NXT stars and Shane McMahon have completely revitalized WWE Raw

WWE was limping into WrestleMania two months ago with a roster devastated by injury and a card some WWE legends were calling the worst in WrestleMania history - but one segment on an episode of Raw in late February changed everything. 

After a six-year hiatus from the company, Shane McMahon returned and received a pop from the crowd so huge that it created an overwhelming sense of reverie. Cheers bled into cries of excitement, eyes glossed over with the twinkle of hope for a new beginning, and the company behind the ramp realized they had found their answer.

Shane McMahon’s continued presence on WWE programming doesn’t make any sense given his storyline entering WrestleMania 32, but he’s completely reinvigorated Raw over the last month.

Per his father, Vince McMahon, Shane was scheduled to take on the Undertaker at WrestleMania 32 for control of Monday Night Raw. He fought, and he lost, but something happened that even the world’s biggest wrestling fan couldn’t have fathomed – the company listened to the WWE Universe. At the request, the pleading, and the begging of the fans, Shane was brought back to Raw by his father the following day and given a shot to run the show.

The response?

Overwhelming.

By listening to the WWE Universe, creative regained their trust. Fans felt their participation was validated, which has created a more-vested interest into the programming. They put trust into Shane that wasn’t there before. After listening to Triple H and Stephanie for so long, the fans felt like their voice would now be heard.

Since Shane’s return, wrestlers from the WWE’s developmental company, NXT, have been given opportunity. This inadvertently has solved many holes. Big names on the roster like John Cena, Seth Rollins, and Randy Orton will be able to rest and recuperate while up-and-comers earn the spotlight.

Instead of fans focusing on missing pieces, they now can turn their attention to what Shane has dubbed as “the new era” of WWE. You won’t be begging for Orton while being dazzled by Sami Zayn, and you’ll forget missing Cena while Enzo and Cass light up the mic and entertain.

NXT has allowed for the fans to become familiar with new talent from the beginning. Instead of being blindsided by unheard of new additions, the developmental program has acted as a “minor league” of sorts to the WWE, introducing the Universe to the talent long before they hit that main stage of Raw. Fans will become familiar with names like Apollo Crews, Samoa Joe, and Finn Balor and anticipate their premiere rather than being shocked by it.

Where WWE once relied on special appearances by former superstars like Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin to get the crowd pumped up (as recently as WrestleMania 32), it is now putting trust in its own product. The McMahons are creating a new generation, and it’s solving all the missing puzzle pieces, and giving people a reason to tune in again.

Don’t get me wrong, everybody loves Stone Cold and The Heartbreak Kid, but it’s comforting to know that this company is trusting the direction of the new generation all while listening to those whom have supported them from the start—at least for now.