5 New Directions After WWE Raw's Netflix Debut

It's fair to say that Raw's debut episode on Netflix has split opinion.

Some thought the show was far too casual and heavily saturated with ads/celeb cameos/nothing promos. Others were willing to go easier on Triple H and the company for spoon feeding the most basic aspects of their product to a whole new audience without going too deep in the weeds and potentially putting them off. Either way, one thing's true: People are talking about it and there's still a buzz surrounding the entire WWE name.

As always, those backstage and in meetings will be asking what's next. There won't be any high fives or basking in the afterglow of a job well done. This is pro wrestling, and attention will quickly turn to the follow up chapter. SmackDown will be a priority, so will next week's sophomore effort for Raw, and then it's Saturday Night's Main Event, Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania time. Triple H doesn't have a minute's peace to put his feet up and reflect.

Huge debuts are on the agenda, one key faction looks rudderless following the Raw opener, Rumble winners must be thrashed out and Trips has to sit down with The Rock to bang heads on his direction once he inevitably returns. Will that be at 'Mania? The jury's out on that. Nobody really knows for sure what big Dwayne's schedule looks like right now, or if he'll be there come April.

WWE never rests. Here's what'll be on those format sheets in coming weeks and months, people!

5. WWE Getting Time To Iron This Out

Don't understate the pressure of producing a worldwide bow on streaming behemoth Netflix. WWE and Triple H had ample time to prepare, sure, but there were always going to be some teething problems. Christ, a mainstream blockbuster like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson had issues, so let's not go overboard on the criticism just yet. WWE deserve time to iron out some wrinkles and come back better.

Some aspects of the Netflix debut’s presentation were surprisingly rough though. Audio mixes were all over the place, and the show just seemed to lose steam the longer it went on. There were also so many ads and video packages placed in pretty odd spots, and people had seen more than enough of the celebrity waves early. Obviously, it’s early days. WWE will get this right, but it’s doubtful this specific episode will be enough to keep some of the casual market hooked on the product in isolation.

One can see select changes to the format coming to tighten things up, and the production team need a meeting or two with Netflix in a hurry. Perhaps many of the problems fell on the streaming giant's side. After all, it's hardly like WWE is alien to producing a live product or beaming it across the globe. They've been doing that off their own backs for a long time now.

Patience will be rewarded. There's a case to be made that this episode was never going to live up to the hype for some hardcores who follow week by week. We're a spoiled bunch sometimes, and don't forget this was something of a soft reset for WWE's flagship on a brand new platform.

Time will cure all ills. Count on it.

4. The End Of The New Bloodline

Creatively, Solo Sikoa's offshoot version of The Bloodline is yesterday's news unless something colossal happens to rebuild momentum. Roman Reigns beating Solo during Raw's opening 'Tribal Combat' match to reclaim his ula fala and put Sikoa back in his box felt like the 'end of season' happy moment for the story. Where, exactly, could the writers take Solo, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga and the injured duo of Tonga Loa and Bronson Reed now anyway?

Options are severely limited.

This loss was a natural end for his pretend claims to the throne. Of course, Roman facing The Rock is still on the table to find out who sits at the head of it, but that's core Bloodline business. Solo's own version is toast. They've got no heat left. Again, this is pro wrestling and that could change in a hurry, but it's far more likely they'll dwindle back down the card and work some sort of multi-man at WrestleMania. Or, maybe Jacob will split from Sikoa and they'll have a match.

They'd do well bell to bell, sure, but that sort of follow on story would definitely feel less than. The only choice might well be splitting the New Bloodline completely and trying something else with Solo. He's benefitted from the whole affair, at least. Sikoa now looks every bit the fine upper carder instead of a background heavy, and Triple H will be chuffed about that.

There's next to no value in keeping his Bloodline collective together for longer than a few more lingering months though.

3. Penta Beating Chad Gable

Some on the erm...cheery microcosm of negativity that is social media loudly bleated about the lack of a Penta El Zero Miedo debut on Monday's Raw. In fairness, Hunter might've reasoned that the ex-AEW star would've been lost in the shuffle had he debuted amongst rampant star power like The Rock, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, The Undertaker and more. Fair, but (as always) there's a counter argument to that too.

