5 reasons why this week's WWE Monday Night RAW was the best in 2019

Another edition of WWE Monday Night RAW has wrapped up as the road to WWE Stomping Grounds is nearly at a close. The first pay per view under the new name, the show has been slow to sell tickets, but has some huge matches announced.

Universal Champion Seth Rollins' days with the gold may be numbered as he once again takes on Baron Corbin, though the former Constable did get to pick a special referee for the match during this week's three-hour show.

Overall, tonight's show was a huge spectacular event, filled with lots of positives.

This list was originally meant to look at the highs and lows of the show, but I genuinely can't think of too much bad stuff.

Here are 5 reasons why this week's WWE Monday Night RAW was the best in 2019.

#5 A new challenger emerges

Ricochet picked up the biggest win of his main roster tenure this week

WWE Stomping Grounds may be less than a week away, but United States Champion Samoa Joe hasn't been able to sneak away from the Washington Pay Per View without a challenger.

This week on RAW, five of the red brand's very best put it all on the line, though it was Ricochet who toppled The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Cesaro and Braun Strowman to qualify for a title match this Sunday against the Samoan Submission Machine.

Having Ricochet win the bout was (in my humble opinion), definitely the right call as the high-flyer remains consistently popular with the crowd, and hasn't received a singles title opportunity so far on the main roster.

In an era where so many fans gripe about things being the same, it's great to see a new challenger emerge.

#4 The women shine

The Aussies retained their titles this week against Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss

Stop the presses! Hold the phone! Shut the front door! The IIconics succesfully defended their Women's Tag Team Championship!

Ever since the Aussies won the gold it seems the duo have been cursed to lose, so to see them win, against actual Superstars in the form of Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss, was a pleasant surprise.

Speaking of Cross and Bliss, the pair continued to tell a fun story, and I'm all for it. Bliss' manipulation of the Scot could go in so many directions, and I look forward to see what will happen next.

Lacey Evans and RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch also had great chemistry this week, diving into Evans' real-life service in the US Marines, something that should've been brought up long ago when making the Southern Belle seem a credible threat to The Man.

#3 Rollins fights the world

The Beastslayer took on all comers this week

Too often do we have babyface champions just wait for bad things to happen to come to them, but this week was much different.

After controversial officiating at Super Showdown, Corbin will be allowed to pick the special guest referee for Sunday's title match, though the Architect made this difficult for the former United States Champion, vowing to demolish anyone who may side with the Constable.

At first it looked like Elias would be officiating, until Rollins battered him with a chair, and did the very same to EC3 and Eric Young during the show.

By the end of the night though, it was Corbin who stood tall, adding some extra drama to their huge rematch this Sunday.

Rollins isn't waiting for Corbin to take the gold off of him. He looked like an absolute killer for the majority of the show, as the Universal Champion should.

#2 Great character moments!

Slater was demolished by his former friend and bandmate

Drew McIntyre's allegiance to Shane McMahon may keep the Scotsman on TV, but fans have been vocal about how McIntyre has been treated as Shane's sidekick, rather than his own star.

This week though, the former NXT Champion proved himself once again, pretending to care about fellow 3MB-alum Heath Slater's request for a raise (he's got kids!), only to attack the one man Southern Rock Band. In fact, it would take the Revival all their might to stop McIntyre continuing the assault, before Dash and Dawson pocketed the cash from a limp Slater like truly vile villains.

An onslaught by Roman Reigns later in the show also impressed, as fans really are getting behind the Big Dog.

McIntyre looked great. The Revival looked great. Even Roman 'Cool guys don't look back at explosions cliche' looked great! Solid character work across the board.

#1 An excellent main event

Shocking no-one, Bryan and Rollins did great in the main event

This shouldn't be too surprising, but Universal Champion Seth Rollins and SmackDown Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan both delivered when they faced off in singles action on this week's RAW. Perhaps what made the match even sweeter was that it was restarted after being immediately stopped due to interference, as many fans thought that the company had squandered the chance to have this incredible bout.

Instead, both men went above and beyond to give an incredible match, as this bout reminded me just how lucky fans are in 2019, not only to have two incredible champions mixing it up, but to be able to see Daniel Bryan wrestle once again.

Though fans may not like the Wild Card rule all that much, if it gives the WWE Universe more incredible matches like this, I say bring it on!