WWE Raw Superthread

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298101#Comment_120298101

They've been building up no-one being able to break the Hurt Lock, so you just know Wyatt is going to easily shrug his way out of it, no-sell a couple of spears, and win at a canter.

This whole iteration of Bray has been especially terrible - the point of it seems to jump around week by week. We see other wrestlers seemingly affected by it, and then we don't. He's a normal version of himself for a while, and then he isn't. Uncle Howdy is a big menacing presence, and then falls away into the background. And all the while, we're treated to irritatingly edited 'spooky' videos, where they repeat the same dialogue fast, fast, fast, then slooooowwww. And so far months of this stuff has led to one terrible match that was so dripping with advertising it was beyond a parody of itself.

Cotts72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311604#Comment_120311604

I've was buzzing when he returned (no pun intended) and really looked forward to the promos the first few weeks to see where it was going and the Wyatt6 reveal...yet I feel it's just stagnated and too much of a slow burn..it could be a promo this week then a 20seconf vignette next week. theres no clear direction with it or whether there will be a Wyatt6 stable...if they eventually do, it needs to be a dominant physical group,less of the regular bray and funhouse shite but more of the Bray Wyatt we had during his feud with Daniel Bryan

ThePott

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311908#Comment_120311908

In the same boat as you. I thought the White Rabbit stuff and his debut showed a lot of promise and the Wyatt 6 faction idea could really worked but it definitely feels like they haven't committed to any firm idea and it's just been wheel spinning. There needs to be more of a physical presence, if not by Bray himself then a faction would do it. They should be using it to build up some wrestlers, midcarders or new ones and let Bray cut the spooky promos or vignettes to build them up.

JP Liz V1

What's the update on Riddle and Orton?

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120322070#Comment_120322070

Seems Riddle is 'ready to return' but creative have nothing for him atm. Reckon he could return on the Raw/SD after Mania

Not sure what Ortons status is

Cena returning tonight, can't see him having much time to get back into ring shape for Mania.

JP Liz V1

I kinda wish Cena's return was a surprise, is Theory expected to go over at WM

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120322712#Comment_120322712

I would hope so, Cena has no need to be winning matches at Mania when he's on a part time schedule.

I think this Raw we'll see a lot more shape put on the Mania card.

ThePott

Personally wouldn't be against Cena winning to do an open challenge on Raw after Monday for a big debut or call-up.

https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/1632882329810264065?t=aqQ0_UtfhnnUmNfhNf-BsQ&s=19

..

J. Marston

"Byron you bald geek, turn around. Let me tell you a story. I was on the green in Augusta, when the guys were practicing for the masters. I saw Tiger Woods walk out with a bucket of balls, about to hit them. I said "Tiger all you do is practice, practice, practice." He turned to me and said: "mån.sôör, if I had your talent I wouldn't have to practice so much."

My juices are titillated. Those three are so good.

Loughc

Not much chatter online on the eventual Jey turn. Has the storyline reached burnout?

Dont see anyone being elevated from this now that it’s settled back to a straight tag team matchup. At least the tag titles are getting a high profile match at mania at least.

PTH2009

Solid raw

The heel turn by Jey was done good but we all saw it coming eventually and maybe could of been more fitting to do it at EC

Definitely means now Sami is not been added to the Mania main event. Instead it will be the tag team with KO

Cotts72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325012#Comment_120325012

It was the most anticipated and inevitable turn...I think WWE will sell it as Sami and KO still confronting the Usos individually until a week out from Mania ones saves the other from a further beat down ,stop and stare ..shake hands and hug..point to the sign..tag title match at Mania

JP Liz V1

I thought Theory did well holding his own promo wise against Cena, who looked hunched and haggard but still a huge pop

Becks seems an after thought in the triple tag match, I thought Ronda and Shayna would show up also to tag title challenge, feel Trish will turn heel

The Jey turn was obvious and done too late but damn the bloodline still has me invested that now I want them all to retain at WM

PTH2009

Did Lita and Trish 'retire' initially because of injury?

