Written by: Kevin Berge (All images courtesy of: WWE.com)
And in one fell swoop, the truth came out: Vince McMahon does have a favorite son, and it is not Triple H or Stephanie.
Shane McMahon Returns to Stake His Claim to WWE
Overview: Vince McMahon came out to award the first ever Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award to his daughter Stephanie McMahon. The crowd booed the whole segment to oblivion until Shane McMahon interrupted for a sudden return that no one expected.
Shane was back clearly to tell his family that they were doing a disservice to an award made in his grandfather's name. Both Vince and Stephanie were not happy about Shane interrupting who brought it to Stephanie's attention that he was actually the heir to the McMahon throne even though he was away a while.
Vince agreed that Shane actually had control of the company if he wanted to come back, and Shane forced Stephanie to leave the ring. Shane McMahon then went off on Vince, saying he was ruining the company and wanted to save it by having control of Monday Night Raw and therefore WWE.
Vince made it clear that the only way he'd agreed was to have one match with Shane wrestling against Vince's chosen opponent. He chose Undertaker at WrestleMania, and Shane agreed tentatively to the match.
Analysis: True surprises in WWE are so rare nowadays. The rumor mills are always spinning, and someone always leaks something at the wrong time. Luckily, the only rumor that ended up connecting to this moment was that it was reported Undertaker would face someone not currently on the roster at WrestleMania.
I don't think a single person expected we'd see Shane McMahon back in WWE, let alone wrestling a match at Mania. The guy is 46 and really looks it at this point if not looking even older. Still, it was so cool to see Shane back and finally be a man of authority that could threaten the power that The Authority has in WWE.
I am a little less sold on Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon. The average age of the competitors in this match is 48. That's 10 years too old for a WrestleMania main event. Add to this that Shane was never really a wrestler, more a spectacle guy and hasn't been in that ring in 7 years, and this becomes a bit worrying.
The story itself also makes little sense. Why should Taker care to protect the company for The Authority? Why does Shane agree to wrestle rather than have his own representative? Finally, I really don't want to see Taker lose a second match at Mania, not to Shane, but, if Shane loses, nothing changes with the power structure. It feels like a lose-lose scenario.
Still, it could be a fun match if nothing else.
Shane was back clearly to tell his family that they were doing a disservice to an award made in his grandfather's name. Both Vince and Stephanie were not happy about Shane interrupting who brought it to Stephanie's attention that he was actually the heir to the McMahon throne even though he was away a while.
Vince agreed that Shane actually had control of the company if he wanted to come back, and Shane forced Stephanie to leave the ring. Shane McMahon then went off on Vince, saying he was ruining the company and wanted to save it by having control of Monday Night Raw and therefore WWE.
Vince made it clear that the only way he'd agreed was to have one match with Shane wrestling against Vince's chosen opponent. He chose Undertaker at WrestleMania, and Shane agreed tentatively to the match.
Analysis: True surprises in WWE are so rare nowadays. The rumor mills are always spinning, and someone always leaks something at the wrong time. Luckily, the only rumor that ended up connecting to this moment was that it was reported Undertaker would face someone not currently on the roster at WrestleMania.
I don't think a single person expected we'd see Shane McMahon back in WWE, let alone wrestling a match at Mania. The guy is 46 and really looks it at this point if not looking even older. Still, it was so cool to see Shane back and finally be a man of authority that could threaten the power that The Authority has in WWE.
I am a little less sold on Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon. The average age of the competitors in this match is 48. That's 10 years too old for a WrestleMania main event. Add to this that Shane was never really a wrestler, more a spectacle guy and hasn't been in that ring in 7 years, and this becomes a bit worrying.
The story itself also makes little sense. Why should Taker care to protect the company for The Authority? Why does Shane agree to wrestle rather than have his own representative? Finally, I really don't want to see Taker lose a second match at Mania, not to Shane, but, if Shane loses, nothing changes with the power structure. It feels like a lose-lose scenario.
Still, it could be a fun match if nothing else.
See, Kalisto, this is why you don't let Sin Cara get the hot tag.
The New Day def. Lucha Dragons and Neville
Overview: The New Day immediately called for a time out as the Lucha Dragons had them on their back foot. They got back into the match and isolated Neville in their corner. Sin Cara finally got the hot tag and cleared out the ring, hitting Kofi with multiple big moves.
He nearly got the pinfall, but it was broken up by Big E. This led to a massive set of chaos with Kalisto and Neville clearing the ring, leaving Kofi to hit the Trouble in Paradise on Sin Cara for the win.
