RAW Review: 8th February

Hello! Two weeks in a row, I know right? Well, unless you've been living under a rock you know what's happened with Daniel Bryan last night. So, I'll be giving this Review the full Daniel Bryan treatment. Discussing all things Daniel Bryan on top of the usual RAW Review. There was a number of, let's be honest less relevant stuff to the Daniel Bryan Retirement- however on the Road to Wrestlemania it can't stop for anyone and there's a Fast Lane to build.

Fast Lane Contract Signing
I actually really liked this segment. One thing I noticed about the show- especially the first hour was that it was seemingly sped up quite a bit in-terms of what happened in the time it did. Even with a lot of stuff seemingly being sped up they still managed to go way into Over Over-time because of the Bryan stuff. I do like that the build is seemingly focused on Brock and Ambrose, because as I said last week the WWE has to at least try and introduce an element of doubt when it comes to Roman winning in a few weeks time. They haven't exactly succeeded, but frankly I'll take a few more RAWs where the spotlight is off of Roman. As is tradition the Contract Signing degenerated into violence, but I just loved how Brock came off in the brawl. If there was any doubt that "Suplex City is going soft" this segment well and truly put it to bed.

Dolph Ziggler v Kevin Owens
In the build to this RAW, where I was considering the chances of the Daniel Bryan thing being a work I did consider the chances of Kevin Owens attacking Bryan. However, I quickly put that to bed when I remembered that this "feud" was still a thing. I still have absolutely no clue why they're feuding and especially why they're wrestling each other every week, presumably to set-up a Wrestling match at a PPV.

As I said last week, these two can't really put on a "bad" match, but at the same time there's only so many moves and so many counters to said moves that can be done in a WWE ring. I suppose that's one, of many negatives of WWE limiting move-sets.

The Usos & The Dudleys Backstage
This segment was pretty decent with what happened later in mind. It at least all made sense.

Charlotte v Alicia Fox
I suppose this is the best section to discuss Brie Bella and the Title Match at Fast Lane. Between Bryan retiring and Nikki fucking her Neck up- and possibly having to retire if that aspect of the surgery wasn't exaggerated by E. All of this has added up to a perfect storm of Brie Bella pushing. I think it's Cornette who has the "7 Year Rule" on angles, but I think there can be an exception at Fast Lane- with them borrowing from the Extreme Rules match after Edge had to retire. I won't be at all surprised if they have Bryan come out with Brie at Fast Lane, and in the build to the crescendo Bryan takes out Flair and Brie pins Charlotte. I'm not in favour of this happening for obvious reasons, but at this moment in time it's what I see happening without doubt.

MizTV w/ Chris Jericho & AJ Styles
As with last weeks MizTV segment I really liked it. I didn't like it nearly as much as last weeks, but I did still like it. The whole transition into the Highlight Reel complete with Potted Plant was quite fun all things considered and at least it was a completely new "thing". All of the Promos "worked", and it was great (and weird) to see them building to a Smackdown match on RAW.

It's become pretty obvious that AJ's become "Smackdown Exclusive" in-terms of wrestling, much like Daniel Bryan wanted to do with the IC Title. Especially considering AJ's Back Injury, I'm massively in favour of this for the time being. Smackdown on USA needed a "hook", and what better than AJ Styles? Then, once they've established Smackdown on USA over the next month or so- and AJ's back has hopefully gotten a lot better we can get AJ wrestling on RAW.

Bray Wyatt v Ryback
Firstly, kill it with the Goldberg jokes. To be frank, it's just boring. Yes, Ryback has moved to trunks and does that surprise me? Absolutely not. I can't remember the exact RAW Review, but I pretty much called Ryback moving to trunks at some point last summer. From memory Ryback was wearing a Tracksuit Top on Commentary and ripped it off. As soon as he'd shown how fucking massive he looked without the Singlet on I knew it was a case of when and not if.

With that said, it doesn't look like the shift to Trunks has changed his fortunes in-ring. The match was quite decent, but nothing more- but the Sister Abigail to Ryback and the way they transitioned into it was great.

I was expected a Big Show run-in during the after-match attack on Ryback, so now I'm assuming it's going to be Ryback and Show against two members of The Wyatts at Fast Lane. Or, they're going to take out two more people for a 4v4. SURVIVOR SERIES IS LOOKING UP!

New Day Backstage Promo
This was great. Everything from Big E singing to Xavier doing the old "8008135" joke on the Calculator. I know it's a surprise, but New Day does in fact still rock.

Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose Backstage Promo
This segment was pretty much exactly what I was expecting it to be, in-terms of Ambrose not wanting Roman's help against Brock. BECAUSE AMBROSE IS FUCKING TURNING.

"The Radical Mongoose" Adam Rose v Titus O'Neil
#RadicalMongoose #BestFriendsMakeBestTrends #BoRidaforSB51HalftimeShow #PrettyAverageMatch

Dean Ambrose calls out Brock Lesnar
This segment was great. As I've said a few times, I'm by no means Ambrose's biggest fan. But, credit to him- he's definitely risen to the occasion (see what I did there?) and for the last two weeks he's been top quality. I think it's best for everyone to just watch this segment, because I lack the descriptive abilities to properly put it over- but suffice to say I just loved this segment on the whole.

Alberto Del Rio & Rusev v The Lucha Dragons
Sin Cara's turning soon, it's such an easy story to tell- with an easier stipulation of a "Mask Match" for Mania. Of course, Sin Cara would be the one eventually unmasked- unless Stephanie's seen Kalisto's face and decided he needs to show it off like I believe she wanted to do with Ultimo Dragon. The match was fine, and I still fucking hate the Corner Stomp.

R-Truth & Goldust's Wacky Adventures
This segment was my least favourite "Golden Truth" segment so far, so I suppose all I can say is I hope it doesn't keep on this trajectory.

