-Honestly, it was good to see Logan Paul get some mic time to start Raw this week. Since joining The Vision, he hasn’t carried as many of his own promo segments because Paul Heyman is usually standing next to him. Makes sense, but Paul is capable of getting heel heat on his own and he proved it this week. There is nothing more obnoxious than a millionaire bragging about selling a damn Pokemon card for 16 freaking million dollars. Paul used that reality to his advantage by turning the volume way up on it.
-The Paul promo led to the six-man tag team match between The Vision and the team of The Usos and LA Knight. After getting hosed last week at every turn, this week was about retribution for The Vision. They got it when they won this match. The match itself was a solid little tag team match that we see in some form or fashion each week on WWE television.
Unmask!
-Who is the masked man? It’s gotta be Seth Rollins, right? That makes the most sense. I don’t typically trust WWE to tell full stories around stuff like that, but stipulating that Adam Pearce is also frustrated by the masked man’s match interferences helps the story of him being random and not necessarily trying to hurt the Raw show. Previous creative regimes would have had Pearce talking out of both sides of his mouth regarding the interruptions. He isn’t for this one. He’s likable and credible because he sticks to a constitution.
-I’m a fan of all pro wrestling television mysteries and the WWE tossed that grenade in the middle of fans with the reveal of “the crate” on this week’s episode of Raw. The crate will be opened up at Elimination Chamber, but who or what will be inside? Let the speculation begin. Chris Jericho? Something ridiculous like this certainly fits his MO.
-I like Asuka, but Nattie needed to qualify for Elimination Chamber. Imagine that new gimmick in that environment. It would have been fresh and beneficial for the new character. to have Chamber experience. Asuka is fine, but nothing we haven’t seen before.
Liv Morgan still can’t decide
-So, Michael Cole knew Liv Morgan provided zero news about her WrestleMania plans after winning the Royal Rumble and chose to air his special interview anyway? Those dots don’t connect. What did connect was Stephanie Vaquer interrupting the promo and cutting her own on Morgan in Spanish. There is an intensity about Vaquer when she spoke in Spanish and hasn’t always found it during English speaking promos. I didn’t understand every word she was saying and I didn’t need to. The emotions were there and it was real. After this, Vaquer vs. Morgan has to be the match for Mania.
-Not a great promo from CM Punk, but one that was good enough. The story this week was to show-off the mind games Punk was playing with Finn Balor. It took a bit, but they got there with it. Balor and Punk have a strong chemistry together. Balor not attacking Punk with his Judgment Day brothers like he typically would was the perfect way to feature Balor being undecided on how to act. Balor took the high road. A babyface sign of things to come?
-Penta vs. El Grand Americano 2 was the backdrop for continuing the Americano vs. Americano feud. When those two fight, the crowds pop. WWE has something there with both these guys. Glad to see Penta get a title shot. He’s not winning, but should get a strong television match out of Dominik.
Grandiose emotions
-Am I the only one that enjoyed the Becky Lynch and AJ Lee segment this week? Becky was a pro’s pro. Her facial expressions were a tad over the top while standing in the ring with AJ Lee, but they needed to be. Emoting in that grandiose way pulls out a disdain and a lack of relatability that nobody else on he roster currently has. That’s heat. It gets her over, but more importantly, it helps AJ Lee stand out. Lee presents as if she’s on Lynch’s level of competition because of all the heel work that Lynch does to cultivate that reaction. Looks, words, mannerisms, all of it. It matters a lot to keeping this dream match on the boil for two more weeks and leaning on Lynch is the smartest way to do that.
-Hell yeah, Je’Von Evans. The Elimination Chamber structure is a match made for an action-packed wrestling star like Evans. It was smart to put him in the match because of the wild athleticism he brings to it. Evans isn’t winning this thing, but he will be the guy that people remember when it’s over.
What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE Raw? Let us know in the comments!
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