Raw Feelings: The Positives Of Monday Night Raw 11/28/16

When airing as much content as World Wrestling Entertainment airs on a weekly basis, opinions and viewpoints are bound to come from every perspective inside and out of the professional wrestling business. It's only natural and perfectly acceptable for a viewer to sound off what they liked, loved, hated, and everything in between.

When it comes to the flagship show Monday Night Raw, reactions are always going to vary. Some weeks are critically lauded while others have fans and pundits alike sounding warning alarms and offering alternate options at a frenetically endless pace.

 It is my personal belief that every show has its positive points even if they aren't readily apparent at the moment of viewing. Some matches, stories, and decisions are based on a long-term bigger picture where it all makes sense in the end. 

That's not to say there aren't things I would have liked to seen done differently or gone another way. No show is immune from criticism at all.

The November 28, 2016 edition of Raw is no exception. Some events from the three hour broadcast were frustrating and head scratching.

Overall however, I found it to be a very enjoyable, solid edition that didn't feel like it dragged even as it went past the three hour mark.

 Looking at the bright side, these were the positives I took away from the show!


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  - The Underground Underdog found his voice and a Monster grows stronger

  Since his arrival onto the main roster, Sami Zayn has constantly found himself fighting from underneath, staring into the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.  He nearly toppled John Cena's stranglehold on the United States Championship in the spring of 2015 and found himself reigniting the blood feud between he and Kevin Owens at Royal Rumble 2016.

Sometimes he tasted bitter defeat and beaten down to the point one wondered why he kept bothering to dust himself off and re-enter the battle field.  It's because he is a warrior of the truest form with an outlook that perceived failures are moments to improve upon and fight to overcome.

This is why he pursues vengeance against Braun Strowman.  The same Strowman who didn't view him as suitable competition and has proceeded to inflict pain upon him on two different occasions.

The same Strowman who has been on an undefeated fueled tear through the Raw roster since the Brand Extension took effect this past Summer.  The same Strowman who decimated R-Truth in just 40 seconds as if the former US and Tag Team Champion was a plaything.    Why on earth does Zayn insist on seeking this monster out?

It is these two stories that intertwine so effortlessly.  The ironic twist of Raw GM Mick Foley, no stranger to fighting onward into wars he had little to no chance of winning (Vader comes to mind instantly) pleading with Sami to walk away adds some depth to it.  As did Zayn going off on Foley rather than accept the notion he would never be able to defeat Strowman no matter how great the effort.

Going forward I am very much interested in seeing how this all plays out. It is no secret Smackdown Live GM Daniel Bryan wants Zayn to join his team so could that wind up playing a factor? Would Mick trade him to spare him from another Strowman beating?  And what else does Bray Wyatt's former black sheep have in store for his opponents?  So many reasons to stay tuned!

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 What was old felt fresh again

During the Attitude Era it was a given that many happenings would take place outside of a wrestling ring and even the arena. It became commonplace if not predictable that the action would be spent more time in free roaming environments than the squared circle.

Fast forward to today and that element has all but been put out to pasture. Sure there have been the occasional incident with someone getting attacked from behind doing an interview or ambushed in the hallway but really that is about the extent of it.  Last night Raw went outside the box and in both instances they succeeded nicely.

We have seen Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho several times already but their parking lot confrontation added a new flame to the powder keg Jericho started all the way back in September.  On three different occasions the master of "The List" has cost Rollins championship matches against his best buddy Universal Champion Kevin Owens including a suave Sin Cara impersonation last week. 

Before Rollins merely sought to defeat Y2J as a means of sending a message to Owens but now Jericho has, as they say, poked the bear once too often.  The end result? Rollins beating the tar out of him culminating in a Pedigree on top of the limo he attempted to make a hasty exit in.

With JeriKO possibly on the rocks for real, it puts Jericho in a dangerous situation. Rollins is out for pure revenge and as we saw with his time in The Authority, he knows no limits to procuring it. These two are seemingly set to collide at Roadblock and I can't wait for it!

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The second instance of outside the box progression was my personal favorite segment of the night.

Thrown together at random following their excellent Best of Seven Series ended without a definitive winner, Cesaro and Sheamus have become quite the entertaining pair. I suppose if you can beat the crap out of each other as they have, finding you are actually kindred spirits isn't as big an impossibility as perhaps thought.

Here they were commiserating at a bar over their near loss to WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day, going as far to opine that even a title win wouldn't have worked since they can't stand one another.  In no time flat, obnoxious patrons united the pair and they worked well together decimating the hapless souls brave enough to talk trash and belch in their faces. It was a fun, though less violent, nod to the old APA bar fights that happened from time to time back in the day.

 One could (successfully) argue Cesaro should be so much higher on the card as a singles star but this tandem has landed him regular television time and allowed him to showcase a personality to compliment his unreal abilities in the ring.  It has also benefitted Sheamus who I find to be woefully underrated and underappreciated. It would appear they are headed on a path that leads back to a return match with New Day;  I would not mind one bit if they finally do become champions.

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The Advocate Brings Deadly News

At Survivor Series 2016, Brock Lesnar found himself in a situation he had never been in before his entire wrestling career.  He bloodied Orton, laid waste to Cena,  BROKE THE STREAK, and snapped a few arms along the way.  Who could stop him let alone manhandle him in 86 seconds?

Of course you know the answer came in the form of Goldberg. Two spears and a Jackhammer was the recipe for victory.  The world was stunned and left wondering what would come next for both.  Last week Goldberg entered into the 2017  Royal Rumble match in a quest to win his first World Championship in 13 years.

