WWE Raw vs. SmackDown: Winner, Top Highlights and Botches for Week of July 20

WWE Raw entered the week with a loaded broadcast on tap for its fans.

A No. 1 Contender's match between Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe, the revelation of Kurt Angle's life-altering secret and a showdown between The Hardy Boyz and The Revival were enough to warrant excitement and anticipation ahead of the July 17 broadcast.

SmackDown Live, on the other hand, was days away from WWE Battleground and needed to deliver a show that drummed up excitement for what has been a pay-per-view build best described as "blah."

Even with a superb broadcast, would it be able to overcome another strong presentation from a flagship show that has hit its creative stride ahead of SummerSlam?

Find out now with this analytical look at the week that was in WWE programming.

Why Raw?

The July 17 episode of Raw continued the march toward SummerSlam and was headlined by an extraordinary main event between Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe, aimed at determining the rightful No. 1 contender to Brock Lesnar's WWE Universal Championship.

As we found out, a notable Superstar had other plans, though, leading to a wild and chaotic finish.

That match capped off another strong broadcast that solved some mysteries and presented fans with the rivalries that will dominate the road to the summertime spectacular.

No. 1 Contender's Match

While the broadcast may have been sold heavily on the revelation of Kurt Angle's life-changing secret, the No. 1 Contender's match capped the show off in explosive fashion.

Joe and Reigns have superb in-ring chemistry and they put together a dramatic main event that had fans in Nashville, Tennessee, hanging on every near-fall. The emergence of Braun Strowman like a sasquatch from the woods brought to the bout a sense of doom.

By interjecting himself into the proceedings and taking both Superstars down, Strowman made it clear he is not willing to sit back and watch others get a title opportunity he believes to be his.

The match and the onslaught by Strowman essentially set up a scenario where Joe, Reigns and Strowman have legitimate claims to a championship opportunity and thus will likely challenge Lesnar in a Fatal 4-Way match come August 20 at SummerSlam.

The entire ordeal laid the groundwork for an explosive pay-per-view main event and once again established Strowman as the most dominant force on Monday nights.   

"I'm Sorry."

For the last year, Seth Rollins has played the role of babyface but has done nothing overtly good or honorable aside from fighting through a knee injury and defeating Triple H at WrestleMania. After enduring a year of creative frustration, fans finally saw a hint of the Rollins they have waited so eagerly to throw their support behind Monday night.

Seeking the support of Dean Ambrose as the two Superstars embark on a rivalry with The Miz and his Miztourage, Rollins let out the words, "I'm sorry," the first time he had apologized for the shocking betrayal that obliterated The Shield.

That apology was a major step in putting to rest the biggest, most unforgettable transgression Rollins partook in during his heel run. Showing remorse for selfishness is exactly what audiences were waiting for from Rollins and it showed in their reaction.

Turning his back on Ambrose and telling him to hit him and to repay his attack from 2014 was further proof of Rollins trying to make amends.

The entire show-opening segment, including the attack by The Miztourage that followed, was a strong way to kick off the broadcast while also furthering a story that figures to play a rather significant role in the road to SummerSlam.

Nothing about it is more compelling, though, then the reconciliation of Rollins.

The Drifter Strikes

Throughout his NXT and Raw careers, Elias Samson had remained relatively cool, calm and collected, no matter how often he was made fun of by fans or beaten by opponents. Monday night, years of frustration manifested itself in the form of a vicious, vile guitar shot to the head of Finn Balor.

Despite carrying the instrument with him for the majority of his career, Samson had never blasted an opponent with it. That changed in Nashvlle, where he channeled his inner Jeff Jarrett and left Balor lying in a heap, his head gashed.

Like the Rollins segment, where it felt very much like we were watching the evolution of a character, Samson's assault felt like the start of a meaner, nastier, more dangerous Drifter than we have ever witnessed before.

That will create a more compelling character for fans to sink their teeth into. At a time when Raw could use a few more strong, believable and engaging midcard heels, Samson is in position to fill that role.

Why SmackDown?

Just days before Battleground hits the WWE Network airwaves Sunday from Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, SmackDown Live presented a broadcast that put the final touches on the pre-show hype.

Randy Orton sent a warning to Jinder Mahal ahead of their Punjabi Prison match, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch squared off in a preview of the upcoming Fatal 5-Way Elimination match, and Rusev sent a message to John Cena before they do battle in a Flag match.

