Breaking Down the Best and Worst of the WWE for Week of Nov. 4

Celebrations and poor choices comprised the highs and lows from the WWE this week.

For two Superstars, WWE's programming served as a coming out party, making the audience take notice of them on their way up the ranks. It was also a week that celebrated tag teams, including bringing back two faces fans may have forgotten about.

To balance out those positives, WWE chose to delay Big E. Langston vs. Curtis Axel even longer and made a choice for the next WWE Championship match that was bemoaned by many. 

Much of the week's discussion will be about the perceived mishandling of the WWE title picture, but the company has to be applauded for how it's preparing new stars to do some high-profile shining in the future.

Best: Luke Harper Rolling

An elite brawler in the making chomped on a number of foes this week.

Luke Harper has often blended into the bearded, disturbing collective that is The Wyatt Family. WWE let the beast off the leash this week and showed fans that Bray Wyatt is not the only future star in that crew.

Harper took on CM Punk on Monday's Raw, and despite the loss, came off as a dangerous opponent. It was one of the better bouts of the night thanks in part to Harper's hammering offense and odd grunting sounds.

He also looked good in a tag match against The Prime Time Players on Wednesday's Main Event and in the most memorable contest of the Nov. 6 episode of NXT, a compelling battle against Kassius Ohno. Friday's SmackDown will have Harper facing off against Daniel Bryan.

The newest clothesline master found himself in the spotlight far more and took advantage of it.

Worst: Curtis Axel vs. Big E. Langston Yanked

WWE advertised a match for the Intercontinental Championship on Wednesday's Main Event between Big E. Langston and Curtis Axel. It never happened.

Schedule changes happen all the time for various reasons like when this same bout was cancelled at Hell in a Cell due to Axel being injured. The reported reason for this one not happening is especially odd, though.

According to WrestleZone.com, "the match did not take place as Langston was not at SmackDown this week. He was already on his way to Belfast for the live event that took place last night."

Didn't WWE know its own schedule? If Langston was going to be sent on the European tour, why advertise this Main Event clash?

The lack of explanation on Main Event was even more puzzling. WWE could have cooked up some exciting storyline reason for the match change, but instead chose to go on as if no one was expecting it. 

It's unfortunate for both men because Axel needs to defend the title more to look like a strong champion and to stay relevant with Paul Heyman out of the picture. Langston impressing in a title bout or winning the championship would be big for his career as well.

Instead, this match went the way of the Intercontinental Cup, never to be heard of again.

Best: Tag Team Division Prospering

Every time that the tag team division is pronounced dead by fans, WWE seems to refocus on it.

There has been a recent resurgence in the tag division and this week was further proof of that. Not only did Cody Rhodes and Goldust continue their streak of excellence, but WWE brought back an old duo and made Wednesday's Main Event heavy on tag team action.

The tag champs and John Cena put on a standout performance in six-man action against The Real Americans and Damien Sandow.

Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro, who up until recently were asked to clown around and be filler, are being positioned as a top team. They ended up losing on Raw to the gold-wearing trio of Cena, Rhodes and Goldust, but looked like legitimate threats to the champs.

Hunico and Camacho made a rare appearance in a match against The Usos. That bout along with The Wyatt Family's engaging battle with The Prime Time Players must have warmed the hearts of fans of the art of tag teaming.

Hopefully, Hunico and Camacho are around on a regular basis as they would provide depth to the division.

Worst: Big Show in Championship Picture

Whether or not one believes that WWE is doing the right thing by taking Daniel Bryan out of the WWE Championship hunt for now, it's hard to argue that replacing him with Big Show is the right answer.

Monday's Raw was brimming with Big Show, from his lawsuit against the WWE being explained throughout the show to "The World's Largest Athlete" extorting his way into a title shot at Survivor Series. Big Show chose to go after Randy Orton instead of Triple H, the man has made his life hellish for months.

Fans now get to see the unexciting combination of Orton and Big Show rather than a traditional Survivor Series elimination bout or a grudge match between Big Show and Triple H with control of the company on the line.

WWE is banking on the crowd getting behind Big Show as he attempts to win the title and accomplish in a single try what Bryan couldn't with several attempts. The pay-per-view buyrates will determine if the company was right or out of touch with the audience.

Best: Randy Orton vs. Big E. Langston

Just as Monday's Raw was a showcase for a rising star in Luke Harper, even in defeat, Big E. Langston got a boost in momentum without winning.

His match against Randy Orton was a perfect example of how to book a match that ends with both guys looking better by the end of it. Orton struggled to handle Langston's power. He found himself in retreat for much of the action.

Langston more than hung with the WWE champ, he had "The Predator" understanding what it's like to be prey.

In the end, Orton slipped out of Langston's grasp and delivered an RKO for the win. He's the WWE titleholder and the company's top guy, so of course he did, but the way the match played out, Langston elevated his perception with the audience.

In addition, the chemistry between them was good enough for WWE to go back to this as a more prominent match in the future.