10 Things We Learned From WWE Raw (May 22)
5. The Golden Age
In a rare case of the company giving a sh*t about lower card characters, Goldust was able to reboot the original incarnation of his character (sans the groundbreaking sexually charged overtones of the 1995 vintage) after finally abandoning R-Truth on last week's show.
That Dustin Runnels can still perform the role with such aplomb after 22 years is testament to his natural talents and the durability of the Goldust character. Surviving the choppy waters of the New Generation, Attitude Era and a personal and professional breakdown and renaissance of the man behind the paint, Goldust has undeniably endured.
2017's edition offers promise, with his brief vignette suggesting that the character is ready for one last vicious run at the 'New Era' once he's despatched his former tag team partner.
Knocking back a 'script' handed to him by an anonymous stagehand, the promo became a metatextual takedown of the character's occasional comedic mishandling in the past several years. 'Back in the directors chair', Runnels was at his convincing and conniving best, portraying a persona Vince McMahon clearly adores.
Backlash's main event should serve as a keen reminder of how the whims of the boss can have huge ramifications on the output, so it may not be too bold to suggest there's one last great spell ahead for the 'Bizarre One'.