Is JD McDonagh Part Of Judgment Day?

Highlights

• The Winnipeg crowd's lack of enthusiasm tarnished the show, despite logical storyline progressions and standout moments like Imperium vs. Alpha Academy.
• JD McDonagh's inclusion in The Judgment Day faction strengthens the group and leaves fans curious about his potential spot within it.
• Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch disappointed, showing why WWE made the decision to pull it from SummerSlam. Zoey Stark's involvement sets up a steel cage match, but the lackluster crowd hindered the match's impact.

This week's Monday Night Raw centered on The Judgment Day theme, with the dominant red brand stable taking the spotlight at both the show's beginning and end. Finn Bálor managed to exact some payback against Cody Rhodes despite losing to him, sparking curiosity about JD McDonagh's role in the group and the potential division within.

Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus were slated to conclude their rivalry, but an inconclusive double count-out and interference from Zoey Stark left their match unresolved. Piper Niven emerged as the new WWE women's tag team champion alongside Chelsea Green, showcasing potential despite needing time to establish their chemistry. Matt Riddle successfully recruited Drew McIntyre as his latest tag team partner, expanding the array of alliances for The Original Bro. Although the show had its moments, this episode felt a bit like it lacked immediate impact and star-power punch. A variety of injuries will do that to a show.

Here are your winners and losers for Raw, August 14, 2023:

Loser: The Winnipeg Crowd

Raw's intrinsic quality wasn't a failure, yet the crowd's lack of enthusiasm tarnished the experience. Despite storylines progressing in a logical way, the flat atmosphere pulled it down. To be fair, the Becky vs. Trish match disappointed, and there were other moments that wouldn't move the needle in most arenas, but Imperium vs. Alpha Academy shone and the main event should have exceeded crowd expectations.

All that being said, the crowd was sleepy throughout the show. Overall, it earned a worse rating than it probably should have due to a lack of crowd impact.

Winner: JD McDonagh

Emerging from this week's episode, the burning question surrounds JD McDonagh's inclusion in The Judgment Day faction. Despite Finn's loss to Cody Rhodes, the group's resilience was fortified by McDonagh's contribution and Damian Priest is going to have to acknowledge how he helped, whether he wants to or not. The ending stood out positively, as McDonagh prevented Finn from appearing as if he were bearing the brunt once more. While McDonagh has started reaping the rewards of his faction involvement, his position in the group is anything but official.

McDonagh showcased his prowess through a sturdy bout against Sami Zayn, proving instrumental in ensuring that Judgment Day concluded the show on a triumphant note. As his actions elevated the group's morale, McDonagh's role has ignited speculation about his potential spot within the faction, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next development in this intriguing narrative that needed a bit of a shift.

Loser: Trish Stratus vs. Becky Lynch

There were some misses in this match, especially since it was essentially billed as the big draw after being pulled from SummerSlam. It wasn't a terrible match, but for all fans who argued it was a travesty not to be included in the summer's biggest pay-per-view, we all got a glimpse into why WWE felt comfortable making the change.

The worst was the two women working their way into the concourse and fighting out in front of a fan base that felt like they had no energy to absorb what Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch were trying to provide. Zoey Stark's involvement was necessary to get everyone to where this feud is going, and that's a steel cage match.

Loser: Drew McIntyre Teaming With Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle consistently shines as a tag team performer, but is there a WWE Superstar he hasn't teamed with? Drew McIntyre is just the latest star to be put in a tandem with Riddle, meant to reproduce the odd couple type of gimmick and it feels like it's one partnership too many for WWE and a huge waste of McIntyre's time.

McIntyre needs a character change, not to follow suit as The Original Bro's next partner. After some time away, unless this is something McIntyre asked for, it feels like an afterthought and the results aren't likely to be favorable, if only because The Scottish Warrior already tries to play off some of his promos in a comedic style. A more serious McIntyre would have been a better fit here, but he hasn't been that character in years.

Not only that but McIntyre and Riddle picked up a win over The Viking Raiders, who have now lost a few matches in a row and their status as a dominant heel tag team is fading.

Winner: Piper Niven

WWE quickly solved their issues when it comes to the Women's Tag Team Championships and Sonya Deville's injury, but inserting Piper Niven into the title scene. To be exact, she kind of inserted herself.

Following Deville's unfortunate ACL tear, creating a narrative where Niven forces Chelsea Green into being her partner and holding the titles is the optimal move. This is going to be hilarious, as the dynamic between the two has the potential to offer something completely different than the division has seen in some time. And for Niven, she comes out of nowhere and gets a huge opportunity, one she'll likely excel in. She has exceptional in-ring skills, yet her relevance on television has been non-existent.

Collectively, Green and Niven are two polar opposites and that could work really well. Their inaugural challengers, Katana Chance and Kayden Carter will make for a fun match-up.

Winner: Imperium And Alpha Academy

Both Otis vs. Gunther and Gable vs. Vinci were standout matches, highlighting the quartet's spontaneous ability for engaging performances. But, it's the narrative between the members of Imperium that is becoming a fascinating storyline to watch. Is WWE setting up Ludwig Kaiser to eventually make a run on his own? Or, is WWE just trying add a few layers to the Imperium group and do more than write them into angles where they dominate their opponents and do little else?

Meanwhile, Otis and Maxxine Dupri could become a thing, Chad Gable is a star and WWE will have to carefully navigate their individual character arcs and finding the right time to pull the trigger on elevating each up the card when their time has come.