Why is Monday Night Raw restraining itself?

We're three weeks into the Netflix Era and very little of import has occurred.

Let’s set basic narrative development aside and just focus on the pomp and circumstance WWE loves to throw at “special occasions”. Where are the fireworks and stunts we crave when christening a new era? No one has lifted something really heavy. No one has crashed through a window or a wall or a table. No one's car has been crushed nor blown up.

Not even my base wrestling instincts are being satisfied. I was under the impression that every episode of RAW on Netflix, at least for the first four weeks, would function like abridged premium live events.

These Netflix RAWs are all talk and one good match. And if you think I'm betraying the high minded intentions of my blog by calling for blood and explosions, I'll kindly remind you that visual spectacle is marvelous and woven into the fabric of professional wrestling. I’ll add that no one does spectacle better than WWE, which is why I want them to liven things up a bit.

On the story front, Roman Reigns regaining his Ula Fala is the only event that has altered the trajectories of any WWE Superstars. Last and this week both started with standard in-ring promos which were, of course, interrupted. This is the same sort of thirty minute opening fans have grown far too accustomed to. It doesn't matter how good such scenes are (and Jey Uso and Gunther's scene was actually quite good), they're inherently dull because they're so prescriptive.

Why not start RAW with a roster-wide brawl?! Just do it because you can and see what happens. Then spend the remainder of the episode trying to figure out what set off such a catastrophic wave of violence. Do this and I guarantee you it will be considered one of the best episodes in the history of the broadcast.

But back to reality and whether or not these three RAWs have done much of anything for its characters. Yes, a lot of Superstars have announced they're entering the Royal Rumble but are we counting that as character development?

A beige slick of sameness has compressed Monday Night RAW into a neat and tidy two and a half hour variety show while it still fails to strike an entertaining balance between talking and action.

It feels like RAW is holding back for fear of alienating someone. That would be a valid fear if the typical RAW structure was perfect prior to the Netflix deal taking effect...but it wasn't. Stepping outside the norm, adding color and variety to the proceedings beyond the lines brings viewers in, it doesn't turn them away. Especially the beleaguered wrestling fan who has seen anything and everything under the wrestling sun.

CM Punk declares his entry into the Royal Rumble

Take, for example, the best moment of the night: CM Punk's promo. The segment began with a shot of Punk making his way through the crowd in the lobby and then stepping out into the arena, joined by Jackie Redmond on a platform. The visuals were such a welcome change of pace; the scale was grand and it was unique when juxtaposed against all those claustrophobic backstage interviews.

Punk's energy was up, summoning the 1980s spirits of wrestling's past. The structure of the promo was delightfully simple, the sort of thing Punk can do in his sleep. It was refreshing to hear him cut such a simple promo rather than a philosophical diatribe. He screamed that he would toss twenty-nine other superstars over the top rope. He even exclaimed that he'd toss Hulk Hogan's “dusty ass” out of the ring and kill Hulkamania once and for all. His energy is sorely needed elsewhere on the card.

Sami Zayn got some much-needed mic time too, but his was a somber address about “not needing but wanting” the World Heavyweight Championship. He was interrupted by Kevin Owens who insinuated he’d have Sami’s back at the Rumble if Sami had his. This is a very familiar story (perhaps even too familiar) helped by the performances of Owens and Zayn. Owens is a sly, gaslighting devil and Zayn is the cautious innocent. Zayn could easily play the character as if he were an idiot who didn’t suspect Owens of double-dealing, but he’s no fool. He knows Kevin too well to take him at his word. Owens has targeted Sami because he knows Sami is a good person susceptible to his devious charms.

This is all good storytelling and good acting, and teases a WrestleMania main event a generation of wrestling fans would love to see. But it requires more variety on the card to really shine. Sami’s declaration feels less than because there’s already been several declarations of Rumble entry. And while I’m pleased to have him circling the main event championship narrative, an errant Helluva Kick to Seth Rollins is not exactly riveting television in 2025.

I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to not consider Seth’s ability to simply rewatch the episode of RAW to see Sami didn’t intend to kick him. I resent the idea that, at thirty eight years old, I’m supposed to believe significant tension would now exist between Sami and Seth. Furthermore, why should I care about Seth and Sami’s relationship?

The Seth Rollins character is a bit of an asshole. He’s an egomaniac masquerading as a beacon of strength and truth. Yes, he’s a babyface because the crowd cheers for him, but there’s very little benevolent about him. Sami is quite the opposite, an earnest, weathered warrior who will never give up despite insurmountable odds. I don’t mind these characters being in each other’s orbit, even having conversations, but I don’t need them to be friends and I don’t need them to have tension because of one wayward finishing maneuver.

What I’m getting at, with all of this, is that I’m not seeing anything new in RAW on Netflix. In fact I feel like I’m watching a purposefully cautious broadcast that wants to be just good enough to go unnoticed.

There are small improvements that I don’t want to neglect, though.

Last week, I called for the announcement of the main event as well as the layout of the entire card at the start of the show. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened this week and it was a welcome change of pace. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett welcomed viewers while standing at ringside, another nice little touch I’d like to see every week. In fact, that space could be used more often, like for ringside interviews immediately following a match.

IN CONCLUSION

Change makes the act of analyzing more interesting. It stimulates the intellect. As a fan I crave change for much the same reason, but it comes from a more guttural place. I’m crying out for something new or, at the very least, something intense and crackling with energy. I know WWE can do it and I’d like to see it emerge on next week’s RAW.

“Hang on a second, Tim,” you might say. “Didn’t you start this review by asking for familiar tropes like car explosions and crashing through tables? Which do you want, something spectacular & familiar or something new.”

I’m after both. If WWE is going to be familiar I’d rather it be so in “spots” that are fun and reliably interesting rather than in promo trains and backstage segments. And if WWE is going to be new then I want it to do so with the grace and capacity for grandeur I know they possess.

To put it simply, let’s move on from the standard way of doing things, WWE.

Vince is gone.

Let the tired ways of creating wrestling go with him.

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Tim Kail's Raw Review, 1/20/25