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So, while one can always be disappointed by the way a certain episode of RAW after WrestleMania turned out, I daresay that none of the episodes are bad, truth be told. I mean WWE does go the extra mile to ensure that the RAW that follows WrestleMania is a pretty big deal.
And to be honest, I did not feel like WWE RAW was a 3-hour show this week at all, maybe because WrestleMania had already trained me to be prepared for a long program. But overall, I had very few complaints with how things played out on RAW, honestly.
Feel free to let me know if you liked or disliked this week's episode of WWE RAW. I would be thrilled to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Here is my personal assessment of the show that was.
#1 Best: Lacey Evans finally has a program
The only bad thing about this feud is the fact that WWE will be doing 'lady' and 'man' puns for the rest of the year, based on their respective gimmicks. But I'm actually quite thrilled that Lacey Evans did something on RAW. Thus far, we've only seen her make her way up the ramp and return again. This week, she punched Becky Lynch.
There is literally no better spot in the company to be in right now, than in a feud with Becky Lynch. The Man is the hottest commodity in the company at the moment, and Lacey Evans can use this opportunity to launch her career to the moon. I wonder how this situation will play out over the weeks that follow.
We've all seen Evans work in NXT and we know that she can go. Let's hope Becky and Evans tear the house down in weeks that follow.
#1 Worst: Zayn loses his return match
So, let me begin by saying that this section does not indicate that I wanted Finn Balor to lose his title after WrestleMania 35. I would be an idiot if I said that and would most likely, not even be employed here.
I would have had Sami Zayn, a man who's missed so many months of action come back and face someone like a Titus O'Neil maybe, and score a victory before entering into a feud with Finn Balor. It makes sense to regain some amount of momentum after your return to be taken as a serious competitor, in my opinion.
I mean, I even liked the heel promo that Zayn cut after his match was over and done. But I just thought that had he won the match, it would have been more meaningful.
Let's hope that Sami Zayn gets his heat back in the weeks that follow.
#2 Best: The Undertaker returns
The Undertaker coming back at any point of the year is a big deal, to be quite honest. There was much speculation that he would show up at WrestleMania, but he decided to show up on the RAW after. I found it especially amusing that he came down seemingly to defend the honor of rap music.
He would come out to a thunderous roar and make short work of Elias, who seemed to be on his way out of the ring at that point in time. He would leave him in a heap, much like John Cena had done to Elias the night before.
I especially loved the way the whole segment was done, with the trademark Undertaker gong sounding when Elias said the words- 'dead man'.
Are the two men colliding at the next pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia? It certainly does seem like it.
#2 Worst: The main event is canceled
Listen, you can't advertise a match between the two world champions and then have it become a tag team match soon after. WWE shot themselves in the foot with this decision and paid dearly indeed. Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston were having a great match before The Bar eventually interfered.
And for no fault of Cesaro and Sheamus, the crowd would hijack the rest of the said match. Even the sight of the two world champions side by side did not satiate the audience who rained a whole barrage of boos on the main event. It was a shame to be honest because the rest of the show had been great until that point.
I daresay that Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston will meet down the road, and the match will be absolutely spectacular. But on this night, this match was a 'worst'.
#3 Best: Lars Sullivan's debut
Kurt Angle did not just help one WWE superstar on his way out of WWE and the business. He also did the favors for one Lars Sullivan, a man who has been on the verge of getting called up to the main roster for quite some time.
Sullivan is one of those guys who is destined to do well in the main roster because of the way he comes across. He is a big guy who would have fit into just about any era of WWE and is certain to be a great opponent for the likes of Braun Strowman in the days that follow.
It is a well-known fact that Sullivan has been battling mental health issues and it's a good thing that his life is back on track once again. I wish him all the best in the main roster.
Let his opponents start trembling with fear already!
#3 Worst: Dean Ambrose's exit
I am not entirely convinced that Dean Ambrose's exit from WWE is a shoot. And the reasons for the same have been elaborated upon in great detail in yet another article of mine on Sportskeeda.
But if this is indeed the end of the road for Dean Ambrose, I just did not care for the way that his WWE career came to an end. It really did not help anyone involved in the situation, because had it been a match, Bobby Lashley could have scored a pinfall victory over him, regaining the heat that he lost at WrestleMania.
Somehow I am convinced that Bobby Lashley would not have made those comments towards Renee Young, Dean Ambrose's wife, if Ambrose was actually leaving. It feels like a storyline to me.
And if it is a storyline, imagine the pop for Ambrose when he does return.
#4 Best/worst: No NXT call-ups
So while Lars Sullivan did appear during the show and I've ranked his segment as a 'best', I know that a lot of people were disappointed that more NXT stars did not get called up. But I ask you- 'Is that really a worst?' I mean SAnitY has been in the main roster for a year now and what have they got to show for it? The same can be said for someone like Nikki Cross who doesn't have a program.
Everyone who comes up through the developmental system is a great talent. But there are only so many spots that are available for the talents. Which is why a great many of them may miss out on several opportunities.
So it's a 'worst' that nobody from NXT was called upon the RAW after 'Mania. But it was also a 'best'.
Plus, the Goddess returned, which is always great.
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