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Pro wrestling isn’t what it used to be and while there are still glitters of hope sprinkled into every episode of Raw, it still doesn’t seem like the show is running on all cylinders.
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Furthermore, it almost seems like the once star-studded program reek of monotony, 50/50 booking and other things that hurt the overall overall quality
With that being said and WWE using failing to keep fans interested in the Fall months of the year, here are ten things Monday Night Raw is doing wrong and how to fix each problem.
As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and tell us how you would try to fix these problems if you were doing the booking for Monday Night Raw
Problem: Too much fillers
For every blockbuster match that takes place on each week’s edition of Monday Night Raw, there are always two or three filler matches right behind it.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with filler in small doses and within reason, but when it starts to take up a majority of the three-hour show’s airtime, it starts to become more difficult to defend.
Think about it for a second! What is Raw really doing besides The Shield versus Braun Strowman angle and Baron Corbin's run as General Manager?
Sure you could argue the women's title and maybe even IC title feuds, but there is nothing beyond that to pat out the card of the three-hour show.
Solution: More personal feuds
With storylines like Finn Balor and Bayley teaming up for the mixed match challenge and Lashley continuing to tread water in the undercard, it’s impossible to see Raw as anything other than a show full of filler. Maybe if Raw went back to a two-hour show things would be better, but one would think that would be taking the easy way out.
In the end, WWE needs to get more personal and dig deep to find ways to blend reality and fiction.
It iss what has already worked for so many of the feuds this year and would work wonders if it was implemented more on Raw. It might even be enough to help get ratings back to where they were.
Problem: Part-time champions
Part-time champions have become a dirty word in the world of pro wrestling and while sometimes the move is warranted, there are far too many other times when it’s not.
Fortunately for The WWE Universe, the company has fixed the problem for now, but they could very well go back to the strategy if superstars like Brock Lesnar and The Rock come back into the picture.
With that being said, there aren't a lot of options here, especially since WWE has to choose between building new talent or using guaranteed box office draw, and it's unlikely that WWE will choose to do otherwise.
Of course, the easy solution is to keep these superstars on television in at least minor roles, but who knows that if that can even be worked out.
Solution: Keep main attractions on TV
It's no secret that WWE is starting to hold back on Ronda Rousey’s appearances on Raw, which could be an indication that she will be the next part-time champion on the Raw brand. Of course, the move is kind of warranted given how much of a big ticket draw she is, but it’s only going to hurt her and the show if she doesn’t appear more often.
In the end, The WWE Universe has proven time and time again that they want a fighting champion and will accept nothing less. Whether WWE listens to their fans, in this case, remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, fans around the world will tune out if WWE goes back to a part-time champion.
Problem: The tag team division
The Raw tag team division has been absolutely abysmal ever since Braun Strowman and Nicholas won the belts at WrestleMania 34, but things have only gotten worse from there.
Not only is that evident by fluke teams like The Deleter’s of Worlds and The B Team, having runs with the tag team titles, but also by how little of a storyline was invested into those feuds.
In all honesty, how can wrestling fans be expected to care about the tag team division when there is absolutely nothing to care about?
In fact, WWE seemingly keeps holding the more over teams back in favor of the more gimmicky acts. Not only does that severely cheapen the overall division, it also makes it harder for fans to take it seriously.
Solution: Better storylines and opponents
In all honesty, it has become obvious that WWE has no idea how to make The Tag team division interesting again and is now throwing ideas against the wall to see if they stick.
Sure, there are teams like The Shield, Ziggler and McIntyre and AOP, but they still aren’t getting a good enough storyline to go on. T
If nothing else, WWE might be better off if they keep The Shield and Ziggler and McIntyre fighting over the belts for as long as possible.
At least that way, WWE can utilize some great in-ring work and succeed in making the feud personal in the process. then again it might become predictable after a while, but its better than what the division has been doing.
Problem confusing storytelling
There’s nothing wrong with WWE making a change to a storyline at the last minute, but when it doesn’t make any sense and hurts the overall experience of the story being told, it takes fans out of the story.
For example, WWE had The Shield reunite to help Roman Reigns fend off Braun Strowman from cashing in, but later explained it as a one-off and turned Strowman heel.
Then there’s WWE decision to start planting seeds about Dean Ambrose turning on his Shield brethren, seems a little too early. It also really makes the whole Shield reunion seem like a sham for some merchandise sales.
