Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 04.18.18

Csonka’s WWE Raw Review 04.16.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Elias defeated Bobby Roode @ 11:25 via pin [**]
– The Woken Warriors defeated The Ascension @ 3:58 via pin [**]
– Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre defeated Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews @ 2:05 via pin [NR]
– Chad Gable defeated Jinder Mahal @ 5:45 via pin [**½]
– Lashley & Strowman defeated Kevin & Sami @ 12:00 via pin [***¼]
– Seth Rollins & Finn Balor defeated Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel @ 4:55 via pin [**½]
– Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott , Alexa Bliss, & Mickie James defeated Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Ember Moon, & Natalya @ 15:10 via DQ [**½]

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– Everyone in on stage for a 10-bell salute for Bruno Sammartino. That leads to a great Bruno tribute video.

R.I.P. Bruno. pic.twitter.com/H2So3iL5fi

— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) April 24, 2018

– Tonight’s show is the week of first fallout of the Superstar Shakeup. Mt thoughts on the Raw roster additions are here, and the Smackdown additions here.

Paul Talks, While Brock Hops & Makes $127,000: Heyman introduces Brock and laughs at the fact that he beat Reigns again. He goes on a long list of “I told you so” regarding Brock’s dominance, noting that he delivers spoilers. Brock doesn’t gloat, he conquers, but Heyman, he gloats. But they don’t live in the past, because Brock wants a cage fight so bad, he’s flying to Saudi Arabia to be in a cage match with Reigns. He then gloats about Brock’s new contract. He pits over Brock as a great cage fighter, and promises that Brock will shred Reigns and put him in multiple boxes. And send him back home, and Reigns arrives. Reigns says that he’s coming home with the title, believe that. Heyman was great as usual selling the match, and they were smart to keep Reigns’ talking short, and not have his destroyed again by Brock or on the mic.

– Roode interrupts Elias’ performance.

Bobby Roode vs. Elias: Both men are in Friday’s 50-man rumble. Roode controls early on, laying in chops in the corner. Elias avoids the blockbuster, but hits a dropkick for 2. Elias cuts him off with rights and chops. Roode battles back and dumps him to the floor. Post break, and Roode gets posted, allowing Elias to take the heat. We get a screen in screen Greatest Royal Rumble commercial as Elias works a neck pinch. Elias then lays the boots to Roode, and slams him off of the apron. The running knee strike follows for 2. Elias grounds the action; Roode battles to his feet and hits a belly to back suplex. He follows with strikes and a corner clothesline. The neck breaker follows. Roode hits the top rope clothesline and looks for the DDT, but Elias fights it off. Roode now hits the blockbuster, but Elias powders to the floor. Roode follows and tosses him back in, but Elias cuts him off and cradles him with the tights for the win. Elias defeated Bobby Roode @ 11:25 via pin [**] This was ok, and felt like a solid first step in setting up a feud for the two. The match was basic and a bit lethargic, and felt more like a house show match. But it was nice to see Elias win.

– Matt talks about winning the tag titles on Friday. Wyatt arrives and agrees as they laugh.

The Woken Warriors vs. The Ascension: Matt and Viktor to begin. Matt claps for Viktor’s cartwheel and then attacks and hits a Russian leg sweep. Wyatt in and they work double teams. Konnor tags in and Wyatt cuts him off right away. Matt in and he looks for deletion, but Konnor fights him off and tags in Viktor. He stomps away at Matt, and the Ascension work quick tags and take control, covering for 2. Victor grounds the action but Matt fires back and tags in Wyatt. He runs him over with the running cross body. Matt hits a side effect for 2. Konnor cuts off Matt, but eats sister Abigail. The double team twist of fate finishes things. The Woken Warriors defeated The Ascension @ 3:58 via pin [**] This was ok, and gave the Woken Warriors momentum heading into Friday’s tag title match.

