The last RAW of 2014 was a good representation of the entire year.
Some good performances, some progressive booking, some stilted performances, and some incredibly regressive booking.
2014 has been a good year for the WWE, despite the flaws, with several younger performers slowly rising to a place of prominence and, in so doing, reinvigorating some of the veteran talents. While fans have had to endure a truly disheartening stream of advertisements on an overlong flagship show and angles that seem booked and built by a blatantly out-of-touch board of directors, they’ve also been treated to an overall sense of increased hope and positivity and signs of legitimate change in the wake of significant events in the WWE fiction and in the actual WWE company.
Read MoreChristmas RAW was supposed to be fun, and it was fun.
As much as I’d like to arrive at some deeper meaning behind Dean Ambrose chucking Bray Wyatt into a Christmas tree, there isn’t any deeper meaning. And that’s perfectly fine. As fans critical of the product, it’s best to pick battles wisely, and after two
in a row where I outlined the various ways the company might improve the quality of their show, I think it’s best to not waste time bemoaning the fact that Dean didn’t win his “Miracle on 34th Street Fight” or the fact that the entire feud has yet to deliver.
Read MoreThis was another strong week for the WWE'S strongest hour, NXT, on the WWE Network.
Coming off of NXT Take Over R-Evolution, this episode needed to push the top narratives forward, but also serve as epilogue to the events of last week’s remarkable pay-per-view. The result was an unexpectedly superb main event, where the intensity of last week both winded down to a simmer, but also contributed to the mythos of Kevin Owens.
Owens’ debut last week, both at the start and conclusion of R-Evolution, is the most impressive debut I’ve had the privilege to see live. And while there are many other wrestlers on the roster who’ve been in NXT longer and conceivably have a claim to the main event and the NXT Championship, Owens instantly feels like the right fit for top heel. And, from the character’s perspective, he deserves that top spot above any of the WWE’s home grown, performance center talents due to all of his work on the independent circuit. And, because of his natural charisma and power, it's hard to deny he's better than a lot of guys on the roster.
Read MoreJohn Cena has been the "top guy" in the WWE for over a decade.
This is an unprecedented run that has inspired legions of fans as much as it has inspired legions of detractors. The character, and the performer, will consistently elicit a strong reaction one way or the other, but his existence also leaves room for more complex reactions.
For example, my feelings about the character have evolved from 2005 (when I first became aware of Cena) to the time of this writing.
Read MoreThe main event of this week’s RAW was the best final RAW-segment of the year.
Even on consistently good shows, it’s difficult for the moving parts in any narrative medium to coalesce into a climax that satisfies and surprises viewers. But this RAW achieved just that, a finale as well-crafted as it could be, utilizing the best top talents on the main roster.
Getting there was a long, arduous, and, at times, downright painful experience, however. But don’t worry, WWE, I’m “fixing to put you back over” in the end.
Read MoreI typically approach viewing "special" episodes of RAW like a Slammy Awards Show with dread. In the past I've found such episodes hard to stomach.
So I decided to experiment with the way I watched RAW. I decided that I would go into it with a positive attitude, that I wouldn't be overly critical, that I would judge it based on exactly what it was, and just find joy in whatever was enjoyable. I wouldn't question why the WWE didn't create an entirely separate Slammy Awards special for the WWE Network. I would instead just "go along with it", all the while ensuring my brain was still engaged.
Read MoreIt's hard to believe that NXT's next special is less than a week away. The "pay-per-view" has only existed in name for three weeks and it doesn't seem as though it has been represented too much outside of NXT.
Last week was a slow week that didn't particularly expand upon the top rivalries or storylines, focusing more on building the midcard.
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“I’m laying in a pool of blood. This is the greatest feeling in the world."
You might read that quote and be unsettled, maybe even concerned for the individual who spoke it.
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