It was a night of trades, swaps, switches and roundabouts on Raw last week, as wrestlers were frantically shuffled between WWE’s red and blue brands. Yep, we were told, it was the ONE night a year when WWE’s stars were given the opportunity to move between Raw and SmackDown, setting the scene for the coming year. And while the night as a whole was somewhat underwhelming, at least we could take some solace from the fact that WWE clearly had a vision of how they intended using their reshuffled roster moving forward.
How were each of these trades decided? Who knows. On what basis did wrestlers change shows? It’s anyone’s guess. How long would this new allocation last?
One week.
So last Monday’s show was really much ado about nothing then, it seems. Oh well, at least nobody had their names needlessly changed. Just ask The Viking Exp – I mean Raiders. Oh, for goodness sake!
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting WWE’s version of long-term storytelling.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwcrSr0lonL/
That’s right, just seven days after the annual Superstar Shake-up, Raw decided to reverse course on a number of the moves made a week ago.
Cesaro and Samoa Joe moved to the red brand, while Andrade, Zelina Vega and Aleister Black returned in the opposite direction. It was all a rather confounding, inauspicious start to Monday night, and seemed to highlight the lack of foresight by WWE. If you only have one reshuffle every year, surely you should know not only which wrestlers are moving where but also what they’ll be doing once they get there.
Unfortunately WWE doesn’t appear to look ahead much beyond the night before it. And seemingly, the plan for last night was to get a few pieces in place for Money in the Bank, which is now just four weeks away. So with another pay-per-view on the horizon, and a Universal Title challenger to crown, let’s delve into what happened on last night’s Raw.
The Best of Raw
Styles / Joe / Mysterio
This should come as no surprise, but if you put AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio into a ring together, great things happen. Go figure.
And after a pretty formulaic opening to Raw, a fast-paced, exciting match between three capable stars is exactly what the night needed to pick up a bit of steam. The back-and-forth contest played out all over the ring and the outside, ending when AJ first powerbombed Rey onto Joe and then did the same with the Styles Clash, before pinning the Samoan powerhouse.
And just like that, AJ moved on to face the winner of the second triple threat which played out later in the night.
Triple Threat 2, Electric Boogaloo
Although not as good as the original, the second three-way of the night was still a serviceable match. In fact, that’s unfair. By the time the end rolled around, this had become a pretty good bout.
Although I struggled to buy into either ‘The Legend Killer’ Baron Corbin or ‘Guy who lost to Shane McMahon’ Miz as legitimate threats to Seth Rollins’ Universal Title, they started to change my mind as the match wore on. With The Miz acting as the sole babyface, the odds were always be stacked against him, as a series of near falls played out. Eventually though, just as it looked like he might pull off the unlikely win, Miz turned around into a Claymore Kick from the ‘Scottish Psychopath’. Corbin then pounced on the opportunity, tossing McIntyre out of the ring and falling into the easy pin on Miz.
So the main event of Raw was set: AJ Styles vs Baron Corbin. Somehow Corbin had been swallowed by the mid-card vortex, travelled through time and space, and ended up in the night’s main event. Again. It’s unbelievable.
Sami Zayn’s Vacation Slide Show
Once again, Sami Zayn came out to lecture and belittle the audience. This time, he tried to convince us that his life was filled with nothing but sunshine and rainbows during his time away from the company. To illustrate his point, Sami put on a lengthy slide show highlighting all the peaceful moments he enjoyed during his recent get-aways. Just like your least favourite aunt used to do at every family gathering. Unless that was just my family?
As always, Zayn’s performance was top notch, coming across as a real obnoxious snob as he took us through all the high-priced exotic trips he’s taken and blaming the fans for the dread he felt upon returning to wrestling.
LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS!!!
Have you EVER seen such UNBRIDLED JOY? #RAW @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/sovu7caFMh
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
I’ve been rather critical of this heel persona (and I still feel like it’s rather directionless as a whole), but there’s no denying that Sami is excellent in the role. He delivers each line with unrivalled pompousness, each barbed comment at the crowd with a hint of truth. I was even starting to agree with him when he recommended that we take a trip ourselves – that was, of course, until he suggested hell as a holiday destination.
We’re in the mid-show doldrums of a pretty lacklustre Raw, Sami. I’m pretty sure we’re already there.
