Raw Review 04/30/2018

Tonight is a huge Raw as we not only see the fallout from The Greatest Royal Rumble but it’s also the final Raw before this Sunday’s BackLash PPV!!! What is next for Braun Strowman after defeating 49 other men to win The Greatest Royal Rumble? Roman Reigns lost to Lesnar again but this time in a very controversial way, is there any more chances for Reigns or has The Beast put him away for good? What is in store for the Raw Tag Team Division now that Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy are champions? Plus who will be the next challenger for the Intercontinental Championship as Seth Rollins retained on Friday outlasting three other superstars in a ladder match? Finally Raw closed last week with Ronda Rousey saving the day, is there any women who dares to step to Rousey?

Raw is live tonight from the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Raw kicks off with us being welcomed by Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and The Coach.

In Ring Segment: Roman Reigns
Reigns says he’s not gonna make any excuses cause there’s no need to. He says you have seen the footage and tweet and that means you’re looking at the real Universal Champion. He says he should be the Universal Champion but he’s not. He says a lot of people doubted him and lost faith in him but he is a man of his word and kept it because he beat Brock Lesnar and that’s why he will never lose faith in himself. He says he’d tell Lesnar but of course he’s not here so he’s gonna focus on his opponent for BackLash. Joe comes on the titantron and says this Sunda he’s gonna put Reigns spiraling career to sleep. Outcomes Jinder Mahal.
Mahal says if there’s one thing he can’t stand is someone making excuses for their shortcomings. He tells Reigns he lost fair and square to Lesnar and at BackLash he will lose to Samoa Joe. He then tells Reigns tonight he will lose to the Modern Day Majarajiha. He says that now that he’s on Raw he will be the Universal Champion. Outcomes Sami Zayn.
Zayn questions Mahal and Reigns and tells them that he wasn’t even able to go to The Greatest Royal Rumble but he’s feeling a lot better tonight. He says what better way to make things right than in his hometown. He says tonight he will be the one to take on Roman Reigns. Outcomes Kevin Owens.
Owens tells Sami that he knows he can beat Roman Reigns however he thinks tonight people want to see Roman Reigns versus Kevin Owens. Owens says we have a situation since everyone wants a piece of Reigns. He says let’s settle it with a popularity contest. Zayn gets a good hand from the crowd, Mahal is booed by the crowd, and the crowd gives a loud pop for Kevin Owens. Owens tells them sorry but then gets decked by Reigns. Reigns is then attacked by Zayn, Mahal, and Singh. Outcomes Bobby Lashley.
Lashley goes after all four men but they back him into the corner. Lashley continues to try to fight and here comes Braun Strowman to help. Strowman takes out Sami and Kevin. The numbers game catches up but Lashley is able to provide assistance. Reigns, Lashley, and Strowman take the four men out.
My Opinion:
This was a good way to open the show, Lashley, Strowman, and Reigns are the top contenders on Raw so it was awesome to see them together. I think Reigns is in a tough spot because he’s being able to pull off the big match. I think this is damaging his character and it would’ve helped him a lot to actually win the championship. I think this six man tag with these men will be awesome especially sense Zayn and Owens have a lot to fight for being in front of their hometown tonight.

