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Taped episodes of RAW aren't always very exciting, but I would have to say that WWE certainly paved the road to some exciting programs with the subtle hints across the show. I'm sure that these components will play a major role on the road to WrestleMania.
So without further ado, let's dive straight into the action and touch upon all the subtle hints that WWE told us this week. This is yet another reminder that I'll just be filling in for Rohit Nath this week, while he's away on vacation, but he will be back very soon.
Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of this show overall, folks. Also rate every match right here, in case you watched RAW.
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And before I forget, happy Holiday Season to you all!
#5 Akira Tozawa is relegated to a comedy character status
Lest you forget, Akira Tozawa is a former Cruiserweight Champion and if necessary, he can totally be a serious competitor in WWE, I think. But I suppose he's found his niche as a comedy character and has become a part of the 24/7 Championship picture. I guess that's an indication of your ceiling in WWE.
While everything that happened between R-Truth and Akira Tozawa this week was entertaining, one wonders if he's more suited to this role or, indeed, if he should be used as an actual pro wrestler. I would suppose that someone as good as he is in the ring may miss the in-ring aspect of being a WWE Superstar if this is his new role.
In any case, one also wonders if his 24/7 Championship win this week will mean that he's involved in this feud until the Royal Rumble. What do you think is the best case scenario for Tozawa?
#4 Samoa Joe could team up with Rey Mysterio and Kevin Owens
Perhaps the biggest talking point this week was Samoa Joe's little confrontation with the AoP, which sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe. This obviously means that Samoa Joe is ready to return to action again and this is a good thing, truth be told.
So, we already know that Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins are at odds with one another and Kevin Owens also has a score to settle with the 'Shield of Pain' (as they're being described by fans). Could Samoa Joe help in evening the odds for the babyfaces against the heels?
It will be interesting to see Samoa Joe as a babyface, because much like Becky Lynch, Joe will have an edge to him that's missing in a lot of WWE's good guys. I'm curious to see how far Samoa Joe can go as a beloved babyface in the coming weeks.
#3 Mojo Rawley with Sami Zayn was a temporary thing
Mojo Rawley had a pretty decent showing against Kevin Owens in the opening contest of the night, this week. This is significant because a lot of people tune into the show when it begins and hence, they all got to see Mojo Rawley in action.
What was remarkable this week was that Sami Zayn wasn't with Mojo Rawley. If you remember, he was showcased as Rawley's manager not long ago, but it seems like an experiment that was stopped midway through.
I don't necessarily know if it's a good thing or a bad one, to be quite honest. It probably means that Sami Zayn will be more focused on his pairing with Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura for the time being.
Maybe it also signals the fact that Sami Zayn will return to the ring once more. That is never a bad thing.
#2 NXT Superstars may be showcased on RAW before the Royal Rumble
A lot of you may know Chelsea Green from her appearances on Lucha Underground or Impact Wrestling. She was on RAW this week, continuing the trend of NXT Superstars appearing on the 'main roster' that began last week. And there is a very interesting reason for the same if you actually think about it.
The Women's Royal Rumble match this year will feature 30 Superstars, and chances are that the audience in attendance may not necessarily know them. Both Lucha Underground and Impact Wrestling fans are unused to this avatar of Chelsea Green's! And hence, she had to appear on this week's show, as a prequel to the Royal Rumble.
One can be rest assured that there will be plenty more appearances of this nature before the Royal Rumble comes our way this year. Who do you think will be next, dear reader?
#1 Rusev will get a massive babyface push going forward
The whole idea of pairing Lana and Bobby Lashley was probably to get Rusev over as a babyface and it seems to be working, with the crowd chanting 'Rusev Day' in unison almost every week. This week, he took on No Way Jose scoring a pretty easy victory but it was what happened after the match that made the news.
Rusev performed a Rusev-A-Rooni, which is obviously a tribute to WWE legend Booker T, to the delight of the crowd. It is clear that he's going to be positioned as one of the top faces of RAW going forward.
Many had wanted this push back when Rusev had the WWE Universe on his side thanks to 'Rusev Day'. That gimmick seems to have returned which is yet another guarantee that Rusev will be showcased in a big way.
I do hope that Rusev becomes WWE Champion sometime soon.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
