A Triple H promo straight out of his “We Are NXT” playbook managed to turn the tide, and when even more Legends and current Superstars followed the crowd-pleasing D-X/Bálor Club team-up for a dark match segment, WWE averted the full-on fan revolt which seemed possible at The Manhattan Center halfway through Raw 25.
People who reportedly paid a premium for tickets (“super-fan” Frank The Clown says ringside seats were $835, and he knows of people who laid out four figures) were not happy to only get a handful of segments and just two official matches in more than three hours at the venue. The beleaguered Cruiserweight division was sent out a couple times during commercials while vignettes were playing on the big screen at Barclays Center... and they were not treated kindly (this and other videos originated with Twitter user HashBroJones):
The Manhattan Center was equally awesome and heartwarming pic.twitter.com/lGg0Ge9tIC
— Surfer Dude (@surferdudengw) January 23, 2018
So when this photo made the rounds on Twitter, I think most people assumed it was a joke, but you had to wonder...
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler appear to be falling asleep at the Manhattan Center. pic.twitter.com/vigtA8zMBA #WWE #RAW #RAW25
— NoDQ.com - WWE News (@nodqdotcom) January 23, 2018
Hall of Famer Jim Ross was quick to shut it down, however, asserting that despite only getting to call a handful of action all night, he and The King did not take a nap on Monday:
It appears this site covered their arse
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) January 23, 2018
When using the term ‘appeared’ but no one was sleeping.
Absurd to suggest such. https://t.co/ns15DP4Slp
So, there you have it. No riots, no sleeping, but lots of unhappy people.
Happy anniversary, Raw!