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Welcome to this week's edition of Best and Worst of RAW. We were debating the idea of putting an edition with 100% worst and no bests, but looking thoroughly into the episode, there were some positive highlights.
Admittedly, this wasn't the best episode of RAW by any means. If anything, it was the weakest of the three episodes this year. With that said, it was a mixed bag, and it's hard not to disagree with the negatives that were present.
However, we did our best to look at some of the best aspects of the show this week, so let's get started:
#3. Best: The Alpha Academy Graduation segment on RAW
Chad Gable might be one of the most underrated talkers on the WWE roster. He is a great in-ring technician but has been neglected for years despite a few title wins under his belt.
He seems to be viewed as a tag team specialist, and he is now finding a good deal of success with The Alpha Academy and Otis. It just so happened to be the right time and the right place for Gable and Otis to dethrone RK-Bro -- the best tag team in WWE in 2021.
This week, Gable hosted an Alpha Academy Graduation segment, roasting the Tulsa, Oklahoma crowd throughout, especially when they were "booing academics".
Of course, this set up the appearance of Riddle who was uninvited but was wearing a graduation dress anyway. The gauntlet was thrown down for the "Alpha Academy Academic Challenge" which will take place next week.
It should be a fun segment, and this was one of the saving graces of RAW. Despite being on the receiving end of an RKO, Chad Gable was one of the shining lights in this segment as his brilliant heel character work shone through.
RK-Bro stood tall at the end, and it will be interesting to see how the academic challenge plays out on next week's episode. With that said, RK-Bro are unlikely to come out on the winning end of the feud.
If anything, this program and the Royal Rumble will likely be catalysts for their inevitable break-up, all so we can get a Randy Orton vs Riddle match at WrestleMania 38.
#3. Worst: The predictable main event of RAW
The main event of RAW this week was Bobby Lashley vs Seth Rollins. It was the WWE title challenger taking on the Universal title challenger. While this would have been a WrestleMania-worthy match-up, the reality is that it was predictable and doomed from the start.
When you have a superstar who is about to face Brock Lesnar and another about to take on the best version of Roman Reigns, it's nearly impossible to pick a winner. Sure, Bobby Lashley won on a technicality via disqualification, but the truth is that the outcome was never in question.
The finish was designed to protect both men. Hurt Business members Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander came out and their interference sucked all the energy out of the fans in the arena, who were disappointed with the outcome.
The Usos making a surprise appearance certainly served as a highlight on RAW this week, but it wasn't enough to salvage the match.
WWE could have done a better job, or simply not booked the match at all. Perhaps another thought process was that Rollins and Lashley could eventually have a big feud down the line, with the former Shield member being a babyface. This finish could help preserve a post-WrestleMania feud.
#2. Best: Alexa Bliss' intriguing character on RAW
Alexa Bliss had another therapy session on RAW, with the psychiatrist ensuring there were fewer breakable items in the office this time around. He said that he needed information for a psychiatric evaluation but did his best not to be touchy with Bliss.
Her character continued to emphasize on Lily while teasing a more psychotic side. This was a brilliant bit of character work from Alexa Bliss, who seems to be adding a few more layers to her persona on her journey back to RAW. Hopefully, we continue to get the mix of comedy and darkness in these entertaining segments to build anticipation for her actual return to the ring.
#2. Worst: The downfall of Finn Balor
Vince McMahon met Austin Theory in his office and informed him that the rematch against Finn Balor was finally booked. McMahon threatened to personally beat up Theory if he failed in his mission.
This week, Austin Theory finally overcame Finn Balor and launched a somewhat less-brutal post-match assault. It was a big win for Theory, but it's frustrating to see the Irish star in the exact same position that he was in before he left for NXT in 2019. There has been no progress or improvement.
#1. Best: The push of Kevin Owens on RAW
It seems like the Seth Rollins-Kevin Owens partnership is paying dividends on RAW. His association with Seth Rollins has not only been entertaining, but both men could be on their way to becoming champions.
While Seth Rollins is gunning for the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble, even Owens may soon have a title of his own on RAW. This week, United States Champion Damian Priest confronted Owens on the KO Show and they had a non-title match.
In classic Eddie Guerrero fashion, Kevin Owens faked an injury and used the advantage momentarily to hit the stunner and pin Damian Priest - becoming the first star on the main roster to pin The Archer of Infamy in singles competition.
Think about it. Priest has defeated the likes of Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, Sheamus, The Miz, Jeff Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode and more. But it was Kevin Owens who became the first man to pin him in a singles match.
Kevin Owens could be slated for a US Title win Both Priest and Owens will be entering the Royal Rumble match, and don't be surprised to see the latter eliminate the US Champion to continue their storyline.
Owens deserves a big title win, and if he isn't going to become the WWE Champion, a fourth US Title reign is justified.
#1. Worst: The Doudrop botch on RAW
The first match on RAW this week saw Women's Champion Becky Lynch team up with her Royal Rumble challenger Doudrop to face Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan.
While the idea of making Doudrop look strong ahead of her Women's title bout is the natural order of things, this week's episode and her botch only made her look worse.
Doudrop broke up Becky Lynch's near-guaranteed pin on Liv Morgan, and this resulted in a mix-up. The referee reminded Doudrop that she wasn't tagged in and she painstakingly went and tagged herself in before finishing and pinning Liv Morgan herself.
The idea behind the finish wasn't bad, but the execution was awful. Either way, Doudrop got the last laugh as she laid out Becky Lynch to stand tall once again. It's going to be an interesting match at the Royal Rumble, but nothing in this feud has indicated that Big Time Becks is going to lose the Women's Championship anytime soon.
Also, Liv Morgan getting pinned essentially means the end of her push, at least for now.
