State of Mind: WWE RAW Served It’s Purpose to Perfection

Welcome to State of Mind, from the creator of From the Cheap Seats.

Been gone a while haven’t I? I had a life altering event and finally things are back where I’m more centered and that’s why I opted to change the name of the column. I find that when I’m in a certain state of mind I have my best thoughts, so here we go.

Raw on Netflix was amazing for its purpose.

For us: 4 PLE worthy matches.

For the new and returning fan:

The stories were meant to end in a PLE fashion, with the faces of Raw on Netflix standing tall.

For better or worse they also got the shot thrown at the former WWE/WWF fan in an attempt to bring back viewers.

Hogan: Golden Era

Rock: Attitude Era

Cena: Ruthless Aggression/Early PG

They were there on this show in that manner for one reason: to bring back those eras’ viewers. Cena name dropping was there to give the verbal rub for the returning fan.

All three also have the biggest crossover appeal.

Speaking of rubs, Undertaker was there to make Rhea with the returning fans.

They got a tease for the few heels they want people to know going forward: New Day, GUNTHER..

Speaking of Gunther, there’s a reason he was only featured in that small of a capacity: this show was about establishing the four faces they want you to follow and latch on to as they begin their Road to WrestleMania.

This was about setting up the new and returning viewer to root for Rhea Ripley as her challenger for WrestleMania comes into the picture, while following the beginning of new stories for Jey Uso, CM Punk, and Roman (who I would almost guarantee is headed to Raw now).

And tossing Solo aside for a second, they were booked against three people who could afford to take a loss, and three people that are also starting their roads to Mania in Drew, Liv, and Seth. All those three needed were a good enough showing and response from the crowd to get the new fans interest.

Who wasn’t featured was also logical for the shows purpose. Gunther is the heel, and the champion. He already has clout as the champion for the new viewer, and this show was about establishing the faces.

See Bron. See half the story for the War Raiders.

Others like Priest: he’s in the midst of his story. This was all about establishing the new.

Can Raw live up to this every week? No.

But that was never the intention. It was a final chapter for the everyday fan, and a prologue for the new and returning.

Now we begin the story next week with Chapter One.