Welcome to the WWE Raw Review for April 30, 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.
Homecoming
Roman Reigns stepped out to a very hostile crowd. Earlier, the referee of the match at the Greatest Royal Rumble had tweeted that Reigns should have won. Reigns accepted the decision but was not happy about it. Jinder Mahal came out to rub it into his face. Then Sami Zayn came out and the place interrupted. Zayn, a hometown boy, wanted a shot at Reigns. Kevin Owens then came out and the roof blew off. All three wanted a shot at Reigns but decided to attack him together. This brought out Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman to clean house. Just watching Owens soak in the crowd will put a smile on your face.
Monday Night Rollins
Seth Rollins came out to address the crowd. It took him a while to finally speak because the crowd was roaring for him. Chants of “You deserve it” echoed throughout the stadium. Rollins talked about what type of champion he wanted to be, and he decided he did not want to be one like Brock Lesnar. Finn Balor came out and the two decided to have a match for the Intercontinental Title. The Mizterouge tried to suck up, but Rollins and Balor set them packing. Balor then attacked Rollins. The title means that much to both
Titus
Titus O’Neil had the moment of the Greatest Royal Rumble when he tripped and went headfirst under the ring. O’Neil made no bones about it, admitting that he fell. He tried to turn it into a teachable moment, but Baron Corbin mocked him. Corbin had a match with No Way Jose, and it looked like the Lone Wolf would have an easy time, but O’Neil and Titus Worldwide interrupted the match. O’Neil then slipped on the ring apron, but the distraction allowed Jose to get the pin. O’Neil popped right back up, smiling and letting us all know it was a setup. O’Neil might be making the biggest fall the biggest win.
Match of the Night
Sasha Banks and Natalya vs. Ruby Riott (Riott Squad wins by pin fall)
Sasha Banks and Ruby Riott might put on a masterpiece sometime in the future given enough time. They came damn close in this superb match. Banks looks like everything done to her kills her and Riott continued making up moves. She jumped from the top rope in what looked like a reverse cannonball splash. Banks lost, thanks to interference from the Riott Squad, but get these two women in a pay-per-view match one on one and let them go. Just a fantastic showing.
Conclusion
Natalya beat Mickie James, while Alexia Bliss and Rhonda Rousey looked on. The Authors of Pain destroyed two local jobbers. Strowman, Lashley and Reigns proved too much for Zayn, Owens and Mahal. Elias injured Bobby Roode. Rollins won the rubber match against in Balor in a great contest. No more Raw before the Backlash
