Mick really is the best. Turning him into a zombie for 2/3 of the episode was almost justified by that line alone, even though that still meant we missed out on Mick's greatness for 2/3 of the episode.

I think it's kind of a generally agreed shorthand that any of the non-writing/non-acting stuff is credited to the director, especially on a TV show, as they tend to have a lot of influence on how the rest of the crew implements their vision. The DP is still super important, obviously, but I think the director still…

He had a run-in with Butterbean that emphatically says otherwise.

Nothing worked about the Brawl For All's boxing, brother!

I kinda feel like logical next step is a Dean-Ellsworth match, but that's not ending well for *anybody* on *any* level. I can't imagine a faster way to shred Dean's face momentum than to have him murder Ellsworth on national TV.

Hey Raw, if you need a feud that might actually organically require a Hell in a Cell stipulation, pretty sure SmackDown's got one!

It was more just meant to be a (failed, maybe?) humorous response to the show's sort of oddly constructed dialogue exchange, where for a second the show hadn't yet indicated the son and the person photographed were distinct people, and so one might mistakenly assume the mother had wanted Bratva to kill her son. It…

"Metal" is meant as a compliment along the same lines as "hardcore." The whole aside was intended with tongue planted firmly in cheek, tough.

If they're smart, they'll call Stu Bennett (the former Wade Barrett) next. I bet he'd have some bad news for the Green Arrow!

I think Felicity is fine! But I dunno: The comments sections around here the last couple years have been pretty anti-Felicity. It's not so much narcissistic to respond to the general tenor of the local commenter community as it's just… I dunno, prudent, I guess? I see these reviews as a conversation between the…

I think they might see more immediate value in Dana as a top heel than Bayley as a face, just because of how the division is structured, but I can't believe they don't recognize that Bayley is a star and a legit future champ in a way Dana isn't likely to be.

No hypothetical will ever top the thought of John Cena beating RVD at One Night Stand. Someone would have died. But this is right up there.

I mean, I suppose you *could* argue there's value in putting that much nuclear heat on a heel … as long as you have a face in mind who can ultimately benefit from the rub, and I don't *think* it can be Sasha if she's the two-time loser to Charlotte. Maybe that's Bayley! But I don't think WWE thinks Bayley > Sasha,…

For what it's worth, I try to be a little more exacting with other shows I review, but Raw is three damn hours. I don't know how to review this without going mad except to just kinda go with the flow a bit.

I assumed British-isms traveled more broadly through the Commonwealth than they apparently do.

I could also make it sound like you guys all talk like an episode of Farscape, if that's what you prefer.

Nah man, Dana Brooke is going to botch her way to the new 173-0.

I mean… having Shane McMahon force A.J. to fight Brock on his behalf to further that otherwise wonky Shane/Brock business from SummerSlam sounds like it could be very good, and it would give A.J. something concrete to do if and when he loses the title. I could see A.J. coming out looking good even after taking a…

I hear that. I guess it just feels like classic one step forward, two steps back to spend all this time talking about the future of the women's division and the evolution of women's wrestling, and then introduce a character by showing us how sexy her Instagram is. I'm not saying a character like that has no purpose,…

I'll just say right now: I enjoyed the start and the end of the show, found bits to like in the middle, and didn't think a whole hell of a lot about the grade. The episode probably wasn't as good as the review indicates, but I came away fired up, and that's kinda hard to argue with.