WWE RAW
Episode 1299
#RAW
Original Air Date: April 16, 2018
Event Date: April 16, 2018 (aired live)
City: Hartford, CT
Venue: XL Center
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Jonathan Coachman
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Ring Area
Kurt Angle heads to the ring. He welcomes everyone to the show and to the Superstar Shakeup. As he speaks, Sunil Singh interrupts as he comes out to the stage. Sunil introduces RAW’s first new acquisition, the United States Champion Jinder Mahal. Sunil and Mahal head to the ring.
Mahal congratulates Angle on making the best decision by picking him. Mahal does question why he was brought to the arena in an SUV instead of a limo though. As the best competitor on any WWE show, Mahal has some expectations. Or rather, he has some demands. Angle says that, on RAW, the best is determined in the ring. With that in mind, Angle issues an open call for anyone in the back to challenge Mahal for the US Title right now. Jeff Hardy answers the challenge.
Match 1
US Title Match
Jinder Mahal (US Champ) w/ Sunil Singh vs Jeff Hardy
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Jeff Hardy wins via pinfall after a Swanton Bomb and becomes the new US Champ
Time: 8:27 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. There were a few moments where it seemed like it took them a few seconds to get on the same page, but other than those few minor pauses, I liked the match. Mahal looked good, hitting some of his strikes with some nice aggressiveness. There weren’t a whole lot of shenanigans either. Other than one distraction from Sunil, this was a very straightforward match.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Jinder Mahal about what just happened. Mahal is furious, and he says he will invoke his rematch clause at The Greatest Royal Rumble. As he talks, No Way Jose and his party line dance past. Renee Young joins the party as Mahal fumes.
Match 2
Bayley vs Sasha Banks
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when The Riott Squad interferes
Time: 5:32 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. They fought hard, and towards the end their emotions started taking over. It started with a slap from Sasha that turned into a brawl. That transitioned into a chain of reversals before what would have been a dramatic finish if it hadn’t been interrupted. I liked how this match used the Shakeup to enhance its interest. If Sasha and Bayley get split up, then there might not be any other time for a conclusion to their story (although they could just have the match at Backlash). I also liked the emotion at the end of the match. It worked on me, I was really pulling for Bayley at the end.
Ring Area
After the match, The Riott Squad continues their attack. They easily take out both Sasha and Bayley before celebrating their first actions in their new home.
Match 3
Heath Slater & Rhyno vs Authors of Pain
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Akam pins Rhyno after The Last Chapter
Time: 2:36
Match Thoughts
An okay match. I liked the fight from Slater and Rhyno. They attacked AoP before the bell and tried to carry that momentum into the match. Unfortunately for them, I don’t think it was a surprise to anyone when AoP quickly started to take over.
Ring Area
The Miz, Bo Dallas, and Curtis Axel are in the ring for Miz TV. Miz introduces his guests and the newest members of RAW: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Owens and Zayn head to the ring where everybody has a group hug. Miz claims that the people in the ring are better than the nWo. They will change the landscape of WWE, and they will shape RAW in their image.
Angle interrupts The Miz and comes out to the stage. Angle says Owens and Zayn both lost their match last week, so they are not part of RAW. Owens says Angle must have missed the email sent this past week. Thankfully, Zayn has a copy of said email. Zayn reads the email which states that letting Owens and Zayn would be a huge mistake. Therefore, Owens and Zayn have been offered RAW contracts by Stephanie McMahon.
Owens gloats as hard as he possibly can and Miz mocks Angle. Angle reluctantly welcomes Owens and Zayn to RAW, but he tells them to say goodbye to The Miz. Apparently Daniel Bryan pushes Shane and Paige to acquire Miz for SmackDown Live. Angrily, Miz says Angle just let the “B” show become “the” show. He and the Miztourage will run SmackDown. Angle replies by saying that Miz is going to SmackDown, but Dallas and Axel will be staying on RAW. Also, as a parting gift, Angle makes a ten-man tag match for tonght.
Backstage
Bray Wyatt and Woken Matt Hardy are here, and it’s wonderful.
Match 4
Tag Team Eliminator Final Match
The Revival vs Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
(referee: Darrick Moore; guest commentary: Cesaro, Sheamus)
Result: Matt Hardy pins Dash Wilder after an assisted Twist of Fate
Time: 5:27
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. I feel like The Revival keeps getting passed over on RAW, so I sure do hope they head over to SmackDown tomorrow night. This match was fine, but I want to see The Revival do more of what they do best. They weren’t able to do that as much here because Hardy and Wyatt needed to look like a cohesive team, so that somewhat diminished The Revival’s ability to show their superb teamwork.
Video
As an announcement for the co-branded PPVs starting with Backlash, superstars lip sync in a recording studio, singing about “the best of both worlds.”
Backstage
Cesaro and Sheamus encounter Breezango in the back. Breezango cites The Bar for multiple fashion infractions.
