RAW Review: A New Faction Debuts & A Contract Signing is Settled

In this Busted Open Podcast episode, hosts Dave LaGreca and Bully Ray provide detailed analysis of Monday Night Raw. They begin by discussing OTM's (Royce Keys, Lucian Price, and Bronco Nima) main event debut, which Bully Ray compares to the Nexus invasion from years past due to its effective vibe and impact. The hosts praise the physicality of the segment, particularly highlighting how Royce Keys hit LA Knight with the stairs, noting it looked excellent and strong. They emphasize that OTM made their one chance count, with the crowd responding positively despite not knowing who most of the group members were beforehand. The chaos and destruction forced the Ottawa crowd to react, booing OTM for beating down beloved babyfaces like Solo Sikoa and LA Knight. Bully Ray expresses enthusiasm about this version of Royce Keys, comparing his previous presentation to being too soft like a character in 'The Green Mile,' whereas now he presents as a tough, credible threat. The hosts discuss the importance of proper timing when bringing up talent from NXT, noting that you don't bring someone up unless you have something specific and definitive for them. They reference examples like Roxanne Perez, who was brought up with a concrete plan as part of Judgment Day, versus Julia Gacy, who lacked such direction. The segment also set up perfectly because the opening segment had established LA Knight and Solo Sikoa as entertaining babyfaces getting crowd support, making their comeuppance at the end hit harder. The hosts note that the fun tone of the opening made the heel turn even more impactful. Regarding the contract signing between Obafemi and Braun Breaker, LaGreca and Ray analyze both competitors' promos and presentation. They critique Braun Breaker for listing all of Obafemi's accomplishments while asking what he's done, which undermines his own argument. Breaker comes across as whiny and complaining about his injury, rather than confidently stating his accomplishments. The hosts suggest Breaker should have focused on his championship credentials (Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion) rather than dismissing Obafemi's King of the Ring win and retirement of Brock Lesnar. In stark contrast, Obafemi delivers a confident promo, telling Breaker he would be the future in 2002 against Cena or 2015 against Roman, but not in 2026 against Obafemi himself. The hosts note that Obafemi's physical presentation also dominates—he sits upright with shoulders back, filling his chair, while Breaker appears slumped and defeated. This body language contrast communicates confidence versus insecurity without words. Bully Ray emphasizes how important it is to read body language and expressions in professional wrestling, stating that Obafemi beat Breaker before even speaking through his composed demeanor. The overall assessment is that Obafemi emerged as the clear future of WWE, while Breaker's status as a top prospect has been diminished by Obafemi's rise and his own uninspired presentation upon return from injury.