18 Reasons Why Last Night's WWE Raw Was An Absolute Mess

6. Unearned

Heavy Machinery are the bushwhackers now and it sucks bye
WWE

Speaking of the Raw Women's Championship match, what did Ruby Riott do to earn a second title shot, exactly?

The Riott Squad leader was bulldozed at Elimination Chamber. Charging Rousey at the bell, she was promptly flattened with punches, taken out with judo throws, and ground down after taking a powder, eventually falling to the armbar. The whole thing took less than two minutes in total, and it was the most decisive title defence of Rousey's run so far.

Consider the built to that match, too. Ruby was thrown into the Rousey match as a flavour of the month challenger with no build. Her sole warm-up bout was with Nikki Cross, a whacky comedy character, whom she dispatched relatively quickly on the 11 February episode of Raw, but not to the point where she felt like a legitimate threat.

Riott is an underrated wrestler who helms a much-improved stable, and someone who should occupy a bigger role in the women's division... but not like this. WWE made a hash of her hot-shotted ascension.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.