WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, and Grades for July 23, 2018

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Authors of Pain Should Go Back to Drawing Board

Elias is interrupted a third time, this time by the Authors of Pain. I like the AoP getting some mic time, but it doesn’t really fit their characters to do it in this matter. They demand competition (sure, that’s okay) that isn’t Titus Worldwide (fair point).

The problem comes when Titus O’Neil and Apollo Crews make their way to the ring with Dana Brooke. Things then devolve into a bicker-fest between the two teams, and that is not what Akam and Rezar should be doing. Rezar, in particular, stumbles over his words, wondering what Titus Worldwide “can learn us.”

I also question the whole “Apollo Crews is at the peak of his career thanks to Titus O’Neil” talking point. But Crews goes to bat for his buddy, which is sweet. Akam says the only thing Titus can do for them is to retire, so Titus beats the crap out of them.

So let’s recap: The most dominant tag team to come through NXT since The Ascension has come to Raw, quickly been forgotten, came back, and now are getting their rear ends handed to them by third tier superstars? In other words, the Authors of Pain are literally The Ascension now.

Hey, at least there may be a few good matches out of this!

In Which Kurt Angle is Completely Made into a Cardboard Cutout

Like, did anyone doubt that Stephanie McMahon would show up on WWE Raw and not render Kurt Angle 100 percent useless? Anyone at all? We all saw this coming. But at least Kevin Owens has a snowball’s chance in hell to become Mr. Money in the Bank.