Monday, April 25, 2016

WWE Raw 4-25-16

 


The show starts off with a graphic for Chyna, and then a recap of the AJ-Roman feud. It almost makes AJ-Roman seem like a big deal. AJ faces Sheamus tonight, while Roman faces ADR. Shane's doing his Red Shoes impersonation here. He glad hands with the fans for a bit. Steph comes out while he says it's time to have some fun. Steph says that this is his last night running Raw, and at Payback, Vince will decide who runs Raw. Okay then - that's out of nowhere. Shane threatens his sister with security. What a dick. TNA is watching Raw and hoping that each of these security guys is able to show up on an Impact taping soon. Shane sang the goodbye song badly, which the fans already did. Shane brings out AJ...boy would he be a good manager for AJ. Just him saying "THE PHENOMENAL AJ STYLES!" made him seem like a big deal.

 

And then he faced Sheamus. Sheamus with the bright red gear and giant bushy beard just looks bad. I like Cole saying that Sheamus uses the same style that Roman does - this match would make more sense if that was ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE MATCH, thus giving AJ a reason to want the match, but I'll take it. Loved that AJ basement dropkick on the apron to take the knee out - shame the moonsault didn't hit. Irish Curse gets 2, and Sheamus claps sarcastically. Giant bearhug by Sheamus - this is Sheamus's best match in quite a while. Phenomenal Forearm hits and it ONLY TAKES ONE OF THEM TO WIN!? Fantastic. Gallows and Anderson come out in slick new robe vests. "#GB4Life" on their gear - Guns and Bulletproof perhaps?

 
Roman turns his head unnaturally to the right to watch this, and then the Usos come in - they're gonna take care of the other Club guys. Also, Roman is now a colossal asshole to his family members, who are battling the great unknown to protect him. New Day comes out for a post-break bit. Post-break, they talk about the tourney being sponsored by Booty-Os. Just what the world wanted - a live Vaudevillains promo. Aiden says they'll party like it's 1899. 'Zo and Cass came out to a nice reaction and a crowd loving them. Karl and Gallows leave AJ's locker room - making it even more clear they're turning on him.


They show the Tweet by Cena saying he'll be back on Memorial Day. Outstanding theme and presentation for the Biz Cliz. Cole talks about how they were part of "a Club" in New Japan. Nice calf kick by Karl gets 2. Karl slugs away in the corner before tagging in Gallows. Gallows lariat with a RIKISHI SELL as it should be. Long holds here. Wow is this not getting over like it should be beyond "Bullet Club" chants. More long holds. Occasional dives by the Usos. END DAMMIT. Magic Killer FINALLY ends it. Jesus.Nice of Big Dog to wait for his theme to hit to save his family.




Outstanding filmed video package for WM makes it look gorgeous. AJ chats with Renee and we get a bit more with Gallows and Anderson. Owens-Sami recap video starts with...their Rumble stuff, and then it becomes great by focusing on their real-life relationship. We see photos of them when they were younger, Sami at Kevin's wedding, and Sami winning the NXT TItle - before being attacked by Owens. WWE should just build up feuds with video packages and not actually have the PPV-level wrestlers wrestle, because they look so much worse in matches than in video packages. Great bit where Owens says it's not personal with him - if anyone is making it personal, it's Sami. Great thing - and now Sami's out to face Rusev.






OH MY GOD, Lana's pleather skirt! JBL plugs the US Title DVD, which he is hosting because...he was US Champ briefly. Weird bit where JBL gets called out for a cheap plug and then he insults Byron for having a bald spot. Rusev dominates, but eats a barricade moonsault. Crossbody gets 2. Superkick from Rusev gets 2. Sami slipts out of an Accolade and beats him with a flash cradle. Good-ish story there I guess. Cute line by JBL saying that Lana turned heel when she threw her heels at him. Owens jumps Zayn, as he should. WWE has done an OUTSTANDING job of building up Sami vs. Owens. Shame it isn't for an IC Title that means something.
 
 
 

Renee talks about how Apollo has debuted in The New Era of WWE, and now he's happy to face Cody. Apollo thanks Dusty for helping him in NXT, including coming up with the name "Apollo". Well that's odd. "Comedy" with Titus and Dolph to end smoking? WHAT!? Crews beats him in a nothing match. "This kid has megastar written all over him!' - a surefire way he doesn't over as a megastar. Time for the Crackhead's Cabana with Dean Ambrose. Jericho comes out and says he wants him to apologize for insulting him and tells him to kiss his $1,500 boots - THAT'S $750 PER BOOT, YOU STUPID IDIOT! They brawl and Dean eats a Walls on the table, resulting in Jericho's ass crack being visible even with a belt.




Nattie's out to face EMMA! Nice matwork to start. Sliding dropkick gives Emma a 2. Emma gets locked in a sharpshooter and beaten. Short, but good. Chyna highlight video airs alongside a tribute graphic. Outstanding video package, and given the things she said about Triple H, it's a pleasant surprise that they would do it. Camp WWE ad. DAMIEN SANDOW GETS KIND OF AN INTRO. They recap Dolph being beaten up by Baron on SD, and sure enough, he does the same to Baron here. Ah, the good old WWE babyface mentality of "don't hold yourself to a higher level than the heel - lower yourself to his standard".


Puerto Rico has amazing drinks and hot women. Maryse's onesie and cleavage introduce Miz. Miz says the IC Title has been held by greats - like him, and Cesaro has never held it. Cesaro mocks Miz for his movie impressions and says he only belongs in Jackass. Cesaro prevents being jumped with the pop-up uppercut, teases a swing, but Maryse saves him. Glorious. Roman and AJ meet and AJ puts his cap on backwards. That certainly was a segment with two people saying words in one another's general direction.

 
 

Ryback vs. Kalisto is announced for the pre-show. So I guess now Ryback wins the title in the meaningless pre-show match. Roman's out, but first. LOOK AT ALL THE GOOD ROMAN DOES WITH MAKE A WISH KIDS. YOU SHOULD LOVE HIM AND THIS IS WHY. Alberto does holds. More holds. After a bunch of nothing, we get a Superman punch, and a Bullet Club distraction leads to a cradle for a nearfall - but the spear wins it. Superman punch to AJ, then Gallows, but the Phenomenal Forearm KOs Roman.


Screens -
http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/e23ngie07f6dcd4b17c6q3ax56ye4rjj

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