WWE Raw Discussion Thread

[Christian Slater]

Yes. Can you see him agreeing to lose his first two matches?

If it's by a means that sets up another feud I could. I think it's likely with the way they book Rollins.

 

[Eamonn]

Great Raw, enjoyed the ending though kind of thought HHH was going to reveal a statue of himself and turn on Rollins, "who the hell do you think you are demanding a statue, if anyone deserves one its me, we made you, we will break you". Maybe even HHH wanting to get one step closer to Flairs record himself. Nonetheless, I am excited to see Sting compete for the title, I just hope Rollins is kept strong in the run up and doesnt lose but I could see Sting costing him the US title before NOC as I doubt Rollins is doing double duty that night.

Awesome to see the Dudleys back and not just for one night for an extended period! I suspect they will be the Wyatts next feud after this Reigns/Ambrose stuff. Hope we get some Bubba single matches in the time though and good mic time to show he can still compete like that also, I'd love to see him against Cena.

The only disappointment really was the Divas stuff, the Miz TV segment was pretty bad, Paige really is the most unlikeable face since Cena and the match was pretty boring, not surprised the crowd shit on it, there is no character development, there is no real story, its just tag matches every week, they all exchange wins, what exactly are they fighting for? Why does no-one want to win the Divas title? They need to hold a divas tournament to face Nikki at NOC, get some edge to the storyline, mix up the competitors.

Next week or maybe even Smackdown will show other directions, I think Cesaro and Owens will get involved in the IC title picture, Cena might help out Reigns or something if he doesnt go back to the US title, I unfortunately think Orton and Sheamus will continue with a gimmick match. Not sure on Lesnars direction, I wish they'd get a rematch out of the way, I dont see why either would want to wait to WM, perhaps Kane will return next week and they will mini feud and fight at the Madison Square Garden event.

 

[Christian Slater]

Great Raw, enjoyed the ending though kind of thought HHH was going to reveal a statue of himself and turn on Rollins, "who the hell do you think you are demanding a statue, if anyone deserves one its me, we made you, we will break you". Maybe even HHH wanting to get one step closer to Flairs record himself. Nonetheless, I am excited to see Sting compete for the title, I just hope Rollins is kept strong in the run up and doesnt lose but I could see Sting costing him the US title before NOC as I doubt Rollins is doing double duty that night.

Awesome to see the Dudleys back and not just for one night for an extended period! I suspect they will be the Wyatts next feud after this Reigns/Ambrose stuff. Hope we get some Bubba single matches in the time though and good mic time to show he can still compete like that also, I'd love to see him against Cena.

The only disappointment really was the Divas stuff, the Miz TV segment was pretty bad, Paige really is the most unlikeable face since Cena and the match was pretty boring, not surprised the crowd shit on it, there is no character development, there is no real story, its just tag matches every week, they all exchange wins, what exactly are they fighting for? Why does no-one want to win the Divas title? They need to hold a divas tournament to face Nikki at NOC, get some edge to the storyline, mix up the competitors.

Next week or maybe even Smackdown will show other directions, I think Cesaro and Owens will get involved in the IC title picture, Cena might help out Reigns or something if he doesnt go back to the US title, I unfortunately think Orton and Sheamus will continue with a gimmick match. Not sure on Lesnars direction, I wish they'd get a rematch out of the way, I dont see why either would want to wait to WM, perhaps Kane will return next week and they will mini feud and fight at the Madison Square Garden event.

Agreed on the Divas. You can't just say there's a 'revolution' happening and just have matches with no rhyme or reason, but because they're new and have been given more time that's supposedly groundbreaking. Nobody is going for the title because they want Nikki to surpass AJ's title reign, so everything is in a holding pattern until then.

Also, isn't it due time they stopped calling them 'Divas'? It's extremely demeaning, very disrespectful and doesn't fit into this 'revolution' at all.

