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Review Of The First 'Official' Monday Night Raw After The Royal Rumble

By: Time Grzecki
@tjetski

The first official Raw following the Royal Rumble was a bit of a head scratcher.  From questionable changes in story lines in an attempt to appease fans, to continued misuse of talent, it's hard to get a grasp as to exactly what the WWE is trying to do.

The decision to have Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins have a match to decide who will face Roman Reigns at the upcoming Fast Lane PPV to decide who will face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (did you follow all that?) is in my mind a lame attempt to appease fans for the backlash that followed the awful Royal Rumble.  But, what's the point?  To troll the fans even more when Daniel Bryan jobs to Roman Reigns?  Cause that's all I see happening.  This only puts Reigns in even more of a bad spot with the fans because they will never allow him to be a face when beating Daniel Bryan.  So why not just stick to the original plan.  Reigns wins the Rumble, Reigns faces Lesnar?  Fans would just have to deal with it and the WWE would just have to build an incredible card to support that match.

That being said, I am looking forward to seeing how good of a match Bryan can get out of Reigns…cause it will be Bryan getting good stuff out of Reigns.  It may be possible for Bryan to get such a good match out of Reigns that it will change some peoples' minds about Reigns not being ready to hold the top spot in the company.  Which is something that Reigns needs, something he isn't getting from wrestling and losing to the Big Show.  Something he isn't getting when he's involved in a 25 minute talking segment and says three sentences while other guys shine on the mic.

If the WWE wants to sell Reigns to their older more hardcore fans they need to start building him properly.  He's billed as a powerhouse…but you never see him just throwing guys around.  Hell he doesn't have any real power moves in his move set…least none that come to mind.  Clotheslines, punches, jump kick to a prone opponent on the apron, Samoan Drop, spear…what else is there? Where's the POWER?  Have him do something that makes himself look strong.  Give him a new finisher that requires him to use some strength.  Put him in short controlled talking segments until he improves.  Make him too good for fans to be upset he's the chosen one.

Quick notes from Raw

  • Dean Ambrose is money, everything about him from his mic skills to his mannerisms, just money. Hopefully a feud for the Intercontinental Championship can not only make the title important again, but give Ambrose some momentum back after some bad creative the past couple months.
  • Sad that the WWE is wasting a new tag team in The Ascension that I already don't care about as fodder to tease the split of the Dust Brothers.
  • Luke Harper can flat out go. He's so versatile for such a big dude it's ridiculous.  Too bad for him he doesn't have "the look".
  • Bray Wyatt and Dolph Ziggler put on one hell of a match. Those two are so good, and have been so underutilized and misused it boggles the mind.
  • Cannot wait to see Damien Mizdow beat the crap out of The Miz.
  • I do not care about Eric Rowan.
  • The main event was spectacular, but why on earth would Roman Reigns come out and ensure Daniel Bryan the victory? His interference makes no sense.
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