That’s at least how it feels anyway and besides, with Roman Reigns still receiving negative reactions from The WWE Universe, it looks like the reunion didn’t work on any level.
Solution: More fluid storytelling
If WWE wants to draw the fans back in, they need to stop hitting them with a constant barrage of left turns and focus on what made feuds great in the process.
They should have never turned Braun Strowman heel and in the future, should not turn a superstar heel in order to make Roman Reigns the babyface by comparison.
Not only did this do a huge disservice to Braun Strowman, who was on the babyface run of a lifetime at that point, it also ruined the chance for Reigns to finally turn heel.
In the end, WWE had the perfect reason to turn Reigns heel, The Shield, and instead choose to make his opponent out to be the heel instead.
In the end, WWE needs to stop doing things just for the sake of it. They need to get back to strong and consistent storytelling that will draw fans in and not detract from the story in any way.
They also need to stop sacrificing everyone at the altar of Roman Reigns, but that's another story for another time.
Problem: formulaic openings
While this could probably be true for both Monday Night Raw and Smackdown Live, it is the red brand that ultimately goes to this well way too often.
In fact, WWE has started Monday night Raw off countless times this year with Roman Reigns simply walking to the ring, calling out his opponent and setting a match for later in the night.
Maybe they switch it up every once in a while and the heel will come out first, but its been a pretty cut and paste formula for a while now.
Again, Smackdown Live is somewhat guilty of doing this too, but they at least showcased different feuds when they do it. With Raw, however, it’s the same homogenized mess of Reigns struggling through a promo, kicking an opponent’s ass and a match being set up.
Solution: Switch up the opening segment
If nothing else, WWE needs some variation, and with the absolutely stacked roster they have, they should be more than capable of doing this. Why not start things off with Ronda Rousey more?
At least that would draw publicity towards the opening of the show! Not only that, it would be a huge elevator for the women’s division to get to start the show a couple of times.
WWE could even start the show with Baron Corbin and Stephanie McMahon or a title match of some kind.
Just something to break up the monotony that is Roman Reigns starting every show. They could even put in The Authority versus Kurt Angle or Ronda Rousey every once in a while and it would be better than what fans have now.
Problem: No decent mid-card feuds
What Smackdown Live lacks in time, they sometimes make up for in quality content. Raw on the other hand just doesn’t have anything interesting happening in their mid-card right now and it's really bringing down the show!
Seriously though, how are fans supposed to get excited about mid-card feuds when the only notable ones besides Ronda Rousey’s is Titus O'Neil splitting up.
Of course, the tag team division is also involved in the main title picture right now, which means that it doesn’t really count, but what does Raw have left besides that? Sure, Bayley and Sasha Banks teaming up is a fan favorite and Baron Corbin is excelling in his heel authority role, but there is nothing of substance beyond those things.
Solution: Make the mid-card matter again
In the end, WWE needs to make the mid-card matter again. They need to make things personal between the two stars like they did on Smackdown Live with Charlotte and Becky Lynch.
If nothing else, WWE needs to give The WWE Universe a reason to care about the mid-card feuds on Raw and so far they just haven’t done that.
Smackdown Live originally did this with stuff like their fashion files segments, New Day promos or even their storylines with Daniel Bryan.
Unfortunately for Raw. They don't really have that big mid-card act that can shake things up like WWE needs them too. At least not yet anyway.
That's what they no doubt need though and they need it soon based on how the ratings are right now!
Problem: Use of Finn Balor
It’s really a crime how WWE is choosing to use Finn Balor. Not only Is that evident by the way they wrote him out of The Universal title picture the night after Summerslam, but also by what they have done with him since then. In fact, between his loss to Braun Strowman, and his multiple losses to Baron Corbin, Balor just isn’t getting the kind of treatment he deserves.
If WWE doesn’t want him in the title picture right now than that’s perfectly fine but doesn’t take someone that could be one of your biggest stars and turn them into a filler act. Of course, some people are probably happy that he is currently tagging with Bayley in the mixed match challenge, which is a step up for him, but it’s far removed from what Balor deserves.
Solution: Find a better role for Finn Balor
With that being said, WWE needs to strongly consider putting Balor somewhere higher on the card.
Maybe not in a championship role like the fans want, but give him the general manager job or something.
