'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Everyone in the sports entertainment fraternity was thrilled to see an encounter between Seth Rollins and The Fiend inside the dreaded structure known as Hell in a Cell. But when the match played out, it was so anticlimactic that the arena was drowned out in jeers.
So many believed that we would see the think tank of WWE, particularly Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman, rectify the wrongs from Hell in a Cell. However, the two biggest stars in the red brand, Seth Rollins and The Fiend, did not show up on the company's flagship show this week.
What could have been the reason for leaving out these two superstars from the mix? I do believe that these 5 theories can shed light on the entire situation.
Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of the points that I have outlined.
#5 To sell the attack on Seth Rollins
While blood was a big part of the Attitude Era and the subsequent Ruthless Aggression Era, it has all but disappeared in 2019, where the product is a lot tamer and sanitized than ever before. The match at Hell in a Cell ended with Seth Rollins retaining his Championship, but writhing on the floor, bleeding from the mouth, as The Fiend locked in the Mandible Claw on him to close out what had been an eventful night.
I'm guessing that if blood was involved, WWE wanted to make it seem like it was a serious injury, and they couldn't have him return as if nothing had happened on the following night. The Hell in a Cell is supposed to change you, to scar you, and Rollins was probably laid out to sell the effects of the cell, in a big way.
#4 To make The Fiend a special attraction
Last night, one of the points I mentioned in my article about why The Fiend did not become the Universal Champion (link here) was because WWE did not want two part-time Champions leading both their brands. There were some comments with regard to the statement because technically, Bray Wyatt is not a part-timer, is he? But in a lot of ways, he is in the same category as Brock Lesnar.
WWE obviously wants The Fiend to only show up on certain occasions, with the lantern, and wrestle in the way that he does, which is no-selling every big move. He's not going to be wrestling every week on TV at all, and this was evident from the fact that he was left out of this show. Personally, I think that it's a wise move because it keeps him fresh and well, interesting.
And hence, The Fiend wasn't on TV on this week's show.
#3 To not have either man booed upon arrival
Daniel Bryan considers the WWE Universe to be fickle, and he reminds us of this frequently. This is because they say that they want something and when they get it, they tend to turn on it soon afterward, as we saw with Becky Lynch's push to the top of the mountain.
Seth Rollins too was a crowd favorite, whom the audience supported all the way to the promised land, but now they've begun to sour on him as a babyface. In part, this is also WWE's fault because they've not booked him to be a cool character like Kevin Owens, but instead a white-meat, clean-cut nice guy.
In any case, because of how things played out at Hell in a Cell, Rollins was certain to get booed if he showed up this week. Maybe after the draft, things would change, and he'll be percieved differently by the fans.
WWE could always turn him heel too because he excels in the role.
#2 To not spoil storylines before the draft
Let's assume that Seth Rollins had come out this week, only to be confronted by someone like Randy Orton or Baron Corbin. It would have been a massive spoiler and it would have ruined the outcome of the upcoming draft. WWE definitely does not want anyone to know who's going where right now.
Had The Fiend come out to face Seth Rollins, it could have reignited interest in the feud which would have been dissipated again if the two men were to be split up. The uncertainty with regard to who's where is the way WWE wants it to be, I suppose. That is why no major storylines were forwarded this week on RAW, as well.
This week's episode of RAW felt like a filler episode before the important episode of SmackDown on FOX coming our way this weekend. Everything begins anew from the upcoming draft, I guess.
#1 To showcase underutilized talent
One thing that was clear from this episode of RAW was that WWE realized at some point that a lot of the underutilized players would play a big role once the rosters were split. Hence we saw the Singh Brothers show up, we saw the Lucha House Party in a featured match and so on.
Apollo Crews has had some time on screen, and so has Aleister Black, but the fact of the matter is that they haven't been major players in recent weeks. It's clear that with the draft coming up, WWE Creative woke up and realised that they need to shine the spotlight on underused players.
In any case, this meant that Seth Rollins and The Fiend would have to take a backseat for this episode, at least. And this was the reason that they probably did not show up.
Do you think it was a smart move overall?
Follow Sportskeeda Wrestling and Sportskeeda MMA on Twitter for all the latest news. Do not miss out!
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
