5 Ups & 7 Downs From WWE Raw (Jan 31)

Downs…

7. Heel Versus Heel Dynamic Doesn’t Work

This writer loves Kevin Owens and is behind him whether he’s a face or heel. But that doesn’t make things any less confusing when watching Monday’s match between KO and Austin Theory.

Owens spent the previous segment trying to get Seth Rollins to risk his automatic bid in the Elimination Chamber to help KO bypass his qualifying match – a very heelish thing to do. Then KO wrestled as more of a bruising babyface during the match itself against Theory, with Austin finally getting the upper hand by kicking the ropes to low-blow Owens. One ATL later and Theory was headed to the Chamber match.

The match itself was good, don’t get it wrong; it just comes across as confusing. Unless we’re supposed to cheer Owens – we damn sure aren’t supposed to be backing Austin – who was the hero in this story?

There are rumors that Owens and Rollins will turn face, but Owens definitely did a heel move by trying to trick Seth into using his Chamber spot as leverage to his benefit. Can they figure out from week to week who is supposed to be cheered and who’s supposed to be booed?