We are less than two weeks away from the next major WWE Pay Per View, Survivor Series, and we are no closer to having any real interest in the event. So far the WWE is not doing a very good job of creating an intriguing card for the show, save for one development, and they continue to spin their wheels in preparation. However, here are 5 things we learned following this week’s RAW broadcast as we are less than two weeks out from Survivor Series:
A Traditional Survivor Series Match Seems Set
The main event for RAW this week featured CM Punk and Daniel Bryan squaring off against The Shield in a handicap tag team match, but the end result actually gave us our only major 6 on 6 Survivor Series match for the upcoming pay per view. By the end of the night, in the ring we had The Wyatt Family alongside The Shield, facing off against CM Punk,
Daniel Bryan, The Uso’s, and the Rhodes Brothers.
This was an exciting ending to an overall flat show that had no significant other developments to really speak of. All 12 men did their best to try and sell some PPV purchases, and it makes for an intriguing setup as we head towards the go-home RAW broadcast next week for Survivor Series. The Shield could possibly turn face or splinter at the PPV, and The Uso’s continue to ride the wave of their Total Divas publicity.
Kane’s In Charge
After several segments of being reminded that The Authority are “on vacation” (jargon for “not coming to Europe on this trip”), Kane was introduced in his new authoritative role for RAW while the real bosses are MIA. The end result is a wash, with Kane not really coming across as intriguing but not really missing the mark either.
Perhaps it will take several weeks for Kane to settle comfortably into his new role, and for WWE Creative to also do the same by working out their kinks as they go along. It’s certainly odd to see The Big Red Machine in a suit and tie, and speaking in terms of decision-making, and not in terms of comedic relief or of his opponents apocalyptic demise. It will take some time to get used to, but right now this new Kane is a swing and a miss.
The Mid Card Is Finally Shaping Up
It’s taken several months for the WWE mid-card to come together, but it appears as though it’s finally starting to take shape. For months it’s been a really weak division, complete with overuse of The Miz to try and keep fans interested for weeks on end.
But the tide seems to have turned as of late. Tyson Kidd has returned and has had two back to back nice outings on RAW. Big E Langston looks like a monster face in the making, and Damien Sandow is riding the wave of success following his great match with Cena on RAW several weeks ago. Dolph Ziggler also continues to perform at the very highest level, despite so many losses each and every week, and Fandango continues to be over with the live crowds. All in all this division is headed in the right direction.
The WWE Championship Should Still Be In Abeyance
WWE Champion Randy Orton opened this week’s RAW, but by the end of the night he was an afterthought, falling into the shadows of all the former indy guys who are now taking over the main event every week. Orton is still a great performer, but the WWE Championship and its champion deserves better.
A program with Big Show is not really the way to harness the prestige of the Championship, and with Orton the current titleholder, all components are starting to suffer. The WWE Championship and it’s holder should be the focus of the WWE’s flagship program every week: if the champion is the face of the company, he should be used as such. WWE is doing themselves no favors by placing Punk and Bryan and the other guys in a position that over the WWE titleholder. If anything, they are doing damage to their own title, and Orton seems to be stagnant, a titleholder with no real direction.
Live Crowds Make Or Break The Show
We’ve known for years that live crowds are fickle. They pay top dollar to attend WWE events so they can see their favorite stars perform live, and to be part of an event that’s usually like no other – and they can make or break the television broadcast based on their involvement in each and every match.
History shows us great crowds almost weekly during The Attitude Era, but over the years that enthusiasm has waned. Scarce are the shows where the crowd is electric these days, sometimes because the product they are watching is sub-par, and other times because they are just overall too lazy to care. It’s their prerogative though, they have paid for their experience and can participate as they see fit.
But there are exceptions in this PG era WWE product, from the RAW following Wrestlemania in Miami, to Brock Lesnar’s not so surprising return, to Ziggler’s cashing in for the World Heavyweight Championship, and on to this week’s RAW that was aired on tape delay from Manchester, England. The crowd was so involved this week that they managed to get the Fandango theme over again, and they even popped for a dropkick from Brie Bella on AJ Lee. The crowd’s involvement certainly makes for better TV viewing for us at home, and this week was an interesting twist, watching the England fans who don’t get a live WWE TV product every week let us know what’s working, and what’s not.
So what say you fans? Sound off below in the COMMENTS section, and find me on Twitter, let’s chat: @davyshrader