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RAW last week was hailed as the best episode of RAW in recent memory but the follow up wasn't strong enough. Moreover, being the go home episode for Fastlane, the episode didn't create much heat for the event.
This week's RAW featured the return of Becky Lynch from suspension, a tag team championship bout, and the highlight of the show, Shield reunion.
Two matches for Fastlane got confirmed this week, i.e. the Shield vs the trio of Corbin, Lashley, and McIntyre, and Charlotte vs Becky Lynch, with a stipulation that if Becky wins, she gets added to the RAW women's championship match at WrestleMania.
Multiple storylines were continued for Fastlane and HHH cut a passionate promo hyping up his match against Batista at Wrestlemania. Although, some segments didn't make much sense, given the storylines from the past. Here are 3 such segments from this week's RAW.
#3 Becky still had her contractual match for Wrestlemania
Last week, Ronda Rousey relinquished her championship on RAW which made Stephanie McMahon reinstate Becky Lynch and announce a match between Becky and Charlotte for the RAW Women's Championship. Everything was going well until the main event, where Becky was made to sign a Hold Harmless agreement, but she was still getting her title opportunity.
Things suddenly made a turn when Ronda Rousey stormed into the ring and asked Stephanie to return her title and in the process turned heel and attacked Becky Lynch.
The point to be taken is when Rousey reclaimed her title, Stephanie changed the stipulation of the match at Fastlane, and now, if Becky wins against Charlotte, then she gets added to the WrestleMania title match.
What is confusing from this segment is that Becky has to again earn her way into the championship match while, as is evident in the video below, she was only suspended for 60 days and there was no mention of her title opportunity being taken away. Charlotte was added just to fill the gap but now as the suspension is lifted, Becky still needs to earn her title shot which is baffling.
#2 Strowman is a face, not a Bully
First of all, I'm not acquainted with the SNL show much like most of the non-US audience so I really question their spot as the correspondents of WrestleMania ahead of personnel from within the industry. I don't doubt their talent, but WrestleMania is a sports entertainment event and should focus on talents from within the industry. Still congratulations to both of them on getting to host the biggest event in sports entertainment.
Both the hosts featured in multiple segments throughout the night, one of which was with Braun Strowman. Colin Jost rubbed Strowman the wrong way and Strowman grabbed him by the neck and raised him in the air, then a commercial break aired and after it ended, Colin was still hanging and as soon as others brought him back down, he no sold it as nothing happened.
The first thing that bothers me is how is he not unconscious after minutes of being choked. Secondly, Strowman is a face and such behavior with an on-screen guest is not face-like. Moreover, there was a tease that he is going to be involved with them at WrestleMania as well.
#1 Confusion among the Shield brothers
Dean Ambrose turned on Seth Rollins on the night of Roman's announcement about his Leukemia. The heel turn was the most unexpected and at the same time thrilling turn in recent history. Since then, both Rollins and Ambrose went to war with each other. But ever since Ambrose announced his contract expiration and denied to resign, strange bookings are happening around him.
A few weeks ago, he questioned Rollins, why he didn't have his back and then suddenly he doesn't want anything to do with the Shield. Rollins too agreed to reunite the Shield only because of Roman but it was awkward to see Rollins persuading his backstabber to rejoin him for one last time.
When all is said and done, the band is back together, but the confusion and awkward moments that led to it made the process a little underwhelming.
