WWE Raw: Burning Questions to Address After February 1 Show

The burning questions coming out of the February 1 episode of Monday Night Raw center on individual stars, their contributions to the show and what it means for them going forward.

There was the former WWE champion-turned-talk show host who took the opportunity to remind fans why, at one point in his career, he was among the hottest stars in the industry.

Then there was the guest on that Superstar's talk show, a world-renowned competitor whose greatness is no secret to anyone who has ever seen him compete but, at the same time, whose ability to succeed in an entertainment-first company such as WWE is still a mystery.

And finally, there was the Total Divas star who scored an upset victory over the current Divas champion and appears poised to challenge for the gold at Fastlane.

The February 1 episode of Raw may have been creatively bankrupt, but those three stars had nights that stood out, created intrigue and left fans asking these burning questions in the wake of the broadcast.

Credit: WWE.com

1. Is The Miz WWE's Most Underappreciated Superstar?

There is certainly evidence to support that argument.

One look at the January 25 episode of Raw sees a wrestler who has grown exponentially from the days of his underwhelming WWE Championship run. The Miz has developed into a quality wrestler, one who will never be great but who is also significantly better than he ever gets credit for.

The way he meshed with the lightning-quick, flashy Kalisto was something he would not have been able to accomplish even a year-and-a-half ago, proving just how much his abilities have advanced in that period of time.

This week's episode of Raw featured a master of the mic seizing the spotlight and making it his own.

On an edition of Miz TV, the former reality television star tore apart the indy credibility of AJ Styles, then informed the world-traveled Superstar that the "E" in WWE is as important as the wrestling part of the equation, calling into question his ability to entertain.

In the process, he provided legitimate heat from the audience for a planned match between him and Styles on this week's SmackDown, which is the exact purpose of a talk show segment. Miz did his job and did it extremely well, and now there is far more interest and intrigue surrounding the match between him and Styles this Thursday night than the other match announced for the show, Roman Reigns vs. Rusev.

That is an incredible testament to what Miz was able to accomplish during his one segment.

And, more importantly, it's something the performer has done repeatedly. He has constantly carried interview segments, then taken his comeuppance at the hands of babyfaces, like any great heel would. He has been as consistent and as solid as anyone on the show.

At a time when WWE is struggling to create real villains, it is astonishing that it has one right under its nose and continues to underappreciate him.

Was Miz's first main event run a major disappointment? Of course. Should that damn him to midcard hell when others have received shot after shot, time after time? Absolutely not. Maybe it is time the company reconsiders its position on the Cleveland native and sees whether an evolved, smarter worker can capitalize on another opportunity.

Credit: WWE.com

2. Can AJ Styles Truly Succeed in WWE?

Arguably the best wrestler in the world, there is no denying the in-ring abilities of "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. He has proved himself in squared circles across the globe, wrestling the most elite stars and earning critical acclaim for the Match of the Year candidates he has been responsible for.

But as The Miz accurately brought up during Miz TV on Monday night, the entertainment portion of the WWE name is as important as wrestling, raising a real question about Styles' ability to succeed in all facets of the sports-entertainment empire.

The Phenomenal One has shown flashes of blending into the entertainment side of things in the past, particularly in Total Nonstop Wrestling Action from 2007-08. But that was a lifetime ago, at a time when Vince Russo was trying to shift the tone of that company's product to incorporate all elements of the industry.

Only the future will tell if Styles can straddle the fine line between professional wrestler and sports entertainer to find considerable success at the top of WWE. The fans have been incredibly responsive to Styles just the way he is. If he can even remotely let his charisma and personality shine through, he will be just fine.

Credit: WWE.com

3. Can Brie Bella Step Out of Her Sister's Shadow as Babyface Contender in the Divas Division?

The most interesting result from Monday's Raw was Brie Bella's upset victory over WWE Divas champion Charlotte, who was the clear heel throughout the contest.

The victory seemingly catapults Bella to the top of the list as far as prospective challengers go, setting up a title bout at Fastlane on February 21. More importantly, it served as a reminder of just how much better a babyface Brie is than a heel.

Fans witnessed that during her feud with Stephanie McMahon in the summer of 2014. Despite being a heel since November of that same year, she has continued to work a babyface style, completely undermining everything WWE Creative had done to build her as one of the lead baddies in the division.

A more natural babyface, at least from an in-ring perspective, she can take advantage of this latest opportunity to step out of the shadow of her Diva of the Year-winning sister Nikki and become her own woman.

Of course, it is incredibly difficult given the talent of Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and the aforementioned Charlotte. Brie is not on the level of any of those three women, so she will have to rely heavily on the reaction she gets from the fans to convince management to keep her in the hunt and work incredibly hard to maintain that position.

If she can do that, the road to WrestleMania 32 in Dallas may have the most unlikely challenger to a major championship in the Total Divas star. Otherwise, she will resort back to the role of glorified enhancement talent she found herself in just a few weeks ago.