WWE Raw – April 13, 2020 (Review)

GOOD NEWS, SWAFT NATION!

WWE is considered an ‘Essential Business’ and as such we get to move forward with some Raw Review!  So what lies ahead in our show tonight?

After a whirlwind start to his reign as WWE Champion, what's next for @DMcIntyreWWE???#WWERaw https://t.co/zTAkpdmjFa

— WWE (@WWE) April 13, 2020

Our WWE Champion Drew McIntyre looks set to start the show tonight.

#TheMan comes around TONIGHT on #WWERaw!@BeckyLynchWWE https://t.co/fEy1OMm3LZ

— WWE (@WWE) April 13, 2020

The Raw Women’s Champion is also set to make an appearance in these trying times.

Women’s #MITB Qualifying Matches begin TONIGHT on #WWERaw!

✅@WWEAsuka vs. @RubyRiottWWE
✅@KairiSaneWWE vs. @NiaJaxWWE
✅@sarahloganwwe vs. @QoSBaszler #WWENow #MustBeMonday pic.twitter.com/3VoIYdqCjX

— WWE (@WWE) April 13, 2020

And looks like we get three women’s qualifiers for Money in the Bank.  Hopefully this means a match and build heavy Raw going forward.

Let’s get on with the show.

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The Best of Raw

Ghosts of the Past

Drew McIntyre delivers his first live address to the WWE Universe.  He’s thankful for the title, for the opportunity to represent the WWE as champion.  Unfortunately, Zelina and Andrade are here to spoil the party.

The challenge has been made!#USChampion @AndradeCienWWE wants CHAMPION vs. CHAMPION against #WWEChampion @DMcIntyreWWE TONIGHT on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/oaJq7aTqxr

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

Andrade and Zelina bring up that it was Andrade who injured Drew in NXT, causing him to lose his championship.  This leads to Drew accepting a challenge from Andrade for tonight, Champion vs Champion, so that should be quite promising.

Also, hooray long form story telling

Asuka Riotts

In our first Money in the Bank qualifier, Ruby Riott and Asuka face off.  This is a very colorful in-ring pairing, and is a chance for Ruby Riot to get some much due attention.

It's the first #MITB Qualifying Match tonight on #WWERaw!@WWEAsuka battles @RubyRiottWWE in a fiery encounter. pic.twitter.com/6ifdblV1Dz

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

Asuka continues to be a gem in the current product, bringing her humor along with her overall great in-ring work.  These two had pretty great chemistry and Ruby Riott looks competitive throughout.  Asuka gets the win with the Asuka Lock and qualifies for her first Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Dream Breaking

Drew and Andrade are up next in the main event.

An exciting #WWERaw main event as #WWEChampion @DMcIntyreWWE battles #USChampion @AndradeCienWWE! pic.twitter.com/1Y2QQu0MTC

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

This is a pretty excellent main event.  Great to see that Andrade is able to use his history with Drew and technique to get an early advantage in the match.  Drew is able to overcome the odds and deliver the Claymore for the win, getting his win back against Andrade.

The #MondayNightMessiah has made his presence felt at the expense of #WWEChampion @DMcIntyreWWE. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/ccon5vcr8f

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

After cutting promos all night about how he was wronged at WrestleMania, or “Crucified”, and it looks like we have Drew’s next feud as Rollins arrives post-match to deliver two Stomps to Drew.

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The Mixed Bag of Raw

ONEY GOT HIS @$$ KICKED ON RAW AGAIN!

Oney Lorcan has remained a busy boy, this time appearing on Raw against Aleister Black.

The impressive @_StarDESTROYER looks to capitalize against @WWEAleister on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/ZpTl4uuGdX

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

Oney does get a lot of offense in a balanced match that makes Oney look like a worthy challenge.  This is yet another week where Aleister black makes a lower card talent look good, but still come across dominant with that quick kick win.

Anything for Zelina

Austin Theory is pitted against Akira Tozawa, and we get the treat of Zelina Vega on commentary.

.@austintheory1 goes one-on-one with @TozawaAkira on #WWERaw as an impressed @Zelina_VegaWWE observes while on commentary! pic.twitter.com/2EnRVfw7Ht

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

The match is a good challenge between the two.  Austin Theory ends up getting the victory with The ATL, but it’s a great showing for Tozawa.  The problem is, Tozawa is participating in the cruiserweight tournament this week, so it may not be best to have him enter at a loss.  Also Jerry Lawler referring to a move as a “Ramen Noodle Moonsault”…not the best.

