WWE Then Now Forever 9/27/20: Thirteen 10’s Look At The Week Ahead

Amazing action, go home shows & strange name reveals — yep you got it, welcome to another week of This Week in WWE.

This weeks edition of my article includes 2 go home shows from both RAW & Smackdown as we head towards a now stacked Clash Of Champions GOLD RUSH live on PPV.

But of course we have a few twists and turns along the way, but none bigger within the social media world with the name reveals of 3 members of RETRIBUTION.

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Monday Night RAW Results

SLAPJACK?! REALLY? Did anyone search this on Urban Dictionary before they decided on the name? Oh dear creative!!

• Andrade & Angel Garza defeated Dominik Mysterio & Humberto Carrillo and Seth Rollins & Murphy in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match to become the #1 Contenders for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship at Clash of Champions
• Drew McIntyre defeated Keith Lee by DQ
• Zelina Vega defeated Mickie James to become the #1 Contender for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship at Clash of Champions
• Apollo Crews (w/ Ricochet) defeated Cedric Alexander (w/ MVP)
• Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defeated Lana & Natalya
• Asuka defeated Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kay) by DQ
• The Hurt Business (Bobby Lashley, Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin) (w/ MVP) defeated RETRIBUTION (Mace, Slapjack & T-BAR) by DQ in a Six Man Tag Team Match

HOT or NOT

• Tag Team Division needs a desperate shake up starting with new champions this Sunday – current verdict – NOT – Verdict with new champs on Sunday – HOT
• Zelina getting her time to shine – HOT
• Riott Squad reunion – HOT
• RETRIBUTION Names – NOT

Most of this show was poor in all honesty. We had a few highlights for feuds moving forwards but RAW is in need of a big shake up starting with new champions and directions changing from Sunday.

Projection for post Clash of Champions RAW

Projecting a show after a PPV is a tough call because there is the added pressure of assuming who the champions will be. Will Drew be the headline act on RAW or is it time to switch the main prize to a man who has had another standout year? Will EDGE return and jump out of the Ambulance to cost Orton the Gold? We could have new tag champions in both divisions and Asuka may not enter as woman’s champion…..

Lets begin by stating that Drew Headlines, the Orton feud is over. Edge Returns and costs Orton of the Gold. We then have Keith Lee position himself as next in line for the gold as Edge & Orton headline for Hell in a Cell. Riott Squad and Andrade & Angel Garza both meet new challengers as both teams enter as new champions. Zelina gets one more shot after falling short on the PPV Kick off show. RETRIBUTION Strike but this time on the Woman’s Division, thus unveiling more dumb names for the woman’s division. Still, its a step in the right direction…..surely?

WWE NXT Results

Number one contenders crowned…

• Candice Le Rae Wins Battle Royal to earn a championship match vs IO Shirai at NXT Takeover
• Tommaso Ciampa def Jake Atlas
• Roderick Strong & Danny Burch def. Fabian Aichner & Joaquin Wilde, Undisputed Era will now face Burch & Lorcan for a shot at facing Breezango for the tag titles
• Damien Priest def. Austin Theory
• Ridge Holland def. Antonio de Luca
• Kyle O’ Reilly wins gauntlet eliminator and will face Finn Balor for the NXT championship at Takeover

HOT or NOT

Yet another fantastic outing from the Black & Gold brand so this verdict is easy.

• Entire show – Verdict – HOT

Projecting next week for WWE NXT

So it will be the turn of NXT to host a go home show before Takeover next weekend. We have 3 matches announced for Takeover. Shall we add another 2 to the already stacked card. Lets see build towards Kushida vs Velveteen Dream  and lets have Rhea Ripley taking on Raquel Gonzalez both to be built upon and added to the Takeover card. Ciampa is slowly becoming more menacing as the weeks go on but what is his direction? More vignettes will play for the individual set to return at TAKEOVER and which team will challenge Breezango at Takeover? I am rooting for both teams so lets say the match does not end clean and a triple threat tag title match is made for  Takeover which is already pretty damn stacked. Enjoy!

WWE SMACKDOWN Results

Will the Tribal Chief remain at the head of the table?

• Sami Zayn defeated J. Styles and Jeff Hardy in a Triple Threat Match
• Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Cesaro) defeated Gran Metalik (w/ Kalisto & Lince Dorado)
• King Corbin defeated Matt Riddle
• Lacey Evans defeated Alexa Bliss by DQ

HOT or NOT

Smackdown is continuing its hot streak right now which makes this show a pleasure and not a chore to sit and enjoy. Plenty of stars are receiving screen time that they deserve and that is great for business.

• Alexa Bliss is thriving in this new role, the personality switch along with the slow burner new look is phenomenal – Verdict – HOT
• Lacey Evans having one of her best matches on Smackdown, lets see more please – Verdict – HOT
• Finish of Corbin vs Riddle might mean the end if this feud – Verdict – HOT
• A fired up Otis is something that I could get used to – Verdict – HOT
• Cesaro/Nakaumura vs Lucha House party feud feels like a time passer for the current champs (lets hope they don’t drop the gold sunday) – Verdict – NOT (lets move this feud on)
• Triple Threat Ladder chaos – Verdict – HOT
• Tribal Chief / Jey Uso storytelling Is absolute fire. Is this the best work of Roman’s career? – Verdict – VERY HOT

Post Clash of Champions Projection for WWE Smackdown

Smackdown has had a tremendous few weeks and it feels like certain feuds and roads are just beginning for certain stars. Take Alexa Bliss for instance, this is a slow burner and could see her hunt for Nikki Cross after Nikki faces and defeats Bayley with the help of Sasha on Sunday in what could be the only title change. Roman and Uso along with the narrative from Paul Heyman have made this feud must watch but it ends Sunday so who steps up to Roman for Hell in a Cell? Could The Fiend be lurking again so soon?

The Winner of the Intercontinental title match will need a new challenger and I cannot recall King Corbin having a title to chase for some time? Lets say he is next in line for that Gold. Has AJ Styles done it all on the Main Roster? Could he really head to NXT? Next week will be must watch as Smackdown has been electric in recent weeks. Who heads inside the Cell from this brand?

I hope that you all enjoy Clash of Champions this Sunday.