WWE Raw: Burning Questions to Address After July 25 Show

The New Era has produced a wealth of young talent for WWE, and on Monday night's inaugural Raw under the latest brand extension, two of those Superstars stepped up in a major way, enjoying banner nights and making history along the way.

Finn Balor cashed his ticket to SummerSlam and a showdown with Seth Rollins following victories in a huge Fatal 4-Way match and over Roman Reigns in the main event. The former NXT sensation kicked off his run on Raw in as spectacular a fashion as possible.

Speaking of former NXT standouts, Sasha Banks made good on her promise and potential, defeating Charlotte to become the new women's champion in a phenomenal match. Now at the top of the women's division, she represents every young fan who had a dream, chased it and found tremendous success.

Those two Superstars are at the heart of the burning questions coming out of Monday's superb broadcast.

1. Has Finn Balor eclipsed Roman Reigns as the new face of Raw?

Credit: WWE.com

Monday night's victory over Reigns may have been more than a storyline device. When historians revisit the July 25 episode of Raw, they may find a symbolic passing of the torch that was not at all voluntary on the part of the former WWE champion.

In one night, Balor was built into a sustainable main event star unlike anyone has been in quite some time.

Whereas it literally took two full years for WWE Creative to cement Reigns' status as a headliner, that same writing staff accomplished as much with The Demon in one night.

Balor is now set up to be the babyface around whom the show revolves, if that is what management wishes.

It is a drastic change of direction considering how much emphasis and time went into establishing Reigns as the star to supplant John Cena as The Face That Runs the Place, but it is one that fans clearly welcomed with open arms, if the reception for the Irishman is any indication.

2. Was this the right time to switch the WWE Women's Championship?

Credit: WWE.com

As the Banks-Charlotte program got underway two months ago, all eyes turned toward SummerSlam as the final destination for The Boss' winding road to the top prize in women's wrestling.

On Monday night, WWE Creative threw its fans a curveball when it booked Banks to dethrone Charlotte in Pittsburgh, weeks before the summertime spectacular.

Was that risk worth it, though?

Sure, a televised championship win in front of millions of viewers is memorable, but imagine how much more memorable it could have been had Banks defeated her rival at one of the most important events of the year. The pomp and circumstance alone would have made it worth waiting a few more weeks.

Unfortunately, the timing of the win sets up a scenario in which Charlotte challenges for her rematch at SummerSlam and regains the title. Thus, management can stick with the second-generation wrestler for a few more weeks while also stating, accurately, that it gave Banks her moment in the sun.

If that is the case, WWE Creative will miss out on another opportunity to let The Boss run wild and become the first truly marketable female performer it has had since Lita—and Bayley, a woman conspicuous in her absence on Monday.