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The November 19th, 2018 episode of Monday Night RAW was incredibly strange, so to speak. To be honest, the show started off quite well, as the crowd in attendance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, was red hot with its excitement and chants during Braun Strowman's promo segment opposite the red brand's Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and Acting RAW General Manager Baron Corbin.
The aforementioned segment ended with Strowman, McMahon and Corbin reaching an agreement on several topics -- confirming a TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) match between Strowman and Corbin at the TLC PPV; with the former being promised a Universal Title shot against Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble, if The Monster can defeat Corbin at TLC.
Besides, McMahon added that if Corbin wins, he'll become the full-time General Manager of RAW -- however, if The Lone Wolf loses to Strowman, then he'd lose his position of Acting RAW GM as well!
A 6-Man Elimination Tag Team Match took place after the aforementioned segment, as Strowman, Elias & Finn Balor went up against the team of Corbin, Bobby Lashley & Drew McIntyre. Balor and Elias were eliminated, and Strowman was left alone in the ring to fend for himself against three of RAW's most dangerous heels.
What followed, was one of the most brutal beat-downs in recent WWE history -- (*Warning: The video below has been partially censored and presented in the black and white format due to Braun's elbow bleeding profusely) -- as Corbin, Lashley and McIntyre savagely destroyed Strowman -- targeting The Monster's right elbow in particular.
Today, we closely examine why the WWE chose to book such a puzzling segment, especially when we're just a few weeks away from the TLC PPV -- risking losing one of its top Superstars, Braun Strowman...There is more than what meets the eye, in this surgical attack by Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley on Braun Strowman...
#5 To add some much-needed shock value to a relatively ho-hum episode of Monday Night RAW
Tackling one of the more noticeable reasons behind their attack on Braun Strowman: I'd like to emphasize that the WWE booked the brutal attack on The Monster Among Men to add shock value on a relatively ho-hum episode of Monday Night RAW.
Let's face it, there was little-to-no buzz in the WWE Universe for this week's episode of RAW, and by giving fans a segment with a healthy dose of shock value, WWE has once again reminded the fans that you'd probably miss out on a few interesting segments and angles on the show if you don't tune in on a weekly basis.
In simple words, the WWE added a much-needed zing to its show, by putting forth a shocking segment (which involved blood!), on RAW -- which, we all know, is a rarity in today's PG wrestling product (well, unless your name is Ronda Rousey or Becky Lynch!)...
#4 To make Drew McIntyre look strong
By now, it's no secret that the WWE higher-ups view Drew McIntyre "The Guy" in the company right now, especially after the WWE's global face Roman Reigns stepped away from in-ring competition due to his battle with leukemia.
However, a highly important factor that we have to consider here, is that even during Reigns' reign as the top star of WWE, Braun Strowman was regarded by many as the other top guy on WWE RAW! The Monster Among Men became wildly popular in all of sports-entertainment in 2017, and even today, is hailed as one of WWE's biggest stars.
When you add up all the aforementioned variables, you'll arrive at the conclusion that Drew McIntyre needs to be booked very carefully against a fellow top star like Braun Strowman. In simple terms, the WWE is booking McIntyre to look just as strong, or perhaps even stronger than Strowman in its on-screen segments!
Another important facet to WWE's booking of the attack angle, is that McIntyre was the Superstar who was the most dominant in one-on-one combat with Strowman. Granted that Bobby Lashley eventually hit Strowman with a spear, and Baron Corbin brutalized The Monster's elbow with the steel steps; but it was McIntyre who started off the vicious attack...
#3 To distract fans from the fact that Brock Lesnar won't be wrestling at TLC
The WWE's TLC PPV is presently scheduled to air from the SAP Center in San Jose, California on December 16th. Now, although I'm a huge WWE loyalist, I've got to confess that the TLC PPV isn't even remotely close to being a well-booked card!
The Royal Rumble PPV (January 27th, 2019) which will be the next pay-per-view presentation after TLC, is the one that's all-important, and will feature some of the biggest storylines and angles coming to some sort of conclusion while new ones begin. In addition to the TLC PPV not featuring too many high-profile angles, the WWE RAW brand's top champion Brock Lesnar won't be performing at the show.
Well, the WWE had to come up with something intriguing for the ongoing Braun Strowman vs . Baron Corbin rivalry for the TLC PPV, and with the absence of Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, booking a shocking attack angle where Corbin gains the upper hand on Strowman was the WWE's best choice as we approach the final WWE pay-per-view of the 2018 calendar year...
#2 To legitimize Baron Corbin as a notoriously slick authority figure
It was a few days back, that I'd discussed a few reasons behind the WWE continuing to utilize Stephanie McMahon in a prominent on-screen role on RAW. One of the key points I'd mentioned in that article (which can be read HERE in its entirety), was that the WWE continues portraying her as the top authority figure because there is a genuine lack of believable authority figures in the company today!
Honestly speaking, back in the day when you had people like Paul Heyman, Eric Bischoff and Shawn Michaels running things as the top authority figures on RAW, they were more believable to the WWE Universe. However, Baron Corbin seemed to be lacking that one, true defining moment as a legit authority figure on RAW.
Well, Corbin finally solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with in the WWE's authority food chain, by smartly enlisting the help of Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley to take down their common enemy -- Braun Strowman...
#1 Bobby Lashley gets some shine for the first time since his return to the WWE
Bobby Lashley returned to the WWE on the April 9th, 2018 episode of Monday Night RAW, and ever since his highly-anticipated comeback, the man's talents have been wasted on the show! The majority of his initial run was characterized by The Dominator performing as a bland babyface character.
Thankfully, the WWE recently chose to turn Lashley heel, and book Lio Rush as the former's manager and mouthpiece. Nevertheless, something still wasn't quite clicking for Lashley on RAW.
Perhaps a huge reason behind Lashley's heel shtick not getting over with the WWE Universe, is because he wasn't really involved in a truly compelling segment...that is until his brutal beat-down of Braun Strowman on this week's episode of Monday Night RAW. Lashley delivered one of his most hellacious Spears on Strowman outside the ring -- as he, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin utterly decimated The Monster Among Men.
In the end, Corbin dented Strowman's right arm with the steel steps -- with the RAW commentary team noting that The Monster may have suffered a 'shattered elbow'. Regardless, McIntyre, Corbin and Lashley truly shined through in the segment, as did the WWE's plans which have now been set in motion ahead of TLC.
What did you make of Braun Strowman being mercilessly beaten down by Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley? Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below!
