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Choke's WWE Raw Rant and Smackdown Preview 7/28/2014 - 8/1/2014

Posted by: choke Jul 30, 2014 | 1596 views | 10 comments

RAW Rant

RAW was, as usual, a mixed bag.   Some good (Cesaro vs Cena, establishing Orton as a legitimate threat to Reigns, and Paige and AJ [dont let this feud end!]), and some bad (everything else).   I'll never understand why have Bo lose to Truth on a Raw.   Set up the match for Summerslam and have him lose there?   Have him torment Truth for weeks before giving up the loss?   I mean in a way I guess I like that it was unpredictable, though Truth ending the streak would have ALWAYS been unpredictable.   I'm guessing the WWE didn't want to carry around Bo AND Rusev as both having been undefeated.   Wait, is Rusev undefeated?   I don't know anything anymore.   Cesaro's fall from grace continues to trouble me, and the tag team situation is bizarre right now as well.   They seemed to be setting up Rybaxel but now the Usos have beat them in two straight matches.   I'm guessing Summerslam will end up being a 4 way dance with maybe Usos, Rybaxel, Big Kof E and the Rhodes?   Or have the Wyatts in there again?   Maybe they just wont have a tag match?!  And where the hell is Sheamus?!

Smackdown Preview

1.  Cesaro vs Jack Swagger:   Given Cesaro's inability to get a win lately, it's hard to pick him going over cleanly here.  Either Rusev causes Swagger the loss or Swagger actually beats Cesaro to be confronted after by Rusev.   I'll say Cesaro gets a rare win via help from Rusev.  Then he goes and beats up Rollins in the back, steals the case and bludgeons John Cena with it violently for 10 minutes before pinning him to become the new WWE champion.   Cesaro vs Brock at Summerslam!    It could happen!    

2.  Bo Dallas vs R-Truth,  Seems likely Bo will get a win to make it even stevens, but I could also see them having Truth be the guy who frustrates Bo and beats him twice, only for Bo to get the final win at Summerslam, because he BoLieved!   Nah, I'll stick with the first scenario:   Bo evens it up.

3.  AJ Lee vs Rosa Mendes (assuming it's non-title)  not quite sure why Rosa Mendes even has a job still to be honest.  Enhancement match for AJ, with some Paige fun after.   And I will be glued to the TV for every second of that.

4.  Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins and Kane in a handicap match:  Hmmm.  Seems weird to do this considering in 2 weeks we're supposed to be hyped over the singles match between the two.    I guess that's how they'll play it, that Dean has a hard time getting Seth alone in a ring.   I'm guessing Dean takes the win pinning Kane but doesnt get his true wish which is to get his hands on Seth.   You have to wait in line behind all the teenage girls Dean. 

5.  Fandango vs Diego:   Good god really?  I mean I don't have a clue.  I guess Diego takes it because Dolph or Summer or Layla comes out and causes Fandango to lose because we're all still supposed to care about that?   

6.  Alberto Del Rio vs Dolph Ziggler:  Could be a hell of a match like the two have put on many times before.  Not really sure what any of it will mean.   I guess Miz could play a factor to further set up Dolph getting an IC title shot.   I'll say Dolph takes the win first

7.  Chris Jericho vs Erick Rowan:  WWE is doing an interesting thing by having matches close out their shows which you wouldn't normally expect.   Like raw ended with Steph and Brie, now Smackdown is going to end with Jericho/Wyatts?   Always a chance Jericho gets jumped before the match can finish, but if there is a winner you can be sure it'll be Jericho.  I'll predict it happens.   Jericho wins and then gets jumped.  

OVERALL:    I'm gonna keep the comment from last week the same because it applies:  No Adam Rose again!   7 matches, with a pretty decent mix of intrigue and potential for good matches   I'm actually going to say you only need 2 shots of jameson for this one.   If Rose comes out, bump it up to 3.

RISING

 1.  Big E/Kofi:   You can just tell the WWE wants them to be major players in the tag title hunt.   Woods is good on the mic and E and Kofi are good in the ring and needed a shift in direction.   Not sure how much they can accomplish in the few weeks before Summerslam, but with the tag division the way it is, you never know.   Worth a pickup for the rest of the season IMO. 

2.  Titus/Heath Slater:  It's hard to even type them on this list.  I think they'll pick up their share of wins to play up the comedy aspect, and who knows maybe even more than that in the future.  Definitely worth dropping some dead weight off your team like RVD, Wade Barrett, or, sad to say, Daniel Bryan for if you haven't already.

3.  Stephanie McMahon/Brie Bella:   They'll definitely get some attack, mic, etc points, but not sure how much else.   Bottom line though is in a few weeks at Summerslam one of them is going to get a win over the other and I'd rather have that 50/50 chance than someone not even on the card.  Plan your trade timeline carefully.

Also:  R-Truth could get a few wins during this Bo Dallas feud

FALLING

1.  Rhodes Bros:  Why aren't they wrestling?   It took a comment from Batrastered of DroptheBelt to make me realize how long it's been since they've had a match.  With the tag division you'd think they'd be right in the mix, but unless something changes drastically soon, they're just dead weight.

2.  RVD:  Milk carton alert

3.  Rybaxel:  Well that didn't last long.   Their losses to the Usos could just be a swerve before they win the titles so I don't know if I'd drop them yet, but I certainly wouldn't be as hopeful as I would have been a week ago.

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