5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Raw (29 Aug)

4. Loser: Brock Lensar

Brock Lesnar didn’t appear on last night’s raw, but Paul Heyman certainly did. The advocate engaged in an in-ring segment with Stephanie McMahon that saw Heyman offer to personally pay Lesnar’s laughable $500 fine, before apologising to Stephanie for his client’s conduct at SummerSlam. Stephanie accepted, and the filler segment came to a close.

At this point, it’s clear that WWE are heading towards a Brock Lesnar vs. Shane McMahon match. SummerSlam closed with Lesnar laying SmackDown’s Commissioner out with an F5 after The Beast’s bloody fight with Randy Orton, and WWE refuse to let the story die.

Stephanie was thoroughly unconvincing when she said she’d avenge her brother last night, and accepting the snake-like Heyman’s apology confirms that she’s not taking the situation seriously. It’s now up to Shane to find a way to make amends for the situation, and it’ll likely take place in the ring sometime.

Assuming this is the direction WWE are heading, it’s a disappointing use of Lesnar’s limited appearances. The Beast Incarnate remains WWE’s most sought-after special attraction, and the Orton match recovered much of his USADA-diminished menace and aura. At this point, he should be paired-up with people who can match him in the ring en route to eventually putting an up-and-coming babyface over, making a new star in the process.

Instead, Lesnar’s going to go toe-to-toe with a bump-taking authority figure whose heart and dedication can never be questioned, but who’s never been a particularly convincing wrestler.