Rusev, Lana Storyline Gets Weirder, Seth Rollins Fatigue, More WWE Raw Fallout

The October 28 episode of WWE Raw gave fans a glimpse of what they can expect from the red brand going forward and the results were mixed to say the least.

Solid in-ring action was eclipsed at night's end by a descent into soap-opera storytelling that may have featured decent performances by those involved but still felt dated and out of place.

That segment is at the center of one of the night's biggest takeaways, but it's not the only one.

What else stood out on one of the brand's better presentations of the last month? Find out with this recap of Monday's broadcast.

Attitude Doesn't Make Everything Better

Rusev, Lana and Bobby Lashley have done the absolute best with what they have been given to this point, but the ongoing love triangle storyline has felt out of place in 2019. It is soapy, over-the-top shlock that may have worked 20 years ago but now feels almost antiquated.

Rusev, in particular, has channeled his emotions to deliver really strong performances, but the material almost does not deserve it.

The Bulgarian Brute has elevated its quality, and Lana has done a solid job in holding up her role in the storyline, but the overall presentation comes across as a neutered PG imposter of the edgy content today's moms and dads flocked to the television to watch when they were teenagers.

While the negatives are obvious, there is one positive: Lashley has gotten over more in the last month thanks to his role as the arrogant homewrecker than he has the last year. He has found a role that perfectly suits his limited natural charisma and is thriving in it. 

Rusev and his former Ravishing Russian may be the centerpieces of the program, but it is Lashley who stands to benefit the most, depending on the course WWE Creative takes in the coming weeks.

Seth Rollins Fatigue Threatens His Status as Top Babyface

Anyone watching Raw of late has heard the audible boos that have greeted universal champion Seth Rollins in arenas across the country.

They are not boos reflective of his status as a heel, because he's not; they are instead boos representative of the fatigue fans feel for his character, which has been shoved to the forefront of Raw throughout 2019.

The Royal Rumble winner defeated Brock Lesnar for the universal title at WrestleMania 35, teamed with fiancee Becky Lynch to defeat Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans, and knocked off The Beast Incarnate again in a Match of the Year candidate at SummerSlam.

He has been consistently great between the ropes, but the lack of character development and his uncanny ability to stick his own foot in his mouth on social media has earned him a lackluster reception among fans tired of the Rollins experience.

Those jeers were as loud as they have been to this point Monday when he battled Erick Rowan in a Falls Count Anywhere match that existed mostly for the sake of existing, but also to preview his upcoming title defense against "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt Thursday at Crown Jewel.

If WWE Creative does not take the necessary steps to evolve Rollins' character and give fans something to get behind besides a catchphrase and the fact he's a really good wrestler, he will devolve into the John Cena role of popular babyface the fans turned on because of their one-dimensional booking.

The only difference? Cena was an interesting watch who could weave his way in and out of stories by demonstrating emotional range. Rollins? Not so much. 

Raw executive director Paul Heyman lived and died by the philosophy "accentuate the positives, hide the negatives," as he stated in the 2004 WWE Home Video release The Rise and Fall of ECW. It is time he identifies those positives and negatives before Rollins crashes and burns as the lead babyface of the company's most storied television property.

Kabuki Warriors Heel Turn Creates Rare Second Chance for Asuka

To say WWE Creative completely bungled Asuka's main roster run would be an understatement the size of Big Show's ring boots.

Triple H and NXT handed Vince McMahon one of the most charismatic destroyers in wrestling history, and the creative process on Raw and SmackDown proceeded to strip her of everything that made her special, beat her at WrestleMania 34 and proceeded to demolish any semblance of the woman who captivated fans during her run with the black-and-gold brand.

The Kabuki Warriors, at first, felt like an excuse to stick Asuka and Kairi Sane together if for no other reason than WWE officials had nothing else better to do with the talented competitors. Monday, we saw a hint of the potential the team has to be a top-tier heel act in the women's division.

First, Asuka divorced the team from manager Paige, spitting green mist in the former Divas champion's face. From there, Sane lost a highly competitive match to Raw women's champion Becky Lynch, earning credibility in the face of defeat.

It was Asuka, the dominant of the two women's tag team champions, who benefited from the night's events as it became clear she is being set up as Lynch's next challenger.

And there is already established history from which WWE can build their story.

Asuka defeated Lynch at Royal Rumble in January, the one pothole in The Man's otherwise sparkling Road to WrestleMania 35. She has those bragging rights and can use them to prop herself up as a credible challenger to the champion.

In the process, she has a rare second opportunity to make a first impression with fans.

Even if she ultimately loses the title bout to Lynch, Asuka has the chance to re-establish herself as that dangerous presence, unstoppable force and charismatic enigma she was in NXT. The presentation of her character was once as good and compelling as any in the industry.

Hopefully, the change in attitude and descent into darkness gives her the opportunity to participate in meaningful matches, star in interesting segments and excel between the ropes in a way she hasn't since she last squared off with The Irish Lass Kicker in January.