The Shield’s Era Concludes in Minnesota: Key Takeaways from Monday Night Raw

Night of Champions has passed, and attention now turns to SummerSlam, as the WWE Universe was rocked in Riyadh. With Sami Zayn reigning as Undisputed Champion, the pressing question entering Monday Night Raw was whether the newly crowned King of the Ring, Oba Femi, would challenge Zayn or Roman Reigns at SummerSlam.

What if Brock Lesnar were the opponent instead?

TheSportster was present at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, for WWE Monday Night Raw, the first time WWE has staged a live event in the city in nearly two decades. Amid a wealth of surprises and storylines leading toward August’s Minneapolis showdown, here are three key takeaways from the June 29, 2026 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.

Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi in Hell in a Cell: The Optimal Way to End This Feud

While we have no criticism of Roman Reigns or Sami Zayn, we would have relished seeing Oba Femi triumphantly defeat either champion and claim his crowning moment at SummerSlam after an extraordinary year on the main roster. Nevertheless, unresolved business with The Beast remains, and pausing Oba Femi’s championship match to give him a chance to finally neutralize Brock Lesnar is the prudent course of action.

We understand the concerns: WWE has hinted that the King of the Ring is slated for a SummerSlam title opportunity, yet both championship pictures are currently dominated by other contenders, including Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, and Jey Uso. Inserting an Oba Femi match between these storylines feels less like a guaranteed path and more like a strategic move to test his resilience against The Beast before his title run officially begins.

Lesnar versus Femi inside Hell in a Cell holds tremendous potential and could become one of the most memorable stipulation matches in history. Let’s ensure this chapter concludes appropriately, after which Femi can ride the momentum of conquering The Beast toward his championship pursuit.

Putting the Shield’s Legacy Behind Us

The Shield stood as one of WWE’s most compelling factions during a volatile transitional era, a time when the company struggled to find lasting faces. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose emerged as those icons, each carving out legendary individual careers. However, the rivalry between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins deserves a definitive conclusion at SummerSlam.

That is not to say the feud has lost relevance; rather, 12 years after their betrayal, the storyline has run its natural course. With Seth Rollins acknowledging that more years lie behind him than ahead, this appears to be the appropriate moment to bring their blood feud to a close.

At this juncture, a scenario where Roman Reigns does not win seems unlikely, barring an unforeseen intervention by another Bloodline member that could alter the outcome. Without a return from Jon Moxley to extend the Shield’s narrative, this match marks the final chapter, and the time to bring the feud to an definitive end.

LA Knight Deserves a Championship Opportunity, Even If Brief

Wrestling shines when it is unpredictable, and Sami Zayn’s capture of the Undisputed Championship proved WWE is capable of major shake‑ups. If the company can finally crown Sami Zayn, then providing LA Knight with a championship run before the year’s end would be a fitting next step.

LA Knight’s unexpected ascent during the Tribal Chief era was both a gift and a curse: it demonstrated his ability to generate massive crowd reactions beyond his “goofy” persona, yet his rise was stifled by Roman Reigns’ four‑year chokehold on the title. Solo Sikoa may have ulterior motives in assisting Knight, potentially positioning him as a more manageable challenger for Reigns.

Much like the modern DDP, Knight is unwanted, unrelenting, and undeniable — forcing the powers that be to notice and elevate him. With a deeper pool of contenders and Solo Sikoa’s involvement, now is the moment to shake up Monday Night Raw, make this the “Year of the Megastar,” and award Knight a world championship.

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