Raw Review 04/24/2017

Tonight is the Go Home Edition of Monday Night Raw as this Sunday is PayBack. After a going on a rampage last week and ending the night in a battle for the ages against Big Show, what will be next for Braun Strowman as he sets to face Kalisto in a Dumpster Match. Will the Big Dog Roman Reigns show up on the hunt? Plus after a great battle between Jeff Hardy and Cesaro, will these two teams be able to stay friendly with the Raw Tag Team Championship match right around the corner? The Women’s division has heated up since the Shakeup and Alexa Bliss has made the most of her opportunities. Now that she is the #1 Contender what will she do to get a last minute advantage on Bayley? Business has picked up between Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins, will The king Slayer continue to bring the fight to Joe and get in his head before their big match? Also tonight will Bray Wyatt have any last messages for Randy Orton before their House of Horrors match, and will The Miz retaliate on Dean Ambrose?

Raw is live tonight from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri

Raw kicks off with us being welcomed to the show by Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Booker T.

In Ring Segment: Highlight Reel
Jericho welcomes everyone to the Highlight Reel. He says this is the last one you’ll ever see on Raw. He proclaims he will beat Owens this Sunday and head over to SmackDown Live. Jericho states that no matter what he will have the Friends of Jericho. Jericho says he needed a huge guest for this show and announces that the guest is him. He says he will get his PayBack this Sunday. He pokes fun at Owens and is then interrupted by The Miz.
Miz tells Jericho that Raw is no longer Jericho and hasn’t been since him and Maryse arrived. Miz says that Raw is all about the IT Couple. Jericho tells him to watch it. Miz states that The Highlight Reel has been canceled and will be replaced with Miz TV. Miz then welcomes everyone to Miz TV but is interrupted by Dean Ambrose.
Ambrose agrees with Jericho that Miz is a stupid idiot. Miz says he never said that, but Jericho says I would say that. Ambrose says he is a problem solver and will fix this. He brings in the Ambrose Asylum. Ambrose welcomes his guest Jericho and Miz and Maryse. Ambrose tells Jericho that he will be rooting for him this Sunday. Ambrose tells Jericho he wants to leave everything in the past. He gives Jericho a gift and it’s a jacket with Christmas lights. Ambrose tells him to try it on Maaannnnn. Miz interjects and claims that the jacket is hideous. Miz tells that the jacket is the type of a quality that comes from a champion that devalues the title. Miz claims that people should be thankful that he is on Monday Night Raw. Miz says that everyone should be giving him gifts. Ambrose says he does have a gift and gives Miz Dirty Deeds. Jericho tells Maryse that she just Made the List.
My Opinion:
An entertaining segment but not what I would have started the night with. When you have PayBack this Sunday you need to start with Bray Wyatt or somebody like that. This to me works better in the middle of the show. Starting Raw with a bang is important and if a casual viewer tuned in to this they probably would turn it off.

Match 1: Matt Hardy vs Sheamus
Matt rolls up Sheamus, but he quickly gets out. Sheamus gets a side headlock but Matt sends him off the ropes. Sheamus comes back sending him to the mat. Matt lands a neckbreaker and a leg drop followed by another and another. Matt gets a side headlock of his own, but Sheamus fights out. Sheamus lands a big kick and looks for the Ten Beats of the Bodhran. Matt fights out, but is cut by Sheamus. Matt fights out and lands the Side Effect on the apron as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns Sheamus has Matt down with a chinlock. Matt fights to a vertical base. Sheamus whips him into the corner and hits a spear. Sheamus finally hits Ten Beats of the Bodhran. Sheamus then goes to the top and takes matt down with a clothesline. Sheamus outs Matt on his shoulders, but matt fights out and sends Sheamus into the post. Matt plants Sheamus with a Tornado DDT. Matt lands big blows to Sheamus and slams his head into the turnbuckle. Matt hits a running bulldog and goes to the top. Matt hits a big elbow, but Sheamus kicks out on the pin. Matt looks for the Twist of Fate and is caught and hit with a knee sending him to the floor. Sheamus goes to the apron, but runs into a kick by Matt. Sheamus fights back and hits a rolling senton. Jeff gets on apron but is pulled off by Cesaro. Matt hits the Twist of Fate and is able to pick up the win.
Winner: Matt Hardy
My Opinion:
A good match between these two. I like the tension between the teams, now we can see it explode this Sunday. I really like that the Hardy’s keep going over. They need to be the power team and pick up the wins. Sheamus and Cesaro still prove to be a power team, but I don’t think to many people are rooting against the Hardy’s at least right now. It will be interesting to see if these singles matches eventually segway into a split of the Hardy Boyz. I personally would love Jeff to have another title run and if we are lucky see the Broken Brilliance show up.

