The TLC pay-per-view is only five days away and last night’s edition of WWE Raw helped build intrigue for the event with the focus on several key storylines.
The WWE Raw before a pay-per-view typically gives fans a lot to think about heading into the event and last night’s Raw did a solid job of that at times. While much of the show didn’t mean much, there were a few key takeaways from it.
With no Universal Championship match at TLC, the event will be headlined by a return over three years in the making. But the rest of the card features some intriguing battles as well.
Let’s take a look at five takeaways from the Oct. 16 edition of Monday Night Raw.
Elias and The Good Brothers serenade the crowd. Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
5. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson’s Legitimacy Continues to Digress
One of the most underutilized tag teams in not only the WWE, but the world of professional wrestling is the team of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. These two comprise one of the most talented tag teams in the business, but as of late, they haven’t seemed like one of the best.
Ever since losing the Raw Tag Team Championship to The Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 33, Gallows and Anderson have seemingly done nothing of importance. They have been thrown in countless match after countless match over the past few months and the same can be said for last night’s Raw.
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The whole Gallows and Anderson, Elias, Jason Jordan, Titus O’Neil, and Apollo Crews interactions in recent weeks are as random as it gets, but it fits how Gallows and Anderson have been booked over the past few months perfectly. They seem to just get thrown into situations where a team is needed and never have a real feud anymore.
And on last night’s Raw, The Good Brothers were singing alongside the strumming of Elias. Yes, one of the best tag teams in the world was singing alongside Elias. It has come to this for Gallows and Anderson and the team is in desperate need of a brand switch or new significance on Raw after months of insignificance.
You hate to see a talented superstar or tag team being wasted, but Raw has been wasting Gallows and Anderson in recent months and The Good Brothers need a change of pace more than maybe anybody else in the entire WWE.
Source: WWE.com via Twitter
4. Newfound Allies Help Enzo Amore’s Heel Persona
Enzo Amore’s addition to 205 Live has helped the cruiserweight division’s importance tremendously since joining the roster in recent months. And while it started out as a joke having Enzo win the Cruiserweight Championship so quickly and in such a shady way, it helped build a storyline significantly.
Enzo alienated the entire 205 Live roster and lost his Cruiserweight Championship to Kalisto, the newest addition to 205 Live, on the Oct. 9 edition of Raw. The Enzo vs. 205 Live storyline has been a positive one for the division that’s legitimacy was in serious question, but last night’s Raw gave us a new look to the rivalry.
With Enzo cutting a promo in the ring, Kalisto came out and fired back verbal shots at Enzo. This led to an interaction between not only those two, but several other members of the cruiserweight division. But in a surprising twist, several of the division’s heels aided Enzo in attacking Kalisto. Enzo and his new companions then laid out several of the babyface members of the 205 Live roster that attempted to stop them.
Enzo having allies could do a lot for his character and help him become a more legitimate heel. It could also do wonders for the individuals aiding Enzo as 205 Live’s development continues.
Heels have historically had lackeys or help, and Enzo might have just found his version of that in his quest to overtake the cruiserweight division.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
3. The Demon is Coming for Sister Abigail
Finn Balor’s feud with Bray Wyatt has had its ups and downs in recent memory. But as of late, a new twist has shaken up an otherwise dilapidated feud that had lost all of its luster. With Balor defeating Wyatt at both SummerSlam and No Mercy, it seemed as if the feud was finally over.
But Wyatt made sure that wasn’t the case and stated that Sister Abigail was alive and dying to meet Balor. This led to two weeks of creepier than usual promos by Wyatt on Raw with his face changed into Sister Abigail form and his voice distorted. It seemed inevitable what was coming and last night’s Raw confirmed it.
Just when Wyatt got the upper hand over Balor with his Sister Abigail reveal, Balor fired back on last night’s Raw stating his demon was dying to meet Abigail. And at TLC, we will see Balor vs. Wyatt again, but this time as The Demon vs. Sister Abigail.
It’s hard to tell what kind of tricks the WWE has up its sleeve in this matchup. There were still questions on if Sister Abigail was just an alter ego of Wyatt or a separate person and while there could still be a twist to the storyline, it seems like Abigail is just an alter ego.
In a hit or miss feud, a battle of alter egos could provide the WWE universe with a memorable swan song for two of the WWE’s top characters.
The Shield make their entrance. Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
2. The Shield’s First Full Night Back Feels Like Old Times
The reunion of one of the top stables in WWE history was a pleasant sight on the Oct. 9 edition of Raw, but last night took it to another level. The Shield is back in the saddle again and last night gave fans a nostalgia trip back to the trio’s vintage days.
Last night’s Raw began with GM Kurt Angle in the ring, only to be interrupted by The Shield. The trio came out to its old-school entrance theme, through the crowd, and each member in old Shield attire. It was like they had never broken up and they even teased an attack of Angle just as The Shield had done in the past laying waste to anybody.
The rest of the night for The Shield was memorable as well with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose retaining their Raw Tag Team Championship against The Bar. And Roman Reigns’ battle with long-time rival Braun Strowman in a steel cage shook things up as well.
The Shield even appeared to have taken out Curtis Axel backstage before the steel cage match even though the WWE didn’t exactly confirm it. In an era where stables are not much of a factor, having The Shield back is a great sight on Monday nights.
The Hounds of Justice are back and looking to regain their place on the Raw roster as “the” dominating force in the WWE.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
1. Kane’s Return Shakes Up TLC Main Event
The recent feud between The Miz, The Bar, Braun Strowman, and The Shield has dominated the main event scene on Raw with Universal Champion Brock Lesnar out of the picture at the moment. And last night’s Raw added a demonic layer to the equation.
Earlier in the night, The Miz suggested in adding a fifth member to his team at TLC to battle The Shield since Dean Ambrose said The Shield would take on as many people as possible. This led to Raw GM Kurt Angle to say if Braun Strowman would defeat Roman Reigns inside the steel cage in last night’s main event, a fifth member would be added to The Miz’s side.
But if Reigns was to defeat Strowman, the match would be changed to a three-on-three battle featuring The Miz and The Bar while losing Strowman’s services. And in typical Reigns vs. Strowman fashion, the two put on another solid match. The outside battles between the other members of The Shield and The Bar helped make the situation feel even more chaotic as well.
And just when it looked like Reigns was about to defeat Strowman, the lights went out and turned to an eerie red tint and the music of the Big Red Machine hit. Kane then came out from under the ring and laid out Reigns with the help of Strowman. The Monster Among Men pinned The Big Dog and got the win.
The Miz then said over the mic that Kane is the fifth member of his team. When Miz discussed a potential fifth member to the equation, it seemed likely Samoa Joe would fit that role perfectly and make his return. But having Kane return and help out the cause was definitely unexpected and it could shake up the main event at TLC.
Next: WWE Raw Oct. 16 Winners and Losers
His reasoning in joining the battle against The Shield is still unclear, but the Big Red Machine’s addition to the TLC main event is surprising if nothing else, and it should be interesting to see where it goes from here.