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Welcome to another edition of the top RAW backstage rumours that could have a major impact. Last week's RAW was not only a lesser-than-average show, but it also failed to earn decent numbers in terms of ratings.
As per reports, last week's edition of RAW drew the lowest numbers in the history of the show. We will be going in-depth to look at the backstage reaction and fallout after the latest Monday Night RAW ratings. What changes could WWE be planning for the show? Who does Vince McMahon blame for the decline in viewership?
So without further ado, let us take a look at the biggest backstage stories related to WWE RAW:
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#5 Vince McMahon blames 'the smaller guys' for the poor ratings of RAW
As reported earlier, Vince McMahon had decided to send certain 'big guys' back to the Performance Center in order to improve. Some of the names on the list included the likes of Keith Lee of RAW and Otis of SmackDown.
The reason for this decision, as per Dave Meltzer of WON, is that McMahon wants to create more 'monsters' in WWE. Vince McMahon appears to blame the smaller Superstars on top, for the fall in the RAW ratings:
“Part of it is Vince wants more monsters in the ring, as historically whenever WWE business is bad, Vince blames smaller guys on top, but right now, his thought process is he doesn’t have big guys who can work at that level.”
Though many fans and critics would argue that it is poor creative and bad booking that has led to such a situation, Vince McMahon's vision for the product has always stood above all other opinions.
Even though Drew McIntyre has done a great job of leading the red brand during the Pandamic Era, it will be interesting to see which 'monsters' Vince McMahon decides to push to the top next, if he feels they're ready.
#4 RAW Superstar The Miz creates a new record in WWE
Former WWE Champion and RAW Superstar The Miz created history at TLC. Not the type of history that the A-lister would have wanted, but he has entered his name in the history books nonetheless.
At TLC, The Miz tried to cash in the MITB contract during AJ Styles' match with Drew McIntyre. However, the RAW Superstar failed to cash-in the contract and became one of the very few MITB holders to blow their opportunity.
Interestingly by being unable to cash-in at TLC, The Miz has become the only person in history to have had a successful, as well as unsuccessful, MITB cash-in attempt.
Here is what WWE Stats & Info stated on Twitter:
.@mikethemiz is now the only Superstar in @WWE history to have both a successful and an unsuccessful Money in the Bank contract cash-in.
The Miz had won the MITB contract by defeating Otis, the original winner of the MITB ladder match. It was believed that Miz would be cashing in at the right time in order to become the next WWE Champion, as so many have done before. However, unless WWE throws us another curve ball, it appears that will not be happening.
#3 Update on RAW Superstar Braun Strowman's return
RAW Superstar and former Universal Champion Braun Strowman has been out of action since he suffered a knee injury at Survivor Series. The Monster Among Men has taken some time off to heal ahead of his return.
In the storyline, Braun Strowman was suspended by WWE for putting his hands on WWE Official Adam Pearce on the RAW following Survivor Series. It was initially believed that Braun Strowman would be facing Drew McIntyre at TLC for the WWE Championship. However, those plans were scrapped because of his injury. Here is what Dave Meltzer of WON said on the subject:
“The story, as noted, is that Braun was scheduled to face Drew McIntyre at TLC but he got the leg injury and he is rehabbing it. I didn’t hear anything about surgery, just that they are rehabbing it. Presumably, he won’t be out that long but I guess we’ll see.”
Strowman recently posted a video on his social media showing off his new look and the progress that he has made physically. He also hinted that his impending return is going to happen very soon.
#2 Backstage details on the Firefly Inferno match between RAW Superstars Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton at TLC
RAW Superstar Randy Orton faced The Fiend in the first-ever Firefly Inferno match at TLC. The match itself has received mixed reactions, but no one can deny that the fans got to witness some remarkable moments during the match.
One such moment was RAW Superstar The Fiend catching fire. But while the pay-per-view was streamed live on the WWE Network, it was reported by WrestleVotes that this match was pre-taped and did not take place live:
The Inferno Match was pre-taped this afternoon and as of the first rundown, wasn’t scheduled to be the main event. Interesting move.
Further, WrestlingNews.co reported that the match was stopped mid-way multiple times and the two men had to do many retakes for the more dangerous shots in the match:
"Davis added that both Superstars stopped mid-way on various occasions and did a bunch of retakes to carry out the dangerous spots in the match."
Randy Orton and The Fiend have had their personal rivalry engulf RAW over the past few weeks, and it will be interesting to see what is next for these two former WWE World Champions after their brutal battle at TLC.
#5 Backstage response to the poor ratings on RAW
As reported earlier, WWE RAW witnessed its worst ratings last week and could manage to earn only 1.527 million viewers. It has been reported by Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT that the USA Network - which is the home of Monday Night RAW - are not too happy with the fall in ratings.
His source has stated that the network wants more dark and adult content on RAW. It was later clarified that by dark content, they mean more violence:
"USA Network are furious. They want more adult content. Not sexy adult, but dark and violent adult."
Dave Meltzer of WON has countered the report stating that while the USA Network is not happy with the poor ratings, there has been no demand for dark and gritty content:
"On Tuesday, yeah, they got the message loud and clear. How they react to it, I couldn't tell you but everybody... nobody was fooling anyone or trying to make excuses. It was like, yeah this is bad. I have no idea what that means. I have no idea how they're going to change it."
How do you think RAW should improve its ratings? Comment below!
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
