5 Ups And 6 Downs From Last Night's WWE Raw (Dec 1st)

1. Booking On A Cocktail Napkin

WWE is careening toward a PPV at terminal velocity seemingly with either no one or everyone (as in, too many) at the controls. The opening segment turned into angle-a-palooza, with four announced or rumored matches converging: John Cena versus Seth Rollins, Kane versus Ryback, Dolph Ziggler versus Luke Harper (probably a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship) and Big Show versus Erick Rowan (in what looks like a steel stairs are legal match). In addition to fast-forwarding through these feuds, the bookers/writers gave us New Day€™s first loss, number one contenders for the Tag Team Championship with a motivating factor that came up afterward, a €œnew and improved€ FanTango getting over by winning by forfeit and the Bellas inexplicably on the same page. We also saw Rusev, after decimating Mark Henry and Big Show, going back to his single€™s feud against Jack Swagger. While Swagger will put on a good match, this represents either a step backward or is another example of the writers treading water. Swagger is there to fill a spot until Royal Rumble €“ much like TLC.