Shane McMahon has spoken at length about Raw Underground. He would be interview by Corey Graves, during his ‘After The Bell’ Podcast, and ‘Shane O Mac’ discussed the idea behind the RAW Underground concept, and more.
Here are the highlights from Shane’s appearance on the show:
On the RAW Underground concept:
“We’re trying different things. It’s a work in progress. And different format and changing things up. It’s a way to showcase new talent and give people more exposure. It’s a little bit faster-paced and a little more intense – shorter and more intense. People are seeming to like it, so we’re rolling with it.”
On how much input he’s had in the RAW Underground presentation:
“Quite a bit. This goes way back – this isn’t an original concept. This is more going back to Roman gladiator times where they used to have short matches. There’s been lots of stuff or similar things, I should say, in Japan for quite some time. I’ve been traveling to Japan since the late 80s when I was a teenager and I saw some of this. And it’s always resonated with me. You mentioned MMA – a lot of my friends do that sport. I also practice multiple forms of it, and I really enjoy it. So if you can blend that with WWE entertainment and what we can have come together, it’s a work in progress, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
On how talent react to being in RAW Underground:
“You have talent like that who know ‘OK, it’s short, it’s intense, let me let it rip.’ It’s more reacting and they’re just going with their instinct. And it’s fast-paced and high energy, and that’s what it’s designed to do. So, you don’t have time really to think about things – you’re just going for it. It’s exhausting. Anybody who gets in there – and those who have never really experienced what even 60 seconds of going full out feels like – you have to be in shape. It’s a whole new appreciation of why people have to be in shape. High energy is really what we’re trying to have come across, and thus far it is.”
On some of the current WWE talents that impress him:
“I’m really enjoying The Fiend. I think he’s taken it to another level because he entertains. He gets it done in the emotional and physical nature. He entertains, and with his promos, you listen, and he’s into it. He takes you on a ride, and he also gets it done physically. He’sone of those guys that’s deceptively big and he can move. Seth Rollins has really upped his game, specifically. He’s taken more of that leadership role and you can see the difference in his work. I’m really impressed – and a lot of us were like let’s see what happens – with Dominik Mysterio. I think he surprised a lot of people because when your dad is amazing, you’re like it’s gonna be like Rey-lite. But Dominik is different. He makes it different. You care about him. There are very few guys that can that pull off – that’s not really a secret, to get over you want people to care.”
Raw Underground has not received the best reveiws among wrestling fans on social media, but WWE are persevering with the concept, and even drafted in Braun Strowman from Smackdown to appear. He would defeat Dabba Kato in ‘The Battle of the Behemoths’ to cap of what was definitely the best week of RAW Underground so far.
So while it has a long way to go, RAW underground looks to be heading in the right direction, and if it’s only purpose, is to help Dabba Kato get over, maybe that alone will be worth it.
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