RAW - April 1, 2019

We are less than a week away from the big event – Wrestle Mania. I have honestly never seen an entire Wrestle Mania, only some specific snippets that my husband thought were cool. I have very high expectations and also think this is going to be a very long show. Like so long. So this is the last RAW before we spend all day Sunday just watching people fight. I think maybe I’m getting a little over it because why do we need so many matches? Who are these people? Why do I care? Yeah okay so now that I’m over that and the full loss of my Sunday let’s get on with the show.

Stefanie McMahon started the show with an April Fools saying she was entering the match with Rousey/Lynch/Flair which would have been funny if we didn’t already feel like the McMahon family just gets to make stuff up anyway (hello, her brother and husband are in a match so there you go). It didn’t land well. She then talked about history with the women being the headline. They are really pushing this. It stops being cool when you say it over and over.

Apparently they needed to have Brock Lesnar show up right before Wrestle Mania so we can remember what he looks like so this is his token “I’m still here” appearance. It sort of bothers me. No it really bothers me, that he gets to just hold on to his belt and never actually do anything. I’m not sure what is going on with his story line because they don’t actually have story lines anymore. It is like all the fun drama from a few months ago is not just people having in ring yelling matches and cheating to win. Boring. So basically his front man yelled into the microphone, people booed, and then Seth Rollins came out and tried to beat him up. Whatevs guys. They really didn’t work hard enough on this story and I am a little angry that we don’t actually have any reason to believe that Seth will win or even any sort of passion behind him. They try. They really do. But I don’t get it. So that happened. Brock did a bunch of F5s that he likes and then Seth hits him in the family jewels and leaves. *Yawn*

For a few weeks now they have been really pushing the Women’s Tag Team belt. I get it, it is new and kind of cool but also they keep having them battle the same sorry cast of people. This week they added in that Glamazon lady, Beth. I’m pretty sure she could body slam most of the men wrestlers so that is kind of cool. This match was interesting only because it was a double tag team with Baley/Banks and Natalya/Beth versus the Iconics and Nia/Tamina. I don’t think it makes a ton of sense why this is happening but fine. The only thing I’m going to mention in the recap of this fight is how annoying the Iconics are in the ring. They are very screechy (I think I said that last week…) and their moves are very slow and not crisp. I don’t know if that is part of their characters or what but they are not up to the same standard as the other ladies in the ring. I am trying to think of a different group to bring in to be “heels” to match up with Nia/Tamina but I’m kind of at a loss. I think they try to fill that space with the Riot Squad but with three that is a very hard number. I think we could have an interesting turn by Mandy Rose and her friend make a nice turn and join the mean girls club. That way you have a group that can match up with talent but also be the bad girls to ruin the fun. Anyway, this match was weird and not my favorite. I think it was to make that Beth lady look capable for Wrestle Mania which is a fine set up but kind of unnecessary with so many people in the ring.

Batista makes a return to his hometown (I mean I assume this is his hometown because people were cheering) and spends way too much time not actually talking but just standing there. I don’t understand this guy because all I really know is his role in Guardians of the Galaxy. He plays a very nice man in those movies so I don’t get this role he is playing here. I also don’t get why he doesn’t really talk. Oh well. I may never know and I’m pretty sure this is his farewell fight so it is fine.

Now I have a random match to tell you about. Apollo Cruise had a very random match with Jinder Mahal. Now you know how much I love me some Jinder but man this match was so out of place and random. The announcers did not set up what was going on or why and for some reason there were a bunch of random wrestlers standing around the ring. No idea what was going on here, but it was nice to see the amazing classical wrestling moves by Apollo and Jinder. Way to go, guys, but next time let’s have a purpose and set up for this random match! Bad move by the writers but good attempt by the wrestlers.

The next match was a championship match (belt on the line) for the RAW Tag Teams The Revival versus the NXT guys whom shall not be named. I am so over these NXT guys. First off, the only cool thing was Ricochet’s entrance with lasers and they took that away, and second I just am not that impressed with their team dynamic so it is hard for me to even believe they would coordinated enough to beat an actual team. Also, don’t like the Black dude. I am not impressed with his style or story and find it to be much too forced. I think he can kick but the rest…still waiting. Anyway, the Revival won by hiding under the stage (is that right…stage? Mat? Ring…ring sounds right) so they were hiding and caused the other team to have a count out when out of the ring (outside the ropes for over 10 counts). It wasn’t very dramatic and kind of makes me a little sad because the whole thing about the Revival is that they “follow the rules” which hiding is so not following the rules. Let’s just let this sit for a minute. The dudes that are trying to bring back the basic rules of wrestling break one of the most basic rules of wrestling. Whatever. I don’t buy it and I don’t like it and I think it is time for NXT guys to go back down. Didn’t work.

Drew McIntyre and Roman Reins had a back stage little fight which I think I have to mention for some reason. They seem like they are working really hard to not be friends. If they just had stronger stories I could get behind it, but why in the world would the Glasgow guy beat up on this poor cancer survivor? It doesn’t make sense to me and I’m not bought in. I probably will skip this fight in Wrestle Mania.

Kurt Angle’s goodbye also happened this night (I forget how long RAW is..3 hours…wow). They played a very nice video for Kurt that was interesting because he used to have hair! Like lots of hair! Wow. He also apparently had a neck and could move it. Wow time is interesting. The best part about this is that Rey Mysterio made an appearance and challenged Baron Corbin to a match. I love Rey so much. He just seems like such a nice dude and he has a really great and dynamic personal wrestling style. Very cool stuff! Can’t wait! The problem that happened during this Rey vs Baron match was Rey injured his ankle. Potentially catastrophic for Wrestle Mania! Yikes!

The only other exciting thing this week is that it was announced that Finn Balor will be the DEMON at Wrestle Mania! Hooray! The only thing that was slightly upsetting is the unveiling of the Demon is sort of what makes the entrance exciting. The magic is sort of lost when you announce it beforehand. Oh well. I'm still stoked! Hooray!