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WWE delivered some major segments and matches at the turn of the year in order to start 2021 on the right note. WWE RAW opened up with the WWE Champion taking center stage just before Sheamus and Keith Lee locked horns to determine his next challenger.
But WWE questionably left AJ Styles out of the mix, as he faced Elias instead. Ricochet also lost a crucial match on RAW, but he refused to join RETRIBUTION.
On WWE NXT, Mercedes Martinez made an impact by defeating an enhancement talent. But this win may have been gratuitous, as she already stood out following her attack on Io Shirai.
At the end of the week, Sonya Deville returned on WWE SmackDown. Plus, Kevin Owens received a brutal beatdown from the Universal Champion. It's fair to wonder whether "The Prizefighter" will keep coming back for more.
With that being said, here's a look at the five biggest questions from this week’s slate of WWE programming.
#5 Why has WWE given the Money in the Bank briefcase back to The Miz?
The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at WWE Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC). He tried to take advantage during the WWE Championship Match between Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles.
While The Miz was busy trying to clear the ring, John Morrison handed in the briefcase to ensure that "The A-Lister" became a part of the match. Since then, The Miz has worked hard to explain to the higher-ups that Morrison cashed in the briefcase.
This week on WWE RAW, Adam Pearce returned the Money in the Bank briefcase to the former WWE Champion. Taking this direction was a bold move for WWE, and fans are questioning the company’s decision.
The Money in the Bank contract has been turned into a joke. After Otis lost the contract, The Miz has been using it to remain in some top storylines. But his credibility has been destroyed by his string of recent losses.
In additions to the questions surrounding The Miz, many fans are wondering why Styles has seemingly moved on. Shouldn't he demand a rematch against McIntyre? The Miz managed to become a part of their match illegally, so Styles has a valid complaint. With many loopholes in this storyline, why did WWE make the somewhat strange move of handing the contract back to The Miz?
#4 Why is Jeff Hardy constantly losing to Bobby Lashley on WWE RAW?
For the third time in December, Jeff Hardy was forced to tap out to Bobby Lashley on WWE RAW. While Lashley has come across as a monstrous heel, Hardy has looked weak for several consecutive shows.
Hardy has found an unlikely partner in Riddle, and it seems like WWE is hoping for some positive reactions for "The Original Bro." With this feud, WWE might be working toward a big rivalry between Riddle and Lashley, but why is Hardy taking the fall every week?
WWE could have followed a different path to ensure that Riddle gets his chance against the WWE United States Champion. Instead, Hardy has tapped out to Lashley's Hurt Lock a few times. The WWE Universe loves Hardy, and his legendary career makes it surprising that the company is handing "The Charismatic Enigma" losses week after week.
Hardy's usage in this role has harmed his status on the red brand, and WWE will need to address the veteran’s cold momentum sooner rather than later.
#3 How long can WWE NXT restrain Bronson Reed from breaking out?
Bronson Reed has been a top performer in WWE NXT for some time now. Reed has been impressive since the beginning of 2020, and he had a very successful run between June and October.
After a short break, Reed returned to NXT two weeks ago, and he defeated his first opponent with ease. This past week, he faced a much tougher competitor in the form of Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, and Reed defeated him, too.
Reed has been dominant every time he's on the show, and it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a champion in NXT. But it seems like NXT is holding Reed back so Karrion Kross and other stars get the chance to shine instead.
NXT has plenty of talented stars, so Reed could be left in the cold for a few months. Still, if Reed continues to impress, he might force WWE to use him differently. How long can NXT wait to give "The Colossal One" a chance to break out and get to the top? With the proper booking, Reed could become the next Keith Lee.
#2 Is Kyle O’Reilly finally having his moment in WWE NXT?
Kyle O’Reilly had been seen as a tag team performer for most of his WWE NXT career. As a member of The Undisputed ERA, he fought alongside Adam Cole and Bobby Fish in tag team matches for most of his time in the company.
While O’Reilly is a former Ring of Honor (ROH) World Champion, he has never won a singles title in WWE. But some of his stablemates, like Roderick Strong and Cole, have already won singles titles in NXT.
O’Reilly's NXT career reached new heights in 2020. He unsuccessflly challenged Finn Balor for the NXT Championship in an incredible match at NXT TakeOver 31. He'll get another chance at the gold at NXT New Year's Evil.
This developing situation, along with Velveteen Dream's comments last week on NXT, make it fair to question if O’Reilly is finally taking control of The Undisputed ERA.
With Cole and Strong teaming up now, it seems like O’Reilly is finally having his moment in NXT. But what’s next for the former NXT Tag Team Champion? Will he continue to get a push as a singles competitor, even if he loses the rematch against Balor?
#1 Where would Roman Reigns be without Kevin Owens on WWE SmackDown?
Drew McIntyre had a phenomenal 2020 on WWE RAW. While he earned the Superstar of the Year award from both WWE and SK Wrestling, a lot of credit for his success is given to Randy Orton. McIntyre had a great rivalry with Orton, who helped "The Scottish Psychopath" become the face of the red brand.
Likewise, Roman Reigns had a great second half of 2020. But a lot of the praise he’s getting from the WWE Universe is associated with Jey Uso and Kevin Owens.
"The Prizefighter" has put his body on the line week after week to give Reigns one of the best feuds of his career. This past week on WWE SmackDown, Owens was thrown off a ledge by the Universal Champion, and he crashed through a table. Here, Reigns looked like an unstoppable villain.
While "KO" might not win the Universal Championship from Reigns anytime soon, one wonders where "The Tribal Chief" would be without this rivalry. While Uso helped develop Reigns’ new character, "The KO Show" has upped the overall grade of both Reigns' heel run and WWE SmackDown itself.
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