Backstage Segment:
Kurt is on the phone and says asks Kalisto if he even wants to go through the match. Miz interrupts and tells Kurt that it is unacceptable that Ambrose and Jericho interrupted him. Kurt tells Miz to solve his problems in the ring and tells him to find a partner because he will face Ambrose and Jericho tonight.

Match 2: Neville & Tj Perkins vs Austin Aries & Jack Gallagher
Gallagher and Aries strike first hammering away on Perkins and Neville before the match begins. Perkins and Neville regroup, but are sent over the top rope as Raw heads to break.
As Raw returns Perkins lands a big dropkick to Gallagher’s back. Neville gets the tag and locks in a chinlock. Gallagher fights to a vertical base and strikes Neville. Perkins is able to get the tag. Gallagher lands a drop toe hold taking down neville and then sends Perkins into him. Aries gets the tag and he comes in hot. He lands a big elbow and takes Perkins to the mat. He turns the attention to Neville and takes him down too. He sends both Perkins and Neville to the floor. Aries takes them out with a suicide dive. Aries locks in the last chancellor, but Neville breaks it up. Gallagher gets involved and Neville is able to fend him off momentarily. Gallagher hits him with a headbutt. Aries hits the discus 5 Arm on Perkins and picks up the win.
Winners: Austin Aries & Jack Gallagher
My Opinion:
I enjoyed this mainly because it didn’t drag out too long. It was quick and they got all their spots in. People get bored when the Cruiserweights go on and on so this was perfect. I really want something to happen in the division to really get people hooked, but I just don’t see it. The only thing I can say is sign someone like Lio Rush. if they got guys that people really care about right now it could boost the division. I think they also need to stop making it so predominant that this is their division. The old Cruiserweights didn’t do this. They were part of the show, but it was no different. The old division worked because you had guys like Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy. This division just doesn’t have that. To save this it has to stop being a side show and I almost would sign some top indy guys that people care for and do some sort of invasion so people get hooked and want to see what happens next. The problem I see is besides the guys going for the title people don’t care about any other storylines in the division because they mean nothing. These guys can’t go anywhere else but this division.

In Ring Segment:
*** Before the match Braun gets on the mic and says he takes out the trash. Braun says when he stuffs Kalisto in the dumpster he is doing it symbolically to everyone especially Roman Reigns.

Backstage Segment:
Kurt Angles is backstage and asks Kalisto if he wants to do this. Kalisto says he is a man and wants this. He says if he doesn’t fight for his pride he doesn’t deserve anything.

Match 3: Braun Strowman vs Kalisto: Dumpster Match
Kalisto is able to land a kick, but Braun quickly grabs him and sends him over the rope. Kalisto lands on the apron and kicks Braun in the knee. Kalisto hits a jawbreaker and takes down Braun. Braun catches him and throws him across the ring. Braun crushes Kalisto in the corner and then steps over him. Braun picks up Kalisto and tries to launch him in the dumpster. Kalisto tries to pull Braun over the top rope, but Braun is too strong and pulls him back over. Braun kicks him and stalks him in the corner. He drives the knee into the back of Kalisto’s neck. Braun hits a big shot knocking Kalisto to the mat. Braun hits a big shot on the chest of Kalisto and toys with him. More blows from Braun and Kalisto remains on the ground. Kalisto is able to hang on again as braun tries to toss him in the dumpster. Braun lifts Kalisto over his head, but Kalisto fights out and lands in the rings. Kalisto kicks Braun and sends him into the dumpster winning the match.
*** After the Match Braun gets in the ring and hits a big boot followed by a big choke. He slams Kalisto and picks him up slamming him again. Braun sends Kalisto to the floor and goes after him. Braun throws Kalisto in the barricade and then slams him in the dumpster. Braun closes the lid and pushes the dumpster up the ramp. Helps comes to try to stop Braun, but Braun backs them out of the way. He locks The lid of the dumpster and proceeds to push it off the stage.
Winner: Kalisto
My Opinion:
I like the idea of having this kind of match, but I wish that he would have faced Big Show or someone like that. The whole match is somewhat viewed as a joke and we knew what to expect mostly. I don’t think this helped Braun to much. I mean great he pushed the dumpster off the stage, but after tipping an ambulance this doesn’t measure up. I think there is a better way to build up Braun and that would have been keeping him on a real path of destruction. Definitely something needed to be done like how Kane got built up. Braun would have been better off destroying everything in his path because to an average viewer he just beat up a little guy and that doesn’t get too much credibility. You need to think of the average viewer and you want them to tune in and go that’s a dangerous man, not he just beat up a guy the size of a high schooler.

