WWE Raw: How WWE Can Capitalize on Last Night's Epic PPV

Last night, Survivor Series greatly exceeded the meager expectations placed upon it. Tonight, Raw's creative team is tasked with building on the momentum created by the most watched Survivor Series in recent history.

Here are some ways that Raw can build on last night, and carry momentum throughout the show.

Awesome Truth Must Open the Show

The Opening Segment of Raw needs to be Awesome Truth responding to their loss. With their promo ability they can open Raw with some much needed energy. This is a much better alternative than Cena opening since it will play off the idea that Awesome Truth was heavily overlooked going into Survivor Series, where they looked surprisingly good when they were in control of the match.

This also needs to be a cold open with no fireworks, no theme music and Awesome Truth already in the ring. Very few heels can successfully pull off the cold open. We have seen that Michael Cole cannot, but Awesome Truth can. It will come across very grounded and visceral and there will be real emotion from the duo.

Save Cena for the End

Between the boos and the Rock Bottom, John Cena found defeat in the jaws of victory.

While I am not advocating a heel turn for Cena at this time, Cena could use this as a catalyst to embrace his Cenation, while dusting off his so-called haters. A slight shift in attitude will endear him to his fans and further alienate his boo-birds.

He can change their X-Pac heat (or real hatred) into actual heel heat, while sending his own fans to his defense. This will greatly invigorate the John Cena character, while laying groundwork toward gaining the fans' respect if he actually does defeat The Rock at Wrestlemania.

This also protects the Cena merchandise sales, since the fans that boo him aren't buying anyway.

If Cena can pull this off, and we all know that he is capable, it will leave everyone salivating for next week's Raw.

Ryder Attacked by Ziggler Backstage

Ryder got the best of Ziggler last night and was quickly eliminated from the traditional Survivor Series match.

Not a good night for Dolph Ziggler, even though he retained the United States Title in a great opening match against relative non-factor John Morrison.

Ziggler has to show a vicious streak to prove he is ready to go to the next level. He must attack Ryder mid-fist pump during a backstage segment.

And he must do it without Vickie Guerrero or Jack Swagger.

The attack will regain Ziggler a lot of his lost heat immediately, leading us to...

An Injured Zack Ryder Still Competeing Later on in the Night

Ryder proving his toughness by limping out to compete in his match, preferably a six-man tag with Team Orton members Kofi Kingston and Mason Ryan, or better yet John Morrison.

Even if Ryder loses, he can still own the underdog title currently vacated by the injured Rey Mysterio. The WWE Universe loves a superstar attempting to triumph over adversity, as it has a certian old-school feel to it.

The look on Ziggler's face will be priceless.

However, Ryder still has to lose this match for it to be effective.

A Nash Promo Complete with Diesel and WCW Flashbacks.

Kevin Nash has been lackluster in his WWE Run thus far.

This is a very good thing.

Someone like Nash needs an angle, or a theme. For Nash, it's the idea of being forgotten, that his legacy is not as strong as the Rock's, Stone Cold's or Hogan's.

By reintroducing Kevin Nash to the current fans, it thrusts him into form as a top-level member of the roster.

There are two ways to go about it. First is the underused, sympathetic heel character, which Nash attempted during his promo, explaining why he attacked Triple H. Also, there is the Jealous heel, angry that this generation of wrestling has passed him by. Especially if the video package includes moments with Triple H, HBK and other current members of the roster.

The nostalgia of Nash's great moments will resonate with the crows, and the audience at home, so that his words will have a much stronger impact.

Michael Cole Must Be Allowed to Be a Competent Announcer

Survivor Series showed something that was long forgotten, Michael Cole can actually call a good play-by-play match.

As long as:

- He isn't unnecessarily promoting heels.

- He isn't yelling at the top of his voice.

- He isn't trying to put himself over the talent.

- He isn't bickering with the other announcers.

Cole was head and shoulders above Booker and Lawler last night.

On that same note, Lawler sounds like an idiot and a hypocrite. Don't call yourself a legend when your legendary career was based on you being a heel almost the entire time, and yet you fault today's heels for using tactics that you yourself popularized.

A Foley/Del Rio Segment

I don't know if words could express how golden this would be.

Del Rio would demand his match at TLC, Foley instead of CM Punk would come down, and they would banter until Del Rio attacks Foley, causing Punk to make the save.

I feel like I should emphasize that Foley is not to fight off Del Rio by himself.

After Del Rio retreats...

A CM Punk Promo Then Match

CM Punk should banter with Foley to make the crowd happy, then John Laurinaitis, Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and the Interim General Manager of Raw, should give CM Punk a match with David Otunga that ends with a tap out and a staredown with Del Rio, who runs down too late to sneak attack Punk.

Cena to Close the Show

Finally, Cena gets his chance and, if this promo goes off correctly, WWE won't have to advertise Twitter, it'll just be a well-known fact that what happens on Raw will trend worldwide.

Cena has to show emotion in this promo, not like a house of fire, but a slow burn of seething emotion, as if the Rock triggered something that no one else has been able to.

He must point out that he has been there each and every night and no matter what it just isn't good enough for some people. He needs to let that segment of the WWE universe know that he doesn't need them, and their opinions don't matter.

This must be a serious promo, and Cena can have the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. This could truly be a make or break moment for Cena, where he acknowledges that Awesome Truth were overlooked, not for a lack of talent, but because of the promotion necessary to get the Rock to show up.

Cena could drop a pipe bomb, and we will all be better for it.

Conclusion

This would definitely allow the WWE to capitalize off of an amazing Survivor Series, and push some great storylines and characters into the future.