Best and Worst of WWE RAW - 3rd December 2018

After a disappointing episode of RAW last week, we can happily say that this week was much better. While it was not without its flaws, the storyline progression of the show turned out much better.

Finn Balor and Elias seemingly teased an alliance after Balor helped The Drifter smash Lio Rush with a guitar. In fact, Elias wasn't even the only superstar who Balor helped!

The RAW Women's division took quite an interesting turn as you're about to see. Dean Ambrose took it to another level in his relatively fresh heel run and RAW did a fairly good job overall of building towards TLC.

Face turns, two tag team breakups, superstars getting fired and more capped off an improved episode of RAW. It was the penultimate RAW to TLC so it's going to be interesting to see how the go-home episode.

Let's take a look at the good and the bad of the red brand this week as Baron Corbin's reign of terror as GM continued.

#1. Best: A much better opening segment

How often do we get an episode of RAW where a match kicks off the show? Well, technically the match never started, but we can all agree that the 5-on-2 beatdown of Ronda Rousey and Natalya was a much better start than one hour of Baron Corbin.

It was far more fast-paced as well and that got the show off to a hot start with a hot crowd. Natalya went through the table, rendering her unfit to compete. Rousey was then forced to confront Alexa Bliss and tell her that she'd be fine finding her own partner.

While it was kind of obvious who her partner was, the entire segment wasn't as predictable as usual. The less-predictable element played for a good part of the show, which was a definite plus after last week.

#1. Worst: Repeated segments and matches

Just like last week, Alexa Bliss hosted the "open forum" with Sasha Banks and Bayley. It felt all too similar to last week and if it's anything that we learned from last week, it's that it's the last episode you'd want to be repeated.

Thankfully, the one saving grace of the segment was that Bayley teasing the Women's Tag Team Championships. Not only that, but Sasha Banks and Bayley both teased a WrestleMania match against Lita and Trish Stratus.

It'd be interesting if they held an interbrand tournament of sorts, with Bayley and Sasha Banks facing Trish Stratus and Lita at 'Mania. It'd be better than anything they've done for the past year and a half for sure.

Speaking of repeated segments, what was up with the Lucha House Party vs Revival match? It felt so out of the blue. For one, Scott Dawson said it would be a singles match, only for it to randomly become a Lucha House Rules match. The "rules" also stated that The Revival couldn't tag each other in, which basically made it a 3-on-1 handicap match.

None of it made sense.

#2. Best: The Dean Ambrose promo

Dean Ambrose's heel turn has turned into a breath of fresh air for his character. Last week, after getting "vaccinations" on his backside to help him evade the "disease" that was the WWE Universe.

This week, two lines of security walked out wearing gas masks, and sirens rang through the arena. Dean Ambrose walked out in a gas mask as well, with the sirens seemingly being added into his theme song.

He cut an incredible promo and he seemed to be completely in his element as a heel. He seems to be settling in on the role and got a lot of heat, leading the crowd to chant "We want Rollins". It certainly helps Rollins as the crowd was hot for him when he came out.

It seems to be furthering him as a babyface, which is exactly what WWE wants given the reported plans for Rollins to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

#2. Worst: Paying off Ziggler-McIntyre on RAW

Drew says he was always the brains, and the muscle and the talent, and he says the alliance with Dolph isnÃ¢ÂÂt working anymore.

When Dolph Ziggler returned to RAW during the Superstar Shake-up, he came in with McIntyre and their partnership turned out to be quite a success. The pairing helped McIntyre get steady footing on his main roster return while it led to a resurgence in Dolph Ziggler's career.

They won the tag team titles together and a month after they lost the title, their partnership quietly came to a close as McIntyre paired up with Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley. They finally explained it this week and their partnership came to a close.

Their partnership ending isn't the problem here. We all expected it in a matter of time. But to give the payoff on RAW? That definitely didn't do justice to the partnership, which worked so well for both competitors.

Rather than having a pointless match with Finn Balor, wouldn't it have made sense for WWE to have McIntyre vs Ziggler at TLC?

#3. Best: Unexpected result

Drew McIntyre suffered his first pinfall loss since his main roster return this past April. He's lost in singles matches before, but only via countout. We all were in the belief that the break-up would be to put over McIntyre (and it will), but The Scottish Psychopath found himself facing his first pinfall defeat.

His undefeated pin streak ended and it's not a bad thing by any means. In fact, it plays into the "unpredictable" element that we mentioned. And it didn't hurt McIntyre for two reasons: one, because Finn Balor caused the distraction and it wasn't a clean win and two, because McIntyre will get his win back at some point of time in the near future.

Balor vs McIntyre does seem like one of the more random matches in TLC but hopefully it turns out to be a good one. Expect the Scottish Psychopath to come out with the win.

#3. Best/Worst: Rhyno gets fired from RAW while Slater gets a new role

Baron Corbin's reign of terror over RAW peaked this week when he called in Heath Slater & Rhyno to his office, informing them that after "crunching the numbers", he only has space for one of them on RAW. While they were both hesitant to quit, Corbin then put them up against each other, with the loser getting fired from RAW.

Slater won the match in bizarre fashion, but was dejected at the prospect of being responsible for his tag team partner losing his job. After the match, Corbin confronted Slater and told him that he would have a new role - not as a competitor, but as a referee.

It's sad to see Rhyno and Slater break up because they had a fun run on SmackDown Live in 2016. The positive, however, is the fact that Slater now has a new storyline and it's most definitely one that's going to be funny and entertaining.

What did you think of these week's episode of RAW? Voice your thoughts in the comments below!

Alexa Bliss promises the WWE Universe an opportunity to get to really know Sasha Banks and Bayley.

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