7 Ups & 8 Downs From WWE Raw: In Your Face (Sep 14)

4. Drizzling Splits

Seth Rollins Murphy
WWE.com

How many split angles can a show run simultaneously before saying "that's enough"? Either the writing team aren't working together on this or they just don't care anymore.

The repetition would be forgivable if the storylines were popping, but they aren't. The Zelina Vega/Andrade/Angel Garza thing has been protracted for far too long and ultimately means nothing because the stable were booked as losers from day one, making it impossible to invest in their split. Seth Rollins and Murphy, meanwhile, feels wholly unnecessary, particularly with the crooked cult leader pulling his following in only to knock him down twice in the same night, leaving him without allies.

Vega splitting from her team will do Andrade more harm than Garza, who is the better talker of the two, though the inevitable singles match should bang. Rollins' whole appeal as 'The Monday Night Messiah' is pulling people in with his poison, though. He should abuse his followers, but what is he without an army? Nothing.

And again, the exact same storyline - twice on the same show.

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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.