Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
I don't really have much to say of this week. It was dull, completely unremarkable, yet somehow I'm now excited for Money in the Bank all the same. The card looks fantastic in spite of itself.
It better be good because there's not a lot of wrestling coming up after that. I hear there's some event happening in early June, but I can't seem to find it within myself to pay attention to its existence.
This show has to be fantastic for the sake of my sanity. Yes, there are a few more weeks of build up to the event, but there's no way WWE is going to make me care more. They might make me care less though.
It better be good because there's not a lot of wrestling coming up after that. I hear there's some event happening in early June, but I can't seem to find it within myself to pay attention to its existence.
This show has to be fantastic for the sake of my sanity. Yes, there are a few more weeks of build up to the event, but there's no way WWE is going to make me care more. They might make me care less though.
Clearly this feud has gotten to the point of pure physicality. Can't you remember all the horrible things Evans has done to Lynch, like... existing?
Monday Night Raw April 29, 2019
I'm Vaguely Impressed by Lacey Evans
Overview: Becky Lynch talked up wanting to be a fighting champion before calling out Lacey Evans. The two got quickly into a brawl with officials getting involved to break them up.
Analysis: While The Lady is still getting pushed way too early, she has shown well in her brawls with The Man. The two have engaging fights, and hopefully that will translate to their matches. I have my doubts because Evans will have to actually wrestle at that point.
Sami Zayn is the Best Part of Raw Despite Doing the Same Thing Every Week
Overview: Sami Zayn continued to speak to the fans, talking down to them for their psychological entitlement. He made clear he would enjoy quitting WWE but will enjoy holding everyone in the WWE Universe accountable for their behavior.
Analysis: I have always been a fan of Zayn, waiting for him to get to really show how good he is. While I have doubts he will ever get a real chance, his recent heel run has been fantastic so far. Every week, he cuts a top notch promo. He's showing off here, but it will likely be telling how he is treated when he gets back to wrestling.
Conclusion
This was an absolute drag to watch. With zero decent matches and multiple announcement segments, this was Raw at its worst. I was bored by 30 minutes in, and I barely made it to the good segments with Lynch vs. Evans and Zayn.
Overview: Becky Lynch talked up wanting to be a fighting champion before calling out Lacey Evans. The two got quickly into a brawl with officials getting involved to break them up.
Analysis: While The Lady is still getting pushed way too early, she has shown well in her brawls with The Man. The two have engaging fights, and hopefully that will translate to their matches. I have my doubts because Evans will have to actually wrestle at that point.
Sami Zayn is the Best Part of Raw Despite Doing the Same Thing Every Week
Overview: Sami Zayn continued to speak to the fans, talking down to them for their psychological entitlement. He made clear he would enjoy quitting WWE but will enjoy holding everyone in the WWE Universe accountable for their behavior.
Analysis: I have always been a fan of Zayn, waiting for him to get to really show how good he is. While I have doubts he will ever get a real chance, his recent heel run has been fantastic so far. Every week, he cuts a top notch promo. He's showing off here, but it will likely be telling how he is treated when he gets back to wrestling.
Conclusion
This was an absolute drag to watch. With zero decent matches and multiple announcement segments, this was Raw at its worst. I was bored by 30 minutes in, and I barely made it to the good segments with Lynch vs. Evans and Zayn.
Grade: D
WWE has already fully committed to the future WrestleMania 36 main event.
SmackDown Live April 30, 2019
WWE Cannot and Will Not Learn Its Lesson with Roman Reigns
Overview: Roman Reigns taunted The McMahons until Shane McMahon came out and booked The Big Dog in a match against The B-Team with Elias as the special guest referee enforcer. Reigns overcame the odds and hit Curt Axel with a Spear to win.
Analysis: The man and performer behind Reigns will likely never get the credit he deserves because WWE has always and will always fail in its booking of him as a top star. He has earned fan support for a little while longer, but he's already being thrown back into stories where he's the guy who overcome everything.
He couldn't even be vulnerable for a few months. He has to make The B-Team and Elias look like chumps, and he will likely do the same to The Drifter at Money in the Bank.
Just Retire, Jeff
Overview: After an injury suffered at a live event over the weekend, Jeff Hardy came out and announced he was injured, blaming Lars Sullivan for having to now get surgery. He and Matt Hardy relinquished the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Sullivan then wiped out Matt before once again taking down R-Truth.
Analysis: This was a sad sight because it was the latest showcase that The Charismatic Enigma is running on borrowed time. He should quit while he's ahead at this point because his body is clearing breaking down at a fast rate. He could be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the next few years and work as an agent backstage if he wants.
Same for Matt by the way even if he's healthy for now. Both brothers have been in this business way too long to keep at it.
Conclusion
Bayley vs. Becky was a great preview of what is to come. Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens is developing well and quickly. Everything else was a drag. I don't know what it was about this week, but WWE just decided to not take any chances and just put on the most stagnant wrestling product possible throughout the week.
Overview: Roman Reigns taunted The McMahons until Shane McMahon came out and booked The Big Dog in a match against The B-Team with Elias as the special guest referee enforcer. Reigns overcame the odds and hit Curt Axel with a Spear to win.
Analysis: The man and performer behind Reigns will likely never get the credit he deserves because WWE has always and will always fail in its booking of him as a top star. He has earned fan support for a little while longer, but he's already being thrown back into stories where he's the guy who overcome everything.
He couldn't even be vulnerable for a few months. He has to make The B-Team and Elias look like chumps, and he will likely do the same to The Drifter at Money in the Bank.
