New Zealands paceman Tim Southee bowls against Australia during th

Something got into Raw on Monday night ... and hopefully its here to stay.Fresh off a particularly underwhelming stretch in recent months, the WWEs flagship brand returned to must-see status for the second straight week.No, this wasnt three hours of perfection and not quite the well-balanced effort from one week before. But at the very least, Raw made a concerted effort to live up to its name on Monday -- it was edgy and vicious, with plenty of chances taken. It was also fast-paced.In many ways, it was everything one can ask for as a fan.Raws greatest victory Monday was its return to being a true variety show. There were pay-per-view quality matches (Kevin Owens-Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns-Chris Jericho), well-played comedy and a deeper commitment to the kind of dramatic, soap opera-like presentation of story lines often seen in the late 1990s.The central theme of the show, which emanated from Austin, Texas, was a trio of double-crosses. Jericho spurned the desperate attempts from Owens to repair their friendship, and the devilish duo of Rusev and Lana conspired to trick Enzo Amore into a savage beating in their hotel room.But the show closed with Charlotte, quickly ascending to status as one of WWEs true elite heels (regardless of gender), fawningly apologizing to her estranged father, Ric Flair, before unleashing a vicious slap across his face. Charlotte stuffed the subsequent run-in from Raw womens champion Sasha Banks just as stiffly, providing ample tease for the 30-minute ironman match that was made official minutes earlier for the Dec. 18 Roadblock: End of the Line PPV.There was a cruel edge to Charlottes words and actions that made the entire sequence feel real, punctuated by her constant berating of Banks throughout the beatdown. And it was likely no coincidence that Charlottes segment, along with the Rusev-Amore brawl, was saved for the final hour of the show.Lets not beat around the bush: This wasnt PG-rated material.Monday marked the closest Raw has come to feeling like the Attitude Era in a very long time. Again, it wasnt perfect (more on that below). The first hour of the show was largely forgettable and the ruthless beating Amore endured may not have been enough to overcome the overtly sexual (and largely predictable) nature of the segment, which received polarizing reactions on social media.But give WWE credit for trying something here and making a pointed effort to improve the creative tendencies and patterns that had grown stale.The more Raw can do to retain this level of unpredictable electricity, the better -- for everyone.Hits and missesSometimes its the little things that stand out the most. Credit Owens for landing such an impactful jab on Seth Rollins during the shows opening segment. You know whats funny to me? The fact that you dont realize that sometimes best friends fight, Owens said, referencing his falling out with Jericho. Of course you dont know that because you dont have any friends. Lets just look at the way you treated your little Shield brothers -- not even your friends, you call them your brothers -- and you stabbed them in the back first chance you got. The truth hurts.It was frustrating to see two weeks of buildup in the brewing beef between Zayn and Raw general manager Mick Foley (which felt like a trade to SmackDown could be imminent) so easily tossed aside. Owens and Zayn are always money together inside the ring and they proved that once more on Monday. But with nothing at stake in terms of prize or story line, there was very much a cheap thrill element to the booking, especially since the goal was simply to make Owens look strong again after his loss to Reigns the previous week.Amores brief backstage segment with Ric Flair was everything it should have been from a comedic standpoint (including Amores closing line of I wont be soft, baby). Seriously, Enzo and The Natch -- it just has a certain ring to it. Can we get them a sitcom or at least a WWE Network special?Amores hotel room debacle provided equal moments of good and bad in terms of entertainment, but I will say this for Rusev: He may be the heel in this feud, yet the storyline treatment his wife Lana has received from Amore (and Reigns before him) has been far from babyface behavior. I dont think its out of line to suggest Enzos character had it coming.The booking to the finish of Rollins singles match with the Big Show was atrocious, as the giant walked off and willingly accepted a countout loss after choke-slamming Owens into the ring (which was a setup for Rollins to land a Pedigree). But lets not bury the lead: hats