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WWE RAW 20/4/20 | A Coherent Review.


This episode of Monday Night RAW felt like if last week's show had a sequel if that analogy makes sense? 

It didn't have a new, fresh take on the show and they instead played it safe which is fine. In this case, adding a few risks will definitely help the show from the overall feeling of emptiness metaphorically speaking of course. 

Drew McIntyre Addresses The Man That Stomped Him Twice.  

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McIntyre opens a Monday Night RAW show with a promo for the second episode in a row. He wasn't shocked that Seth Rollins attacked him last week due to his new price possession and how the superstars want that taste of gold. 

Angel Garza's music hits and the current United States champion, Andrade, strikes Drew but that led to not one but two claymore kicks on Andrade. 

A decent opening segment. Did its job on building the main event match between Garza and Drew McIntyre. It must be cool for Angel Garza to go one on one with THE WWE champion. A definite career highlight for the guy so far. 

Aleister Black vs Austin Theory. Men's Money In The Bank Qualifying Match. 

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This is the best Money In The Bank qualifying match out of all of the qualifying matches that have aired throughout the weeks since Wrestlemania. 

Theory did a packaged brain buster of some sort which looked cool but unfortunately, that wasn't enough to beat Aleister Black because the striking man from Amsterdam is now in the Money In The Bank ladder match with the black mass. 

If WWE gave them 15 minutes more, it would've been a straight-up classic but it was great while it lasted. 

Shayna Baszler vs Indi Hartwell. 

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Baszler won her match with her signature arm stomp to which Shayna further attacked Indi. From a continuity standpoint, having the ref end the match after that stomp made no sense. 

Ricochet And Cedric Alexander vs Brendan Vink And Shane Throne. 

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Like I said in my previous RAW reviews,  Ricochet and Cedric Alexander as a team is a fantastic idea for multiple reasons. For one, Monday night RAW barely got tag teams and two, their talents should be showcased on television. 

The babyface team won with the recoil into the lumbar check (that spot was amayyyyyyzing). 

Meanwhile, Bobby Lashley wanted to show the fans how he flips big rubber tires. Like, what was the point of this series of segments? It didn't build further regarding the Lashley and Lana break up so, I ask again, what was the point? 

Nia Jax vs Kairi Sane. 

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A rematch from last week and like that match, it was nothing special. The notable moment in this match was when Jax threw Kairi on the bottom turnbuckle that was botched at best and reckless at worst. Jax defeated Kairi with the pop-up Samoan drop. 

Inside Seth's house, I assumed, The supposed "leader of the WWE universe" accepted Drew WWE championship challenge. We just got a first singles match officially announced at Money In The Bank and it should be a good one at least I hope. However, the build compared to Drew's match with Andrade, is inferior. 

I hope that Seth in a promo would bring up how the fans will stab Drew in the back just like Seth himself because, without it, the tension between those two is kinda weak. 

Viking Raiders just did a carpool karaoke. Something I thought I'll never say. 

MVP vs Apollo Crews. Men's Money In The Bank Qualifying Match. 

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MVP was talking trash about how Apollo Crews ain't a big-money star-like Montel Von Porter but Apollo Crews said otherwise with a W thanks to a side pop-up powerbomb. 

Apollo's is on a roll as of late with his match of the year contender with Aleister Black two weeks back and now qualifying for a match that a lot of people got their eyes on and honestly, his talents truly deserved it. 

Liv Morgan vs Ruby Riott. 

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Before this, Ruby cut a backstage promo about how there wasn't a Riott Squad at all in the sense that it was because of her carrying Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan on her that it damaged her shoulders. This was a decent match actually. 

Liv Morgan got her sweet revenge with the flatline. Liv has impressed me in the ring as of late. If she keeps it up, I might officially be a Liv Morgan stan. 

Rey Mysterio vs Murphy. Men's Money In The Bank Qualifying Match. 

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Throughout the match, Murphy damaged Rey's fingers over and over again and it resulted in the longest match of the night. 

After a beautiful executed Canadian destroyer, Mysterio with injured fingers, delivered a 619 to qualify for the Men's Money In The Bank ladder match. A very good match. 

Charlotte Flair vs Kayden Carter. 

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It's kinda odd that an NXT champion is competing on RAW but then again, so has other fellow NXT stars like the person Charlotte's fighting against, Kayden Carter. Oh, and Carter lost as if anyone was shocked by that outcome.  

Andrade vs Akria Tosawa. 

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Tosawa started off this match with a lot of effective offensives that almost had Andrade eat a defeat. Fortunately for the champ, he caught Akria Tosawa on the top rope and nailed the hammerlock DDT to win this match. 

Bianca Belair vs Santana Garrett. 

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This is more a showcase match for Bianca Belair and her capabilities (No sh*t, Omar). Belair gets her W with the KOD. 

Drew McIntyre vs Angel Garza. 

Despite the fact that McIntyre had to deal with outside shenanigans from Vega's associates in Andrade and Austin Theory, Drew overcame the odds with the claymore kick on Angel Garza for the victory. A fine match for what it was but like I said on last week's show, the story of Andrade and Drew's history could've easily benefited as a PPV attraction. 

So, to recap for all of you slow mofos. 

Like: Aleister Black vs Austin Theory, Rey Mysterio vs Murphy, Apollo Crews' momentum, Liv's improvement in the ring.

Didn't like: The continuity error regarding Shayna Baszler's stomp on the arm, the nothingness that was the Bobby Lashley segments, the botched spot from Nia Jax, the build for the Seth and Drew match so far. 


What do you guys think about this episode of RAW? Sound off in the comments below. Follow me on the tweets @omartheplayaguy and follow this very blog for honest pro wrestling opinions. Anyway, stay safe smarks.

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