The April 1st, 2019 episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE WrestleMania 35 this weekend. In addition to the takeaways below, Finn Balor announced that he will be wrestling as The Demon at WrestleMania 35.
Here are 7 takeaways from this week’s show:
Seth Rollins Got The Better Of Brock Lesnar
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came down to the ring to hype up Brock’s match against Seth Rollins this Sunday at WrestleMania 35. Heyman said that it was poetic justice that Stephanie McMahon just used the phrase “winner takes all”.
Heyman claimed that Lesnar will be the winner and take all of what Seth Rollins has to offer. Paul bragged about Lesnar ending The Undertaker’s streak and defeating Roman Reigns at last year’s WrestleMania. Paul added that Lesnar will end Rollins’ career this Sunday.
Brock raised the Universal Championship above his head as Heyman claimed that Seth was just an afterthought to Lesnar. Rollins interrupted and marched his way down to the ring.
Paul got out of the ring as Rollins grabbed a microphone. Seth stated that this is the biggest match of Lesnar’s career because everything is going to change after WrestleMania. Rollins stated that nobody wants Brock here anymore and that the fans are sick and tired of Brock Lesnar.
The crowd broke out in a “burn it down!” as Lesnar cackled like a maniac. Seth said that Lesnar is the most decorated athlete in combat sports history, but he is not impossible to defeat. Seth added that he is going to take Lesnar’s title at WrestleMania and there is not a damn thing Brock can do about it.
Lesnar was about to exit the ring but Rollins grabbed him. Seth then booted Lesnar in the junk but Brock shrugged it off and hit Rollins with a German Suplex. Rollins delivered another low blow and followed it up with The Stomp. Seth then stood over Brock and raised the Universal Championship.
This was by far the most entertaining segment of this entire feud so far. As WrestleMania approaches, I’m starting to think that Lesnar will retain this Sunday and then drop the belt at the next WWE event in Saudi Arabia on May 3rd. Rollins was interviewed backstage following his attack on Lesnar and Charly Caruso informed him that he would obviously be disqualified if he hit Brock with a low blow this Sunday. I wouldn’t put it past WWE to have this match end in a DQ at WrestleMania, and then have the rematch in Saudi Arabia. This entire feud has been boring up until this point, so at least there is actually something to talk about heading into the Universal Championship match.
Batista Told Triple H To Kiss His Ass
Batista responded to Triple H agreeing to put his career on the line at WrestleMania on tonight’s episode of RAW. Batista stood in the ring as the lights went out in the arena. A spotlight illuminated him as his hometown crowd chanted “welcome back!”. A highlight reel of Batista’s victories over Triple H was then shown as Batista stood silently in the ring.
He took off his shades and looked directly into the camera. Batista simply said “Hunter, kiss my ass” and put his sunglasses back on as his theme hit. Batista posed on the turnbuckle before exiting the ring.
I thought this was awesome. It certainly was a hell of a lot better than Batista drooling on the microphone and shouting “give me what I want!” over and over again.
Kurt Angle Made His Final RAW Appearance As An In-Ring Competitor
Kurt Angle said that this was his last night on RAW and thanked the crowd. A tribute to Angle’s legendary career was then shown, which prompted the crowd to loudly chant “thank you Kurt!”.
Baron Corbin interrupted and stated that the video should have been in black and white because it is ancient history. Corbin blasted Angle for not being able to last two minutes in the ring without huffing and puffing. Baron told Kurt that he can’t hang with the Superstars today and then turned his attention to the WWE Universe.
Corbin stated that he was tired of people contacting him on social media claiming that Angle deserves a better opponent at WrestleMania. Baron said that isn’t going to happen and the last image of Angle will be him on his back this Sunday at WrestleMania.
Angle challenged Corbin to a match tonight but Corbin declined. Rey Mysterio came down to the ring and challenged Corbin to a match. Rey said that Corbin needed to be a taught a lesson in respect. Corbin hit Mysterio with a cheap shot but turned around into a punch from Angle. Rey then hit Corbin with a Senton and Kurt followed it up with an Angle Slam. Kurt and Rey shared a hug in the ring as Corbin retreated up the entrance ramp.
The Revival Retained The RAW Tag Team Championships
The Revival defended their RAW Tag Team Championships against Aleister Black & Ricochet on tonight’s episode of RAW. WWE decided to add creaking sounds to Aleister Black’s entrance because if it aint broke, try to fix it anyway.
Dash and Dawson controlled the match early and isolated Aleister Black in the ring. Black battled back and rolled up Wilder for a near fall. Ricochet tagged in but The Revival quickly took back control.
Ricochet connected with a double Hurricanrana and tagged in Black as RAW went to a break. Once again, The Revival took control and isolated Aleister int he corner of the ring. Black was able to escape and tagged in Ricochet.
