Welcome to the WWE Raw Review for April 2, 2018. For both this and Smackdown, I will go over what the big talking points were, pick the match of the night, and look ahead to the next show.
Q and A
The question and answer part of the confrontation between Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Kurt Angle and Rhonda Rousey. The bosses were playing up the Authority story, saying that Rousey was an example what they do when people rise up against them. Angle and Rousey looked amused by the posturing, with Rousey asking Stephanie if she was right or left handed so she knows what arm to go after without affecting her check writing. A photo op is when things broke down. Triple H sucker punched Angle, which led to Rousey grabbing him by the throat. Stephanie used this moment to slam Rousey through the table. The Bosses were standing tall, but the look on Rousey’s face as she lay in the wreckage told the real story. She was not hurt or upset, she looked like she was ready to kill.
Braun and Brains
As the crowd watched and Braun Strowman comes to confront Sheamus and Cesaro, we all had the same thought in mind, will this be the moment Braun announces who his tag team partner is? In a good show of deception, Braun left and his twin brother “Brains” came out and quickly got in to the ring to utterly destroy The Bar. At first “Brains” came out in a white cut off shirt with glasses completely fooling everyone but eventually ditched his disguise, and now suddenly we all want “Brains” in our lives. In all seriousness, it looks like we’ll have to wait until their match at Wrestlemania to find out who Braun selected.
No Answer
John Cena came to the ring and it seems like his question has been answered. With the Undertaker not responding, Cena said he would go to Wrestlmania as a fan. Apart form the story line going on here, it was really cool to hear Cena talk up the entire roster. Claiming that he would not join anything else because that would take away a spot from a full time superstar, Cena and the crowd tried one last time to get the Undertaker to respond. Nothing happened. Cena said he was disappointed in the Undertaker and walked out of the ring. There is a low chance Undertaker does not appear on Sunday, but having him not show up is a strange way for the match to proceed.
Match of the Night
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor (Rollins wins by pinfall)
The Miz joined the commentary table and got the best seat in the house for the match between Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. Balor and Rollins have had incredible matches, but being this close to Wrestlemania, they turned it up a notch. One of the most interesting things, was the Miz saying he was a changed man after the birth of his daughter. Both men looked strong in this match with each hitting some impressive moves. Rollins jumped to the top rope to deliver a superplex and Balor seemed to always just almost get the pin attempt. The match ended when Rollins hit a black out and pinned Balor for the win. The Mix better bring his A game on Sunday or he might just be an afterthought to another classic that these two men can produce.
Bayley beat Sonia Deville, was rescued by Sasha Banks and then proceeded to beat her down. Matt Hardy deleted Goldust. Elias beat Heath Slater. Aska and Dana Brook beat Alexa Bliss and Mickey James. Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns had a showdown, but Reigns was left laying in the ring. On to Smackdown and then New Orleans.
