5 Ups & 7 Downs For WWE Raw (8 Sept - Results & Review)
AJ Lee shines in WWE Raw return amidst stale main event scene.
In the span of a couple of weeks, WWE has managed to turn its programming from a stale, hamster wheel-treading product to a stale, hamster wheel-treading product with some fireworks and fun side quests.
Becky Lynch aligning with her husband and AJ Lee’s subsequent return to WWE provided the company with a much-needed shot in the arm that livened up a rivalry that was veering into the absurd. Monday night saw AJ’s return to the red brand for the first time in a decade, and that showdown between Lee and Lynch (and their husbands) did not disappoint. Also, Jey Uso added a wrinkle to his character that could go in one of a few different directions. His one, deliberate spear in the post-main event scrum could be a one-off, or it could signal a big character shift.
However, Raw continued its pattern of mostly bang-average wrestling, with most of the matches being booked during the show, with one bout coming together a full hour into the episode. The company continued to verbally fellate Brock Lesnar, as they’re clearly charging ahead with this embarrassment of a project. And the main event scene for the past three months has been dominated by six or seven wrestlers, competing in various combinations of matches that almost never have any real stakes and just as rarely go to a clean finish. Then, most of these matches are followed by a brawl that sees the heels stand tall.
Where have we seen that kind of booking before? Oh, 1997-98 WCW called. They want their royalty check.
Let’s get to it…