'%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)
I know that a lot of you have been waiting for my 'best and worst' analysis and I promise to get to that in just a minute. However, I have to address the fact that Sami Zayn mentioned AEW on RAW this week.
Over the years, WWE has not really even mentioned the competition by name, except for taking digs at them through their promos and their skits. One notable time that they did mention the competition was when former WWE RAW General Manager Kurt Angle told Zayn and Owens that TNA was hiring.
So why did Zayn have to bring up the fact that AEW was around on WWE's flagship show? Let me try and answer this question through an analytical article.
Be sure to let me know your thoughts and views in the comments.
#5 To set the third hour apart from the remaining show
With the introduction of the 24/7 Championship, we were also informed that the third hour of RAW will be different from the ones that precede it. Which does not mean that the third hour will feature smut and racy segments like it did back in the Attitude Era. It's a new time and a new WWE, where you can only push the envelope to a certain limit.
And honestly, this is one of the only ways that WWE can get a rise out of the crowd in the current era, with all their restrictions. By name dropping AEW, Sami Zayn did something that caused all of the internet to go wild with theories and speculation.
We all know that this is where the biggest drop in viewership happens, with regard to numbers. So, expect a lot of more this in the third hour of RAW, going forward.
#4 To let AEW know the fight is on
Ahead of Double or Nothing, Inside the Ropes conducted an interview with Eric Bischoff. Bischoff was asked how Vince McMahon would react if AEW were to start beating him in ratings.
This was Bischoff's reaction:
I think in a twisted dark way, he'd probably, very privately, be excited about that cuz it would fire him up. He's a fighter, you know. If there's one thing I've learned about Vince McMahon, competing against him, being in Federal Litigation and court against him, and working for him...he is at his core, a fighter. And I think he likes to fight.
This was Vince McMahon's way of letting the Khan Family know that he'd acknowledged the competition and that it was time for them to bring in their big guns. Not having had someone to joust with for so many years, could potentially have made him very rusty.
#3 For WWE to appear as 'the bigger man' in response to All Elite Wrestling
Cody Rhodes took on his brother Dustin in one of the best matches at Double or Nothing. But it was what happened before the match that actually made the headlines.
Cody Rhodes would come out with his wife Brandi in a very Triple H like manner and go on to destroy a Triple H-like throne with a sledgehammer. Every eye was peeled on Monday Night RAW to see just what WWE would do in response to the first volleys being fired.
WWE is restrained by a lot of sponsor obligations and network guidelines and cannot go overboard as they probably would in the 90s. They also proved that they were the 'bigger men' by not resorting to a cheap tactic, but only by mentioning AEW in passing.
WWE implied that it wouldn't resort to cheap tactics.
#2 To let the rowdy fans know that WWE isn't scared of AEW chants
Everyone expected that this week's RAW would be great after the success of AEW Double or Nothing. Instead, it was even worse than usual. Not surprisingly, during the Shane McMahon vs. Lance Anoa'i match, AEW chants broke out in the audience.
Now, we've seen WWE shows get hijacked with chants like 'CM Punk' and 'Roman sucks' chants in the past. And we've also seen the likes of Shane and Stephanie McMahon embrace those chants and respond with a suitable reply to the fans. They are their father's children after all and thrive in challenging situations.
So, Sami Zayn blurted out AEW during his segment to let the crowd know that WWE wasn't afraid of a little competition. By having Sami Zayn come out and mention AEW's name, fans may actually be discouraged from chanting for the newly launched promotion.
#1 To set the stage for AEW to respond
During the Monday Night Wars, both WWE and WCW took shots at one another. I mean you had WWE come up with the Gillberg character after the success of WCW's biggest star- Goldberg.
Similarly, WCW took a shot at WWE by parodying Jim Ross and creating a character called 'Oklahoma', a character that was created in poor taste but as they say, all's fair in love and Monday Night Wars. Who can forget the fact that D-Generation X actually invaded a WCW show?
We all know that Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H are three very competitive individuals indeed. This was their way of saying that they have acknowledged the competition and they cannot wait to see how Cody Rhodes and the Bucks respond.
This back and forth could be fun for fans and could actually make the product exciting again.
