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The Royal Rumble was a success across many departments and in case you were wondering if WWE was able to carry the momentum to RAW, you're partly right. The show was a superb affair in some respects and in some others, it was not nearly as good.
I loved the beginning and the end and certain parts in the middle for sure. I am still yet to feel the excitement that accompanies WrestleMania season yet but I'm guessing I will start to feel it as we inch closer to the show.
Be sure to leave a comment and share your thoughts about the show in the comments section below, ladies, and gentlemen. I would love to hear your take and get your opinion with regard to how you felt the show was!
In any case, here is the best and worst of WWE RAW, the fallout edition following the Royal Rumble!
#1 Best: Randy Orton's heel turn
There are a variety of reasons regarding why Randy Orton is a heel again and I shall detail them all in a subsequent article. But I honestly loved Edge's promo to close out the show and the fact that Randy Orton teased a reunion of the old tag team before he showed his true colors and took his frustrations out on Edge's neck.
Personally, I love Randy Orton in this avatar because he is a natural heel just like Seth Rollins is. Something about him just screams that he's not the good guy even when he is playing one, and I was glad to see him tap into the darker side of his persona to close out this week's edition of WWE RAW, as the crowd gaped in shock.
The Viper has struck and the world would never be the same again.
#1 Worst: Andrade ruled out for a whole month
I have no way to ascertain exactly what happened with regard to Andrade, but I do know that he's going to be out for a month because of a wellness policy violation. Andrade was on top of the world and this is guaranteed to bring him down a peg or two when he returns.
This was the reason why he was written off from WWE television with the DDT to the concrete floor. Whatever the case may be, having your United States Champion on TV for a month is really bad news, especially if WWE decides not to strip Andrade of the gold.
And this is compounded by the fact that Brock Lesnar won't appear every week either with the WWE Championship. So, you will have the two top male champions missing WWE for the foreseeable future then.
The only positive I can see coming out of this is if Asuka and Kairi Sane get to defend their titles a lot more, with the men missing.
#2 Best: Liv Morgan's clean win
Honestly, Liv Morgan is being positioned in a top spot, because she was practically in the main event spot of the night and it is easy to see why. She is absolutely drop dead gorgeous and even though hardcore pro wrestling fans may not like her storyline with Lana, it is doing huge numbers on WWE's social media account.
And hence, I loved the fact that Liv Morgan scored a clear and clean win over Lana on this week's show. Even if she is not the next Becky Lynch, WWE obviously has big plans for her and it was great to see her pick up the win without Rusev at ringside. Even if this story comes to an end, there's a chance that Liv Morgan will be protected and used right, in the long run then.
Sure, she did not become Sister Abigail but if WWE treats this storyline right, they may just have a brand new superstar on their hands, who could go a lot further than just being Bray Wyatt's hired gun.
#2 Worst: The Rowan storyline
Obviously, I cannot speak for everyone in the WWE Universe, because I know that everyone has a different opinion (and you guys always let me know about it on Twitter or in the comments section). But yet, I will make an exception on this occasion and claim that everyone in the world is over the Erick Rowan storyline.
This is a story that overshot the sweet spot a very long time ago, and now it's the same thing every single week. I honestly wished that it would end at the Royal Rumble with Brock Lesnar finding out what was in the cage, but that was unfortunately not to be, this time.
Rowan is a big man at a time when the average wrestler is not very big and there are so many things that WWE can do with him. He could be the muscle for some heel on the roster, much like Wardlow is for MJF.
This storyline ensures that he remains on TV, but nothing worthwhile is coming out of it!
#3 Best/Worst: The opening segment with Drew McIntyre
I really loved the reception that Drew McIntyre received from the WWE Universe, and honestly, I love the way he carries himself. He made himself seem thankful but did not give in to the emotion and lose track with regard to the storyline even when the audience chanted for him in unison.
This is a trait that one learns from years of being part of the WWE system and also from working outside the company, where you hone your craft before your big return. What I did not like is the fact that The OC was chosen to be the enhancement talents who took the fall to put over Drew McIntyre.
Does the fact that they were crowned the 'best tag team in the world' signify nothing at all, after the event, you ask? I have no answer for you and I would like to pose the very same question to the creative department run by Paul Heyman.
I don't like how insignificant the actual tag teams have started to seem as WrestleMania 36 approaches!
#3 Best/Worst: Charlotte Flair delays her decision
But unlike Drew McIntyre, Charlotte Flair did not let us know whom she will be facing at WrestleMania and chose instead to keep us in the dark about whether it will be Becky Lynch or Bayley. Or maybe someone else who becomes the Champion, before WrestleMania comes around.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't have a problem with this decision of Charlotte's but I don't think she has a lot of exciting babyface options left unless Sasha Banks turns babyface and takes the title from Bayley before WrestleMania arrives. Moreover, Asuka and Charlotte Flair locked horns on RAW this week and I thought that it was a pretty silly move to have such a match.
The Women's tag team championship picture has become an afterthought and I wonder if those in WWE Creative even remember that the titles exist. I have a feeling that they would much rather just have Asuka as a singles competitor now.
Also, Kairi Sane threw a few awful looking punches that would make Shane McMahon cringe, during the show.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