Ricochet rolled up Wilder but Dash was able to kick out at the last moment. Ricochet connected with a Dropkick for another near fall. Dawson hit Ricochet with a cheap shot and then Wilder slammed Ricochet face-first to the canvas for a two count.
The action spilled out of the ring and Wilder planted Aleister with a Tornado DDT off the barricade. Ricochet then ridiculously flipped over the ring post and took out The Revival. Wilder threw Ricochet into the barricade and got back into the ring.
As Ricochet tried to get back into the ring, Dawson tripped Ricochet from under the ring and The Revival retained via a count out. After the match, Aleister hit Wilder with Black Mass and then Ricochet hit Dawson with the 630 Splash.
The Women’s Championship Match Will Be Winner Takes All At WrestleMania
RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon kicked off the show to break some news about the main event at WrestleMania. Stephanie joked that she was adding herself to the women’s title match at WrestleMania 35.
Stephanie announced that all titles will be on the line in the main event and that one woman will walk out of WrestleMania as the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Charlotte, Rousey & Lynch Were Arrested In Hilarious Fashion
Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Ronda Rousey teamed up to face The Riott Squad tonight. If Rousey, Flair or Lynch betrayed each other during the match, they will be out of the WrestleMania main event.
Before the match, Becky Lynch was interviewed backstage. Lynch stated that she knows she has made an enemy out of the McMahon family but vowed to not lose her cool tonight. Becky added that she will be walking out of WrestleMania as the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Charlotte and Ruby Riott started off the match. Flair connected with a few chops and then strutted across the ring. Lynch tagged herself in and mocked Charlotte’s strut. Becky dared Charlotte to punch her in the face but Flair declined.
Riott capitalized with a shoulder tackle for a one count and then Lynch responded with a Dropkick. The Riott Squad then regrouped outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, The Riott Squad was in control and Sarah Logan had Becky in a Headlock. Lynch battled to her feet but Logan whipped her into the turnbuckle. Becky climbed to the second rope and hit a flying forearm. Lynch then launched Logan out of the ring but was able to get back inside before Becky could make a tag.
Liv tagged in and Becky hit her with a boot to the face. Lynch followed it up with an Exploder Suplex for a near fall. Rousey tagged in and applied the Arm Bar for the submission victory. After the match, a brawl broke out between Rousey, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch. WWE security rushed the ring but they got the hell beat of out of them.
Police officers then rushed the ring and separated the three Superstars for a moment. Rousey knocked over a police officer and punched Lynch in the face. Ronda was handcuffed and Becky got in a boot to the face. Lynch was then handcuffed as Charlotte watched on from the entrance ramp. Charlotte then attacked Ronda Rousey and was handcuffed by the police as well. Ronda Rousey was heard shouting at the fake cops that we pay their salary and not Vince McMahon.
Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey were placed in the same police car and started exchanging kicks. Rousey kicked the window of the car and then Becky was dragged away. Charlotte hopped out of the police car and booted Becky in the face. Ronda Rousey then hopped in the driver’s seat of the police car and drove it into another police car. Charlotte then kneed Rousey in the face until finally the “police” got the situation under control.
Sometimes you just have to embrace the absurd and I absolutely loved this segment. The match was completely useless but I had tears streaming down my face from laughing at the brawl that ensued after it. I don’t want to see Lynch, Charlotte, or Rousey tomorrow night at SmackDown. This was a perfectly ridiculous way to end the build for the WrestleMania main event.
Baron Corbin Easily Defeated Rey Mysterio
Baron Corbin faced Rey Mysterio in the main event of this week’s RAW. Corbin dominated the match early and slammed Mysterio into the barricade. Back in the ring, Rey battled back with a couple of kicks to the face. Corbin shrugged them off and launched Rey out of the ring.
Rey hopped up on the ring apron but Corbin bounced his face off the ring post. Back in the ring, Mysterio went for a Sleeper Hold but Corbin quickly slammed him to the canvas. Rey connected with a DDT but Corbin was able to kick out at the last moment.
Rey followed it up with a 619 and then went for a Splash but Corbin got out of the way and Mysterio crashed on the canvas. Corbin then hit Rey with the Deep Six for the pinfall victory. After the match, Kurt Angle attacked Corbin on the entrance ramp and locked in the Ankle Lock.
I simply cannot get excited for a match between Baron Corbin and Kurt Angle at this stage in his career. I guess WWE wanted to give Corbin a legitimate victory over Mysterio tonight to make him look strong heading into WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Mysterio has a United States Championship match against Samoa Joe this Sunday, yet he cannot defeat a guy wrestling in dress clothes even though he is not the GM anymore. Overall, RAW had some good moments tonight, but I still didn’t care about half of the storylines on the show. Thus, I’m only invested in a few of RAW’s matches this Sunday at WrestleMania.
