WWE Raw: Charlotte Flair’s new character shift is welcome

Look, let’s be honest: the April 19 episode of WWE Raw was, as nicely as I can put it, a decrepit show, literally and figuratively considering who runs things.

Still, one of the bright spots was Charlotte Flair showing a new side to her character.

It started earlier in the show as she cut a promo (again in a fantastic fit) discussing how she could (and has) beaten both Rhea Ripley and Asuka, though she added she could defeat both in the same night. Of course, Asuka and then Ripley interrupted.

One qualm I did have was Flair speeaaaakkiiiinnngg veerrrryyyy sllloowwwwwlllllyyyy to Asuka because there’s no possible way this foreigner who has been in the United States for years could possibly understand English, right?

I understand she’s a heel, but that bordered on problematic. As someone who has seen this happen first-hand to my mother and friends, it’s infuriating.

Flair’s delivery, at least, was passionate and believable; it also made you want to see her get beat, so as a heel, it’s A+ in that regard.

I could also do without the women in WWE using a derogatory term to demean/shock/enrage others. There are so many other words that can be used.

Moving on, Flair also debuted a new look. I like this look, and believe it fits her character better because of how sleek and clean it looks. It’s a far cry from her attire as “The Queen,” and it’s an improvement.

Her main event match with Asuka was fine, though there were a few spots that looked to have a bit of miscommunication and timing. We’ve seen these two work well together in the past, so I just chalk it up to a little bit of ring rust for Flair.

Predictably, being a television match with high stakes, shenanigans were involved as Ripley inserted herself into the match when Flair seemed to have victory in her grasps after applying the Figure Eight to Asuka. The distraction allowed Asuka to roll up Flair for the victory.

After the match is where Flair’s new character really shined.

She looked (rightfully) mad, and just when you thought she was going to back away, she gave the ref a toss and just whooped on him. She basically went UFC 1 on him with the mounted forearms to the back of his head.

I do think her coming back to assault the ref a second time was fine, but the third may have been pushing it a bit. However, it really asserted that Flair thinks highly of herself (as a heel should), she doesn’t fear the consequences of her actions, and ultimately, doesn’t fear anything or anyone on her path back to the Women’s Championship.

Now, in kayfabe, anytime a wrestler lays their hand(s) on a referee, they are fined and generally suspended. That is the case here as Adam Pearce announced on Raw Talk that Flair was both fined and suspended.

Like with Sami Zayn on Smackdown turning everything into a conspiracy against him, Flair could realistically return after her indefinite suspension (so in two weeks, probably) and use the suspension as another cudgel she ridicules.

Like last week, it would give Flair some morsels of truth while still being devoid of a certain context. The best heels are the delusional heels who see their actions as justified, and Flair is admirably on the way to being the best of the delusional heels.

With her loss and kayfabe suspension, it appears Asuka will face Ripley again at WrestleMania Backlash (I still can’t believe it’s called that). WWE could hold off on Flair’s return until Money in the Bank, possibly making her a surprise entrant in the match.

Let’s just overlook to logic fallacy in placing Flair into that high stakes of a match upon her return after actions last night.

The Raw women’s division has been in shambles for months; did you see that women’s tag team segment? The addition of Ripley and return of Flair have injected some new life into the division.

While there have been criticisms of Flair’s characters in the past, both face, and heel, it seems like they’ve finally found the right heel character for her after all these years (almost like Roman Reigns). This is a boon for Raw, and should Flair win Money in the Bank and cashes in or becomes Women’s Champion another way in the next few months, guess who could be waiting for her at SummerSlam?

Why, “The Man” Becky Lynch, of course!