Official Raw thread

[OregonDucks]

I've been binge watching replays of Raw in 1998-1999 and I got realizing something. Most big moments during a match happened at PPV. Nearly all big moments not during a match was on Raw (whatever SCSA drove in, DX moments, Undertaker's sacrifices, Brian Pillman has a gun, This is your life). And it all led up to the next major PPV and climaxed at WrestleMania.

the WWE Network, although awesome, has killed all PPV moments. "PPV's" are just glorified RAWs now. Along with the Network the 3 hour RAW's have also ruined PPV's because WWE needs to fill out a 3 hour show. So stuff that would be saved for a PPV are not crammed into a RAW episode so they can fill time.

 

[iowajerms]

the WWE Network, although awesome, has killed all PPV moments. "PPV's" are just glorified RAWs now. Along with the Network the 3 hour RAW's have also ruined PPV's because WWE needs to fill out a 3 hour show. So stuff that would be saved for a PPV are not crammed into a RAW episode so they can fill time.

I think WrestleMania would have been a lot better if they didn't try to get the entire Raw and Smackdown payroll on the card. 2 battle royals and 2 tag team belts that were Fatal-Four Way. That alone is too many.

 

[tducey]

The 3 hr RAW has hurt WWE a lot, I agree. They need to go back to 2 hr RAW's.

 

[jeffro151]

Rollins and Styles just put on an amazing match!

 

[futballiscool]

Rollins and Styles just put on an amazing match!

Yeah that match was incredible.

I'm hoping Styles turns heel tommorow night so we get a series of matches out of them

 

[wazzu31]

The 3 hr RAW has hurt WWE a lot, I agree. They need to go back to 2 hr RAW's.

True, but at the same time WWE has massively put hired and spent on talent for the hours they have available and way too much talent for their crappy writers to actually come up with storylines for.

 

[jeffro151]

Yay, more Lesnar being shoved down our throats.

 

[Judge Fudge]

Wow!!!!

I kinda like the shock and awe of lenser winning.

IMHO. The WWE did alot ALOT of things right at MITB.

Like WM. Every match was phenomenal from start to finsh

 

[wildturkey]

Yay, more Lesnar being shoved down our throats.

So glad I watched Game of Thrones instead


Also, you can tell they are desperate and just throwing shit at the wall. Lesnar winning MITB, introducing a new title apparently on Raw (I think that's what I read). They'll do anything to try to pop a rating instead of the one thing they need to do; tell stories worth a damn

 

[Mistaken4193]

Lesnar Cashing in on the 1st SDLive on FOX is about as obvious as it gets

 

[Judge Fudge]

So glad I watched Game of Thrones instead


Also, you can tell they are desperate and just throwing shit at the wall. Lesnar winning MITB, introducing a new title apparently on Raw (I think that's what I read). They'll do anything to try to pop a rating instead of the one thing they need to do; tell stories worth a damn

Hardcore championship coming back????

 

[futballiscool]

The WWE basically let smark consensus book the shows the past few months. Rollins beat Brock, Kofi won at WM, Becky had both belts and was onSD and Raw as champion, AJ and KO were made number one contenders. The shows are setting record lows in ratings. I have no issue whatsoever with WWE responding by putting Lesnar back in the picture with the briefcase.

Rollins/Styles was fire. Got my fingers crossed this is the start of a major feud that goes until SS with a Styles turn.

I also thought the show had a different feel and look tonight.

 

[RobToxin]

A few things about Vince McMahon.

1. Vince McMahon will rib someone right in front of the audience.

2. Vince McMahon is one of the most overly-vindictive people ever in the wrestling business.

3. Vince will go to great lengths to take rib-type jabs at someone he is pissed off at.

I can imagine at this time that Sasha Botch is not one of Vince's favorite people right not.

This might be way out in left field but I do wonder....

How much of Bayley cashing in last night is a Vince McMahon vindictive rib aimed at Sasha.