Tag Team Warfare

Sunday night, Kevin Owens will challenge AJ Styles for the United States Championship and Shinsuke Nakamura will do battle with Baron Corbin. Tuesday night, former New Japan Pro Wrestling rivals Nakamura and Styles teamed up to battle Owens and Corbin in a blockbuster tag team match.

Beginning as a brawl at the top of the entrance ramp and evolving into a traditional tag team match, the match told the story of a team of heels seizing opportunities, taking advantage of circumstances and scoring the win over a prone Styles after Nakamura had been dumped into the audience at ringside.

The match was not unlike other tag team matches that headline televised broadcasts ahead of a pay-per-view, but the talent of the individuals involved helped elevate it past the typical shlock devoid of creativity fans are subject to on these pre-PPV shows.

The Fashion X-Files

Tyler Breeze and Fandango told the latest chapter in their ongoing hunt for answers Tuesday night with The Fashion X-Files.

Unleashing their sense of humor on the WWE Universe, they also revealed that Breeze's attacker(s) will be revealed at Battleground, bringing weeks of investigation and wildly entertaining television to a head.

Breezango's work in these pre-taped vignettes cannot be understated. They have seized an opportunity and consistently delivered segments that leave fans wanting more. Their work to get themselves over has been nothing short of rewarding for the WWE Universe, and the culmination of this storyline will, hopefully, be deserving of the work that preceded it.

The Power of Love...And Maria Kanellis

Mike Kanellis made his in-ring debut Tuesday night, squaring off with Sami Zayn in a singles bout that had been weeks in the making. Thanks to wife Maria, the blushing husband was able to thwart the onslaught of The Underdog from the Underground and score a victory.

The win, though tainted, gave the audience a taste of the essence of the character Mike will be playing. He is a competent wrestler, but he is also absolutely indebted to his wife. He needs Maria to help him emerge victorious when faced with the challenge of the top Superstars on SmackDown Live.

Without her, victory would almost certainly elude him.

Yes, those longtime fans who believe heels can only be cunning, intelligent, ruthless and vile individuals will not relate to the cowardly villain whose wife clearly wears the proverbial pants in the relationship. They do not have to. The rest of the audience will despise the character for his patheticness and appreciate the pure heeldom he brings to the show.

Biggest Botch

Monday night's Raw was built heavily on the revelation of Kurt Angle's secret.

What did the Olympic gold medalist have to hide from the masses?

Was he having an affair with someone? Had he rekindled his relationship with Stephanie McMahon? Perhaps he was sleeping around with former TNA Wrestling boss Dixie Carter. Whatever the case, the WWE Universe was genuinely excited to see exactly what the creative team had in store.

The answer?

Jason Jordan is Angle's illegitimate son.

The former American Alpha member was revealed as the baby boy of the Raw general manager and his arrival on the red brand was greeted with...apathy. The reaction, or lack thereof, was reflective of the disappointment the Nashville audience felt.

That is not an indictment of Jordan by any means. Instead, it is reflective of great expectations. For months, those fans witnessed Angle sweating profusely as he tried to figure his way out of the situation. Corey Graves got up from the announce position and repeatedly confronted his boss, lending him advice about how to handle his problem.

Most expected some grand, scandalous reveal. Instead, Angle announced Jordan as his son and solved the controversy by signing him to the show he freaking proceeds over. It was nonsensical and somewhat lackluster given the grand ideas fans had for the eventual reveal.

With that said, WWE Creative has the potential to create a star out of the immensely talented Jordan if it plays its cards correctly. Letting him leech off Angle's popularity and credibility while working alongside the likes of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Roman Reigns will do him wonders.

Winner

SmackDown Live desperately needed a win this week, especially with a somewhat lackluster pay-per-view card in Battleground just days away.

Unfortunately, despite its best efforts, it was unable to drum up the type of excitement one would hope for a major WWE Network presentation. Its failure to accomplish that loses it this weekly battle for brand supremacy.

Raw was a more consistent, explosive show that always felt like it meant more than the throwaway episode of SmackDown Live that countered it.

From the Reigns/Joe/Strowman war that rocked the brand to its foundation late to Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose reuniting to take on The Miztourage, the show was bookended by two segments of television that made the Monday night staple an engrossing broadcast.

Even the supporting segments, such as The Revival's victory over The Hardy Boyz and Big Cass' obliteration of Big Show, was compelling. SmackDown could not say the same, no matter how entertaining or talented the individuals on the show were.

Another win for Raw this week, and it was not even all that close.