Love was in the air on this week’s edition of WWE Raw, as the love triangle continued between Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, and Dominik Mysterio.
It was a tale of two stories: Liv making it clear that she was still madly in love with Dominik, and Rhea Ripley asserting her independence to Dominik.
These were the two main themes of the night, but it all set up the match we’ve been anticipating. Rhea officially challenged Liv, and Liv accepted.
So, we are going to witness Rhea Ripley challenging Liv Morgan for what Rhea claims is her championship at SummerSlam.
Could this match be a Custody Ladder Match with Dominik Mysterio at stake, a storyline echoing back to 2005 with Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio?
On a serious note, this episode of Raw was filled with entertaining developments, particularly regarding Rhea and Dominik. Following her big return last week, Rhea made it clear where she stands with Dominik, though she did give him some hope towards the end of the show after he valiantly fought for her against Jey Uso.
Speaking of love, Jey also made it clear that he has feelings for Rhea, leading to some humorous and memorable moments.
As the show unfolded, we saw Dominik and Liv have another physical exchange, Rhea coming out to run Liv off and ultimately costing Dominik his match.
This tease between Jey and Rhea adds another layer to the love triangle and leaves the door open for further developments, perhaps even setting up Dominik to join Liv at SummerSlam.
Drew McIntyre’s Return
Another significant moment was Drew McIntyre’s return, looking confident and ready to face CM Punk.
However, Adam Pearce threw a curveball by asking Drew to apologize to the referees, which McIntyre refused to do, resulting in him still being suspended.
The tension between Drew and Punk is building up, and it will be intriguing to see how it unfolds next week when Punk returns to Raw.
Seth Rollins also played a role in stopping McIntyre from going after Pearce, keeping the sustained tension between Rollins and McIntyre alive.
Although Rollins seems to be somewhat of an odd man out regarding SummerSlam plans, his ongoing feud with McIntyre and the likely future showdown with Punk keeps him relevant in the storyline.
Sami Zayn Defends the Intercontinental Championship
In the main event, Sami Zayn defended the Intercontinental Championship against Ilja Dragunov.
Unsurprisingly, the match ended in a no contest due to interference from Bron Breakker, setting up a probable three-way match at SummerSlam.
Dragunov’s claim for a fair shot and Zayn’s desire to be a fighting champion might lead to a highly anticipated contest, with Breakker potentially walking out of Cleveland with the title.
The Wyatt Sicks Developments
Chad Gable continues to be at the center of the Wyatt Sicks universe, channeling his inner Kurt Angle while interacting with the group and bringing a mix of seriousness and comedy.
Erick Rowan’s promo added a layer of raw emotion to the storyline, focusing on real-life losses and the hope that the Wyatt Sicks mask provides.
Could WWE be planning a Gable vs. Bo Dallas match in the near future?
Priest vs. Gunther Face-Off
Damien Priest and Gunther had an intense face-off, with Gunther questioning Priest’s worthiness as a champion.
This segment added a layer of doubt about who will emerge victorious at SummerSlam, with Gunther’s confidence shining through his flawless promo delivery.
It was also one of Priest’s better promo exchanges since becoming champion, as he focused on his road to being the title holder.
This set up an exciting build towards their World Heavyweight Championship match.
Other Notable Segments
Other segments included Sheamus getting his entrance music changed, leading to significant backlash online, and his match against Bronson Reed, which included interference from Pete Dunne.
This particular segment also detailed how storylines always give characters a purpose, making viewers invested in each wrestler’s motivations and actions.
Meanwhile, Lyra Valkyria and Sonya Deville are set to go one-on-one next week after their interactions in multiple segments.
Overall Thoughts
This week’s Raw was packed with storyline development, setting up exciting matches and emotionally charged promos.
As we head towards SummerSlam, it will be fascinating to see how each of these storylines plays out and who comes out on top in these big matches in Cleveland.
Let us know your thoughts about this edition of Raw!
Watch the video below for my FULL WWE RAW 7/15/24 review with thoughts on the Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, and Dominik Mysterio love triangle!
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