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Listen, even though the world is going to hell all around us, WWE has the guts and the you-know-what to put on their weekly shows, and one can't help but commend them for the same. But at the same time, one needs to acknowledge the fact that ever since the pandemic began there's been a major dip in the quality of shows.
Of course, you can't blame WWE for the same because of the restrictions that exist right now. But at the same time, All Elite Wrestling showed us, that if you want to put on a good show, it is possible to do so.
So, with that said, considering that WrestleMania is just on the horizon, one has to admit that this was far from an ideal show, and could have been so much better. Of course, you may feel differently and if you do, feel free to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
So with that said, I present the 'Best and Worst' of WWE RAW. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts with thousands of people in the comments section below.
#1 Best: Seth Rollins' promo
Seth Rollins has always been an incredible promo, but in the whole Monday Night Messiah avatar, it did seem like he was miscast. But the lack of a crowd helped Seth Rollins cut the best promo he has, perhaps in his whole career, stating and reiterating that without Seth Rollins, there wouldn't be so many good things that we've come to love about the company and the sport.
This is the Seth Rollins we've been missing all along. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins did not seem like an exciting prospect until now, but I just think that Seth Rollins' promo, stating his record at the show made things feel like a big deal.
#1 Worst: Black vs. Lashley?
I don't have a problem with a match between Aleister Black and Bobby Lashley at all. I just think that this is one of those matches that needed some kind of a build, for it to really be meaningful.
It is impossible to predict a winner in this contest considering how strongly both men have been booked in the company thus far, but at the same time, do we have any reason to care for either of the participants, rooting for or against either man at all? I genuinely think that instead of Aleister Black in a random match, he should have cut a promo hyping this match.
Also, can we just take a moment to scratch our heads and ask why WWE is putting the United States Champion Andrade in a strange tag team Championship match? I think Aleister Black vs. Andrade for the US Championship would have been a much better match, especially if you consider that this is WrestleMania.
The booking for this year's edition has been very random indeed.
#2 Best: Thrill of a unique match
None of us knows what a Boneyard match is and that is great. There's that element of thrill, that element of anticipation about it, to see what kind of setting this match will be in. This is WWE being creative and adapting to the situation to put on a show for the ages.
I genuinely think that moving away from the WWE Performance Center for one or two matches may be the way to go because it will give WrestleMania a very special vibe indeed. It may also help to hide The Undertaker's shortcomings in the ring considering that the man is well past his prime and even though AJ Styles can go like the best of them, this may be the best-case scenario for everyone.
I am loving the whole storyline where we're taking a peek at the man behind The Undertaker persona, as Mark Calaway, who is a doting father and a loving husband, and not the man we've come to fear through the course of his WWE career.
#2 Worst: 2 matches are replayed
I mentioned this as a problem on last week's show, but it's doubled and compounded this week, especially if you consider that there were two replays and not just one. We saw Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins and John Cena in action in the first clip and Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair in the memorable WrestleMania match in the second one but honestly, it took away from the show happening live.
WWE fans always have a rich and magical history to look back upon and relish, but one essentially watches RAW to look forward to the future and not look back at the past, in my opinion. This was a waste of time for everyone involved. I would have loved to see Bobby Lashley in action, cutting a promo on his WrestleMania opponent or even Rhea Ripley commenting on her big match via satellite instead of what we finally got from WWE.
All Elite Wrestling put on a show in which we moved forward and how, where the lack of a live crowd wasn't even felt, and WWE can certainly take tips.
#3 Best: Becky Lynch attacks Shayna Baszler
Charly Caruso was known as a discount Renee Young when she first began her career, but I have to say that she's come leaps and bounds since then. It is impossible to imagine RAW without her and she has stepped out of Renee Young's shadow to establish her very own identity now.
I loved the fact that she was scared and intimidated by Shayna Baszler during the sitdown interview and I also loved how effortlessly and how flawlessly the Queen of Spades played her part too. She just seems like a beast of a human being right now and I also loved the fact that Becky Lynch, who's never scared to pick a fight, had to attack her from behind, even though she is a babyface, and perhaps the most loved babyface in the entire world.
Theirs is a match I'm really looking forward to, especially considering how bulletproof Baszler has been made to look since the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view took place and she decimated her competition with ease.
#3 Worst: Wasted appearance by the current WWE Champion
I really don't get it at all, ladies and gentlemen of the WWE Universe. If you have Brock Lesnar only for a certain number of dates, wouldn't you go out of your way to ensure that his appearances are all meaningful and special?
And instead, he came out with Paul Heyman at the top of the show for a segment that we have seen a million times already, with the words and opponent's name slightly changed on this instance. Paul Heyman is the greatest mind when it comes to booking, and he could have certainly booked a better segment featuring the current WWE Champion.
Couldn't Brock Lesnar have squashed a few enhancement talents to prove to the world that he was not hurt by the Claymore kicks that Drew McIntyre delivered to him? Couldn't he have had a confrontation with someone in the roster, even if Drew McIntyre was not present on ground?
In conclusion, all I want to request you to do is to stay safe and secure, and pray to your Gods and Goddesses.