Necro

I think Raw was probably too stacked last night and the Jey thing could have possibly waited till Friday to get better traction personally. That being said I've a feeling it will main event night 1 this year. And all 4 guys deserve their flowers if that's the case, it would be the right call.

Cena hasn't many matches left from the looks and sounds of him and that's ok, he owes nothing. It feels like he was passing the torch to Cody there and potentially setting up a Cody/Theory feud down the line.

Trish, Lita and Becks VS Damage Ctrl definitely has a feel of a Mania match. Some turn around for Dakota Kai 12 months ago she was released now she's in a huge marquee match.

Logan Paul/Rollins segment worked, as hateful as Logan is he just gets pro wrestling to a tee.

Cotts72

Thought the same regarding Cena,age is catching up on him...he could surely ditch the jean shorts and cap carryon and this point..it just looks cringe

PTH2009

If only they would let Cena go 'heel' for one match

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326181#Comment_120326181

If Cena wasn’t invested in Hollywood he would make a great heel spokesman for a faction. Think of the mic work if he was allowed to go heel.

JP Liz V1

Did Logan even connect that "punch" with Seth

Necro

7 confirmed matches for Mania so far. Edge/Balor obviously in the pipeline and I assume we'll see Dom VS Rey along with an IC title match of some description and of course the tag title match between Usos and KO/Sami which brings us to 11.

Don't really see any other feuds you could call Mania match worthy? Probably an Andre the Giant battle royale? Some sort of Ronda involvement?

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326707#Comment_120326707

Trips already confirmed no battle royals at mania this year. They will most likely take place on the Smackdown before mania.

Loughc

Trips wants less matches on the card. Quality over quantity and all that.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120326994#Comment_120326994

I've no issue with that but 11 matches feels a little light for two nights? I suppose if they're going to give them the proper time deserved it won't be.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120327390#Comment_120327390

I reckon it’ll end up with 12 matches. 6 per night. Don’t forget the obligatory music act and celeb appearances and hall of fame call outs that will drag out the show.

Officer999

I really don’t see what WWE see in Austin Theory.

He looks generic, promos are weak and isn’t particular great in the ring.

WWE tried to give him the Vince rub with his on screen storyline with him, gave him the MITB briefcase, gave him the Pat McAfee match last Wrestlemania and now he’s getting the Cena rub.

Having watched the Cena segment last night, I’m still struggling to really see what WWE see on him. Am I missing something with him?

riffmongous

I'm personally not interested in a KO & Sami story, on paper it's pretty good and goes back years.. but for some reason it just feels a bit meh to me. Maybe because it has so much history behind it, it feels like we've seen it before. I was really hoping they would figure out a way to have Sami and Jey together to take on Jimmy and Solo

Faugheen

Jey hasn't 'turned' on Sami imo. He's protecting Jimmy from Roman.

Sami has obviously been the star of the show but Jey has been the MVP. Absolutely incredible storytelling.

JP Liz V1

Cody Vs. LA Knight

KO Vs. Solo

Bianca Vs. Chelsea Green or is it Chelsea Blue

FutureGuy

Really wish they would go back to 1 night WM

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120356299#Comment_120356299

I don’t unless they were to seriously cut the time back. The last few before the pandemic forced them to split it were awful, because they were too long and matches suffer because the fans don’t care.

SlickRic

Cody's best promo yet by an absolute mile. he sounded like a human. it's the first one where he stripped away all the unnecessarily complicated verbiage and just talked.

I've absolutely no interest in Balor v Edge. I don't believe for one second that Edge's character actually cares that much, nor Balor's at this stage, so I simply do not care.

Brock v Omos is ludicrous. just utterly fúcking bonkers and pointless. Omos was only asked to do one spot last night and he couldn't do it properly. but sure, let Vince get his fetishes out. and fair play to Brock for only having to work 3 or 4 minutes on Wrestlemania for his paycheck.

