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The WWE is extremely fond of telling us that Monday Night RAW is the longest running weekly episodic television show in history. Michael Cole mentions it every week.
Monday Night RAW has been on the air for almost 26 years now. In that time, Superstars and commentators have come and gone, but we have had wrestling on screens every Monday night. Long may that continue.
The WWE is also extremely fond of telling us that absolutely anything can happen at any time. They are right. Theoretically, anything can happen on Monday Night RAW at any given time.
Some of it is memorable. Remember Dolph Ziggler's Money in the Bank cash in? How about the Shield reforming? Or the Shield imploding the first time? Monday Night RAW is where Shawn Michaels announced that he was coming out of retirement after more than eight long years. Who can forget Becky Lynch invading RAW last year?
However, not all of it is entertaining. Monday Night RAW was the scene of the dreadful 'This Is Your Life' segment with Bayley and Alexa Bliss. It was also the scene of the extremely awkward 'Old Day' segment with Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and The New Day.
Anything can happen on Monday Night RAW. But just because it can happen, it doesn't mean it should happen.
This is a particularly important episode of Monday Night RAW; the last before the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
What stories will be advanced? What explanations will be offered? Which superstars will be featured?
Let's find out.
What Will The NXT Call-Ups Do?
WWE recently called up six superstars from its developmental brand; NXT. They are Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, Lars Sullivan, EC3, and the tag-team of Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight, collectively known as Heavy Machinery.
Five of these superstars were introduced to the WWE Universe on last week's episode of RAW. Lars Sullivan did not appear. To say that some of the debuts were underwhelming is an understatement.
Nikki Cross had a very good debut, teaming up with Bayley and Natalya to vanquish the Riott Squad. She got a good reaction from the crowd, and a chance to shine. The others, however? Lacey Evans was shown in a blink-and-you-miss-it background shot as Finn Balor walked to the ring. Otis Dozovic interrupted Alexa Bliss and Paul Heyman, proceeded to act very very weirdly, and was dragged away by an embarrassed Tucker Knight. EC3 was shown outside Vince McMahon's office as one of many superstars hoping for a Universal Championship match but didn't think it important to come out to the ring and make his claim.
How the WWE presents these superstars this Monday Night RAW could tell us a lot about how they are viewed.
Is someone else joining the Intercontinental Championship picture?
Dean Ambrose lost his WWE Intercontinental Championship to Bobby Lashley last week in a triple-threat match that also involved Seth Rollins. Dean Ambrose himself was pinned by Bobby Lashley. Whilst the decision to protect Seth Rollins was likely made because he is in line for a major push, it was still odd to see a heel pin a heel to win the Championship.
The WWE said that rematches are a thing of the past, but Seth Rollins got his rematch against Dean Ambrose, and Becky Lynch is set to get hers against Asuka at the Royal Rumble. They can certainly find a way around this edict if they so wish. At the very least, Dean Ambrose will want his Intercontinental Championship back, and will likely interact with Bobby Lashley on RAW.
The problem is that they are both heels, and heel versus heel programmes are not interesting. The audience needs someone to cheer. That would require one of these men to turn babyface.
Dean Ambrose's heel turn has been underwhelming, and Bobby Lashley seems to have finally found his groove as a heel. Ambrose is also extremely charismatic and had an excellent connection with the fans as a babyface. If someone is going to turn, it is Ambrose. However, the fans may not be ready to forgive Ambrose after the way he betrayed Seth Rollins.
Perhaps the WWE could introduce another superstar to the programme so the fans have someone to cheer for?
Elias would be as good a choice as any.
How will Finn Balor and Brock Lesnar interact?
Finn Balor is set to take on Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble in one of the most anticipated match-ups on the card. The build-up to this match has been rushed, to say the least.
Until last week, it was Braun Strowman who was set to face Brock Lesnar. Finn Balor had an absolutely star-making performance on Monday Night RAW last week, openly defying Vince McMahon, and going through John Cena, Baron Corbin, and Drew McIntyre, en-route to setting up his bout with Brock Lesnar. However, Finn Balor still hasn't interacted with either Brock Lesnar or his advocate Paul Heyman?
What will happen when these men step into the ring? Will we see the appearance of The Demon? Will Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson reform The Club alongside Balor?
So many questions. And no answers.
What are you looking out for on Monday Night RAW? Let us know in the comments!
