WWE Raw 5 Takeaways: Lackluster Showdown For The Beast

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1. Universal Championship Picture Greatly Lacking Intrigue at the Royal Rumble

With the announcement of a Triple Threat Match for the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble between Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, and Kane, many fans were skeptical.  And last night’s Raw only raises those skeptical opinions.

Lesnar and his advocate Paul Heyman made an appearance on the first Raw of 2018 and most figured a major encounter was coming between the three heavyweights vying for the top prize on Monday nights.  And while there was an encounter last night, it wasn’t nearly what fans had hoped for.

The Beast Incarnate was approached by Kane and The Big Red Machine laid out Lesnar with a chokeslam, only for Lesnar to sit up much like Kane has done for years.  This led to an attempted brawl between the two being shut down by several superstars in the locker room coming out and breaking it up.  And all of this was going on while Strowman was seen watching Lesnar and Heyman on a TV screen in the backstage area.

It was just a lackluster ending to Raw and did nothing to get fans interested in this match.  In fact, it might have just turned more fans off than what previously existed.  The crowd was just disengaged during the entire segment and it never felt legitimate like it needed to with the first showdown of this Universal Championship picture.

Next: WWE Raw Results For Jan. 1 Show

Lesnar vs. Strowman vs. Kane is less than four weeks away, but it will take a lot to get fans invested in this matchup given how obvious the outcome already is.