WWE Raw 25: Lack of Convergence Leads to Disappointment

WWE Raw 25 had history and the hype the back the show up.  However the company failed to capitalize on the opportunities that they had.

If anything else, WWE Raw 25 further exposed Raw’s never ending problems.  With the plethora of talent they had on hand, the company failed to take advantage of what could have been a more successful show.  In essence, poor planning plagued the special occasion.  What was supposed to be a convergence of eras, as implied by WWE, ending up being honorable mentions and nothing more.  Fans that had high hopes of a great show were more than likely underwhelmed and majorly disappointed.  At least that was how I was.

Let’s start with the location.  The idea of having Raw at the Manhattan Center was cool considering that was where it all started.  However, it didn’t take long for that idea to turn out disastrous.  Raw has been all over the place in terms of booking; we all should have seen that calamity coming.

Having Raw broadcasted at two venues was poorly thought out.  It was painfully obvious that Barclay’s Center was the focal point, which had led to many angry fans and huge disappointment for fans who were watching at home.  With the feel of nostalgia and a more intimate experience that accompanies the Manhattan Center, just having a separate show such as a special presentation would’ve done it justice.  Instead, it turned out to be a big mess.

There were plenty of backstage segments that tied the show together.  Chris Jericho and Elias was an amazing segment, and the best one.  If the company touted Jericho’s debut as one of the top moments of all time, why was his appearance relegated to a backstage segment?  Was Jericho not there, and that was taped?  Imagine the pop if Elias was playing his guitar and Jericho’s music hit.  That’s a convergence that would have gotten some MAJOR reaction.

One could assume that the women that were featured on Raw this past Monday are not competing in the women’s Royal Rumble.  Appearances may be kept under wraps, however being that this was a go-home show for Raw, perhaps there could have been a major announcement to get fans hyped up for Sunday.  Trish Stratus teased fans on Twitter upon the announcement of the Rumble, however there was nothing from her on Monday’s broadcast.   Other than Asuka’s attack on her team, the women’s segments were lazy on creative’s part.

It felt like that Raw 25’s ending was to show a passing of the torch to the Balor Club – which that is not a complaint in the least – but with the “too sweet” debacle the cease and desist the company had put out on the Bullet Club overshadowed the moment.  It certainly looks like that the company is moving forward with the Balor Club with a public stamp of approval from the members of Degeneration X.  Perhaps it was a statement to expect big things for Finn Balor, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.

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With the build to the show, the fans were expecting epic moments that would have been beneficial all around.  Instead it was the same song and dance for Raw, with a few good moments in between.  The Miz and Roman Reigns match was good with The Miz reclaiming gold.  The Peep Show, APA and Jericho were enjoyable (there was a mix of past and present there) while everything else just didn’t deliver.

All in all it just seemed that the company tried to squeeze everything into a three hour show, giving prominence to Barclay’s Center while the Manhattan Center was left in the dust, literally.  Everything is there, and it just seems like no one knows what to do with it all.  That’s the biggest tragedy out of it all.