WWE RAW 26th August, 2013: Superstars of the Show

Monday Night Raw saw some really great moments. It had storyline developments and it maintains the frenzy around the dictatorship and heel tactics of Triple H. It was very high on intensity, even in the Divas division. Here are, who I thought, the shining stars of the show. In that particular order

AJ Lee

AJ Lee

I wasn’t expecting such an awesome promo even when AJ initially started to speak. Actually, it was kind of apt to put the usually short, carnival of colors and grunts and avoidable drama that is the diva matches. I’m glad the promo followed that stupid match and Michael Cole getting prematurely high about Jojo’s ring announcing skills. This was so much better than her ‘crazy chick’ shtick. It was powerful and entertaining. She was saying things that in REALITY was really felt about the Total Divas reality show, and most of its divas in particular.

With that promo, AJ refused to be overlooked and sidestepped by the brouhaha surrounding the Total Divas. It was so intense and makes you do nothing but take her seriously. The ‘Chuck Taylor shoes’ line was classic.

Paul Heyman

Paul Heyman with Curtis Axel

I don’t know if the crowd was chanting ‘boring’ or ‘walrus’, but Paul Heyman reigned supreme as far as emotional drama is concerned. He is a spectacle is every frame, in every shot. His face is so meme-genic. Every expression means something and even in his silence, his expressions do the talking. He punished his ‘prodigal son’ and as far as storyline development goes, just for tonight his red eyes did the needful.

On a side note, while moving into the car, Heyman sat in the front seat and Axel in the back seat. It not just sounds like that infamous Rebecca Black song, but it also kind of symbolizes Axel’s career till now.

Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan

I don’t think a description or an explanation, as to why he is in this list, is required.

Firstly it was a nice touch, spray painting Orton’s car, a gift from Triple H, with an array of ‘Yes’-ness. And Seth Rollins versus Bryan is smashing, splendid and incomparable.

Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins

What an awesome decision to have him and only him face Daniel Bryan in a match. The way he sold Bryan’ suicide dive and the top rope body slam drove the match to many notches higher.