WWE Raw: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (Oct 9)
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Enzo Amore is Daniel Bryan.
The 'Smacktalker Skywalker' may not possess the in-ring skill or the independent pedigree of the former WWE Champion, but he has used the talents he does have to rise above petty punishments and cynical bullying to earn himself a plum spot on two live shows a week mostly doing what he does best, with some occasional wrestling thrown in for good measure.
This being WWE in 2017, the snake has eaten itself. In an organisation sometimes so out of touch with their audience that they can't effectively even bury a talent let alone push one, repeated attempts to shovel dirt on the career of the New Jersey nuisance has ensured he failed upwards, winning the Cruiserweight Title on (verbal) merit, justifying the division's spot in the minds of the entire fanbase.
Neville is probably the company's best all-rounder this year, but even he failed to lift perception of the entire league during his superlative stewardship. Enzo managed it in a fortnight. The manner in which WWE tried yet again to undercut his momentum in Raw's finale was a new low. Corey Graves played company hitman, eviscerating a fellow heel with the type of brutality that presumably had broadcast journalist Bobby Heenan rolling in his grave.
The hatchet job that made up the entirety of this week's segment was unforgivable and thus, completely unmissable. For those that still like some nuance in their pro wrestling, not everything was quite so obnoxiously blatant.
10. Foundations
The Shield is back, b*tch!
Luckily, Roman Reigns isn't still trapped in his short-fused verbal war with John Cena, otherwise that's perhaps exactly how the formal announcement would have been made. As it was, 'The Big Dog', Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose mostly let their actions do the talking as they reunited to cap off an electric opening segment on this week's edition of the show.
Either by careful consideration or the happiest of accidents, their 2017 coming together took place in exactly the same building as their turtle-necked arrival and heartbreaking collapse.
Wreaking havoc during the main event of the 2012 Survivor Series in order to ensure CM Punk's lengthy reign with the WWE Title continued, The Shield hopped the rail of the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana to a mix of shock and awe from the capacity crowd. Less than two years later, tears would be shed as Triple H unveiled Seth Rollins as his 'Plan B' to shockingly dismantle the unit whilst still in their prime.
The Miz and The Bar clearly should have checked their travel itinerary ahead of decking Reigns, Ambrose, and Rollins last week. This wasn't just a crowd pleased to see a heroic reunification - this was Shield home turf.