Category: RAW

WWE RAW Preview 7/6/20

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida with more build for WWE’s “Extreme Rules: The Horror Show” pay-per-view.

The only match announced for tonight’s RAW is a Champion vs. Champion match with RAW Women’s Champion Asuka taking on WWE Women’s Tag Team & SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley. Bayley’s partner Sasha Banks is expected to be at ringside, as is Kairi Sane.

WWE has not announced an official preview for tonight’s RAW as of this writing, but it’s likely we will see updates to the current feuds between Dolph Ziggler and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, MVP and WWE United States Champion Apollo Crews, Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio, plus Randy Orton’s storyline, among others.

WWE RAW Preview 6/29/20

Tonight’s taped WWE RAW will take place from the Performance Center in Orlando, FL with more build to WWE’s “Extreme Rules: The Horror Show” pay-per-view.

WWE has not published an official preview for tonight’s RAW but they are focusing on the following points for tonight’s show:

* Double contract signing for Extreme Rules: The Horror Show

* Will Seth Rollins continue his reign of terror?

WWE RAW Preview 6/22/20

Tonight’s taped edition of WWE RAW will air from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

*WWE Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka.

*Rey Mysterio returns.

*WWE Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. The Viking Raiders.

*WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. The IIconics.

*Ric Flair to officially name Randy Orton the “Greatest Wrestler of all time.”

WWE RAW Preview 6/15/20

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando with fallout from last night’s Backlash pay-per-view.

WWE has not announced any matches or the official preview for tonight’s show, but they are teasing a follow-up to WWE Champion Drew McIntyre’s Backlash win over Bobby Lashley. There will also be an update to the feud between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio as Rollins has invited Rey and his son Dominik to the show.

WWE Talent Reportedly Concerned With Paul Heyman No Longer Running RAW

A lot of the talent on the WWE RAW brand are reportedly concerned with Paul Heyman being removed as the head of creative for Monday Night RAW, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

According to The Observer, Heyman had pushed Vince McMahon on the idea that it would take 18 months or longer to create credible new stars, as the company had been failing to push new talent to the top. Heyman took over as the creative head of RAW on June 27, 2019, however his employee contract was terminated less than 12 months later this past Thursday. Heyman still has a WWE performer’s contract.

During the Q1 2020 investors call in late April, McMahon blamed the drop in RAW ratings on the new talent on the brand, saying that they need time to get over. At the time McMahon said that he was convinced that RAW’s ratings would rebound once fans took to the new stars.

“RAW has suffered, but not necessarily because of the environment, it’s suffered because we bring in a lot of new talent and to RAW, and it takes a while to get these new talents over,” McMahon said. “We no longer have Brock Lesnar obviously, but we have a new champion and a lot of new performers coming in. So it takes a while. So that’s the reason, and how you use those performers in this story or that story or what have you. So, with new talent it’s just going to take a little while. I’m convinced though, that the RAW’s ratings are going to bounce back considerably.”

Meltzer noted that McMahon’s mentality had changed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, McMahon was concerned with building to the future, which included the XFL being a long-term project, as well as expanding NXT into other foreign markets. McMahon now is apparently worried about what is happening today.

It was noted that Heyman’s projects included newer stars like Drew McIntyre, Andrade, Angel Garza, Zelina Vega, Aleister Black, Apollo Crews, Austin Theory, The Street Profits, The Viking Raiders and Murphy, as well as established talent such as Charlotte Flair, Rey Mysterio, Asuka and Nia Jax. Meltzer stated that a lot of the talent are concerned because they’ve never had a big push, with some floundering before Heyman took charge.

Meltzer also reported that the belief is that McIntyre and The Street Profits are the stars that are most likely to be safe as McMahon likes them. However, they might not continue to be protected as well.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Paul Heyman No Longer Executive Director Of Raw, Bruce Prichard To Lead Team For Both Shows

WWE has confirmed their creative teams from Raw and SmackDown have been consolidated into one group which will be led by Bruce Prichard.

According to a statement from WWE:

“In an effort to streamline our creative writing process for television, we have consolidated both teams from Raw and SmackDown into one group, led by Bruce Prichard. Paul Heyman will concentrate on his role as an in-ring performer.”

