WWE Raw: Cracks in the Alliance Before WarGames Sends Shockwaves
Alright, let’s call it what it is: the Raw go-home show for Survivor Series felt less like a final tune-up and more like the first five minutes of a disaster movie. You know, the part where the scientist looks at the weird readings and says, “This can’t be right,” right before the volcano erupts.
With WarGames looming, the supposed “good guys” spent most of Monday night looking like they’d rather be in a cage match with each other than against their actual opponents. It was a masterclass in dysfunction, and frankly, it was glorious to watch.
An Alliance Built On Quicksand
Raw kicked off with Roman Reigns, the prodigal “Tribal Chief,” making his grand return. You could cut the tension with a plastic knife. He sauntered out, ready to address his baffling decision to join forces with his sworn enemies, only to be interrupted by the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes.
Rhodes, ever the earnest hero, tried to get to the heart of the matter. “What’s in it for you, man?” he asked. Reigns’ answer was classic Reigns: a mix of family pride and thinly veiled condescension. He claimed he was there to protect his “investment” in The Usos. Right. And I’m just here for the complimentary popcorn.
Before they could get too deep into their therapy session, CM Punk decided the party was missing its most opinionated guest. The World Heavyweight Champion strutted out, immediately questioning Rhodes’ leadership and declaring Raw “his show.” It was a classic “too many cooks in the kitchen” scenario, if the cooks all had massive egos and a history of trying to poison each other.
Reigns, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else, dropped the line of the night. After declaring his mutual hatred for The Vision as the only thing holding this circus together, he looked from Punk to Rhodes and said, “That title would look so much better on my shoulder.” He didn’t say which one. Oh, the beautiful, beautiful chaos. It was the kind of foreshadowing that hits you like a steel chair. WarGames hasn’t even started, and the battle for supremacy within the babyface team is already the main event.
Gunther Continues His Masterclass
In what might be the only functional part of WWE right now, Gunther put on another wrestling clinic. This time, it was against the incredibly talented Carmelo Hayes. Hayes came out hot, showing the fire that made him an NXT champion, but trying to chop Gunther is like punching a redwood tree. It’s a noble effort, but you’re the one who’s going to end up with splinters.
The match was a fantastic story. Hayes used his speed and agility, flying around the ring like a hornet, trying to find a chink in the armor of the Ring General. He even got a few near-falls that had the crowd believing an upset was possible. But Gunther is inevitable. After weathering the storm, he caught Hayes, transitioned from a sleeper hold into a devastating powerbomb, and secured the win.
This is what makes Gunther special. He makes his opponents look like a million bucks before he beats them. Hayes lost the match, but he gained a ton of credibility. If Gunther is truly the man slated to face John Cena in his final match, we are in for an absolute tearjerker of a classic.
The Rest Of the Mayhem
The night was packed with other bits of drama that added fuel to the Survivor Series fire. Dominik Mysterio, still the most hateable man in wrestling, took a cheap shot at a mini-John Cena, only to be confronted by his father, Rey Mysterio, who then beat JD McDonagh. The women’s division brawl was pure anarchy, culminating in IYO SKY wiping out almost everyone with a spectacular moonsault. It was a beautiful mess.
The main event saw The Usos lose their WarGames advantage match to Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul, thanks to a classic distraction finish. The post-match brawl was a five-on-five melee that brought all the key players into the ring. Just when you thought it was over, Brock Lesnar’s music hit, and the screen faded to black as all hell broke loose.
It was the perfect, chaotic ending to a Raw that promised anything but a united front. If Monday was any indication, this Saturday’s WarGames might just be a fight to see which team implodes first.
