Coming off what many consider one of the best SummerSlam events since its inception, the WWE RAW after SummerSlam didn’t disappoint.
Emanating from the CFG Bank Arena, in Baltimore, MD, the WWE Universe saw the likes of the new World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther, who was met with jeers that eventually turned into ‘You deserve it’ chants.
Fans of the former El Campeon, Damian Priest were disappointed with his 118-day title reign ending abruptly, but true wrestling fans can’t deny Gunther’s record. He was the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion, is the current King of the Ring, and before that, he was and remains the Ring General!
Gunther is worthy of being our World Heavyweight Champion and yes, Damian will regain his title, but not before a certain wrestler with voices in his head that talk to him gets a shot. Randy Orton appeared in Baltimore, MD for the second time since he returned from a near career ending injury.
True to form, Randy stood head-to-toe with Gunther even with the World Heavyweight Champion saying that he wasn’t expecting Randy to come through the entranceway.
Shortly after, the former Senor MITB and former El Campeon, made an appearance. He was in no mood to talk. He meant that he wanted Finn Balor to face him in the ring, instead, we saw the emergence of the ‘new’ Judgment Day on the screen, consisting of the RAW World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor and JD McDonough, ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio, Carlito, and the reigning World Women’s Champion, Liv Morgan.
We saw the returning former women’s champion Kairi Sane and the visionary Seth Rollins who suffered tsunami, after tsunami, after tsunami, after tsunami, after tsunami, after tsunami from the underrated Australian powerhouse Bronson Reed who likely just made a name for himself gunning for the former five-time world champion.
Seeing the Final Testament, in-person, took me back to when I first saw Paul Ellering come out to Iron Man with the Road Warriors back in 1987. Though it was nice to see the New Day, it was also impressive to see Odyssey Jones, who had been called up a year ago, finally make an impact that can see his star rise.
It was a pleasure to not only hear fans chant, ‘Let’s go Priest!’, during Damian’s match with former stablemate, JD ‘Big Head’ McDonough, but it was mind blowing watching the fallout from SummerSlam.
After three dominating years, the Judgment Day as we knew it imploded and rising from the ashes was Damian, who delivered the South of Heaven both on JD, but also on Judas, I mean Finn Balor.
Liv Morgan had the audacity to get in Damian’s face and she and Dominik proceeded to attack him until Demon in your Dreams filled the arena, with Rhea “Bloody’ Ripley also rising from the ashes, who was recently scorned by ‘Dirty’ Dom in favor of Liv. She finally got her hands on Liv until Dom came to the rescue. It was dramatic. It was justice. It was the rise of the Terror Twins, Damian and Rhea!
The evening ended with the Wyatt Six facing the newly formed stable of Chad Gable and the Creed Brothers, American Made. The Wyatt Six may appear twisted, out of sorts and demented, but what they have done, in honor of Bray Wyatt, was beautiful to watch.
Uncle Howdy was sitting across from us with the smoke filling our section for at least the first five minutes of the match. What made it so special was 11 years ago, the Wyatt family debuted in Baltimore, MD.
Who would’ve thought that the Wyatt Six would have their debut match 11 years later in the same town. The win was emotional, and everyone felt it as signaled by the number of flashlights that appeared throughout the arena.
SummerSlam saw the rise of two upcoming powerhouses, the remnants of the Judgment Day, the Terror Twins rising from the ashes, and someone who once had the whole world in his hands smiling broadly from above.
SummerSlam culminated with the long-awaited return of the Head of the Table. It’s confirmed that the Original Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, will appear on Smackdown this Friday! Stay tuned!