Roman Reigns came out to thunderous ovation to begin Raw and just seeing the man, I had goosebumps on my goosebumps! He’s an absolute warrior and someone I am proud my children look up to. He made sure that everyone of his fans got high 5s and fist bumps, even David Arquette was there! Roman gave hugs to his family in the front row. When the music Stopped, the whole place erupted in love and adoration for the man. With the biggest “welcome back” chant I’ve ever heard.
Roman thanked us for the ovation, he said that so many people reached out to him and that it was so overwhelming to be so blessed, he said the love gave him strength and a new lease on life and he’s using the WWE platform to raise awareness for people in need just like he was. Roman Reigns, then gave us the update – he’s in remission!! That was such wonderful news! The crowd went wild! – He said with that being said, “The big dog is back!” – He thanked us again and said he loves us, then walked to the back. Rollins met him on the ramp and they hugged.
Aleister Black & Ricochet vs The Revival
The match began with the Revival attacking their opponents, but they lost the upper hand and ate a plancha, Suicide Dive & Topé Con Hiro all in the space of 7 seconds. Blimey, that’s fast! Short match, Black & Ricochet beat The Revival after a Black Mass. I’m all for this push of the NXT guys, but why use The Revival to get them over? They’re a legit team and have been for years, just won the Tag Titles too and they’re being trodden on this week, last week was a great battle against DIY, a team who has he beaten them many times before and they lost to DIY after their war, but this week was a 5 minute match against a team who’ve never teamed before two on two, at least not on TV, and they lose in 5 minutes!?? They’re your champions, you dingbats! Treat them like this and I’m not surprised they want out! You could have just fed Gable and Roode to Black & Ricochet or… Authors of.. wait, The Colo… nope.. The Ascens.. nope.. oh! I know! Hawkins & Ryd… Wow, they really need to sort their tag division out. It’s dead. Like.. dead, dead.
Baron Corbin Interview
Chalrie Carruso asks him, after saying that he hopes to never see Roman on Raw again months ago, how does he feel now that’s he’s back. Corbin said that his stress as General Manager of Raw made him say that alluded to his job being harder than Roman’s battle with Leukaemia! He then says that he hopes his path doesn’t cross Roman’s, for Roman’s sake.. that is how you Heel, kids.
Elias Segment
Elias is immediately interupted by Lacey Evans. She does the cat walk gimmick and then leaves.. seriously hate this nonsense. I’d rather not see her at all than see this repetitive bollocks every week. Ambrose then comes out and Elias looks mad.. Which is always amusing.
Ambrose says he’s been reminiscing about the past and he wants a rematch with Drew McIntyre, but this time no DQs. Then Elias plays him into the ring and Ambrose is asking him why.. Then Elias insults the town as usual by saying they couldn’t win the Super Bowl.. veiled with professing his love for the city anyway. They tease a duet of Dirty Deeds by AC/DC but Elias swings for Dean’s head instead, misses and gets hit with a solo rendition of Dirty Deeds by Ambrose.
I’m so confused. Is Ambrose a babyface again now? Elias is a Heel again out of the blue so maybe… it’s so hard to follow at times.
Riott Squad vs Natalya & Ronda Rousey
Time to get in the time machine now and go back 6 months to a feud that was.. unfulfilling to say the least..
The match was actually pretty good this time though. I also loved the new moves from the Riott Squad.
Becky Lynch showed up and attacked Nattie with her crutches. Then attacked security, the police and Ronda Rousey. Then Becky got arrested so.. naturally, Ronda beat up security and called Vince out to reinstate Becky. But Stephanie McMahon responds by coming out and saying it’s not that easy. Ronda says she needs to do it, the integrity of the first Women’s Main Event of Wrestlemania is at stake, she pleads with Steph and even brings in Steph’s daughters and their chance to see history happen the right way. But Steph says no.. But, hesitated a lot and listened to the insurmountable “triple threat!” chants. Then Ronda gets in her face and demands she reinstates Lynch. But Steph says she needs to back up, she is her boss and that Vince is right, Lynch and Rousey are cut from the same cloth, they both have a bad attitude. But Rousey says she isn’t some worker who she can manipulate to tow the corporate line, she has bled enough to be set for life, she is Ronda Rousey and is the RAW Women’s Champion! She says she will remain champion as long as it’s defended against the best of the best but now, it’s just defended against “the chosen”. She said that makes the title meaningless, it’s nothing but a belt or an “accessory that isn’t even my style”, she says Vince needs to make the right call, She then lays the title down and walks away from it. Steph looks absolutely shocked!
More Ric Flair Birthday messages
Snoop Dogg & Stone Cold Steve Austin send their love via video message. It was pretty cool.