Just Retire, Jeff
Overview: After an injury suffered at a live event over the weekend, Jeff Hardy came out and announced he was injured, blaming Lars Sullivan for having to now get surgery. He and Matt Hardy relinquished the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Sullivan then wiped out Matt before once again taking down R-Truth.
Analysis: This was a sad sight because it was the latest showcase that The Charismatic Enigma is running on borrowed time. He should quit while he's ahead at this point because his body is clearing breaking down at a fast rate. He could be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the next few years and work as an agent backstage if he wants.
Same for Matt by the way even if he's healthy for now. Both brothers have been in this business way too long to keep at it.
Conclusion
Bayley vs. Becky was a great preview of what is to come. Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens is developing well and quickly. Everything else was a drag. I don't know what it was about this week, but WWE just decided to not take any chances and just put on the most stagnant wrestling product possible throughout the week.
Grade: D+
205 Live April 30, 2019
The Singh Brothers Needed to Come Back to 205 Live Much Sooner
Overview: The Singh Brothers made their return to 205 Live in a match against The Lucha House Party's Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado. They fought hard but fell to the superior team with Dorado winning with a shooting star press.
Analysis: It was nice to see The Singh Brothers actually wrestling for once rather than just getting thrown around. I have said already how wrestler starved this roster is, and Sunil and Samir have proven repeatedly that they are far better than they are allowed to be on the main roster.
Overview: The Singh Brothers made their return to 205 Live in a match against The Lucha House Party's Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado. They fought hard but fell to the superior team with Dorado winning with a shooting star press.
Analysis: It was nice to see The Singh Brothers actually wrestling for once rather than just getting thrown around. I have said already how wrestler starved this roster is, and Sunil and Samir have proven repeatedly that they are far better than they are allowed to be on the main roster.
Watching WALTER occasionally is a bizarre experience. He's so awkwardly built that it feels like he shouldn't be as good as he is.
NXT and NXT UK May 1, 2019
The Forgotten Sons Seem to Just Be a Waste of Jaxson Ryker
Overview: The Forgotten Sons fought the trio of Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan, and Humberto Carrillo. The heels took the win with Jaxson Ryker holding up Burch and Carrillo for stomps to the chest by Wesley Black and Steve Cutler.
Analysis: While this was a solid match, it is starting to become more and more obvious that Ryker is the only guy in The Forgotten Sons that has a legitimate shot at success outside of NXT. The other two just feel out of their depth working in the developmental brand while Ryker comes off as a star.
Can We Get to Piper Niven vs. Rhea Ripley Already?
Overview: Piper Niven had a surprisingly competitive match with Reina Gonzalez, who pushed Niven throughout before the heavyweight of the division hit a Michinoku driver for the win.
Analysis: Niven vs. Ripley has been going in circles at this point as the two avoid each other for far too long. It's the only match with real story behind it in the women's division, and it is about time the two actually came to blows before it loses what little excitement it has left.
Overview: The Forgotten Sons fought the trio of Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan, and Humberto Carrillo. The heels took the win with Jaxson Ryker holding up Burch and Carrillo for stomps to the chest by Wesley Black and Steve Cutler.
Analysis: While this was a solid match, it is starting to become more and more obvious that Ryker is the only guy in The Forgotten Sons that has a legitimate shot at success outside of NXT. The other two just feel out of their depth working in the developmental brand while Ryker comes off as a star.
Can We Get to Piper Niven vs. Rhea Ripley Already?
Overview: Piper Niven had a surprisingly competitive match with Reina Gonzalez, who pushed Niven throughout before the heavyweight of the division hit a Michinoku driver for the win.
Analysis: Niven vs. Ripley has been going in circles at this point as the two avoid each other for far too long. It's the only match with real story behind it in the women's division, and it is about time the two actually came to blows before it loses what little excitement it has left.
Match of the Week
Tony Nese vs. Drew Gulak, 205 Live April 30 (Rating: 8.5/10)
205 Live needs to stop wasting just about the best match-up they have left. These two are always good together, and this was no different. It was exciting, constantly building, and driven by a few key technical elements with Gulak trying to keep Nese grounded.
This is more or less the last money match on this brand, and I am still desperately hoping Gulak gets one run with the Cruiserweight Championship soon. He's fantastic and works well with just about anyone.
Honorable Mention: WALTER vs. Jordan Devlin, NXT UK May 1 (Rating: 8.25/10)
NXT UK rushed an easy money match here with no story behind their clash. The two were too good not to make the most of the spotlight though. The way Devlin found every opportunity to wear down WALTER worked well to sell him as a true challenge to the champion.
The crowd was not into this, and it quickly deflated the energy in this contest. The two did their best here throughout, but it was the type of match that in the right setting would be a match of the year contender thrown into the worst case scenario.
205 Live needs to stop wasting just about the best match-up they have left. These two are always good together, and this was no different. It was exciting, constantly building, and driven by a few key technical elements with Gulak trying to keep Nese grounded.
This is more or less the last money match on this brand, and I am still desperately hoping Gulak gets one run with the Cruiserweight Championship soon. He's fantastic and works well with just about anyone.
Honorable Mention: WALTER vs. Jordan Devlin, NXT UK May 1 (Rating: 8.25/10)
NXT UK rushed an easy money match here with no story behind their clash. The two were too good not to make the most of the spotlight though. The way Devlin found every opportunity to wear down WALTER worked well to sell him as a true challenge to the champion.
The crowd was not into this, and it quickly deflated the energy in this contest. The two did their best here throughout, but it was the type of match that in the right setting would be a match of the year contender thrown into the worst case scenario.
