10 Big Questions From WWE RAW (August 3)
Time to change the questions.
The wrestling world said goodbye last week to another of its greatest innovators - the legendary 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. This was the first RAW since Hot Rod's passing, and WWE paid tribute to the man who famously changed the questions just when we thought we had all the answers.
A ten-bell salute and moving video package, the sort that WWE are brilliant at, were a fitting way to remember Piper, as were the 'Hot Rod' t-shirts (or belly tops, if your name is Paige). Even WWE's resident douchebag, The Miz, broke character to acknowledge and thank Piper for Piper's Pit paving the way for all the similar segments throughout the years that have imitated the original, including his own Miz TV.
The high quality of the show itself was perhaps the best way for wrestling fans to celebrate the life of Hot Rod and his contribution to the business. This was WWE with their game face on and a reminder of just why we love wrestling - a business that became what it is today thanks to people like Roddy Piper.
10. One Of The Best WWE Title Near-Misses?
In the absence of John Cena, who won't be back on our screens until he has located his nose, Seth Rollins decided to offer an open challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight title. It wasn't particularly open, however, with challengers restricted to those under 6 ft and under 200 lbs. After teasing us with Torito, it was The Man That Gravity Forgot, Neville, who stepped up for a shot at the gold.
Did anyone really think Neville was going to walk away from this match as the first British WWE Champion? No. Which is exactly why this match was so good. Neville was so close, not once, but twice. Rollins kicked out of one near fall so late that everyone, including the announcers, believed that Neville had the WWE Champion down for the three count.
Neville did indeed pin Rollins, 1-2-3, shortly after off the Red Arrow - but the champ's foot was on the rope. After this, it was inevitable that Rollins would retain, but for two incredible moments, Neville and Rollins had us believing something that we knew was unlikely. For that, they deserve high praise indeed.