Analysis: This match was really strange for a post-PPV show. The New Day didn't follow up at all with their Fast Lane segment, and this didn't help out the United States Championship match follow up with Kalisto either. I don't know what this match did for anyone, and it wasn't even that strong a match.
Multiple commercial breaks during this match killed its momentum. Sin Cara looked decent in the hot tag role, but he still took the pinfall in the end. The guy who should have been the biggest individual star in this match, Kalisto, barely did anything this whole match.
He nearly got the pinfall, but it was broken up by Big E. This led to a massive set of chaos with Kalisto and Neville clearing the ring, leaving Kofi to hit the Trouble in Paradise on Sin Cara for the win.
Analysis: This match was really strange for a post-PPV show. The New Day didn't follow up at all with their Fast Lane segment, and this didn't help out the United States Championship match follow up with Kalisto either. I don't know what this match did for anyone, and it wasn't even that strong a match.
Multiple commercial breaks during this match killed its momentum. Sin Cara looked decent in the hot tag role, but he still took the pinfall in the end. The guy who should have been the biggest individual star in this match, Kalisto, barely did anything this whole match.
Seriously, what is wrong with all these hospitals Dean Ambrose is going to that he keeps escaping them without getting cleared and steals an ambulance along the way?
Dean Ambrose Drags Himself to the Ring to Challenge Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania and Lesnar Accepts
Overview: Paul Heyman went on a tirade about how Dean Ambrose stole Brock Lesnar's chance at the WrestleMania main event. The attack laid on Ambrose was seen as revenge as Lesnar is the main event and would not be satisfied with his placement thanks to Ambrose.
Heyman said the attack on Ambrose would make sure that Dean didn't get a WrestleMania at all. Heyman then laid out an open challenge to the roster that Brock needed an opponent for Mania, but whoever agreed would face the same viciousness that Ambrose went through.
Suddenly, an ambulance began riding to the ring with Dean Ambrose dragging himself out when he got the ramp. He then crawled to the ring with Brock Lesnar stepping on him on the outside and walking off. Ambrose challenge Lesnar for a match at Mania, a street fight, and Heyman agreed for Lesnar after Lesnar F5ed Ambrose onto the floor.
Analysis: Wrestling can be a slog of an experience sometimes, but it's segments like this that make me smile and remember why I enjoy the medium so much. When Dean Ambrose was literally crawling to the ring, selling every inch of his beating by Lesnar, I had a massive grin on my face. It was perfect.
I worried a few weeks ago that we'd never really get to see Ambrose get some real advantage over Lesnar. The way the triple threat was booked, it seemed like Lesnar would always be the big bad monster and Ambrose would be the little guy. I didn't know then though that we were actually going to get Lesnar vs. Ambrose at Mania.
I love a good story in wrestling because wrestling allows characters to just keep growing and developing, and this is a great story, one that can truly make Ambrose. It's the man who won't give up against the most destructive force in the WWE. It's actually the unstoppable force meets the immovable object scenario.
If WWE keeps selling us on just how much punishment Ambrose can take and still keep getting up to fight, this match, without a doubt, will steal the show at WrestleMania.
Heyman said the attack on Ambrose would make sure that Dean didn't get a WrestleMania at all. Heyman then laid out an open challenge to the roster that Brock needed an opponent for Mania, but whoever agreed would face the same viciousness that Ambrose went through.
Suddenly, an ambulance began riding to the ring with Dean Ambrose dragging himself out when he got the ramp. He then crawled to the ring with Brock Lesnar stepping on him on the outside and walking off. Ambrose challenge Lesnar for a match at Mania, a street fight, and Heyman agreed for Lesnar after Lesnar F5ed Ambrose onto the floor.
Analysis: Wrestling can be a slog of an experience sometimes, but it's segments like this that make me smile and remember why I enjoy the medium so much. When Dean Ambrose was literally crawling to the ring, selling every inch of his beating by Lesnar, I had a massive grin on my face. It was perfect.
I worried a few weeks ago that we'd never really get to see Ambrose get some real advantage over Lesnar. The way the triple threat was booked, it seemed like Lesnar would always be the big bad monster and Ambrose would be the little guy. I didn't know then though that we were actually going to get Lesnar vs. Ambrose at Mania.
I love a good story in wrestling because wrestling allows characters to just keep growing and developing, and this is a great story, one that can truly make Ambrose. It's the man who won't give up against the most destructive force in the WWE. It's actually the unstoppable force meets the immovable object scenario.
