Quick Takes on Shayna Baszler's WWE Raw Return, Kenny Omega, Brock Lesnar, More

Even with all eyes on The Horror Show at Extreme Rules on Sunday, the biggest highlights in the past week for WWE and All Elite Wrestling surprisingly had nothing to do with the pay-per-view.

That was evident during Monday's go-home edition of Raw, which was designed to get viewers more excited for the event than they were previously. Whether it was successful in doing that is debatable, but one thing the show did do exceptionally well was putting the focus back where it belongs: on the talented women's division.

After being sidelined for several months, both Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair resurfaced on Raw in dominant fashion. Dominik Dijakovic, following his latest loss to Keith Lee on Wednesday's NXT, could soon be joining them on the red brand and should also be in line for a significant push, if recent rumors are to be believed.

Over in AEW, Kenny Omega made headlines after subtly teasing a heel turn by inexplicably attacking Marko Stunt. Whether it will lead to him resurrecting his Cleaner persona is unknown, but more signs that something evil is brewing within him could make for compelling TV in the meantime.

Additionally, Darby Allin is back and has a bone to pick with Brian Cage, who put him out of action at May's Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Today's installment of Quick Takes will delve into why Cage vs. Allin is the perfect program, Brock Lesnar's status for SummerSlam, good news for Raw's women's division and more.

Raw Returns of Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair Were Long Overdue

The Raw women's division was hit hard when Becky Lynch announced her pregnancy in May and Charlotte Flair was removed from TV in June. Both women were cornerstones of the show for more than a year, and their absences have been felt.

However, WWE had the chance to turn a negative into a positive by featuring fresh faces in the Raw Women's Championship picture. Asuka vs. Sasha Banks has been a fun feud, but it doesn't speak too well to the state of the Raw women's division that a SmackDown Superstar is contending for the red brand's title.

Thankfully, the returns of Shayna Baszler and Belair Bianca Belair on Monday night signaled that WWE realized the pair were being underutilized.

Belair successfully teamed with Ruby Riott against The IIconics, while Baszler cut a promo putting the entire Raw's women's locker room on notice. After the tremendous runs both of them had in NXT, it was bizarre that they weren't being used on Raw in a more meaningful manner, so their returns Monday were a small step in the right direction for the division.

WWE must ensure that neither of them falls by the wayside as quickly as they did earlier this year. If they can continue building momentum, a Raw Women's Championship match against Asuka may not be a ways off.

Darby Allin Is a Logical Next Rival for Brian Cage

Darby Allin's aspirations of becoming the No. 1 contender to the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing in May were shattered by the debuting Brian Cage, who brutally assaulted Allin before claiming the contract for himself.

Allin has been out of action ever since, and in his absence, Cage has been an unstoppable force in his pursuit of the title. It would have been too soon for him to win it Wednesday night, so AEW was wise to protect him in defeat against champion Jon Moxley.

Coming off a high-profile loss, Cage needs to maintain momentum, and a program with Allin would allow him to do just that.

The AEW upstart made his anticipated return at Fight for the Fallen moments removed from Cage's loss to Moxley and laid out Cage with a skateboard.

Allin has been one of the company's most popular stars for months and thrives in an underdog role. While he could use a credible victory or two, getting beat by Cage won't harm him in the slightest. Cage needs a notable name to feud with following his failure to capturing the championship, and the matches he could have with Allin project to be excellent.

In case fans forgot, Taz is still seething at Allin because of how he previously turned down his managerial services, so that bad blood gives this feud more meaning. An Allin vs. Cage rivalry benefits both men and should pave the way for someone else (such as MJF) to enter the AEW World Championship picture now that Cage has shifted his focus.

WWE Leaving Brock Lesnar Out of SummerSlam Plans Is for the Best

As discussed last week, WWE should still be doing everything imaginable to make SummerSlam in August feel as special as it normally does despite circumstances preventing fans from being welcomed into the building.

One of the topics mentioned was how the marquee matches typically associated with SummerSlam are a significant part of the pay-per-view's appeal. Per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Robert Gunier of Wrestling Inc), one of the biggest box office draws in SummerSlam history, Brock Lesnar, isn't scheduled to compete at this year's installment.

If there isn't a match that makes sense for him, then it's best to keep him off the show.

The idea is that there's no point in bringing in Lesnar if there aren't going to be any fans. While that is true to an extent, it would be pointless for him to be in action at SummerSlam even if there were an audience in attendance, assuming that the landscape wouldn't be much different than it is right now.

A rematch with Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship is a possibility, but unless Lesnar is losing again (which is unlikely), there is no worth in revisiting that rivalry so soon. Bobby Lashley is another strong candidate to face Lesnar, but he isn't ready for that spot just yet.

It's been a breath of fresh air to not have Lesnar on WWE TV with a world title in his possession. The longer he's away, the more of an impact his return will have.

All Signs Point to a Call-Up for Dominik Dijakovic

In addition to all the rumors that were swirling a few months ago regarding a main-roster call-up for Dominik Dijakovic, it couldn't have been any clearer Wednesday on NXT that he is in the process of being written off the black-and-gold brand.

First, he confronted longtime rival Keith Lee and challenged him for the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship. Following his loss, he was ambushed backstage by Karrion Kross.

Dijakovic and Kross will go one-on-one Wednesday in what just might prove to be the former's NXT swansong.

The former Ring of Honor Top Prospect Tournament winner has been under contract to the company since September 2017. He didn't debut formally on NXT TV until late 2018, and although he has yet to hold gold, it feels like he's done all that he can with the brand.

With his size and skill set, it's hard to believe that he wouldn't do well wherever he winds up, whether it be Raw or SmackDown. Then again, not many former NXT stars have enjoyed sustained success on the main roster, so it's important for there to be a plan in place for him should he be promoted in the near future.

Dijakovic would be an excellent asset to the midcard scene on either Raw or SmackDown. Seeing as how he's teased targeting the United States Championship in the past, that would be as good of a way as any for him to be introduced on the grand stage.

Those unfamiliar with what Dijakovic brings to the table should look no further than his stellar series of matches with Keith Lee, as well as his battles with Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole and Luke Harper.

Kenny Omega's Eventual Heel Turn Is Next Step in Reclaiming Main Event Status

The Cleaner could be back, and Kenny Omega will be infinitely better off if so.

Many assumed that Omega would be the first star AEW would build around given the reputation he built in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Unfortunately, he hasn't exactly felt like a top star in the year he's been with the company because he's been slotted in the tag team ranks alongside "Hangman" Adam Page.

Their alliance has resulted in some amazing matches this year, but it's high time he branched out on his own and became the main event player the audience knows he is. His attack on Marko Stunt following The Elite's win over Jurassic Express at Fight for the Fallen on Wednesday was the first step in the process of turning him heel.

For a while, it seemed Page would be positioned as the bad guy in their inevitable feud, but the roles may be reversed. Regardless of who comes out of it the winner, Omega is needed as a top heel on the roster in order to serve as a foil for the likes of Jon Moxley, Cody, Darby Allin and others.

Omega's matches are usually outstanding, but his character work has been lacking for some time. Betraying The Elite would make him much more interesting and force the former IWGP heavyweight champion to go back to what worked so well for him pre-AEW.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.