 

[jeffro151]

 

[Judge Fudge]

The WWE basically let smark consensus book the shows the past few months. Rollins beat Brock, Kofi won at WM, Becky had both belts and was onSD and Raw as champion, AJ and KO were made number one contenders. The shows are setting record lows in ratings. I have no issue whatsoever with WWE responding by putting Lesnar back in the picture with the briefcase.

Rollins/Styles was fire. Got my fingers crossed this is the start of a major feud that goes until SS with a Styles turn.

I also thought the show had a different feel and look tonight.

Styles work best with someone with him.

What I would do. Lesnar/??????( I think lashley) vs Rollins/Styles.

Rollins falling tags Styles. Styles hits phenomenal forearm and hesitates covering the beast. Rollins gets up. STYLES CLASH on Rollins. AJ Pulls Lesnar over Rollins and sits on the apron smiling. 1 2 3.

Pair Styles with Heyman. Bam AJ wins in the strap in the June US ( Proving Ground) PPV.

Continue with them with Brock doing fake cash in attempts at Summer Slam and Survivor Series that ends up with Brock and AJ Laughing and hugging.

Royal Rumble. AJ beats Balor. Brock comes out and Aj starts laughing and going in for a hug. BOOM, BELLY To BELLY SUPLEX!!!!!!! BROCK cashes in and wins.

Heyman comes out the next night with Shane and Security, fearing a AJ attack. He basically says that was the plan all along.

AJ earns a rematch at Wrestlemania and Retains

 

[wildturkey]

The WWE basically let smark consensus book the shows the past few months. Rollins beat Brock, Kofi won at WM, Becky had both belts and was onSD and Raw as champion, AJ and KO were made number one contenders. The shows are setting record lows in ratings. I have no issue whatsoever with WWE responding by putting Lesnar back in the picture with the briefcase.

Rollins/Styles was fire. Got my fingers crossed this is the start of a major feud that goes until SS with a Styles turn.

I also thought the show had a different feel and look tonight.

The shows have been trending downward long before they did that. It's the logical endpoint of spending the last decade+ of not building any true lasting stars, instead just kept relying on Cena or older guys like HHH, Undertaker, and Brock Lesnar to pop a rating for a few months when things get creaky.

 

[futballiscool]

The shows have been trending downward long before they did that. It's the logical endpoint of spending the last decade+ of not building any true lasting stars, instead just kept relying on Cena or older guys like HHH, Undertaker, and Brock Lesnar to pop a rating for a few months when things get creaky.

The ratings have been trending downward for a longtime but the decline has been particularly steep the past couple months.

Can you imagine the reaction right now if Cena, Roman, and Charlotte were being pushed while they were hitting all time lows?

I'm a fan of all the wrestlers I mentioned but the show clearly needs star power right now and Lesnar gives that to them.

 

[wildturkey]

The ratings have been trending downward for a longtime but the decline has been particularly steep the past couple months.

Can you imagine the reaction right now if Cena, Roman, and Charlotte were being pushed while they were hitting all time lows?

I'm a fan of all the wrestlers I mentioned but the show clearly needs star power right now and Lesnar gives that to them.

See, that's exactly the point I'm getting at and why I disagree with it. They're in this spot because they go for the quick and easy fix. But the quick/easy fix doesn't last. They need to bite the bullet and fundamentally address the problem instead of going for scotch tape fixes.

 

[futballiscool]

See, that's exactly the point I'm getting at and why I disagree with it. They're in this spot because they go for the quick and easy fix. But the quick/easy fix doesn't last. They need to bite the bullet and fundamentally address the problem instead of going for scotch tape fixes.

There's probably a ton of network pressure on them right now to stabilize the ratings.

They gave the vocal internet fanbase exactly what they wanted at WM and post Mania ratings were down 25 percent. I knew that was a bad sign.

So I agree the longterm answer is better storytelling and booking but for now they need Lesnar back in the picture to stop the bleeding. I don't think they're mutually exclusive. You can use Lesnar and still improve the creative of the show and build new stars.

 

[Mistaken4193]

I dont care what twitter says...the 24/7 rule being back is awesome.