The week didn’t just deliver matches; it delivered moments that actually moved stories. Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre set a combustible tone on SmackDown as Jimmy kept his fingerprints on everything, while the MFTs’ face paint finally made the faction feel like a unit fans can spot and rally around. Tiffany Stratton and Kiana James showed why chemistry survives a brand jump, only for Jade Cargill to flip the script and set a showdown fans will argue about until the bell. Ilja Dragunov’s US Title open challenge with Aleister Black felt brutally honest, and Damian Priest crashing it teased a triple-threat that could steal a card.
Over on Raw, CM Punk quietly did the most Punk thing possible: make the other guy look like a bigger deal. He framed Jey Uso’s hunger without burying him, and the match now feels like a must-watch instead of a box-check. Rusev and Penta rolled until Los Americanos turned the number one contender bout into a Dominik Mysterio survival story, which, like it or not, is smart booking for a heat magnet. Nikki Bella and Roxanne Perez showed how pacing can smooth out gaps, while LA Knight vs Bron Breaker sparked a real conversation about selling and credibility. The women’s tag main event ripped, with Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair escaping as Bayley and Lyra Valkyria proved they’re not just placeholders. A late run-in by Asuka and Kairi Sane widened the lane for multiple believable title routes.
We also zoom out to ask the hard question: does tribalism help anyone? Cutting out casual fans and cheering for corporate logos over great matches shrinks the tent. The better play is abundance—let different styles thrive, let fanbases cross over, and bring that energy to your local indie shows. We wrap with bold Saturday night predictions, listener-favorite entrance themes that pop on the first note, and a few indie dates you should not miss if you’re anywhere near West Texas.
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