5 Ups & 6 Downs From Last Night's WWE Raw (Oct 2)

Downs...

6. Titus Drifts Away

Elias Titus O'Neil
WWE.com

'The Drifter' is a tremendous midcard act. He's one of only a few wrestlers capable of drawing legitimate heel heat in 2017, and his songs always illicit a hateful response from the crowd, no matter the content. This week's was no different, but Elias' contributions to Raw took a nosedive thereafter.

Titus O'Neil interrupted his Alice In Chains knock-off, then fought 'The Drifter.' It was set up when Elias attacked Titus after defeating Apollo Crews last week, but it was too short to offer anything substantial, and the scant action we got didn't deliver. His character is great, but Elias is nowhere near good enough to carry an opponent as clumsy as O'Neil, and it showed.

The one positive is that WWE booked the right finish, with Elias hitting his opponent with a rope-hung Stunner, then pinning him with his Drift Away finisher. Their clear communication issues were on display even as Titus struggled to get himself into position for the conclusion, so here's hoping we've seen the last of this mini-feud from an in-ring standpoint.

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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.