Tag: RAW

WWE RAW Preview 7/27/20

Tonight’s taped WWE RAW episode on the USA Network will feature more build for the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view.

* Randy Orton opens the show and announces his next target

* Rey Mysterio’s son Dominik appears to confront Seth Rollins

* Andrade & Angel Garza vs. The Viking Raiders vs. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet with the winners challenging RAW Tag Team Champions The Street Profits at WWE SummerSlam

* RAW Women’s Champion Asuka defends against WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks in a match where Asuka’s title can be decided by pinfall, submission, count out or DQ, including outside interference

* WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Dolph Ziggler. McIntyre gets to pick the stipulation and will announce it right before the match

WWE RAW Preview 7/20/20

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

WWE has announced just one match for tonight’s show – the Unsanctioned Match between Randy Orton and Big Show.

WWE has not issued an official preview for tonight’s RAW, past the Orton vs. Show

Big Show faces Randy Orton in an Unsanctioned Match this Monday on Raw

Randy Orton has once again embraced being The Legend Killer in recent weeks, but he has run into an angry giant hellbent on retribution. This Monday on Raw, Big Show will set out to stop The Viper in his tracks when they clash in an Unsanctioned Match.

The World’s Largest Athlete returned to Raw in the aftermath of The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever, where Orton punted Edge to pick up the victory. One night later, Orton goaded Christian into an Unsanctioned Match, and Captain Charisma met the same fate. Big Show aims to get retribution for his friends, but The Apex Predator has his sights set on adding the giant’s name to his list of Legends.

Who will stand tall in a match where anything goes? Find out on Raw, this Monday at 8/7 C on USA Network!

WWE RAW Preview 7/13/20

Tonight’s RAW on the USA Network will be the final episode before WWE’s “The Horror Show at Extreme Rules” pay-per-view.

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.