By Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt)

October 22, 2018

Edit: this post was published prior to the Roman Reigns news. Obviously, this article was done before this news came out and they aren’t connected in any way. 

What SHOULD Tonight’s RAW Look Like?

Evolution is one obstacle that needs to be treated with a great deal of respect. Before that, comes a whole other level of responsibility and care that needs to be focused on tonight’s Raw.

How does Monday Night Raw usually look before a special show? It looks like the only thing in the world that mattered was getting people to watch and and get excited for that show. The “before” show is booked with multiple promos, highlighting the main event for the special night. Don’t be surprised to see the main event highlighted at the end of the night too. Then, throughout the show are extra hints, reminders, teases, of every other match on the card.

With all of the Saudi Arabia nonsense surrounding the WWE right now and all of their issues with their actions speaking louder than their words, tonight is critical for their movement into whether or not WWE progress is real or just another PR stunt.

Here’s one VERY SIMPLE, but effective way to book Raw to ensure its being done the right way.

1st Hour of Raw

When it comes to an opening segment, I think its best to stick with a promo. If you really want Ronda Rousey to be your primary star on the RAW roster, then you can’t baby her this week. She needs to be involved in the opening segment, whether she has a run-in on a Bella segment, a slap with Stephanie McMahon, or another opportunity to speak to her opponents.

Whatever it is (and as much as some of you cringe at the thought of her being involved) Rousey has to be the center of the opening segment or the finale.

How do your remind the world of the deep female roster that shouldn’t be ignored? Get Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair involved.

Gasp! How could I ever suggest a SmackDown Live wrestler be on RAW? Well duh! Because the WWE needs to suggest that the true women’s wrestlers on the roster play a major role in this show existing. Its obvious, but its a perfect way for them to start setting up Rousey’s big match at WrestleMania (against Charlotte or Becky) and for them to give the nod to the ladies on SmackDown, who are more of a reason for this Pay-Per-View, than the Bellas.

I think its important for this promo and whoever is included, to turn into a match. I would expect it NOT to include Charlotte or Becky (if they even pop up), but we need to see something, before Sunday, that helps us believe the Bella match won’t be a complete squash. A great way for this segment to end is in interference, so maybe the end of the night can involve Rousey in some fashion too, by having Kurt Angle or Corbin re-book the match or create a tag match.

2nd Hour of Raw

A little bit easier to book is the 2nd hour. Here you can stuff all of your Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley bologna. Throw together your tag match bookings for AOP and whoever they need to beat up. Of course, this will be the perfect time for Elias to continue his feud with Apollo.

But the most important piece, in hour two, will be a chance for Trish Stratus, Lita, and the rest of the ladies (who they can afford to book on multiple nights) a chance to hit the ropes. Maybe it ends in a silly battle royal style ring toss, but the WWE should find a way to build up the past rosters and remind us why they’re worth watching.

I think we’re all sold on Lita and Trish, but there is so much more happening that night, that the WWE needs to ensure they are taking advantage of. And if its not for their own sake, it’ll be for the sake of those ladies who had to work through so much bull shit and terrible booking.

3rd Hour of Raw

The 3rd Hour is as crucial as the first. The important thing here is that Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, and any combination of the participants in the last couple Raw Main Events, is not present. The best way for this night to end is with female wrestling.

The promos, for all intents and purposes, should have been taken care of in the first 2 and a half hours of RAW. And I think we all know that Roman is going to be on this show so it’ll be as late as possible, without being the last segment.

That means the last segment will be owned by the Women’s division. And with Evolution being about wrestling, that’s why we need to see a fight and a clean one, to end the night. As I suggested for the first hour, this could be the spot where the WWE re-books a tag match for the end of the night. Throw in Sasha, Bayley, Natalya, and Rousey and have them go against the Riott Squad and the Bellas.

Ultimate Goal for Tonight

The ultimate goal is to make sure that creative didn’t book RAW with the notion: “well…they get a whole pay-per-view this weekend, so all of RAW should be about the men.”

I’ll bring to your attention this: the way WWE superstars have been directed to talk about Saudi Arabia. “Being there now means we can effect the culture and create change”. I think they should adopt these words with the Women’s division, because they aren’t done crafting it into what it should be. They are treating it like its a finished product, in some respects, but we still know they have a long way to go.

Go through tonight knowing that you can incrementally effect change by letting the women’s division own the two most important segments on the show. The division should start the night and end the night…because they are the biggest thing happening this week and because they deserve to be shown respect.

AND FOR GOD SAKE! KEEP STEPHANIE MCMAHON OFF OF THE TV!

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