RAW Review: 1st of April 2019
The final RAW before Wrestlemania! This show had its crazy moments as this was the final attempt to hype up Wrestlemania as the buildup already has been a bit underwhelming. Besides one crazy segment, this show didn't really do much to hype up the RAW matches for this Sunday's PPV.
Show opened with Stephanie McMahon announcing that the Triple Threat Women's match will be a Winner Take All match. I figured this would happen since Charlotte defeated Asuka for the Smackdown Women's Championship last week. This is a big deal though as the stakes are higher for Becky Lynch especially as she walks into this match as the ultimate underdog against two champions. I can't wait for this match this Sunday!
Next Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman arrive as Heyman continues to talk down on Seth Rollins. Brock is there smiling, as he doesn't take Rollins seriously. Seth then appears and gets into Brock's face, continuing to claim that he will burn Suplex City down. He then kicks Brock in the balls and they brawl for a bit until Seth delivered the Curb Stomp to Lesnar and stands over him! The buildup to this match hasn't been great honestly since Rollins was occupied with reuniting The Shield one last time and Lesnar of course not showing up. I hope they tear it up at Wrestlemania.
Show opened with Stephanie McMahon announcing that the Triple Threat Women's match will be a Winner Take All match. I figured this would happen since Charlotte defeated Asuka for the Smackdown Women's Championship last week. This is a big deal though as the stakes are higher for Becky Lynch especially as she walks into this match as the ultimate underdog against two champions. I can't wait for this match this Sunday!
Next Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman arrive as Heyman continues to talk down on Seth Rollins. Brock is there smiling, as he doesn't take Rollins seriously. Seth then appears and gets into Brock's face, continuing to claim that he will burn Suplex City down. He then kicks Brock in the balls and they brawl for a bit until Seth delivered the Curb Stomp to Lesnar and stands over him! The buildup to this match hasn't been great honestly since Rollins was occupied with reuniting The Shield one last time and Lesnar of course not showing up. I hope they tear it up at Wrestlemania.
Sasha Banks, Bayley, Beth Phoenix & Natalya Vs. The IIconics, Nia Jax & Tamina
This match was fine as it was mainly a showcase for Beth Phoenix. Beth still got it! She looked great in this match and there was a spot where she speared Tamina through the barricade! She picks up the win for her team as she delivered the Glam Slam to Peyton Royce for the win.
Batista arrives next and didn't say much for his match against HHH at Wrestlemania. He showed a video package of his history with HHH, then he looked directly into the camera and said, "Hunter, kiss my ass..." Then he leaves. The buildup to this match has also been underwhelming and I just hope Batista looks good in his supposed final match this Sunday.
Kurt Angle arrives next and thanks the fans as this was his final appearance on RAW. A video package was shown as we looked back on Angle's WWE career and this was well done! Angle legit cried and this was a moment where it was okay for him to cry. Baron Corbin interrupts and dissed Angle then Rey Mysterio comes out to confront Corbin. He then challenges Corbin to a match and I guess this was the main event of the show. Not exactly how you would want to end the RAW before Wrestlemania.
Batista arrives next and didn't say much for his match against HHH at Wrestlemania. He showed a video package of his history with HHH, then he looked directly into the camera and said, "Hunter, kiss my ass..." Then he leaves. The buildup to this match has also been underwhelming and I just hope Batista looks good in his supposed final match this Sunday.
Kurt Angle arrives next and thanks the fans as this was his final appearance on RAW. A video package was shown as we looked back on Angle's WWE career and this was well done! Angle legit cried and this was a moment where it was okay for him to cry. Baron Corbin interrupts and dissed Angle then Rey Mysterio comes out to confront Corbin. He then challenges Corbin to a match and I guess this was the main event of the show. Not exactly how you would want to end the RAW before Wrestlemania.
The Revival Vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet
I honestly didn't want to see this match as we've already seen Black and Ricochet beat The Revival plenty of times already. I actually thought they were gonna win the belts here but that wasn't the case. Revival retained the tag titles here by count out after Ricochet failed to get back into ring in time.
Roman Reigns was interviewed backstage as he was then attacked by Drew McIntyre viciously.
Roman Reigns was interviewed backstage as he was then attacked by Drew McIntyre viciously.
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair & Ronda Rousey Vs. The Riott Squad
Once again I hate seeing the Riott Squad in this position but whatever. The stipulation of this match was that if Ronda, Becky or Charlotte provoked one another then they would lose their Wrestlemania opportunity and the triple threat match would be a one on one match, as if should've been in the first place. The match itself was short as Ronda made Liv Morgan tap out, picking up the win for her team. As soon as the match ended, Ronda immediately began attacking Charlotte and Becky! All 3 women brawled and it got to a point where security AND officers had to get involved! All three women had to be arrested and they were carried out to the back.
The brawl then continued backstage as all three women were being carried to police cars. There was one funny part where Becky and Ronda were put in the same squad car together and while handcuffed, they started kicking each other to the point where Ronda kicked the glass window open. Charlotte broke out of her squad car and continued attacking Becky. Before Ronda was about to be taken away, she pokes her head out of the window to talk trash more then suddenly Charlotte nails her with a WICKED knee to her head! Finally Becky and Charlotte were in their squad cars and all three women were taken away. This segment was crazy and got fans more amped up for the title unification match this Sunday!
The brawl then continued backstage as all three women were being carried to police cars. There was one funny part where Becky and Ronda were put in the same squad car together and while handcuffed, they started kicking each other to the point where Ronda kicked the glass window open. Charlotte broke out of her squad car and continued attacking Becky. Before Ronda was about to be taken away, she pokes her head out of the window to talk trash more then suddenly Charlotte nails her with a WICKED knee to her head! Finally Becky and Charlotte were in their squad cars and all three women were taken away. This segment was crazy and got fans more amped up for the title unification match this Sunday!
Braun Strowman Vs. Colin Jost & Michael Che
Braun absolutely annihilated these guys as this was mainly a setup for him to look strong going into the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Braun picks up the win here of course so less said about this the better.
Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush were interviewed and talked about destroying Finn Balor at Wrestlemania. Balor interrupts them and reveals that his demon will conquer Lashley as we got to see the demon himself! This confirms that we will indeed see Demon Balor against Bobby Lashley this Sunday.
Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush were interviewed and talked about destroying Finn Balor at Wrestlemania. Balor interrupts them and reveals that his demon will conquer Lashley as we got to see the demon himself! This confirms that we will indeed see Demon Balor against Bobby Lashley this Sunday.
Baron Corbin Vs. Rey Mysterio
Not the best option to end the RAW before Wrestlemania like I said earlier. This match wasn't anything special too. It was a basic match as we saw Corbin pick up the win over Mysterio. Afterward the match Kurt Angle attacks Corbin on stage and this closes out RAW.
Besides the women's brawl, the buildup to Wrestlemania on this show wasn't really good and this year's Wrestlemania going into it doesn't feel much special. I'm still hoping for a good show this Sunday, but man they did not do a great job with the hype of this year's grandest event.
Show rating: 7.7/10
Besides the women's brawl, the buildup to Wrestlemania on this show wasn't really good and this year's Wrestlemania going into it doesn't feel much special. I'm still hoping for a good show this Sunday, but man they did not do a great job with the hype of this year's grandest event.
Show rating: 7.7/10