Becky is wasted with Lita. just my 2c. but maybe all Becky wants to do at this stage is get to have some fun with legends, and that's fair enough.

thankfully Dominik's mic work has improved. i'm just about invested in Rey smacking him for the first time.

Loughc

That Cody Reigns promo to end raw. Now that’s how you sell a PPV. Great job all round.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120382434#Comment_120382434

"A man without a family, a Roman with no more reigns, a chief without a tribe" Absolutely class line.

JP Liz V1

I think I have same pjs as Rollins 😄

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120382504#Comment_120382504

Cody's vocal style in his promos annoyed me at first but they really have grown on me and that was one hell of a line/promo

Have a feeling he's winning the title at Mania with possibly Reigns getting it back at Sunmerslam

JP Liz V1

Go Home Raw before WM has Solo vs. Cody

MIZ TV welcomes Trish Lita and Becky

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120407165#Comment_120407165

Solo finally defeated one on one.

JP Liz V1

Dominic has to be the top heel, he is getting better on the mic

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120410227#Comment_120410227

He certainty has heat with the crowd that's for sure, they've done a great job getting him over as a heel.

J. Marston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120410234#Comment_120410234

I think his hair accounts for 50% of the heat. I want to cut that filthy mullet off.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120410834#Comment_120410834

His look has gone very Eddieish of late.

https://twitter.com/WrestlingNewsCo/status/1640541754460983296?t=5-nUYF_BP9aRKA0NVcT1SA&s=19

JP Liz V1

Is Vickie done with AEW? I was thinking would she be brought in for part of the storyline although not needed

riffmongous

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120412108#Comment_120412108

She's finished up with them but she might still be under contract, I cant remember exactly. I would love to see her too at some stage, but I hope they hold off a bit first and see how Dom goes on his own without Rey around. Keep Vickie as a reserve incase Dom needs a hand

ThePott

God it would be awesome to hear an EXCUSE ME to bring Dom to the ring at Mania.

Pretty decent Go-Home show. Asuka/Belair is heatless, they did nothing for it. I will say surprisingly enjoyed the Omos/Brock segment, if they deliver a big hoss slap fight that's short I might enjoy it. Demon Balor, first time as a heel too, hope they change up the design but hope he beats Edge cause otherwise just bury the demon and be done with it.

Won't be able to watch Mania till the following week but probably more hyped for this mania than any in recent memory.

Necro

Purple Judgement Day Demon Balor will be an awesome spectacle of an entrance at least.

They made the wrong call with women's title feuds, Rhea and Bianca should have been the match to mark a changing of the guard in terms of top tier women's talent. Charlotte has been idling away doing feck all on Smackdown since her big return and it just doesn't have the effect WWE thinks it does.

Since Charlotte broke on the scene she's had absolutely no character development. None. She's Ric Flair's daughter who wins a lot of titles, that's it. They don't even try with her and whilst she's talented in the ring all of her promos are absolutely nauseatingly terrible. There's a story there about a girl who only got into wrestling because of her brothers death and became the absolute best but they're not interested in showing that side of her for some unknown reason.

Honestly wouldn't put it past them to have Rhea lose at Mania just because, even though she's lost pretty much every major match to Charlotte she's ever had.

JP Liz V1

Riddle, Orton return? Bron call up? Rhea challenge Bianca for second title? Usos rematch?

Lord TSC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120436290#Comment_120436290

McGregor saunters out.

"Achknowledge you? I dont even know who the fook you are, mate!"

Lord TSC

Raw to open up with a HHH announcement (presumably about the sale).

Main event is apparently

Spoiler Warning

Roman/Solo vs Cody/Mystery Partner

Cotts72

Cody and Zack Ryder/Orton would be my guess

Wonder will we get a switchblade debut?