Backstage Segment:
Kalisto is being taken away on the stretcher.

Bray Wyatt:
Bray tells Randy that pain and suffering awaits him in the House of Horrors. He says every room will be an endless nightmare and that Randy can leave. Bray says the house will be Randy’s eternal prison for his mind and soul. He says that deepest darkest depths of Hell await Randy. Bray states he will be reborn and finishes with Follow the Buzzards.

Match 4: Dana Brooke vs Alicia Fox
Alicia quickly takes down Dana. She goes for a bridge cover and Dana kicks out. Out comes Emma. Dana backs Alicia into the corner. Dana hits a clothesline and then slams Alicia. Dana hits a big pile driver and wins over Alicia.
Winner: Dana Brooke
My Opinion:
A quick match, but I like Dana going over. Dana could be very good if they keep giving her the chance. The girls may not be the best, but people love it cause they are good looking. That’s why I would take this kind of match anyday over a pointless Cruiserweight match.

Backstage Segment:
Samoa Joe and Gallows and Anderson join Charly. She asks them about their match tonight. Joe says that tonight one story will be told. Anderson says they have known Joe for a long time and they have shown each other different ways of torture. Gallows says they can talk as much as they want but it’s only garbage that comes out of their mouth. Joe tells Rollins that he will get PayBack for Triple H and Stephanie.

Match 5: Enzo & Big Cass & Seth Rollins vs The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) & Samoa Joe
*** Before the match The Club attacks Enzo. Joe takes out Cass. They beat down Enzo and out comes Rollins. Rollins battles back, but finds himself in a three on one. Cass comes in to try to even the odds.
*** As Raw returns Angle announces Cass and Rollins new partener Finn Balor. Finn rushes the ring and evens the odds.
The match gets under way with Cass and Gallows. Cass nails Gallows and lands a big slam. Rollins gets the tag and lands and big right from the top. Balor gets the tag and hammers on Gallows. He takes him down, but Gallows gets the upper hand and tags Anderson. Anderson gets taken down by Balor, but not for long as anderson battles back and backs Balor into the corner. Joe gets the tag and lands a huge kick to Balor. He backs balor into the corner and hammers away and tags Anderson. Anderson locks in an armbar on Balor. Balor battles back and that doesn’t last long. Anderson slams down Balor and gets the armbar back in. Balor is backed in the corner again and Gallows comes in throwing hands. He then locks in an armbar and Balor is in bad shape. Balor fights back, but Gallows hits a knee to the gut and takes him down. Balor gets out of the way of the leg drop and tags Rollins. Anderson gets the tag and Rollins quickly takes him down. He hits the slingblade. Gallows tries to get involved, but Rollins fights out. The Club and Joe are on the floor. Rollins hits a suicide dive takes out Anderson and Joe. Joe tries to grab Rollins but Balor breaks it up. Rollins hits a flying clothesline and looks for the pedigree but decides against it. He hits the knee to the face and picks up the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins, Big Cass & Finn Balor
My Opinion:
A very good contest between the teams. Joe and Rollins were perfect in this. I think sometimes it is to much to oversell a rivalry so the idea to have a little bit between the two was perfect. The idea is to make people want to see the clash and this makes them keep waiting and want to see the clash. The thing I thought about during the match was that Balor really needs a good rivalry. He is so good and does have a good history with many guys. The Club needs something new as well. It gets plain with them and they need a new start or something to make more people want to love them again or at least want to see them.

