WWE Raw: 7 Ways to Get the Most out of the 3-Hour Format

OK, so Raw's current three-hour format is way too long. More often than not, WWE's flagship show is a marathon to watch.

Triple H and CM Punk appear to be competing with each other to see who can cut the longest, most meandering promo. Meanwhile, Randy Orton takes even longer to get to the ring than he used to (presumably under orders by WWE to help fill up time).

What's more, just how many bad John Cena jokes are fans going to be forced to listen to?

That's not to mention all those never-ending video packages that clutter up the show. Pretty soon we'll be getting video recaps of the video recaps.

How bad are things? At this point, it seems like Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson would think Raw needs to be a bit shorter.

However, despite the complaints, Raw's current format likely isn't going anywhere. The additional hour has been in place for well over a year now. If WWE were going to revert back to the old format, they would have surely done so by now. Management appears to consider it a success.

So, instead of grumbling, let's suggest things that the company can do with the extra time to benefit both the product and its business.

7. Devote More Time to the Midcard Belts

Remember when the Intercontinental Championship was the second-most prestigious belt in wrestling? Or when the United States Championship was highly sought-after?

It seems like such a long time ago now, doesn’t it?

What if WWE spent some of its additional airtime focusing on these secondary titles and their holders? The bookers need to promote the belts and establish the likes of Dean Ambrose and Curtis Axel as major stars worth watching.

6. Develop Dolph Ziggler's Character

Dolph Ziggler really could be the company’s next big babyface star.

He’s young, attractive and a great wrestler. He’s also got personality and charisma in spades. After kicking conniving girlfriend A.J. Lee to the curb this week on Raw, he’s even more beloved by fans than ever.

With this in mind, WWE needs to focus more on him in the upcoming weeks and months and give him way more screentime than they do. It should stress his importance to fans by making him a vital part of the show, to the point where you can't even imagine Raw without him.

5. Give Wade Barrett More Things to Do

Question: When was the last time Wade Barrett was on Raw? Or in any sort of meaningful feud?

Hard to believe that Wade was once seen as one of the company's brightest young prospects and even managed to defeat John Cena on pay-per-view.

Ideally, WWE will realize its mistakes with the former Nexus leader and start giving him more time on Raw every week. The English star really is too talented to weigh in on B-shows like Superstars or Main Event.

4. Do More with Brad Maddox

New Raw GM Brad Maddox has the potential to be a truly great heel authority figure.

He’s very much reminiscent of a young Eric Bischoff: Maddox is smarmy, smug and positively radiates obnoxiousness. He looks a great deal like the former WCW executive, too (they could be father and son, even). 

With that being said, if Maddox is ever going to get over, he needs to be allowed time to develop and flourish as a performer. He can’t just be used as a small supporting character in throwaway segments. Hopefully, WWE will take the time to focus on his character more.

3. Give Time to Underused Tag Teams

Here’s an idea: Why not give more airtime to WWE’s under-utilized midcard tag teams?

Hey, if nothing else, it would provide good and entertaining matches.

The Usos have turned into great workers over the last couple of years, as have the Prime Time Players. The current tag team of Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger has potential—even if the accompanying xenophobia gimmick is awful.

2. Devote More Time to the Divas Division

With talented Divas like A.J. Lee, Kaitlyn and Layla El on the roster, the company has the chance to have a women’s wrestling product as good as, or even better, than rival TNA’s. 

All it needs to do is devote more airtime on Raw to develop the division’s storylines as well as its matches. You know, to make it feel like an important part of the show.

Give the Divas division an opportunity to flourish, and it surely will.

1. Use the Extra Hour to Introduce New Wrestlers to the Roster

Why doesn’t WWE management use the additional hour to develop new wrestlers?

NXT is packed full of talented young grapplers like Paige, Kassius Ohno and Xavier Woods who have been stuck in development for years.

So why not call some of them up and use them on Raw? It would be good to bring in some new stars that could shake up the roster and churn out quality wrestling matches. It would also help Raw feel less stale and stagnant.