RAW In A Nutshell: Big Go Home Show With John Cena!

It is a bigger than usual RAW In A Nutshell…we have a big go home show, and a big part of it is with John Cena!

Yes, The Doctor of Thuganomics is back on RAW.

At least for one night, and based on chatter, probably setting up a SummerSlam feud too.

But, if nothing else, we have a big go home show with John Cena, so that’s pretty exciting right?

Remember when people used to complain about too much Cena?! Turns out, absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

But with that out of the way, it is a big go home show, with Money In The Bank on Saturday in Las Vegas.

There are still a few spots open between the men’s and women’s ladder matches. And then the rest of the show hype, of which there should be plenty.

But the main focus, as we’ve been expecting for a while, is this big go home show with John Cena front and center.

It’s been nearly a year since we last saw him, so let’s not wait any longer. It is time now for…

RAW In A Nutshell: Big Go Home Show With John Cena!

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and enjoy!

Best Match of the night:

Opening match, battle royal, last chance qualifier.

Lots going on, lots to love. Plenty of action and quite a few spots.

And, an ecstatic Riddle claiming his spot.

Tell me they aren’t setting him up for a briefcase win in his place of residence?

Worst match of the night:

I don’t know if one qualifies here.

Star of the Night

Wrestling: Riddle.

Non-wrestling: John Cena.

Back office: Whomever, from AEW and WWE, made the appearances of Jericho, Danielson and Wight possible.

Spot of the Night:

The opening battle royal provided a number of them.

Ricochet had a few, like his elimination of T-Bar.

We also saw Rey do what he could to save Riddle, as we saw him crawl over so that Matt could land on him, instead of the floor.

Though part of me wonders, was that by design, or was that by chance some concern Riddle might have been heading out via a botch.
And…tell me Montez Ford can’t hit the briefcases via one of his splashes…

Jobber of the Night:

Guys like Reggie, Tozawa…even Ricochet…were in that last chance qualifier to take the bumps.

Upset of the Night:

The look on Asuka’s face says it all.

She certainly did not expect Liv Morgan to beat Alexa Bliss….

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

We had a couple of them.

The opening sequence showing Cena (so staged) arrive “earlier today”, greeting many of the other Superstars.

This lands here because, you had some heels giving him love as though they were faces (Baszler, Miz, Dolph, Alpha Academy).

And then, you had some who got passed over.

The rest?

Raise your hand if you expected recorded messages, for Cena, from Paul Wight, Bryan Danielson and Chris Jericho.

Yes, for Wight and Danielson, WWE used their former ring names (Big Show and Daniel Bryan). But…multiple significant AEW stars, recording messages and getting them aired on…WWE television.

LOL Moment of the night:

Once again, for no real reason other than because of who he is…Vince McMahon was back out on television.

At this point, you really do have to just laugh.

Also…amidst all the talent and employees celebrating his return…how could you miss Becky Lynch staying in character.

This was pretty funny too…

And just how awesome was Cena…like, telling Elias/Zeke to “just be true to yourself, be who you are”. Totally tongue in cheek, but just…sorely missed.

Noteworthy Moment:

We had Cena and Theory continue to lay the groundwork.

Then again, we had groundwork between Cena and Rollins, too…should WWE wish to go there.

And I can’t help but wonder…are we seeing some hints of Dom leaving dad and heading to The Judgement Day?

If so…could we see Edge and Rey team up, needing a 3rd, to take on the heel faction?

Overall lowlights:

If you choose to complain, I get it, there was not as much wrestling as you are used to on a three hour show.

However, this was also not your usual show, so I am not upset about it.

In terms of match order, I am fine with equity and splitting main events between the men and women.

However…

I feel the opening bout was a lot more action-packed as compared to the main event.

And, for that matter…odd not having Cena close the show. Though, in his fashion of late, he was putting others over…so maybe he didn’t want to steal the main event from the active roster?

Overall highlights:

John Cena.

Matt Riddle.

Becky Lynch.

One came back, the other two punched their tickets to Vegas.

After the final bell:

The timing was challenging, being a big go home show…with John Cena’s return in the midst of it.

But…it worked. Cena was all over of course, but people still got the hype in for Money In The Bank.

It worked, and WWE was wise not to push Cena-SummerSlam efforts just yet.

Hints, yes, but those matches, whatever they may end up being, can simmer for another week or two.