WWE Raw results and observations (11/24/14)

The WWE had a very hot and eventful ending to Survivor Series Sunday that created a buzz around the product.

How did the WWE capitalize on the quick shot of momentum? By following it up with an average show Monday night in Indianapolis, Ind.

Sure, this show had its bright spots, but it didn't build upon the goodwill the WWE received from the fans after Sting's historic debut Sunday night.

If anything, it might have added some ill will.

Before we delve any deeper, let's take a look at the full match results from Bankers Life Fieldhouse:

- Ryback def. Mark Henry

- WWE Intercontinental Championship – Luke Harper def. Dean Ambrose via disqualification

- WWE Tag Team Championship – The Miz & Damien Mizdow def. Goldust & Stardust

- Fandango def. Justin Gabriel

- Brie Bella def. AJ Lee

- Tyson Kidd & Natalya def. Adam Rose & The Bunny

- John Cena & Dolph Ziggler def. Seth Rollins, Joey Mercury & Jamie Noble

Now, let's go through my highlights and observations from this week's edition of Monday Night Raw:

Anonymous Raw general manager returns

All of the emotion I felt when Sting made his WWE debut at Survivor Series was equaled Monday night for the return of the anonymous Raw general manager, but in the complete opposite manner.

Really, WWE? We're going back to this well? Of all wells to go back to, this is the one you chose?

For those who don't know, the WWE went through a phase a couple of years ago where they had no idea who was going to be the general manager of Raw.

Instead of either naming someone or doing away with the position, the WWE decided to add some mystery behind it and have the general manager be anonymous, only communicating to the world through a Mac computer that apparently can transfer its sounds to the lights in the arena.

It added mystery, but it also added a great annoyance to the show, as almost every segment had the notification sound butt its way in. It didn't help that Michael Cole, someone who doesn't have a ton of fans, was tasked with being the one to deliver the anonymous general manager's edicts and rulings.

The whole thing was a farce and the fans didn't even get a real payoff from it.

But that's reason enough for the WWE to re-hash the idea at least for this week. I certainly hope this thing is around for a very brief time.

I know the WWE is more creative than this. I just know it. It has to be. It couldn't possibly be this low on ideas to bring this back in any way.

No Sting at Raw

I'm not overly angry that Sting was not there for Raw Monday, but I figured he would be in order to capitalize off the buzz his debut created.

The WWE essentially gave him away on a free pay-per-view, so why not give him away on free television? I'm sure the WWE could have used the extra viewers.

Plus, it would make some storyline sense for Sting to formally introduce himself to the WWE fans and to explain his actions from Survivor Series.

Instead, we got nothing. We did get a couple of mentions, but that was it.

If the viewership numbers for at least the early portion of Raw were up this week I wouldn't be surprised. That's because people were expecting to see Sting.

Daniel Bryan returns, takes over Raw

Sting may not have showed up, but former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan did show up in what was a pleasant surprise.

He came out to guess what, a raucous ovation from the fans in Indianapolis and confronted The Authority, the people that tormented him for months, as they were on their way out the door.

Not only did he show up, but he was also handed the controls of the show and made some matches. Hopefully, he can come back sooner rather than later. The WWE is in desperate need of some over babyfaces on the roster.

The Authority may be back at some point

Stephanie McMahon and Triple H may be out of power at the moment, but after what we saw Monday, I wouldn't be surprised if we see them back on their perch at some point.

I definitely believe it after Vince McMahon told them that they would find a way to "fix this."

Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose feud picking up some steam

After their match at Survivor Series and their angle Monday night, the Bray Wyatt-Dean Ambrose feud seems to be finally picking up some steam.

The WWE hasn't had a good recent history of keeping up some momentum, but let's hope that trend changes with this program.

AJ Lee drops a pipe bomb

AJ Lee fell to a Bella Twin for the second night in a row. This time, it was to Brie Bella, who received an assist from her sister Nikki Bella.

After the match, however, AJ Lee delivered another one of her verbal pipe bombs by destroying the Bella Twins, saying that talent isn't sexually transmitted. That's obviously a knock on both of the Bellas being married to stars Daniel Bryan and John Cena.

Rumor has it is that AJ Lee is going to be going away soon for at least a little while, so maybe this was her send off.

What's up with the Bellas?

Speaking of Nikki and Brie Bella, since when did they become all chummy again? I thought they were supposed to despise each other.

I also thought that Brie Bella was supposed to be Nikki Bella's personal assistant for another 24 hours or so.

Apparently, Brie Bella has let bygones be bygones or she completely forgot that her sister has been making her life hell lately.

Either way, there is gaping whole in the story that has yet to be explained.

Concessions Kane

The concession stand angles were kind of silly, but I'm all in on concessions Kane.

Larry the Cable Guy was a dud

So, Larry the Cable Guy was at Raw and wasn't really all that funny. As a matter of fact, he hasn't been all that funny since 2007, which was about the last time he was actually relevant.

But that's the WWE for you, hopping on board with the latest happenings…five years too late.

By the way, the WWE should have never let Larry walk out without a shirt. The WWE is a PG product, but they allowed him to walk around showing his man-boobs. I found it offensive. (sarcasm)

Sgt. Slaughter showed up

When Daniel Bryan announced that Rusev and Lana would have to sing the pledge of allegiance, I immediately thought of Sgt. Slaughter, who cut a legendary promo in Allentown during the early 1980s by using the pledge.

Well, someone in the WWE was thinking like me because Sgt. Slaughter joined Rusev to recite the pledge.

Rusev refused and was about to attack Slaughter, but Jack Swagger came out for the save.

So, I guess we're getting another chapter in the enthralling rivalry between Swagger and Rusev? That ought to be a hoot.

A New Day debuting next week

After weeks of vignettes, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E will finally return to WWE television as a group.

Although I sort have an idea of what they're about, I'm definitely intrigued to see it all play out in front of me on Raw.

What I'm excited about is the change in direction for Kingston. He's been stuck with the same character and direction pretty much ever since he got into the WWE. He needed something different three years ago.