'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Many assumed that after the train wreck that was Hell in a Cell, WWE would pull their socks up for the episode of RAW that followed the pay-per-view. That was not to be because, while it wasn't an awful show, it was an uneventful show.
Usually, I'm brimming with ideas for articles after an episode of RAW but this week, I'm struggling to write anything beyond 'Best and Worst'. It just seems like WWE does not care about RAW until the draft comes our way on Friday Night with SmackDown.
I would have to say that this show was more bad than good, overall, but I invite you to leave your comments and let me know if you thought otherwise, in the comments below. I really did think that nothing of note happened during the show.
Trending
Please let me know if you did feel the same way as well!
#1 Best: Rusev snaps and becomes a monster again
Honestly, with Rusev Day and everything else, we had forgotten that Rusev could be a savage beast when it was necessary to be one. This week on RAW, I loved how things started straight in the ring, with both Corbin and Orton taking the fight to the Bulgarian Brute, from the moment the show kicked off.
Once the whole Lana and Lashley thing happened, something just happened to snap inside Rusev and it transformed him into the monster that the man once was. He ran through his opponents and we have a glimpse of the man that he used to be long before he became a comedy character.
I know that a lot of you may not necessarily like the Total Divas storyline. But isn't it better than Lashley showing his rear end to the camera every week?
#1 Worst: Seth Rollins and The Fiend miss the show
Once RAW was done, The Fiend did make a special appearance for the fans in attendance. But this was only for the crowd in the arena, and not the millions of fans watching at home from all around the world.
I think that it was a terrible decision to leave out Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt off the show. WWE proved that they were scared to have Rollins get booed after what went down last night, and this was not the best move, I think.
There were millions of ways that they could have remedied this whole situation. Rollins could have come out, turned heel, flipped off the fans and told them that he gives it his all every night, and the fans should appreciate him more.
He could have even come out scared, nursing his injury, and been attacked by The Fiend once more.
#2 Best: Fury and Strowman clash to end RAW
I've had the good fortune of interviewing Braun Strowman in person and to say that he is a big man will not do justice to just how big the man is. And so to see someone like Tyson Fury square off with him was a huge deal, I guess. Fury is equally big and it is quite the sight to see the two bulls square off.
I loved how Tyson Fury got physical ahead of what should be a match, at some point down the line. The whole locker room had to keep the men apart and this just showed Fury to be the monster that he was. While I'm not necessarily a boxing fan, I've heard of Fury, and I assume that there are many individuals that do not know who he is.
Now he seems like a big deal, at last. Even though the segment was clumsy and clunky, it was not bad at all.
#2 Worst: Natalya wins
Natalya is someone closer to the end of her career than the start. We already know that she hails from a famous family and that she's great in the ring. I just think that at this point, it is necessary for Lacey Evans to come out on top as she's the fresh new Superstar.
I mean this feels like the millionth encounter between the two women and none of the ones before this one did feel like they're big deals, to be quite honest. But I'd always justified it by saying that Lacey Evans will probably defeat the veteran to get over with fans.
But that is not the case at all, and it does seem like Natalya is the winner of this feud, and will presumably go on to do bigger and better things. Do we really need her in the title picture once again?
#3 Best: Black unveils a new finisher
I know that a lot of you have wanted to see Aleister Black dominate the main roster once again. I also know that nobody wanted his big return to be against The Singh Brothers.
No offense to Sunil and Samir, whom I've met and who are probably two of the nicest guys in the wrestling business, but truth be told, they've only been portrayed as Jinder Mahal's lackeys in recent times. The outcome was a foregone conclusion from the moment the match began and I was ready to slot this as a worst, in this article.
But then Aleister Black debuted a brand new finishing move, and it looks awesome, in my opinion. Black's kicks have always been deadly, but for him to have a submission move is cool too, proving that the company is invested in him.
Black's stock should be on the rise following the split!
#3 Worst: Too many predictable matches
We all knew that there was no way that the Lucha House Party was going to beat The OC. The Lucha House Party can do fantastic things in the ring, but they've only been booked as enhancement talent until now.
Similarly, there was no way that the Singh Brothers were going to come out on top against a powerhouse like Aleister Black. It was just a show filled with predictable outcomes, from start to finish.
The same could also be said for the match between Apollo Crews and Ricochet, which would have been great in NXT, I'm sure, but somehow when it comes to RAW, it doesn't get the kind of time that's required to showcase the talents of both. The only match where I was surprised with the result is Natalya defeating Lacey Evans, after the highly competitive match.
And I don't know if I was a fan of that booking decision, per se.
#4 Best/Worst: Pinning Becky Lynch
I just don't get why Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair have to face the Women's Tag Team Champions considering that they should be having their own feuds. I love the fact that Lynch brought up the fact that Asuka beat her. I also love the fact that it was Asuka who defeated Lynch with the green mist.
This is the setup for a cool story, in my opinion. I just don't think that the Women's Tag Team Champions should have squared off with the singles Champions. It just jumbles storylines up and proves how little value there is in the Women's Tag Team Championships.
If Asuka vs. Becky is the money match, shouldn't the titles have remained around the waists of Bliss and Cross? I really don't know what WWE is thinking at the moment.
That said, the face-off and interaction between Lynch and Flair was gold!
