10 Things Wrong With Every Episode Of WWE Raw
1. Dead Giveaway
On tonight's episode of RAW, Roman Reigns is set to defend his United States Championship against the combined force of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho in a handicap match. On the Boxing Day edition, Reigns bested Owens in a lengthy main event. On December 19, the two men were on opposite ends of a tag team main event also involving Seth Rollins and Chris Jericho, who themselves might as well be surgically attached to one another.
All of these matches took or are scheduled to take place after the Owens Vs. Reigns Universal Title match at Roadblock: End Of The Line, the story beats of which have been repeated to monotonous effect. Owens is the storyline inferior "Superstar", and requires assistance from best bud Chris Jericho to win his matches. Reigns and Owens also waged war on the November 28 episode. In the month which followed, we have learned absolutely nothing new about either man.
Reigns and Owens are set to tussle for the latter's meaningless Universal Title at this year's Royal Rumble - but the pairing already worn out its welcome weeks ago. WWE has given it away so freely, with so little character development, that it offers no real intrigue. Overfamiliar, stale, and predictable - if Owens does win cleanly, which he won't, the last few months might as well not have happened - it exists to either a) crown Roman Reigns or b) insert some contrivance to prolong the tedium yet further.
For once, a Reigns win is welcome. That is, until one remembers the mandatory title rematch clause...