Backlash was a good show, Cody and AJ tore the house down in the main event while Priest and Jey Uso had a good showing and the triple threat for the Women's World Championship was a pacey contest, Bayley catching Naomi with a quick roll-up was a neat finish.
The Women's Tag Team match was really competitive, lots of near falls, I'm glad the Kabuki Warriors weren't just squashed and looked strong in defeat. Kairi was the star of the match and brilliantly got into the Jaded finisher in a sequence that showed strength and timing from Jade Cargill as well. On offense Jade can hit her big spots impressively but she's very clunky on mobile exchanges and really awkward when it comes to selling and awaiting to take a move. At the moment she's kind of like a modern day Sid, an incredible, physical, statuesque specimen who looks like she just walked off a comic book page, she's very raw and stiff in how she moves in the ring, but there's money there.
Tanga Loa debuting was interesting, I'm guessing him and Tama Tonga will reform their tag team from NJPW, the question now is will Jacob Fatu be the 4th member 🤔
Raw was very wrestling focused this week with the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments getting underway. The standout matches for me were Iyo vs Natalya and Gunther vs Sheamus which was a quality main event. I also enjoyed Dragunov vs Ricochet, and the vignette on Dragunov beforehand was exactly how he needs to be presented.
It's good to see Damage Control getting involved in the World title scene with Becky and Liv, I thought the way Liv suddenly exited stage left was a great heel move, she's leaning into her new persona perfectly. I also like the current IC title scene, the Sami vs Gable vs Reed triple threat at the next PLE was the natural move, and I wonder if Bron being unhappy with not being in the KOTR and Pearce saying he has something else for him will see him in that mix soon.
The Punk and McIntyre stuff is so well booked, it reminds of some of the old Austin/McMahon episodes of Raw when they were not wanting to put Austin in the ring to protect him from injuries, the tracking shot as Punk made his way through the arena to the ring was fantastic. I wonder if Punk's Glasgow comment is a hint that their match will end up being at Clash At The Castle, I'm sure Punk would love the heat.
I can't lie, I'm really goddamn conflicted on Gunther vs LA Knight. LA Knight needs something by now and Gunther's just come off his titanic IC reign. So both need to look strong. A part of me wishes Gunther was just focusing on the WHC tbh
With Jey Uso also in the tournament they have another guy who could do with getting a big win as he's lost his last three big title matches. I think looking at the brackets the Raw side final will be Gunther vs Dragunov, if their fantastic matches in NXT are anything to go by this would be the ideal way to showcase Dragunov to the wider audience.
The Smackdown brackets are really tricky to pick winners from, it looks like potentially an AJ Styles vs LA Knight final as the rubber match to their rivalry, but I wouldn't rule out Orton or Lashley winning that side and facing Gunther in the KOTR final.
..... that was his "Sufferin Succotash" moment 
HBK needs to make sure nobody gives him lines like that again.
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