Tim Kail's Raw Review, 1/6/25

January 6th, 2025.

The first Monday Night Raw on Netflix.

One might think the promise of such an occasion may push expectations too high and inevitably lead to disappointment. That’s not necessarily the case with this decidedly average episode of RAW. Yes, my (our) expectations were high, but they were always calibrated properly - WWE hasn’t had a bad “big show” in quite some time, so why would anyone expect this episode to be anything other than stellar? The company has trained us, over the past several months, to expect quality and substance in our wrestling. And that’s a good thing. The company should be judged against its highest standard so that it may consistently hit those highs.

But why was this episode only average despite all the Netflixy pomp and circumstance?

RAW REVIEWSTim KailJanuary 10, 2025Raw, raw review, monday night raw, netflix

His Name Is Bray Wyatt And He's A Hero In The Making

Like many in the pro-wrestling community the first time I ever saw Bray Wyatt was when he debuted on the main roster, Luke Harper and Erik Rowan at his side. I then watched, over the next several months, as this transfixing character grabbed hold of the hearts and minds of the audience. Everything he did intoxicated us. I particularly remember his unnerving renditions of “He’s got the whole world in his hands…” and the crowd singing it back in unison. Bray’s entrance music was distinct and eerie in a mediocre soup of rock riffs. He seemed to glide to the ring as his fireflies - wrestling fans with their cell phone flashlights turned on in the dark - guided him toward the ring. That use of technology, the natural evolution of holding a lighter up, was a literal manifestation of the metaphorical relationship between character and fan.

EDITORIALSTim KailNovember 5, 2022bray wyatt, wwe, extreme rules 2022, John cena, wrestlemania, Raw, smackdown

THE RAW REVIEW

Nine.

That’s the number of times the word “respect” was used in the final RAW interview segment featuring Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar, and the 2015 Royal Rumble winner, Roman Reigns.

“Respect”, the word of the snow-day, slithered into your subconscious thanks to the oratory stylings and the storytelling savvy of Paul Heyman (and anyone else who may have contributed to the structure of that interview). That word was purposefully planted in the back of your brain, and there that word remained throughout this interview.

THE RAW REVIEW

One. Two. Three.

Happiness.

For a brief, beautiful moment, I experienced genuine happiness at the end of Monday Night Raw.

My viewing of RAW last week was slightly similar.

The Writings