5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Raw (August 1)

4. Sasha Banks, Enzo Amore And Their "Haters"

Enzo Amore Chris Jericho Charlotte Sasha Banks
WWE.com

One of the biggest bugbears surrounding WWE programming in recent years has been the over-reliance on long, drawn-out show opening segments. It’s been one of the company’s most effective ways to fill out the overlong Monday night television format, and when WWE promised a “New Era” of change in the company, the lengthy talking segments were one of the first things that fans hoped would go.

Sadly, this doesn’t appear to be the case. Last week’s Universal Championship announcement was justifiable, and while it’s a lot less depressing to start Raw with Sasha Banks than The Authority, this week’s in-ring opener was incredibly tedious.

Banks came-out to celebrate her Women’s Title victory over Charlotte, delivering an uncharacteristically rough diatribe that eventually summoned the former champion, then Chris Jericho (?!). Enzo Amore soon appeared on his own, and after a needlessly long string of bad jokes and cringeworthy innuendo, the four participants were booked in an intergender tag team match.

While the segment and match gave Jericho and Enzo something to do in the lead-up to SummerSlam, it felt as if the participants were just filling time. Even Enzo, the best talker in the company, couldn’t prevent this from descending into “tiresome slog” territory, and after another 20-minute in-ring talking segment, it appears that we’re right back where we started.

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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.