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Based on whether or not you read the spoilers that came out last week, I'm guessing RAW was either a breeze for you to sit through or a chore. Those who had read the spoilers already knew about the big twist at the end that was certainly worth watching the show for.
Without further ado, let's dive straight into the best and worst of RAW this week, ladies and gentlemen. Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed the show or if you did not particularly care for it.
In any case, be sure to rate all the matches from RAW at this link, and let me know what you thought about the show right below. The comments section is where you and I can interact and talk wrestling.
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And before I begin, Happy Holidays!
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#1 Best: Samoa Joe refuses to get bullied
I think I speak for everyone when I say that Samoa Joe has been doing a really commendable job on commentary. While Vic Joseph is your typical WWE announcer, who's decent at his job and Jerry Lawler just seems outdated at times, Samoa Joe brings a slick and cool voice to the booth, almost speaking for the fans.
I think I speak for everyone once again when I say that the angle that happened at the end of the show with Samoa Joe refusing to budge even when the heels came his way was a definite highlight. The fact that he got physical is indicative of the fact that he is probably cleared and that is great news.
We have seen Samoa Joe as a heel thus far and he has been great in the role. Now, let us see how good he can be as a babyface with an edge.
#1 Worst: No Sami Zayn with Mojo Rawley?
I love the fact that Mojo Rawley is being given screen time at long last, but I fear that plans for him may fall to the wayside. This is because while he arrived with Sami Zayn not long ago, it seems like the partnership has dissolved.
I thought that there was a lot of potential in the partnership. Sami Zayn is a much more established Superstar, with the gift of the gab, and could have honestly elevated Mojo Rawley to the next level, if the whole manager-client alliance had existed.
In any case, I wonder if Mojo Rawley is just being given screen time as enhancement talent and if he's going to be jobbing to the big stars. I suppose that's not necessarily a bad thing per se, because it means that he's getting screen time and how many people are sitting on the sidelines, awaiting their turn?
#2 Best: Liv Morgan teases a big return
Liv Morgan was always gorgeous but I think WWE is just taking the glamor quotient to a whole new level with this series of vignettes. Morgan has the look that can translate into a big push when the time is right. In many ways, this may be a better gimmick for her than Sister Abigail.
I know that the internet was upset when Liv Morgan and Bray Wyatt weren't paired together in the Firefly Fun House as many had predicted. I guess while that would have been cool, maybe Bray Wyatt did not need another accomplice. Plus, Liv Morgan would have had to play second-fiddle in that role.
And now she gets to shine like the star that she is and shake off the rust from the Riott Squad gimmick. If all goes well, I see Liv Morgan becoming either a very successful wrestler or even a manager.
#2 Worst: Too many predictable matches
There were three individuals who took on local talent this week, in matches that were extremely predictable. While I'm not opposed to enhancement talent matches, if you have too many of them on the show, it just ruins the charm. Buddy Murphy, Aleister Black, and Erick Rowan won their matches with the utmost of ease.
The other matches that took place this week were pretty easy to call as well. I mean nobody from NXT was going to come and defeat Charlotte Flair, out of the blue. Zack Ryder was not going to defeat Drew McIntyre and No Way Jose wasn't going to beat Rusev.
In an age where you demand unpredictability and TV shows like The Witcher serve this unpredictably to fans in generous doses, why would they sit through three hours of a program that is predictable? WWE needs to add shock value to their shows.
#3 Best/Worst: The 24/7 Championship picture
When you're a 33-year-old man, how do you explain to anyone else in the room that three wrestlers are competing for a title that can be defended anywhere, one of whom is Santa Claus? I was entertained, in parts, by this segment but I don't know if I care enough about the Championship anymore.
As entertaining as R-Truth has been as the Champion, I wonder if it's time to let someone else have a run with the title so that we see a different kind of programming. R-Truth has been a great ambassador for the title, but it just feels very tried and tested in his case.
I'm also not sure if Akira Tozawa entering the 24/7 Championship picture is necessarily the best idea because then you become slotted in a spot that you can't really escape from. I mean, just ask Eric Young about it!
#3 Best/Worst: No WWE Champion
In a lot of ways, I'm happy that Brock Lesnar isn't around, because it is allowing new stars to shine. But is it also affecting the WWE Championship picture because the fans of today have short-term memories?
It would certainly appear so because every one of the top stars has his/her own storyline going with the possible exception of Ricochet. It's just weird for the top Champion of your brand to be missing for so long and would not really fly in any 'real' sport, but as we've seen in WWE, Brock Lesnar has special privileges.
I suppose, in a way, the absence of Brock Lesnar elevates the United States Championship which is a plus. But at the same time, I would much prefer to see a Champion that shows up regularly and invests time into his storylines to build up hype and anticipation for his matches.
In any case, wish you a Merry Christmas!
