The July 15 edition of Monday Night Raw brought major movement ahead of SummerSlam, including important promos and matches.

Rhea Ripley spoke for the first time since her return last week and challenged Liv Morgan to a match at SummerSlam.

Gunther and Damian Priest faced off, allowing The Ring General to emphatically declare why he must win the World Heavyweight Championship.

The Wyatt Sicks delivered another message, led by Erick Rowan, who explained his grief after losing all of his closest friends.

The Creed Brothers helped Chad Gable attack Bo Dallas, only to get run off by the rest of The Wyatt Sicks.

Sami Zayn and Ilja Dragunov went to war for the Intercontinental Championship, only to have their fight interrupted by Bron Breakker. He stood tall over both men.

It was a wild night that saw multiple WWE stories reach major turning points.

Erick Rowan Deserves Major Spotlight in Wyatt Sicks Storyline

Erick Rowan is the most decorated man in The Wyatt Sicks, having won three tag team championships in WWE.

Red Beard found much of his success in The Wyatt Family, working with Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt. He lost both men in just three years.

Hearing him recount those losses and the way it made him feel worthless was painful. His words carried intense emotional trauma at a level wrestling has rarely matched.

It was true emotion carried forward in a story that remains WWE's most complex.

Rowan showed why he's involved in this angle, selling himself as equally important to the Wyatt Sicks as Bo Dallas.

Rowan has always been more talented than his booking allowed him to be. Following the legacy of his late friends, he should find his way to greater success and, hopefully, championship glory.

Rhea Ripley Match is Most Important of Liv Morgan's Career

Liv Morgan will face her greatest rival, Rhea Ripley, at SummerSlam. This will be the biggest match of her career with the Women's World Championship on the line.

This comes off as the make-or-break moment for Morgan. Will she live up to the build and deliver a match that no one can soon forget?

Although her in-ring record is inconsistent, she has recently delivered some of the best promos of her career. She knows what these moments mean to her.

It all comes down to her talent and chemistry with Mami.

If she succeeds, she becomes a regular main event star for the next decade. If she cannot keep up, she likely returns to a midcard role outside the title scene beyond possible women's tag team gold.

WWE Wasted Months on Slow Build to Creed Brothers' Heel Turn

Julius and Brutus Creed have finally chosen to join Chad Gable. After months of hinting and teasing, the reveal was somewhat anticlimactic.

This was a story that could have easily played out around the time of Clash at the Castle: Scotland, allowing the new Alpha Academy to develop credibility before clashing with Uncle Howdy and his new family.

At the moment, none of these men have any credibility, losing every major match they have competed in throughout 2024.

By waiting too long, WWE has wasted time for both Gable and The Creed Brothers, which may end with The Wyatt Sicks completely overshadowing them.

There is still time enough to make this talented group special, but it still serves as a cautionary tale to WWE that sometimes waiting too long is worse than acting too fast.

Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov Will Steal the Show at SummerSlam

Sami Zayn is the most competitive champion in WWE today. He has defended the Intercontinental Championship six times, more than both current world champions combined in 2024.

However, he may be reaching the end of his championship journey with two great challengers nipping at his heels.

Bron Breakker and Ilja Dragunov are pushing Zayn to his limit, forcing the champion to battle both men with his title on the line sooner rather than later.

While WWE has not guaranteed a triple threat yet, SummerSlam is the perfect stage for this match that is certain to steal the show.

Zayn is one of the best veteran performers in WWE today. Breakker has been on a tear, taking advantage of his unreal speed. The Mad Dragon is one of the top wrestlers in the world thanks to his absolutely ferocious pace in the ring.

These days, WWE premium live events cap out at five matches most of the time. However, SummerSlam is too big a show to limit, especially with matches like Zayn vs. Breakker vs. Dragunov barely making the cut as it is.

Gunther Cuts Career-Best Promo to Sell Why He Must Win at SummerSlam

Gunther is the symbol of excellence in WWE. His consistent performance in the ring and on the mic cannot be matched.

His latest promo sold why he is still a step above Damian Priest, confidently declaring himself greater than The Punishment in every category.

His delivery was on point. He clearly establishes himself as the villain in this tale that Priest must overcome through the same hard work that brought him to where he is.

The King General has done it all on his road to the World Heavyweight Championship. He broke records as NXT UK champion and Intercontinental champion. He won King of the Ring.

His record book is already more impressive than Priest's without the title of world champion, earned through steady hard work and a unique presentation that makes him special.

The final step is to make him world champion, a right he has more than earned.