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SmackDown Live is moving to a new Network and that may signal a brand new beginning for the show. I'm afraid that RAW was much of the same this week. There was very little in terms of actual storyline development. It like just your average weekly hour of WWE.
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Did you think it was a good or bad show overall? In my opinion, this was a passable show with very few hooks to keep the audience member watching for three whole hours. We'll have to check out the viewership numbers to gauge if this was the case or not.
As always, here's my post-show recap. I invite you to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about RAW.
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Let's go straight to Albany, New York, and look back at three hours of action.
#1 Best: A very interesting setup
We saw Natalya qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match on this week's show. It is easy to forget just how fluid she is, in the ring. She even cut a post-match promo addressing the fact that she was good friends with Ronda Rousey and both women had a chance to hold big prizes come Money in the Bank. Are the two women due for a clash down the line?
We also saw the huge contract signing between Rousey and Jax this week. The match certainly has a big fight feel to it and like her or not, Stephanie McMahon did a commendable job with the setup for the same. It is clear that the Stephanie-Rousey feud is far from over.
What I liked about the fact is how this angle has been set up. Could Natalya cash in her contract and interfere in the Rousey vs. Jax match at Money in the Bank?
#1 Worst: Worst segment of the year?
I could see it coming from a mile away. Right when Bobby Lashley mentioned his sisters during the interview with Renee Young, I knew that the segment was doomed to fail. Sami Zayn brought in three men dressed as Lashley's sisters and tried to hold together an absolute cringe-fest. Even Lashley's arrival and eventual beatdown did not change things.
It did not help matters that Bobby Lashley came in with a wide smile plastered on his face. WWE has a lot of work to do, to get Lashley out of the hole that he has been booked in.
#2 Best: Burning it down!
Yes, there was no IC Title Open Challenge this week. However, Rollins was absolutely fabulous as Reigns' partner during the impromptu match that was set up at the top of this week's show. There are few that can get the crowd going like he can. I do hope that the rumours of him becoming the next Universal Champion are true.
Rollins has the ability to be the face of the company if WWE does push him to the moon. The crowd believes in him and his work is simply exemplary. He is the babyface that Roman Reigns could never be.
Rollins can wake the audience up from the mundane three hours of television we've come to expect on a weekly basis. Let's hope that WWE management is listening to the WWE Universe.
#2 Worst: Reigns vs. The Authority
This storyline did not work the first time WWE tried it. The crowd of today is smarter than ever and they know that if anything, WWE is behind Reigns to succeed. Unlike Daniel Bryan who excelled in this role, WWE has been pushing Reigns as the top guy despite the wishes of the WWE Universe. WWE tried repeating the tried and tested formula again.
Moreover, there's something about Stephanie McMahon's presence that just harks back to the most unbearable eras of sports entertainment. Somehow, the idea of a heel Authority Figure has been done to death and just seems like a chore to sit through.
#3 Best: The streak continues!
Who cares about Goldberg? Asuka is now a thing of the past. The B Team is on a streak and they scored their second win on RAW this week, in a tag team match with Breezango. And then, the celebrations began for this oddball duo.
Comedy acts are usually relegated to the back of the line after a while, but let's just enjoy the B Team while they're on fire. They have great comedic timing and they excelled in their role this week.
#3 Worst: Feuds that never end
Bobby Roode took on Elias in their umpteenth encounter on RAW. As did No Way Jose and Baron Corbin who are in a feud that's even more unexciting than this one is. The amount of filler on RAW was quite high. This is especially stark because some key players were missing this week.
Both Sasha Banks and Bayley were missing from action, this week. As were the current RAW Tag Team Champions- Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt.
#4 Best/worst: Ember Moon's win
Ember Moon wrestled a fantastic match this week. She picked up a much-needed win against Alexa Bliss. Bliss too played her part during the match to perfection. As did Mickie James who had a nice cameo.
Why is this in the Best/worst section then? Alexa Bliss' promo before the match ruined it for me. Why was she talking about The Romans and giving us a history lesson?
There's only one Roman that really matters. And he goes- 'Oooaaaah' before he hits a spear!
Always remember that, Creative!
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