10 Ways Paul Heyman Has Changed WWE Raw

Right now, so much of the Raw action feels a little more snug than in previous years.

With their hard-hitting rivalry, Buddy Murphy and Aleister Black got to showcase the sort of strong style competition that makes fans sit up and take notice. Before that, Murphy had largely been an afterthought since a fluke win over Daniel Bryan last year, while Black had been grumpily sitting in a dark room as he stewed in his own emo vibes.

The simple intensity and physicality of the matches between Murphy and Black added completely new dimensions to both characters, and it also gave an added layer of toughness to both guys - particularly to Buddy Murphy.

Another prime example of recent Raw content having a renewed sense of believability, is this past Monday's Asuka vs. Natalya bout. This match not only reinforced Asuka's status as a killer of the squared circle, but it gave Natalya a sense of physicality, grit, and believability not seen in many a year by the Calgary native.

Paul Heyman was notorious in ECW for letting his roster wrestle as stiff a style as each performer was comfortable with - and if these past few months of Raw are anything to go by, he's likewise affording the red brand's talent that same opportunity to work a more physical style.