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Survivor Series is in the rearview mirror now, and the men and women of RAW are heading straight for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January. There are no B pay-per-views until then, providing RAW the opportunity to spruce up their weekly television with exciting title matches.
This did not start off as a noteworthy episode of RAW, but at the halfway mark, things suddenly picked up. By the time the three hours were up, in our estimation, the positives did outweigh the negatives.
Of course, your opinion may differ from ours. If it does, we'd like to hear from you in the comments below.
As has become customary, here is our post-RAW 'Best and Worst' list for you!
#1 Best: A star-making performance
Even though it was featured at the two-hour mark, and not at the end of the third hour, the main event for the show was certainly Elias vs. Roman Reigns. It sounds like a mismatched contest at first, does it not?
The talented Elias proved all his doubters wrong this week, as he recruited the Miztourage to become their makeshift leader, during The Miz's absence. He garnered so much heel heat during his musical performance, that even Roman Reigns received a positive response from the crowd when he made his way out for his match.
Moreover, he had a fantastic match with Roman Reigns. Reigns' own Intercontinental Championship run is off to a great start, as he's used the first match of his reign to elevate a mid-carder like Elias.
It was also great to see a positive response for Roman Reigns, after being booed out of the building for years on end.
#1 Worst: From tough guys to salesmen?
Remember how over Gallows and Anderson were when they first arrived in the company? It is a shame to see them not featured in the show at all, and instead just promote discounts and sales on the WWE Shop.
The tag team division in the show is lacking in depth, with individual performers such as Ambrose and Rollins participating in singles matches with Cesaro and Sheamus almost weekly. The Club could have bolstered the tag team division significantly if they had been booked strong from the get-go.
Chris Jericho does not sell shirts as a heel, even if he is over. Gallows and Anderson, on the other hand, are selling multiple products on television, even though they are heels. Not good at all.
#2 Best: Matt Hardy's breakdown
Those of you who are unfamiliar with Matt Hardy's TNA run over the past year must log on to YouTube or the Global Wrestling Network and check out his 'Broken' run.
When Bray Wyatt beat Matt Hardy to a pulp in the middle of the ring, Matt Hardy teased the familiar gimmick once again, and Michael Cole mentioned a breakdown for the older Hardy. Hardy is no longer the in-ring performer he once was, and this gimmick may be a great way to hide all his physical weaknesses.
Will we see more of this gimmick in coming weeks? Or will all the signs of this gimmick be deleted? We're just as curious to find out, as you probably are. We'll discuss this developing plotline yet again, next week.
#2 Worst: Advertisements disrupting the show's flow
It's 2017 and attention spans are far shorter than what they used to be, back when wrestling was still red hot. Unfortunately, the many commercial breaks that we are subjected to during every match further disrupts the flow of the contests unfolding before our eyes.
Rollins vs. Cesaro went into commercial just when the match was beginning to pick up, making us lose interest multiple times. Couldn't the show be timed in such a manner that the advertisements actually took place between matches?
RAW went into commercial again when Finn Balor came out to confront Kane at the tail end of the show. It was an oddly timed break, at the end of three hours, that just left us exhausted.
#3 Best: Explaining their actions
Truth be told, we were not looking forward to a six-woman tag team match between the newly named trio, Absolution, against all the babyface women on RAW, right now. We were glad to see that it did not take place. Instead, there was a backstage beatdown from the heels on two of the three babyface women.
We liked the fact that Paige explained the reason for this alliance. The fact that she was the original 'anti-Diva', and the Horsewomen were taking all the credit for the same. The fact that she had found two loyalists in Deville and Rose, who chose to do her bidding.
The staredown between Absolution and Asuka was quite intriguing too. We wonder where the division heads from here.
#3 Worst: Bray Wyatt's promo
Bray Wyatt appears on screen every week (unless he is down with a viral infection), rambles on, and really does not get over with the WWE Universe. The mystique that was once associated with him is now gone. He is just another guy on the card, who speaks gibberish.
The 'you're all dead' speech this week did not work at all. It is clear that he does not have a program, for the moment. Can you imagine that he was champion this year?
Wyatt is a man who deserves better. Let's hope creative gets some ideas, and fast!
#4 Best: Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns
This is a feud that we do not mind at all, really. Two massive Samoans slugging it out for the Intercontinental Championship, would be a treat for every single fan.
Roman Reigns was blindsided by Samoa Joe this week, as he initiated what should be a really power-packed program. We cannot wait to see these two men take each other to the limit, in the coming weeks.
That concludes our recap of this week's episode of RAW. We'll catch up with you in 24 hours, for the best and worst of SmackDown Live.
Until then, say your prayers, eat your vitamins and bow down before your divine Goddess.
