WWE Makes Wrong Call with Jey Uso Title Win vs. Bron Breakker, and More Raw Takes

The September 23 edition of WWE Raw showed the company's urgency in building toward Bad Blood.

Jey Uso did not wait until October 5 to pick up his big win, defeating Bron Breakker in a show-stopping performance to capture the Intercontinental Championship.

Rhea Ripley made a statement by laying out Liv Morgan with a headbutt after announcing Dominik Mysterio will be trapped in a shark cage for their match at Bad Blood.

Drew McIntyre responded to CM Punk's energized promo last week with a promise to break The Best in the World inside Hell in a Cell at the forthcoming premium live event.

Sheamus continued to taunt Pete Dunne, but he paid for it backstage in a beatdown that continued to ramp up their rivalry.

This was an electric episode of Raw that continued the hot streak for WWE in 2024.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time for Jey Uso to Finally Win Singles Gold

Jey Uso had challenged for four singles championships in the past year. Each time, he walked in as the underdog, but it was only his fourth attempt where he was successful.

It was cathartic to watch a man who has got himself over through strong character work getting his reward, but this was the worst time for Uso to capture the gold.

Main Event could have dethroned Seth Rollins at the end of 2023 and made a lasting splash, even if he wasn't going to hold the gold by WrestleMania 40.

It was too soon for him to dethrone Damian Priest at Backlash France on May 4, but the moment should have been significantly bigger if the upset was going to happen.

The best option was ending the record-breaking reign of Gunther ahead of 'Mania. While Sami Zayn's win was a big moment at The Show of Shows, an Uso victory would have made a greater impact on the industry.

Bron Breakker was champion just over 50 days and had one successful title defense. He was established as a dominant performer when he dethroned Zayn, only to lose this soon on a Raw mostly focused on the Bad Blood build.

For such a special moment in Uso's career, WWE waited until the worst time in the past year to pull it off.

Why Liv Morgan Has to Beat Rhea Ripley at Bad Blood

When Bad Blood comes around, Liv Morgan will have been women's world champion for four months. That is a solid length for a world title reign if WWE was to move back to Rhea Ripley.

However, Morgan is still not fully established as a reliable world champion. She is struggling in the shadow of Mami.

Her next match with Ripley should be the last between them for a while, and it is a chance for Morgan to come off as a true champion if she can defeat the Australian relatively clean.

Dominik Mysterio will be suspended over the ring in a shark cage and will be a factor, but he should not be the focus of the action. More importantly, though, the champion cannot afford to lose.

This title reign remains make-or-break for Morgan. If she wants to establish herself as more than a tag team competitor as she was before her heel turn, she needs more time and focus.

She also needs other rivals such as Lyra Valkyria, Iyo Sky or Kairi Sane, among others.

Pete Dunne's Credibility on the Line vs. Sheamus

Pete Dunne is making the most of his solo time on Raw and NXT. While it looks like his work on the gold brand is complete after falling short against Trick Williams, his feud with Sheamus on the red brand is heating up.

The two have traded results so far, but this story needs to end with The Bruiserweight on top, especially after The Celtic Warrior's teasing.

This story had been about showing Dunne is more than his "Butch" character in The Brawling Brutes. If it's done right, he could soon go all the way to a rivalry with Jey Uso for the Intercontinental Championship.

Sheamus is consistently established as a title contender no matter what. He can afford the loss while Dunne most certainly cannot.

Drew McIntyre Must Remain a Priority After CM Punk Feud

CM Punk has made clear that he is bringing his most brutal side to Bad Blood inside Hell in a Cell. Drew McIntyre responded in kind this week.

The two will look to deliver one of the best matches of the year, hoping to add a true exclamation mark to 2024's top rivalry.

In the end, Punk will win and likely step up to Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship in the coming months.

This leaves McIntyre in an awkward position, losing in the biggest spot of his career after The Best in the World cost him multiple world title opportunities.

WWE must find a way to take advantage of the heat The Scottish Warrior has built and keep one of the top heels relevant for the rest of the year until opportunities arise for him on the road to WrestleMania 41.

The most obvious answer would be a feud with Jey Uso for the Intercontinental Championship. The two men have serious history to explore.