August 12th 2024

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Judgement Day 3.0

Judgment has arrived on the Judgment Day and the sentence is…DIVORCE. One thing is clear: Damian Priest (DP) and Rhea Ripley (Mami) are no longer in Judgment Day. We are witnessing Judgment Day 3.0, a faction that has evolved from its original form with Edge, transitioned through the era with DP and Mami, and now enters a new phase with Finn Balor as the “backstabber.” This week’s RAW featured an intense match between Carlito and DP, showcasing the physicality and charisma only Puerto Ricans can bring to the ring. DP continues to look more imposing and menacing each week, and Carlito’s outfit was a cool touch to an already great match.

The mixed tag team match on the road to Survivor Series is shaping up to be a thrilling rivalry. It’s clear that the endgame for this feud between DP/Mami and Judgment Day 3.0 will culminate at Survivor Series. DP’s entrance, reminiscent of The Undertaker’s iconic style, was a highlight. Once DP and Mami wrap up this Judgment Day storyline, their singles careers are poised to reach new heights.

The new version of Judgment Day, led by “Backstabber” Balor, is a fresh take on the faction. Personally, I’d like to see them shift focus to dominating the brand, enough with the internal drama. Judgment Day should secure a win in Berlin to complete the heel-to-face turn for DP and Mami.

Odyssey Jones and the New Day

Odyssey Jones made an impactful debut, demolishing his opponent. Meanwhile, the rivalry between The New Day and Karrion Kross is brewing, with Kross subtly trying to sow seeds of dissent among the group. It will be interesting to see where this leads.

Alpha Academy 2.0

Otis and Akira Tozawa have become a magnetic duo, revitalizing Alpha Academy in a way no one saw coming. If given the right push and with effective crowd engagement, they could very well be the next tag team champions, dethroning JD and Finn. The way Otis utilizes Tozawa as another weapon in his arsenal in their matches is simply awesome.

Shake Up in the Women’s Stables

It seems WWE is in a transitional or shake-up period for many of its stables. Damage CTRL is nearly disbanded, and now we have the emerging Pure Future Collective, though they desperately need to improve their mic skills. It’s almost laughable how they reused Shayna Baszler’s titantron and didn’t bother to change the colors for the whole team—if they wore blue, they’d look like the X-Men!

The Viper vs the Ring General

Randy Orton delivered a stellar promo, setting up a showdown between a legend and a legend-in-the-making, Gunther. Orton asserted his credentials, while Gunther, true to his heel persona, dismissed Randy’s accolades, only for Drew McIntyre to interrupt out of nowhere, leading to a surprise RKO. The intense confrontation left Gunther reeling, and Drew’s sudden involvement raises questions—what’s his motive? Is a triple threat or fatal four-way match brewing for Bash in Berlin, featuring Punk, Orton, Gunther, and Drew? (one can only dream, and TBH it’s been a while since we haven’t had a match that isn’t one on one).

On a side note: Drew McIntyre throwing shade at Randy Orton was unexpected but intriguing. Drew raises a valid point: why have a brand split if the lines are going to blur so quickly? This tension could lead to an explosive confrontation down the line, taking into account that this is the fastest that the WWE has dismissed the brand splits. And we can’t forget the beating the Punk gave Drew, and coming from a Mexican kid, believe me that was a good Cintariza.

Pete Dunne delivered a brutal beatdown to Sheamus, further escalating a slowly simmering rivalry that has consistently entertained the mid-card scene. Another European clash seems to be cooking for Bash in Berlin.

The Big Australian Tsunami

Bronson Reed continues his rampage, this time decimating The Miz. Last week’s beating of Seth Rollins elevated Reed to another level among WWE’s top superstars. If he continues to receive this push and the crowd responds positively, he could become a serious title contender before WrestleMania. It’s hard to believe The Miz has been in the game for so long—he still has the same physical intensity he had in 2005, almost as if he made a deal with the devil. Honorable mention to R-Truth for enduring Bronson Reed and his Tsunami finisher. The crowd’s reaction to Reed’s Tsunamis has been positive, putting him over for another week.

Golderg (sorry Bron) and Sami Close out Raw

Sami Zayn and Jey Uso shared a great pump-up moment, continuing to build their camaraderie.

Bron Breakker’s entrance was reminiscent of Goldberg’s iconic style, and his 2-out-of-3 falls match showcased some classic Mexican lucha libre elements. Slowly but surely, Breakker is winning over the crowd. This rivalry has all the makings of a Survivor Series classic, with the stark contrast between the competitors making their matches click perfectly. Great match, we want more. The IC title picture is putting up some iconic matches.