WWE Raw: Burning Questions to Address After Oct. 31 Show

Worry washed over the audience as Goldberg pounced on Rusev on Monday's WWE Raw.

Before hitting the Jackhammer, a move the powerhouse made famous during his red-hot WCW run in the late '90s, Goldberg slipped. What was supposed to be an impressive moment quickly turned awkward.

Was this a sign that Goldberg's age and time away from the business will ruin his match with Brock Lesnar at the Survivor Series pay-per-view on Nov. 20? Or was it just an overblown slip-up?

Many fans had to wonder that following the Halloween edition of Raw. The 12-year gap in Goldberg's resume has led some to doubt that he will live up to the marquee billing opposite Lesnar.

Monday's Raw also generated questions about the Cruiserweight Championship picture, Bayley's position on the women's division ladder and whether WWE took a step toward a reunion of The Shield. 

Will T.J. Perkins Slide out of Championship Contention?

A night after losing the cruiserweight crown to Brian Kendrick at Hell in a Cell, Perkins got a rematch on Raw. The winner of the Cruiserweight Classic failed to recapture the gold, though.

Kendrick got himself counted out on purpose to retain the championship.

Sunday's result felt like a reset of the division. The early end to Perkins' title run is likely a sign of the company's lack of confidence in him. Perkins has struggled on promos, and other cruiserweights have shown more charisma.

WWE may be pushing Perkins to the side for the moment to make way for wrestlers such as Cedric Alexander and Rich Swann to charge at the new champion. Otherwise, Perkins may just be going into chase mode to garner some momentum and create a connection with the crowd along the way. 

Fight Booth PW believes that he's destined to reclaim his prize:

Whatever the plan is for Perkins, WWE has to develop more than a single rivalry for this division. So far, the cruiserweight landscape has consisted of Perkins and Kendrick's story and a bunch of low-stakes, six-man tag bouts. 

What's the Plan for Bayley?

When Charlotte outlasted Sasha Banks in their historic Hell in a Cell match on Sunday's PPV to become a three-time women's champion, it was easy to assume that Bayley would soon climb into the No. 1 contender's spot.

The babyface would be a perfect fit opposite the villainous Charlotte. And if Bayley eventually dethroned the champ, she could face Banks down the road and revisit their great NXT rivalry.

But then the Bayley train hit a mountain.

Nia Jax not only beat her on Monday's Raw—she also overwhelmed and dominated her. It looked as if Jax is the one set for a push while Bayley tumbles down the food chain.

The result left many unsure of what to think, the folks at Fighting Spirit magazine included:

We have to remember that this was just one match. Bayley could be headed for a storyline much like she had at NXT, where she went on a winning streak en route to the title after first failing to win again and again.

Plus, with Survivor Series on the way, the focus will be more on tag team elimination matches than the title hunt. After Nov. 20, the chase for Charlotte's title will begin in earnest, likely with Bayley at the forefront.

Are Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns Headed for a Reunion?

Few things on Raw got people talking as much as the look Rollins and Reigns gave each other at the close of the show. 

Rollins had charged in, saving Reigns from a two-on-one beatdown at the hands of Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens. The Architect chased off the heels before eyeing his old partner and rival. 

The crowd quickly picked up on the hint. Rollins and Reigns teased a potential alliance, meaning two-thirds of The Shield would be back together again.

Those two are likely to team up as part of Raw's Survivor Series squad, but the electricity their staredown created is a sign that WWE should go further than that. 

Reigns will benefit from having Rollins at his side again, as he will have someone to do the bulk of the talking. And Rollins' character could use some recharging. A reunion with his ally-turned-enemy would provide that.

It's not guaranteed that these two will reunite. A look can only say so much.

Still, WWE did well to leave the audience buzzing over the possibility.

Is Goldberg Going to Be Ready for Survivor Series?

The plan was for Goldberg to lay out Rusev and Spear Paul Heyman to the mat. The former WCW champion would flash some physicality before his first WWE match in 12 years.

That brief, violent exchange saw Goldberg trip as he went after Rusev. The crowd paused in its enthusiasm for that second, stunned by his stumble. WWE swiftly edited that out of the replays and YouTube clip.

Doubters already had their ammo, however. Was this an indication of what's to come? Will Goldberg fumble through his big match as well? 

Goldberg addressed the moment:

He now has three weeks to shake off that ring rust. He's in great shape, but his time away from the ring has him at a disadvantage.

Fans shouldn't get too worked up about this, though. Goldberg is a freak athlete, 49 years old or not. He will have a good stretch of time to bang around the ring with the cameras off.

And WWE isn't expecting him to put on a five-star technical masterpiece. The company will want him to be larger than life, powerful and explosive as he composes a memorable moment or two. 

There's no doubt that Goldberg can pull that off against Lesnar.