Welcome to the Raw after WrestleMania.
Okay, so I’ll just get rid of it – it was a very mixed bag for me. Some things were good, other things were bad. And a few things were really bad. If you’ve seen the picture for this review, you know what I’m starting with.
And I warn you now … you will not be happy if you are a fan.
I have said it repeatedly, but I will do it again – if you like this, you will give more power. I liked it when Alexa Bliss for the first time psychologically seduced people into giving her sister Abigail. It was cool!
And as soon as the magic begins, it loses me. But if it has not lost you, it’s good! In fact, it’s good! That means it works for some. Wrestling is subjective entertainment. We will not all like everything.
But I like you because you like wrestling.
But a good thing that came out of this show: the storylines progress to the next pay-per-view … WrestleMania Backlash.
Yes.
With that said, let’s take a look at the hits and misses of this show. For a complete overview of Raw, check out the live blog of Rev. Claire Elizabeth!
Lily
Huh.
Alexa Bliss took us to her playground and said we were probably wondering why she did what she did.
A girl got lost and then saved and learned through the darkness until the darkness disappeared. Then she realized that she never really needed the darkness. She could do it all on her own.
Eventually, the end she used was taught to destroy the darkness. She asked if the female species was really the deadliest.
She then introduced her new girlfriend, Lily. And then Lily sniffed at us.
And then Corey Graves said, “Demented whimsy is in the past, because the present is AWESOME!” as Miz’s music played.
You may not believe me, but I like Alexa Bliss. I do! WWE is who you really should hate. Serious. They want their cake and eat it too.
One moment a doll sniffs at the camera and then Graves pushes that ‘demented creepiness’ aside, because YAY MIZ!
Or a “box-like structure” appears on the side and everyone is dumbfounded at what it is and “WHAT CAN IT MEAN?” Have you not paid attention in the last 4 months, Byron?
I have a question for the creative team – Vince, if Alexa no longer wanted the darkness and wanted to put an end to it, why was she torturing the man who set the darkness on fire and killed him? Couldn’t she have just woken him up a few weeks later and done it all?
And we’ll be coming to Orton soon.
I do not like this. And what’s worse, it could actually be that Alexa is now breaking away from The Fiend and introducing these things to the women’s department with her new partner. I was ready to finish this WrestleMania.
Now it’s just going on. Oh dear.
New friends?
MVP was in the ring and said McIntyre was a formidable opponent, but it’s good to be number two for Lashley.
Drew came out and said he made a mistake, but next time he will not make a mistake if he gets his second chance. Then Braun comes out, and he says Drew belongs behind because he lost, and Shane McMahon loses at his hands.
And then Orton came out and said that the Fiend and Bliss are behind him and that he can now concentrate on what he is best at – winning the WWE Championship. Adam Pearce made the match official for the main event.
Orton just decided that all the months of physical torment and anxiety – black throw choking, being shot at fireballs, seeing himself speaking in a screen with a demonic voice, the ONE RKO at WrestleMania ended it all. Right. Huh?
So Orton and McIntyre worked together to get rid of Strowman, but that obviously did not last. Orton did the RKO for Strowman and went for the pin, but McIntyre gave him the Claymore Kick and pinned Orton to win.
And then the music of MVP plays and while McIntyre’s attention is distracted, Mace and T-Bar attack him. Yes, Mace and T-Bar, former RETRIBUSION members could possibly be new Hurt Business members at MVP and Lashley. Can be. We do not know yet.
IF this is the case, it’s less than zero for me. But if Mace and T-Bar are renting guns now, I might not mind it, depending on how WWE does it. They would be a pretty good label team for the brand, which was my hope for them after the withdrawal broke.
Wait and see I think!
The queen returns and returns to work
The announcers said she wanted to be WrestleMania and do not get on the map.
She said she did not have her smile because she was not at the big show. She spoke that she was a sincere person. It was not her fault she did not turn on WrestleMania, it was not her fault Asuka needed a tag teammate, or that her father was like a fool, or even that Lacey Evans got pregnant.
She gave kudus to Rhea Ripley because he was the biggest snake in the locker room. And now Asuka got a rematch instead of giving her a chance. She listed all the women who were up WrestleMania and said that none of them compared her.
