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WWE: 3 MVPs From Tonight’s Raw (Sept 8)
While there wasn’t a premium live event this weekend, most of the WWE Universe was still processing the shock of AJ Lee’s epic WWE return on Friday’s SmackDown. It was quite the moment and a return 10 years in the making, so it’s understandable that WWE would want to keep the train rolling with Lee’s first return to Monday Night Raw in around a decade. That wasn’t the only big moment though from tonight’s WWE Raw, and we’re breaking down the 3 MVPs of the night right here!
3. The Usos’ Return
WWE Raw got things started with another callback to SmackDown, which brought together Jey and Jimmy Uso once again. The tease was certainly that The Usos were returning as a Tag Team soon, but tonight’s Raw made it official, and the fans certainly gave the returning duo a big-time welcome.
While Jey and Jimmy have been heavily featured in their own ways over the years, it’s been some time since we’ve seen them together as a Tag Team. In the interim, they have really developed as individual competitors, so bringing them back together feels incredibly fresh, with this introductory promo as a perfect example of why.
Jimmy actually took more of the mic time this time, and the chemistry with Jey and their back and forth on the mic hasn’t lost a step. They play off of each other so well, though it is funny that now Jey is perhaps the one who has to be reigned in more as opposed to Jimmy, as Jey is teetering on the edge of a full heel turn after that kick to LA Knight. This also bolsters the Tag Team division quite a bit, and having them in the mix instantly gives us some fresh matchups to look forward to.
2. Penta Makes Everything Better
Tonight’s Raw was another stellar spotlight for Penta, and if there’s one major takeaway from his work during the show, it’s that Penta simply makes everything better. Not only did Raw give us the rather unexpected collision of Penta and Rusev backstage, but it also led to a match that once again proved that Penta can shine against anyone while also making his opponent look like a million bucks.
It didn’t hurt that Rusev was coming off a stellar showcase against Sheamus, and this was another great step in his return trajectory. Before the match was even over though, we got the continuation of Penta’s feud with New Day, and Penta’s involvement has made them 10 times more interesting as a faction too. While it would be nice to see Penta getting more wins and an eventual run at the main event Title picture, he continues to elevate every program he’s in, and that’s likely not going to change.
1. AJ Lee
It was always going to be challenging to follow up on AJ Lee’s surprise return on SmackDown, just due to the sheer shock of the moment. Thankfully, that wasn’t really an issue on tonight’s Raw, as Lee not only delivered a lengthy promo to the crowd about her time away and what led to her return, but then delivered in a fun segment with Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins.
Lee’s promo felt authentic and personal, and the crowd was there for it, giving her a warm welcome and even chanting for Therapy at one point, which drew a great response from Lee. When Lynch entered the picture, Lee looked right at home, going toe to toe like she never left. The same went for her confrontation with Rollins, and her eccentric persona was a perfect foil for Rollins and Lynch throughout the segment. Now we have a match at WrestlePalooza, and next week we’ll get one more confrontation to hype up what will easily be one of the biggest matches on the card.
Honorable Mentions
Now, while these moments didn’t quite make the top 3, they still deserve some praise and honorable mention. The first one we’ll start with is AJ Styles’ promo that was buried by a commercial break. This could be interpreted as a work-style promo, especially when Styles refers to someone not wanting him there anymore, and that’s what gives it some extra teeth. We’ll have to see where this goes, but it certainly drew some interest.
Praise is also deserved for Lyra Valkyria and Raquel Rodriguez, who delivered a fantastic match that not only furthered their feud but also showcased their respective skillsets without having to resort to a squash and straight DQ. Lyra will face Roxanne Perez next week, and that match could end up being another showcase easily.
What did you think of WWE Raw, and what were your best moments? Let us know in the ComicBook forums!
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