'%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)
It was an episode of Raw that saw the absence of many top superstars such as John Cena, Brock Lesnar and also CM Punk, but despite this, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, The Shield and the Wyatt Family made it a show worth watching.
Here are 5 talking points from the show:
1. Is Daniel Bryan finally the face of the WWE?
Raw opened up with Randy Orton telling the WWE Universe that he is better than Batista, and he would defeat him at WrestleMania XXX after winning the Elimination Chamber match. The Authority entered and Triple H talked about making someone else the “face of the WWE,” much to the crowd’s joy who started chanting Yes! Stephanie added that they are thinking about making Bryan the face of the company if he defeats Orton in the show’s main event. Surprisingly, Triple H also joined in the YES! chants to end the segment.
Later in the main event, Bryan picked up a clean win over Orton, in a match which was one of the best of the year so far, despite interference from Kane. So, does it mean that Bryan is the new face of the WWE? We are going to find it out very soon.
2. Why did Kane interfere in Bryan’s match with Orton?
Earlier on the show Triple H and Stephanie talked about making Bryan the face of the company and it looked like that they were eager to, but then why did Kane interfere in the match and then alongwith Orton assaulted Bryan after it? We all know that Kane is the Director of Operations and hence, a part of The Authority, so does that mean they sent him to attack his former tag team partner Bryan? Then what was that initial segment in ‘praise’ of Bryan all about?
Is Kane going to play a big role in this resumed Authority/Orton-Bryan angle? It looks likely since Kane’s fresh feud with CM Punk couldn’t come to a conclusion as the latter left the company and as the rumor has it, Bryan is going to face Triple H at WrestleMania XXX. So is this the beginning of the Bryan-Triple H feud?
3. The Shield’s increasing egotistical issues
The Shield were involved in a 6-man tag team match with Rey Mysterio, Big E Langston and Kofi Kingston. The match was at its end as Reigns delivered a Superman Punch to Langston and looked set to finish things off with the Spear, but Ambrose tagged himself in, much to the dislike of his partner and pinned Langston after a Forward DDT. The Shield won the match but, heat was there between Reigns and Ambrose, and Rollins, again, had to separate them.
Then, the Wyatt Family cut another amazing promo, and they are looking all set to capitalize on the increasing rift between Ambrose and Reigns. If The Shield’s rifts continue like this, then Wyatt Family are definitely going to emerge as the victors at Elimination Chamber, and The Shield would (eventually) disband.
4. Why wasn’t CM Punk mentioned at all?
It’s been a week since Punk ‘left’ the WWE, but the company hasn’t released any statement on the superstar and neither they mentioned him during the entire show as if nothing has happened. Punk’s profile is still there in the ‘Superstars’ section on WWE’s official website, but nothing is clear at the moment and WWE has decided not to mention him until things are clear. And as Cageside Seats has reported, Vince McMahon is going to personally handle this CM Punk situation as he really wants him back in the company. After these negotiations, WWE would release a statement on CM Punk and maybe stop confiscating the “CM Punk” signs brought inside the arena by the fans.
5. Emma makes her WWE debut.
It wasn’t in a match but in a dance-off against Summer Rae, where former NXT star, Emma made her WWE debut. Chosen by the returning Santino Marella from the crowd, Emma showed her dance moves where she only moved her arms with a grin on her face, but the fans still declared her the winner of the match, and this marked her main roster debut. What one should hope for is a Summer Rae-Emma feud on WWE, and watch them recreate their NXT magic on the main roster. Emma’s debut is surely going to improve the Divas section.
