WWE Raw Discussion III

[spykelee]

Also, the commentating team is terrible.

This is the most egregious thing to me. Working on these shows I've tried to find things I've enjoyed even as the product was stale. The commentary was something I gravitated towards as Cole is a pro, Graves was great at justifying heel behavior, and although he is usually loud and abrasive, Renee was perfect with him since she's his great friend and often held him accountable. He wouldn't rip on her like he does to everyone else. And Renee also has a ton of insights into the females that nobody else on the commentary team can provide. Those 3 were very entertaining on their own, sans the show.

Vic Joseph, fine. The rest is a complete **** show. There's absolutely no justification to have King on there. There is zero chemistry and it just sounds so forced and yea, circa early 2000's. Even when they actually get something right, have the right mix, they mess it up. Listening to King screeching non stop and there being zero personality injected into the commentary is a complete and total buzz kill for me.

[Dr Positivity]

So the booking for Natty vs Lacey match on back to back nights was Natty gets her ass kicked for literally the whole match then wins? Also why are they putting over Natty... it's not like she should go right back into the title picture

They should make Jerry go into Graves/Mandy mode during Lacey matches.

[Dr Positivity]

Tyson Fury nailed that segment, he really gets it character wise and mannerisms. Like Ronda being genuine WWE fan probably helped. Braun's "I will LITERALLY eat you for breakfast" line was gold, and his little whiny fit afterwards was good (maybe his next heel turn they can make him a petulant little bitch)

I echo the thoughts on the Raw commentary team. The biggest problem is the random Madden pick since he contributes so little that the King has to talk too much, no idea what they were thinking taking him over Renee or Byron. King needs to talk the 3rd most on the commentary team and just come in every once in a while with a dad joke. Vic is fine but I think Tom Phillips deserved that job.

Basically you have three different roles

Corey Graves-Jerry Lawler-Aiden English-Booker T ("colourful" commentary)
Michael Cole-Tom Phillips-Vic Joseph (the play by play guy)
Dio Madden-Renee Young-Byron Saxton-Coach (the yin to the colour commentator group's yang, meant to be the rational voice)

I would have liked to see English get a shot in Lawler's place, though I understand they went for a big name. But the 3rd group is weirdest where they picked Madden over any of the other three and then just dropped it entirely on Smackdown when Byron and Renee are both great fits as anti-Corey, and Coach would give them a name going back to the Attitude era and with his ESPN background would help them treat it like a "real sport"

Maybe the Kabuki Warriors are turning heel I have no idea what's going on...

I thought they've been heel since the HIAC match. They were wrestling heel and acting cocky, then Asuka did the green mist

[iMoreland]

That crowd loved The Viking Raiders

[tugs]

Oh Bray

[The_Brecht]

So Rollins is a heel now?

[iMoreland]

So they have the guy they want to be their top babyface destroy the most entertaining thing on TV, got it

[Flames24Rulz]

So Rollins is a heel now?

That's the only way to save him, really. Everyone's turned on him.

[Dr Positivity]

So Raw spent two separate draft picks on Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, then traded them to Smackdown for "future draft considerations" aka nothing. Still smarter than using a pick on Titus

I find the draft booking to be pretty lazy, a lot of it doesn't make sense in kayfabe. AOP are cutting intimidating video packages and no brand takes them and someone took injured Jinder over injured Lars. Nobody takes a shot at the kayfabe "best tag team in the world" (inaccurate) Usos redeeming themselves. Is Ronda not available? A longtime solid guy in Cesaro goes undrafted but no-ones cares like Shelton gets taken. The King of the Ring got drafted too low. Akira Tozowa getting drafted is questionable in kayfabe since nobody is supposed to believe in a totally unproven 205 guy, and nobody drafted the actual cruiserweight champion. Making Shorty Gable (embarrassing name change btw) undrafted or Mr Irrelevant would've actually worked well with his storyline.

