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There are many benefits that come with working at Sportskeeda. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of reviewing wrestling for a living is knowing the spoilers from a taped show because that's what your job entails.
I went into this show knowing all of the key talking points that emerged from the RAW taping. And therefore, while the show wasn't particularly bad, I think I was just distracted and not as 'in-tune' with the broadcast as I usually am.
Of course, if you feel that my review is a little too harsh or mean or even if you believe that it's more lenient than it needs to be, you are welcome to leave a comment in the section below. I'm always keen on hearing what you thought of RAW and SmackDown, reader.
Also, most importantly vote for your favorite match here.
Please leave a comment and let us know what you thought of every single match. You'll see every single match listed at the very top.
#1 Best: Randy Orton turns face
To be honest, this was the only real talking point to emerge from this week's show, and it left us scratching our heads, albeit not in a bad way. Randy Orton is clearly a babyface for now, but all of that could change at Survivor Series, where he may actually turn on his team, leaving them absolutely high and dry.
The good news is that a babyface Randy Orton potentially means that Seth Rollins could go heel very soon indeed, as many fans have wanted. That will allow Orton to become the face of the red brand and work with younger heels like Andrade, to elevate underutilized Superstars with massive potential.
This is a great hook for next week because I'm curious to see what's next for Randy Orton.
#1 Worst: Absolute cringe
I guess that WWE is trying to push the envelope, but I'm not sure I'm the target audience. In their attempt to seem edgy, they come across as a company that's trying way too much to get a cheap pop, by using shocking words on a supposedly 'live' broadcast.
I'm all for the basic idea of Lana lying about her pregnancy, to invite Rusev into a trap. It's just the way that this storyline has been carried out and how far it's gone that is just too much.
Bobby Lashley has been very vocal about the fact that he wants to take on Brock Lesnar in a singles match. Rusev could be doing so much in the roster too, mixing it up with the likes of Drew McIntyre for instance.
However, if you guys feel otherwise, you can certainly let me know your opinion in the comments section.
#2 Best: Seth Rollins battles Walter
The build to Survivor Series has given us a whole bunch of matches that we never thought we'd get to see at all. Perhaps the biggest one among them is the one between Adam Cole and Seth Rollins last week. There was also Adam Cole vs. Daniel Bryan which was a pretty fantastic match.
Seth Rollins sent out an open invitation this week and who would answer but the NXT UK Champion- Walter himself. The two men had a great match and I wouldn't mind seeing them tussle again, on a bigger stage down the line. This is a match that is worthy of a pay-per-view main event when the two men are on the same brand.
I would love to see Walter maybe invade SmackDown and take on someone like Roman Reigns as well. Walter is RAW and SmackDown ready, whenever WWE decides to pull the trigger.
#2 Worst: The 8-man tag team match that followed
Trust WWE to ruin something they do right with something unnecessary. Seth Rollins and Walter had a great match that did not end clean and it led to the Street Profits and Kevin Owens joining the fray as well, making it an 8-man tag team match.
I like all of the participants involved but this contest just significantly diluted the one that preceded it and how. Kevin Owens, in particular, does not need to be saddled as just another babyface in a multi-man match when he should be a standout character all on his own. WWE just had this bad habit of ruining whatever they do right, immediately after.
There are so many other ways to kill time than a meaningless multi-man match, WWE. The easiest fix would have been to give screen time to the multitude of talent who never get a chance to shine.
#3 Best: What's in the terrifying cage?
We all believed that Rowan was in for a huge ascent when the storyline with Roman Reigns first happened. When Harper returned, it just seemed like Rowan was on the verge of getting an incredible amount of recognition and a Strowman-level push.
Somehow, that never came to pass and even though he was portrayed as a monster at Crown Jewel, Rowan isn't nearly at the same level as Braun Strowman. Which is why I love what they're doing with him and the cage that he's carrying to the ring.
A part of me believes that there's a python inside there, and maybe Rowan becomes the successor to Jake Roberts and Damien. Another part of me believes that there will be an inanimate object inside, something that Rowan is obsessed with, much like Gollum was obsessed with the 'one ring'.
What do you think is inside? Leave a comment, dear reader.
#3 Worst: Aleister Black is still in a dark room
I am very scared for characters like Liv Morgan and the Authors of Pain/ AoP; whatever they'll be called in their latest incarnation. It's one thing to get video packages announcing your arrival like the latter did but if that's all you're doing, there's a problem.
Aleister Black seems to be in a very similar position at the moment, where he's just sitting in a darkened room, curring promo after promo. He's inviting people to come and pick a fight with him, but nobody seems to be interested in doing so at all.
I would have been okay if this was the first time this was happening. But it's literally been happening for months, and Aleister Black seems to be stuck in some strange limbo that he just cannot seem to break out of.
Aleister Black is being misused. Unleash him and let him dazzle us with what he can do!
#4 Best/Worst: Asuka pins Becky Lynch
I am all for The Kabuki Warriors getting a big push because everyone knows just how good they are and how much they deserve it as well. I just think it should have been Charlotte Flair eating the pin instead of Becky Lynch in Manchester. Becky Lynch is riding a wave of momentum at the moment and she did not need to suffer a loss even if it came as the result of a roll-up.
It's a shame that Natalya could not make it to the United Kingdom for the match. I wonder what the original plans would have been, had Natalya been a part of the proceedings. I did like the interference in the match from Shayna Baszler and Bayley.
Survivor Series is fast approaching. The hype is real!
How many of you, like me, want The Goddess to return to WWE, as soon as possible?
