5 Ups & 8 Downs From WWE Raw (May 17)

4. A Functional Opening

MVP Bobby Lashley
WWE.com

Raw's opening segment was, for the most part, a standard Raw opening segment, but nonetheless served as a functional bridge to what WWE wanted to accomplish later in the evening.

Bobby Lashley and MVP hit the ring with a troupe of women and celebrated the WWE Champion's WrestleMania Backlash triumph. Opening the door for an open challenge inevitably pulled Drew McIntyre to the back, though MVP stifled the Scot by saying that he and Braun Strowman were exempt from stepping up, leading to a fight breaking out and McIntyre driving the heels away.

The open challenge theme continued throughout the night, with Damian Priest signalling his desire to answer it after beating John Morrison. This built to the heel swerve when MVP pulled Kofi Kingston's WWE Title shot out from under him.

While these segments are never going to set the world alight, solid promos and storytelling that is at least true to the characters is worthy of an Up. This was fine.

Advertisement
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.