WWE Raw will host a packed edition, next week en route to Summerslam 2023 premium live event. It’s possible that a couple of matches for the biggest event of the summer will be revealed during the show. Meanwhile, a top Superstar won’t be able to attend the upcoming episode.
During the latest episode of WWE Raw, the focus remained on Summerslam where Drew McIntyre appeared in a promo session as he’s expected to challenge GUNTHER for the Intercontinental Title at the PLE.
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In the promo, McIntyre mentioned that he would be absent from next week’s WWE Raw due to “company business” and the information eventually turned out to be true. As per PWinsider, McIntyre has an outside booking through WWE which requires filming, next week as a result of which, he won’t be able to make it to the show.
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No further info was provided regarding the exact outside gig that will keep McIntyre away from WWE programming during the build of Summerslam 2023. As such, McIntyre will also not be there to watch Riddle’s back when he challenges GUNTHER again for the Intercontinental Title. It should also be noted that GUNTHER’s allies Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser are banned from ringside.
It’s been just two weeks since Drew McIntyre returned to WWE programming after several months off. He confronted WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER following his victory over Matt Riddle at Money in the Bank. This was the first time that it was indicated that the Scottish Warrior was coming after the mid-card title present on WWE Raw.
Although an official announcement is yet to come, the assumption is that McIntyre will eventually be GUNTHER’s next challenger for the Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam 2023 which takes place on August 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. In the absence of McIntyre, WWE Raw does have a stacked card set which is given below,
WWE Raw July 17 episode Match Card
– Brock Lesnar makes his return
– Viking Rules Match: The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis).
– Women’s Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (champions) vs. Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green.
– Matt Riddle vs. GUNTHER – Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser are banned from ringside