Who gained heat on RAW 25?

WWE RAW's 25-anniversary show was a lot of fun but in a sugar rush kind of a way. It gave us a short-term high, but subtract the nostalgia segments and the build to the actual Royal Rumble itself was droll and formulaic. I'm actually less excited, not more, for the big show in Philadelphia on Sunday.

The returning legends shined, but the superstars we actually watch every week were subject to the usual nonsense.

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Lost momentum: Asuka

Asuka cleared the ring. How could she have lost momentum heading into the Royal Rumble?

Because when was the last time the person that cleared the ring before the Rumble actually won the match? Did it happen ever? That doesn't bode well because, for the sake of her longevity, this is a match Asuka needs to win.

The segment was another boring WWE formula where the company has to beat into our head that it's everyone against everyone else and they chose the worst way to end it. Unfortunately, a similar segment would come later in the show.

Lost momentum: The Undertaker

In what was one of the most anticipated segments of the night, The Undertaker returned to the Manhattan Center, where it all began 25 years earlier.

Then he cut a Bray Wyatt promo.

It was meandering, meaningless, and confusing. It did nothing to advance anything and felt very much like a way for Taker to make an appearance while still not entirely being sure whether he wants to return to the ring or not.

Hopefully, it all means he's really retired.

Gained momentum: The Miz

To the delight of the crowd in Brooklyn, The Miz recaptured the Intercontinental Championship.

Which basically revealed Roman's title reign as a transitional one while Miz was out filming his movie.

Still, Miz gained momentum, too bad it's all in service of his designated pigeonhole.

Gained momentum: Jason Jordan

Jason Jordan has quietly become the most interesting character on RAW. Acting the white meat babyface while being despised by the Brooklyn crowd, we got more tantalizing hints that his full heel turn is on the way.

It's going to be electric when it happens. It's a stunning development for an angle that started out so horribly.

Gained momentum: Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt needed this win, no doubt, but it shouldn't have come here.

The match felt like an afterthought. It shouldn't have ended cleanly, either. Bray Wyatt didn't gain much, but Matt Hardy lost a whole lot. Already, his "Woken" character is stale thanks to WWE beating the same attributes into our heads week after week.

I imagine they'll go 50/50 for a few months and kill everyone's interest in both of them.

Gained momentum: Elias

Yes, John Cena is going to get his revenge on Elias on Sunday after the drifter laid him out.

Yes, Elias is going to lose this feud.

But feuding with Cena, if done rightly, has the potential to be massive for the up-and-coming Elias. Hanging in there with "Big Match John" will do more for his credibility than anything else since he's come to the main roster.

Lost momentum: The Revival

The Revival dutifully served their functions as jobbers to some legends at RAW 25. It's unfortunate because The Revival is arguably the most talented tag team in the company. Their WrestleMania season now looks bare.

Yet, there was one silver lining.

Gained momentum: The Club

The winners over The Revival weren't DX, but Gallows and Anderson. Finn Balor made sure to get himself involved too, and all three got a rub from DX and Razor Ramon at the segment's conclusion.

After months in the wilderness, teaming together has worked wonders for all three of them.

Lost momentum: Braun Strowman

As if it wasn't obvious enough that Brock Lesnar is retaining his title this Sunday, WWE made sure to beat us over the head with it by putting him, Kane, and Braun Strowman into another formulaic brawl to close the show.

Kane was quickly taken out, but Braun stood tall, which means he won't be winning on Sunday. Unlike Asuka, Braun Strowman doesn't currently sit on a record undefeated streak, so he doesn't have that to save him from the WWE formula of having the winner on the go-home show lose at the PPV. It was droll. WWE wants us to forget that they just did this exact same angle a few months ago.

And why exactly were the superstars and legends all out there? The three competitors all brawled anyway. A totally pointless segment that closed the show on a sour note.

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