On an episode of “WWE Raw” that was, for a SummerSlam follow-up show, pretty dull at best (and infuriating at worst), Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made the broadcast worth watching, at least for a little bit.

I thought I would have been sick and tired of The New Day’s mourning act by now, but Kingston and Woods continue to impress me. From their extravagant mourning clothes (Woods is in straight-up drag at this point, with his comically large hat) to their multiple mourning talking points, Kingston and Woods are doing phenomenal work, and are keeping “Raw” interesting. I’m not sure if I love Grayson Waller’s attempts to break into the stable — why overcomplicate a good thing, I say — but whether he joins the New Day or not, Kingston and Wood’s mourning work alone is deserving of high praise.

Waller had a match against Penta on Monday’s episode of “Raw,” and the New Day came waltzing to the ring to sit on commentary. Frequent visitors to these columns will know that I have not been the biggest fan of WWE’s commentary booth, so it was incredibly satisfying (in an almost schadenfreude way) to see Kingston and Woods fluster Michael Cole at every turn. Kingston and Woods left Cole genuinely speechless, and he had no quips to counteract the heels (which you’d think he’d have at the ready, as the babyface commentary in his and Corey Graves’ two-person booth). Kingston and Woods caused Cole to completely fumble over his words, in both a testament to their quick wit and effortless proclivity towards comedy and to a decline in quality in WWE’s commentary booth — both of which are very gratifying to witness. Sure, you could argue that Kingston and Wood’s presence on the commentary booth took away from the match, and I won’t even argue with you there — I was 100% paying more attention to them than Waller. However, I’m not even particularly mad about it, because whatever Kingston and Woods brought to the table was more interesting than whatever Waller was doing in the ring anyway (sorry Penta, you’re collateral damage in this).

The New Day’s heel turn has done absolute wonders. We’ve known this, and have frequently sung the duo’s praises in these columns. However, I think tonight really showed how capable they are of carrying the worst parts of WWE on their back. They saved us from having to listen to a floundering Cole, and made a mediocre Waller match into something you could easily pay attention to. I almost don’t know if I want The New Day to get the title match and win they so deserve after all of this incredible work, because a non-mourning New Day would mean the end of their hilarious, campy, over-the-top grieving shticks.

The New Day are doing everything right in this gimmick. They are committing to the bit — teeth fully sunk in — and they are doing so in a way that is flexible, witty, and effortless. New Day really does rock.

Written by Angeline Phu