Penta showing up for a wrestle on a show with huge interest like this could've jumpstarted his WWE career. It wasn't to be. Instead, one short backstage promo teased the masked man's arrival, and it's nailed on he'll have one of those banger thingies against a serious workhorse. Chad Gable tasked Raw GM Adam Pearce with finding him the best luchador out there for next week's show.

Enter Penta. Then, soon afterwards, enter his brother Rey Fenix. Lucha Bros are fed-bound.

Gable is a skilled enough performer to offset any loss to Penta. He'll bump around for the incoming star like Chavo Guerrero did for Rey Mysterio back in 2002, and everybody will be too busy heralding his arrival to worry about poor old Chad. Don't fret - Gable and American Made are too reliable and neat as a package to ultimately fail long term.

Beating Gable then entering a fine 20+ minute showing in February's Royal Rumble would be an excellent launching pad for Penta in WWE. He's surely tag-team division bound once Fenix is allowed to show up, so all of this is short term stuff in the interim. It will be bags of fun though!

2. CM Punk Winning Royal Rumble

John Cena's promo on Raw was a masterclass in crowd manipulation. It also showcased the true strength of basic story beats and a crafty worker's ability to let his audience fill in the blanks. Cena initially steered away from thoughts he could be World Champion one last time before retiring, then a lightbulb appeared above his head; what if John enters the Royal Rumble and wins that 30-man match?! That'd punch his ticket to WrestleMania.

Fudge, baloney, mustard!

Surely, WWE formatted things this way deliberately. They fancy booking Cena as a big emotional distraction that veers everyone off the scent of a CM Punk Rumble win. After all, JC can always press on to Elimination Chamber and score his 'Mania destiny there, if necessary. Punk going after Cody Rhodes sounds like a wild ride too, and it'd avoid the silly 'booking themselves into a corner' thoughts of fans rejecting top babyface Cody because they're emotionally swept up by Cena's retirement. That's still on the creative deck too, right enough.

It's about time Punk got to headline the biggest card of the year as well. He's been waiting on that for a long, long time, and the thought it was never going to happen proved to be the source of (at least some of) his frustrations pre-walkout in 2014. 2025 can ease his pain on that front. It's difficult to see WWE's audience booing a Punk Rumble success out of the building.

Cena can always have his dreams shattered by someone else. A GUNTHER attack out of sheer badness, perhaps? Anything's possible, but it'd suck hard for Punk if one of his old foes charged back in to scoop what's probably rightfully his in the new year.

1. The Rock = Babyface Again...Or Is He?

Rocky was babyfaced all night.

He put over Cody Rhodes graciously with both words and a friendly hug to kick off the night, which tramples all over one of last year’s hottest would-be matches. Then, he put over Roman Reigns and generally acted like he isn’t going to be at WrestleMania 41. That could be a swerve. Hopefully it is, because the heel ‘Final Boss’ Rock was way more interesting than happy, smiley Dwayne stopping by every so often.

There were a few little nuggets hidden in amongst everything though. One, Rock came across as totally over the top when gushing over Rhodes. Two, Roman wasn't 100% sure his cuz would put the ula fala around his neck or keep it for himself. There were some awkward glances between both men. Three, he visibly ignored Triple H's handshake backstage. Fingers crossed that wasn't merely an embarrassing moment for 'The Game'.

WWE would probs turn it into story even if it was. They've every right to do that. All of these tiny moments melded together to make Rock's 'I'm just happy to be here, folks' smile and Netflix pandering all the more see through. Dunno, maybe this is a fan looking way too deep for something that isn't there. That could be it, but 'The Great One' seemed aloof throughout.

His saccharine behaviour may rule Rocky out of the running for WrestleMania. Or, perhaps that's what they want you to think. Someone draft up a conspiracy theory checklist immediately and get the coffee on. There's no way Bad Blood and this showing is the last time fans see Rock on the road to 'Mania, right?!

Where else can you see WWE's product going in the immediate aftermath of Raw's debut on Netflix? For more wrestling, check out 50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE Royal Rumble and 50 Things You Learn Binge-Watching Every WWE WrestleMania!