On April 1, WWE RAW was aired live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It was the final RAW show before WrestleMania XL. The Rock and Roman Reigns appeared on the show. We saw the final bit of build for some of the WrestleMania matches. Let’s take a look at everything that happened on the show.
Roman Reigns and The Rock kicked off Raw
The Rock opened the show. The Rock said that he made that boy bleed. He talked about the beating he gave to Cody Rhodes last week.
Rock showed a video of a young WWE fan crying. He said that he didn’t like it. But he told all the daddies and mommies out there that he will drop some gospel every time The Rock is on TV.
Rock announced that tonight’s show set a record for the largest gate in the history of Raw. The Rock said, “Finally, the Final Boss has returned to Brooklyn”. But he said that he didn’t come alone.
Roman Reigns entered along with Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa. The crowd chanted “YEET,” and Roman said “No YEET” and told the crowd to shut their mouths.
Reigns thanked The Rock for making Rhodes bleed last week. He also thanked Rock for making WrestleMania easy for him.
Roman said that they will smash those fools, and it will be Bloodline rules on Sunday.
Seth Rollins entered through the crowd. He stayed among the fans and said he was not stupid enough to walk into the ambush. Rollins said that The Bloodline crossed the line last week.
Even with a stipulation, he challenged Roman or The Rock to a match in the main event tonight. The Rock declined the challenge.
However, Solo Sikoa accepted it. The Rock said that it will be Bloodline Rules.
Grades: A+
Analysis: Awesome stuff in the opening segment. The crowd was so hot, especially for The Rock. We still had something coming for the main event later tonight.
DIY and The New Day vs. The Judgment Day
New Day and DIY took out Judgment Day during the entrance. They hit four stereo planchas. In the match, Dominik and Balor exchanged quick tags against Gargano.
Mysterio went for the Three Amigos but got two only. Later, Ciampa and Kofi hit double clotheslines on Dominik and JD McDonagh.
Kingston landed a crossbody block on JD for a two-count. New Day landed several moves, including a pendulum kick, DDT, and a Death Valley Driver.
Gargano landed a superkick of Dom followed by a suicide dive.
JD reversed a powerbomb from Woods in the ring and delivered a Spanish Fly. Priest tagged in and dominated.
He delivered a chokeslam to Kingston. Damian hit a Razor’s Edge on Ciampafor the win.
Winners: The Judgment Day
Grades: B-
Analysis: The Judgment Day looked strong before their Undisputed Tag Team Titles’ defense at WrestleMania 40 in a six-pack ladder match.
Backstage: Solo Sikoa looked ready for the match. Roman said that he was going to write a speech. The Rock said that it would be for Paul Heyman. It was confirmed that Reigns would induct Heyman into the Hall of Fame.
Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed
Zayn landed chops and ten punches in the beginning. Zaynavoided a cannonball, but Reed landed two vicious chops.
Sami sent Reed to the outside and delivered a somersault senton. Back in the ring, Reed caught Zayn in mid-air and hit him with a running powerslam for a near fall.
Reed delivered a Uranage and an elbow drop for a two-count. Zayn avoided a slam from the middle rope and landed a sunset flip powerbomb for a near fall.
Zayn tried to lift Reed, but Bronson countered and delivered a Death Valley Driver. Zayn bounced back with a tornado DDT for a two-count.
Reed landed a twisting suplex followed by a senton splash. Zayn avoided The Tsunami and prepared for a Helluva Kick. He saw Gunther on the entrance stage with an unconscious Chad Gable.
Zayn ran to the ramp to check on Gable. Gunther landed a kick to the face of Sami followed by a violent chop. Gunther laid out Zayn with a big boot and talked trash.
Grades: B+
Analysis: Gunther gave a beating to Sami before their match at WrestleMania. Sami will pay it back at The Grandest Stage OfThem All.
Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell vs. Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri
After some early tags, Indi delivered a scoop slam to Maxxine. Candice angrily attacked Maxxine and stomped her in the corner.
