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This week's episode of Raw started off as your average broadcast of the flagship show, as there was a promo to open the show, there were empty threats made, and there was a backstage chase involving Braun Strowman. But quickly fans realised the episode of Raw was going to be different.
And while this week's episode of the flagship show was somewhat of a hit and miss, there were many shocking developments made on the show, as superstars went from mid-card jobbers to main event contenders, while a champion lost his title, and WWE NXT standouts made their debut on the show.
So lets go through the most shocking things that happened on Raw this week.
#1 Sasha is being booked bigger than Rousey
Ronda Rousey is the future of WWE women's wrestling, and that isn't a statement from the WWE Universe's mouth, but it is a statement from the higher ups in the WWE. As there is no bigger star in women's wrestling than Rousey, and there is a good reason for that, as her successful UFC career and Hollywood stints have made her a recognisable star, and that is what WWE needs right now.
So it was surprising to witness WWE book Rousey as a bona fide rookie, and Sasha Banks as a world-beating badass on this week's episode of Raw.
No offense to Banks, but right now it seems logical for Rousey to be the alpha in this programme - as she conquered Triple H, dominated Nia Jax, and single-handedly cost Becky Lynch and Charlotte their chance at glory on TLC. Whereas WWE had Banks hanging around with Bayley and doing nothing of importance.
Banks is a great talent and should be booked strong, but Rousey's booking was a bit surprising.
#2 Lashley wins the IC title
Bobby Lashley saw the worst of WWE's booking last year, as the saga of his sisters, his losses to Roman Reigns, and his inability to ascend beyond the mid-card made him look like a man destined to end up back in TNA. But this week, WWE took a chance on the man, and gave him the chance to grow as a character.
Lashley is now the new IC Champion.
The match between Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Lashley was absolutely awesome, as WWE booked each and every bit of this contest with purpose, and the end result of Lashley winning was a shocker, as many expected Ambrose to hold on to the title, as his main rival Seth Rollins was moving on to the main event scene.
Anyone winning besides Rollins or Ambrose was going to be a shocker, and it was a pleasant one.
#3 Cena puts Balor over
John Cena was on Raw this week, as he confronted Vince McMahon on allowing him the opportunity to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal title, as Braun Strowman could not compete in the match.
Cena made points on Stone Cold, The Rock, and even Lesnar himself walking out on McMahon while he stuck around and kept the WWE relevant. While Cena didn't get the chance to face Lesnar, as he lost to Balor clean in the number one contenders match later on the night, he did do something important.
Cena not only let Balor go over by allowing the former Universal Champion pin him, he told Balor after the match that even though Vince McMahon does not believe in him, he does believe that Balor will one day be at the top of the company.
That was big praise for a man that was on the receiving end of bad booking in the last few years. Maybe this will signal a change for Balor.
#4 Balor vs Lesnar at the Royal Rumble
Finn Balor will face Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, and while that may be shocking to most of you, this a match that will happen even though WWE has denied it on many occasions.
This was a match that was originally slated for Great Balls of Fire back in 2017, but after rumours got out that Vince McMahon didn't think Balor was 'over' enough, it was canceled.
But we finally have this match, and while it feels like a hit and miss, as good and bad outcomes will come from it, at least we don't have to sit through another monotonous showdown between Strowman and Lesnar.
#5 Strowman is not the guy anymore
Braun Strowman is not WWE's top guy anymore. At the moment it feels that way at least, as Strowman has been mismanaged to the point where fans don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth anymore, and that is sad.
This week on Raw, Strowman was in the ring to deliver a promo on his match against Brock Lesnar, but was soon interrupted by Baron Corbin - this led to Strowman chasing Corbin backstage to only find him in Vince McMahon's limo.
Strowman did what he usually does, and destroyed the limo, and that caused Vince McMahon to suspend Strowman and cancel his match with Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.
With all the damage this man has caused in the past, WWE actually expects fans to believe that Strowman is being written off television for destroying one limo?
It signals that WWE shockingly couldn't care less about the man, as his booking lately has truly disappointed.
