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WWE debuted RAW Underground this week on Monday Night RAW and while it was met with a mixed reception, it does have everyone legitimately wondering what happens next. If nothing else, that is the kind of emotion WWE needed to evoke out of their fan base at this point and is hopefully the start of something big.
Now, who knows whether that will all ultimately come to fruition or not, but there were a lot of positive signs throughout the segment that aired on RAW. In fact, between the shoot-style MMA fighting and the plethora of Superstars that showed up, it was obvious that WWE was open to doing something different.
With that being said and the first edition of RAW Underground in the books, here are the five biggest questions after the premiere of the segments. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to tell us whether you think it will be successful or not.
#5. Who will participate in RAW Underground?
WWE didn't really set a lot of parameters for what RAW Underground will exactly consist of and they didn't really go into too much detail about who will take part in it as well. In fact, the segments started off with a bunch of unknown talent, continued later to mix in midcarders like Dolph Ziggler and ended with a beat down by Bobby Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin.
With that being said and WWE obviously going for that anything can happen feel during these RAW Underground segments, it looks like the company is open to anyone coming in. Either that or they wanted to make it seem that way so that fans will have interest in the segment going forward.
What WWE goes from here is anyone's guess, but it looks like WWE is open to bringing anyone into these segments. Hopefully that kind of thinking continues and WWE really puts out something special with these segments as the weeks go on.
#4. What is the ultimate goal of RAW Underground?
It's no secret that WWE does everything for a reason and while RAW Underground might just appear as a way to reach an edgier audience, the company has to have some other goal in mind. What that could be remains to be seen and will depend on what they do with it, but what fans have seen so far is a little confusing.
In fact, between myriad technical errors on RAW, an unidentified groups causing havoc backstage and The Hurt Business showing up to end RAW Underground, one has to wonder where the company can go with this? Furthermore, what are fans even supposed to take from all this?
In the end, it's not that it was bad. it was a Fight Club-style Monday Night RAW segment that brought a different feel to the overall product. It was smutty, edgy and even a little chaotic at times, but those things could just be window dressing for what the company is ultimately setting up.
#3. Will WWE expand on the idea of RAW Underground?
WWE debuted the idea of RAW Underground this week and while it was interesting, one has to wonder if it will be expanded upon. Furthermore, one has to wonder if it is just a way to bring in MMA shoot-style fighting or if the company is willing to go further with the idea.
For example, what if Shane McMahon had RAW Underground invade the Monday Night RAW roster? Not only would it be a new type of inner-brand war to watch play out, it would be a great chance to establish a lot of undercard talent that could benefit from the television time.
If nothing else, WWE has the right idea with RAW Underground, but it's all going to be about how they improve on it. It can't just be MMA-style fighting and dancing girls. It very much feels like the company needs to go further with this and push the envelope even more.
#2. Is RAW Underground WWE's attempt at an edgier product?
There are many questions as to why WWE would choose to go with a segment like RAW Underground, but one of the biggest has to be whether it is the company's attempt at an edgier product. If it is and this is what WWE thinks fans want, one also has to wonder why they would think that.
Sure, fans do want an edgier product that appeals to a more adult audience and WWE seems to have the timing right, but why MMA-style fighting? Why was that what they thought would make the product edgier and help bring in more people that wouldn't want to watch otherwise?
In the end, RAW Underground was a very surprising move by the company and it definitely comes with its pros and cons. With that being said however, maybe WWE is trying to once again blur the lines between reality and fiction and doing shoot fights backstage is their attempt to achieve that goal.
#1. Why put Shane McMahon in charge of RAW Underground?
One of the biggest questions about RAW Underground is the fact that Shane McMahon was brought back to host the third-hour event. While that might have been fine when he was a babyface, it is a little confusing after seeing him be a heel for so long.
It's almost like WWE wants fans to forget everything McMahon did over the last couple of years and just see him as the host of this new RAW Underground operation. Maybe it works or maybe it doesn't, but McMahon is seemingly a weird choice for the role after an extended absence and a role as a top-tier heel.
In the end, it might have something to do with previous reports that Shane McMahon wanted Vince McMahon to buy UFC from Dana White when it was first taking off, but why go back to that so many years later? Furthermore, why go the MMA shoot-style route instead of improving the in-ring storytelling on RAW?
