RAW In A Nutshell: Up Against National Championship

Another week, another RAW In A Nutshell, and this one is up against the National Championship.

Might as well just be blunt about it, right?

RAW is going head to head against the TCU-Georgia national championship game. If you are into college football, it’s a big game.

That said, I figure two things. One, the ratings will likely dip, and two, perhaps we see a surprise at a key moment, in hopes of hooking some eyeballs.

Because, up against something like the national championship game, it’s going to be tough sledding.

That doesn’t matter to me though, I am here keeping track of things.

To be honest, not sure what surprises the show will bring. We do know that Alexa Bliss formally turned last week, and she’s going to explain things tonight.

With that segment, might we see Uncle Howdy or Bray Wyatt tonight?

See…we might be up against the national championship game, but it’s still just a couple weeks from the Rumble, and every RAW matters.

Which means it is time for…

RAW In A Nutshell: Up Against National Championship

Let’s kick this one off and see how it goes!

Best Match of the night:

The tag turmoil match, if by default.

It was long, having a new team or two in it would have been nicer…but at least we see a new team challenging?

Worst match of the night:

Rhea Ripley and Candace was longer than I expected.

It wasn’t as good as maybe I was silly to hope it could be.

Also, aside from some giggles…I don’t know what the point of the MizTV segment was.

It just basically bridged us into the turmoil match. Nothing more, nothing less.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

Bum Ass Corbin.

Now, Pat McAfee was working the National Championship game tonight, so I doubt he heard those…but he will still be proud.

Star of the Night

Middle of the show, but Theory and Rollins are gold.

Theory isn’t on his level yet…but it isn’t a big gap.

Miz gets a hat tip because he was sitting there asking these questions, getting the goofiest answers, and he kept a straight face.

Spot of the Night:

Jobber of the Night:

Not going to lie…felt like The OC got jobbed out tonight.

First team in the turmoil (OK, second, but…) and the first team out? Most decorated team in the match, I think.

Not happy, but is what it is.

Upset of the Night:

I have to think Judgement Day over everyone else is a slight one.

Especially since it gives us…heel team versus heel team.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

After months of teases following Alexa Bliss, she got her own visit from Uncle Howdy.

And…OK, I guess it’s nice that Dom got his own intro tune, but holy cow, they are trying to make him like who, Konnan?

That’s who I first thought of when I saw the bandana and flannel.

And OMG…they gave him the teardrop “ink”.

Botch of the night:

I mean, it’s in the LOL too…but that spike was a botch.

Now..was this?

Was that a botch, or is Adam really telling us they are splitting up the tag belts?

LOL Moment of the night:

I can’t even call it a botch, but it was kinda.

But…they showed Solo Sikoa’s Samoan Spike in slow motion.

We’ve got Dolph up in the air, coming down into the spike.

He sells it in real time like it hit his throat, because, it should.

But slow motion? That was not even close.

Shoulder, not throat, but Dolph is a pro and he sold it just the same.

The whole Dom thing is just…hillariously bad.

Noteworthy Moment:

Uncle Howdy is now tormenting Bliss.

Question is, though…is he out to re-acquire her…or is he seeking revenge considering how things ended for Wyatt at WrestleMania.

Overall lowlights:

The commercial breaks were brutal and I am writing this just 30 minutes into the show.

Just in the first five minutes of Corbin-KO? Break.

Uncle Howdy appears, to do who knows what with Alexa? Break.

Not to mention that…when we got back from break, it was all gone. Like…what?!

It is, has been, and remains a scripted TV show. While it is live…the segments are largely planned.

For those to happen just irks me. Always has.

I can’t tell if this night was off because they knew the national championship game would pull eyeballs away or if…heaven forbid…Vince had input again…

But something felt off.

Overall highlights:

We are seeing it more and more, and tonight was the clearest yet. I am all for a Hurt Business reunion…but where is Omos?

After the final bell:

Well, that was certainly a show, wasn’t it?

Up against the National Championship game, things seemed daunting.

Ironically enough, by the time RAW ended, the game did too…and it was a blowout. Unless you are a fan of Georgia…the game was a stinker.