wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 4.25.16
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...MONDAY NIGHT RAW 4.25.16
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– AJ Styles defeated Sheamus @ 14:35 via pin [***¼]
– Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows defeated The Usos @ 12:45 via pin [***]
– Sami Zayn defeated Rusev @ 11:53 via pin [**¾]
– Apollo Crews defeated Stardust @ 3:10 via pin [**]
– Natalya defeated Emma @ 2:13 via submission [NR]
– Non-Title Match: Champion Roman Reigns defeated Alberto Del Rio @ 13:00 via pin [*½]
– We get an in memory of Chyna graphic to open the show.
– Highlights from last week’s show.
Oh Hey, Shane’s Still Here!: Shane claimed that he was still here because of the fans, and promised that Sunday was the first PPV of a new era, and promised more matches with now faces tonight. Stephanie returned before Shane could get to into his promo. She was back to inform Shane that this would be his last night running Raw, because at Payback, Vince will decide who will run Raw going forward. Shane took a poll of the crowd, and they of course loved him more than Stephanie. Shane then told her it was time for her to leave, Stephanie of course refused, so Shane called for security. Stephanie then decided to leave on her own, cut the balls off of the security and slapped one of them and then they retrained her and took her away. This was a fine segment, setting up a hook for Sunday’s Payback with the big decision from Vince. Not that I am looking forward to a talking segment on the PPV, but it’s a fine hook.
AJ Styles vs. Sheamus: Sheamus appeared to be completely translucent during his entrance. Sheamus worked his power game, also using hard-hitting offense to control the opening portion of the match. AJ tried to make a comeback, but Sheamus cut that off and slammed him to the steps as we took the commercial break. Sheamus still had the heat post break, working a solid heat based on working the back, which works to set up the cloverleaf. Sheamus ended up getting overzealous and posted himself, which slowed him and allowed AJ a chance to fight back with a sunset flip bomb out of the corner. AJ fired up and started his comeback; this led to some back and forth and Sheamus going for that cloverleaf I mentioned earlier. AJ escaped, teased the clash, but Sheamus finally got the cloverleaf. AJ got the ropes, avoided the brogue kick and then hit the springboard forearm and that was all. That was a good hard-hitting match that I enjoyed, with the right guy winning and doing so in clean fashion. The crowd could have been better, but AJ continues to be very consistent in delivering good TV matches. The only complaint that I have is that it felt like it was way too lopsided, as commentary asked if AJ was ready. Yes he won, yes it was clean and yes it was good, but I don’t think the Raw before the PPV AJ needs to be dominated like that. That’s my only real complaint.
– Doc and Karl came out on the ramp to clap for AJ.
– The Usos meet with Reigns backstage, and discuss the Bullet Club conspiracy theory.
Tag Team Talking: New Day cut a promo, discussing the tag team tournament. The winners at Payback will get to face then for the titles, and they even dropped in a Prince tribute (party like it’s 1999). The Vaudevillains interrupted, and planned to party like it’s 1899. But before they could get too far into their promo, Enzo and Cass interrupted. New Day seemed amused by Enzo and Cass, and the crowd loved them. It was a short and wacky little segment, used to get the teams some talking time, and to hype the finals. It was fine.
– We see Doc and Karl leaving AJ’s locker room.
The Usos vs. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows: Thank the lord they started brawling right away, that was appreciated. We got some solid back and forth to begin, nice pacing and aggression from both teams. Gallows then decapitated an Uso with a clothesline to Bullet Club chants. They worked the previously injured shoulder of Jey Uso, also appreciated because he has a history with the injury, and they re-injured it when they attacked the Usos. The heat was focused and made sense, grounding Jey and keeping the work on the shoulder. Gallows and Anderson are dominating, but this feels too long to make a really effective in ring debut for the duo. Jey tried to make a comeback, but was shoved off of the top and to the floor as we took a commercial break. Post break, they still had the heat on Jey for a bit and then he made the hot tag. Good sequence following that with everyone in and going frantic. Gallows and Anderson then hit the magic killer, and that finished it off. Post match the beatings continued because morale did not improve. Roman Reigns then made the save, and cleared them out. This improve after the commercial break, once they picked up the action, but the match needed more of that and was just too long for their debut match. It’s not that the match wasn’t good, it was, but from a standpoint of Anderson and Gallows making an impact, I feel a shorter match was in order. Especially since they were working with an “injured” Uso. But the good news is that they won, and they keep stoking the fires of Doc and Karl being with AJ, and that they may get involved on Sunday.
– Renee Young interviewed AJ Styles. Before he could speak, Doc and Karl arrived and wanted to talk about Reigns. They promise not to jeopardize his opportunity, and want to make sure that it is a fair fight. They have his back. BROTHERS GOTTA HUG!
– We get a spectacular video package for Sunday’s Owens vs. Zayn match. They need to utilize more videos like this more often.
Sami Zayn vs. Rusev w/Lana: The opening portion was well done, playing off of the obvious power vs. speed match up. It was very evenly booked until Rusev hit a high kick on Zayn, which sent him to the floor and we took a commercial break. Post break Rusev worked the heat, trying to keep Zayn grounded. It didn’t last long as Zayn fired up and connected with clotheslines and then scored a near fall after countering a back suplex. Zayn then got another off of a great high cross. This moved into some nice near falls down the stretch, these two are working well together well overall, as I hoped they would. Zayn then escaped the accolade attempt and scored the win with a roll up Lana threw her shoes at Zayn post match. That was a pretty good match overall, they got time, and Zayn picked up the clean win heading into the PPV. It lacked a little something, but judging from what we got, I have the feeling that these two could have a great match down the line. I hope that they can get Rusev separated from the League of Nations stink on him and rebuild the guy, he’s great.
