Dear WWE Creative,
The new year is finally here, it’s time to move past holidays and head into the most-hyped season of the WWE calendar: Road to Wrestlemania.
After the McMahon family declared a “fresh start” on December 18th edition of Monday Night RAW, the WWE Universe (somewhat) held their collective breaths; after all, while this new era was promised moving forward, fans know and understand that on the cusp of the Christmas and New Year’s editions of shows, pre-taped RAWs and SmackDown LIVE episodes can be entertaining, but filled with some fluff (not to mention Internet spoilers).
With that all behind us, and well into 2019, this up coming week in WWE programming is a big one. You’ve had two weeks of bypass, thanks to the holidays, but with that all over, and this promise of a new era, a “fresh start” so to speak, a new WWE, needs to be delivered with a bang.
I recently have done a slew of 2018 in review articles, and when I look back at this year, sadly, I had more “worsts” than “bests” to work with; moreover, more moments on Monday Night RAW versus SmackDown LIVE. Having said that, with RAW taking place earlier in the week and it being your flagship show, it really sets the tone. Without really knowing what direction you are taking for the 2019 Royal Rumble, which superstars will get a push into that title race scene, and what matches are on the go, what needs to happen on both the Red and Blue brand shows this upcoming week is a delivery of the promises made on December 18th:
- Fresh faces … perhaps a debut or two those first two episodes
- Big returns
- New challenges
- New opportunities
- New matches
One thing I personally enjoyed during the holiday episodes of both RAW and SD LIVE was more McMahon presence; however, not playing favorites and being on the “up and up” isn’t what the McMahons (with the exception of Shane) plus HHH are all about. While the focus should be on the superstars and the talent, a little manipulation where the family is woven into the storylines should on top of mind. Perhaps a good cop/bad cop in Stephanie and HHH (especially with the NXT talent); Vince playing the ultimate heel and going against one top superstar to further elevate them; or Shane potentially turning heel, could take place. While having the McMahons back on T.V does make things interesting, this isn’t interesting if they are not part of the storylines.
Regardless, reviewing the promise and delivering strongly on them is the most important thing to focus on. If not, the WWE Universe may never believe in anything you say again.
Good luck,
Me.
