WWE Raw’s Top 5 Segments: Monday Night Rollins

3. Gauntlet Match: The Backstage Interviews

Recently, I’ve sensed a change in presentation from RAW and it isn’t just with those fancy new graphics. Though the WWE’s flagship will always come with some comedy, for the most part it’s been built on intense, logical and hard-fought matches as of late. Clearly that was the case with this gauntlet match, but Renee Young’s interviews with each participant after their elimination was yet another example of the increasingly serious RAW main event scene. They as much as anything else, helped create a quite different feel all-round.

The first one may well have been the most memorable too as John Cena’s recent character development went in an interesting direction as he seemingly pondered his own focus. In fact, his interview was the perfect example of the point I’m making as everything he said was rooted in reality. He credited Rollins in a big way before being honest in admitting that he’s currently having to balance a lot of things at once. This has all been great stuff and Cena’s desperation for a road to WrestleMania is a compelling story that can lead to a fascinating shift for this time-tested character.

The following interview was very much in the same vein also as Seth Rollins capped off his magnificent showing with a brief but considered promo. Though he’d pinned both Reigns and Cena (more on that soon), Rollins found himself frustrated by the end result and regardless of where he’s headed at WrestleMania, this renewed focus will only help its importance. In two episodes of RAW, they’ve elevated Rollins back to his prior heights well enough that he feels like a genuine Elimination Chamber contender. As much as his in-ring skill has been key in that, this more direct character has helped too.

The other interviews with Elias and Finn were very much produced in a similar way even if they lacked the same punch. That’s fine though, if these are ‘sport style’ interviews then not all of them should be dramatic or mind-blowing, that’s part of the appeal. Strowman’s post-match interview took place in front of the live crowd but I’ll mention it anyway as “I don’t fear the unknown, the unknown fears me” is too great a phrase to ignore.

All in all, this was a major highlight of RAW for me and did a great job as the icing on that gauntlet match cake.