Match 1: Elias vs Bobby Roode
As Raw returns, Elias has Roode in a side headlock. Roode counters but is backed into the corner. Elias hits him with big right hands but Roode fights out with rights of his own. Roode is thrown into the corner but comes out hot and hits Elias with a huge clothesline. Roode then hits a dropkick. Roode hits Elias with a big chop in the corner. Elias is able to counter but Roode hits him with his boot and counters with the blockbuster. Roode goes for the cover but Elias kicks out. Elias is able to hang up Roode on the top rope and then runs throw Roode. Elias goes to a chin lock and works Roode on the mat. Roode tries to fight out but Elias continues to apply to the pressure. Roode fights out with shots to the gut and hits Elias with a huge chop. Elias comes back with a big boot and stomps on Roode. Elias then tosses Roode across the ring and then hammers on him in the corner. Elias hits a mule kick on Roode and goes for the cover but Roode kicks out as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Elias has a chin lock on Roode. Roode is then driven into the turnbuckle. Roode finally is able to break the hold but Elias hits him with a cheap shot. Elias hits Roode with a big boot in the corner. Roode tries for the neck breaker but its counter. Roode hits him with knees but misses with the blockbuster. Roode then hits the spinebuster but it doesn’t keep Elias down. Elias hits Roode with a stiff right. Roode is able to drop Elias with a headbutt. Roode hits a flying clothesline and takes down Elias. Elias escapes the Glorious DDT. Elias tries a pin but Roode counters and tries one of his own but Elias kicks out. Elias drives Roode off the post and Roode is down. Roode is unable to compete and Elias declares himself the winner.
Winner: Elias
My Opinion:
I thought this was a good match, Roode did well in putting Elias over in this one. Elias looked very strong and focused, I can see a big change in his in-ring style and he’s becoming a more dominant competitor. I think it would have been better to have an official ending but this can be a chapter in a big picture and honestly, I like this rivalry so I’m okay with that. Roode will bounce back but Elias definitely has the upper hand in this situation as he really took it to Roode. If anything Elias proved he can hang and he’s here to win.

Backstage Segment:
Charly asks Jean-Paul and Francois why they requested this match, they say they never back down form a challenge.

Match 2: Authors Of Pain (Akem & Rezar) vs Jean-Paul & Francois
Rezar starts with Francois and he’s quickly taken down. Jean-Paul comes in but is driven to the mat. Akem gets the tag and AOP hits the Supercollider. They then hit The Last Chapter and pick up the victory.
*** AOP says the book of pain is open and there will be a chapter for every team on Monday Night Raw.
Winners: Authors Of Pain (Akem & Rezar)
My Opinion:
Obviously a very impressive quick victory here, this match didn’t mean much but it shows the dominance of AOP. I’m ready to see them get some real competition as I feel they’re ready for it. AOP has a shot to be one of the most dominant teams in recent memory if give the proper shot, it’ll be interesting to see how they work into the mix of the tag division. I think they need to capitalize on them soon because we’ve seen it to often where people from NXT lose momentum quickly because they aren’t used properly.

In Ring Segment: Seth Rollins
Rollins says the crowd is wild tonight, he says the last month of his career has also been wild. He tells how he won at WrestleMania and then defended the title in South Africa and won and then defended at The Greatest Royal Rumble and won and now he’s live here on Monday Night Raw. Rollins tells the crowd they make it all worth it. He says his trip back gave him time to reflect on what kind of champion he wants to be and what he doesn’t want to be. He says he doesn’t wanna be like Lesnar and the truth is he shouldn’t even be Universal Champion. He says he wants to be a fighting champion. Outcomes Finn Balor.
Balor says on his trip back home it gave him a chance to watch the end of their match and see how close he was to being champion. He says hats off to you Seth you beat me. He tells Rollins they have had four singles matches and they’ve both won two. He says Rollins is out here talking about being a fighting champion but how about he show that and put the title on the line right here tonight. He tells Balor he has Miz at BackLash this Sunday but he is a fighting champion so he will leave it up to the crowd. Rollins tells Balor he’s on. Outcomes The Miztourage.
Axel tells them to not worry about what the people want and worry about what’s best for yourself. Dallas says they should be fighting together, they all should be fighting together. Axel says last week they made a mistake approaching them separately and instead should have had a group conversation. Dallas calls them the Four Horsemen of the WWE. Rollins tells them it’s gonna be a hard no. Dallas tells them fine but then they try to take a cheap shot. Balor and Rollins work together to take both men out. Balor then strikes Rollins.
My Opinion:
I love Seth as Champion because he is a fighting champ and he always has great matches. Rollins is very impressive as he continues to defend and retain but tonight he could be in some trouble. I like how Balor went after it and claimed his spot. Balor should be a future champion and it’s tough to sit back and watch Balor continue to get passed on. I think he and Rollins will have a battle but ultimately I think Seth will walk away, Seth just seems to have Balor’s number right now and when you beat some by near inches it shows you just have one up on them.

