#Rawesome and #Rawful Moments of the Week

This week was quite the interesting one for WWE Raw.  The fans were treated to The Authority finally getting some sort of come-uppance at the hands of Daniel Bryan.  One man can be thanked for this sudden change in story--CM Punk.  Like many fans, I'm disappointed we may have seen him for the last time, but on the other hand, I don't think Bryan would be receiving this title match if Punk hadn't walked out.  Maybe next year, but that may have been too late for Bryan.  People's attention span is much shorter than it used to be and if the story dragged out, it very well could have damaged the momentum that he had developed.

For that, the hero of the week is CM Punk, the man who hasn't been on our televisions for almost two months now. 

There are those who seem to believe that this was planned all along, but that doesn't pass the smell test.  Bryan's aborted storyline of joining the Wyatts alone proves that.  My guess (and I fully admit that it is only a guess) is that Bryan was originally scheduled to fight Bray at Wrestlemania in order to raise both wrestler's profiles.  I still think that they shouldn't have totally abandoned it, that they could have rewritten the story to incorporate their original intentions--increasing the profitability of several wrestlers--while still giving the fans what they wanted, a Bryan championship reign.  That is basically what the Raw ReWrite has been trying to prove over the last few months.  Suddenly dropping a storyline is jarring to the audience.  It's better to ease out of it and find a way to still leave all parties in a positive position.

With that said, let's move on to the #Rawesome and #Rawful moments of the week.

This week the two go hand-in-hand, are inseparable.

#Rawesome Moment of the Week

After almost a year of constant "Yes!" chants, after almost a year of fans erupting every time the most unlikely of popular wrestlers, the WWE finally listened.  WCW, despite the massive egos, bodies and legends they had, really found that a variety of styles attracts a wider audience.  People don't want to just see jacked wrestlers any longer.  There are many different types of wrestlers that are intriguing out there and it's time WWE realized that.

Somehow, in spite of the idiotic anger management story that was given to him, Daniel Bryan turned that into an engaging storyline, he attracted a fan base regardless of that stupidity.  Each week he added more believers, more fans.  Yet, for some reason, the WWE felt the need to constantly belittle the new people's champ.  I don't buy into the theory that Punk left for Bryan, but Bryan is definitely a beneficiary of the walkout. 

So, we ended up with Bryan hijacking Raw, which funny enough is what Punk fans were supposed to do last week.  Daniel Bryan finally did what fans wanted him to do--be a man and take his spot.  That does much to untangle the "weakness" they have entwined him with.  Hopefully this leads to what the fans truly want--a Daniel Bryan heavyweight title reign.

#Rawful Moment of the Week

First, let me say, I'm not a fan of tying Daniel Bryan to the dead Occupy movement for two reasons.  One, it's dated; two, it feels to me like it may turn off certain fans.  That being said, that isn't the #Rawful Moment of the Week.

That distinction belongs to the still guaranteed HHH vs Bryan prelude match.  This would be much better suited to take place on a Raw preceding Wrestlemania and not the showcase itself.  By placing it on the card and adding to it the stipulation of attaining a title shot with a victory, it is a foregone conclusion that Bryan will win that match.  With that, there is no drama in the match, which makes it a wasted moment.  Now, I will say, what it does add, is drama to the main event.  No doubt Bryan will be "injured" during the first match--before, during and after--which will cast further doubt on whether he will win.  I don't like having a wasted match on the card though and that's what this feels like it will be.  Imagine the "go home" Raw having that match though.  That would provide more payoff (buys for the PPV and viewers for Raw) for all parties involved.

My prediction is that Orton will cost HHH the match in some awkward way which will incite The Authority against the current champion.  In the main event, The Authority will try to unseat Orton with Batista, which will allow Bryan to win.  Hopefully that in turn leads Batista to meaningless mid-card matches where he belongs.