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It's great to be back in the saddle again, to review WWE RAW immediately after it airs. That said, this was a weak episode to come back to, often bordering on the ridiculous. This episode was, for lack of a better word, 'dumb'.
One has to wonder if WWE RAW is a show for adults or if indeed, it is for the younger lot. From Matt Riddle forgetting his lines during a segment with Asuka to grown men playing charades in a globally televised broadcast, this is not a show that will go down in history as a landmark episode.
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Sure, we're in a more politically correct era, and most of the things we saw in the 90s will land WWE in trouble with the fanbase. That said, WWE RAW has gone from must-watch, edgy television to Braun Strowman's 5th-grade report.
This was one of those weeks where the author wished that Rohit Nath was still handling 'Best and worst'. Here's a confession - it was difficult to find 'bests' from this trainwreck of a show.
#1 Best: Drew McIntyre carries WWE RAW (as always)
Drew McIntyre had not one, but two great matches in the main event spot. He had them with Ricochet and Mustafa Ali, two men who'd been sitting on the sidelines, awaiting their time.
Honestly, it was awkward not to see anyone take up Bobby Lashley's bounty almost three hours into the show. One assumes that a wrestler joins the company to become WWE Champion. Why did Drew McIntyre have to storm the locker room and ask the participants to step up?
And even as he stormed the WWE RAW locker room, he was met with lethargy and reluctance.
From the looks of it, Mustafa Ali will be acting independently of RETRIBUTION and that is a definite positive. This probably means that each member will act independently, meaning fresh starts for everyone.
#1 Worst: Watching 3 hours of WWE RAW to see...King Corbin?
During WWE RAW, the writer's chat was in full swing, brimming with possibilities galore. Some expected the show to end with Brock Lesnar's return, while others believed that WWE RAW would end with the ultimate twist.
Samoa Joe was nowhere to be seen during WWE RAW, with MVP replacing him behind the commentary desk. This led to speculation that he had been cleared for action, and he'd be the hitman who took Drew McIntyre down for good.
After three hours of WWE RAW, we were rewarded with an attack from King Corbin. This is not to imply that King Corbin isn't competent or great at his job. But even he would admit that his arrival would not go down in the list of all-time great surprises.
Why did we need a new Hurt Business when the old one was just fine? Why fix something that did not need to be fixed at all?
Stay tuned for a separate article on the dissolution of The Hurt Business.
#2 Best: Alexa Bliss delivers a chilly WWE RAW promo
As we've already established, not every storyline on WWE RAW is for everyone. What makes a storyline great, special, or noteworthy, is the commitment of the performers when it comes to telling the story. To make us buy into the fantasy. Alexa Bliss has embraced her Harley Quinn, and the promo she delivered on this week's show was extraordinary.
A contingent of the WWE RAW fanbase believes that the supernatural has no place in wrestling. This reviewer vehemently disagrees, especially when it comes to this week's episode. Alexa Bliss's promo with the 'Fiend in the Box' broke the monotony of WWE RAW in its own twisted and sinister way.
The match at WrestleMania between The Fiend and Randy Orton may be far too outrageous for the audience to buy into. But variety is the spice of life.
Alexa Bliss and The Fiend have created something special with Randy Orton, and even if it bombs, at least they tried.
A breath of fresh air during the WWE RAW broadcast.
#2 Worst: Grown men on WWE RAW behave like kids
Much like horror, there is a place for comedy on WWE RAW. Unfortunately, having three of the world's best wrestlers and a promising giant of a man participating in a ridiculous, outrageous, Nickolodeon-ish segment was far from ideal!
It's hard to believe that anyone over the age of nine would have found this segment engaging or engrossing.
Even the most ardent fans will have a tough time defending the charades segment. Sadly, this wasn't even the most childish thing about WWE RAW, if you consider Braun Strowman's report card. This is a show that needs a reboot and one has to hope that it's coming soon after WrestleMania.
From train noises to portraying him as a dumb brute, WWE RAW has done little to establish Braun Strowman as someone fans can realistically connect with. Does the idea of a steel cage match against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania excite you? Even the confrontation between Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre did little to whet our appetites for an eventual clash.
#3 Best/Worst: A new track is premiered on WWE RAW
Nobody can fault WWE RAW Superstars, The Miz, and John Morrison for the childish segments they are asked to be a part of. Much like Alexa Bliss, they are wholeheartedly committed to it, and the outcome is often, while not extraordinary, fun.
Bad Bunny vs. The Miz may not be a match on every wrestling fan's fantasy list, but they are two men committed to making it work.
The Miz realizes the mainstream eyeballs that Bad Bunny can bring to the product, coming from the world of reality television himself. He's been extra annoying (in a good way) on WWE RAW lately.
Fear not, because Sportskeeda is committed to bringing you the best WWE RAW coverage, three hours after the show has finished airing. Catch former WCW Champion Vince Russo and Dr. Chris Featherstone's hilarious assessment of WWE RAW by clicking on the link above. Hopefully, it helps you go to bed with a chuckle, as opposed to the feeling of tearing your hair out.
