In an unexpected turn of events, WWE Raw will return to a two-hour format starting Oct. 7 for its final stretch on USA Network ahead of its debut on Netflix.

Less television time to work with might be seen as a step backward on the surface, but the red brand will benefit from the shorter runtime, especially if the company prioritizes quality over quantity and makes the most of the time they're allotted.

Also last week, the card for the upcoming Grand Slam edition of AEW Dynamite on Sept. 25 began to take shape with three blockbuster bouts officially announced. Among them will be Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley with the winner getting the next shot at Bryan Danielson's AEW World Championship at WrestleDream on Oct. 12.

All signs point to Allin potentially being the one to dethrone Danielson as champ at that even, and if so, it would be premature. Allin winning world title gold is inevitable, but there's no reason to rush into it without more build.

This installment of Quick Takes will delve into Allin's road to the AEW title, Cody Rhodes needing to escape The Bloodline to salvage his title reign, which SmackDown Superstar could use a move to Monday nights, and more.

Cody Rhodes' Reign Is at Risk of Growing Stagnant Because of The Bloodline

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns are unquestionably the biggest stars in all of WWE currently and thus them teaming up to take on The Bloodline in a tag match at Bad Blood is a major development.

The WrestleMania rivals will predictably tell the story of whether they can coexist as partners and Reigns' rivalry with his former faction will be furthered without him having to face either Solo Sikoa or Jacob Fatu one-on-one just yet.

Rhodes, however, is the only one that doesn't gain much from this matchup being made.

His involvement ensures he stays relevant in SmackDown's top storyline, but as Undisputed WWE champion, Rhodes should be the focal point of the program, regardless. Although he's fresh off a successful title defense against Sikoa inside of a steel cage on SmackDown's season premiere, Bad Blood will the second pay-per-view in three months where his prestigious prize will not be defended.

His reign will quickly grow stagnant if he doesn't soon escape The Bloodline. The lack of depth in the main event scene on SmackDown doesn't leave him too many compelling challengers, but continuing his story with Kevin Owens or starting something new with Randy Orton would be a better use of him at this point.

Naomi or Bayley Would Benefit from a Move to Raw

Nia Jax announced on the latest edition of SmackDown that Bayley or Naomi would earn themselves a shot at her WWE Women's Championship at Bad Blood if their team wins this Friday's tag match depending on who scores the winning fall. If either of them suffer the losing fall, they'll be banished from the blue brand.

Bayley reigning supreme and going on to battle Jax for the belt she beat her for at SummerSlam would be the logical and most likely direction to go in, but Bayley or Naomi moving to Monday nights would be a fun twist that fans wouldn't see coming.

As it currently stands, SmackDown's women's division is stacked with star power, and that's without Charlotte Flair being in the mix. With her husband Andrade already on SmackDown, it's virtually guaranteed she'll be headed there as well upon her return to the ring from injury.

Raw could desperately use the depth and either one of the aforementioned SmackDown Women's champs would be a welcome addition to that division. Bayley has battled a majority of SmackDown's stars and would benefit from a change of scenery, whereas Naomi might get more spotlight on her own if she switches shows.

WWE is bound to take the safe route on this week's SmackDown, but the idea of either Bayley or Naomi being shifted over to Raw shouldn't be counted out completely.

AEW Has Made Grand Slam a Must-See Event with Three Major Matches

Hot on the heels of an excellent All Out pay-per-view, AEW has quickly set the stage for a loaded Grand Slam edition of Dynamite on Sept. 25.

Darby Allin and Jon Moxley will face off in an AEW World Championship number one contender's match, Will Ospreay will challenge The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, and Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness will rekindle their rivalry if Danielson is medically cleared to compete in storyline.

Danielson vs. Allin for the AEW title originally looked to be a lock before the company changed course, and although it lacks logic for Danielson to wrestle at Grand Slam if it isn't against Allin, the changes to the card are a vast improvement.

Allin being Moxley's first feud post-heel turn makes perfect sense, while Danielson and McGuinness running it back for the first time in almost exactly 15 years is a fun throwback for fans who are aware of their extensive history in Ring of Honor.

AEW can simultaneously subtly build toward WrestleDream, but this is the biggest Grand Slam has felt since the inaugural installment in 2021.

Darby Allin Winning the AEW Title at WrestleDream Would Be Premature

AEW holding off on Allin vs. Danielson for the AEW World Championship until at least WrestleDream is the correct call, but it would be the wrong call for AEW to crown Allin as champion anytime soon.

Swerve Strickland reportedly (per Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio) taking time off from AEW TV following his loss to Adam Page at All Out indicates he won't be a part of WrestleDream in his home state of Washington on Oct. 12 and that a rematch with Danielson at the event is off the table.

Allin would be a suitable replacement considering he's a fellow Washington native, but if that will be where Danielson's full-time career comes to an end, Allin isn't the right choice to take the title from him—at least not yet.

Allin has the necessary tools to one day be AEW's top dog, but the lack of proper buildup for the bout would make the moment feel rushed, even if he does defeat Jon Moxley first at Grand Slam.

The sole solution would be for Christian Cage to cash in his guaranteed title shot and steal the gold from Allin that night. If other options are limited, the best case scenario would for Danielson to walk out of WrestleDream with the title and reign as champ for a few months longer.

Raw Returning to Two Hours Is Ultimately the Right Move Long-Term

Monday Night Raw is weeks away from returning to a two-hour format for the first time since 2012 and it should immediately become apparent how much stronger the show will be from week to week with the shorter runtime.

Even with an incredibly talented roster, Raw sometimes struggles to fill out its three-hour time slot efficiently. It's difficult to deliver an entertaining episode that's able to keep the audience's attention for the full three hours.

Per Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Raw reverting to the two-hour format will only be temporary for the remainder of the show's run on USA Network and the three hours will be back for Netflix launch, but a positive enough reception could convince the company to keep it at two hours.

As a streaming service, Netflix might have the flexibility to end Raw whenever necessary and not have to adhere to a strict cutoff. Either way, it's more a matter of how WWE maximizes the time they have and not squeezing in as much content as possible.

Some stars will receive less television time out of the gate because of the change, but if WWE can produce an exciting weekly product that leaves fans wanting more, then sticking with two hours permanently will ultimately be the right decision.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.