The April 8th episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. It was the first episode of RAW following WrestleMania 35. In addition to the takeaways below, a mysterious creature appeared during tonight’s RAW.
Here are 8 takeaways from the show:
Kofi Challenged Rollins To A Winner Take All Match
Universal Champion Seth Rollins kicked off the show to a great reaction from the Brooklyn crowd. Rollins stated that he has waited a long time to stand in this ring and hold the Universal Championship above his head. The crowd chanted “thank you Rollins!” and Seth thanked the crowd.
Seth said that he feels like he has been run over by a truck after his match against Brock Lesnar. Rollins noted that he may have used questionable tactics (low blow) to gain an advantage, but he didn’t do anything that Lesnar wouldn’t have done. He said that he heard that Heyman and Lesnar were on their way to Las Vegas for some meetings and as far he is concerned, they can stay there.
Rollins referred to himself as a fighting champion and vowed to be a champion that everyone around the world can be proud of. New Day interrupted to an enormous reaction from the crowd.
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston said that the Superstar Shake-Up is happening next week, but New Day could not wait until SmackDown Live to celebrate. Big E then did a full spit in the ring and the crowd chanted his name. Kofi challenged Rollins to a winner take all match for the Universal Championship and WWE Championship. The crowd chanted “this is awesome!” and Seth accepted the challenge.
Hawkins & Ryder Retained
RAW Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder put their titles on the line against The Revival. Hawkins and Ryder defeated The Revival last night during the WrestleMania Kickoff Show to capture the titles.
Wilder applied a Headlock to Ryder to start off the match. Ryder broke free and tagged in Hawkins. Wilder greeted Hawkins with a forearm to the face and then isolated him in the corner. Dawson tagged in and continued to beat down Hawkins.
Hawkins battled back with a Dropkick and then a Splash in the corner of the ring. Ryder tagged in and delivered a Broski Boot to Wilder. Hawkins tagged back in and connected with an Elbow Drop off the top rope for a near fall.
Hawkins pretended to injure his leg and then rolled up Wilder for a near fall. Ryder got back in the match as Dawson dragged Hawkins to the outside. Dawson planted Hawkins with a Brainbuster and followed it up with a knee to Ryder’s face off the top rope for a near fall. Hawkins tagged in and somehow Dawson didn’t notice it.
The Revival hit Shatter Machine on Ryder and then Hawkins rolled up Dawson from behind for the pinfall victory. Hawkins and Ryder are still the RAW Tag Team Champions.
It doesn’t even make sense that The Revival got another title shot because Triple H stated that there would be no more automatic rematches and everything will have to be earned going forward. Hawkins and Ryder are transitional champions, but The Revival have been buried so many times now that it is impossible to care anymore.
Lars Sullivan Finally Made His Debut
Baron Corbin came down to the ring and poked fun at the crowd for booing him. The crowd responded by loudly chanting “a**hole!” at Corbin and Baron said that he will take that as a compliment.
Corbin boasted about defeating Angle last night at WrestleMania in his Farewell Match and claimed that Kurt doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him. The crowd chanted “shut the f*ck up!” as Corbin stated that last night he proved that he is better than an Olympic gold medalist.
Kurt Angle interrupted and joined Corbin in the ring. Angle acknowledged that Corbin was the better man last night and wished Baron all the luck in the world. Kurt shook Corbin’s hand and then said “bad luck”. Kurt planted Corbin with the Angle Slam and then applied the Ankle Lock.
Lars Sullivan finally made his debut and got in the ring with Angle. Lars hit Angle with the Freak Accident and then stood over him. The crowd chanted “a**hole!” once again as Sullivan made his way to the top rope. Lars hit Angle with a Flying Headbutt before heading backstage.
Sullivan was awesome in NXT and I think he has the potential to be a major star on the main roster. He’s insanely athletic for his size and it’d be a shame if he doesn’t find success on RAW or SmackDown. WWE’s SuperStar Shake-Up is next week and the announcers pointed out that Lars hasn’t officially joined a roster yet.
Lacey Evans Attacked Becky Lynch
RAW & SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch came down to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. The crowd chanted “Becky!” and “you deserve it!” every time she tried to talk. Lynch started up a “Becky two belts!” chant before turning attention to last night’s WrestleMania.
Lynch boasted about walking into WrestleMania with nothing and leaving with everything. Becky called Rousey a little weirdo and vowed to slap the empty head off her shoulders once again. Becky joked that the McMahon family is probably just going to hand Charlotte the Tag Team Championships to make up for her losing last night. Becky stated that she was ready to slap the head off of anyone in the women’s division that wants to challenge for the title.
Lacey Evans came down the entrance ramp and got in Becky’s face. Evans hit Becky win the Woman’s Right but Becky shrugged it off. Becky and Lacey brawled on the entrance ramp and Becky tried to lock in the Dis-Arm-Her but Evans escaped.
Well, it is about damn time that WWE did something with Lacey Evans. Lacey was another Superstar that I thought was solid in NXT but they had absolutely nothing for her to do when she was called up. This feud has the potential to be very entertaining, as Evans prides herself on “classing up the joint”, while Becky Lynch does whatever she wants.
