ISSUE NO. 29
Two huge betrayals that changed the face of The Judgement Day.
Three new champions.
Drew McIntyre not only getting the "W" but also proving that CM Punk's his own worst enema (not a typo).
A huge return for Roman Reigns, who's got fresh hot merch proclaiming he's now sold Over the Counter.
Yes, SummerSlam had it all, but Raw, just a few days later, was also packed with jam, including a massively emotional in-ring debut for the Wyatt Sicks.
Sure, they're still figuring out their place, and it's kind of hard to see how they'll fit into the larger main roster tapestry, but that final match on Raw felt one-of-a-kind. Almost as if it were a one-off. They would have killed it at SummerSlam, but they also would have gotten lost in the shuffle of a very eventful card. Raw was busy busy busy as well but the Sicks got to close the show and everything was a build-up to them.
Plus, Baltimore held special meaning for the Wyatts. And not just because of Bunny Colvin's failed Hamsterdam drugs-and-prostos-allowed zone (which was working, dammit!). Before diving into the Raw main event though… what was your favorite “moment” from SummerSlam? Were you all about the torrid smoochies? Or were you just flat out ecstatic to see Roman rescue a somewhat floundering main event? Let us know… right here, right now!
The Wyatt Sicks are phenomenally over as babyfaces. Which is a stark contrast to their merciless debut that left 70 dead backstage. But it’s also possible that they could also easily flip to the dark(er) side again if need be. I think there’s legitimate concern about how to handle these rad beasts (my favorite '90s cartoon about surfing cyber-dinosaurs) but I think that’s the concern that comes with every “monster” or big man.
Like Odyssey Jones, who just had himself an awesome introduction on Raw, scooping up both members of AoP like Petco had a 2-for-1 on sacks of cat litter. Eventually monsters have to get taken down a peg, power-wise and vulnerability-wise, so this will come to pass for the Sicks in due time.
The Wyatt Sicks are phenomenally over as babyfaces.
“
But as it stands now, the Wyatt Sicks' match against American Made was just good old-fashioned feels. All of them coming out together for an official bout was chilling, with the added odd sheen of being both Funhouse characters and their actual real ring personas (who I guess *think* they’re Funhouse characters now). And having that lantern sitting on the rocking chair was a diabolically precious moment that brought both joy and tears. The weight and glory of Bray’s memory will always be a part of this faction and, for right now, it’s just what everyone needs. No twists, turns, or swerves. There was enough of that at the PLE and in the two and a half hours of Raw that preceded this.
This match was just a heartwarming, mostly dominant win for the Sicks. And it didn’t really diminish American Made either, who were also debuting as a stable, because there was almost a post-Raw exhibition match feel here.
Anyhow, my preference would be that this group gets held back and used for special occasions only until they get put into a solid, important program, but maybe I’m the outlier here. It would also be cool if the Sicks, through the use of their supernatural status, could appear on SmackDown sometimes. I also hope Bo and Nikki get to wrestle matches at some point. Maybe this is how WWE gets Trios titles? I dunno, there’s actually so many ways to go with this that it’s a bit of a brain swirler.
On The Judgement Day front… yesss. The heels are heels and the babyfaces are babyfaces, ending the “tweener” aspect of the band. Rhea and Damian now stand united against a reworked group that now includes, yup, Liv Morgan. As if someone violently ripped pages out of my dream journal, which also contains, within its contents, “full-size Taco Bell Mexican Pizza.”
Meanwhile, after losing big due to his own obstinance, CM Punk came out and told us all he was happy. Because, in true Punk fashion, he can’t truly sell defeat. It’s a sly psychological ploy that reminds me of my E-fedding days when foes could just cut “haha no you didn’t!” promos after big beatdowns. Even when Punk got injured at the Rumble he was like “at least I don’t have an incurable disease.” Still, his feud with McIntyre has been the program of the year and they’ve both done amazing work. The SummerSlam match focused a bit too much on Seth overall, but it was still good times.
Just when it seemed like Punk was on a direct collision course with Seth, however, Bronson Reed struck and flattened Seth into oblivion. It was a tremendous bit of business that ended up with Seth coughing up blood and “doctors fearing there might be internal bleeding.” I guess because blood was coming out from, you know, inside of him. This was a great way of getting Reed out of his rut; his match with Seth was supposed to have happened last February in his home country before it got nixed because of Seth’s injury. It was a real knifey spooney kick in the pantaloonies.
Punk still has an unfinished blood feud with Drew, which now very much revolves around that bracelet. If I were them, and this was all real, I’d either A: Just get a new one made if I was Punk because it's cheap and replicable or B: Get a sh** ton of them made if I were Drew so that if Punk ever manages to take it back I just slap on a new one. Hell, wear them all up your arms. Just AJ and Larry trinkets forever. And them throw them all over the mat like thumbtacks and someone gets slammed on them. Ooh, we just booked Bad Blood in Atlanta.
Eventually I’ll start digging into All In, as it approaches. My gang and I are going to one of the esteemed Arlington Collisions this weekend, so I might have things to say about the 2024 live AEW experience next week. I’ve gone to Dynamite three times here in DFW but that was a better show and a bigger arena. Collisions don’t bring out the big guns. No MJFs or Mercedes Monés or Bryan Danielsons. But I will get to see House of Black and Deonna Purrazzo so that’s not nothin’.
KNEELIFT!
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