-- WWE Founder and TKO Chairman Vince McMahon returned from his medical leave (spinal surgery) this week and was heavily involved in the creative process for last night's Monday Night Raw, as per multiple sources. While not directly related to his return, there were reportedly multiple significant changes to yesterday's episode, details below:
- McMahon was not physically at Raw but contributed remotely via phone and made multiple changes to the show throughout the day. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that not only is Vince back running production, but he is "the guy", implying that all creative will channel through him.
- McMahon was not alone in ordering changes as WWE's creative lead and CCO Paul "HHH" Levesque was also responsible for modifications "at the last minute" of his own.
- At least one backstage source within WWE noted that while the changes were plentiful, they were actually "for the better."
- Endeavor's Ari Emanuel appears willing to stay out of WWE creative, by effectively leaving the reigns of the shows to McMahon, including all decision making on that area of the new TKO company.
- Emanuel, Mark Shapiro and Nick Khan will be handling WWE's TV negotiations for Raw and Smackdown.
- Fightfulselect.com reported that the Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin vs. Viking Raiders was originally scheduled for Raw but was pulled and moved over to Main Event. Meanwhile, Natalya vs. Zoey Stark was set for Main Event and was scrapped completely.
- Cody Rhodes was originally scheduled to open WWE Raw with a promo, but it was switched at the last minute and WWE went with a Jey Uso promo instead.
