Raw Quick Takes 8/2/21

The Almighty

Goldberg got love from the Chicago crowd but it was scattered. Oldberg chants start and the legend gets rattled and the chants start all over again; not even the cheap pop wasn’t good enough to save the promo. Goldberg is in excellent shape and the promo was really good from Goldberg. Later, Lashley responds and the natch is made official. Lashley has not had strong contenders like Drew and it make his run so lackluster.

Don’t bring a chair to a sword fight

Veer & Shanky vs Drew McIntyre

These guys are good, they need to make a tag title run with Jinder as a manager. CM Punk chants for no reason, these guys can go in the ring so the chants were unnecessary. The match is over but Jinder grabs a chair but you don’t bring a chair to a sword fight. Jinder does a very good job, Drew should have been champ and lost his title to Lashley at Summerslam, they would have made more stars than they have currently.

Nia Jax vs Rhea Ripley

Big pop for Rhea, Chicago knows whats up

Commentary talking up Nia, did a good job of putting her over. Much better match than I expected, this had all the right pieces for the crowd. When given time, everyone can look good, that’s one thing Raw does well is given wrestlers time; they have 3 hours so they better. Rhea goes over which is the right decision. Shayna and Nia tease the breakup after the loss. Ripley gives Nia the Riptide behind Shayna’s back.

TBar & Mace vs Ali & Mansoor

Ali got the hometown welcome and it was awesome to hear and see that. Had a feeling they were going to lose because of the story WWE is telling but that leaves the crowd upset. Ali even gotta post match beatdown which enhances the story but really leaves a bad taste in the crowd’s mouth.

Doudrop vs Tamina[c]

Doudrop loses because Eva gets involved, not a bad match though. It really looks like Tamina is holding down the tag titles on her own. I’d give them to Eva and Doudrop if they aren’t going to break them up soon. Later, Eva and Doudrop take out Alexa Bliss. I don’t understand Alexa being a babyface with this gimmick at this time, she should be a heel trying to take the title from Nikki A.S.H.

MizTV

Special guest Damian Priest

Bad comedy was getting on the crowd’s nerves. Priest beats Morrisonin a quick match. Sheamus attacks after the bell, Ricochet saves the day and now it a tag team match (Sonya makes it a tag match during the break). They bungled this segment with foolishness, should have just had everyone in the match on Miz TV from the start.

Riddle vs Omos[c]

Good match, omos wins clean, which is a bit of a mistake. That doesn’t make Riddle look as good as he is, a screwy finish protects Riddle’s upside. Crowd likes Riddle which is great considering the type of crowd it is. Omos is good for what he does but he does very little, not very smart to put him over Riddle that can do it all.

Kross[c] vs Keith Lee

Crowd popped for Lee and Kross loses again; his second loss on the main roster. I don’t know what the plan is but it doesn’t seem to be a good one at the moment, for either guy. If I’m Keith Lee I turn heel and join the hurt business, the only way he is going to get over the way he needs to with everyone, including the brass in the back.

Charlotte vs Nikki A.S.H[c]

In an earlier segment on the show Charlotte addresses her match. Becky chants rattle the queen Charlotte was drowning out there. Later, Nikki wins the match but they still protected Charlotte much more than they did the champ. Nikki has main evented Raw, started it and just been all over the show since returning with her new gimmick which is why you protect her more than everyone else right now; she’s your champion.

Honorable mentions

1. Reggie making the 24/7 title great again.

Final take

The episode was decent but I feel like something is really missing; I think it’s star power. Where are the big stars for Raw? I can’t see the show getting any better without starpower.

#Goldberg #BobbyLashley #DrewMcIntyre #themiz #NikkiASH #Summerslam