The Sami & Kevin Show: With Miz moving to Smackdown, Kevin & Sami now get a talk show. Kurt Angle is their guest tonight. They are here to fill the void the Miz left and plan to win the rumble match on Friday. Sami says to take the day off of work and ask mommy to stay home from school to watch them win. They were picked by Stephanie as the crown jewels of Raw. They then sing “you suck” to Angle and bring him out. Kevin then gets Angle a small, folding law chair to sit in. They then bring up their past issues on Smackdown, which is why Kevin attacked Vince. They say that Stephanie must really like them and really hate Angle. They then discuss how Angle really needs his job, and joke about how many kids he has, while adding in jabs about Jason Jordan. Sami and Kevin want rewarded, so Angle says that at Friday’s rumble, he, Bryan, and Jericho will be in the match along with the other stars they have pissed off. Angle books Kevin & Sami vs. Lashley & Strowman. This was a solid segment, Kevin & Sami are great assholes, and overly excited and condescending Sami is great. I also love him putting on his old man reading glasses.

– Dallas & Axel meet with Rollins. They want to be his new Shield brothers. Rollins gives them a “hard no.”

Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre vs. Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews: Titus attacks Ziggler right away, laying the boots to him and tagging in Apollo. The standing moonsault gets 2. McIntyre tags in and cuts off Apollo, laying in chops and then tossing him around the ring. He and Ziggler work double teams, and the claymore/zigzag finishes Apollo. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre defeated Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews @ 2:05 via pin [NR] This Ziggler & McIntyre has some potential.

– Post match, Ziggler says someone finally has his back. McIntyre says he’s a dangerous man, especially for a locker room that has gone soft and just collects a check. He’s what a superstar looks like and he has the credentials to back it up. The times are changing, he’s not what WWE wants, and he’s the reality check WWE needs. Ziggler says that they don’t care about stealing the show, because they are the show. This was an overall good match and segment to officially debut the duo.

– Chad Gable meets with Kurt Angle. Gable asks about Jordan, and Jinder Mahal arrives. He bitches about losing the US title last week. He says he will win the US title back on Friday and then wants sent back to Smackdown. Gable gets pissed and Mahal mocks him, calling him Nicolas from WrestleMania. He then calls him mini-me. Angle books the match.

– Tomorrow night…

TOMORROW NIGHT, @mikethemiz RETURNS to #SDLive to host #MizTV with special guest @WWEDanielBryan at 8/7c on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/uENmB98T5C

— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2018

Jinder Mahal vs. Chad Gable: Singh distracts Gable, allowing Mahal to attack. Gable tries to battle back, but Mahal keeps control. Gable manages to low bridge him to the floor, he follows but Mahal cuts him off. Post break, and Mahal has Gable grounded. He then follows with knee strikes and a suplex for 2. It’s all Mahal here, overpowering Gable with ease. Mahal grounds things again, Gable fights to his feet but gets cut off again. Commentary keeps mentioning Gable is small and that he’s batting a real heavyweight. Gable keeps fighting, hits a rolling kick and then attacks the knee of Mahal. Gable looks for chaos theory, but gets cut off as Mahal hits the high knee. Gable fights out of the Khallas and gets the win with the Bret Hart off the ropes as Mahal wouldn’t release the hold. Chad Gable defeated Jinder Mahal @ 5:45 via pin [**½] This was a solid match, with the surprising Gable win. Gable was really good here, selling like a champ. I loved him winning, as I have no time for Mahal, but it was an odd outcome considering Mahal has a tile match on Friday.

– Renee interviews the Riott Squad, hyping tonight’s main event tag match.

– We get comments from Samoa Joe, hyping his match with Reigns at Backlash. Joe continues to be a great promo.

-They hype Friday’s Greatest Royal Rumble event. I’ll have live coverage on Friday.

– Axel & Dallas meet with Balor, and try to join up with him. Balor refuses.

Kevin & Sami vs. Lashley & Strowman: Kevin & Sami run at the bell. Braun cuts them off and takes out Sami. That allows Lashley to work over Kevin in the ring. The spinebuster follows, and then Lashley beats him down in the corner. Kevin manages to cut him off and tags in Sami. They work over Lashley in their corner, but Lashley quickly cuts off Sami. Sami hits a desperation big boot and Kevin tags in. He follows with rights on Lashley, but Lashley cuts them off, dumping Kevin and hitting a running cross body on Sami for 2. Kevin low bridges him to the floor and follows with a senton. Post break, and Lashley hits an overhead toss on Sami. Kevin cuts of the tag to Braun, Sami back in and looks to ground Lashley. Lashley powers up but Sami keeps him away from Braun. Lashley hits a desperation suplex, but Kevin pulls Braun to the floor. Lashley takes out Sami & Kevin and Braun tags in, drops to the floor and takes out Kevin. He mows over Sami and then John Woooos Kevin on the floor! Sami runs to the back, but Lashley cuts him off and tosses him back in. Brain gives Sami those hands and the crowd loves Braun. Lashley tags in and hits the delayed suplex on Sami. Braun tags in and gives the thumbs down and hits the powerslam on Sami for the win. Lashley & Strowman defeated Kevin & Sami @ 12:00 via pin [***¼] This was a good and fun match, Kevin & Sami were good little shit heels, and the crowd loved the monsters. This was very entertaining.

