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On WWE Raw this week, a handful of superstars had a rough night. Who needs to find a way to bounce back?
As much as we’d all like to think everything is sunshine, roses, and kittens, sometimes people hit a rough patch. It’s no different for WWE superstars. Sometimes, they’re just in a funk. After WWE Raw this week, there’s a few superstars who fall into this category.
This isn’t to say there’s no hope for these particular superstars to come back to the promised land. It’s WWE – things can change in a heartbeat. But at the present, here are three Raw superstars who are in need of a big boost in the coming weeks.
Paul Heyman
This was easily the worst promo Paul Heyman has delivered in quite some time. Maybe it’s the fact that Lesnar-Reigns isn’t really the most compelling of matches. Perhaps having a non-physical promo segment as the main event of Raw took away from the appeal. But realistically, it’s Heyman’s over reliance on “naughty language” and bad choices that make this a stinker.
I don’t really want to harp on this too much, but someone may want to tell Heyman that an episode of Raw in 2018 is far removed from the heyday of ECW at The Arena in the late 90s. Back then, he could get away with calling someone or something a “b**ch.” Now, for a company that’s supposedly “revolutionizing” equality in wrestling between men and women, a party to the WrestleMania main event should not be using misogynistic, horrible language.
Cynically, I’d venture a guess that this is all part of the master plan to make Reigns the de facto top babyface on Raw – and in all of WWE. If Heyman – and, therefore, Lesnar – are completely unlikeable, the WWE Universe has no choice but to cheer Roman. If that’s the case, give Paul a copy of Webster’s Dictionary, and teach him a few words that aren’t disrespectful to a huge portion of the fanbase.
Mickie James
Let’s review Mickie James’s contributions to this week’s episode of Raw. First, she stood next to Alexa Bliss, as the Raw Women’s Champion gave an interview backstage during the Nia Jax/Asuka match. You may have missed her, since as soon as Bliss started talking, the camera zoomed in and cut Mickie out of the shot.
Later in the evening, Bliss and James visited a wounded Jax in the locker room. Well, Bliss did – upon sitting next to the Irresistible Force, Bliss dismissed James for a one on one conversation with Jax. All told, James spent approximately 30 seconds on screen this week, and did exactly nothing.
That’s a fine way to treat a veteran, huh? It sure looks like the “alliance” between Bliss and James is not really panning out for either superstar. The whole impetus for Bliss to lure James onto her side was to survive the Elimination Chamber – but the two were never in the match at the same time. Once the Chamber match was over, this unsteady partnership has morphed into BFF time?
It makes almost no sense from any standpoint. There’s no benefit for Mickie to pal around with Bliss – unless “Nia won’t beat you up” is part of their agreement. Maybe Mickie is going to double cross Alexa and go for the Raw WOmen’s Championship? But now that the Elimination Chamber is done, why does Alexa still want Mickie on her side? She serves no purpose – as evidenced by Raw this week.
James deserves much better than to stand around and do nothing on the Road to WrestleMania. Hopefully over the next few weeks she’ll get things on track.
The Revival
Stop, start. Start, stop. The Revival have been unable to get anything going since making their debut on Raw following WrestleMania 33. Injuries to both members of the team have stalled their momentum. But even now that both Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are healthy, the self-proclaimed best tag team on the planet have been a total non-factor since the new year.
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This week, The Revival had a chance to earn a Raw Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania. All they had to do was defeat the Raw Tag Team Champions in a non-title match. Sound reasonable? Sound like a good idea?
Cesaro and Sheamus – in their fourth reign as Raw Tag Team Champions – were able to win the match, shattering The Revival’s hopes for a Mania match (for now). While I’m glad the champions won in a non-title match, the whole match was an exercise in futility. What was the purpose behind the match? Are Cesaro and Sheamus just going to beat everyone and kick back at Mania?
The Revival didn’t look bad in the match, but their skill is tag team wrestling – and they were out-tag teamed by The Bar. Cesaro and Sheamus did everything The Revival are known for, but better. If Dash and Dawson aren’t the best tag team in the world anymore, what’s their gimmick? Are they going to get another chance to earn a WrestleMania match, and this time succeed?
I feel like The Revival are stuck in limbo until after WrestleMania – as are a lot of superstars at this time of year. Perhaps the spring will be better for Dash and Dawson. But who knows?
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Who do you think stunk up the joint this Monday on WWE Raw?