The Official UKFF RAW thread (part 2)...

[Daaaaaad!]

With all this talk of Cody vs. Punk it's clear there is only one way for this to go.

"AJ, who the hell told you it was open mic night, BITCH?!?"

[Supremo]

CM Punk as World Champion, with Seth Rollins banished to the Phantom Realm, is the most excited I’ve been for Raw in years.

Really interested to see if carrying the brand can force Punk to wake the fuck up and inject some much needed life into the show. He’s one of the few guys who I believe has it in him. Bring back that lad who went scorched Earth on Cena and The Rock after Elimination Chamber. Ignite some fucking passion!

CM Punk, at the start of tonight’s show:

[mim731]

Have they ever telegraphed an eventual heel turn as much as Nikki Bella turning on Stephanie Vaquer? Nikki is either a terrible actress, or she's so disingenuous the inevitable turn will make Vaquer look like a right berk. Its both isn't it? 

[Supremo]

I remember when CM Punk was such a disruptor in this business that he had his own thread on here. Now, his first night as World Champion on WWE’s flagship show and nobody gives a fuck. What a job both Punk and WWE have done of systematically cooling him down to nothing. You can still see the spark in him, and the delivery is always top notch, but the material is dog shit and he seems more interested in getting a hug from Hunter backstage than actually pitching something better.

The best thing I can say about the Logan Paul stuff is that it’s at least better than the rumoured Austin Theory idea. Baffled as to how anyone can give a shit about Paul in 2025 though. He’s the embodiment of that wanky, meta trolling booking Hunter has clearly inherited from Vince. The forced anti-climax swerve that they think generates heat, but just depresses you. Punk listed a load of matches you might be interested in, but then LOL it’s Logan Paul instead! Congratulations, lads. You Bullseye’d me. “Here’s what you could have won before we offered you the worst choice possible!” Who’s Punk’s Mania opponent? Baron Corbin?

It wasn’t all bad though. Dirty Dom and his Dead Beat Dad completely rekindled their magic. A fantastic segment. Must be a genuine thrill for Rey, seeing his daft nepo baby son put it all together and become the most exciting wrestler in the company. You can feel the groundswell for the eventual babyface turn building by the week. Genuinely brilliant when he got the huge pop for interrupting Rey mentioning Eddie with, “you keep my father’s name out of your mouth!” He’s the best. I cannot wait for Dirty Dom vs. Rey, Hair vs. Mask. Bonus points if Liv Morgan returns to cost Dom the match.

Also, they added even more pyro to Penta’s entrance, this time with huge fireworks shooting out of the posts! Yes! What this business is all about! Keep going! Sack Fenix and whatever money you save, put it towards Penta’s pyro allowance. Get Marc Mero’s huge Catherine wheel out of storage! Give him that name-written-in-pyro thing Sid used to have! I want a condensed Pink Floyd concert! Puff, flash, puff, flash, bang!

[TheScarlettChad]

I think (Pray) that Logan is only involved because of WAR GAMES. It'll be The Brons, Logan and Brock if I had to bet. 

[RedTwoster]

An enjoyable Raw, made slightly less enjoyable by the fact some of it is building up to my least favourite match type, War Games. 

Dom vs Cena was a lot of fun, although it does highlight the missed opportunity of not having them feud at all. I’d be completely fine with Mysterio entering the tournament to get his belt back, and winning. Although I’d like to see him move to a main events from here. He’s been ready for a long, long time. A promotion feels overdue.

Rusev beating Priest was a bit of a surprise, and although it was nice to see Sheamus win, there’s not a hope in hell / nor should there be - of either being Cena’s final opponent. 

Nikki Bella turning heel doesn’t do much for me. She’s solid enough in ring, but strides below the majority of their female roster. If she had the mic skills, that wouldn’t matter so much, but she’s pretty bad at that. Still, as a throwaway feud for Vaquer, there’s nothing wrong with running that match. Although maybe they’ll simply face off in the women’s War Games match, who knows.

[The King of Old School]

War Games looks as dull as ever.

[RedTwoster]

5 minutes ago, The King of Old School said:

War Games looks as dull as ever.

It’s a match type I’ve never understood the appeal of. That portion during which no one can lose is totally tension free for me, there’s nowhere for the drama to come from when there can be no outcome. I’d love to see Wargames and Blood and Guys retired permanently. Perhaps I’m in the minority though, who knows?

[Chili]

7 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

It’s a match type I’ve never understood the appeal of. That portion during which no one can lose is totally tension free for me, there’s nowhere for the drama to come from when there can be no outcome. I’d love to see Wargames and Blood and Guys retired permanently. Perhaps I’m in the minority though, who knows?

You are (I reckon), they can work but their matches that REALLY need meaning. It was being discussed elsewhere recently but @BomberPatexplained it I think. Modern War Games matches don't really hit because nobody really knows how to book that kind of heel group heat. It's why War Games matches from days of yore are hot as fuck. 

[RedTwoster]

13 minutes ago, Chili said:

You are (I reckon), they can work but their matches that REALLY need meaning. It was being discussed elsewhere recently but @BomberPatexplained it I think. Modern War Games matches don't really hit because nobody really knows how to book that kind of heel group heat. It's why War Games matches from days of yore are hot as fuck. 

