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Where do I even begin with this episode? It began on a sour note, went on to some great moments and concluded with the most shocking heel turn in recent WWE memory. So much happened on this episode, that it's difficult to call it anything but a good show, when all is said and done. However, I shall attempt to gather my thoughts and share my views about RAW this week.
RAW began with a very real moment. All of us must have had a little chuckle at Roman Reigns' expense and I'm certain that it came back to bite many of us after the events that transpired this week. Beyond the script and the storylines, I wish Roman Reigns a very speedy recovery.
As always, I present my 'Best and Worst' analysis from this week's episode. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
I can't wait to find out who the next Universal Champion is.
#1 Worst: Reigns relinquishes the Universal Championship
Anyone that's read any of my columns knows that I always begin with a 'best', before I move on to a 'worst'. In honour of Roman Reigns and the battle he's currently waging, I will attempt to begin with a worst, this week. Reigns broke character at the top of the show and announced how he was battling leukaemia to the WWE Universe. It was heartbreaking to see the audience reaction, as a gasp went through the audience.
Reigns relinquished his Championship in the middle of the ring. The most real moment of the whole segment could have been The Shield reunion, perhaps for the very last time. Seth Rollins was battling tears and it was indeed a very heartbreaking moment.
I hope that Reigns makes a full recovery and return to do what he does best. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones right now.
#1 Best: The heel turn
We were talking about it on the SportsKeeda Writers' chatroom before the turn actually happened. Everyone expected the feel-good moment with The Shield brothers winning the tag team championships. And then they expected Roman Reigns to step out and perform the signature Shield pose. This did not happen, as you all well know.
Instead, Dean Ambrose shocked the world by turning heel on a night when nobody expected him to. It was the culmination of weeks of storytelling resulting in a moment that had the crowd all hot and furious. People were shocked that Ambrose could do something this heinous, on such a night.
Ambrose has the opportunity to become the top heel on RAW. He can tear it up with Seth Rollins at the very top of the card.
This is just the program that the Universal Championship needed.
#2 Best: The Elias face turn
Elias has been one of those performers that the crowd wants to root for, but then he goes on to diss their favourite sports team. This week, we saw him turn face on RAW. And this turn happened with him hitting the most hated heel on RAW, Constable Corbin, with an acoustic guitar.
How does Elias sing songs about insulting sports teams now as a babyface? The answer is very simple. He can just write and perform nasty songs on his opponents, much like The Rock used to do.
Elias' turn has been the most organic face turn in recent memory and I'm curious to see just how far up the ladder the man can climb. In my opinion, the man personifies entertainment and he is the very definition of a sports entertainer.
#2 Worst: The future of the Tag Team Championships
I loved the fact that Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins picked up a massive victory and pulled off the most shocking angle in recent memory, for sure. But I wonder what the cost of this whole angle was. Did they just indicate to the world that the Tag Team Championships are completely meaningless?
We saw Ambrose toss both Tag Team Championships at Seth Rollins following their big win. The two top Championships on RAW are now currently vacant. And this makes me wonder if Rollins and Ambrose actually needed to win the titles for this angle to take place.
In my opinion, Ziggler and McIntyre could have waged wars against The Revival and other babyface units like Roode and Gable in the weeks to come. The title switch did not need to take place.
#3 Best: Promo battle from the legends
I genuinely liked the old school vibe of the DX vs. Brothers of Destruction promo. I loved how Triple H used the word 'nostalgia' to make his point. He indicated and suggested that 'nostalgia' may be used by some to say that they were old, but in his mind they were 'better'.
The Undertaker and Kane did not show up at the arena but they cut a promo from a graveyard. With Halloween coming our way very soon indeed, this was the perfect setting for such a promo. The audience was into it, and I am curious to see if the men will step it up for Crown Jewel or not.
It's certainly not going to be the best match that these men have had over the course of their highly entertaining careers. But it will certainly be one for the ages!
#3 Worst: Lashley loses to Balor
I would be all for a win for Finn Balor, on most occasions. But I did not particularly care about the fact that the WWE Creative Team built up Lashley, paired him with Lio Rush and had him lose his first big match since then against Finn Balor.
This made no sense because Lashley was genuinely picking up steam as a repackaged character. I don't know what the win does for Balor either, since he's not in a program of his own at the moment. I would have had Lashley defeat Balor and move on to his next opponent, up the ladder.
Well, here's hoping that this win does wonders for Balor and actually launches him to the next level. Because if this was a meaningless RAW win, then nobody was really a winner this week.
#4 Best/worst: The contract signing segment
Not a lot of people were excited about the prospect of Ronda Rousey facing off against Nikki Bella at Evolution for the RAW Women's Championship. The women changed that by cutting fiery promos in a red-hot segment last week. I thought this week did not feel nearly as heated. Nikki Bella got some good lines in, but Rousey did not really retaliate.
I loved the lines from Bella about Nikki Bella's mother and how disappointed she would be with her daughter now. What I did not get is why Rousey did not retaliate when Nikki Bella slapped her. I know she's supposed to be a babyface, but any human being would react after such an insult.
It just made the segment feel fake and rather staged, I felt. Of course, I'm still excited about the match.
In any case, get well soon, Roman Reigns!
