7 Observations From Attending WWE Raw Live In Missouri

Some people are going to get a reaction, for better or worse, when they come out in any city. The likes of Dean Ambrose, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, and John Cena will force people to rise to their feet and bellow to the heavens, one way or another. And while the responses that Zack Ryder and, of course, fan favorite Sami Zayn received were certainly pleasant surprises for viewers at home, they certainly weren’t shocking—these guys getting cheered is how the writing has engineered them. It’s a tale of successful storytelling.

What is shocking, however, is other superstars getting such fierce reactions. During the WWE Superstars taping for the WWE Network, one of the loudest pops of the night came from the entrance of Apollo Crews. The standout agile powerhouse, who cut his teeth in the local independent wrestling scenes for several years, received a warm homecoming. Surely, though, not everyone cheering was even aware of Crews’ stint in the region as Uhaa Nation. Babyface appeal in Middle America is the only way I can describe it.

After a somber start and lukewarm reception, Becky Lynch won the crowd over midway through her match with Emma. A recent NHL playoff run in the same venue prompted a boisterous “Let’s Go Blues” chant, which was quickly countered with a loud “Let’s Go Becky” roar from those paying attention to the match… which grew and grew until the surprising loss. It was nice to see a secondary Women’s roster storyline blossom, if nothing else.