Recent WWE Raw Returns Have Enhanced the Unpredictability of the Product

Since SummerSlam, the WWE product has suffered from a lack of roster depth and creative direction.

With several of their top stars out of commission for the next few months (namely Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns), WWE has been forced to push its younger talent to the top of the card, including Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Rusev.

The quality of the program decreased significantly following the August extravaganza due to lackluster storylines and overexposure of certain stars but has seemingly picked up on the road to Survivor Series. Raw and SmackDown have recently focused on the major match between Team Authority and Team Cena at the event that will decide the fate of the vindictive stable.

One of the biggest qualms fans have had with the product in recent months has been the sheer predictability of the angles and matches. Of course, this has been the case for years, but it has been more evident than ever in the last three months.

However, recent returns on Monday Night Raw have made some fans think twice about missing a show.

It's not uncommon for WWE to advertise the return of an injured Superstar or notable Legend ahead of time in order to "pop a rating," which is understandable from a business standpoint. That said, some of the best returns in WWE history have been surprises.

This trend started on the Oct. 6 edition of Raw with the return of The Rock. Last seen on the grand stage of WrestleMania 30, Rock's comeback came as a major shock to the audience in attendance (if the reaction he received was any indication) and to those watching at home.

Granted, it was rumored at PWInsider ahead of time that Rock was in New York on business, but it was never confirmed he'd be appearing on the show. Though he tweeted he was in the building that night, it wasn't until he was moments away from walking through the curtain.

Two weeks later, Mick Foley returned to Raw to confront Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins regarding their Hell in a Cell match that Sunday. This marked Foley's first televised appearance for WWE in many months as his Legends contract expired earlier this year.

Foley's comeback came as a surprise not only to the fans watching worldwide but also to his own daughter, Noelle. Both he and WWE did a great job keeping his return a secret and making the moment feel special.

After being sidelined with an injury for several months, Ryback returned to action on the Oct. 27 Raw as a babyface, answering Bo Dallas' open challenge. The live crowd reacted favorably to The Big Guy and welcomed him back into the fold with open arms.

Even WWE Chairman Vince McMahon himself made a surprise return on the Nov. 4 episode of Raw to announce the stipulation of the Team Cena vs. Team Authority match at Survivor Series. Because he has seldom shown up on the flagship show over the last year, his one-off appearance seemed like a big deal.

It's no coincidence that most of these returns on Raw occurred during the halftime of whatever football game was on that night. At a time where WWE is desperate to garner viewers, it's smart for WWE to save the biggest moments of the show for when more people are likely to see it.

While most of the aforementioned returns were one-offs, they gave viewers the feeling that anything can happen at any time during the flagship show, a feeling that has been missing for some time now.

Furthermore, the fall season is arguably the toughest for WWE in terms of competition in the ratings from football. Most of their top-tier names return for WrestleMania and SummerSlam, rendering the final few months of the year irrelevant.

However, thanks to the returns of Rock, Foley and McMahon, up-and-coming stars such as Rusev, Rollins and Ambrose feel legitimate. Their comebacks have increased the quality of Raw in the last month, but how long it will last remains to be seen.

With Randy Orton due back from filming The Condemned 2 sooner rather than later, it's quite possible he'll be next on the long list of stars to return to the Monday night program in the very near future. Whenever it may be, the slow-burning babyface turn of The Viper has guaranteed him a major pop upon his return.

If there has been one thing fans have learned this year, it's that WWE doesn't shy away from swerving the audience. The end of The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania 30 and the disbanding of The Shield in June have been prime examples of that, in addition to all the returns we've received on Raw of late.

Of course, an argument can be made that WWE should focus more on its own talent instead of constantly relying on former top names in order to get people talking, but the interactions Legends such as Rock and Foley have had with the next crop of talent have solidified the new generation of stars.

As WrestleMania season quickly approaches, one can only expect more familiar faces to pop up on Raw, further building excitement for what should be a star-studded Show of Shows.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website at Next Era Wrestling and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.

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