If WWE keeps selling us on just how much punishment Ambrose can take and still keep getting up to fight, this match, without a doubt, will steal the show at WrestleMania.
The Usos were so dazed by the shocking news that The Dudley Boyz won't use tables anymore that even The Ascension could vaguely injure them.
The Usos def. The Ascension
Overview: The Dudley Boyz came out before this match and said their attack on The Usos was not personal. They wanted to make a statement that they would not be seen as a one trick pony. The Ascension attacked The Usos from behind to get an advantage in the match.
The Usos were dominated for a while but then fought back, hitting the Superfly Splash for the win. Afterward, The Dudley Boyz almost got in the ring but ended up walking away for now.
Analysis: This was a pretty straightforward WWE segment. The heels insult the faces while the faces show their ability by winning a match while the heels watched on. The Dudley Boyz cut their usual promo again with the extra "you need to have respect for us" edge this time around. The Ascension were just stand ins to take the loss.
I do like the idea behind this feud, and The Dudley Boyz are already doing well on the mic with it. However, there needs to be some momentum from here. Is this all about the tag team titles? If so, when are the New Day getting involved? Nothing is clear yet.
The main worry is that this will just be a secondary feud in a multi-man match either a gauntlet match for the tag team titles or in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. If this story is to succeed, it should be the main tag team story (adding in the New Day) going into Mania.
The Usos were dominated for a while but then fought back, hitting the Superfly Splash for the win. Afterward, The Dudley Boyz almost got in the ring but ended up walking away for now.
Analysis: This was a pretty straightforward WWE segment. The heels insult the faces while the faces show their ability by winning a match while the heels watched on. The Dudley Boyz cut their usual promo again with the extra "you need to have respect for us" edge this time around. The Ascension were just stand ins to take the loss.
I do like the idea behind this feud, and The Dudley Boyz are already doing well on the mic with it. However, there needs to be some momentum from here. Is this all about the tag team titles? If so, when are the New Day getting involved? Nothing is clear yet.
The main worry is that this will just be a secondary feud in a multi-man match either a gauntlet match for the tag team titles or in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. If this story is to succeed, it should be the main tag team story (adding in the New Day) going into Mania.
Meet the newest WWE tag team: Cool Dad Chris Jericho and his surrogate son AJ Styles.
AJ Styles and Chris Jericho def. The Social Outcasts' Heath Slater and Curtis Axel
Overview: Chris Jericho came and started talking about his issues with AJ Styles with their matches helping Jericho gain a new perspective on Styles. Chris brought out Styles to congratulate him as AJ proved to him that AJ belonged in the WWE. The two shook hands again.
The Social Outcasts came out to mock the two men who then decided to team up and beat down the talkative stable. AJ Styles began dominating this match until Bo Dallas got involved allowing the heels to get the advantage. Chris Jericho got the hot tag and began clearing people out.
Jericho took out Curtis Axel and locked him in the Walls of Jericho with Styles hitting a crossbody on all other members of the Social Outcasts to make sure the stable could not save Axel who tapped out.
Analysis: I was okay with AJ Styles and Chris Jericho ending at Fast Lane. Now it's starting to get corny having Jericho constantly talk up Styles and be buddy buddy with Styles. I would hope that this all is a tease to eventually lead to a heel turn for Jericho, but time keeps passing with no momentum on that front.
The match to follow was solid enough for the time it got with a crowd that REALLY likes Chris Jericho and AJ Styles. That energy from the crowd around Styles makes everything he does worth watching. It's just weird that this is all WWE has for Styles on the Road to WrestleMania right now.
Maybe there's more to come, but that just means this whole segment was unnecessary with limited time remaining.
The Social Outcasts came out to mock the two men who then decided to team up and beat down the talkative stable. AJ Styles began dominating this match until Bo Dallas got involved allowing the heels to get the advantage. Chris Jericho got the hot tag and began clearing people out.
Jericho took out Curtis Axel and locked him in the Walls of Jericho with Styles hitting a crossbody on all other members of the Social Outcasts to make sure the stable could not save Axel who tapped out.
Analysis: I was okay with AJ Styles and Chris Jericho ending at Fast Lane. Now it's starting to get corny having Jericho constantly talk up Styles and be buddy buddy with Styles. I would hope that this all is a tease to eventually lead to a heel turn for Jericho, but time keeps passing with no momentum on that front.
