Right Hook Weekly Review (8/5/2024 to 8/9/2024)

The weekly review is back after a fun weekend with Summerslam live and in person which was an absolute blast! WWE Raw starts the review off and what a good start.

Monday Night Raw 8/5/2024

Gunther starting the show was awesome, and when Randy Orton stepped up to challenge him for a match at Bash in Berlin, I was surprised and pumped for what was to come. The crowd was fully behind Damian Priest, his authenticity and confidence on the mic were top-notch. And Finn Balor in this role is just what we have been waiting for. The new formation of Judgement Day with him leading the way will be an absolute blast!

The showdown between Punk and Rollins was intense, and Drew McIntyre is on fire, keeping his feud with Punk alive and I am all for it stretching into next year. But the real showstopper was Bronson Reed obliterating Seth Rollins. I cannot wait to see what is next for him. Bronson Reed with those tsunamis on Seth Rollins was old-school in making him shine as a new star. It felt like Yokozuna or Vader in their prime but a great segment.

The Final Testament/New Day tag was decent, but something seems off with Karrion Kross and Final Testament. However, Odyssey Jones’s Raw debut was great and left us all wondering about the future of the New Day. Will Woods welcome Jones, or could this be the beginning of the end for the beloved group?

JD vs. Priest was another solid match, and Rhea Ripley coming out to help Priest and the hug was a nice moment. The main event was a joy to watch, and the new name for Gable and the Creeds as American Made is a perfect fit. Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy were both impressive and their appearance in Baltimore 11 years after the debut of the Wyatt family in the same city was a sentimental and perfect way to close out Raw. Cannot wait to see where all these storylines go!

NXT 8/6/2024

Pete vs. Trick Williams was everything I hoped for, and I am excited to see more of their feud. Dunne winning the match could signal a much-needed reboot for him as a potential main eventer, which would be a terrific addition to NXT or Raw roster.

Kelani Jordan vs. Tatum Paxley was decent, these ladies deserve more TV time. However, Wendy Choo’s gimmick is awful, and it needs to go. The Joe Coffey vs. Joe Hendry match was okay, while Joe Hendry is popular right now, I am not fully convinced yet. But I am going to give him a fair chance to prove himself beyond being a viral sensation.

The main event for the tag titles between The Rascalz (Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz) vs. Frazer and Axiom was entertaining, but unfortunately The Rascalz fell short of winning the titles. The shocking turn of events where Wes Lee betrayed Miguel and Wentz left the crowd stunned, ending the show on a shocking note.

AEW Dynamite 8/7/2024

MJF faced Kyle Fletcher for the new American championship, and the match was fine. The Swerve’s interview with Jim Ross was good, and Swerve continues to be a star despite the lack of favors during his championship run.

Mercedes Mone’s run in AEW continues to be a chore, and less promos and more in-ring action would serve her better. Danielson vs. Jarrett in the main event was surprisingly good, and seems to be part of a solid build for Swerve and Danielson at All In.

Friday Night Smackdown 8/9/2024

The opening segment with Cody and Solo felt repetitive. Solo is really finding his rhythm in his current role. Owens came out to support Cody, but then a surprising turn of events occurred. Cody’s desire to face KO for the title felt a bit awkward, but it is a strategic move for the big show in Berlin at the end of August.

It was wonderful to see Street Profits back on TV, and I wish the pairing with Bobby Lashley had worked out. B-Fab joining them feels a bit generic, but it does add something. I feel bad for Austin Theory because I do not understand why he is always the one taking the fall instead of Grayson Waller. Montez Ford is a star and should get more TV time, but the Profits would make great opponents for Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu for the tag titles.

I am pleased to see that there’s still effort being put into the women’s tag titles scene. Even though I am not a fan of pairing people together for the sake of it, bringing back Naomi, Bianca, and Jade could lead to some great matches for Frye, Dawn, and Davenport.

Seeing LA Knight with gold around his waist just looks right! The United States championship scene is going to be good. Santos Escobar’s promo was a bit shaky, and he cannot afford to have that happen against LA Knight. Andrade vs. Escobar was a good match, and we should see more of that. I hope Carmelo Hayes and Andrade’s rivalry can become a part of the US title situation.

The end of Smackdown with Roman Reigns was great! This is what WWE wanted years ago but failed to execute properly. However, they got it right now since his return last weekend. Reigns single-handedly taking out the Tongans made sense, but it also made Solo, and his Bloodline look pretty weak, especially without Jacob Fatu. It is crazy that the crowd was already chanting “OTC,” but it was a great way to end Smackdown with Reigns kicking ass and standing tall.