I’ve never seen any of the older matches, and maybe if it wasn’t an annual event it would hit a little harder, but even then, I think a lot is lost by having such a lengthy portion in which you can’t win or lose. My guess is that it’s probably just not for me; but as with anything in wrestling, if the majority are into it I can hardly criticise WWE or AEW for running this match type. 

[Chili]

Just now, RedTwoster said:

I’ve never seen any of the older matches, and maybe if it wasn’t an annual event it would hit a little harder, but even then, I think a lot is lost by having such a lengthy portion in which you can’t win or lose. My guess is that it’s probably just not for me; but as with anything in wrestling, if the majority are into it I can hardly criticise WWE or AEW for running this match type. 

You're doing a disservice not checking out the classic War Games. As ever, the 1992 match is highly recommended as the best. It's outstanding!

[Supremo]

Absolutely wild that they put Dirty Dom and Cena in the opening segment, with the Women’s Tag Title match in the main event. Even coming off that hilarious skit where Asuka dressed as a doctor in full face paint on Smackdown. It’s still night and day on what a proper attraction feels like.

I’ve no idea if Netflix release quarter hour ratings but if they did I’d expect the graph to be a straight line downwards as everyone slowly abandoned the show as it fizzled out. I switched it off when Nakamura’s music hit. I doubt I’m alone.

What a fucking belter that first half an hour was though! An all-timer segment. I’ll remember this forever. As magical as you always knew it would be when Cena and Dom crossed paths. Crazy heat. Wild fun. Fantastic pop for the finish. Cena even, “fine speech”’d him! Brilliant. Assuming it’s Gunther in Cena’s final match, I don’t expect it’ll be anywhere near as good as this. Dom Mysterio is WWE’s greatest success story of the last decade. Remember when the comparisons used to be between Hook and Dirty Dom? Feels like a different dimension, now. My hope is that Dom has outgrown the Intercontinental Title and losing it here gives him a solid chance of stealing a Royal Rumble victory!

The absolute fucking state of Hunter stinking up the opening segment. Embarrassing. Absolutely no reason to be out there. Just hanging around like a bad smell. Poundland Dana White. Loser of the century. Shout out to whoever took this sign.

Like everyone else, I’m not particularly jazzed about War Games or Blood and Guts since neither company seems to be able to put on a particularly dramatic or exciting one. It only occurred to me today that we’re getting fucking four of them this month, too. “Four War Games, Jeremy? Four? That’s insane!”

Worse still, my Spider sense is tingling. The final participants in the WWE’s Men’s one is going to Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, isn’t it? Just what we needed. That fresh, exciting pairing.

 

 

Edited November 11, 2025 by Supremo

[BarryOVega]

First episode I’ve watched since the week before Summerslam, as mentioned above classic opening segment, didn’t mind Hunter being there as it at least made sense why the match could be made on the fly, plus obviously you couldn’t have a big moment without him

Remembered not to watch a Vaquer match with my missus due to the risk of an involuntary ‘fucking hell’ more importantly was a decent match, I know she won’t be around full time for long but Nikki is a decent heel so a good way for Vaquer to kill a month or so

Can’t help but think the mystery opponent next week will be a let down, I’ve nothing against Joe Hendry but if he turns up he’ll be the new top heel in the company

[RedTwoster]

49 minutes ago, Chili said:

You're doing a disservice not checking out the classic War Games. As ever, the 1992 match is highly recommended as the best. It's outstanding!

I’ll give it a go!

38 minutes ago, Supremo said:

The absolute fucking state of Hunter stinking up the opening segment though! Absolutely no reason to be out there. Just hanging around like a bad smell. Poundland Dana White. Loser of the century. Shout out to whoever took this sign.

I completely forgot about this!! As much as WWE seems to have turned the corner from a storyline perspective, they know how to start a show cold. What do they think starting every bloody show with people arriving at the arena achieves? Imagine if that show had started with Cena’s theme song - no arrival shots, no Triple H intro - just right into the Cena/Dom segment. That’s one hell of an exciting way to start the show.

38 minutes ago, Supremo said:

My hope is that Dom has outgrown the Intercontinental Title and losing it here gives him a solid chance of stealing a Royal Rumble victory!

Cody vs Dom and Punk vs Breakker at Wrestlemania would be two extremely compelling title matches, helping push two of their most exciting young wrestlers to that next level. I really hope we get at least one of those matches.

EDIT: I’ve just realised that Jericho challenging for a world title is possible, perhaps even probable if he’s on his way back. I really, really hope they don’t do that.

Edited November 11, 2025 by RedTwoster

[Supremo]

Even by Hunter’s standards of endlessly featuring himself in needless, embarrassing, self-congratulatory positions, that opening segment may have been the worst one yet.

It reminded me of CM Punk’s AEW debut. A packed, hometown house. All there to see one man. Open the show. Let them chant. Hit his music. Get the party started.

So fucking lame that Hunter felt the need to, “enhance,” the moment by droning on for five minutes first. Especially with all that weird, passive-aggressive shit about, “everyone having an opinion,” and how he was more qualified than anyone to say what’s good in this business, actually.

The argument that he had to be out there to make Cena vs. Don official is bollocks, too. Smackdown has three impromptu matches a week and they’re made official without Hunter wanking himself silly.

Total wanker loser. I can’t wait for Dwayne to ruin his life again in the new year. At least Brian Gerwirtz only stinks up social media pretending to be far cleverer than he actually is.