In Ring Segment:
Alexa says she came to Raw to win. She claims that Sunday she will win and become the new Raw Women’s Champion. Out comes Bayley!
Bayley states that Alexa has proven herself right away. She says that Alexa has always talked behind people’s back. She states that she is not just talk and she works her butt off for her dream. She proclaims that she will stop at nothing to walk out of her hometown still the Champion. Alexa brings up Bayley’s Dad and says that she gets to take her title and humiliate her in front of Bayley’s father. Alexa states that Bayley is a pathetic sheltered child. Alexa proclaims that she will take what she deserves. Out comes Sasha Banks.
Alexa asks Bayley if Sasha put love letters in there when she packs her lunch. Sasha calls Alexa a troll and tells Alexa that she does not own the place. Sasha takes Bayley’s side and says that Bayley will shut her up this Sunday. She then states that she will shut Alexa up right now. Alexa says this is not going to happen. Alexa states that she feels unsafe being here with Sasha. Sasha then decks her.
My Opinion:
Sasha really needs to work on her promos. There not doing it for me anymore. Alexa is awesome and she brings a different type of promo. I love the way she handles her business out there and makes smart remarks. She is really good at getting over being a heel. Bayley is the best and she can make everything better. Her versus Alexa is the perfect hero versus villain. I think Raw was very lucky in getting Alexa. She adds a new spark to the division.

Match 6: Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks
Alexa takes a cheap shot on Sasha to start off the match. She stomps on Sasha and goes for a cover. Sahs kicks out quickly, but Alexa brings her to her feet and is able to land a clothesline. Sasha comes back with a series of dropkicks and a nice smack. Sasha lands double knees and goes for the cover. Alexa kicks out and fights back. She takes Sasha down in the corner. Sasha fights back and tries for the Banks Statement, but alexa rolls out of the ring. Alexa walks up the ramp and takes the count out defeat.
*** Bayley tries to grab Alexa, but Alexa gets away. Alexa comes back out and attacks Bayley from behind. Alexa retreats as Sasha comes at her.
Winner: Sasha Banks
My Opinion:
They had a good thing going, but that was a smart move at the end. The logical thing would be save yourself for the title match and that is what alexa did. Alexa goes back to an older style of being a heel where you duck everything and gain heat that way. I personally love that because you want to see someone take it to her. It’s better than watching someone destroy because this really gets under your skin and makes you mad. That is true heat and Alexa is a great heel. I personally am over the Sasha Banks and Bayley thing. This to me is holding Bayley back and making people not look at her like they should. Sasha should have gotten a fresh start and shocked Charlotte by showing up on SmackDown.

Backstage Segment:
Dean tells Jericho that he needs him to take him off the list. Jericho says no one gets taken off the list and asks why would he do that? Jericho brings up their past history. Dean says he wouldn’t do it again. Jericho compliments the jacket Dean gave him. Jericho tells Dean that he has unmade the list. Jericho puts him back on as he walks away.

Match 7: Curt Hawkins vs Apollo Crews
***Hawkins says each week a star is born. He states this is an open invitation to anyone who wants to step in the ring with him.
Hawkins lands a cheap kick, but Apollo fights back. He lands a nice leap frog and a dropkick. Hawkins takes over and stomps on him. Hawkins lands a huge slam and goes to a chinlock. Hawkins throws Apollo off the ropes, but Apollo knocks him down. Apollo is able to fight up to his feet and hit an enziguri. He hits a sit down powerbomb for the win.
Winner: Apollo Crews
My Opinion:
Not a fan of this match. I hate when they put pointless stuff this late in the night. I don’t think Hawkins or Apollo will do much in the near future and it just isn’t interesting. Apollo probably had a better shot staying on the independents and being huge there because WWE has seen to forgot about him.

Kalisto Update:
Kalisto has suffered hip and cervical trauma.

Backstage Segment:
Kurt asks Miz if he found a partner for tonight. Miz said his partner found him. Kurt tells him good luck he is gonna need it. Miz says no he won’t.