off to The Big Show for coming back in such great shape. In recent weeks, he gave interviews to multiple outlets saying he is under 400 pounds for the first time since 1995. And he was sporting a legit beard, to boot.WWE cruiserweight champion Rich Swann has such a captivating ability to take over the screen and instantly change the culture of whats happening with his dance moves and electric vibe. And his finish of TJ Perkins on Monday, after Perkins spring-boarded off the top rope and was met with a kick to the face was a fun end to a good little match:GOODNIGHT Perkins! - @MichaelCole@GottaGetSwann defeats @MegaTJP on @WWE #RAW! pic.twitter.com/wNztrl0kMC- WWE (@WWE) December 6, 2016Im all for cruiserweight Jack Gallaghers in-ring antics and unique style, which he showcased in his Raw debut by defeating Ariya Daivari. But The Extraordinary Gentleman is going to have to bring something bigger to the dance than a dropkick as a finishing move.It has happened twice now and both times have felt a bit backward. Can we stop having Banks, as a champion, issue PPV challenges to Charlotte? Shouldnt it be the other way around?Move of the nightKevin Owens and Sami Zayn produced plenty of great spots on Monday as they rekindled their rivalry. But for as good as Owens flip over the top rope was, Zayns tornado DDT off the second turnbuckle and onto the ring apron was even better.TORNADO DDT ON THE APRON by @ILikeSamiZayn!! @FightOwensFight #RAW pic.twitter.com/SjgixvMLgA- WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 6, 2016Line of the nightYou son of a b----! Im your daughter. Im your flesh and your blood. Who was she to dedicate her victory to my father? My father! You turn your back on me? -- Charlotte, at her heel best, berating her father, Ric Flair, for celebrating with Raw womens champion Sasha Banks on last weeks episode of Raw. Nike Air Max Tn Rebajas . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Vapormax Off White Blancas . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. http://www.vapormaxbaratas.com/vapormax-flyknit-3-baratas-venta.html . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Se Baratas .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit 2 Rebajas . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique.Australias colour-blind wicketkeeper Matthew Wade insists he will cope in this weeks day-night Test against South Africa despite having difficulty in picking up the pink ball under lights. Wade has been recalled at the expense of Peter Nevill among a raft of changes for the third Test at Adelaide, with Australia desperate to prevent a clean-sweep by the Proteas after defeats in Hobart and Perth.Wade, banished from Test cricket three years ago due to shoddy glovework, admits his vision problem makes it difficult with the pink ball under lights, but is confident of adapting. Wade suffers from colour blindness I played with the pink ball at Adelaide Oval last year in a Shield game, so itll be interesting to see what it does in the Test arena. Youve just got to get used to it, he said. I think its trying to get it out of your mind. I can see the colour of the ball, I pick it up. Its just at times it takes a little bit longer to work out the depth of where its coming. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! He added: It cant be an issue, Ive got to work it out.The match will be only the second day-night Test in Australia after the home side beat New Zealand by three wickets on only the third day at Adelaide Oval last year. New Zealands paceman Tim Southee bowls against Australia during the first day-night cricket Test match at the Adelaide Oval in November last year Wade, recalled as much for his batting prowesss as his keeping skills, said he found it easier now to cope with the pink ball than when it was first rolled out as a Sheffield Shield experiment in the 2013-14 season.ddddddddddddIve got more used to it I suppose, he said. The more you play, you get more used to it, but the ball is getting better year-in, year-out. Australia captain Steve Smith admits hes embarrassed after his side were thrashed by South Africa in the second Test in Hobart Former Test opener Chris Rogers also suffered from colour-blindness and in 2014 withdrew from a match in which a pink ball was being trialled.Australia go into Thursdays game on the back of five straight Test defeats and with the team in crisis as they look to stop South Africa becoming the first touring team to sweep a series Down Under.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! Also See: WATCH: Proteas airport trouble Aussies pick Renshaw Du Plessis guilty of ball-tampering Abbott clinches series for SA ' ' '