4 Ups & 9 Downs From WWE Raw (Oct 18)

How do you grade a three-hour program that starts off with a dull opening promo but closes with a super-hot main event, when both segments involved the same people?

Unfortunately, when you look at all the stuff in the middle, you see a lot of middling stuff. There’s talent and potential there, but for some reason, WWE consistently is unable to pull things together and make it work, and we’re left with yet another lacklustre episode of Raw that leaves you wishing for better.

Fan energy – or the lack thereof – a very real thing, and when you open the show and wonder why the crowd is so quiet, it’s never a good sign. Two of the main men’s matches have been marred by shoddy writing, with the “Can they co-exist?” storyline of Big E/Drew McIntyre now being mocked by the wrestlers themselves, as if that makes it OK. And you have Goldberg literally threatening to murder someone in Saudi Arabia – and naturally, he’s the babyface.

Throw in poor character development and questionable booking decisions and you have just another Monday night for WWE. Some will say the main event really elevated the show. This column would suggest fast-forwarding the DVR to the last half-hour and just enjoy that and forget everything else.

Let’s get to it…