WWE Raw is building toward SummerSlam slowly. The July 18 edition announced multiple expected matches and featured the return of Logan Paul.
The Ultimate Influencer got his match with The Miz after goading him in the main event on Monday night. He was the focal point of a show that should have more stars to feature.
Kevin Owens returned to add further fuel to the feud between Seth Rollins and Riddle. With the supposed end of his rivalry with Ezekiel, The Prizefighter needs a fresh story for The Biggest Party of the Summer on July 30 and far beyond.
Theory has fallen right into the role of men's Money in the Bank holder. He has lost to multiple major babyfaces in recent weeks, including AJ Styles on Raw.
Titus O'Neil took on the Vince McMahon role this week, speaking to fans about WWE's status as a safe space for entertainment in a promo that made little sense for the overall product.
Monday's Raw built forward without a lot of spark, but it did leave some interesting talking points.
Logan Paul's return to Raw was in the main event. He challenged The Miz and ultimately got his singles match at SummerSlam.
It was a big spot for a talent who is still learning the craft. While the YouTuber has the name to stand out, he cannot be the instant star WWE wants him to be without practice.
The Miz is a perfect first challenger for Paul, but he cannot be thrust into continuous main event spots from this moment on.
The 27-year-old may be athletic with good training, but he is going to need to learn to work with various performers, both in the ring and on the mic.
After The A-Lister, he can fight Ciampa, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Theory and others who will test him in different ways.
WWE should not rush Paul out of desperation or it could ruin a promising opportunity.
Following the announcement of an investigation by the WWE board into Vince McMahon reportedly having paid a $3 million settlement to a former WWE employee to cover up an affair, McMahon appeared in the ring on the following SmackDown and simply repeated WWE's mantra of "Then. Now. Forever. Together."
McMahon stepped down as WWE chairman while the investigation is ongoing—he has since been accused of paying $12 million in non-disclosure agreements to a total of four women since 2006, per Joe Palazzolo, Ted Mann and Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal—but he retains creative control over both Raw and SmackDown.
This Monday, Titus O'Neil was sent to the ring to express his pride over his work with WWE as a brand ambassador.
O'Neil is likable, and it's always nice to see him succeeding. However, there was no clear reasoning behind this appearance.
It accomplished nothing for the build to SummerSlam, and his promo will be largely forgotten beyond its odd presence on the show.
With one of the biggest pay-per-views on its calendar approaching, WWE must stop these attempted damage-control promos and get back to focusing on the action and stories.
If O'Neil is going to be on TV, it should be as an authority figure and not to sell the PR spin of WWE being a "safe haven."
In spite of all logic, winning the Money in the Bank briefcase typically leads to a series of losses. Thanks to Dolph Ziggler, Theory has lost to Bobby Lashley, Riddle and AJ Styles. He couldn't even beat Madcap Moss legitimately on Friday's SmackDown.
If there is a strong idea to push A-Town as a legitimate heel, he cannot just keep losing. He needs to build up his credibility. At the moment, it seems more likely he would lose a cash-in on an injured Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.
The idea is ultimately to make the 24-year-old one of the company's top stars. He can stay in that position for a long time, but no one will believe it if he keeps falling short.
If Theory is trying to be the next big star, he has to be treated like one. He may get his revenge on The Showoff soon, but he needs many wins before and after that.
Recent episodes of Raw have felt lackluster. It's not hard to point out what has been missing with so many stars out of action, but Kevin Owens' return on Monday made clear how much he is needed.
He is a spark of energy, even on the dreariest nights. His promo with Riddle on The KO Show was better than most of the rest of the episode.
Once Owens has a story again, beyond playing Seth Rollins' second-in-command, he might be able to genuinely improve the product.
The red brand has been beyond saving week-to-week recently. The pacing just does not click, no matter the talent. However, KO is a crucial piece in keeping a good portion of it watchable.
Without Owens, Rollins and Becky Lynch adding levity to proceedings, it would be hard to convince anyone to watch Raw these days.
