WWE Raw: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (May 9)
2. The Return Of Hot Crowds
For the second week in a row, WWE Raw was held in front of a crowd that remained surprisingly hot for the entire duration of the show.
Typically, these three-hour Raws are painful for everybody, WWE staff and fans alike, and the only reason WWE keeps the show that length is because the USA Network pays them extra. Fans typically fade out by the beginning of hour three at the latest and are silent for the last third of the show. If WWE is lucky, they can get the crowd back into the show for the main event.
That wasn't the case this week. Fans were super hot for the third hour, which began with The Club versus Roman Reigns and The Usos, continued with Zack Ryder, and wrapped up with The New Day. It was smart of the company to structure the show with so many top/popular stars in the third hour, but I think it's also indicative of the fact that the product has been stronger as of late.
Between Shane McMahon, Bullet Club, and the whole "new era," WWE feels a lot cooler than it has in a very long time. For the first time in years, fans actually seem happy to be at Raw, and it shows.