 

[Baz]

I marked out big time for the Dudleyz return haha, plus i'd be shocked if anyone who was about during the AE didn't do the wassup bit for the headubtt from the top rope.

As for Sting....I can't see he winning the title as Sting is all about the future. He's a proper old hand and would rather put over someone than the other way around. I can see Sting winning via DQ but nothing more.

The one question I have is, what happens with Cena now? Sure he's due his rematch for the US Title, however with them making the deal out of Cena catching and breaking Flairs record it will be happening at somepoint.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Good luck to Bully Ray..........fully deserves a run back in WWE.

but WWE really do need to just accept his Bully ray character and they'd have a really entertaining heel for a while.

 

[Gilly?]

Braun Stowman looks ace. Fucking unit.

 

[Libertine]

The only disappointment really was the Divas stuff, the Miz TV segment was pretty bad, Paige really is the most unlikeable face since Cena and the match was pretty boring, not surprised the crowd shit on it, there is no character development, there is no real story, its just tag matches every week, they all exchange wins, what exactly are they fighting for? Why does no-one want to win the Divas title? They need to hold a divas tournament to face Nikki at NOC, get some edge to the storyline, mix up the competitors.
.

Agree. It's fizzled out a bit and definitely agree about Paige, she needs to STFU.

Great Raw overall. They're clearly trying to make SSlam a second Wrestlemania, even down to the 'Raw the night after' judging by this. Went mad for the Dudleyz - totally unexpected, incredible.

 

[SamScfc]

I saw some rant by Nikki Bella on instagram moaning about the brooklyn crowd? What was going on?

Agree about the divas. A so called 'revolution' and there's nothing to it, just pointless.

 

[Baz]

Smarky crowds shitting over women getting more time, to be expected when you're in a smarky zone. The womens having a bitch about it is a shame though, they should just get on with it.

 

[ccfctommy]

Agreed. Would ever see Cena moan about this.

 

[T.A]

Not being funny but why would Triple H shit it and move out of the ring to a guy he beat just 4 months ago?

 

[Saddlerrad]

Not being funny but why would Triple H shit it and move out of the ring to a guy he beat just 4 months ago?

Wouldn't say he shit it, but was more like surprised and 'I'll get out of potential harms way'. I know what you're saying though. The whole hand shake thing at WM makes even less sense now.

 

[Hooray]

As for Sting....I can't see he winning the title as Sting is all about the future. He's a proper old hand and would rather put over someone than the other way around. I can see Sting winning via DQ but nothing more.

Sting to beat Seth, and then Sheamus cashes in on Sting.

 

[Stevencc]

Xavier Woods and that damn trombone was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

 

[Baz]

Xavier Woods and that damn trombone was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Not as funny as Big E's dancing though.

 

[Libertine]

Smarky crowds shitting over women getting more time, to be expected when you're in a smarky zone. The womens having a bitch about it is a shame though, they should just get on with it.

Disappointing from the crowd though. If they're a 'smarky' crowd full of NXT type fans you'd expect them to support them (at least the NXT 3). Though I agree the current booking/storyline is crap.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

To be fair WWE fans have been forced fed from WWE for about 15-20 years that womens wrestling is worthless sh*te you go on a toilet break during and is only there for cheap 3-year old comedy and some nice buttocks in tight pants.....................they will have to accept that if they truly are trying to make it more serious it will take time for fans to accept it.

I do hope they are, having watched a company which has at times built its shows on womens feuds I accept it more than I used to and there is some damn fine wrestling there if they get the right mixture in ring.

but they cannot slate WWe fans for not buying it yet when they have never given their fanbase a reason to follow it for years, they just need to try and keep presenting it different and fans will accept it.

 

[Oaf]

Xavier Woods and that damn trombone was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

YES.

People talking about The Dudley Boyz and Sting and whatever, fuck that. That trombone stole the fucking show. Oh my god I love the New Day.

Though wow... are we actually going to get a New Day vs Dudley Boyz feud? That is going to be fucking incredible.

