The biggest winners and losers of last night's Raw (December 9)

Full turn.
Full turn.

Last night's RAW was the Red brand's go-home show to the final WWE pay-per-view of 2019, TLC. Surprisingly, none of RAW's matches were built up for it, showing how haphazard the booking has been. The card still doesn't look like it's been assembled. Clearly, the company is in December autopilot.

Nevertheless, RAW did some notable things last night in preparation for Sunday - some good, some bad. Who got the most and least out of the show? Let's take a look.


Losers: Rusev and Bobby Lashley

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Since Award season is upon us, we must state the obvious - this has truly been one of 2019's worst feuds. This segment was no different. Sunday needs to be the one and only match between these two and then they need to go their separate ways. Bobby Lashley said he's going to marry Lana after this divorce segment though, so unfortunately, there still might be some mileage left in this thing.

For the sake of everyone involved - participant and spectator alike, let's hope that isn't the case.


Winners: Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy

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In what should be Sunday's most intriguing encounter, Aleister Black will take on Buddy Murphy. That should be a last-minute match of the year contender if these two are given enough time.

To warm them up for Sunday, Aleister Black beat Akira Tozawa in short order, while Buddy Murphy did the same with Zack Ryder. I can't recall the last time WWE built two men so decisively in respective singles matches.

Hopefully, this suggests that there are bigger plans in place for Black and Murphy in 2020. Both can be tremendous assets for Raw if they're used to their potential.

And with no obvious contender for Brock Lesnar's title at WrestleMania, the door is open that much further.

Winner: Seth Rollins

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Seth Rollins is officially a full-blown heel. He beat down Kevin Owens with the Authors of Pain backstage and probably let out some cathartic feelings, running down the fans, saying they stopped believing in him. Only Akam and Rezar, he says, get him now.

Aside from being a long time coming, the alliance between Rollins and the Authors of Pain makes for intriguing possibilities going forward. Let's just hope that WWE doesn't bungle it, as they've bungled heel factions repeatedly, even in just the past year. Look what happened to the OC.

Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens will probably get top billing on RAW going forward, but what about Brock Lesnar and WrestleMania? Will this put Owens in title contention eventually?

Only time will tell, but as cumbersome as SmackDown has been, at least it doesn't have a problem with its top title. As of now, we don't know what this feud will mean for WrestleMania.

Losers: Asuka and Kairi Sane

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Once again, Asuka and Kairi Sane looked weak against one of the top two women on RAW, winning this match only through disqualification. Then, Becky and Charlotte seemed to temporarily reconcile, as they will now challenge the champions to a TLC title match.

Last year, Asuka emerged victorious in a TLC match with these two women, becoming the SmackDown Women's Champion, but I don't think she'll repeat her success this time. With the way things have been booked, it definitely appears that she and Sane will lose the match that actually matters.

Moreover, with Ronda Rousey nowhere in sight, what RAW women's title match is likelier than Becky vs. Charlotte? It would be yet another repetitive, rote encounter between two competitors that should still be away from one another, following yet another rote breakup angle with the titles used as props, but that's what's probably coming, at Asuka's expense, again (as well as Sane's).

Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE

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