Josh from the Thirteen|10 brand is back with his new weekly feature looking at his Week In WWE! Take a look back and ahead for the biggest wrestling company in the world.

Welcome to my first ever ‘Week in WWE’ Article which will hopefully be a fun and informative article which like the WWE product, will keep you returning for more.

It’s been a roller-coaster past 5 months of course for the world as the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of vanishing, but for all of us, life must go on and that same feeling can be heard across all walks of life including the wonderful world of Sports Entertainment.

It’s Sports Entertainment that allows me to distance myself from everyday life and to just relax and enjoy a product which is usually in the early hours of the morning because, yes, I am a UK fan. Being a UK fan has its struggles. Typically a WWE PPV begins at around 11pm with its Kickoff show. Some say the Kickoff is pointless and has meaningless matches but I, for one, enjoy the recaps and the panel discussions for the nights scheduled action (it also gives me time to get those hot wings in the oven without missing a piece of the action). This means that a PPV can start at midnight and can end anytime between 3-4am, I then get 2 hours sleep before getting up and ready for my day job, however, there is a certain thrill about being tired and buzzing from the nights action.

It’s not so easy with RAW, NXT & SMACKDOWN due to the 1am UK starts and varies cable providers but that is where I come in with this all new self-written article. If you have missed a slice of action then I am here to remind you ion the key points from the 3 main shows that WWE produces on a weekly basis and to project my thoughts on the coming weeks. So grab your Hot wings and enjoy my ‘Week in WWE’.

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Monday Night RAW – Retribution Speaks

• The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defeated Apollo Crews, Cedric Alexander & Ricochet in a Six Man Tag Team Match
• The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) defeated Andrade & Angel Garza (w/ Zelina Vega)
• Peyton Royce defeated Billie Kay
• Asuka & Mickie James defeated Natalya & Lana
• The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin) defeated Apollo Crews, Ricochet & The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) in an Eight Man Tag Team Match
• Randy Orton defeated Keith Lee by DQ
• The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott) defeated Shayna Baszler in a Two On One Handicap Match
• The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott) vs. Nia Jax in a Two On One Handicap Match ended in a No Contest
• Dominik Mysterio (w/ Rey Mysterio) defeated Murphy in a Street Fight

HOT or NOT

• The Hurt Business continue to grow in numbers and slowly beginning to run Monday Night Raw as a top heel faction, will they cross paths with Retribution as the two main factions on Raw? Verdict – HOT
• The Street profits feud with Andrade & Garza has reached its limit, its time for Garza & Andrade to go their own paths, perhaps send one to Smackdown so that they can both flourish on separate brands. I want to See Andrade stay with Zelina. Verdict – Feud NOT, Potential Futures HOT.
• Asuka & Mickie James feud – HOT
• Keith Lee has now taken 2 defeats over the past 2 episodes of Raw, however this is not hurting his momentum. Randy continuing to lead RAW as top performer. Verdict – HOT
• Riott Squad reuniting but could face a stumbling block when the eventually face the champs for the gold. Great reunion with meaning. Verdict – HOT
• Mysterio/Rollins feud is not slowing and is not getting boring, however, it might be time to move on. These talents may not have a slot on the card of the upcoming PPV. I still enjoy the feud but it will need to have closure soon. Verdict – HOT.
• RETRIBUTION Speaks…at long last we have a little more personality from this group of unknowns. Will it make you tune in for next weeks episode of RAW for the entire 3 hours?! Perhaps not but this has gone from NOT to HOT as we will all anticipate the next steps. Verdict – HOT

Projection for next week

Raw rolls in to the Thunderdome once again with as of writing no officially announced matches so let me project next weeks RAW.

• Champions vs Champions Street Profits vs Nakamura & Zayn gets a no finish
• Steel Cage – Rollins vs Dominik – Dominik gets the Win/ Rollins takes some time away
• The Hurt Business (Cedric & Shelton) will face War Raiders & Andrade & Angel Garza in a 3 way to determine the number 1 contenders for the Raw tag titles
• Asuka v Mickie James Raw Woman’s Championship
• RAW Underground to feature again
• Stipulation added to Drew vs Orton for clash of champions / Keith Lee could be added after a no finish in bis match vs Drew

NXT – Prince becomes King

• Finn Balor defeats Adam Cole to win the NXT Championship
• The Velveteen Dream defeats Ashantee “Thee” Adonis
• Kushida returns, attacks The Velveteen Dream
• Bronson Reed defeats Austin Theory
• Roderick Strong defeats Killian Dain
• Rhea Ripley defeats Mercedes Martinez in a Steel Cage Match

HOT or NOT

• Everything NXT did this week was HOT. A Hot opener between Cole & Balor with Midcard action between had meaning leading to an awesome Main Event between Ripley & Martinez
• Killian Dain seems to be struggling to find an identity and build momentum. Verdict – NOT
• Bronson Reed is so over, his feud and title opportunity with Damien Priest will be electric. Verdict – HOT
• Kushida return. Verdict – HOT

Projection for next week

• Damian Priest vs Timothy Thatcher, Breezango vs Imperium, Io Shirai vs Shotzi Blackheart announced for WWE next week’s WWE NXT.
• I am looking at Shotzi to push IO Shirai to the limit but to fall short. This will bring Rhea out as the next challenger to Shirai. Shotzi is not far away from a Main Roster call up and could be aligned with Riott Squad.
• Priest vs Thatcher with Bronson Reed watching on. A triple threat would be fun in the future.
• Imperium to fall short vs breezing as NXTUK looms and they will head back to the UK with Walter.

SMACKDOWN – Bliss is Cross

• Jey Uso & Roman Reigns def. Sheamus & King Corbin
• Bayley explains attack on Sasha Banks, gets new title challenger
• Nikki Cross def. Tamina, Lacey Evans & Alexa Bliss
• Intercontinental Championship — AJ Styles def. Jeff Hardy (c) via disqualification
• Lucha House Party def. Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura
• Otis def. John Morrison
• Not so new member in the Firefly Funhouse

HOT or NOT

• Uso & Reigns feud over the title could lead to more and a future Bloodline faction ‘If you can’t beat them, join them” Verdict – HOT
• Bayley Promo on Sasha – Verdict – HOT
• Fatal four way number 1 contenders woman’s title – Verdict – Not
• Sister Abigail by Bliss to Cross – Verdict – HOT
• Lucha House still in contention – Verdict – HOT
• Firefly Funhouse – Verdict – NOT

Projection for next week

• On going MITB Feud between Morrison & Miz / Heavy Machinery will continue and a Ladder match at Clash of champions will be announced as a tag match.
• Reigns will be forced to choose Family over Foe and choose Family (Heyman)
• Alexa Bliss teases a further dark side
• Singles Matches between Lucha partners & Ceasro & Nakamura
• Bayley promo on Nikki Cross

Thank you for taking the time to read my brand new work. It will take a few weeks for me to find my feet as a writer and to find something that suits my style.

Please enjoy and send your comments. See you next week for another “This week in WWE”