7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Raw (10 Feb - Results & Review)

1. World Heavyweight Title Match Off To Races

Given that WWE is planning to run back a mediocre World Heavyweight Championship match from Saturday Night’s Main Event at WrestleMania 41, the company has its work cut out to make this the hottest program it can be.

They took a major leap in that direction on Monday night when Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso officially chose to face Gunther for his world title in a molten opening segment. Jey opened Raw once again with an extended entrance through the crowd, restarting his theme and standing on the announce desk to “Yeet” with the fans.

In a beautifully shot angle from the floor level behind the fans, Uso could be seen taking a tumble, as Gunther had snuck up and tripped Jey onto the desk, triggering a beatdown. Gunther pummeled Jey and powerbombed him twice, shoving officials out of the way to hit the second one.

As Gunther retreated up the entranceway, Jey grabbed the mic and laid down the gauntlet (with Gunther yelling, “Don’t you say it!” to Uso), which prompted the Ring General to charge back down the ramp, but Jey knocked him off the apron and dove onto the pile – all while fans were losing their minds.

There are nine more episodes of Raw before WrestleMania 41. Keeping this feud this hot is going to be tough, but it’s critical to making this match feel as big as possible. Monday’s offering was perfectly measured, with WWE subverting fans’ expectations during Jey’s entrance by having Gunther rob them of the show-opening celebration. It was a needle scratch on a record, a jarring swing in mood that enraged fans. Just sublime stuff.