Backstage Segment:
Charly asks Sasha if she tried to work things out with Bayley so she would be in her corner. She says she hasn’t, she says she hasn’t heard anything and obviously Bayley is okay with the Riott Squad taking over. Sasha says Raw runs on Boss time and if Ruby wants a riot she’s got one.

Match 3: Ruby Riott w/ Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan) vs Sasha Banks
The two lock up to start the match. Sasha works the arm of Riott and is able to land an arm drag. Sasha tries a hip toss but it blocked. Sasha blocks one of her own but Riott counters. Sasha lands a big chop on Riott. Sasha works the arm of Riott again and brings her to the mat. Riott comes back and hammers on Sasha in the corner. Sasha is bounced off of the turnbuckle and then driven by a shoulder from Riott. Sasha takes down Riott and hammers on her on the mat. Sasha drives her boot into Riott and then locks in a chin lock on Sasha. Sasha lands a hip toss and goes for the cover but Riott kicks out. Sasha works the arm of Riott again and wrenches on her shoulder. Riott is able to send Sasha to the outside and Sasha has to defend herself. Sasha hits a baseball slide and takes out Riott as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Riott has an abdominal stretch locked in. Sasha is able to flip Riott but is then hits the turnbuckle hard. Riott hits the STO but it’s not enough to get the win. Sasha fights back with rights but Riott hammers on the back on Sasha. Riott then lands a kick to the ribs. Riott works a deep chin lock on the mat. Sasha tries a roll-up but Riott pushes her off. Sasha hits a lateral press but it doesn’t keep Riott down. Sasha hits a weak kick and follows with a clothesline and a dropkick. Sasha lands a stiff kick this time and hits the double knees in the corner. Riott is able to sidestep Sasha and hits a cannonball from the second rope but Sasha kicks out of the cover.Sasha works Riott into the Banks Statement but the Riott Squad gets involved. Sasha gets hung on the top rope but she comes back and takes out Riott by hitting her into the ring post. She then takes out Morgan on the outside. Logan creates the distraction and Riott hits the Riott kick. Riott goes for the cover and Sasha goes down 1 2 3.
Winner: Ruby Riott
My Opinion:
What a huge victory for Ruby Riott. I’m a big fan of the Riott squad and they showed tonight how the number game pays off. Riott with Logan and Morgan by her side could do anything. I loved the way she battled Sasha out there. Sasha continued to try to gain momentum but it as continuously stopped and I think frustration got the best of Banks. I think Banks is starting to feel the effects of not having Bayley around so it’ll be interesting to see what Banks next move will be.

A Moment of Bliss
Alexa tells how she and Nia went to Disney and she constantly asked if she was tall enough for the rides. She says Nia even questioned her height on the teacup ride. She says she even laughed when she was given a kids menu. She says Nia ruined the happiest place on earth but at BackLash she won’t let the bully win.

Backstage Segment:
Renee asks Titus how he’s reacting to be in the spotlight for something he couldn’t control. Titus says he fell but not many people have the chance to do it in front of the whole world. He says when you fall you gotta get back up. Baron Corbin interrupts and tells Titus it would’ve been more inspirational if he hadn’t fallen in the first place. He then asks Renee why she is wasting her time on this guy.

