The Judgement Day is the glue of WWE programming

The Judgement Day continues to show up all over the Monday and Tuesday night shows, making them one of the most important acts in WWE. 

If you’re watching WWE programming, one thing will ring true: there’s a lot of stock being put into The Judgement Day. The band featuring Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominick Mysterio continue to flourish on Monday Night Raw and is also expanding into WWE NXT. It’s an important creative move for the company as this group is finally presented as top stars. The payoff of making The Judgement Day the “glue” of WWE programming will benefit everyone involved.

It’s safe to say that Judgement Day is in an entirely different place than where there once was. The group that was started by Edge faced a massive uphill climb. Many joked that they were nothing more than WWE’s best attempt at making a House of Black copycat faction, and while that wasn’t an original joke, it was one that popped up frequently. Nothing about the group worked, especially if they were heading down a road leading to a “spookier” presentation.

Thankfully, that did not occur. Instead, the faction became a group that helped elevate Ripley back into the powerhouse of the women’s division that many expected her to become. Mysterio has become one of the most hated men in professional wrestling, and while so roll their eyes at his presence, the fan reaction, and the engagement he attracts shows results. Priest is standing with the Money in the Bank briefcase, which is typically a one-way ticket to the main event scene. Balor is doing some of his best work to date as he continues to deliver as an ornery veteran with a chip on his shoulder.

Some may claim that the storytelling in The Judgement Day rivals that of The Bloodline, but that’s not a debate worth having. Instead, the focus should be on the long-term impact of the group. They’ve recently put their focus on WWE NXT, with Carmelo Hayes in the crosshairs. Is this the opportunity to raise him up to the main roster where a built-in feud awaits? As The Bloodline continues to implode on SmackDown, will The Judgement Day take their place?

It will be interesting to see where this angle is heading into WrestleMania 2024. It looks like there’s a big moment to come between Priest and Balor, with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship caught in the middle. Seth Rollins takes on Balor at SummerSlam, but do not be surprised if Priest takes a page from Rollins’s playbook by cashing in the briefcase and winning the championship. There’s still an opportunity with Ripley as well. She hasn’t put together the most engaging run as WWE Women’s World Champion, much of that due to the booking thrown her way. But the moment she severs her ties to the group she can break through to becoming a huge babyface – even though fans cheer her now.

There are so many questions to ask about The Judgement Day and their immediate future. Does Mysterio have viability as a singles performer? Will JD McDonough still join the group as was rumored? Can they stay this hot through the next set of big events to come? The outcomes are yet to be determined, but fans are watching closely as The Judgement Day continues to show up everywhere.