The biggest winners and losers of last night's Raw (January 14)

Raw tried to shake up its usual, plodding formula last night. To an extent, it worked, as last night's show was a step above the three hours of mediocrity (at best), that plagued us throughout 2018.

But who managed to make the most out of last night's show with the Royal Rumble only two weeks away? Who got the least out of it? Let's take a look.

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Winner/Loser: Braun Strowman

This was...strange. Let's just put it that way. After last week's horrible segment (an early contender for worst segment of the year), Braun Strowman kicked off the show and was taunted by Baron Corbin. After a backstage chase, Braun Strowman had a run-in with Vince McMahon and his limo.

On the one hand, this was Dumb Babyface Syndrome, which was the last thing Strowman needed after last week's horrendous segment. On the other, it appears that Strowman's injury rumors are true. That's actually the best thing for him because he could ill-afford yet another loss to Brock Lesnar. This storyline allowed him to get out of that match.

It was a tactical loss in exchange for a strategic victory for Strowman's career.

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Winner: Sasha Banks

Yes, this match was nothing special. Yes, Sasha Banks has no chance of winning at the Royal Rumble. Yes, this was the usual tired formula of having pay per view opponents team up during the build to their match. All the same, it allowed Sasha Banks to look good heading into the contest, which was badly needed after over a year in the wilderness. It will also do her well in the long term when the women's tag team titles arrive on the scene.

Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey began to bicker after the match was over to build up some more heat.

Winner: Nikki Cross

Surprisingly, Nikki Cross debuted for Raw this week, when most people assumed she would go to SmackDown. A babyface, she teamed with Bayley and Natalya and defeated the Riott Squad.

There was nothing special about this match, but it made Cross look good for the start of her main roster career. Perhaps it's better for her that she's far away from SAnitY on SmackDown, which has done nothing since making their own main roster debut last spring.

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Winner: Bobby Lashley

This was a fun Intercontinental Championship match, with bitter rivals Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose setting aside their differences at times to take on the imposing Bobby Lashley.

Bobby Lashley actually walked away with the title, too, which was a much-needed noteworthy win for him after nine months of a flagging comeback. The victory also allows Seth Rollins to move on and focus on the Royal Rumble.

Losers: Heavy Machinery

As we've come to expect, this was just a bad segment all around. There's no reason for these "Moment of Bliss" segments. The crux of the segment - the revelation of the women's tag team titles, which will be decided at Elimination Chamber, could have been done in another fashion.

Instead, it was a cluster with Bliss, Heyman, and, most oddly of all Otis Dozovic of Heavy Machinery who looked like a mentally deficient loser. Not the best way to introduce yourself to a new audience.

It's time to stop these segments.

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Winner: Finn Balor

On such short notice, the company should be commended for putting over Finn Balor in the best way possible as he heats up into a sudden, unexpected match with Brock Lesnar.

Balor has no chance of winning in Phoenix, but this is a match that fans have been thinking about for years, and credit to WWE for giving it to them. It's also finally an injection of new blood into the Universal Championship picture, after years of only being tangled over between Lesnar, Reigns, and Strowman (and Samoa Joe a couple of times).

The match in Phoenix should be much better than another Lesnar vs. Strowman encounter as well.