IT’S almost time for SummerSlam, where Brock Lesnar defends his Universal Championship against Roman Reigns, Samoa Joe, and Braun Strowman in an epic Fatal Four-Way.
And with just two weeks to go, Raw is cranking up the action and drama. Here are five things we learnt from last night’s show.
Brock Lesnar trashed Miz TV
Lesnar and Paul Heyman appeared on Miz TV in the opening segment – and Miz wasted no time in insulting both the Beast and his advocate.
“When my hand goes up, your mouth goes shut, Paul,” declared Miz, which is a mistake in anyone’s book.
Lesnar will definitely lose his title at SummerSlam, claimed Miz – and therefore definitely leave WWE. “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” said the cocky heel.
Heyman retorted by suggesting some “roleplay”, with Miz and his cronies Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas playing the part of Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponents.
Cue Lesnar destroying the trio with a barrage of trademark suplexes and F-5s. But can he do the same when it’s for realsies at SummerSlam?
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Jobbers just hang around backstage at Raw
With Curtis Axel laid out, Jason Jordan – scheduled to face Axel in the next match – needed a new opponent.
In a moment of unintentional hilarity, Kurt Angle immediately found a “local competitor”, who was just stood there in his wrestling gear waiting for who knows what.
The jobber – Jean-Pierre Goulet – took a pummeling from Angle’s long-lost son Jordan, while the crowd chanted “Let’s go jobber!”
Was it just the Toronto fans supporting their fellow countryman?
Or is it yet another sign that Jordan needs to turn on Angle before this storyline totally bombs?
WWE has ruined Bayley beyond repair
Bayley came out to announce that due to her shoulder injury, she can no longer compete for the Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.
Bayley’s title shot was intended to rebuild her, after WWE’s ham-fisted booking had turned fans off the once-beloved superstar.
But too much damage has been done. The Raw fans booed Bayley (who, let’s not forget is meant to be the sympathetic injured babyface) during her promo.
You could almost see Bayley’s spirit breaking behind the eyes as her more popular best friend Sasha Banks came out.
Banks and Nia Jax later won respective triple threat matches to set up a number one contender’s bout next week.
The winner faces Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam.
The Shield brothers still aren’t reunited (yet)
Last week Dean Ambrose saved Seth Rollins from a beating by Sheamus and Cesaro – but failed to appear when the same happened last night.
(Come on, Dean – serious mixed messages.)
Despite that, Rollins still saved Ambrose from a two-on-one beating from the tag champs later on the show.
Ambrose held out his fist for Rollins – in the style of the Shield – but Rollins snubbed him, just as Ambrose did two weeks ago.
Will they ever reunite and bump fists? A tenner says they’ll do it at SummerSlam after defeating Sheamus and Cesaro for the titles.
Braun Strowman is the last man standing
Thanks to Samoa Joe, that is.
After a wild Last Man Standing Match between Strowman and Roman Reigns, Joe locked the Coquina Clutch on Reigns in a sneak attack from behind the barrier.
With Reigns rendered unconscious, Braun got the victory – but Samoa Joe looked like the real winner, and continues his unexpectedly strong push.
With rumours that Lesnar will make a UFC return, fans seem certain he’ll drop the Universal Championship at SummerSlam.
If that’s true, Joe could be the next champ.
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