By Professor Diesel @Diesel_vftr
Tis the season, at least my favorite season of the year. You know I’m talking about Wrestlemania season and I feel like a kid on Christmas. If you didn’t know I was talking about Wrestlemania season, then I question why are you here? If you’re here I invite you to stay and read my thoughts and grades on all of Monday Night Raw. After all tis the season and I filled with spirit. Hopefully you are too, then this will be more enjoyable for all. Will my high spirits reflect my final grade for Raw, scroll down to find out.
Brock Lesner and Paul Heyman Promo
Likes
- Paul Heyman is must see TV
- Brock Lesner destroys Roman
Dislikes
- The crowd is behind Brock
Paul Heyman cut a great passionate promo as he always does. He really tried to plant the baby face seeds for Roman but the live crowd didn’t want that. The scuffle between Roman and Brock was pretty similar to last weeks events. I don’t think it’s a good or a bad thing because they are attempting to tell the best story out of this as they can. No matter how you feel about this match doesn’t matter because it’s going to happen like it or not. My advice to you would be to be take a step back and enjoy it for what it is. Once it’s in the past and we we’ve moved on who knows it could’ve been a classic. Wishful thinking on my part.
Segment Grade: B-
Nia Jax vs Mickie James
Likes
- I like that Mickie James is with Alexa Bliss, but can anybody tell me why they are aligned?
- I love Mickie James, she is extraordinary wrestler
Dislikes
- This match was fine so no dislikes
I like these types of matches where they smaller person uses their speed until the one with power catches them and squashes them. Mickie James is fun as a heel and reminds me of Sami Zayn’s heel work over on the blue brand. I like the story between Alexa and Nia too and can’t wait for their match at Mania.
Match Grade: B
Stephanie McMahon and HHH Video Package
This video package is top notch stuff. I guess what else would you expect from the bosses. I really like how the main message was that the WWE is a whole different world. Steph is such a great heel because she makes you hate her guts. HHH is the Cerebral Assassin and knows the psychology of how to make you yearn for a match. I couldn’t have liked it any more than I did.
Segment Grade: A
Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali vs Drew Gulak and TJP
Likes
- Giving the Cruiserweights some time
- The crowd was into a Cruiserweight match on Raw
Dislikes
- I dislike that I can’t dislike anything about this match
My first thought was I didn’t like that the Cruiserweights were back on Raw. I thought about it for a second and decided to wait until after the match to decide whether I liked it or not. I thought the match was good. This was refreshing to see on Raw a crowd actually care about a Cruiserweight match.
Match Grade: B
Miz TV With Seth Rollins and Finn Balor
Likes
- The crowd chanting “welcome home” to the Miz and he responded with “I live in LA”
- The Miz putting his foot in his mouth when he said he was better than Mr. Perfect
Dislikes
- Sorry folks I tried really hard to dislike something from this segment but I could not
This was an extremely entertaining Miz TV. I knew the whole time it was just a clever little rouse set up by the Miztourage but spot on execution. It makes it all the better that it didn’t work out for the Miztourage. The build to this match has been satisfying. In this segment alone I laughed from beginning to end.
Segment Grade: A
Asuka vs Jamie Frost
I’m glad that Jamie Frost got to cut a promo before getting her head kicked off. Really that’s all I can say about this match.
Match Grade: C
Bayley and Sasha Backstage Segment
This was good drama. It’s about time they got physical. Before they did the things that were said stuck like daggers. I had fun watching this one and at the halfway point of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw is flirting with an A.
Segment Grade: B+
Braun Stroman vs Sheamus
Likes
- Braun would reveal his tag partner for Mania only if Sheamus beat him in this match
- Braun had Irish for dinner
Dislikes
- I know now that I am overcome with the spirit of Wrestlemanias past and I’m way to positive tonight. That means unfortunately for the negative people out there that there’s no dislikes.
This just in Braun Stroman is really good. Be sure to tell all of your friends that you heard it here first. I like the fact the Bar are scared of Stroman. It’s the way it should be. Braun has been booked so strong that it is believable he could take out a tag team by himself. I liked that Sheamus tried to chop down the great oak known as Braun Stroman but it was just too laboring. I’m getting excited for this match too and Mania on paper is shaping out to be the best ever,
Match Grade: B
Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle Promo
Likes
- Ronda has improved on the mic
- Paige leading her girls to the slaughter
Dislikes
- N/A
Ronda was significantly better on the mic. Then we got an excellent promo from Paige and did I say it was excellent? When Paige sicked Absolution on Ronda it got real. She did the most moves in a segment since arriving. These moves were different than average professional wrestling moves and they looked bad ass. Ronda has officially proved in Cleveland, Ohio she is a badass.
Segment Grade: A
The Club vs The Miztourage
Likes
- Great crowd in Cleveland, they have been very lively the entire show.
- The Club looks good
Dislikes
- Should I even put dislikes on here for the rest of this article?
I had a great time watching this match. I like both teams and they played their roles on the money. It feels to me like the Club is on the cusp of a big push, I really hope I’m right. Once again I want to shout out to the Cleveland crowd because they are adding to my enjoyment to this show.
Match Grade: B
Elias Performance
Elias is hilarious. He is such a good promo, he starts off baby face getting the cheap pops and then ends with a parade of boos. I loved that he said “just last week I sold out Madison Square Garden.” Rhyno came out for a short match just to take a L but will he bounce back? Overall just like Mcdonald’s I’m lovin it.
Segment Grade: A-
John Cena vs Kane
Likes
- This spot makes much more sense for Kane then the title picture.
Dislikes
- I forgot I was done with the dislikes for this week
If this match wasn’t a no DQ match I’m not sure if I would’ve liked it. I’m just having a good time writing this and with this match the good times roll. At this point I’m exhausted from loving this show so much.
Match Grade: B+
This was the most enjoyable Raw for me in recent memory. I literally can’t say a bad thing about this show but if you made it this far you already know that. There were so many good things on this show that I can’t pick what was the best. If I picked what I liked the least I would have to say the Reigns/Lesner stuff at the beginning even though Paul Heyman was great once again. This show has made me even more excited for Mania and I have been extremely excited before this show. Raw’s mother and father would be proud this week because they are bringing home a steller grade this week. Let me leave you with this thought would Raw’s mother and father be Linda and Vince McMahon?
Final Grade: A
If you have any comments or you just want to chat about Raw. Or any wrestling at all, you can find me on Twitter @Diesel_vftr. You can listen to my podcast View From the Top Rope on Itunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Podknife and Podible. In association with @kayfabeToday