Match 4: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn & Jinder Mahal w/ Sunil Singh vs Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley & Roman Reigns
Zayn and Reigns start the match. Zayn lands bug kicks and catches Reigns on the outside. Reigns drives Zayn into the barricade and then takes it to Owens. Reigns hits a double drive-by as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Mahal hammers on Reigns with big right hands. Reigns gets back in control and tags Lashley. Lashley slams Mahal and tries a suplex but Mahal fights out. Lashley comes back with a clothesline but Mahal backs him into the corner. Zayn gets the tag. Zayn tries a suplex but Lashley brings him to the mat. Lashley hits a spear in the corner and then lifts Zayn for a vertical suplex but Owens prevents it. Owens gets the tag and stomps away on Lashley. Mahal gets the tag and hits a hip check to Lashley in the corner. Mahl then drives his knee into his face. Owens gets the tag and he wears Lashley down with a chin lock. Owens hits the senton but Lashley kicks out of the cover. Owens goes back to the chin lock. Lashley lands a big kick but Owens is able to catch him. Reigns gets the tag and hits a series of clotheslines. Reigns continues the clotheslines in the corner. Reigns pulls Singh into the ring and then tosses him out. Owens comes in off the tag and hits a DDT but Reigns kicks out of the cover as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Zayn has Reigns in a chin lock on the mat. Reigns works to his feet and hits Zayn with big rights. Reigns backs Zayn into the corner but Owens gets the tag. Owens brings Reigns to the mat and goes for the cover but reigns kicks out. Owens tees off on Reigns and then tags Zayn. Zayn delivers rights of his own and then goes back to the chin lock. Reigns land a slam but Owens gets the tag and stops Reigns from getting the tag. Reigns fights out of the corner and hits Owens with a Superman Punch. Mahal makes the tag and is met with a Samoan Drop. Reigns tags Strowman and he comes in with huge clotheslines. Strowman takes out Owens and Zayn on the outside. Strowman is side stepped in the corner and runs into the post. Lashley comes in to help but is taken out. Mahal and Owens look for a double team but Reigns takes out Mahal with a spear. Owens takes down Strowman but he comes back and hits the running powerslam and gets the 1 2 3.
Winners: Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley
My Opinion:
This was a good tag match, I liked the way Owens and Zayn worked together really showing good tag team work. I wish Lashley could’ve gotten over more but I feel like when he’s out there with Braun he can’t look as strong as he should. Strowman once again works away as the hero which isn’t a bad thing as he deserves to be pushed as a top guy. I think Owens, Zayn, and Mahal proved a lot tonight and showed they shouldn’t be overlooked.

Match 5: Baron Corbin vs No Way Jose
Jose comes with big rights but is thrown into the corner. Corbin comes out of the ring and back in and hits a huge clothesline. Corbin hits Jose with a big right. Jose comes back with a huge kick. Jose launches himself off the top rope but misses. Outcomes Titus WorldWide. Corbin gets distracted and Joe steals the win.
Winner: No Way Jose
My Opinion:
I’m a big fan of Corbin and I really am not a fan of what they’re doing with him. He’s someone who should be a champion and yet they have him playing the fun police. Corbin should’ve stayed on SmackDown if this is what they were gonna do with him. I hope eventually this will change and Corbin will finally get a shot.

Match 6: Natalya w/ Ronda Rousey vs Mickie James w/ Alexa Bliss
Natalya works the arm of Mickie and sends her out of the ring. Natalya lands a big right and lands a snap mare takedown on Mickie. Nataly lands a basement dropkick and goes for the cover but it’s not enough. Nataly is bounced off the turnbuckle and Mickie takes it to her. Mickie tries for a cover but it’s not enough. Mickie wraps up Natalya and wrenches on her. Mickie tries another cover but gets a near fall. Natalya rolls up Mickie in the ring and gets the 3 on the cover. Nia comes out and raises the hands of Rousey and Natalya.
Winner: Natalya
My Opinion:
This was an okay match but it ended much faster than I expected. I think having Rousey out there is amazing but I feel like they need to use her more since she’s there all the time now. I like the way Mickie continued to fight but Natalya is just to good. She showed why she is one of the best. It’ll be interesting to see how long Natalya and Rousey stay friends. At some point, Rousey needs an opponent and I think it could be Natalya.

