10 Things Post-WrestleMania 38 Raw Told Us About WWE’s Future
Cody Rhodes sets his sights; WWE stars get repackaged; 'Raw After WrestleMania' is...dead?!
It was all a bit muted, wasn't it?
WWE's post-WrestleMania episodes of Raw are typically raucous affairs that play in front of p*ssed up live crowds who create a brilliant, party-like atmosphere. In return, the promotion delivers big debuts, shocking returns and sets the scene for what those peeps can expect from the product through until SummerSlam.
The night after 'Mania 38's weekender was slightly different. Yes, some stars did launch comebacks, but they might not have been the ones you expected or even wanted. Most of the promos, other than those from MVP and Edge, added next-to-no direction for some of WWE's major champions too.
They did, however, gives clues on how these champs will fare in the role, and how creative plans to book them as characters going forwards.
Cody Rhodes' show-opening speech was perhaps the most newsworthy thing about Raw. Confident, emotional and dignified-but-still fired up, the ex-AEW man delivered something fans can hang onto in the near future. His first words on WWE TV since 2016 also set up what's coming next.
Here's where WWE is heading after all that 'Mania fun...
10. Elias = Repackaged Again?
Hello, he is...Ezekiel?
That re-debut for the artist formerly known as Elias fell flat. WWE don't tend to ride early hiccups like this out either, so they'll probably knee-jerk, take the dude off TV, let him grow out the beard again and bring back the guitar. Being honest, that might be for the best.
It's hard to see this bland repackage job flying with live crowds. Fans on Raw already showed the way by trolling the sh*t out of it, and WWE can't be happy with that. Letting audiences rip the p*ss out of a freshly-rethought act definitely isn't sustainable long-term, and that could cost Zeke.
His first segment back opposite Kevin Owens was a miss. It didn't even help KO; he was coming off a hot match with Steve Austin at WrestleMania, and this is how they followed up on it? The whole "Elias' younger brother" thing has a maximum shelf life of three weeks too.