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Following a very controversial Pay-Per-View that was Hell in a Cell, last night's episode of RAW did very little to convince fans that the show is worth sticking around for.
WWE was on a winning spree during the past few weeks, but it looks like post-HIAC programming seems to have taken a dip in quality when it comes to the red brand.
Of course, the episode opened to a scandalous moment featuring Bobbly Lashley and Lana, and to be fair, the ending between Tyson Fury and Braun Strowman drew a lot of attention too.
But for the most part, it looked like the writers tried to play it safe until the draft comes around on SmackDown this Friday.
Let us take a look at some interesting observations from this week's episode of Monday Night RAW (October 7, 2019):
#3 Why the episode's scandalous start was necessary to establish Rusev as a monstrous babyface
Way before Rusev's character dipped into a comedic tone, everyone knew him as a monster heel who posed a legitimate threat to WWE's top babyfaces.
Of course, 'Rusev Day' was a popular comedic act amongst the fans, but the creative team never booked him seriously in that regard.
Now, it seems like Rusev is back to being a monster, except this time around, he is the babyface, thanks to Lana's 'cheating' subplot along with Bobby Lashley.
Lashley being the heel here gives fans a chance to root for Rusev's redemption arc too.
Nevertheless, Lana and Lashley's cheesy subplot keeps viewers hooked, thanks to its greasy entertainment value, which stands as a reminder for Non-PG storylines of the past.
Maybe this is the right way to get Rusev back to the top, after all, how else can you enjoy a show which primarily consists of filler moments?
#2 Why the episode did not feature "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt or Seth Rollins to a larger extent
It is no secret that the no-contest finish to Seth Rollins vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt at this year's Hell in a Cell led to excessive fan outrage online.
Although I do think some parts of the match were pretty unique, there is no arguing that Seth Rollins would have received heavy jeers had he shown up on RAW last night.
So it does make sense to keep this storyline at bay until the controversy clears. But then again, it doesn't look like "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt has lost his charisma at all.
After the show wrapped up, The Fiend interrupted a dark match between The Miz and Cesaro and attacked the latter in trademark fashion. The fans lit up after a largely uneventful episode of RAW, which shows how impactful The Fiend still is.
Even if WWE made a safe choice by sitting this one out, it is a well-known belief that you can't just run away from your problems in showbiz, at some point or the other, the creative team will have to resolve their mistakes made at Hell in a Cell 2019.
#1 Why 'Tyson Fury vs. Braun Strowman' could be RAW's answer to the 'Cain Velasquez-Brock Lesnar' situation on SmackDown
We truly witnessed how uneventful a show can be without featuring its top acts.
But make no mistake, Tyson Fury vs. Braun Strowman can be Monday Night RAW's ultimate commercial feud.
The debut episode of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX showed us that the blue brand will be aiming for the 'bigger is better' approach towards Professional Wrestling.
While Brock Lesnar will be staying on SmackDown, for the time being, Tyson Fury has commercial appeal as well, and a lot of WWE fans would like to know about the boxing champion on Monday Night RAW in the next few weeks.
Strowman and Fury's chaotic brawl on RAW showed us exactly how explosive this feud can get, and this particular storyline hasn't even reached its full potential yet.
So in any other alternative scenario, WWE could work out some kinks and further explore this feud between Tyson Fury and Braun Strowman while deliberately shifting focus away from the Universal Championship picture for the time being.
Thanks for reading this article, please share it to spread the word. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below, and stay tuned for more!
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