The match to follow was solid enough for the time it got with a crowd that REALLY likes Chris Jericho and AJ Styles. That energy from the crowd around Styles makes everything he does worth watching. It's just weird that this is all WWE has for Styles on the Road to WrestleMania right now.
Maybe there's more to come, but that just means this whole segment was unnecessary with limited time remaining.
Reports say that Ryback actually walked out after Kane told Ryback he was not in fact a member of the Old Guard but just a stand in. Poor guy may never recover.
The Wyatt Family's Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan def. Big Show, Ryback, and Kane
Overview: Early on, all the big men got in their shots particularly Ryback, Kane, and Erick Rowan. Rowan tried to get a big edge against Ryback and got rolled through by the big man who hit a big spinebuster and hit a big clothesline on the outside. Eventually though, The Wyatt Family began dominating.
Big Show tried to get the hot tag but started getting dominated by Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. When Harper locked in a sleeper hold, Show reversed it into a side slam and got the hot tag to Kane. Kane began clearing house, but Ryback left him high and dry. Kane then took a Sister Abigail for the loss.
Analysis: I like a lot of these guys. The Wyatt Family are all talented (Braun is pretty good for a guy with no wrestling training at all though should not be wrestling singles matches). Big Show and Kane are solid at putting over young stars in the right story. Ryback is WWE's hidden freak of nature, waiting for an opportunity.
The problem is that this feud never had a story. It certainly had short legs. This match ended up making last night's match look irrelevant by having Ryback's story be the only thing to come out of all this. I have no idea what The Wyatt Family are doing now for WrestleMania. They seem so lost.
If there is one thing I'm behind with all this, it is that WWE is clearly starting to give something to Ryback again. His dominance at Fast Lane as well as his walking out on his partners tonight puts a spotlight on him for something. I just don't know what. I would hope it's not just Ryback vs. Kane or Big Show.
Big Show tried to get the hot tag but started getting dominated by Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. When Harper locked in a sleeper hold, Show reversed it into a side slam and got the hot tag to Kane. Kane began clearing house, but Ryback left him high and dry. Kane then took a Sister Abigail for the loss.
Analysis: I like a lot of these guys. The Wyatt Family are all talented (Braun is pretty good for a guy with no wrestling training at all though should not be wrestling singles matches). Big Show and Kane are solid at putting over young stars in the right story. Ryback is WWE's hidden freak of nature, waiting for an opportunity.
The problem is that this feud never had a story. It certainly had short legs. This match ended up making last night's match look irrelevant by having Ryback's story be the only thing to come out of all this. I have no idea what The Wyatt Family are doing now for WrestleMania. They seem so lost.
If there is one thing I'm behind with all this, it is that WWE is clearly starting to give something to Ryback again. His dominance at Fast Lane as well as his walking out on his partners tonight puts a spotlight on him for something. I just don't know what. I would hope it's not just Ryback vs. Kane or Big Show.
Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks finally got to the friend stage this week, but this is the WWE. We all know women can't get along. The expiration date is already set.
Sasha Banks def. Naomi
Overview: Sasha Banks and Naomi continued to trade shots in this match, constantly getting close to taking each other out with neither going down long. Sasha began rolling but got distracted by Tamina which allowed Naomi to trip up Sasha on the top rope.
This brought out Becky Lynch who took out Tamina on the outside while Banks locked Naomi in the Bank Statement for the win inside the ring. Becky and Sasha showed some solidarity afterward before Charlotte came out and told the two they would face off next week to see who would be number one contender.
Analysis: While this was a fairly standard segment and Charlotte's post-match promo was a bit of shouty mess, I liked this as it gave a good view of the Divas Title feud for Mania. The somewhat friendship that Becky and Sasha have formed will be put on focus with Charlotte convincing them to watch their own backs.
The number one contender match next week should be fantastic. It won't happen, but it would even be a solid main event if they want to really give the Divas some spotlight. I mean if The Wyatt Family get a Raw main event for a filler feud, why can't the women? They deserve it for the story they are building.
I still expect a triple threat at WrestleMania, so it's very likely Charlotte ruins the match before it reaches its finish. It would be a shame to see Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks not both get that Mania spot this year.
This brought out Becky Lynch who took out Tamina on the outside while Banks locked Naomi in the Bank Statement for the win inside the ring. Becky and Sasha showed some solidarity afterward before Charlotte came out and told the two they would face off next week to see who would be number one contender.
Analysis: While this was a fairly standard segment and Charlotte's post-match promo was a bit of shouty mess, I liked this as it gave a good view of the Divas Title feud for Mania. The somewhat friendship that Becky and Sasha have formed will be put on focus with Charlotte convincing them to watch their own backs.
