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It's very easy to criticise WWE and maybe for good reasons. Our favourite wrestlers are often either put in confusing or illogical storylines or subject to 50/50 booking until they no longer have any momentum.
However, WWE is a multi-billion dollar company almost entirely dedicated to putting on wrestling shows. They do have the capacity to get things right and often do. These good pieces of booking can often be lost in a wave of negativity.
In this article, I will look at some of the things WWE got right this week. Hopefully, I can bring a bit of positivity back to wrestling fandom and show that even when things seem bleak, there is always some good to be found.
Here are 5 things WWE got right this week (Jun 17th and 18th).
#1 Gave some underused wrestlers TV time
WWE have a lot of wrestlers under contract which means that many talented performers can often be lost in the shuffle. The introduction of the 24/7 championship has given some of the underused wrestlers a chance perform on TV, admittedly in a very minor, one-dimensional role.
However this week WWE went one step further in allowing lesser used wrestlers a chance to shine. The use of EC3, Eric Young, and others as a part of Baron Corbin's referee storyline gave some of these wrestlers a chance to showcase their talents.
This week also saw the return of three tag teams which were missing for a number of weeks. Both the Kabuki Warriors and the Viking Raiders hadn't been seen for over a month. This is even more strange when you consider both teams looked to be in line for a shot at their respective division's tag titles before their disappearance. It's good to see both teams back and hopefully they can regain the momentum they lost in their absence.
Even more welcome was the return of the Good Brothers to Monday Night Raw. Gallows and Anderson have only been featured on TV a handful of times in the past year, and haven't won a main roster match since May. This week they not only returned to TV but were put straight into a storyline with AJ Styles, possibly teasing a return of The Club.
It has been widely reported that The Good Brothers have refused to sign a new contract and will be departing the company in September. It is good to see that WWE might have plans to make use of them while they're still around.
#2 Put some focus on the Women's Tag Team Championships
Since winning the Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 12 weeks ago, the IIconics hadn't defended them once. That changed this week on Raw when they successfully retained against Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross.
This was the champs first win since WrestleMania against any opponents.
Admittedly their match this week was a backdrop for Alexa's feud with Bayley but having the titles actually defended is still a step forward from where we were.
Even more encouraging was the return of the Kabuki Warriors on SmackDown, with Asuka and Sane jumping right back into the title storyline they were seemingly building a month ago. A match was set up in Tokyo in which a victory can earn the pair a title bout. This seems likely in front of the Japanese fans, especially with Asuka and Sane undefeated since forming a team.
Hopefully, this can lead to a competitive title program which will help rebuild the credibility of the championships.
#3 Gave Ricochet a US Title Match
Last week I talked about how intriguing the current US title picture was, with five fresh challengers for Samoa Joe lined up. In that piece, I stated that while there were many good options among the five, Ricochet vs. Joe was the match-up that got me the most excited.
I got my wish this week when Ricochet won a Fatal-5-Way Elimination Match for the right to challenge Joe this Sunday at Stomping Grounds. He then fought off a sneak attack from the champ to stand tall at the end of the segment.
Ricochet was positioned as a real threat to Joe's title reign, and this has quickly become one of the more anticipated matches at the PPV.
Both men are among the better in-ring performers in the company and, if they're given time, are more than capable of putting together a world-class match. This fresh feud could be just what is needed to elevate the US title to new heights.
#4 Made us care about Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss
There are plenty of reasons not to care about Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss. First among them is its predictability. Being from Raw, Alexa has very little chance of winning the SmackDown Womens Championship.
This feud already happened two years ago and is widely regarded as the moment Bayley lost all momentum on the main roster. With such a weak track record it's not a program that inspired much confidence.
The story of this match has been built around Alexa convincing Nikki Cross that Bayley was a bad person. This wouldn't be such a bad idea except we've already seen Bliss similarly manipulate both Nia Jax and Mickie James in the past. However, this story seemed to pay off on SmackDown this week when Alexa cut a shoot style promo on Bayley, claiming that she shunned Bliss when she first joined NXT.
The beauty in this angle is that it is possible there is a kernel of truth in what Alexa says. Alexa and Sasha Banks famously don't like each other outside the ring and as Banks real-life friend it is plausible that Bayley doesn't like Bliss either. This line-blurring story gives us a reason to believe Alexa and explains why Cross has aligned with someone with a history of turning on her friends.
#5 Executed an effective show long storyline
Seth Rollins' booking on Raw was an effective way to enact a night long storyline. These types of stories are crucial to keeping viewers engaged, particularly on a 3 hour Raw.
Rollins' crusade to take down referees as fast as Baron Corbin could choose them was a welcome change of pace from regular WWE booking.
So often it is the heel who is tormenting the babyface, with the face blindly accepting the situation they are in and making the best of it. On Raw, Rollins refused to accept the unfair situation he had been put in. Rather than just shrugging his shoulders and moving on, he did something about it.
These are much more interesting stories to watch, especially when the alternative is 3-on-1 heel beatdowns every week. Hopefully we can see more intelligent babyfaces in future shows.
