14 NOV 2024 · RAW had the usual roster of decent matches, but WWE is really stretching to make every feud and faction feel relevant. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY) defeated Pure Fusion Collective (Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark) in what felt more like a team-building exercise for Damage CTRL than a serious contest. There’s only so much suspense you can get from throwing together another “heel team vs. heel team” clash. The booking team may need to decide if they want to push Damage CTRL’s dominance or start rotating some fresh faces in, or else we’re looking at a faction that’s already lost its impact.
Then there’s Pete Dunne versus Kofi Kingston. Don’t get me wrong—Dunne is an incredible talent, and he deserves some spotlight. But is beating Kingston, a former WWE Champion, really going to catapult him up the card? Instead, this victory felt like a consolation prize with no long-term implications. Why not develop a real feud here, something that goes beyond a one-off win? WWE has the talent for meaningful storylines; what they seem to lack is the willingness to push anything outside the box.
The main event featured yet another “wild brawl” between Seth “Freakin” Rollins and “Big” Bronson Reed, continuing their feud with little evolution. It was the same formulaic scrap as usual—lots of yelling, predictable interferences, and a whole lot of nothing by the end. If they’re going to push this storyline, at least let them do something memorable rather than recycling the same tactics. For next week’s RAW, we’re set up for Rollins vs. Reed again, alongside a WWE Intercontinental Championship match between Sheamus and champion Bron Breakker. Here’s hoping something fresh finally lands on Monday night.
SmackDown wrapped up with The Bloodline firmly in control, but was there much substance beyond the familiar themes? Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes took center stage once again, facing off in an opening segment that sparked some crowd energy. However, Reigns’ return to make his presence felt was met with the usual mix of cheers and jeers. By now, the routine has become predictable: Cody talks big, Reigns responds with stoic silence or brief intimidation, and everyone teases a climactic showdown. It’s time WWE adds some new layers if they’re serious about maintaining this rivalry’s heat.
The Bloodline’s influence continued as Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso took down LA Knight and Sami Zayn in a tag team match. While the action was solid, the storyline hasn’t evolved enough to keep fans fully engaged. LA Knight, for instance, has been riding a wave of popularity, but he’s been stuck in situations that don’t maximize his potential. WWE has an opportunity to elevate Knight beyond these filler roles, yet they seem hesitant to pull the trigger. Zayn, too, deserves more than to simply be a pawn in Bloodline drama that’s overstayed its welcome.
The main event saw WWE Women’s Champion Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez facing Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. While the women’s division has gained considerable talent, it’s clear that this match was more about keeping Belair and Cargill dominant than anything else. Morgan and Rodriguez deserve credit for their resilience, but at this point, the lack of depth in their storyline is undercutting the division’s momentum. For next week, WWE could inject some creativity to stop the show from feeling like a rinse-and-repeat cycle with predictable outcomes.
On NXT
Stephanie Vaquer & Giulia defeated Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend.
Women’s Iron Survivor Qualifier Match: Sol Ruca defeated Cora Jade.
Men’s Iron Survivor Qualifier Match: Wes Lee defeated Cedric Alexander.
Nikkita Lyons defeated Adriana Rizzo.
Men’s Iron Survivor Qualifier Match: Je’von Evans defeated Lexis King.
Women’s North American Championship: Fallon Henley (w/ Fatal Influence’s Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx) defeated Kelani Jordan.
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