I remember seeing something back along saying that the Tag division over the last few years is making superb progress (and it is, compare it now to 3 or 4 years ago, different leagues) but the one thing it really lacks is a sort of "tiering" of teams. Back in the golden days of tag teams, The Hardys, Dudleys and E+C were clearly the main event tag teams, getting involved with main event feuds and main eventing shows. And the likes of The APA, Al Snow and Blackman, The Hollies, Kai en Tai, T+A and whatever lower card. And that's around about what we're lacking right now... the tag belts seem to play hot potato from one team to another, with repeat title reigns being pretty uncommon (which is another reason I was delighted to see New Day regain the titles at Summerslam)... but The Dudley Boyz can really be used now to elevate certain teams and reestablish this tiering. This could be a superb move for the future of the division.

 

[iesty wfc]

Braun Stowman looks ace. Fucking unit.

looked pretty beasty. hasnt really had much TV exposure in NXT, mainly working live events. hope he doesnt do a mason ryan to the Wyatts

 

[Saddlerrad]

Good luck to Bully Ray..........fully deserves a run back in WWE.

but WWE really do need to just accept his Bully ray character and they'd have a really entertaining heel for a while.

I'll give it 6 months of the Dudleyz being together and getting over as baby faces before he turns. Especially considering the big lack of charismatic heels currently.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

it depends saddler as I do not think WWE will want to adapt his TNA character but at same time its that character turned his career really and made him interesting when the Dudleys became quite stale.

I will say this though........they can still go. they could easily mix in with younger tag teams, infact they did in 2014 in TNA. but it is whether they get used properly I suppose.

I hope it goes well for them, they have busted their asses in TNA to keep themselves going over the years and have earned a chance back in the spotlight, I do not think Devon will be about too long as he's just never been able to develop a character so is just about for a while, at least they may get more out of Bully if they used his singles character

a Tag team scene is desperately needed in wrestling

 

[Stevencc]

YES.

People talking about The Dudley Boyz and Sting and whatever, fuck that. That trombone stole the fucking show. Oh my god I love the New Day.

Though wow... are we actually going to get a New Day vs Dudley Boyz feud? That is going to be fucking incredible.

I remember seeing something back along saying that the Tag division over the last few years is making superb progress (and it is, compare it now to 3 or 4 years ago, different leagues) but the one thing it really lacks is a sort of "tiering" of teams. Back in the golden days of tag teams, The Hardys, Dudleys and E+C were clearly the main event tag teams, getting involved with main event feuds and main eventing shows. And the likes of The APA, Al Snow and Blackman, The Hollies, Kai en Tai, T+A and whatever lower card. And that's around about what we're lacking right now... the tag belts seem to play hot potato from one team to another, with repeat title reigns being pretty uncommon (which is another reason I was delighted to see New Day regain the titles at Summerslam)... but The Dudley Boyz can really be used now to elevate certain teams and reestablish this tiering. This could be a superb move for the future of the division.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

1. The New Day are my absolute guilty pleasure. They are fantastic. The most entertaining tag team since Edge & Christian. In fact they remind me a shit load of Edge & Christian, when they used to do their little schtick before the matches with Kurt Angle in tow. Fantastic. They (& Cesaro/Kidd before Kidd got injured) have completely rejuvenated the tag division.

