Last Monday’s WWE Raw from Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena served as a high-octane prelude to SummerSlam 2025, delivering intense action, emotional backstage moments, and some controversial creative choices. As fans eagerly count down the days to one of WWE’s biggest pay-per-views, this edition of Raw gave plenty to discuss — both positive and negative. Here’s a detailed look at three things we loved and three we hated from July 28’s episode, based on matches, segments, and backstage developments reported by sources such as WWE.com, Fightful, CBS Sports, and insiders.

3 Things We Loved on WWE Raw 7/28/25

1. Dominant Performances from Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY Fuel SummerSlam Hype
The team of Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY showcased incredible chemistry and dominance in their respective matches. Ripley’s intense face-off with Green and Green’s SVB finisher loss to Stephanie Vaquer was a highlight, but what truly stood out was the backstage interaction between Ripley and Sky. After their victorious eight-woman tag match, their palpable tension and competitive respect set the stage perfectly for their anticipated SummerSlam clash. Ripley confidently said, “At SummerSlam, I’ll finally have your number,” while Sky insisted Ripley has never beaten her and never will. This respect-fueled rivalry adds compelling depth to their storyline, verified by Fightful’s detailed match recaps and backstage reports[1][4].

2. Finn Balor and JD McDonagh Retain World Tag Team Titles with Flair
The World Tag Team Championship match saw champions Finn Balor and JD McDonagh defend their belts against Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro. Balor’s decisive Coup de Grace finishing move secured a clean pin in front of an eager Detroit crowd. What makes this win meaningful is the added storyline layer revealed backstage, where Balor motivated the Judgment Day faction by reminding them they had been underestimated before and are now stronger than ever despite recent setbacks, including losing Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. This was highlighted in WWE Raw results from WrestleView, adding credibility to the faction’s resilience[1][5].

3. The Brutal Closing Segment Signals a High-Stakes SummerSlam Tag Match
The final moments of Raw featured a dramatic and hard-hitting angle involving Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Roman Reigns, and Jey Uso. Breakker and Reed delivered a merciless assault on Uso and Reigns, with memorable moments like Reed taking Reigns’ shoes. The segment further intensified their SummerSlam tag team match buildup and showcased the new leadership role of Breakker and Heyman within WWE’s power dynamics. This was extensively covered by CBS Sports and was praised for its visceral impact and strong storytelling[2].

3 Things We Hated on WWE Raw 7/28/25

1. Overreliance on Weapon Shots and Disqualification Finishes
A disappointing note was the overuse of weapon-based finishes, particularly Sheamus’ loss to Rusev after a shillelagh strike. While Sheamus is a seasoned veteran, ending matches via disqualification or interference undercuts the in-ring action, and repeated reliance on such spots diminishes the impact of these wrestlers. This pattern runs counter to the high stakes audiences expect leading into SummerSlam, as noted in the WrestleView results that highlighted frustration among fans online[1][3].

2. The Judgment Day’s Lack of Direction Post-Loss
Though Balor attempted to rally Judgment Day members around their recent win, the faction’s creative direction remains murky after losing key players Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest. Liv Morgan’s absence and mixed messages about Dominic Mysterio’s role hint at internal confusion. Their clubhouse scenes, while fun, did not compensate for the lack of a clear, compelling storyline for the group going forward. This was a common critique across fan forums and wrestling podcasts evaluating Raw’s storytelling consistency[1].

3. Missed Opportunities to Elevate Emerging Talent
Several talented wrestlers, including American Made and the LWO, were involved in segments that felt like filler instead of spotlight moments. For instance, El Grande Americano’s effort to assist American Made went unheeded and resulted in a loss, missing the chance to push new stars in this crucial pre-SummerSlam window. Industry insiders from Fightful and Wrestling Headline expressed disappointment that WWE isn’t capitalizing enough on rising talent while leaning on established stars to carry the show[1][3][4].

Backstage Insight and Future Outlook
According to a WWE insider speaking to Fightful, “WWE is fully invested in making SummerSlam feel like a monumental event, so the tension we saw Monday night backstage with Ripley and Sky is just the opening act. They want to make those title matches personal and heated, giving fans a reason to care deeply.” Another source close to Cody Rhodes hinted that the company is also focused on revitalizing tag team wrestling by pushing The Judgment Day and key newcomers more aggressively once SummerSlam concludes.

As the countdown to SummerSlam continues, WWE Raw from July 28, 2025, delivered a mix of thrilling moments and missed chances. Fans can buzz about Ripley and Sky’s rivalry while hoping for clearer narratives for factions like Judgment Day and fresher booking for emerging talent. The challenges from last night are outweighed by the excitement heading toward WWE’s biggest summer extravaganza.

Key Takeaways for WWE Fans:

• Rhea Ripley vs. IYO SKY is poised to be a marquee SummerSlam encounter fueled by respect and rivalry.
• Finn Balor and JD McDonagh’s tag title reign looks stable, promising quality tag team action.
• The Breakker/Reed assault on Roman Reigns and Jey Uso amps up anticipation for the tag title match at SummerSlam.
• Fans expressed frustration over repeated weapon interference and ambiguous faction storylines, signaling areas WWE needs to improve.
• Backstage sources confirm high stakes storytelling is in place to elevate SummerSlam’s overall event quality.

Stay tuned for more WWE news, detailed match analyses, and exclusive backstage updates as SummerSlam 2025 approaches.

This article was compiled using live reports and insider information from WWE.com, Fightful, CBS Sports, WrestleView, and ProWrestling.net.