Jinder Mahal & Singh Brothers promo
He’s talking Ric Flair and saying he hasn’t done anything worth celebrating – (the 16 time World champ, 2 time Hall of Famer, Ric Flair -just to be clear) and that he’s a loser. He said he’s inviting anyone invited to Flair’s party to a Match right now! I was pumped! Just thinking of all the possibilities! I saw the rumours for who was meant to be on this show and I even paused it and had a think for a minute.. Batista? Steamboat? Foley? Bret Hart!? DDP!? The Rock!? Who could it be?
I pressed play… and Kurt Angle. It was Kurt Angle. Awesome.
I watched Angle get killed for 3 agonisingly long minutes, then watched him sort of do okay. Then German Suplex the Singhs after his win. – it was a feel good moment to see him win, but it was a sad sight to see him so diminished in his abilities. It must be hard on his body now. I just want to see him retire in his dream match against “The New” Daniel Bryan.
A Moment of Bliss
Alexa introduces Finn Balor as her guest.
Her whole shtick now is just to be this thirsty talk show host. This time last year, Alexa Bliss was heading into Wrestlemania as the RAW Women’s Champion, a year later she is sat on a white chair trying to force Finn Balor to show his abs to her, even saying if he shows her his abs, she will show him her.. But Lio Rush interupted.. and said he’s going to take the IC Title, and give it back to Lashley because he deserves it. Balor twisted the words of Rush, and got himself an IC Title match! I hear he has heat on him backstage, so I thought this was more than likely just to make him look stupid.. But I was wrong.
Finn Balor vs Lio Rush for the Intercontinental Championship
The match was really good. Rush came kind of close to be fair! Future champion for sure! But this was far from an attempt to make anyone look stupid! This was a cool match with an awesome flow to it. Balor won after stomping Rush to the earth’s core.
Heavy Machinery & Ascension backstage
Ascension are making fun of Otis to Tucker, who has lost Otis, calling him a pig and saying he was out dumpster diving from cheeseburgers. Tucker warns them that Otis may not be as smart as most people, but he’s a sensitive soul who has a high temper. Then when Otis shows up and hhheaaars what they have to say , he shows his sensitive side and barges them both down! God, love him. He’s absolute comedy gold.
Lashley w Lio Rush vs Braun Strowman
Lio gets a verbal arse-whipping from Lashley before they walked out. Telling him he can’t do anything right and that he’s a loser – you kind of can’t help but feel sorry for him.
The match, the match that was advertised earlier in the show.. just.. ends. After two shoulder barges and a 3 minute slugfest, Strowman walked off and Lashley just stared at him.. this was meant to be a match! No one called it off, no one did anything! Awful.
Backstage
Ric Flair arrives! Huge pop too!
Drew McIntyre vs Dean Ambrose No DQ match
Dean got a decent showing at the start of the match.. But.. Elias got involved after Ambrose had the upper hand, which was the end of Ambrose. He ate a Claymore and got destroyed. Pinned.
Corbin & Lashley came down and recruited Elias to join them in their beat down. They all beat him down, 4 Heels, Lashley, Corbin, Elias and McIntyre beating up another Heel, Dean Ambrose.. but then a chair-weilding Seth Rollins came out and Roman Reigns followed.. They beat down the Filthy Foursome witg Stomps, Spears and about 5 Superman Punches (so awesome to see him back and to see the support!) and they saved Ambrose… then just left him.. then looked back at him as if to say they loved him, but hated him just as much.
Nia Jax w/ Tamina vs Bayley w/Sasha Banks
This was pretty cool. A nice little call back to their NXT days. Both Women gave it all they had for 7 minutes or so.. Built the feud, so did it’s job. Bayley won.
Ric Flair’s 70th Birthday Celebration
The ring was littered with cake, balloons, wrestlers, management, etc. The whole locker room was at the top of the ramp, we introduced Kurt Angle, Ricky Steamboat, Sting & then the man himself, Ric Flair!
But he didn’t show… his music hit and he didn’t show.. But we saw a cameraman getting dragged along the ground by someone, it was Batista! He went into Flair’s dressing room and we heard some banging around, then we see Batista walk out dragging Flair on the ground. He looks into the camera and says “Hey, Hunter.” – HHH runs to the back and finds Flair with EMTs.
Conclusion
7/10 🌟
Raw started off with the feel-good moment of the last decade or two, so it started so strong, then what followed was just quite bland. Confusing. Downright insulting at times (The Revival burial) and felt a little empty all the way through.
Match of the Night: Rush vs Balor was the best of the Night, but even that felt a little off.
Annoyance of the Night: Just the overall feeling of not knowing where the hell this is going. It feels like creative have given up a little.
Thank you all so much for stopping by again if you’re a regular reader and if you’re not then thank you for taking the time out to have a little gander, I appreciate every single one of you, please feel free to comment, like and share and make sure to Too Sweet that follow button on the Twitter machine @KayfabeToday. Peace and love to one and all! ✌🏻💚
- CB
