8 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE Raw (Nov 21)

2. Rich Swann: Number One Contender

Rich Swann
WWE.com

Of the 11 competitors currently active in Raw's Cruiserweight Division, only TJ Perkins, Brian Kendrick, and Rich Swann have been given any real opportunities for growth. Perkins and Kendrick were both featured heavily as the division's first title program, but TJP has since been saddled with a cringeworthy gamer gimmick, and while Kendrick makes for a solid heel champion, he's not exactly the most exciting guy in the division.

Rich Swann is the antidote to this. His performances are regular highlights in a lacklustre division, and of all WWE's Cruiserweights, Swann does the best job of capturing the crowd's imagination. He's fast, flashy, exciting, and exudes charisma from every pour. If anyone's going to emerge from this division's shoddy booking as a star, it's him, and last night put him in the perfect position to do so.

Swann overcame Noam Dar and Perkins in a solid Triple Threat match to claim a Cruiserweight Title shot on next week's 205 Live. The trio put an entertaining match together with what little time they had, and Swann scored the victory with a spin kick on Perkins. The ball's now in WWE's court to make Swann one of the centrepieces of this ailing division, because without bold, entertaining characters to latch onto, the Cruiserweights are never going to get over.

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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.