by DQ plenty of times, including when something big was on the line.

I do not recall ever seeing two matches, basically one right after the other, where a title shot was to be given to the winner…and the match resulted in a DQ.

Mustafa Ali got his shot at Theory, by way of DQ. Then, The Usos were disqualified, giving Shinsuke and Riddle a title shot.

That it happened in basically back to back matches on the same show is, to me, just lazy booking. I have no issues with either of those who won getting title shots.

And, I am sure the DQ finishes were aimed to protect people. Except, in the case of Theory, he was not in the match-Ciampa would have taken that loss.

Overall highlights:

Loved the crowd response for Cody. Some folks were debating if Rhodes would be a big deal for WWE, and thus far he has been.

Fans are invested, and he is performing well. Time will tell where things go from here, but I’d argue that Rollins and Rhodes ought to be the main event on Sunday.

Theory has been gold, but could WWE be setting Mustafa Ali up for a renewed push, getting him back to what got sidetracked by injury?

After the final bell:

Lots to like as we are heading home to Hell in a Cell. Not the most amazing show by a long shot, but still a lot to like.

Hard not to feel like there will be a new wrinkle as Judgement Day battles Styles, Morgan and Balor. This one has heel turn or other new member arriving written all over it.

Outside of some segment placement and the l0wlight I called out, I’d say this was a decent go home show.