The September 30 edition of WWE Raw was not quite the showstopper the company might have hoped to deliver as a go-home show for Bad Blood. But it was an eventful night all the same.

Bronson Reed tried to settle his score with Braun Strowman, but Seth Rollins returned to cost him his Last Man Standing match.

Sami Zayn finally convinced Gunther to give him what he wants, and they will fight next week for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Jey Uso unveiled the new Intercontinental Championship before addressing former champion Bron Breakker.

He also found out his first challenger, Xavier Woods, who picked up a win over Rey Mysterio. The New Day man also showed a new attitude, even ripping off The Master of the 619's mask to win.

The Miz was another man showing a new attitude thanks to Karrion Kross, and he turned on R-Truth with a boot to the face.

The big moves and major hype for Bad Blood and beyond made up for a night of lackluster action to end the era of three-hour Raws on the USA Network.

Time For Seth Rollins to Get Edgy

Seth Rollins is back, and he looked focused in a way he hasn't done in a long time.

The Visionary held the World Heavyweight Championship in 2024, but he has fallen into a familiar issue of WWE heroes. He has leaned too far into humor to come off as serious.

His flamboyant outfits and signature laugh allowed him to get over with crowds, but it also made it hard for him to be viewed as a true top guy next to serious main event stars such as Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre and others.

Even when he was building toward WrestleMania 40, Rollins was mocked repeatedly for his attire and persona. When he was the special guest referee for Punk vs. McIntyre, he was more of a distraction than a help.

In this modern era of WWE, it is important to have an edge, which is something he has shown before. This may already be the plan given the more serious look for his return, but it's not a certainty.

Given Rollins will not only seek to elevate Bronson Reed in their rivalry but also build up to battling Punk soon, he cannot afford to fall back into a tired gimmick.

Jey Uso Can Redefine His Career as Fighting Champion

Jey Uso may be the most popular star on the Raw roster, but he has had some trouble escaping the tag-team label.

His in-ring work as a solo star has been inconsistent, but his highlights have outnumbered the low points.

A consistent run as intercontinental champion, including regular title defenses, can solidify him at the top of WWE.

The possibilities are endless on a talented roster from a rematch with Bron Breakker to contests with Sami Zayn, Damian Priest, Finn Bálor, Bronson Reed, Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee and others.

The Intercontinental Championship has always been labeled as the workhorse title, and Uso can place his name next to the great workhorses of WWE if he defends his title every few weeks for the rest of 2024.

The Miz Should Stay Heel Until He Retires

The Miz's latest run as a babyface is officially over. It was his best by far, but this run still pales in comparison to the best work of The A-Lister.

He has always stood out more as a heel. In Triple H's creative, Miz could have a fresh lease on life in his more natural role.

At 43 years old, he is unlikely to keep performing at a high level for more than a few more years. To make the most of his time, WWE should keep him heel. He can be a crowd favorite again after he retires.

Until then, though, he should test his limits as a villain who can elevate the young stars of the future.

WWE Must Rethink 5-Match Rule at PLEs

WWE has set a clear standard for all premium live events outside of the Big Four: To deliver the best five matches possible.

While this has led to tightly paced shows that have largely delivered each month and leave more big matches for TV, it is creating a few concerning trends.

In particular, an established hierarchy is minimizing the variety of these supposed "premium" events. Certain stars such as Cody Rhodes and The Judgment Day cannot miss.

Meanwhile, the tag team divisions barely make the card. Midcard talent in good stories can only ever get TV spots for their feuds.

While this would seem to promise that each PLE is delivering the best action possible, it has led to those shows feeling devalued instead.

If feuds with the potential of Gunther vs. Sami Zayn, Bronson Reed vs. Braun Strowman and Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill vs. Damage CTRL are only for TV, it leaves out important stories for PLEs that are supposed to define WWE's year.

Moreover, it is devaluing the talent that is repeatedly left off the shows. The Judgment Day and The Bloodline as the top stables in WWE, but their challengers are not considered good enough to make the PLE cards to challenge them.

Even one or two additional matches on each PLE (with roughly 15 minutes allotted to each) could play a big role in maximizing the roster and its exposure. It would allow for smaller stories to get a spotlight.

This also wouldn't take away from a talented roster's ability to deliver great weekly television matches or cause PLEs to run significantly longer.