The WWE Raw Reaction for 4/20/20 by Kelly Dishnow

Welcome to the Raw Reaction, where I offer my take on this week’s show. As always, you can check out John’s full in-depth report here.

A recap of last week’s main event opens us up before the Raw opening video plays. Does WWE really need to tell us that they are at the Performance Center? I don’t think they will be touring any time within the next four to six months.

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre kicks off Promo Time. In a twist, Drew decides to challenge Seth Rollins to a title match at Money in the Bank. That should be a really good match. Tonight’s main event sacrifice Angel Garza interrupts Drew with Zelina Vega in tow. We get a fun little exchange from Drew and Zelina before Andrade, suffering short term memory loss, attacked Drew from behind to make it look like Angel Garza might have a glimmer of hope tonight. Drew quickly drops Andrade like a bad habit with two Claymores before Angel and Austin Theory could hit the ring. I’m not quite sure why Zelina Vega was given a stable in the first place. It’s not like it is not a bad idea, but Andrade still has to take the Wellness Policy Violation beatings. Angel and Austin would be far better left in NXT for now until Andrade gets elevated up from Jobber to the Stars status. Since Andrade isn’t doing anything useful with the US title, I wonder if he was supposed to drop it at WrestleMania as punishment for failing the Wiz Quiz?

Our opening match is a Money in the Bank qualifier between Aleister Black and Austin Theory. Zelina Vega was on commentary for the match. Vega did a really good job on commentary. She even tried to make us believe that Theory had a chance in the match. Vega walked down the ramp at one point and Black was nice enough to come out and tell her her skirt rode up a little too high sitting at the desk. Theory looked good in the competitive match but got Black Massed in the end. Byron Saxton did a quick interview with Black and he’s ready to fight. I’ll pencil him in as the winner.

The smoking Charly Caruso asked Shayna Baszler for a couple of comments before Baszler beat up some girl from NXT next. Baszler even used a ladder to “break” her arm. Still not interested in Baszler.

Tag team action is next with the newly formed team of Ricochet and Cedric Alexander taking on the NXT team of Shane Thorn and Brendan Vink. I like the Ricochet/Alexander team. They have complementing styles and their Recoil into the Lumbar Check finisher looks very impressive. The tag team division needs some help so why not let this roll and see what we get?

The Kabuki Warriors entertain Charly backstage before Bobby Lashley announces he will show us how far his career has fallen later tonight.

Kairi Sane wanted a rematch with Nia Jax for some reason. Jax tossed Sane down so hard, Sane’s thong left an imprint on her pants. Sane got Jax down for a little bit to make it look competitive, but Jax wouldn’t give the win back.

Seth Rollins is in an odd-looking double-backed chair to cut a promo to accept Drew’s Money in the Bank title match challenge. But, Seth, didn’t you lose twice at WrestleMania?

I’m afraid to ask why the Viking Raiders are doing Carpool Karaoke, so let’s just move along.

Our next Money in the Bank qualifier is up next with MVP taking on Apollo Crews. MVP cut a quick promo on Crews before the match. The match was decent and MVP did what he was supposed to do, make Crews look good. Crews finally figured out that he needs to do more than just smile walking down the ramp. We all know how good Crews is, let’s hope Vince doesn’t screw it up this time.

Liv Morgan takes on former Riott Squad partner and friend Ruby Riott next. Liv got the duke in a Three Minute Raw Special. I really like how Liv has grown since aborting the Lana Love Angle. Liv’s getting better in every single match. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her capture a Woman’s title next year.

Lashley was back in the Performance Center and he flipped a tire over. He wants to flip over an even bigger tire over next. Do you think he regrets coming back yet?

We are shown the “In Memory of Howard Finkel” graphic before the final Raw Money in the Bank qualifier match between Rey Mysterio and Murphy. Maybe we should have started the show with it since you aren’t going to play the tribute video? Murphy had to remind himself that he was still one of Rollins’s disciples by putting it on the side of his pants. With AOP down with another injury, will that still be a thing? The match itself was really good and Rey gave Murphy a decent rub, but Rey advanced to add another veteran to the match instead of a younger guy. Murphy looked good in defeat, though. How many times has Rey’s Dropping the Dime finisher changed the actual move executed? I’m sure I can count three different moves billed as Dropping the Dime.

Angel Garza and Zelina Vega cut a promo backstage with Charly Caruso still trying to make us believe Garza has a chance tonight. Afterwards, Garza flirted with Charly and she really liked it. Sorry Charly, you can do way better.

Kayden Carter is up next from NXT for job duty against NXT Woman’s Champion Charlotte Flair. We were supposed to get another Three Minute Raw Special but Charlotte screwed up and actually made Carter look good for about 45 seconds before getting the win.

Lashley is back again to flip the really big 450-pound tire over. He needs a couple of tries before finally being able to flip it over. