Backstage Notes on Changes to WWE Raw, Vince McMahon Ripped Up Several Scripts

UPDATE: PWInsider issued a new update on the backstage and creative issues that led to the changes on last night’s episode of WWE Raw. Several sources claimed that yesterday was one of the “longest” days in a while for the WWE creative team.

Additionally, Vince McMahon was reportedly “extremely unhappy” with the original plans for last night’s show. This led to to McMahon ripping up the script several times. This included McMahon discarding the original script for the show and the initial rewrite as well.

McMahon then reportedly began asking for new ideas, with some being told to him apparently being “good” and others being labeled as “not so good.” However, McMahon ultimately ended up rejecting all the pitches that were made to him before he later set up the new plans for last night’s show. One anonymous source who was involved in the process described McMahon as “the loudest and angriest” they’ve ever seen him on the day of a show.

This resulted in last night’s Raw not having an official direction or plan in place until 6:00 pm EST; which is only two hours before the show was set to start.

ORIGINAL: As previously reported, it was reported by PWInsider that there were a lot of changes in plans for last night’s edition of WWE Raw. At one point, it was rumored that Drew McIntyre would face Damian Priest for the WWE US title to open the show. Instead that match became a triple threat between Priest, McIntyre, and Sheamus that happened later in the night. Dave Meltzer addressed the changes to last night’s Raw on today’s Wrestling Observer Radio.

Before last night’s Raw, WWE announced and advertised three matches for this week’s show: Bobby Lashley vs. Sheamus, Eva Marie vs. Doudrop, and John Morrison vs. The Miz; none of which actually took place during the broadcast. Meltzer reported that since WWE is now going with Randy Orton with Bobby Lashley, that’s why the creative team discarded the previously scheduled matchup between Lashley and Sheamus.

Meltzer added that he also heard McIntyre vs. Priest in a singles match was planned at one point for last night’s Raw. The reported reason that McIntyre vs. Priest was made into a Triple Threat match involving Sheamus is due to Sheamus being removed from his original matchup with Lashley.

Meltzer also stated that Raw went through “a million changes” during the day, and as a result, none of he previously announced matchups took place on the show.