Tamina v Becky Lynch
TAMINA WON A MATCH ON RAW! NO, REALLY! TAMINA! DIVAS REVOLUTION!

New Day & Mark Henry Backstage
I said it at the time, but at least Mark Henry got to have a bit of fun on his latest excursion before his likely fast-approaching retirement. I was expecting El Torito, but as El Unicornio- so I suppose in that regard I'll take Henry any day of the week.

The Usos & The Dudleys v New Day & Mark Henry- Tables Match
The Mark Henry stuff was ridiculous. They literally had him turn and join New Day, for the sole purpose of turning on New Day. I thought he was in there to be the one to go through the Table- because, ya know, New Day are the Tag Team Champions who'd lost clean last week. The match wasn't much- especially for a Tables match, but I suppose it was more a way to have The Dudleys out there so what happened after made sense.

I'm happy The Dudleys have turned, but I'm going to wait and see what happens next week- and who they go after before I pass full judgement on the turn. If they have The Dudleys and The Usos feuding, freeing up New Day to wrestle someone else, likely Golden Truth I'm all for it. Because, I'm fucking bored of New Day wrestling The Dudleys & The Usos. I legitimately don't think they've wrestled a team other than The Dudleys or The Usos since when they won the Titles back at Summerslam apart from The Primetime Players once. Plus, I want weird New Day/Golden Truth segments.

Daniel Bryan Retires
I suppose we'll start off with the actual segment. I think it goes without saying that I absolutely fucking loved it, as did pretty much everyone else. I did have the idea that this was a work in the back of my mind, but I approached the segment with a "It's not a work until it's proven otherwise" type attitude. Because, as it clearly turned out- I wanted to sit back and enjoy Daniel Bryan's retirement speech if it was legitimate.

The whole segment was just next level great. I saw Meltzer say that this segment had overtaken the Ric Flair Retirement in-terms of the best ever segment, and while I disagree in that respect that's not exactly a criticism of the segment. This segment was just magical, right from the moment Bryan's music hit to the moment they went off the air. I could go into the different parts of the Promo, talking about how "X" part was particularly great- but there's not really much point to be honest. Suffice to say, this segment truly was magical, and for that I'm sure we're all grateful.

Segment aside, I suppose the attention now turns to the "bigger picture"- or more simply put the cause of Daniel Bryan's retirement. I think we've all, deep-down known that Bryan's retirement was something that was going to happen sooner rather than later. Concussions just aren't something that can be "messed" with in modern climate. From what I've read, the latest set of tests Bryan got done that he referenced in the Promo "scared" him in regard to the damage he'd done to his brain. The thing with Concussions and the Brain is you can't put it in a Cast and do rehab on it for a few months. I do think it's quite funny that Bryan's Concussion related Retirement has coincided with the release of the Will Smith Concussion Film (over in the UK).

When Bryan was put out again after he'd just won the IC Title, I thought he was having neck problems- as opposed to concussion. However, what I said in my Extreme Rules (2015) Predictions in regard to Bryan is still just as relevant

"I love Daniel Bryan, in terms of an organic story his ranks right up there not just in terms of Today's WWE" in all-time. Yes, I would love to see him wrestle not just tonight- but for years to come; however Bryan Danielson owes us nothing, similar to Edge if he has to stop wrestling to prevent potential paralysis or other serious life-long disability he should stop right now, and he can look back on his career as a success."

I can't find the specific tweets, but I've also sent out numerous tweets saying how perhaps Daniel Bryan needed someone to tell him he's done, as they did with Edge to prevent something bad happening. The fact is, while Daniel Bryan had so much more to give in-terms of matches and feuds- his career is one of the biggest success stories in WWE History in my opinion. While Bryan only had the two WWE Titles, one of which being the 5 Minute run at Summerslam- his rise to winning the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 30 is truly one of the best stories ever in my opinion. In a way, I wish Bryan would have had to retire with his Neck problems so he'd have retired as WWE Champion. It would really have been the perfect way to go out, rather than being the in the "IC Title Hot Potato" story for Wrestlemania 31.

However, everything about Daniel Bryan is "once in a lifetime". Bryan really is a once in a lifetime person and character. Everything about him is atypical, and as I brought up last night- the fact there's no "this guy is/was a dick" stories about someone in the Wrestling Business says it all for Bryan as a person. From a selfish standpoint I'd have loved to see Bryan wrestle for years to come, and get in the ring on the WWE stage with people like Styles, Joe, Zayn, Owens and Nakamura. As well as giving us the big Wrestlemania match we all want in Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus.

To borrow from RVD, Daniel Bryan really is "one of a kind" and the fact I'd estimate 95% of people have witnessed the Evolution of Daniel Bryan from NXT through to his Wrestlemania 30 Win with a number of amazing stops along the way. Everything from his feuds with The Miz and Cole (who doesn't get nearly enough credit in the story of Daniel Bryan), to his "Abusive Boyfriend" character with AJ, to The Bellas betting on taking Bryan's virginity, to the Anger Management segments and so much more. I suppose that's the thing, Daniel Bryan could have been so. much. more. However, what we've got hasn't exactly been underwhelming- and for that we're all grateful.

Thanks to you lot for reading as always, as I said last week I'm aiming for these to become a regular thing again. With last night, we saw the likely close of the Daniel Bryan book- and I'm sure I'm not the only one who'll be looking at some of his greatest moments on YouTube over the next few days. Wrestling is one of the weirdest fucking things on the planet. But, it never has an end- and starting next week we're going to be properly moving on from Daniel Bryan and 6 Months from now he won't even be relevant in any current Wrestling discussion. But, I think the phrase "gone but never forgotten" is appropriate. Because Daniel Bryan can never, ever be forgotten.