– Post match Owens attacked Zayn on the ramp.
– Renee tried to interview Apollo Crews, and Stardust interrupted. Apollo called him Cody and brought up working with Dusty in NXT. Stardust then said that not even the great Dusty Rhodes could make Apollo a star, and he would prove that tonight.
– The Dudleyz will be on ESPN tomorrow night.
Apollo Crews vs. Stardust: Crews did some fun and athletic stuff, and then Stardust cut him off and worked a short heat. Crews then made his comeback, hit his signature stuff and then finished it with the sitout powerbomb. It was what it needed to be (Crews picking up another strong and clean victory) and perfectly fine for the short time frame given. They need to get him into a program following Payback though, because while these wins are great, we need a reason to care about him.
Dean Ambrose Talks: Ambrose claimed that there would be no Asylum tonight, because he’s pissed about being jumped form last week. He put over his Payback opponent, Chris Jericho, but noted that he was also good at what he does. Ambrose says he fights for respect, doesn’t ask for help and takes a beating because his job isn’t easy. Basically he gives no fucks and calls out Jericho. I appreciate when Ambrose isn’t completely goofy, he was a man on a mission there and it came off well. Jericho was not impressed, and felt that Ambrose was being disrespectful; he then dumped on Hartford. He then said he would give Ambrose the match of his career and elevate his career by allowing him to associate with him. Jericho then wanted Ambrose to kiss his $1,500 boots and apologize to him for his disrespect and also for stealing the Highlight Reel. Ambrose said he was sorry Jericho paid so much for his ugly boots, sorry that he wears a scarf and sorry that he has to beat him at Payback. Ambrose then attacked and they brawled to the floor. Ambrose tried to pull Jericho to the table, but Jericho stopped that and beat him down and then applied the walls on the table; referees had to pull Jericho off of Ambrose. That was a good segment, Ambrose got to be serious and they pushed Sunday’s match well.
– Wednesday on NXT, they are showing the Samoa Joe title win from NXT live event. Nice.
– Ric and Charlotte came out to join the commentary team.
Natalya vs. Emma: After a very quick back and forth, Emma tripped up Natalya on the apron and then hit a suplex on the floor to take the heat. Natalya almost immediately fought back and won with the sharp shooter. Obviously Natalya winning a quick and clean match is a good thing, as she has the title match on Sunday, but I have no idea why Emma was sacrificed here. They have been building Emma for a feud with Becky Lynch and even had her defeat Paige on Smackdown quickly. I mean, were Naomi and Tamina busy tonight?
– We get an in memory of Chyna video package.
– Barn Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler has been added to WWE Payback. US Champion Kalisto will defend the US Title against The Ryback on the pre-show
Baron Corbin vs. Damien Sandow Still Has a Job: Similar to Smackdown, the match never started as Ziggler attacked Corbin during his entrance. They brawled around the entrance, and then Corbin ran away. That was a nice play off of the Smackdown attack by Corbin, and works to help add to the build of the PPV match.
– We get a wacky video with the Colons. “Come to Puerto Rico, The Shining Star of the Caribbean!”
The Miz and Maryse Talk: Miz and Maryse are in the ring. Miz is insulted that people think that Cesaro can defeat him. They were gloriously obnoxious, and then mocks the fans for supporting Cesaro. Miz also mocked the internet trolls and Twitter tough guys, and said that those same people support Cesaro. Cesaro then arrived, Miz delivered movie lines with Maryse’s coaching, and Cesaro said the only movie he belonged in was Jackass. Cesaro put over the IC Title, and said that the credits would roll on Miz’s title run. Miz asked if Cesaro felt lucky, and Cesaro told him to make his day. Miz made he mistake of trying to attack, and ate an the toss up uppercut. Maryse saved Miz from the swing, and Cesaro posed with the IC Title before dropping it. I get that some people hate the Miz gimmick right now, but the “wanna be A-lister” needing his wife to coach him doing move lines is really annoying in a good way I feel. This was a segment with a purpose, to add some build to the IC Title match, and it was solid stuff. They just need to not overdo the bad lines gimmick.
– AJ and Reigns ran into each other backstage, with AJ telling him that he would take the title on Sunday.
– As Reigns gets booed out of the building, they show him granting a Make-a-Wish and also greeting the child at ringside.
Non-Title Match: WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio: They went back and forth in a short opening stretch. As the crowd booed Reigns continuously, Del Rio took control and we went to break about 90-seconds in. This has been a rough crowd tonight, but it’s telling that they woke up to make sure that Reigns knows that they hate him. Post break, Del Rio worked a lackluster heat segment, with little to no intensity or aggression. Reigns started a comeback to a mixed reaction, and ht the drive by kick, sending Del Rio into the post. Even though he was posted, Del Rio immediately came back and hit the superkick for a near fall. Ok. Del Rio put Reigns into the tree of WHOA, but Reigns avoided the double stomp by not sitting up, because that move is stupid. The whole sequence also resembled an asshole. Superman punch by Reigns, but then Anderson and Gallows made their way out. Del Rio got a near fall, but then ate the spear and Reigns won. Post match Anderson and Gallows attacked Reigns, but AJ ran in to stop them. Reigns then dropped AJ with the superman punch, so Anderson and Gallows attacked again. AJ hit the springboard forearm and laid out Reigns as Anderson and Gallows looked on pleased with what had happened. The post match angle is good, it continues to play off of what they have been building. Reigns winning is good, but that match was bad. It felt lazy and sloppy, and like both guys just didn’t give a shit.
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