2. It's hard to say with the whole Divas angle where it's going. I actually believe these rumours going round that Cena squashed the whole Charlotte title reign so that Nikki could get the longest title reign in divas history. Cena is a business man and has a huge amount of say, but the impression I get of Nikki is that she is selfish and all about herself. She feels threatened by all the rave reviews coming from NXT and the women, and she doesn't want to let go of the 1 thing that will guarantee her a future at the top of the division.
If you look at Charlotte in NXT and Charlotte in WWE, it's like chalk and cheese. WWE creative are really lazy. They haven't given anyone any kind of character since the revolution started. Instead everyone is just on the 'jealous diva' character trait that every women in WWE has. I do think Becky Lynch is trying her hardest and is coming off pretty good in WWE, she's trying to get a few crazy things in there to say and she obviously looks unique. But Charlotte is lost. Obviously great wrestling, but she doesn't do anything on the mic at all apart from 'wooooooo'. and they are with Paige, who you can't believe is against the Bellas because you change the channel to Total Divas and she's being best buds with them. Total Divas is the worst thing that could ever have happened to Paige.
There is 1 person who can still save the day, Sasha Banks. She has been helped by having this awesome feud with Bayley running parralel with the divas revolution, so her character is still fresh. She's also been helped by having the most unique character of all the 4 Horsewomen and by also being the best at playing the character. I would honestly have her finally end the tirany of the Nikki Bella title reign.

 

[Captain Scumbag]

The smarkier fans know perfectly well that women can work very good wrestling matches. Most of them will watch NXT every week. Some of them will be familiar with the smaller and/or foreign promotions – Shimmer, Chikara, AAA, etc. – that were presenting women's wrestling as credible (rather than comically inept soft-core porn) long before WWE stumbled upon the idea. Some fans might need time to adjust, but the smarkier fans shouldn't.

The problem is, the smark fans also understand that you don't get women wrestlers – hell, any wrestlers – over by lumping nine of them together in some multi-team clusterfuck that has no obvious purpose and direction. The gals got over in NXT because the attention was focused on the the 3-4 who could actually wrestle (despite them not being the prettiest) and because the in-ring quality was unusually high. That was the selling point. Some of the 'creative' stuff accompanying it – character development, stories, etc. – was pretty hit and miss. It wasn't that long ago that the geniuses down in Florida had Becky Lynch literally river-dancing to the ring. But what people really tuned in for (and now remember) was the great matches.

If the ambition is to repeat the success of NXT on the main show, they shouldn't depart too much from that selling point. It's pro-wrestling 101, really. Stick the spotlight on the people who have talent and keep it away (so far as possible) from those who don't. If WWE promoted Bayley and recalled Natalya, they'd have half-a-dozen women on the main roster who actually know how to work in the ring. That's who the focus ought to be on. The others should either be discarded or sidelined in much more peripheral non-wrestling roles. They should aim at getting across some kind of category distinction: annoying, no-talent hussies like the Bellas are divas, while the likes of Charlotte, Sasha et al. are women wrestlers. I agree with the above poster: someone like Paige should never be on a show like Total Divas. Ditto for the ones they've just brought up.

Making the above happen will probably take time, which is why it was dumb of them to brand the whole thing as a revolution. The fans do need to show some patience, but they're also right to take a giant dump on rubbish booking/content, because that's the only way WWE will realise it's doing it all wrong.

It's a problem with creative rather than talent but knowing that doesn't stop the fans booing people like John Cena and Roman Reigns out of the building, so why should it be any different for the gals? A lot is forgiven in developmental because it's understood that people are still learning, but part of being on the main show is dealing with brutal crowds. The idea that the women should be spared that treatment seems rather White-Knight-Syndrome-ish and patronising and not at all in the spirit of taking them more seriously.

 

[Stevencc]

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

hot potato
hot potato
hot potato
hot potato

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Captain Scumbag]

"The Dudleys don't even respect furniture."

Three hours of Raw to fill every week and they put stuff like that on the website...

 

[T.A]

I swear Steph gets fitter each week.

 

[mase]

She went through a stage of looking a bit frumpy for a while but the past couple of weeks she's looked great tbf.

Thought Sting'#s promo was pretty good on RAW as well. They need him in and talking/doing stuff to get him over/known with the fans who aren't aware of who he is/what he's done otherwise the match will be pretty flat atmosphere-wise imo.

 

[Baz]

I swear Steph gets fitter each week.

She has been for a while now, she's really one who has got better with age without doubt.

As for this weeks Raw, felt a bit hit and miss to me, same as most weeks really.