Backstage
Angle tells Ronda Rousey that Wrestlemania was just the beginning. Also. Stephanie won’t go away quietly. Natalya walks in, and Rousey gives her a hug. They know each other from their training. Natalya is excited to have a fresh start on RAW and thanks Angle for the opportunity.
Match 5
Ember Moon vs Mickie James
(referee: John Cone; guest commentary: Nia Jax; joining from the back: Alexa Bliss)
Result: Ember Moon wins via pinfall after an Eclipse
Time: 4:38
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Match Thoughts
Good match. Mickie looked very good, dominating a good portion of this match with some great, hard-hitting moves. Moon built a comeback, and the finish to this was very entertaining. A simple and unsurprising match, but very well done.
Backstage
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens aren’t happy about their first night on RAW. Miz walks up and asks them how Shane McMahon is. Owens and Zayn start to go off on Shane when Miz clarifies that he wants to know how Shane will treat The Miz. Owens and Zayn say they should really focus on tonight’s match, and Miz just wants to make sure his final RAW match is “must see.”
Ring Area
Dolph Ziggler heads to the ring. Ziggler talks about being back on RAW, saying he’s still the best superstar to walk the aisle. He starts to talk about something that’s changed on RAW when Titus O’Neil, Apollo, and Dana Brooke head to the ring. Titus O’Neil welcomes Ziggler to RAW and offers him a spot in Titus Worldwide. Ziggler finishes what he was going to say, saying he didn’t come back to RAW alone. Drew McIntyre rushes into the ring and attacks Apollo and Titus from behind. McIntyre and Ziggler beat up Titus and Apollo.
Ring Area
Roman Reigns heads to the ring. Reigns starts by again saying that Lesnar isn’t on RAW. He also says he’ll see Lesnar in the cage at the Greatest Royal Rumble, and that’s where Reigns will leave Lesnar. Then Reigns will return to RAW as the full-time Universal Champ. Samoa Joe interrupts and comes out to the stage.
Joe points out that Reigns brags about showing up to work, but he never brags about getting the job done. He also points out that Lesnar has beaten Reigns three times. Reigns loses a lot, but he won’t learn until he’s put down for good. At Backlash, Joe will be waiting to “put the big dog to sleep once and for all.”
Joe then introduces a video which shows Lesnar destroying Reigns multiple times.
After the video, Reigns invites Joe to the ring. Joe starts to head down, but he turns around at the bottom of the ramp. He turns around again, but only to say that he’ll see Reigns at Backlash.
Match 6
Mandy Rose w/ Sonya Deville vs Natalya
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Natalya wins via submission with a sharpshooter
Time: 2:49
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was short, but it was good for Natalya’s debut.
Ring Area
Sonya Deville attacks Natalya after the match. Mandy joins in, but Ronda Rousey quickly heads down to the ring to help Natalya. Rose and Deville exit the ring before Rousey enters, but Deville decides to challenge Rousey. Rousey hits Deville with a series of quick strikes and a leg sweep. Rose and Deville leave the ring area while Rousey helps Natalya.
Video
Baron Corbin is now on RAW. And he has a video telling us all about him. Corbin doesn’t care.
Match 7
Breezango vs Cesaro & Sheamus
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Tyler Breeze pins Cesaro with a sunset flip
Time: 3:48
Match Thoughts
This was fun. Fandango started with some goofiness which only served to piss off The Bar. Breeze got a tag and proceeded to take a beating for most of the rest of the match. This match showed that Breezango can still entertain and can win a match even when outmatched. Hopefully RAW will allow them to pick up where SmackDown left them off.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes Elias. Elias has chosen not to perform tonight because he only does the shows that matter. Hartford does not matter. Speaking of things that don’t matter, Elias says Bobby Lashley should go sit in the stands and worship Elias like everyone else. Elias then decides to perform for Renee Young, but Renee seems very unappreciative.
Match 8
Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens & Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel & The Miz vs Braun Strowman & Finn Balor & Bobby Lashley & Seth Rollins (IC Champ) & Bobby Roode
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Braun Strowman pins The Miz after a running powerslam
Time: 15:01 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
A fun match. As expected, it was all over the place, but I liked it. It was a showcase for everyone, and in the end it was a send-off for The Miz.
Show Impressions
I liked the show. It was all about the spectacle of seeing new people (which was similar to last week’s spectacle of seeing new people), but I do get excited about the new possibilities when shows like this happen. Of course, a number of the RAW people we saw tonight won’t be on RAW next week, so I shouldn’t get too excited until the Shakeup is over.
Match of the Night
Breezango vs The Bar
I liked a lot of the matches tonight, but I don’t think any really stood out as being significantly better than any other. This was short, but it was a fun match that hopefully is the start of a new beginning for Breezango.
Official Results: http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2018-04-16