Ivy Nile got the tag. She laid out LeRae and landed a dropkick on Hartwell. LeRae took advantage of the referee being distracted, but Hartwell wasn’t impressed by that.
In the end, Dupri rolled Hartwell for the win.
Winners: Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri
Grades: C-
Analysis: They are experimenting with a dark persona for LeRae. Let’s see where this goes.
Ivar vs. Ricochet
Ricochet hit Ivar with a dropkick and sent him to the outside. Ivar avoided the plancha and went for a Tiger Bomb on the floor.
Ricochet avoided it and went for a springboard senton. Ivar again countered it and Ricochet landed hard on the floor.
Ivar delivered a crossbody on the LED apron. In the ring, Ivardelivered a pop-out seated senton.
Ricochet bounced back with a Fosbury Flop. He connected with a standing shooting star press for a near fall.
Ivar hit a spin kick and a Tiger Bomb for a two-count. In the end, Ricochet delivered a fallaway slam and a 630 for the win.
Winner: Ricochet
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun match. Ricochet was on top with his athleticism. Suddenly, Ricochet is gaining momentum every week.
Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley Brawl
Becky entered the ring. She said that she was done talking and looking for a fight. Adam Pearce came out and said that they wouldn’t be doing it tonight.
Rhea walked to the ring attacking security in the process. Lynch and Ripley started a brawl. Becky landed a plancha at ringside on Ripley and the security.
Finally, they were separated by security. Later, we saw them fighting backstage, with security still trying to keep them away from each other.
Grades: B+
Analysis: These pull-apart brawls always look awesome. They have enough hype for Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania XL.
Damage CTRL vs. Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, and TeganNox
Dakota and The Kabuki Warriors competed from Damage CTRL. They tried to dominate Nox. Soon, Damage CTRL suffered stereo German Suplexes.
Zoey landed a springboard attack at ringside. Back inside, Stark delivered a springboard dropkick on Kairi for a two-count.
In the end, Kabuki Warriors ended the match with their reverse DDT/In-Sane elbow drop combo.
Winners: Damage CTRL
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a decent match. However, There was no connection to Damage CTRL’s WrestleMania matches.
Seth Rollins vs. Solo Sikoa
Rollins attacked Sikoa right away and landed a suicide dive at ringside. Seth sent Sikoa into the steel steps.
Solo avoided a Pedigree and slammed Rollins onto the apron and the commentary table. Seth bounced back with steel chair shots to Solo’s midsection and back. Rollins delivered a DDT on the steel chair. Seth grabbed a table and set it up in the ring.
Sikoa delivered a super Samoan Drop on Rollins from the second rope through the table. After the break, they were fighting at ringside. Solo crashed into the steel steps.
Rollins grabbed another table from under the ring. Sikoa tried to do the same as he did with the previous table. Rollins countered it this time and delivered a sunset flip powerbomb through the table.
Seth landed a Stomp and thought that it was over. Jimmy Uso ran down and superkicked Rollins.
Jey Uso came out for backup. Jey and Jimmy fought on the ramp and then to the backstage area.
The Rock attacked Jey and sent him into the big LED screen on the stage. Rock was headed to the ring. Suddenly, Cody Rhodes arrived and joined Rollins in the ring.
Rhodes and Rollins attacked The Final Boss. They cleared the commentary table. Roman Reigns joined in and attacked Cody.
Rollins suffered a Superman Punch, while Cody suffered a Spear at the hands of The Tribal Chief.
The Rock took his weight belt and smashed it on the back of both Cody and Seth. The Bloodline stood tall to close out the show.
Winner: No Contest
Grades: A+
Analysis: Outstanding stuff to close the show. The Bloodline gave another beating to Rhodes and Rollins on Raw before WrestleMania.
Overall, it was a crazy episode of Monday Night Raw. There was absolute carnage in the main event.
