WWE Raw: Jan. 18 moment – Alexa Bliss transforms and wins

Although Raw’s booking and character development is suspect to say the least, the show excels at leaving viewers with memorable moments. Let’s examine one such moment from Jan. 18.

Suffice it to say, a fireball to the face to close a show is, if not utterly inconceivable, memorable.

Last week’s ending was another in a string of moments of Raw, but in consecutive weeks, the show ended with thunderous scenes if you include Goldberg’s surprise appearance and challenge of WWE Champion Drew McIntyre the week before.

Also, just because something is memorable doesn’t necessarily mean it’s remembered in a positive light.

How did the Jan. 18 moment stack up to the previous two?

MOMENT: Alexa Bliss transforms mid-match, defeats Asuka clean with Sister Abigail

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1351379361765744641

While Bliss didn’t have any interactions with Orton tonight (though she did say a few things to him during her “Alexa’s Playground” segment), she had plenty with Women’s Champion Asuka.

Bliss first interacted with Asuka on her “Playground” segment, which made Asuka look stupid for being so afraid of Bliss’ “supernatural” abilities; remember how well that worked out for Seth Rollins against The Fiend? Asuka was also far too complimentary of her potential foe, saying she was a big fan of Bliss and that she’d be honored to face her at WrestleMania.

Bliss showed some more of her unhinged nature as she kept turning to the empty swing next to her and talking to it as if The Fiend were right there. She also erupted at Asuka for saying “The Fiend.” Bliss maintained a creepy, horror movie-like smile the entire segment (aside from yelling at Asuka). To be frank, I still have no idea what “Alexa’s Playground” was meant to accomplish. I’m still trying to process the entire thing.

However, the match is where things really took a turn and, depending on your point of view, for better or worse.

The first part of the match was pretty much standard with each woman testing the other’s abilities and Asuka gaining a slight advantage; remember, this was Bliss’ first match in some time. As Asuka was on the outside and Bliss in the ring, the lights started going out. Bliss held her arms out and looked up smiling, almost like someone welcoming raindrops as they cut to break.

When they returned from break, Bliss was suddenly in different attire, mostly black, and different hair, topped with black lipstick. She stood in the middle of the ring as the referee and Asuka stood in a corner, Asuka looking rather shook.

The rest of the match was, again depending on your view, interesting insofar as Bliss suddenly became a no-selling machine like The Fiend. Maybe the no-selling is more of her being able to overcome and hide the pain, but it sure seemed like she had some sort of ability to reject pain.

To me, I would have bought the sudden change more had there been more of a history or even one other moment where we saw the transformation into Super Bliss. Considering this was Bliss’ first match in a while, it would have made more sense for her to do this against someone like a Mandy Rose or Dana Brooke or someone on that level before doing this in her first match back against the Women’s Champion.

She no-sold three head kicks from Asuka and hit Sister Abigail (which she held WAY too long before hitting, maybe a good seven seconds) for the victory, clean, over the Women’s Champion in her first match back. Since it seems Asuka & Charlotte Flair will be defending their Tag Team Championship in the rematch alluded to by Baszler & Jax at Royal Rumble, does Bliss challenge Asuka at Elimination Chamber or do they extend the feud to Fastlane, possibly even WrestleMania?

Now, what should be the booking decision? At this point, I don’t think WWE can do anything else but have Bliss go over when they eventually meet. She already pinned Asuka clean, albeit with a transformation, but what’s to stop that from happening again? The Fiend never needed a championship and maybe this version of Bliss doesn’t either, but unfortunately, WWE just hasn’t booked Asuka well as Women’s Champion…AGAIN. It might be best to see what Bliss could bring as an eerie, horror-esque Women’s Champion.

With only one more Raw before one of the “Big Four” (“Five” if you count Money in the Bank), it will be interesting to see how they build on the events of this match. Will Asuka be spooked silly or respond with a resolute demeanor? Will we see more of Bliss transforming before the PPV? Does Bliss win the Rumble match, setting up a WrestleMania showdown? On a side note, and tying it back to Orton, do all these allusions to The Fiend returning (and Orton’s show-opening promo) indicate The Fiend returns during the Rumble match and eliminates Orton?

Whatever the case may be, there’s one last Raw left for WWE to build on this sudden and recent story between Bliss and Asuka prior to Royal Rumble. I’m hoping to see a determined Asuka and more evolution in Bliss’ character, but we shall see together next week.