8 mistakes WWE made on Raw this week(15 October 2018)

After a great episode of Monday Night Raw last week, fans were hopeful that WWE would continue that trend this week by indulging them with some more fresh content. But as usual the WWE Universe were fools for thinking that WWE would do something good twice, as Raw this week felt like every other Raw this year, it was repetitive, boring and extremely uneventful.

And one could say that WWE is saving their booking surprises for Smackdown Live's 1000 episode, it doesn't excuse the fact that Raw has been a terrible show over the course of this year. Other than a few important things that happened like Drew McIntyre kicking Braun Strowman's ass and Ronda Rousey delivering a heated promo, you could skip this Raw and not have missed a thing.

#1 The World Cup makes no sense

WWE should have taken time to explain this concept.

So the WWE World Cup tournament that will take place at the Crown Jewel event is a tournament that will determine the best wrestler in the world? But how can this tournament by WWE determine the best wrestler in the world if every single wrestler is from WWE?

Fans gave this concept the benefit of the doubt as they thought WWE would try and make this tournament as plausible as possible but with Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins qualifying for it on Raw this week, it seems as if WWE is making no effort in making this concept feel legitimate.

At least the creative team could include wrestlers from NXT, 205 Live and NXT UK to make this tournament have some depth, as we could see matches we never thought would be possible, but it seems as if this concept is determined to put on the same old boring matches we have seen a several times.

#2 Raw's division goes without its champions again

How can Raw function without its champion?

Everyone already knows that this fued between The Shield and The Dogs of War is repetitive, and while the superstars try and make the terrible material handed to them by the WWE creative team work, it is clear that the overall effect of this programme is affecting Raw.

WWE made the odd decision of having every title on Raw tied in one programme, and it is clear that the brand is suffering due to this decision. The midcard has become a joke over the past month, and it doesn't seem like it can function without its IC Title.

The same goes for the tag team division, as the teams of the division are just wandering until the Raw Tag Team Champions can involve themselves in the division, and the Universal Title scene might be the worst of them all.

As after a terrible reign from Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns 'new era' has been a bust, as WWE has booked Reigns like Lesnar, a champion that hardly defends his title or shows up with his title on seldom occasions. This needs to change if WWE wants Raw to stop being heralded as the worst wrestling show in the company.

#3 More meaningless matches for the women's division

Tamina's return was the only noteworthy in-ring story form the women's division this week.

The Raw's women's division is in a difficult spot, as WWE is not sure whether to build up teams for a women's tag team title tournament or whether to build up individual fueds for the future and to be honest the company is doing neither well. As most of the stars on Raw's women's division has been misused to the point where their credibility has taken huge a hit.

And this week on Raw WWE booked Tamina and Dana Brooke to take on Nia Jax and Ember Moon in tag team action; this match was only booked to build up the battle royal that will take place at WWE Evolution.

Whereas on the other end of the card Ruby Riott took on Natalya with Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan, Bayley and Sasha Banks at ringside, and that match was only booked to fill time. WWE should try and give each one of their stars in the women's division a concrete narrative that elevates them not a wavering narrative that keeps them wandering.

#4 The fall of Finn Balor

Maybe NXT or 205 Live would be a better place for Finn Balor.

Finn Balor has gone from NXT champion to Universal Champion, and no one can deny that accolade Balor achieved was not warranted as he was exceptional in the first few years of his WWE career, but now it seems as if WWE has no plans for Balor anymore, as the repetitive battles with Jinder Mahal on Raw seem like Balkor has no place left on Raw.

So what is next for Balor? maybe a career-rejuvenating run down in NXT would do the man justice, maybe he should try and revitalize an entire brand in 205 Live, or maybe Smackdown Live will do his career a world of good. Where ever Balor goes, nothing will be as worse as being stuck on Raw every single week in a terrible match playing the same terrible role.

#5 Tyler's career has hit rock bottom

From NXT standout to main roster jobber.

Fans often complain that Vince McMahon is out of touch with his audience.

And when it came to Bobby Lashley throwing a once promising star in Tyler Breeze around like a ragdoll this week on Raw, it is clear that Breeze's credibility as a star has faded. Breeze was a standout gold standard in NXT as his matches with Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, and Neville made him feel unique, and on the main roster, it sad to see Breeze's potential being wasted.

It's understandable that WWE wants to build Lashley up as an ass-kicking machine, but basically stripping Breeze of his last bit of momentum was a mistake. As fans will never take this man seriously again.

#6 The build to Evolution's marquee tag team match is mediocre

Mickie James, Lita and Trish Stratus in the same ring in 2018 is reason enough to tune into the first ever WWE women's pay-per-view Evolution, but something feels off with this match, as it feels a bit unimportant.

The reason why this tag team match feels unimportant is due to the format of it, whoever thought the idea of two legends facing off against another legend and a new era star was a good idea needs to reevaluate their booking process, as it would have made a lot more sense if it was two legends took two new era stars, to give those stars the rub.

And putting the formatting aside, the booking for this match has been terrible, and whether you like seeing Lita and Trish back on Raw or not you can't deny their interactions with Mickie and Bliss has been disappointingly repetitive.

Where is the creativity, where is the tension where is the excitement building for this match, as WWE made a mistake this week of booking a boring segment featuring these stars that added nothing to the match at Evolution.

#7 AOP's one-note role

AOP has been disappointing on the main roster, as their repetitive squash matches have been the reason of Raw's terrible run, as the WWE creative team can't seem to come up with anything creative for these men to do.

Squash matches have become a staple of WWE booking over the last few years, and that is not a good thing. Booking someone against a smaller less threatening opponent doesn't make them feel more powerful but actually makes them feel less significant.

And by AOP doing Baron Corbin's bidding on Raw this week by having them squash, the masked opponent who they thought was Kurt Angle is just odd booking from all angles, as Kurt Angle coming out looking like 2006 Carlito was not enough to save this segment.

#8 The main event has become stale

The main event of Raw is beyond stale, as the same thing happens every week, Dean Ambrose teases a heel turn, makes up with his team and proceeds to fight Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre.This formula is so frustratingly repetitive it is the reason why Raw is doing so terribly, not to mention that the Shield's reunion has been a flop due to their repetitive battles with Strowman's team.

The Shield doesn't feel like the team fans saw take-no-nonsense back in 2013/ 2014, as now they seem like a concept that doesn't belong together anymore, and most of that could be attributed to WWE teasing their break up once again. While the implosion of Strowman's team was highlighted by McIntyre's badass beatdown of his former teammate, it doesn't excuse the fact that WWE is giving fans the same thing every week.

Edited by Shiven Sachdeva