This week’s episode of WWE RAW aired from the Performance Center. Three Qualifying Matches went down tonight to determine the three RAW female superstars in the women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and WWE Champion Drew McIntyre also appeared during tonight’s show.
WWE RAW Results (4/13)
- MITB Qualifier: Asuka def. Ruby Riott
- Aleister Black def. Oney Lorcan
- MITB Qualifier: Shayna Baszler def. Sarah Logan
- Austin Theory def. Akira Tozawa
- Angel Garza def. Tehuti Miles
- MITB Qualifier: Nia Jax def. Kairi Sane
- Bobby Lashley def. No Way Jose
- Viking Raiders def. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet
- Drew McIntyre def. Andrade
Here are 7 takeaways from this week’s RAW:
Andrade Challenged Drew McIntyre
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre kicked off this week’s episode of RAW. Drew thanked the audience at home for the privilege for allowing him into their living room. McIntyre stated that the internet can sometimes be negative but it has been positive since he won the title.
He said it was surreal that he beat Lesnar within five minutes and then beat the Big Show twenty minutes later. McIntyre stated that sets the tone for the champion he will be and will give superstars an opportunity if they deserve a shot at the title.
United States Champion Andrade interrupted with Zelina Vega. Zelina referred to Andrade as the “real champion of RAW”. Vega added that it will be a shame if someone were to injure McIntyre and take the title away from him. McIntyre brought up losing the NXT Championship to Andrade and suffering a bicep injury in the match.
Drew suggested that they have a title match tonight. Andrade boasted about taking McIntyre in the past and will do the same tonight.
Asuka Qualifed For The MITB Ladder Match
Asuka squared off against Ruby Riott in the first MITB Qualifying match of the night.
Match Recap: Asuka danced around the ring to Riott’s entrance music before the match. Ruby controlled the action early and hit a shoulder tackle for a two count. Ruby pointed at the MITB briefcase hanging above the ring and started taunting Asuka.
Asuka went after Ruby’s surgically repaired shoulders and took her to the canvas. Asuka snet Riott to the corner and stomped on her a few times. She then knocked Ruby to the outside with a Hip Attack and followed it up with a knee to the face. Riott battled back and sent Asuka over the barricade. Asuka booted Riott in the face and then danced on the barricade as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Riott sent Asuka to the corner. Asuka exploded out of the corner and hit a Clothesline that sent both superstars to the canvas. Asuka hit a German Suplex and followed it up with a Shining Wizard for a near fall.
Riott hit Asuka with a Clothesline to the back of the head and made her way to the top rope. Ruby missed and Asuka tried to apply the Asuka Lock but Riott countered into a cover for a two count. Riott followed it up with a Flatliner for a near fall. Asuka then applied the Asuka Lock for the submission victory.
Becky Lynch Warned Her Next Opponent
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch cut a promo on Shayna Baszler tonight. Lynch claimed to purposely be more silly on the road to WrestleMania because the only person who can get close enough to the Queen is the Joker.
Becky brought up the Women’s MITB Ladder match and said that she always has a plan. Lynch vowed to shock the world one more time and defeat whomever wins the MITB contract.
Opinion: This promo didn’t accomplish much in my opinion. Becky Lynch essentially claimed that she outsmarted Shayna Baszler by acting like a goofball leading up to the match. Lynch is great at promos but WWE hasn’t really built up a viable opponent on the RAW roster.
Shayna Baszler Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Shayna Baszler battled Sarah Logan tonight on RAW in a MITB Qualifying match.
Match Recap: Shayna Baszler knocked Sarah to the canvas and unloaded several punches before the referee broke it up. Baszler then stomped on Sarah Logan’s arm and Sarah couldn’t continue.
The ring announcer screwed up and announced Sarah Logan as the winner of the match. It was then announced that Baszler won the match because Sarah Logan could not continue. Baszler hopped over the barricade and exited to end the segment.
Nia Jax Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Nia Jax faced Kairi Sane tonight in a MITB Qualifying match.
Match Recap: Kairi ran at Nia to start the match off but Jax launched her across the ring. Jax went for a Splash but Kairi escaped. Sane climbed to the top rope and leaped over Jax to get away from her.
Sane taunted Nia and hit her with a Dropkick. Kairi followed it up with another Dropkick but Jax didn’t move. Jax threw Kairi out of the ring as Asuka was shown backstage cheering Sane on.
Sane got back into the ring and Nia hit her with a Clothesline. Nia threw Kairi across the ring. Jax planted Kairi Sane with the Annihilator for the pinfall victory.
Charlotte Flair Vowed To Teach The NXT Roster Humility
NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and said tonight is history lessons with The Queen. Flair ran down her feud with Rhea Ripley and called her ballsy for issuing the challenge.
Charlotte boasted about beating the “next big thing” and that makes her the biggest thing. Flair added that Vince McMahon chose her last year to save the main event of WrestleMania.
Flair claimed that Rhea Ripley lacks humility and that she is going to remind the NXT roster of humility. Charlotte turned her attention to her next opponent, Io Shirai. Flair said that the first lesson is that everyone bows down to The Queen.
Seth Rollins Attacked Drew McIntyre
Andrade battled Drew McIntyre in the main event of this week’s show. Zelina Vega, Angel Garza, and Austin Theory were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: McIntyre went after Andrade right away and beat him down in the corner of the ring. Drew threw Andrade out of the ring and slammed him on top of the barricade. McIntyre hit Andrade with a chop to the chest but got distracted by Garza & Theory.
Andrade capitalized and slammed McIntyre’s arm into the ring post. The action returned to the ring and Andrade locked in an Arm Bar on the ropes. Andrade climbed to the top rope and leaped into a Clothesline from McIntyre. Drew followed it up with a boot to the face and climbed up to the top rope for another Clothesline.
McIntyre sent Andrade flying onto Garza and Theory with a Back Body Drop. Drew rolled Andrade into the ring and made his way to the top rope. Zelina Vega hopped on the ring apron for a distraction and Andrade tried to hit the Hammerlock DDT but Drew escaped.
Drew connected with an Alabama Slam and followed it up with a massive Claymore Kick for the pinfall victory. After the match, Seth Rollins hit McIntyre with a Superkick and followed it up with the Stomp. Rollins looked at the title before hitting McIntyre with another Stomp to close the show.
Opinion: Overall, this week’s episode of RAW was solid. I like that WWE is doing qualifying matches for the men’s and women’s ladder matches at MITB. Cedric Alexander and Ricochet had a very good match against the Viking Raiders tonight. Viking Raiders had an absurd amount of enhancement matches, so it was odd to see Alexander & Ricochet face them and lose so quickly after being put together. However, they are great as a team and weren’t squashed tonight.
Seth has been excellent as a heel and this has the potential to be a great feud. It is a bit ridiculous that he is already in the title picture again following a loss to Kevin Owens at WrestleMania. I just think they can have a great match at the PPV.