The number one contender match next week should be fantastic. It won't happen, but it would even be a solid main event if they want to really give the Divas some spotlight. I mean if The Wyatt Family get a Raw main event for a filler feud, why can't the women? They deserve it for the story they are building.
I still expect a triple threat at WrestleMania, so it's very likely Charlotte ruins the match before it reaches its finish. It would be a shame to see Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks not both get that Mania spot this year.
It was not a good night for HHH. He had to sit back and watch Shane replacing him after he went through so much to replace Shane then he had to sit through Vince booking Reigns vs. Sheamus 263. You would be a pretty vicious brawler too after a night like that.
Roman Reigns def. Sheamus (w/ The League of Nations) By Count Out
Overview: Sheamus immediately began beating down on Roman Reigns, attacking the left arm of Reigns, wrenching the arm in every way until Reigns finally got up and knocked Sheamus in the mouth. That sent Sheamus rolling to the outside. When Reigns tried to follow Sheamus outside, he ended up getting taken out by Rusev.
The second time that Sheamus got knocked to the outside, Reigns went outside and Speared Sheamus right into the floor. Reigns got back to the ring in time and won by count out (at least that's the way it looked though the bell never rang), but Triple H immediately hit the ring in street clothes. The two met at the bottom of the entrance ramp and began brawling.
Reigns got the early edge in the fight, punching Triple H into the timekeeper's area. HHH pulled back by slamming Reigns' face with the ringbell. He repeatedly beat on Reigns' face, bashing it into the announce table until Reigns' nose was bleeding profusely.
As officials came out to clean up Reigns whose hands were now soaked in his own blood, Triple H set up the steel steps and Pedigreed Reigns fight into the steel. Hunter then stood over Reigns, raising the WWE Championship high.
Analysis: For a Raw main event match, WWE did not really do much with Reigns vs. Sheamus. It felt like it was just filler for the big brawl to come. In fact, I think the majority of the match was actually wrestled during the commercial break with the finish feeling like it was forgotten as the League of Nations then disappeared.
Still, it all led to an incredibly brutal brawl, so all is forgiven. For a career that WWE has been trying to build so heavily these last few years, Reigns does not have a lot of definitive moments to his name. One of the best moments though was the one time we ever saw Reigns get truly destroyed, in his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
Reigns took a beating unlike anything we had ever seen and smiled. It was a character moment better than any he has had before or since. The reason it was so great was we finally actually saw how Reigns answered true adversity. This Triple H beatdown may be another huge Reigns moment as he finally took a beating he couldn't overcome.
Hunter brutalized him. It was savage. It was finally once more Reigns actually being put down. This is how you build a babyface, similar to what they are doing with Dean Ambrose right now. You have to bring them to their lowest point first. The villain has to win before the audience can start rooting for them to get back up.
I am a fan of Reigns for sure, but I also can clearly see he's not in a place where he should be WWE's number one guy. He's been booked all wrong. The crowd tonight was cheering for Triple H to keep brutalizing the "top face". Hopefully, moments like this will slowly help turn that tide. Next, Reigns needs to come back silent and vicious to meet Triple H's brutality head on.
The second time that Sheamus got knocked to the outside, Reigns went outside and Speared Sheamus right into the floor. Reigns got back to the ring in time and won by count out (at least that's the way it looked though the bell never rang), but Triple H immediately hit the ring in street clothes. The two met at the bottom of the entrance ramp and began brawling.
Reigns got the early edge in the fight, punching Triple H into the timekeeper's area. HHH pulled back by slamming Reigns' face with the ringbell. He repeatedly beat on Reigns' face, bashing it into the announce table until Reigns' nose was bleeding profusely.
As officials came out to clean up Reigns whose hands were now soaked in his own blood, Triple H set up the steel steps and Pedigreed Reigns fight into the steel. Hunter then stood over Reigns, raising the WWE Championship high.
Analysis: For a Raw main event match, WWE did not really do much with Reigns vs. Sheamus. It felt like it was just filler for the big brawl to come. In fact, I think the majority of the match was actually wrestled during the commercial break with the finish feeling like it was forgotten as the League of Nations then disappeared.
Still, it all led to an incredibly brutal brawl, so all is forgiven. For a career that WWE has been trying to build so heavily these last few years, Reigns does not have a lot of definitive moments to his name. One of the best moments though was the one time we ever saw Reigns get truly destroyed, in his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
Reigns took a beating unlike anything we had ever seen and smiled. It was a character moment better than any he has had before or since. The reason it was so great was we finally actually saw how Reigns answered true adversity. This Triple H beatdown may be another huge Reigns moment as he finally took a beating he couldn't overcome.