Dean Ambrose Made His Final Appearance On RAW
Dean Ambrose wrestled his final match in WWE against Bobby Lashley tonight on RAW. Before the match, Lashley said when Dean is gone, he will make sure to take care of his wife for him.
Ambrose lost his mind and attacked Bobby. Ambrose threw a steel chair at him and then bashed his head off the ring post. Ambrose launched Lio Rush into the barricade and then brawled with Lashley on the entrance ramp.
Dean threw Lashley into the LED board and then planted Lashley with a DDT on the entrance ramp. Ambrose cleared off the announce table and got distracted by Rush. Lashley hit Ambrose with a Spear and then slammed Dean through the announce table. Lashley and Rush then went backstage as Renee Young checked on her husband. The crowd chanted “thank you Ambrose!” as WWE officials attended to him.
Sami Zayn Didn’t Miss The WWE Universe
Sami Zayn made his return after 10-months of being on the shelf following double shoulder surgery. Zayn stated that his schedule is wide open and he could really go for a match right about now. Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor accepted the challenge and made his way down to the ring. The ring announcer then announced that this match was now for the Intercontinental Championship as RAW went to a break.
Zayn controlled the match early and knocked Finn out of the ring. Sami bounced off the ropes and then flipped to the center of the ring to pose for the crowd. Balor got back in the ring and connected with a Dropkick for a two count.
Balor hit Sami with a chop in the corner of the ring that echoed throughout the arena. Finn followed that up with an overhead kick and both Superstars fell to the mat. Zayn battled back with a Blue Thunder Bomb and went for the cover but Finn kicked out at two.
Finn connected with the Slingblade and followed it up with the Dropkick in the corner of the ring. Balor went for the Coup de Grace but Zayn got out of the way. Sami hit Balor with an Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckle and then went for the Helluva Kick but Finn got dodged it. Balor then hit the Coup de Grace for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Sami Zayn said that he thought that coming out here would cure him but all it did was reenforce what he already thought. Zayn added that it genuinely seems like the fans missed him and he honestly didn’t miss them at all. Sami stated that the WWE is a toxic environment because of this audience and their ugliness.
Zayn claimed that the fans only get enjoyment from being critics and that they judge everyone and everything besides themselves. Sami vowed to come down to the ring and hold the fans accountable every week and ended the promo by saying “see you in hell”.
It is great to have Sami Zayn back in WWE. Sami was a great heel but was placed in a horrific feud with Bobby Lashley before his injury. Hopefully, WWE has a worthy opponent for Zayn to feud with on RAW and SmackDown in the upcoming weeks.
The Undertaker Returned
Elias responded to John Cena by rapping tonight on RAW. Elias held up three fingers and said that the middle one was for John. Elias added that the next person to interrupt him is a dead man.
The Undertaker’s interrupted and slowly walked down the entrance as Elias stood in stunned silence in the ring. Elias picked up his guitar and made it seem like he was going to leave the ring.
Elias changed his mind and slowly walked towards The Undertaker. The two Superstars stared at each other as the crowd chanted “Taker is going to kill you!”. Elias charged but Undertaker caught him with a big boot. The Undertaker followed it up with a Chokeslam and then the Tombstone Piledriver.
The Bar Ruined The Main Event
Kofi Kingston faced Seth Rollins in the main event of this week’s RAW in a Winner Take All match. Dueling “lets go Rollins!” and “lets go Kofi!” chants broke out as the match started. Rollins went for The Stomp early but Kofi was able to get out of the way as RAW went to break.
When RAW returned, Rollins was in control and hit Kingston with an Enziguri for a near fall. Kingston connected with a DDT for a near fall and then made his way to the top rope.
Rollins joined him up there but Kingston shoved him into the barricade outside the ring. Sheamus and Cesaro rushed the ring and attacked Kingston to end the match in a DQ. Kingston and Rollins fought back and knocked The Bar out of the ring. Rollins told Kofi that they will finish that match another time and challenged The Bar to a tag team match. The crowd chanted “bullsh*t” as Cesaro slammed Rollins into the ring apron. Sheamus launched Kofi into the barricade as RAW went to another break.
When RAW returned, the crowd was chanting “we want refunds!” as Rollins tagged in Kofi. Kingston hit Sheamus with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Clothesline. Kingston hit Sheamus with SOS and went for the cover but Cesaro broke it up. Rollins then took out The Bar with a Suicide Dive outside the ring.
Back in the ring, Kofi hit Sheamus with a Crossbody off the top rope for a near fall. Cesaro tagged in as Sheamus and Rollins battled outside the ring. Rollins hit a Superkick and sent Sheamus into the ring post as the crowd chanted “delete!”. Seth tagged in as Kofi hit Cesaro with Trouble in Paradise on Cesaro. Rollins then hit The Stomp on Cesaro for the pinfall victory.
I thought this show was quite the letdown for the RAW after WrestleMania. The crowd may have played along if it was Undisputed Era or someone new attacked Rollins and Kingston, but absolutely nobody wanted to see The Bar in the main event tonight. The announcers tried to talk over the crowd throughout the main event but there was no way they were going to be able to drown them out.
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