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This week's edition of WWE Monday Night RAW (27th May 2019) saw a lot of contrasting moments. Right from Brock Lesnar trolling the entire WWE Universe by using the MITB Briefcase as a boombox to Sami Zayn blatantly mentioning AEW on live television, last night's episode had it all.
Here's the deal: I feel that Monday Night RAW has been very 'entertaining' since the announcement of the 24/7 title. It does not mean that the show has resolved its past mistakes. As a matter of fact, the storylines and segments still don't make any canonical sense.
We have reached a point where things aren't as seriously portrayed as they were a few months ago, and I personally ditched my 'critic' glasses away to enjoy a highly entertaining show without any structured plot-points.
Let us take a look at some interesting observations from this week's episode of Monday Night RAW.
#3: Why Sami Zayn mentioned AEW on live television
Other than Sami Zayn's wit and a little child saying "duh" to Zayn's obvious remarks, this particular segment only featured one other moment worth mentioning.
We all knew that WWE was going to find a way to take jabs at AEW after Double or Nothing concluded just recently. Sami Zayn blatantly mentioned "AEW" on live television after being unsatisfied with fan questions in the first place.
The AEW mention is something that WWE can pull off at any given time, but there is a certain kayfabe 'taboo' regarding this scenario from the perspective of wrestling fans.
WWE has acknowledged AEW's presence in the industry. Even Triple H had pulled an AEW joke during D-Generation X's Hall of Fame speech this year. Honestly, WWE's AEW mentions will only be a big deal if fans allow it to be.
From a critic's perspective, I felt that The Electric Chair's only significance was for Seth Rollins to ultimately throw it out of the ring and set up an impromptu main event singles match between the two.
#2: How WWE tried to hold your attention throughout a 3-hour timespan this week
From Brock Party to The Usos' Party, it felt as if there was a comedic edge to this week's RAW.
As I said in the previous slide, things don't seem to be as seriously portrayed as they were a few months ago. Oddly enough, R-Truth's 24/7 Title segments and Bray Wyatt's Firefly Fun House shorts seem to be the best thing about the show every week.
So in a way, the 24/7 title segments ensure spontaneity, which encourages the viewer to stick around for all the three hours.
Bray Wyatt's new gimmick is worth sticking around for, and its success was quite apparent when the new Firefly Fun House vignette was teased just before several uncharacteristic parts of the show.
Also, WWE's technique of intercutting between several segments, especially those that involved the 24/7 Title, Usos Block Party and Brock Lesnar added a varying depth in tone throughout the show's entirety, which always makes up for an entertaining watch.
#1: Brock Lesnar succeeded with his 'Brock Party' schtick during the show
"You used to be the most feared man in combat sports history, but look at you now, a coward" - Seth Rollins
Whether you like him or hate him, Brock Lesnar can easily be the most entertaining part of the show when he wants to.
This was the most entertaining Lesnar has been on-screen since last year's RAW episode where The Beast Incarnate addressed his frustrations regarding Paul Heyman and WWE using a single line: "Why Would I Watch The Show?"
Brock Lesnar as this year's MITB Briefcase winner might be one of the biggest troll moves that happened on WWE Television, but The Beast Incarnate's nonchalant attitude towards this entire scenario is primarily meant to trigger WWE fans in the first place.
Also, the fact that Lesnar had no idea about several MITB Contract specifications (as evident by last night's RAW) makes no canonical sense given the fact that the man standing in front of him during that exact moment (Seth Rollins) had cashed in the briefcase at WrestleMania 31 during The Beast Incarnate's match against Roman Reigns.
So you can say that everything was booked from an 'entertainment' standpoint this week, which is the main reason why I chose to watch the show by shoving my critic glasses aside. What about you?