Backstage Segment:
Mcintyre says when he speaks you feel it and it’s real just like him. He says while the other superstars cost through, there are two of them who know why they are here and they will show you. Ziggler says they didn’t come to steal the show, they’re just gonna take it.

Match 7: Finn Balor vs Seth Rollins (c):
Intercontinental Championship Match
Rollins gets around on Balor to start and backs him into the corner. Rollins gets a side headlock but Balor works out. Rollins catches him with a kick and tosses him out of the ring. Rollins launches himself over the ropes and takes out Balor as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Rollins has Balor in a chin lock. Rollins and Balor trade blows and Balor is able to build momentum. Balor hits a big clothesline and lands big chops in the corner. Rollins lands a big kick and follows with a blockbuster. Rollins hits Balor with a forearm and then brings Balor face first into the mat. Rollins his the springboard clothesline and Balor goes to the outside. Rollins hits the suicide dive and drives Balor into the barricade. Rollins tries again but Balor is able to block. Balor lands a DDT and goes for a cover but Rollins is able to kick out. Balor tries a sling blade but Rollins counters. Balor is able to land an elbow and drives Rollins to the mat but it’s not enough to get the win. Balor hits Rollins with a chop but as Rollins is driven into the corner he comes out hot and hits the sling blade. Rollins hits a knee but it doesn’t keep Balor down. Rollins hits the kick to the gut but Balor counters the stomp with a right hand. Balor lands the double stomp on Rollins. Balor side steps Rollins and hits him with a big kick. Balor goes to the top but Rollins counters and drops him. Rollins meets him up there and looks for the suplex but Balor fights out. Rollins jumps back up and hits the suplex. Rollins rolls through but Balor counters with the Falcon Arrow. Balor goes for the cover but Rollins kicks out. Balor connects with a series of forearms but Rollins comes back with shots of his own. Rollins is hit with an overhead kick but stays on his feet and hits an enziguri. Rollins is sent out of the ring and Balor flies to take him out. Balor its a shotgun drop kick into the corner and looks to go to the top. Balor misses the Coupe de Grace and Rollins looks for the stomp. Balor moves out of the way. Balor tries a cover but it’s not enough. Rollins hits the superkick and both men are down. Rollins finally hits the stomp and gets the 1 2 3.
Winner: Seth Rollins
My Opinion:
What a match to end the night! I loved how aggressive Finn Balor was and how he really went for it. I was so impressed by how Balor kept countering and really made Rollins work. Rollins shows great composure and there is no stage too big for him. Rollins continues to pick up huge victories and in a short time, he’s having a very impactful title reign. I hope we see this match again because these guys are just that good!

Final Thoughts:
Tonight wasn’t a bad Raw although it wasn’t the most exciting one in recent memory. I think tonight the biggest winners were Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Owens and Zayn showed they are top players and can hold their own. They and Mahal did very well in their tag match and opened everyone’s eyes to what they can. On the same note, Braun Strowman showed again no one can stop him, he’s the guy right now and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon. Ruby Riott is another person who had a huge night, although the Riott Squad assisted she pulled off a huge victory over Sasha. Riott showed she’s here to win at any cost and can definitely be a key player. I was somewhat let down by what happened with Baron Corbin and The Authors Of Pain tonight. I think Corbin needs to be in a more meaningful storyline and is better than what they have him doing. For AOP they are an amazing tag team and they need to be capitalized on now before they lose their popularity. I was also a little disappointed by how Ronda Rousey was used, I feel like if she’s there they should have her do more, she’s a huge attraction and I feel like they’re forgetting that lately. Finally, Balor and Rollins killed it to end the night. Balor really gave everything he had but it showed why Rollins is champ because he’s just that much better than the rest.
Overall Rating: 6.5/10