4 reasons to continue watching Monday Night Raw

Monday Night Raw for the last couple of months has really established itself as the dominant brand in WWE, after weeks and weeks of SmackDown Live "kicking" them in the critics' ratings with more interesting storylines and matchups. With Elimination Chamber round the corner before our destination of WrestleMania, there are many reasons why you need to continue to put in the time and watch Monday Night Raw weekly...

#4 Elias

WWE in the past has had great characters, from The Undertaker and Kane, through to Stone Cold and The Rock. Recently, however, WWE has shied away from the character and focused on ensuring the wrestling is of a certain standard, and matches are being put on to entertain the crowds.

Elias, since his call-up from NXT, is a throwback to the gimmick character that has really taken hold of the WWE Universe and he continues to entertain each and every week. Not only is he solid in the ring and a physical force to be reckoned with, he is wonderful on the mic and really creative with his guitar show.

From insulting the audience in every city to providing comic relief when necessary, Elias is able to run down his opponents and then prove himself in the ring all the while having the audience in attendance eating out of the palm of his hand.

#3 Women's revolution

The women's revolution has been stampeding on for a few years now and shows no sign of abating any time soon. With Banks, Bayley, Alexa Bliss and Asuka on the red brand, there are always matchups that can please any member of the WWE Universe with great wrestling. Throw Nia Jax into the mix along with the awesome team of Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose and you have a perfect melting pot of women's talent to watch on a weekly basis. Many of the above are now in the first-ever women Chamber match which will surely set the stage for fireworks.

Raw has gone one further than this though and announced the introduction of Ronda Rousey in 2 weeks to sign her contract at Elimination Chamber. Not only will this set up her match at WrestleMania, it will give each of us more reason than ever to see what the 'baddest women on the planet' will do weekly in her new capacity.

#2 Indy Matches

Two former Indy stars killing it on Monday Night Raw

When thinking of high spot indy matches in WWE, you usually think of NXT or 205 Live, when stars like Pete Dunne, Cien Almas, Johnny Gargano and Cedric Alexander compete at a frantic pace consistently. Monday Night Raw, however, has suddenly been putting on fast-paced spot matches between multiple superstars, with the latest being the fatal 5 way to an Elimination chamber place.

Seth Rollins, Apollo Crews and Finn Balor were able to pass the match off as something you would see on the Indy's, with Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy slowing down the match just enough to ensure it didn't go too far from what WWE usually shows. The audience were on their feet for multiple elements throughout the match, and these sorts of matches continue to keep the more casual viewer entertained.

#1 Braun Strowman

The Monster Among Men is a continuing colossus

The 'Monster Among Men' is a permanent fixture every week on Monday Night Raw and is continuing to grow and grow into his character. Past superstars such as Kurt Angle and The Rock reached the heights that they did due to their ability to make whatever the story or the segment entertaining and worth something, regardless of what it was.

Braun is able to take tremendous punishment and still look like a monster, carry out amazing feats of strength such as lifting ambulances but still make the audience laugh when picking up a double bass and attempting to sing and play. This is a testament to how hard he has worked, and how interesting the writers have made him and makes us want to watch what he does next every week. Insert him into the Elimination Chamber and you could have a recipe for destruction...