6 Ups & 6 Downs From Last Night's WWE Backstage (Feb 4)
Sage WrestleMania talk from Drew McIntyre, but Promo School is still no laughing matter...
WWE Backstage is often a welcome break from WWE's occasionally intimidating content churn.
A selection of short segments being cut to pieces rather than long vignettes stretched beyond the point of enjoyment is wholly opposed to the entire philosophical approach of Monday Night Raw since it became a three hour show. The interchangeable panel promises a diverse section of takes rather than a crew listlessly linked to one single-minded writing team working in fear of their insular ageing boss. For a show on a Fox channel, it's not SmackDown.
All big positives.
But how will it survive the Road To WrestleMania? WWE has so much to get to on the main shows at this time of year that a shoulder programme may instead feel as though it's weighing everything down. There is at least a lot to discuss...