Back again for the latest installment of RAW Talk. I was interested to see how RAW would respond as it finished last in the Survivor Series rankings. Before I continue if you are new reading this do not expect me to write on every segment. I write about the good, the bad, and ignore the rest. You have to standout either positively or negatively to make it in this report.
I want to start of saying I am All In in on a full blown baby face run for Kevin Owens. He will succeed as the top baby face of RAW just give him the ball and let him run. I am also All In on Seth Rollins as a top heel. I enjoyed Seth’s prior work as a heel because he made you hate him. His words and actions were so heinous he knows how to get heat.
Look at last night, he bearded the most respected wrestlers in that locker room to get heat and it worked. Randy Orton, (his reaction is must watch, hilarious) Charlotte, and Rey Mysterio were all talked down by the so called “leader” of RAW. I liked what they tried to do here but I had questions. If creative wanted to bring heat, where was Becky? I get it Becky stood tall but she didn’t win. Wasn’t that the point of this segment to point out all who lost. Calling out your girlfriend and someone who is much more popular than you, would be golden. I also feel he could have called out names one by one. I was lost why a loser of Survivor Series was calling out the losers, from that standpoint. The Viking Raiders should have been calling out people.
Kevin Owens coming in as everyone left was the best way to do it. The fans are solely behind Kevin Owens. Owens deserves this run because this is fresh and RAW needs a fresh start. Think about all the feuds that can be done now with Kevin leading the charge as top face.
One of those feuds was teased last night when Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins headlined RAW. The match was another example of the chemistry these two have in the ring with each other. Another positive from this main event was elevating the AOP as a top heel tag team. The Viking Raiders and the AOP can bring back tag team wrestling with a lengthy feud. I still believe you build AOP feed them the Street Profits before the Raiders, but the end result will be entertaining. I say the Street Profits because they are popular, the fans love them. What better way way to gain heat is than beat up a popular tag team who has no direction right now. I would love to see Seth aligned with the AOP because look at the success Seth has when aligned with stables.
I liked the supposed heel turn of Seth but I think they could have pulled a double switch last night. Why not have Drew McIntyre win that fatal four way and turn Drew face against The OC? This was the perfect time to turn Drew because he took out NXT’s tough guy Walter the night before. Drew was riding a high so just let him ride it out, if it fails it fails. This is RAW we are talking about where failed segments happen more than not. Owens and Drew as top faces could really turn the ship heading to Wrestle Mania season.
The matches (that were actually not squashes) we’re fine but once again the ladies reigned supreme. If it wasn’t for the twists and turns last night, I would have put the ladies first. Charlotte and Asuka are amazing in the ring together. I hope this feud continues and also leads to Asuka and Charlotte facing one another one the grandest stage of them all. The storyline is already there you just need to let these two amazing athletes do their thing.
After this past weekend there is no doubt that the ladies of WWE and NXT are headliners so let the ladies end every RAW. Doing that would be both fresh and it would stand out from any other program.
The only other noteworthy news from last night was Rey Mysterio defeating A.J. Styles for the U.S. Championship. I already said I would have put Drew in this spot but let’s see where this goes. Rey is a fan favorite and a good guy so, whatever. A.J. losing sucks but he doesn’t need a belt to get over, he is in my opinion the best in the business.
I just don’t know if I am excited for Rey vs A.J. or does this loss mean The OC is free to join NXT for a while to do something with Finn Balor? Keep your fingers crossed because that would keep the ratings in NXT’s favor on a regular basis.
That’s all for this week, keep watching and keep reading at Belly Up Wrestling.
