5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Raw (Oct 17)

5. Winner: Bo Dallas

Bo Dallas Curtis Axel
WWE.com

WWE’s rebuild of Bo Dallas has been pretty disjointed so far. From the poetry readings to the heat-free squash matches, Bo’s revival hasn’t really connected with the fans, and a quick tag loss to Sami Zayn and Neville last week suggested WWE had nipped it in the bud. Last night saw things get back on track, however, and after beating Neville, Dallas attacked Curtis Axel when his former stablemate tried to celebrate with him.

For all Raw’s predictability, the Brand Split necessitates WWE coming up with new things for the curtailed roster to do, and Bo finally has a direction. It might not be the most exciting story on the card, but it’s got genuine traction at the moment, and that’s more than you can say for most of what’s happening on the red brand right now.

Is anyone truly excited for a Dallas vs. Axel feud? Probably not, but Dallas is unquestionably in a better position than he was a couple of weeks ago. Whether or not WWE find a use for him long-term remains to be seen. They looked to be onto something with the “motivational speaker” schtick he debuted with, but that fell apart quickly, and Bo has struggled ever since. Nonetheless, he’s a decent wrestler with a certain goofy charisma, and he deserves this shot at redemption.

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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.