NWK Reviews the 4/21/14 Raw

[NWK2000]

We get a flashback to last week, in which the entire roster beat down The Shield and then Evolution showed up and beat on them more. Great.

Why didn't Bryan and Brie come out together
Thanks for telling us that, by being married, it makes Brie Daniel's wife. What would we do without you Cole?
Why did Stephanie come out before Daniel Bryan and Brie?
Stephanie is such a schmooze, I love it.
Stephanie continuing to schmooze as Kane beat the piss out of D-Bry is pretty awesome.
All of Stephanie's dickery has plausible deniability, because what is she gonna do against a guy like Kane?
This almost reminds me of 2005 Kane, which is pretty awesome.

Bad News Barrett vs Sheamus in the IC Title Tourney

-I've always said that Sheamus has the potential to be the Mike Awesome of this generation, and the highflying stuff proved it.
-Man, that crossbody over the ropes.
-Lots of false finishes
-Hooray! A Barrett win!
7.5/10

Another great Bo vignette, props to Cole and Lawler for pointing out how absurd the content of the vignette was.
One of my favorite celebrities (Hugh Jackman), on my favorite show, in my hometown, and I don't have tickets :((

I like this WWE App vote, because it feeds Cena to the wolves, proving Wyatt's point
On that note, perfect Wyatt promo, I enjoyed everyone singing along.

As much as I want Hornswoggle/Torito to bring midget wrestling into the mainstream, is Hornswoggle a heel now?

Los Matadores and El Torito vs Jinder Mahal, Drew McIntyre, and Hornswoggle

-El Torito impressed here actually.
-I loled after McIntyre got pinned, they panned to the guy with the Scottish flag
3/10, I hope future matches get more time.


Long-ass Evolution promo time. The Shield come out, actually make points about how that who unit is in it for themselves, and go to fight Evolution, then big dudes from the roster come out. No altercation happens, but it gives Evolution time to walk out.

Adam Rose vignette hooray
HOORAY, dat RybAxel mix theme
Disappointed Bobby Heenan's induction speech wasn't on the best of HOF thing.

The Usos vs The Rhodes Bros

Pretty good back and forth match
Ryback's doing GREAT on commentary, actually putting over both teams.
-Usos pick up the victories out nowhere
5/10

Emma w/Santino Marella vs Layla w/ Fandango

- Fandango immediately trips up Santino, which causes the crowd to boo.
-Don't know how I feel about Emma's Cobra. If she doesn't drop the Emmalock, we're okay.
-I don't care what anybody says, the Emma/Santino synergy makes me smile
4.5/10
Cena interview- He seems geniunely distraught, and like the stuff is getting to him. Hypes Cena v/Wyatt at Extreme Rules.

Cesaro and Heyman come out for their match, props to Heyman for keeping Brock Lesnar fresh in our heads. Also Heyman seems to have 80s Bobby Heenan heat.

Cesaro w/ Paul Heyman vs RVD

-Very back and forth, great match, made better by the Swagger/Coulter interference, which sets up a match for Extreme Rules
6.5/10
RVD interview, Cesaro shows up and they have a verbal altrecation, pointless

Paige vs Aksana

-Aksana's selling was shit
4/10

DAMN, Lana has a great theme

Alexander Rusev w/Lana vs Sin Cara

SQUASH
Another great Bo Vingette

We find out that Cena fights all the members of the Wyatt
Unlike Big Red Machine, I like it when Bray gets the hometown pop, a sociopath like Bray Wyatt would thrive on the adulation of that.

Cena vs Wyatts

Some great Wyatt stuff, but my feed cutout mid match

Other than that, a great Raw, with two solid IC Matches and some entertaining small bits peppered in between.

[Big Red Machine]

Unlike Big Red Machine, I like it when Bray gets the hometown pop, a sociopath like Bray Wyatt would thrive on the adulation of that.

See, I don't think he would thrive on that. Bray wants people to see things for what they really are. Cheap pandering is not his style.

[NWK2000]

Either way, you have a good point, I just personally think Bray Wyatt is one of those guys that has a code for his followers to abide by, but different rules apply to him. I'd also like to point out that the fact that we're debating this speaks to the many dimensions of the character.

[Big Red Machine]

I'd also like to point out that the fact that we're debating this speaks to the many dimensions of the character.

This. This is why everyone loves Bray. We really don't know anything about him. Is he a delusional madman? Or is he just pretending to be one? And if he is, why? Does he really have an agenda? Or does he just enjoy creating chaos and turning things on their heads? Is he working for himself or for someone else?

We don't know, because he actions can be interpreted in all of these ways.