I'm shocked Charlotte went to Raw, I thought they would have her and Becky be the two pillars of each show. Unless they're prepping for Ronda coming back and Bazler, pretty worrying that they might just go back to pink belt era divas matches style on Fox. They loaded up on the sex appeal characters in Alexa, Mandy and Lacey (who might be face? what)

[Marcus]

So Raw spent two separate draft picks on Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, then traded them to Smackdown for "future draft considerations" aka nothing. Still smarter than using a pick on Titus

I'm shocked Charlotte went to Raw, I thought they would have her and Becky be the two pillars of each show. Unless they're prepping for Ronda coming back and Bazler, pretty worrying that they might just go back to pink belt era divas matches style on Fox. They loaded up on the sex appeal characters in Alexa, Mandy and Lacey (who might be face? what)

Lacey as a face should be a pretty easy transition and a viable sale with her military background. Also knew at some point Vince was going to go that route with her. Think it's been a part of her push from the jump.

[Dr Positivity]

So Raw spent two separate draft picks on Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, then traded them to Smackdown for "future draft considerations" aka nothing. Still smarter than using a pick on Titus

I'm shocked Charlotte went to Raw, I thought they would have her and Becky be the two pillars of each show. Unless they're prepping for Ronda coming back and Bazler, pretty worrying that they might just go back to pink belt era divas matches style on Fox. They loaded up on the sex appeal characters in Alexa, Mandy and Lacey (who might be face? what)

Lacey as a face should be a pretty easy transition and a viable sale with her military background. Also knew at some point Vince was going to go that route with her. Think it's been a part of her push from the jump.

Eventually yes but I would've liked to see her get a run as a heel champion first, she has such a defined character and would have size advantage over a lot of the division. I'm pretty pro-Lacey overall.

[tugs]

Dude, she ducks and crouches whenever she clotheslines Kairi. That was funny.

And oh, Kairi getting knocked out ala Shawn/Ric was great.

[Heat3]

The Fiend sucks. Already lost his feud with Rollins. Only his second since debuting? If you can call the first one with Balor a feud.

Rollins burning down the firefly fun house.... why should anyone care about the Fiend now? Lol.

I can’t see Rollins going back to heel and even then, I don’t think The Fiend can be a good guy.

Man what a mess. What was the point? What did good guy Rollins have to over come from the scary bad guy? He beat his ass every time

[Brandon-Clyde]

Prediction the Fun House will reappear in perfect condition tonight

[iMoreland]

Prediction the Fun House will reappear in perfect condition tonight

Oh for sure

[Scott Hall]

Rusev looked really bad in that segment not even just in storyline but his acting and mannerisms.
Also the Stache doesn't seem to make any real difference with his character.

[The_Brecht]

Drew vs Ricochet was great!

[Dr Positivity]

October 28th 2018: First ever Women's PPV
October 21st 2019: A Raw with zero divas matches or even a backstage interview or video promo

I mean with a 3 hour show with barn burners like Andrade vs Sin Cara, Alestair Black vs Bacon Roode, The Viking Raiders vs Hawkins and Ryder, and 2 Rusev/Lashley segments (RIP Lana's accent) in succession in the middle, how can you find the time? (and I understand the big stars were probably on tour, but still. Give Liv Morgan a match or something)

Shelton Benjamin's promo with Rey was actually good. So far it looks like Cain doesn't have it to me, his movements or expressions etc. are just not natural

It probably won't last, but Seth Rollins dipping his toe into being a heel felt great, and he continues to act like dick in real life (he just called AEW "the minor leagues"), so please do it. Humberto Carrillo's first or last name:

Drew vs Ricochet was great!

I think Drew has had like four great matches in a row if I remember correctly (Owens, Alexander, and Richochet twice).

[iMoreland]

Yeah Drew's been on a roll, it's time for them to finally put the title on him. But they won't.

[iMoreland]

They did a really good job of making The Street Profits look like absolute stars. Sky's the limit for them.