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Honestly, I thought that this week's RAW had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows too. There was certainly a lot of good on the show that made me perk up and pay attention, but at the same time, there were some parts of RAW that I really found weird.
So, with that said what did I think were the high and the low points of WWE RAW after Money in the Bank? I will answer your question with a 'Best and Worst' article for your reading pleasure.
Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about everything that unfolded on this week's episode of RAW and if indeed, it met all of your expectations as a fallout episode following a major pay-per-view.
#1 Best: The transformation of Bobby Lashley and the alliance with MVP
We have all known that Bobby Lashley is a beast and a monster who has been cast in the weirdest of roles since his arrival on RAW. First up, there was the whole deal with his sisters that just turned out to be a bunch of dudes dressed up as women. And then there was the whole storyline with Lana that many believed did more harm to him than good.
RAW did good numbers for those segments but one couldn't help but wonder if someone other than Bobby Lashley would have been better served for the role.
Bobby Lashley and MVP form an alliance on RAW
I am glad to report that the serious, methodical, powerhouse Bobby Lashley is back and the alliance with MVP is a step in the right direction. Who knows? We may finally get to see the match between Lashley and Lesnar we'd wanted for so very long with Lashley's new avatar.
I am torn about the new finisher though. What do you think?
#1 Worst: The whole Andrade situation
What is happening with RAW's most dominant faction- the one led by Zelina Vega? I mean why is Andrade taking on Drew McIntyre and getting pinned when he should be elevating the mid-card by putting on great matches with the wealth of talent that RAW has waiting in the wings?!
Also, why is there infighting between Angel Garza and Austin Theory already, when this is a faction that just came together on RAW recently, I wonder? Is this an indication that the demise of the group may happen very soon indeed and that WWE may have different plans for each one of the individual performers?
Andrade gets pinned on RAW
I just don't think I was all the best decision to have Andrade go up against Drew McIntyre because a Champion vs. Champion match is guaranteed to make one Champion look weak in the process. I know that The IIconics pinned Alexa Bliss on RAW as well, but there was an endgame in the long run as it's going to earn them a title shot.
#2 Best: Asuka becomes the RAW women's Champion
The second most surprising thing I learned on RAW tonight was that Becky Lynch was going to be relinquishing her RAW Women's Championship because she is pregnant. The most surprising thing, of course, is that Sportskeeda's own Anirban Banerjee watches WWE with subtitles. Jokes aside, congratulations to 'The Man' and I can't think of a more worthy successor than Asuka, who has definitely more than earned the spot that she was recently handed.
As a sidenote, I really like how Shayna Bazler is amping up her meanness as well and the shots that she took at Becky Lynch and later at Natalya will go a long way in establishing her as a top-tier heel on the Red brand. I really think that she has done a commendable job as a heel until now, but if this is the persona she wishes to adopt on RAW, I think that the sky could be the limit for her.
I wonder though, why Seth Rollins snapped in the manner that he did, after learning he's going to become a father.
#2 Worst: The basketball match
How do you diminish the RAW Tag Team Championships every single week and find a way to surpass your attempt from the week past on the following week as well? The Viking Raiders have already been saddled with a throwback gimmick on RAW that fans watching at home will find very difficult to connect with if they are over the age of 5. And on top of that, you have them do comedy on the basketball court when they should be drinking mead and bashing skulls like Seth Rollins is.
The current RAW Tag Team Championship picture
Ricochet and Cedric Alexander are coming along in a good way and so is the team that MVP seems to have taken under his wing. But the title picture is where the problem essentially lies because The Viking Raiders and The Street Profits are doing skits that nobody has found amusing and endearing, judging from the reaction on social media.
I wanted to give it the benefit of doubt because it was different but eventually it turned out to be standard RAW fare.
#3 Best/Worst: Randy Orton and Edge again
I think Charly Caruso is the perfect package, in the sense that she's gorgeous, she's fantastic at her job and she's come along in a great way to the point where one may even say that she's at par with Renee Young at this time. But at the same time, RAW addles her with such terrible lines that some of it just comes across as absolutely nonsensical.
It's one thing to be excited about a rematch between Randy Orton and Edge being made official on RAW and entirely another to call it the greatest wrestling match ever. Sometimes, I wonder if WWE does it as a means to get heat on themselves because what other explanation exists for a line that is so very over-the-top?
Reason for Randy Orton and Edge returning to RAW
They want a spike in ratings, of course. And these are two proven commodities, both of whom have a fanbase who will tune in just to see them on the show. They have proved, time and again, that they are legends for a reason.
#3 Best/Worst: Baron Corbin comes to RAW
Every time that viewership tanks, RAW just goes back to the well and dilutes the brand split to a significant degree. This has happened on numerous occasions in the past from sports entertainers from SmackDown have shown up on RAW and vice versa. So, while I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of a feud between King Corbin and Drew McIntyre, I do believe that it may be a bit too premature.
We know that there is no chance at all that King Corbin is going to defeat McIntyre, based on the kind of push that the Scotsman is being given right now. I just think that as exciting a possibility as it seems on paper since these men won't have weeks to tell a story, it will not be the dream clash that we all assumed we wanted.
Instead of The Goddess, let me end this particular edition with an image of Becky Lynch, because, quite honestly, this is her night. Congratulations to her and her eye-gouging messiah.
