Sadly enough we do not have time to write recaps of Raw and Smackdown like we used to do. But analyzing the show and expressing our opinion is something we have time for. Once again Raw did not live up to the same standard that was set two weeks ago, coming out of Payback. But this was still a decent and entertaining show with a pretty solid live-crowd.
But what was good and what was bad with this Raw? Here are my top 3 list with "the best and the worst" from Raw:
The Worst!
3) To much time-fillers and backstage segments!
The best way to make wrestling promotion entertaining is by delivering promos, brawls, matches and shocking moments without slowing the pace down. The Raw after Payback managed to do that. Fans was electrified and excited all night long because of all the solid matches and segments that was delivered. There were only a couple of vignettes and time-fillers during the entire show, which meant that the live-crowd never got time to "cool down". If you want a show to succeed you need to get the fans on fire! The overall product is so much better then, and its good for ratings.
But sadly enough this Raw had to many time-fillers and backstage segments. When you got in to the "mode" and had your eyes locked on the TV, a time-filler or backstage segment appeared and made you lose your interest towards what was happening. The time-fillers and a lot of the backstage segments last night was kind of annoying! This is the bad thing about having a 3-hour show instead of a two hour show.
So please WWE, take more time to write the scripts. Make all of the hours count, and start putting your superstars in meaningful feuds. With three hours of Raw pr week, there should be plenty of time to build between 5 to 10 feuds, instead of wasting our time with meaningless "squashing" matches and backstage segments as time-fillers.
2) The McMahon's storyline!
In the beginning I really loved the "thought" of a possible "corporation feud" between Hunter and Vince. But WWE has done nothing to make us invest in this "feud" or whatever it is. For 5 weeks now they having been doing the exact same backstage segment to hype this feud. First HHH gives Vicky some orders and tips on how to run the show. Then Vince comes in and tells Vicky to do the opposite of what HHH said. Then Stephanie McMahon enters the scene later on as the "confused" lady stuck in the middle of their feud.
If WWE doesn't start building this so called feud towards something "big", a lot of us fans will get sick of the same backstage "mumbo jumbo" segment week in and week out. Vince knows everything about making a feud entertaining, now its about damn time that he makes his own feud at least a bit entertaining and meaningful.
1) The Cm Punk and Paul Heyman angle!
Don't get me wrong. I also think that a possible Cm Punk vs Brock Lesnar (W/Paul Heyman) should be billed slowly and over a longer time period. But last night it felt wrong and badly planned to me. I still think that down the line this will be the most epic feud of the year, but they can't continue on this road.
First of all. Cm Punk is gonna be a part of the WWE-ladder match at MITB. His focus should be there and not towards Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar at the moment. He buried the hatchet with Heyman last week and showed Heyman that he still trusts in him. This should have been it! They should have let Punk take his focus over to the ladder match at the moment.
Than at Money In The Bank when Punk's focus was on the ladder match, Paul Heyman should have come back to the picture. Heyman could stab Punk in the back during the match, which would set up the storyline for Punk and Lesnar.
Because at the moment Punk is stuck in the middle of two story-lines. They have a lot of time to continue the Punk and Heyman angle, so they should not have rushed it like last night!
But I still think this feud will explode down the line, but I did not like what they were doing last night.
The Best!
3) John Cena vs Alberto Del Rio!
This was simply said a fantastical performance by both men. Cena proved for the 999 999 time why he is the top-dog of this business. He is great on the mic (when he is serious) and he is a great performer. Everything from the Cena crossbody to all those submission counters made this match so good. The fans was in on it to! The ending was great to, because it made both superstars look strong after the match was over.
2) The build up towards the WWE-ladder match!
The show opened with a solid segment which featured every superstar competing in the MITB ladder match for the WWE-contract. Rob Van Dam was the only on who did not appear, but Punk mentioned him when he was on the mic. This segment was solid, and it helped building the match!
At this point I am actually not sure who is going to win. Personally I think its going to be either Bryan, Van Dam or Punk who wins the match. But who knows? This is actually the first time in a long time that I have no idea of what WWE has planned for us. That makes me excited, which means WWE has done something right.
1) Dolph Ziggler's face-run!
Ziggler is getting hotter and hotter every day now. His performance last night was simply amazing, and once again fans chanted their guts out for him. He is not the usual type of face to, which makes this so entertaining! He is still cocky and arrogant, but in "playful" kind of way now. He also showed another way to take out the 3MB by ducking their punches and letting them pound each other. Ziggler, The Wyatt's and Bryan is the two hottest things within the WWE-universe at the moment, and hopefully Ziggler will get his breakthrough this summer!
He deserves it!
So what do you think about last nights show? Tell us your best and worst from last night in the comment section below.
Follow or contact us on twitter: @Hjo_4life and @Dylan_Corcoran_
Have a great one!