Charlotte Flair is the opportunity for all women. She will not apologize for being so damn good, and we’re all going to bow before her.
It was a great comeback heel promotion from Charlotte. She’s in her prime.
She also sounded very natural, which has always been a criticism in the past. She’s always been the best as a heel, and WWE likes to throw in babyface runs. All the way back to when Becky turned her on for the first time, WWE thought they would get Charlotte as a baby face.
Asuka and Rhea Ripley had a second chance for the women’s championship, and the match was not so good. But what happened in the end was the biggest thing you want to know.
Flair intervened and took out both women. It was quite funny that the referee faced the driveway and only realized Charlotte was there when she attacked Asuka, but he … semantics.
She calls Ripley too confident and kicks her into the LED apron. She then went boo hoo and shed tears and said, “I AM BACK!” It was amazing. I said last night that Charlotte and Rhea would be a great show, but now Asuka is still involved so it can be really interesting.
Witches are wildin ‘
So, I have no idea what to say about this.
As I said in the Bliss section, does it seem like Bliss has moved to the women’s section and that Bray Wyatt is back in the Fun House looking for a fresh start?
Do I understand this?
How does The Fiend just … go on? Similar to Orton’s way of just going on because they were so divided … other things to do!
I would say it was nice to see Ramblin ‘Rabbit, Huskus, Abby and Mercy again.
Uh … yes. I’m surprised.
The rest
Bobby Lashley defeated Riddle
The show started with Lashley and MVP entering the building to applause, and Riddle drove up to him and challenged him for a match. So Lashley just gave it to him. After calling him a loser, of course.
Lashley attacked Riddle before he could get into the ring and dominate the first half of the game. Lashley started throwing everything that belongs to Top Riddle around the ThunderDome. First, his scooter is thrown into oblivion, and then Riddle himself is thrown over the barrier. After a few cross-faces to Riddle, Lashley literally just put his foot on Riddle’s neck and held the ropes for more pressure. Riddle started gaining momentum and Lashley stopped it immediately. Eventually, Riddle hit some MMA moves and hit Lashley with a high knee. Riddle sat for the Floating Bro and Lashley beat the Hurt Lock for the win.
What a dominant performance from Lashley. I did not really understand why this game was anything, but it felt like they had determined that Riddle was going to move to a lower card comedy / middle card title fat guy. It is good. He is a man who fits perfectly into that role. I hope Lashley gets a dominant position WrestleMania as Drew did. He has a legitimate Brock Lesnar aura about him. This is the complete timer that contains the title and must be killed by a rise and fall.
Miz and Morrison defeat Damian Priest
Before the game, Maryse was Miz’s TV guest, and they only had Miz and Mrs. promoted, but what also happened was that Miz focused a little too much on Maryse and put Morrison aside. Damian Priest came out to defend Bad Bunny against the Miz. So Miz and Morrison both thought about having a one-on-one match with him, and Maryse told them to have a 2 on 1 handicap. So did they.
And Priest lost. Already. We look forward to it!
The Viking Raiders defeat Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander
It was a good return for Ivar from the Viking Raiders. This guy was out about 7 months and it’s crazy. Ivar throws Alexander into the Raiders corner and strikes a wave of blows. Benjamin turned in and knocked Erik to his knees. A Suplex got him two scores. Alexander went to work on the middle section, and Benjamin struck a blow and counted two more. Ivar got the hot tag and did the senton, but he could not get a pin because Alexander noticed again. Ivar did a double wash thread and then the Viking Raiders did the Viking Experience for the win.
New Day defeated Elias and Jaxson Ryker
Elias thought his guitar was making trombone sounds. No, seriously. Good win for the former champions, and I just noticed that the new champion was not on the program. This is a strange decision. Though it might have been better.
Mandy and Dana decided to be counted out
Nia and Shayna mock Mandy’s slip WrestleMania, and Mandy walks over to Nia and slaps her. They had a match, and Nia slipped and got angry. Dana grabs Mandy and they walk down the driveway, with Dana saying, “Calm down, this is not worth it.” HUH?!? They were in the middle of a match. Dana and Mandy just decided in the middle of the game, eh she’s crazy, it’s not worth it. Wow. Good work.
Grade: B-
What were your thoughts, Cagesiders?