Next Stop Elimination Chamber

It’s the beginning of our wrestling week, which means one thing-RAW In A Nutshell! It’s the first RAW In A Nutshell following Super ShowDown. This is also the last RAW In A Nutshell prior to the Elimination Chamber. This RAW In A Nutshell gets us firmly back onto the Road to WrestleMania! It’s next stop Elimination Chamber, so let’s crack open this Nutshell!

Best Match of the night:

I was a big enough fan of the tag title match, for the most part.

For most title changes, I’d really push for no interference. That said, per the nature of the current program, it works.

Worst match of the night:

Really disappointed to see a long and structured 24/7 title shot. More disorganization, in this case, is good.

Star of the Night

How about a few choices here. My personal choices? I’d go with the Street Profits for a big tag title win…and to Randy Orton and Beth Phoenix for their powerful final segment. It was polarizing by design, and it was done well.

Spot of the Night:

The big one, without question, was Beth Phoenix taking an RKO and selling it like she was hit by a Mack truck. We all knew it was coming, but that did not matter.

Jobber of the Night:

Sure, he lost a nine minute match, but Ricochet sure felt like or looked like a jobber tonight.  Losing to the 24/7 Champion a few days after he lost big to Brock Lesnar? Feels like jobber material.

Upset of the Night:

If they had not added the “now or never” stipulation, I’d have called the Street Profits win a bit of an upset. Adding that stipulation, however, telegraphed the title change.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Fans chanted for it, but then…this was kind of the reaction after the fact…

LOL Moment of the night:

Well, No Way Jose asked to see what was in the cage…and we saw it. Personally, I was voting for a beaten up old mask of Rowan’s, but I was wrong.

Noteworthy Moment:

Nice pop for Drew McIntyre. That segment didn’t likely get enough eyeballs, since it kicked off the show, but it was very good.

Well, Beth took an RKO, and part of me is thinking it was made into a much bigger deal. I am not alone in that thinking (thought I understand it was needed for the program purposes).

That fan observation isn’t particularly wrong.

Outside of that main event fun? We saw Brock get dominated for an evening, and we have new RAW Tag Team Champions.

Overall lowlights:

The change to the 24/7 Championship….what is up with all these formal title defenses lately?

Ricochet, as a jobber? Did someone miss the memo where Ricochet just challenged for a world championship?

Overall highlights:

Liking the tag action.

Loved Brock-Drew. Anyone who wasn’t feeling that before, should be warming up now.

Next Stop Elimination Chamber

Beth and Randy were very good. Only possible issue is, now you want Beth solidly involved at ‘Mania, and if the rumors are true, she’s going to be wrestling herself.

After the final bell:

Overall, an acceptably good show from New York. It’s one of those odd go-home shows, in that this one immediately followed a go-home show from last week. For the most part, the show delivered.

One parting thought: with the rumblings of Styles-Undertaker for Tampa, especially after ShowDown…what if WWE protects themselves a bit? Like, what current Superstar is most similar to what ‘Taker was during his prime? Aleister Black, perhaps? Why not a six man? Undertaker WAS very good, and can still work well…but having others in there to help carry the match, and get a rub? It may not be such a bad idea.

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