The Tag Team Experience
Raw’s tag team division looks noticeably healthy post-shakeup. The Usos cut an awesome promo before coming face-to-face with The Revival backstage.
This was followed by the mercifully rebranded Viking Raiders utterly decimating Lucha House Party (remember when they were beating The Revival on a weekly basis last year?). I’m still not entirely sold on the main roster versions of Erik and Ivar – in part because their names are Erik and Ivar. But also because their entire gimmick has been reduced to them grunting and slobbering like lobotomised giants, and their finishing move is now called “The Viking Experience”. Give it a rest, Vince! But at least they’re heading in the right direction.
oh my god give me the revival vs usos #RAW
— Cathy Kelley (@catherinekelley) April 23, 2019
Ending the segment was an interview with Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. They said some stuff, but primarily this segment was there to remind us all that they were in fact the Raw Tag Team Champions. I had honestly forgotten that for a second.
All in all though, between The Usos, The Revival and The Viking Raiders, this division could get rather tasty.
The Firefly Fun House
Bray Wyatt’s latest promo package saw him host his own children’s TV show alongside Mercy the Bird Raptor and Peppy the Doll Witch. The playful tune and smiling Wyatt belied the genuinely creepy tone of this entire segment. It was weird, unsettling, jarring – and I absolutely loved it.
It was unclear precisely what character Wyatt would be adopting on his return to in-ring action following months on the sidelines. Weeks of seeing the asthmatic bird in the box and creepy cackling doll only made things more confusing. And while we’re still not sure how this psychopathic incarnation of the former cult leader will develop, I’m all on-board the train to crazy town.
A New Title Challenger
For a while I thought Raw would cave to the temptation to troll its fans. Before facing AJ Styles, Baron Corbin spoke about the fans on social media complaining about seeing him in the main event, and retiring Kurt Angle. It just seemed that the stars were aligning for the former GM to claim an unlikely win. And I was not happy about it.
But fortunately, when it really counted, sanity prevailed. And no, I’m not talking about the group.
After a decent encounter, Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm and pinned his waistcoat-wearing opponent. Styles celebrated, Rollins came out for the customary stand-off, and we have our main event for Money in the Bank. That’s fine with me.
The Worst of Raw
Endless Exposition
The show started with Seth Rollins meeting Triple H in the middle of the ring to reminisce about WrestleMania 35 and to engage in some benign banter at the expense of Brock Lesnar. Soon enough though, the topic awkwardly shifted to what’s next for the new Universal Champion.
With Money in the Bank fast approaching, the question was who Rollins’ opponent would be at the upcoming pay-per-view. Triple H – who’s definitely not an authority figure in this new era – revealed what had already been announced at the start of the show, namely that Raw would feature two triple threat matches, with the winners facing off to be declared the number one contender.
Then Samoa Joe came out, followed by Rey, Drew, Miz, Corbin and AJ. Everyone got a line in, but no one really said anything. This was the epitome of hollow exposition sequences.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwk-vZVhQWk/
Would this entire angle not have been more suspenseful had the competitors not been revealed two minutes earlier? Could we not have had an element of surprise in how each of these triple threats were to be comprised? Arguably that would’ve been much better. But then what would WWE’s graphics department have done doing all night?
It also doesn’t help that of the six competitors taking part in the two triple threats, only Joe and AJ were coming into the match on the back of a win. So only the wrestling gods (or possibly Vince McMahon) know what Rey, Drew, Miz or BARON FRIKKEN CORBIN had done to merit their shots at the Universal Champion. This was a long-winded, boring start to Raw.
Definitely not… iconic!
Just like last week, The IIconics faced off against Naomi. Except this time, Naomi was partnerless, as her ally from last Raw, Bayley, was one of the lucky few to escape to the blue brand. So instead, last night saw Billie Kay take on Naomi in one-on-one competition with Peyton Royce running interference on the outside.
The outcome remained largely the same though, as Naomi rolled up one half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions to pick up the win in under a minute. This was a pointless encounter that only served to further diminish the tag team belts… and also make me question why I leave the sound on during broadcasts, as Raw’s commentary team spent the entire match talking about Ariana Grande, Starbucks and making “iconic” puns.
