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Kudos to WWE for 25 years of weekly wrestling action. The company has only gone from strength to strength in the last quarter of a century, and RAW 25 was a great way to celebrate the impact the company has made in the genre of weekly television.
Nobody can doubt the fact that RAW 25 was a star-studded affair, from start to finish. One criticism of the show from fans, was that not much was done with the legends that did indeed show up. Considering the many possibilities of what could have been, it seems like a shame!
In this list, we shall encapsulate five booking options that could have elevated the show to the next level. These small touches of creativity could have made this show absolutely unforgettable.
Here are our two cents...
#5 A Shawn Michaels - AJ Styles face off
Shawn Michaels was considered to be the greatest worker of his generation. AJ Styles is considered to be the best of this current era. Fans have yearned for a clash between these two era-defining superstars for a while now. This will never happen, because Michaels is now retired.
We all know that the call of the spotlight is sometimes too hard to resist. Had WWE planned a face off between Styles and Michaels, and had the place erupted with glee, Michaels may have even considered a clash in the future. It would have served a better purpose than him burying The Revival with DX.
It would have still given the fans a moment to relish. Much like the clash between Daniel Bryan and The Miz cannot happen, until the former gets cleared, but there was a staredown anyway!
Even having the two men team up to take out a few heels would have set the Barclays Centre or Manhattan Centre on fire!
#4 Having the legends announce their Royal Rumble entry
WWE brought back a plethora of superstars from the past, including a whole host of female superstars. All of them looked just as gorgeous as ever. Sadly, all they did was smile and wave for the camera. We feel that their role could have, honestly, been better thought out.
Couldn't these women have announced their entry into the Royal Rumble match, to build some anticipation for it? One may argue that except for the last segment, nothing built any excitement for the pay-per-view next week. This would have added some excitement.
Some of you may argue that it's better when the Royal Rumble entries are surprises. True, but even that would have made more sense than just showing up at RAW 25 to smile for the camera.
In fact, knowing that The Bellas or Trish Stratus were in the Rumble could have inspired many new viewers to tune in.
#3 Have a heel attack a legend for long-standing heat
The next time you accuse John Cena of burying younger talent, just remember that he was the only legend in the show who actually made a younger heel look good. On the other hand, Triple H himself unleashed the shovel for his NXT graduates we know as The Revival.
Couldn't the devious Revival have jumped Triple H or Shawn Michaels in the back? The legends could still have taken them out later, but The Revival would have benefited from the heel heat that would be generated.
WWE needs to build the younger generation for the future instead of making the old-timers look good. We're certain the legends would have been only too eager to do the favour.
Okay, maybe not Shawn Michaels.
#2 Mending fences
WWE has used the Hall of Fame as a great means to mend fences with their former employees. Be it The Ultimate Warrior or Jim Cornette, they came to the Hall of Fame ceremony and their old feuds with WWE were put to rest.
RAW 25 could have been a great platform to mend fences with superstars like Hulk Hogan. Sure, what he did is inexcusable, but if he had to be invited back into the fold, this was the opportunity. The same can be said of AJ Lee and CM Punk, who even made it to the RAW 25 graphic.
This is just wishful thinking, but The Hulkster's return in particular, would have been amazing. Something of note would have emerged from the show, in that case!
#1 Having The Undertaker disclose his future
Why have The Undertaker show up, if not for any real foreseeable purpose? In our opinion, he should have either named his next opponent, or retired and walked off into the sunset at long last!
Yes, it was really cool to see him again, after his loss to Reigns. Yes, he's a legend and his very presence gets the crowd really excited. We just expected The Undertaker's appearance to have more meaning, really.
Just a face off with John Cena, Roman Reigns, or even a segment with Kane would have sufficed. We got none of that, this week.
Oh well, maybe WWE will take heed and remedy these mistakes at RAW 50?