– Corbin arrives and claims that Jose’s dancers are here to jump him before he beats his ass. Corbin plans to ruin his fun, because he’s here to become a champion again. Corbin refuses to face him unless the dancers leave. Jose dances anyway. Corbin returns and beats the shit out of Jose. He then hits the chokebreaker on the stage.

– We get a special anti-bullying message from victim Alexa Bliss. She claims Nia stole food from a starving old woman. This was fucking glorious.

"Sasha, Bayley, Ember, Natalya, it's not too late for you. Don't be a silent accomplice to @NiaJaxWWE's bullying tonight." – @AlexaBliss_WWE #RAW pic.twitter.com/oM19VVIR0a

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 24, 2018

Seth Rollins & Finn Balor vs. Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel: Balor and Dallas start us off. Dallas hits a shoulder tackle, and tags in Axel. He hits a shoulder tackle and celebrates with Dallas. Balor hits a dropkick, but Axel cuts him off and chokes him out in the ropes. Dallas back in and continues the heat on Balor, grounding the action. Balor finally hits a PELE and tags in Rollins. He flies in and takes out Axel. Sling blade follows, and he dumps Axel & Dallas. The suicide dive follows. Back in and Rollins hits a blockbuster. He superkicks Dallas, and black out follows on Axel. Balor hits the double stomp and that’s that. Seth Rollins & Finn Balor defeated Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel @ 4:55 via pin [**½] This was a solid match with a fun closing stretch.

– The babyface women get fired up, but Bayley ignores Banks.

Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Ember Moon, & Natalya vs. Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott , Alexa Bliss, & Mickie James: Banks and Liv to begin until Logan rushes in and they beat down Banks. Logan then works her over, and lays in knee strikes. Banks fires back and hits corner knees, covering for 2. Liv tags in, but Banks lays in strikes and slaps her. Moon tags in and she grounds Liv, covering for 2. The corner clothesline follows, and then the springboard high cross follows for 2. The suicide dive follows. Post break, and Logan has the heat on Banks, grounding the action. Banks fights back, but Logan cuts off the tag. James tags in and lays the boots to Banks. We get a screen in screen Greatest Royal Rumble commercial. James has Banks grounded, but Natalya gets the tag. She runs wild, hitting suplexes. The basement dropkick follows, and the sharpshooter follows. Logan makes the save. The ref checks on Natalya, who is selling the knee. Bayley tags in but James knocks Natalya to the floor. Refs check on her as Bayley and Ruby are in. Ruby hits an STO and grounds things. They are selling it hard that Natalya is hurt. Jax tags in, and starts destroying Ruby. The press slam follows and the leg drop gets 2 until the heels make the save. It breaks down, and as the others go to the floor, Jax wipes them out with a splash off of the apron. James attacks Natalya, and focuses on the knee. Rousey arrives (setting up the European tour matches with James) and as she checks on Natalya, James attacks. Rousey is pissed and attacks. She arm bars her right away for the DQ. Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott , Alexa Bliss, & Mickie James defeated Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Ember Moon, & Natalya @ 15:10 via DQ [**½] This worked well to continue to establish the Rousey/Natalya friendship, and also sets the upcoming tour matches between James & Rousey. It also sets up Rousey saving Natalya, leading to Natalya’s turn on Rousey later on. Setting Rousey up with James & Natalya feels like the right move to bring her along and develop her in ring skills. The match was solid, and it was nice to see Moon shine early on.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

~GLORIOUS~

6.1

The final score: review Average

The 411

This week’s WWE Raw was a solid show, with a lot of hype for Friday’s Greatest Royal Rumble event. The best stuff was the Heyman promo, Bliss’ PSA, and Lashley & Strowman vs. Kevin & Sami.