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This week WWE decided to change things on Raw, as they have finally started to notice that Raw has been underwhelming for the entire year. It took a lot of complaints from the WWE Universe, low attendance figures, and the lowest ratings of all time for the flagship show to realise that they are not producing quality television anymore.
The first step to rectifying a mistake is to admit it, and that is what WWE did this week, as they admitted their faults through a brilliant Seth Rollins promo directed at Baron Corbin. But to be honest, while this week's episode of Raw was not as bad as the previous episodes, it did not turn WWE's fortunes around.
The main issues their creative team have is still evident in the booking of Raw this week, although most would say that complaining is futile, as one should just watch the show and enjoy it, or not watch at all.
But just look at the improvement WWE tried to make this week, they tried to listen to the WWE Universe, so maybe they will in the future, and it would be good if they improved on the following things and not make these mistakes in the future, making the product better.
#1 AOP has become irrelevant
The Authors of Pain have not had the best time on the main roster, and that should not come as a surprise to any of you, as WWE's track record with NXT talent has been worse than Curt Hawkins' losing streak.
Although Akam and Rezar have picked up the Raw tag team titles and looked to regain their credibility as the baddest team in the WWE, the creative team threw that all away this week for a cheap pop, as AOP lost their tag team titles to the less than impressive duo of Bobby Roode and Chad Gable.
Gable and Roode are both fantastic wrestlers, but winning the titles out of nowhere while having little to no credibility is a big mistake. Name one duo this year who held the Raw tag titles and were built up for many months to achieve that moment?
The B Team, The Deleter of Worlds, The Shield, and even the Braun Strowman & Nicholas duo, the titles have been treated like trash by WWE this year, as those listed teams all had terrible reigns.
While many thought AOP would elevate the titles, WWE cut their momentum short as well, and now it seems tag team wrestling is done on Raw unless WWE makes a change and starts giving the titles some consistency.
#2 Nia Jax vs Ronda Rousey programme
The women's title feud between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax has been less than stellar, and the main reason is the fact that WWE has done this programme before, and the fans have seen it. From Nia Jax trying to act like a competent heel to Ronda Rousey trying to 'act' all angry, it hasn't worked smoothly before, but still we gave this second attempt a try.
So far it hasn't been anything one would want to remember, and while people will say that this is just a filler feud for Rousey until WrestleMania season kicks in, it sort of sucks out the excitement which built during Ronda's verbal battles with Becky Lynch, and her excellent match against Charlotte Flair.
Having Ronda going from that to Nia Jax's less than stellar promos and character work is a mistake on WWE's part, as Rousey should keep her hot streak going. And while there are women like Sasha Banks, Ember Moon, and Bayley on the Raw roster, it's sort of surprising that the creative team would go with Jax again.
#3 Giving away the TLC match before the event
The main event of Raw this week was absolutely awesome, as Raw's main events this year have been repeats of overused matches. And while Corbin and Rollins have faced off against each other before, adding tables, ladders and chairs to the equation made for a much more exciting affair, but giving away this specific match type just days before the actual pay-per-view was a mistake.
The entire marketing for TLC is that people get to see those weapons used in one match for one time a year only. Yes, WWE is desperate to pick up their ratings and get people back into the product, but giving away the reason why people watch the TLC pay-per-view on a normal episode of Raw will diminish the special feeling the TLC match at the pay-per-view will have.
#4 Ziggler falls down the card once again
Dolph Ziggler is one of the most underrated superstars in WWE's roster ever since he stepped foot in the company, and while it is too late in his career to be anything more than a stepping stone for WWE's future main eventers, Ziggler is a priceless asset to WWE.
When he lost to McIntyre this week on Raw, it felt like WWE rushed his once-promising narrative with Drew McIntyre which could have concluded with more emotion on a bigger stage.
WWE rushing this narrative could only mean Ziggler has served his purpose in McIntyre's run, but instead of McIntyre going to face Finn Balor at TLC in an ice cold feud, Ziggler should have been McIntyre's big pay-per-view opponent, as their story should have concluded in a bigger way on a bigger stage.
That would have allowed McIntyre even more credibility, and enabled Ziggler save some credibility for himself.
#5 The Ambrose and Rollins' feud has flamed out
How do you take possibly an era-defining feud and turn it into a sad pathetic mess? Well just watch Monday Night Raw for the last few weeks, as the freaking white hot feud between Rollins and Ambrose has gotten cooler and cooler as every week goes by.
From making Ambrose a germophobe that loves to cosplay as Bane, to Rollins caring about everything else besides his problems with his former brother, WWE has ruined this programme, and while it could still be saved at the TLC pay-per-view, it's not like this build has made people jump up and down to want to see these two 'enemies' rip each other apart.
This week on Raw, instead of having these two men sell their programme to the audience one more time before TLC 2018, WWE screwed it up again by having Ambrose just stare at Rollins form a distance. Some fans will defend this programme, but from a personal point of view, it's just disappointing.
