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This week, WWE presented its final Monday Night RAW of 2020 and the first Friday Night SmackDown of 2021. With the arrival of the new year, we are heading closer to the beginning of the Road to WrestleMania 37. With WWE Royal Rumble 2021 less than a month away, a lot happened on both the Red as well as the Blue brand this week. RAW saw a slight rise in ratings while SmackDown couldn't continue its amazing ratings from last week and fell below.
In this article, let's take a look at three mistakes WWE made this week and three things they got right. Be sure to comment down and let us know your thoughts and opinions on the current product.
#3 Mistake WWE made: Advertising the return of Seth Rollins for SmackDown and then canceling it
There was a massive hype after WWE announced that Seth Rollins will be returning on the first episode of SmackDown this week. Fans started speculating whether he'll continue his feud against the Mysterio family upon his return or go after someone else.
However, ahead of the show this week, WWE abruptly deleted all the videos and tweets advertising his return. Seth Rollins didn't return on SmackDown and there was no mention of him. While fans were surely let down, we just hope that everything is fine Rollins.
#3 WWE got right: The return of Sonya Deville
While Seth Rollins' return never materialized, there was another massive return this week which no one saw coming. Yes, Sonya Deville is back on SmackDown. While it was just a small segment, it surely was great to see Sonya Deville back as she could become a top heel on the Blue brand in the coming weeks and months.
Of course, there were questions on how Deville could return so quickly, that too on the same brand, after losing a 'Loser leaves WWE' match at WWE SummerSlam 2020 against Mandy Rose. But, considering all the troubles Deville has gone through in her personal life in the last few months, fans could put this technicality aside and enjoy her new run. Who do you think will she go after?
#2 Mistake WWE made: The confusing Money in the Bank angle
WWE's booking of the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2020 has been baffling, to say the least. First, Otis won, then he did nothing with it, then The Miz won it from him only to have a failed cash-in at WWE TLC 2020. If that wasn't enough, this week on Monday Night RAW, Adam Pearce gave the MITB briefcase back to The Miz, stating that technically John Morrison was the one who called the cash-in at TLC.
No doubt, this is something new which we have never seen before, but it almost seems as if WWE is not sure what to do with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Fans can only hope that The Miz getting back his MITB briefcase would lead to some interesting (and logical) angles on RAW going forward. Are we in for a John Morrison vs. The Miz feud?
#2 WWE got right: WWE Championship picture
This week on Monday Night RAW, Keith Lee defeated Sheamus to earn the right to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship next week on RAW, which will be a special 'Legends Night' episode of the Red brand. Lee and Sheamus had a great match and the tension between them as well as McIntyre seems to be hinting towards something big happening next week.
Can Keith Lee shock the world and defeat Drew McIntyre to become the new WWE Champion? Or will we see a massive heel turn, setting up a feud for McIntyre for Royal Rumble 2021?
#1 Mistake WWE made: The repetitive story of Ricochet and RETRIBUTION
For the last few weeks, WWE RAW has seen RETRIBUTION trying to force Ricochet to join them and him denying to do so. There seems to be no end to this repetitive angle on RAW. This week, Ricochet faced Mustafa Ali and lost to him. After the match, RETRIBUTION again tried to get him to join them but Ricochet managed to save himself from another attack.
It is confusing as to what WWE is trying to do with RETRIBUTION and why are they so hell-bent on Ricochet joining them? Don't they have a lot of, well, retribution in their mind against the WWE management to care about all this?
#1 WWE got right: The cliffhanger ending of Monday Night RAW
Monday Night RAW this week ended with an absolutely amazing segment. One can't sing enough praises of how amazing Alexa Bliss is when it comes to acting and she proved the same once again during her segment with Randy Orton on RAW. Looking visibly upset and angry, Bliss demanded Orton to do the same to her what he did to The Fiend at WWE TLC 2020, that is, burn her alive in the middle of the ring.
Randy Orton, though initially surprised and hesitant, went on to claim that he will do it. Following this, lights went off and after a few moments, Orton appeared in front of the camera with a lighted matchstick in his hand as RAW went off-air.
The cliffhanger ending to RAW was amazing and got everyone excited to witness the fallout of that segment next week. Did Randy Orton really burn Alexa Bliss? Or is there a sinister twist?