Following the match, Andrade and Angel Garza join Theory to beat down Tozawa, further establishing Zelina’s stable.

The charismatic @AngelGarzaWwe continues to be quite the dazzler on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/oVJ5WPhbv5

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

When we come back, Angel Garza is facing an NXT Talent named Tahuti Miles.  It’s a quick flashy squash which is followed by another beat down by Zelina’s as of yet unnamed faction.

Not Like Most Matches

Nia Jax and Kairi Sane are the next competitors for the Money in the Bank Qualifier.

.@KairiSaneWWE looks to qualify for #MITB against @NiaJaxWWE as @WWEAsuka watches excitedly!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/gZG7Iv8kiK

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

They’re bringing back Nia strong, but sad to have it come at the expense of a former champion, opposed to an NXT talent.

Tag Team Tandem

The Viking Raiders are back on TV facing off against Cedric Alexander and Ricochet.

Can the exciting new team of @KingRicochet & @CedricAlexander take down the former Tag Team Champions @Erik_WWE & @Ivar_WWE? 👀#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/QUKUFCz5HW

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

It’s nice to see that Ricochet and Alexander are attempting some Tag Team Synergy as they wear matching gear.  This is the two different styles with strength vs athleticism, though Ivar is quite agile himself.

The Viking Raiders get the win, though I’m very curious what they’re planning to do with Cedric and Ricochet.  Hopefully this isn’t a sign of things to come.

After the match we get Bianca Belair and the Street Profits, and it looks like Belair may be taking a bit of a managerial or motivational role, trying to get the Profits past the Viking Raiders for the first time ever.

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The Worst of Raw

Retirement is Fake

Some straight-up BALLIN' news on the #VIPLounge…

NEXT WEEK on #WWERaw, there will be THREE #MITB Qualifying Matches:

🔴 @reymysterio vs. @WWE_Murphy
🔴 @WWEAleister vs. @austintheory1
🔴 @WWEApollo vs. @The305MVP pic.twitter.com/KNA0O7RrZ8

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

MVP got to announce the Money in the Bank qualifiers next week, but apparently the whole thing about being retired from in-ring competition was an exaggeration.  Still hope MVP is able to put over Apollo Crews strong.

Manly Promo

The #WWERaw #WomensChampion @BeckyLynchWWE has a MESSAGE for whoever may win the #MITB #LadderMatch! pic.twitter.com/zYqJhaI6bk

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

Becky Lynch comes out to challenge whomever wins the Money in the Bank ladder match, though her promo is pretty bland.  It just doesn’t seem to have the same passion as the promos of old.

A Confusing Conclusion

Sarah Logan and Shayna Baszler are up next in a Money in the Bank Qualifier, though I’m not sure how much of a chance you can give Logan here.  Before the match Shayna is asked about Rhonda’s twitter behavior earlier in the week, but she refuses to answer the question.

.@sarahloganwwe looks to qualify for #MITB…but has to go through @QoSBaszler!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/4j75Mwv2pQ

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

After, not much of a fight as much as a firm slapping around, Shayna Baszler stomps Sarah Logan’s arm and somehow Logan is announced the winner, even though everybody and commentary are pretty sure Baszler just won the match.  Super confusing ending to a really disappointing match.

All Maybe Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley is facing off with No Way Jose, who doesn’t get an entrance, probably because he has no conga line.

Well, @LanaWWE certainly had some words of encouragement for @fightbobby… 🤨#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/k0no4u2dab

— WWE (@WWE) April 14, 2020

Bobby is dominant, but we do get the continuing tension between Lana and Lashley.  No Way Jose almost gets the win via surprise roll-up, but Lashley gets the pin off of a spear after kicking out.

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Overall Rating for the Show (From best to worst: RAWsome, Cor, AvRAWge, Poor and RAWful)

Raw had a lot of matches.  Normally this would be an excellent thing, however there didn’t seem to be a lot of meaning in a lot of the matches, due to the shortness of them all.  It is somewhat surprising that with the return to a live show, they aren’t stretching match times to minimize workers.  The running Rollins storyline was fantastic and the use of Zelinas faction as a unit is a wise move going forward.  Unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough for me to salvage the show.

This week’s Raw is Poor.

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• April 14
• review
• RAW
• wwe

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