Instant Reaction - WWE Raw 3/9
By Ben Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist

Overall Score - 5.0

I will admit that my review of Raw last week was harsh, arguably too harsh. However, this week's Raw deserves all of the criticism it is about to get, delivering horrid hype for the biggest wrestling show of the year. Repeat booking, ample filler, and nonsensical moments are turning WrestleMania into a circus show of idiocy.

Here's a great idea. Let's have the Intercontinental Title feud between seven wrestlers gestate over a series of matches in the beginning of the show before having the tag division do the same thing. Even Steven booking for the IC contenders? Well, we better go ahead and do the same for the Tag Titles! The champs losing a non-title match? That's some must-see TV. So must-see that we included it on the show twice.

Here's another fantastic idea. Let's have the number one contender for the biggest prize in the company play second fiddle to an upper mid-card feud in the main event before quietly walking away after five minutes. Oh, and fresh face Randy Orton spent nearly ten minutes pulverizing Seth Rollins in front of a silent crowd. Now I really want to see Seth Rollins get his comeuppance.

WrestleMania "Play Button" is being booked with more randomness than ever before. Outside of select matches (namely Wyatt-Taker, Rusev-Cena, and Triple H-Sting), the card comes across as being thrown together more chaotically than the universally-panned WrestleMania 13 (where a Shawn Michaels "knee injury" led to a Steve Austin Rumble victory, Bret Hart title win, and a WWF Title match of Undertaker vs. Sid). For as much as I would like the entire WWE roster to get a WrestleMania match (which appears to be the case), the fact remains that backstage paydays should not drive what the viewer sees. Half of the Mania card is now being given to "get everyone on the card" matches, resulting in bizarre character treatment and childish feuds over a prop that we have been told not to care about for six years.

The WWE Title scene is faring marginally better, though a large problem is arising where Paul Heyman is becoming too good at his job. After tonight's legendary promo, I don't want to see the character-less Samoan get a title win. Why should I, with no reason to latch onto him? Instead, I want to see Brock Lesnar tear him apart. To me it can be compared to a Ronda Rousey fight; as a casual fan of ultimate fighting, I don't watch a Rousey match to root for the underdog to emerge victorious. I don't even know who they are. I pay to see the phenom of the UFC Women's division dismantle her opponent because it's great to watch.

John Cena continues to play the bigger heel in his saga with Rusev, this week torturing him for speaking his mind and not relenting until he was given what he wants. In general, the Cena-Rusev feud has been strong. However, it's these small moments which chip away at the strong foundation the two established at Fastlane.

The Wyatt-Taker and Triple H-Sting matches, thankfully enough, are being promoted strongly all-around. Bray Wyatt is masterfully handling the development of his beef with Taker, and video packages continue to develop the Sting persona (odd deep voice aside). These are the two feuds that feel truly Mania-worthy. Not buddying up with Wiz Khalifa or start-and-stop face/heel turns which result in a weak, drawn-out payoff (yes, I am referring to Orton's beat down of Seth Rollins).

WrestleMania feels like a B-Level pay-per-view. That isn't because I'm jaded. It's because the right stories aren't being told. In some cases, barely any story is being told. WWE isn't making me care and I really, really want to. With nearly the full Mania card set up and six hours of Raw remaining, the company needs to really heat up despite appearing to be cooling off. Is it already April? It sure feels like it.

Any questions or comments? Message me on Twitter @BTuckertorch!

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