Match 8: Chris Jericho & Dean Ambrose vs The Miz &
***Miz says his partner is a big star and Ambrose and Jericho are in big trouble. Miz calls for his partener, but no one comes out. He says they will have to postpone this match. Out comes Kurt Angle.
*** Kurt tells Miz that he needed to find a partner. He tells Miz that he has a match and it starts right now.
Jericho goes right after Miz. He sends Miz into the corner and then sends Ambrose into him. Ambrose and Jericho send Miz over the top rope as Raw goes to break.
Ambrose holds Miz on the ground as Jericho jumps from the top and lands a big move. Jericho lands a nice suplex and follows with an elbow. Jericho gets Miz hung up in the ropes and lands a knee on him. Ambrose comes in and lands an elbow to the head. Miz pleads with Ambrose, but that doesn’t work. Miz slaps Ambrose and he goes after him. Maryse takes out Ambrose on the outside. Miz throws him into the barricade. Miz then drives Ambrose into the ring. Miz hits a big boot to the face and gets a two count on the pin attempt. Ambrose fights back, but Miz is able to keep control and hit a neckbreaker. Miz then hits Daniel Bryan’s signature kicks. Ambrose rolls up Miz, but miz kicks out. Ambrose is able to hit the clothesline and get a tag to Jericho. Jericho hits a shoulder tackle. He hits a running bulldog followed by a lionsault. He drives Miz out of the ring with a drop kick. Miz tries to retreat, but Ambrose follows him and takes it to him. The lights go out and Bray Wyatt appears. Wyatt hits Sister Abigail on the stage. Jericho goes after Wyatt, but Miz and Wyatt go after him. They bring Jericho to the ring and Jericho is able to hit a Codebreaker on Miz. Wyatt comes in and hits sister Abigail on Jericho. Wyatt takes out Miz as raw goes off the air.
Winners: No contest
My Opinion:
I was very impressed with The Miz. He really did put up a good fight with these guys. He made it very believable. Wyatt was the highlight of the match. Wyatt is awesome and he honestly could be on both shows if he really wanted. If they want him to be like the next Undertaker then let him keep doing whatever he wants. The main event could have been better especially for a Go Home show, but this did it’s job. I think though many people would be confused as to what the main points of PayBack are with that ending, it didn’t end with a big selling point of PayBack and that is problem.

Final Thoughts:
Overall it was a safe show, but a good show. First off Alexa Bliss killed it tonight. Her way of being a heel is perfect. As I mentioned the whole running away trait is perfect. People hate this and just want to see her get taken down. Her promos and expressions sell the character better than most of the Women’s wrestlers. Heading into this Sunday with her and Bayley we have a real heel versus babyface and that is great for bayley especially in her hometown. The Hardy’s and Cesaro and Sheamus did very well in building tension for their match. Now we wait to see if it will be respectful or a straight fight. Bray Wyatt was awesome tonight. His message to Randy was loud and clear and actions speak louder than words so him standing tall was great. The only problem I saw was that this rivalry developed on SmackDown and so Raw shouldn’t be the show to sell the match on. Randy hasn’t been on Raw in how long? So why would raw fans care about that. They play to the WWE fans, but the biggest thing is you have to remember you need to sell the casual fan. The people who love WWE will stay no matter what. You need to focus on getting the casual fan to jump aboard. I think the casual fan would be left confused with the end of Raw tonight. The selling points tonight were there, but it wasn’t in your face. You had to decipher to really know the points they were trying to sell. I just remember when the whole Raw was about selling the Show and this didn’t really sell it like it should’ve. Overall WWE needs to get back to what it was. A Wrestling Company. If they want to be a big time TV show then fine do what Lucha Underground does and have fun, but you are WWE so sell it like you are. Sell it like the storylines mean something. Give people something to get excited about. Stop thinking people will wait around. It’s about time a wrestling company comes and gives WWE a run for their money to light a fire under them. Why was the Attitude are so good? Because it had to be good or they would lose fans. Now there is no competition and true fans get screwed by “Safe shows.” Gosh Darn it go out there and give a killer show everyday, because there wasn’t really one damn thing one Raw worth talking about after that screen went black.
Overall Rating: 6.8/10