Don’t keep him off of Raw for weeks and then bring him back to team up with Bayley in the mixed match challenge. Doing that makes it hard for The WWE Universe to take him seriously anymore.
Look. They did it with Baron Corbin by making him general manager, they did it with The New Day on the commentary table and they did it with Roman Reigns by reuniting The Shield.
With that being said, WWE should be able to do the same thing with Balor, but have refused to do anything of note so far.
Problem: Lack of quality opponents for Ronda Rousey
Let’s be honest here.
Ronda Rousey versus Alexa Bliss looked very unrealistic and that’s only going to continue as Rousey plows through the women’s roster.
Unfortunately for WWE, besides Nia Jax and maybe Ember Moon, there aren’t any female superstars that can legitimately stack up against Rousey and it’s going to become more and more evident as time goes on.
In the end, WWE has two options when it comes to this situation. The first would be to put Rousey in multi women matches in order to increase the realism and what’s at stake.
That way, Rousey winning isn’t a foregone conclusion and WWE can put top stars in the feud without having them job out. WWE’s second option, however, would bring up some fresh blood from the NXT or Smackdown Live to take her on.
Solution: Bring in better opponents
While the superstar shakeup is a while away, maybe WWE could use the opportunity to put Shayna Baszler or someone similar onto Raw for a feud with Rousey.
At least that way, it’s believable and it would capitalize on Rousey’s real-life friendship with Baszler WWE could also do Rousey versus Natalya, but it’s unlikely that even Natalya could stack up against a beast like Rousey.
Then again, a feud with Natalya would be a good mix of reality and fiction, which could be enough to make fans forget about it not being believable.
It would also go in line with their reality era mantra and would probably also serve as another huge establishing moment for Rousey as a superstar.
Problem: Continuing to use Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar might be a strong box office attraction for The WWE, but that doesn’t mean he can’t wear out his welcome like other stars do.
Unfortunately for Lesnar, he really wore out his welcome during his yearlong Universal title reign and only made things worse by becoming more of a heel on camera as the months go on.
While all that was seemingly the logical conclusion to Brock Lesnar’s storyline and his time in The WWE, the company pulled a Hail Mary and brought Lesnar back at Hell in a Cell to confront Strowman and Reigns.
Not only was the move an excuse to get Strowman out of the match without a clean loss, but it also brings back someone into the title picture that The WWE Universe probably didn’t work.
Solution: Move Brock Lesnar to Smackdown Live
The only real way to solve this problem is to make Brock Lesnar a free agent and have him move between Raw and Smackdown Live.
At least that way, Lesnar has a plethora of new opponents and a new title to set his sights on, The move would also finally relieve Raw of Brock Lesnar for a while, which opens up the possibility of a younger star taking his place.
Going to Smackdown Live also allows Lesnar to have dream matches with Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, Andrade Ciem Almas and even Rusev.
Think about it! WWE has already made John Cena, The Bella Twins, The Undertaker and Triple H free agents, why not do the same with Brock Lesnar?
Problem: Use of Roman Reigns
Did anyone think this wouldn’t be on the list? Although Roman Reigns has managed to get a much better reaction from fans since reforming The Shield with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, some still find the reunion forced.
Unfortunately for WWE that, along with the stranglehold that Reigns still has on the title picture right now, makes Raw uninteresting to watch at times.
The easiest answer here would be to break up The Shield as soon as possible, which would most likely happen by Ambrose betraying the group, but some fans aren’t going to like that.
Then again, maybe WWE could do a happy medium and have Reigns lose the title, but still, have The Shield stay together for a while afterward.
Solution: Remove Roman Reigns from the title picture
Let's be honest here.
WWE needs to break up The Shield as soon as possible and get Roman Reigns out of the title picture in the process.
In all honesty, that's the only way WWE is going to stop the bleeding that is their current television ratings and it is becoming more and more evident by the day.
In fact, you could even go back to The September 24th episode of Monday Night Raw and see that Reigns is still not liked.
Not only was that evident by the chorus of boos he received during The Shield's promo, but also just by how much the fans seemed uninterested in the whole thing until Ambrose switching sides was teased.
In the end, The Shield is not a good thing for WWE right now. Of course, that's mainly due to other people being able to see the real reason behind the reunion, but others just genuinely seem to have a genuine hate for Reigns.
With that being said, WWE needs to remove the problematic Reigns from the picture and replace him with someone more suitable.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
