Best and Worst of Raw: 24th April, 2017
The go-home episode of Raw for WWE Payback was not the strong show we’d hoped for. Instead, it had several dull and underwhelming moments and questionable booking decisions through the entirety of the episode.
A shame really, considering how good Raw has been over the past few weeks at least. While we believed that Raw was finally shaking off the cobwebs that had accumulated over the last year with stronger episodes, it turns out that the red brand may just lapse into mediocrity once again.
Let’s critically evaluate this episode of Monday Night Raw in our ‘Best and Worst’ recap, like we always do.
#1 Worst: Did Strowman have to lose?
Unless Kalisto gets a Jinder Mahal like push over the coming weeks, he did not need to win this match. Sure, we get their idea- that an incensed Strowman, after his loss, would take his anger out on poor, hapless Kalisto, but there are better ways to book the monster among men.
Also, correct us if we are wrong, but doesn't the lid of a dumpster traditionally have to be closed for someone to actually win a dumpster match? WWE logic prevails once again.
If Braun Strowman has to be booked as a main eventer, he has to be made to look invincible. Losing to someone like Kalisto destroys his credibility, even if it is made to look like a fluke.
To be fair, it was a good match for what it was worth, but the eventual outcome overshadowed the actual contest. The two-foot drop that Kalisto fell from, which had him hospitalised in kayfabe, looked unbelievable too. Not the best week for the Monster Among Men, considering how much momentum he had.