Former WWE writer Vince Russo strongly criticized the final segment of Monday Night RAW that showcased Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and The Kabuki Warriors. The segment took place during the main event on RAW, featuring Rhea Ripley prominently.
The match saw Mami face off against Asuka, two former Women’s Champions, battling intensely in the headline match. The action escalated when Kairi Sane intervened, but accidentally struck her own partner. This error gave Ripley the opportunity to pin Asuka and claim victory. However, Ripley’s celebration was cut short when the 43-year-old attacked her using the poison mist.
Vince Russo Voices Disappointment Over Audience Reaction
On this week’s episode of Sportskeeda’s Legion of RAW, Russo expressed his dissatisfaction with the segment’s conclusion, saying it failed to spark interest among the live audience. He argued that fans attending the show, held in Evansville, Indiana, were anticipating something more engaging, but were instead met with a lackluster finish.
“I don’t care what anybody says. By the time you got to that last match and the heat and all that, nobody cared. And you’re in Evansville, Indiana, where there’s nothing going on. Like this is probably the biggest thing all month, of the year. That last match, nothing. They could have cared less. Kairi is turning on this one and that one is turning on that. Who freaking cares? So now we got a big tag match?”
— Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Details on the Heel Turn and Upcoming Tag Team Match
The heel turn raised by Russo involved Kairi Sane’s sudden betrayal, which set the stage for a prominent tag team clash. IYO SKY attempted to intervene to rescue Rhea Ripley but was also overpowered when Asuka attacked her, aided reluctantly by Kairi Sane. This sequence led to the announcement of an upcoming tag team match featuring The Kabuki Warriors and the duo of IYO and Rhea Ripley.
Impact and Expectations Moving Forward
Russo’s comments highlight a significant disconnect between the storylines presented and fan engagement during live WWE events, especially in smaller markets like Evansville. His critique suggests that top creative decisions, such as the heel turn and main-event conclusions, risk alienating audiences if not executed with stronger emotional payoff.
The upcoming tag team showdown is expected to be a critical test for whether the mystery and intrigue generated by the recent betrayals can reignite fan interest. These developments around prominent wrestlers like Rhea Ripley and the evolving alliances could shape RAW’s women’s division narratives going forward.