The #IIconics thought there were ʎɹɔ oʇ ʇɟǝl sɹɐǝʇ ou, but it turns out they were wrong…@NaomiWWE has DEFEATED @BillieKayWWE! #RAW @PeytonRoyceWWE pic.twitter.com/5jSBWJw0Vh
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
I wish I could make like Sasha Banks and take a break from this train wreck of a division.
A Gutted Women’s Division
In the few weeks since becoming the ‘Champ Champ’, thereby freeing her up to pursue rivalries on both Raw and SmackDown, Becky Lynch has at different times come up against the relatively unexciting trio of Lacey Evans, Ember Moon and Bayley. All of them talented, without question, but none possessing the kind of momentum you’d hope to see for Lynch’s first title challenger coming out of the main event of WrestleMania 35.
So given that fairly low bar, you’d expect that things could only improve from there, right? Well, Alicia Fox clearly asked someone to hold her sailor’s hat.
🎶 What does the 🦊 say? 🎶#RAW @AliciaFoxy pic.twitter.com/qemiVpvTqh
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 23, 2019
After the recent exodus of a lot of the top level talent in the Raw women’s ranks, this felt like an ominous visit from the ghost of wrestling future for the division. Without Ronda, Bayley, Sasha, Ember Moon and Mickie James the red brand is lacking serious contenders outside of Evans, Ruby Riott and maybe Sarah Logan.
Whatever the case, any of those would’ve been a more inspired choice to line up against a rapidly (and worryingly) cooling off Becky Lynch. ‘The Man’ is in desperate need of a hot feud, and this decidedly wasn’t it.
“Yes You Heard That Right”
Bobby Roode is now Robert Roode. Oh, and he has an 80s pornstar moustache.
Aside from that, he still wears the bedazzled robe, comes out to the same entrance music and gets the occasional mid-card push.
You wouldn’t know it listening to Michael Cole as he almost had a fit on commentary, but not much has changed here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlLcNyBVK8/
Ricochet as a Lower Mid-Carder
While I enjoyed his pairing with Aleister Black, Ricochet’s best chance to shine was always going to be as a singles competitor. Anyone who’s seen what ‘The One and Only’ can do on NXT (or PWG or Lucha Underground) will know that he has a unique level of athleticism which sets him apart from the rest of the roster.
I can’t explain then why he would lose his first singles match to ‘The Glorious Experience’, Robert Roode. I have no problem with Roode getting a push here, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of the man from Paducah, Kentucky. Ricochet is too talented to be languishing in the lower mid-card.
The Old Switch-a-roo
We touched on this in the opening, but undoing some of the trades made last week is borderline laughable. Did WWE not think it through? Were none of the brand switches planned ahead of time? While far from ruining Raw as a whole, the general indecisiveness is a concerning indicator of things to come for the red brand.
Overall Rating for the Show (From best to worst: RawSome, Cor, AvRAWge, Poor and Rawful)
This was a tedious edition of Monday Night Raw, punctuated by depressingly few excellent moments. Like panning for gold, you needed to sift through a lot of Baron Corbin to get to the valuable nuggets. Also, much like gold, this show wildly fluctuated in value.
I think that analogy has run its course.
I really enjoyed Sami Zayn’s promo, the reinvigorated tag division and Bray Wyatt’s awesome new character. But too often, the good was followed up by something dreadful.
I was excited to see who Seth Rollins’ next title challenger would be. And the path to get there was fun as well, with two excellent triple threat bouts. There was a real fear that Baron Corbin would be anointed the man to challenge for the Universal Title. But in the end cooler heads prevailed, making AJ Styles the one going on to Money in the Bank to face Seth Rollins. On Raw, you need to embrace these small mercies.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlRQzDB7DI/
Less forgiving though was the realisation of just how bad Raw’s women’s division post-shakeup is. And it’s not just the singles ranks either, headlined by the likes of Alicia Fox and Lacey Evans. The tag team card isn’t exactly the picture of health either, as The IIconics suffered yet another humiliatingly quick loss to Naomi.
Also, going from Bobby Roode to Robert Roode is not a character change. At best, it’s the move of a mid-level advertising executive who desperately wants to be taken seriously by his bosses. And why is Ricochet losing?
But ultimately, the show left on a good note with the promise of a tantalising encounter between Styles and Rollins on the horizon. And despite the many negatives, the Universal Title chase was enough to nudge this episode into positive territory. This week’s Raw is a high AvRAWge.
Comments.
Loading comments…