Hunter brutalized him. It was savage. It was finally once more Reigns actually being put down. This is how you build a babyface, similar to what they are doing with Dean Ambrose right now. You have to bring them to their lowest point first. The villain has to win before the audience can start rooting for them to get back up.
I am a fan of Reigns for sure, but I also can clearly see he's not in a place where he should be WWE's number one guy. He's been booked all wrong. The crowd tonight was cheering for Triple H to keep brutalizing the "top face". Hopefully, moments like this will slowly help turn that tide. Next, Reigns needs to come back silent and vicious to meet Triple H's brutality head on.
Amazingly, Dean Ambrose's reliance includes his ability to keep his hood on his head during beatdowns.
Final Notes: Dean Ambrose was assaulted before the show by Brock Lesnar which was reshown as the show began. Roman Reigns was interviewed backstage, saying he was worried about Dean Ambrose but had to focus on what he really wanted: getting his title back from Triple H at WrestleMania.
Reigns was later found by Stephanie McMahon backstage who made Reigns vs. Sheamus. Goldust showed R-Truth a cake with golden frosting and chocolate cake to show how they could work together, and Truth still refused to work together.
After walking out on his partners, Ryback was interviewed and said that he was done with tag teams and wanted the spotlight only on him. Vince McMahon was talking with Stephanie McMahon and said he made Shane's match with Taker just to have a WrestleMania main event and knew Shane couldn't win.
Conclusion: I've often found Raw to be a better show on the weeks it has the least amount of segments. In other words, having longer, larger segments is always better than when the company crams in a bunch of wrestlers and stories on one show. This week was one of WWE's most succinct Raws in a while.
That didn't make it a perfect show. In fact, tonight all the wrestling was underwhelming. It seemed like WWE booked every match to be a beatdown by one side then a comeback so that they could spend all the beatdowns in commercial breaks. It was a disappointment for sure.
However, this show unlike many Raws did not stall out because of its limited number of segments. The big moment which there were a lot of this week really felt big. It felt like we were truly on the precipice of WrestleMania. Matches were both booked and teased in the right way.
I'm not going to say I'm suddenly excited for WrestleMania 32. I do expect WWE will continue to do good things with Roman Reigns vs. Triple H (hopefully), Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar (almost can't wrong now), and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (which should get marquee spotlight at some point on the Road).
However, there is still a lot to be done. I still need WWE to sell me on Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon as a match. What is the undercard? What are any of the champions doing? Where was Kevin Owens at all tonight? There are a bit too many questions right now, but I do hope WWE can keep this tighter, more focused feel to Raw (I know, wishful thinking).
Reigns was later found by Stephanie McMahon backstage who made Reigns vs. Sheamus. Goldust showed R-Truth a cake with golden frosting and chocolate cake to show how they could work together, and Truth still refused to work together.
After walking out on his partners, Ryback was interviewed and said that he was done with tag teams and wanted the spotlight only on him. Vince McMahon was talking with Stephanie McMahon and said he made Shane's match with Taker just to have a WrestleMania main event and knew Shane couldn't win.
Conclusion: I've often found Raw to be a better show on the weeks it has the least amount of segments. In other words, having longer, larger segments is always better than when the company crams in a bunch of wrestlers and stories on one show. This week was one of WWE's most succinct Raws in a while.
That didn't make it a perfect show. In fact, tonight all the wrestling was underwhelming. It seemed like WWE booked every match to be a beatdown by one side then a comeback so that they could spend all the beatdowns in commercial breaks. It was a disappointment for sure.
However, this show unlike many Raws did not stall out because of its limited number of segments. The big moment which there were a lot of this week really felt big. It felt like we were truly on the precipice of WrestleMania. Matches were both booked and teased in the right way.
I'm not going to say I'm suddenly excited for WrestleMania 32. I do expect WWE will continue to do good things with Roman Reigns vs. Triple H (hopefully), Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar (almost can't wrong now), and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (which should get marquee spotlight at some point on the Road).
However, there is still a lot to be done. I still need WWE to sell me on Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon as a match. What is the undercard? What are any of the champions doing? Where was Kevin Owens at all tonight? There are a bit too many questions right now, but I do hope WWE can keep this tighter, more focused feel to Raw (I know, wishful thinking).