Shockingly in his sitdown interview with Michael Cole, the masterful Paul Heyman revealed his Beast will also be entering into the Rumble which would be his first in also 13 years which he also won.  28 losers and one victim is what the end result will be declared Heyman.

Heyman painted a beautiful picture that enhances who Lesnar is. He is a man seeking redemption and broken bones.

  The seemingly indestructible have always met their match dating back to Cain vs. Able.  Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson, Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey.  The New England Patriots had a near perfect 2007 NFL season ended by the huge underdog New York Giants  at the Superbowl.   Lesnar can certainly now relate to those dynasties meeting their match.

What was made perfectly clear is because of this soul crushing experience, the Lesnar that entered Survivor Series will not be the Lesnar heading for Houston to do the soul crushing himself.   One can only imagine what the mood will be like when he once again comes face to face with Goldberg.

There are two tales to a dynasty.  The dominance stage and what happens once the major defeat occurs.  Brock Lesnar has always had the power to write the chapters of his book. One man stands in the way of his happy ending. That man has a goal to cap off his own amazing comeback with a title win on the grandest stage.  Both can't get what they want and one will suffer.  I am fully engaged and ready to watch it all unfold.

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205 Live with a Personality

 It has been a slow moving process building a base for the newly revived Cruiserweight Division coming off the incredible Cruiserweight Classic.  Some things that worked in the CWC have been missing from the presentation on Raw while other factors from the past have hampered growth.

  There is no doubting that the athletes competing in the division are a blast to watch and are giving their all every time they step into the ring.  And as seen in the CWC the moves are not any less breathtaking now than they were the last time Cruiserweights appeared on a national level.

 But the problem lied with dropping in as many people as they did from the start without fleshing out their individual personas to give the audience who didn't watch CWC or keep up with NXT regularly a reason to invest in them.  Snapshots of a biography were sprinkled in via commentary and brief video packages but it wasn't enough to sustain momentum.

The eye catching moves done in WCW's heyday were fresh to that audience as there wasn't an oversaturation of talent doing them at that point.  Today while spectacular, they aren't going to be able to carry the brand or establish a much needed connection with your casual viewer.

Even WCW eventually hit this wall. Granted they established a core roster of Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, among others but the rest were left to random multi-man tags done just to put something out there; this isn't unlike what WWE had been doing up until recently.


 In recent weeks however, some mistakes have been increasingly corrected upon.

Last night saw Tony Nese defeat Cedric Alexander  in a spirited bout with a little assist from Drew Gulak. 

Going into tonight's 205 Live that could be a story to tell, Alexander going to avenge a cheap loss in his hometown.  The post-match interview conducted with Nese and Gulak for YouTube should be shown on this show to establish who they are and what their goals are. All three men have the tools to really catch on and just need that door opened enough to get there.

Just as great was the contrast illustrated between Rich Swann and Brian Kendrick.  As Swann put away Noam Dar, Kendrick sat in on commentary and angrily spoke of what exactly he sees himself as being the flag bearer of the division.  Swann would get on the microphone and tout his recent 2-0 streak against the Champion and how the next time would be the end of his reign.

These are all key components to gain attention and a loyal following to the division and 205 Live.  Each wrestler has a unique backstory and style that should both be emphasized and presented front and center.  The high flying action will the be the icing on the cake.

This should be how they are presented on Raw every week to build right into the next night.  Even if we only get short sampler matches in the process,  talent and stories need  constant building to get anticipation levels up.   They have done a good job getting there, now they need to cross the finish line.


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The Women Shine Bright Once More


  Much debate has gone on since Sasha Banks recaptured the WWE Raw Women's Championship for the third time while also defeating Charlotte on TV for the third time as well.  The match itself, a Falls Count Anywhere, main evented the show and was excellent from start to finish.

I have read many viewpoints and I can see both sides of the coin.  To some it has been overdone and run its course.  And there is some logic behind that thinking given the amount of content produced as mentioned at the top of this article.   Rematches are common place and sometimes done as if nobody is sure how to advance the story or talent elsewhere.

With that in mind, I have had zero issue with the saga that has been Sasha vs. Charlotte.  Both are strong athletes  who as it happens are evenly matched and it is entirely feasible they would trade victories and title reigns.  The back and forth chess match has developed two key story arcs many are ignoring or not seeing because they are focused on everything individually.

Both women have defeated the other in their respective hometowns.  Charlotte is unbeaten in PPV matches while Banks has had her number on TV.  Every little nuance has added great layers and isn't that what we want the most out of wrestling after great action?  Something to get lost in and enjoy?

 Charlotte not only lost but had to watch her own father, callously kicked to the curb by her last Spring, celebrate and endorse her bitter rival.  What will her next move be?  And will it be as simple as a return match clause?

Waiting in the wings are Bayley and Nia Jax. 

Jax has been under the radar of late but is   no less of a threat to anyone she comes across.  She is undefeated and has had her eye on the title since her arrival.

Bayley was a sole survivor at Survivor Series alongside Charlotte and hasn't forgotten the Queen's heinous attack on her post-match.   Even her buddy-buddy friendship with Sasha showed a small sign of fracture during their backstage interaction. There are many directions they could go in, all of them very welcome in my opinion.

Fans clamored for women to get their fair shake on the main roster and to its credit WWE has delivered in spades if you ask me. They are well represented on  both Raw and Smackdown, no longer used as buffer matches in between men's action deemed higher in priority.   With few exceptions, Banks and Charlotte have produced several classics with 110% effort put forth every single time.

 Next week should provide more of an idea of what comes next as we get closer to Roadblock. I have full faith it won't disappoint.

Positives Counter: 6

 

 That will do it for this week! Until next time, always look on the Bright Side of Wrestling!!