As you’ll recall, Heyman was made the Executive Director of Raw in June of 2019. Eric Bischoff was hired to be the Executive Director of SmackDown as well, but that didn’t last long and he made his exit from the company months later in October. He was then replaced by Bruce Prichard.

Ratings for all the major wrestling shows have fallen drastically since the Coronavirus pandemic forced the promotions to hold tapings without real crowds. In February, the first full month before the pandemic, RAW averaged 2.29 million viewers (down 14% from an average of 2.67 million viewers in February of 2019). In May, the show averaged 1.77 million viewers, a drop of 23% from February and 24% from the 2.33 million viewers RAW averaged in May of last year. The past six weeks have featured five of the least watched episodes in the show’s history.

PWInsider reported that a source noted to them that Vince McMahon has recently been “very upset” and openly “frustrated” with Raw.

During the Q1 2020 investors call in late April, McMahon was asked why ratings have declined despite the company being the only live sports content on television during the pandemic. Even though SmackDown ratings have also suffered, McMahon claimed that SmackDown ratings had seen virtually no change, while RAW has suffered because of the new talent on the brand, who need time to get over.

“So there’s no audience and it’s a different show, a completely different show,” Vince said. “And I think we’re going to get there. While we may be able to take this negative and already turn it into somewhat of a positive, as far as ratings and what have you are concerned. SmackDown has virtually been no change, very little. RAW has suffered, but not necessarily because of the environment, it’s suffered because we bring in a lot of new talent and to RAW, and it takes a while to get these new talents over.

“We no longer have Brock Lesnar obviously, but we have a new champion and a lot of new performers coming in. So it takes a while. So that’s the reason, and how you use those performers in this story or that story or what have you. So, with new talent it’s just going to take a little while. I’m convinced though, that the RAW’s ratings are going to bounce back considerably.”

Sources: Pro Wrestling Sheet and Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 6/8/20

Tonight’s WWE Backlash go-home edition of RAW on the USA Network will take place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.

WWE Announces New Weekly Post-Raw Show Called “Raw Talk”, Free Version Of WWE Network

The new free version of WWE Network is being rolled out today and the announcement reveals a new post-Raw show called “Raw Talk.”

The press release for today’s rollout states:

WWE today unveiled the Free Version of WWE Network, the company’s award-winning digital streaming service, unlocking a vast portion of its content library with more than 15,000 action-packed WWE titles now available for free.

The Free Version of WWE Network includes:

According to sources, “Raw Talk” will be similar in format to “Talking Smack.” It also appears to be hosted by Charly Caruso and Samoa Joe, based on the announcement for tonight’s episode.

The previous version of “Raw Talk” aired after pay-per-views.

Samoa Joe Reportedly Considered To Be A Permanent Member Of The WWE RAW Announce Team

Samoa Joe has reportedly permanently replaced WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler on the RAW announce team.

Joe has not returned to the ring because he’s still waiting to be medically cleared to compete from the concussion he suffered during the RAW commercial shoot back in February. He was brought back to RAW commentary in late April, filling in for Lawler, and now the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Joe is considered to be Lawler’s permanent replacement on the red brand announce team.

There’s no word yet on what this means for when Joe is medically cleared for in-ring action, but the Observer noted that Joe may have a role where he announces and then they shoot angles for him to wrestle using the other role. Things could change down the road if WWE runs into depth issues with the RAW roster, or if they feel they need Joe as a full-time wrestler, but they could also have Joe work both roles.

It was originally believed that Joe was filling in for Lawler due to concerns over Lawler being at a higher risk to work TV tapings during the coronavirus pandemic. It remains to be seen if WWE will bring Lawler back to the announce table once regular tapings resume.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 5/18/20

Tonight’s taped WWE RAW will take place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL with more build for the upcoming Backlash pay-per-view.

* The Street Profits to face The Viking Raiders in an axe-throwing contest

* WWE Champion Drew McIntyre battles SmackDown’s King Corbin

* Bliss & Cross defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles against The IIconics

* Asuka starts a new era on Monday Night Raw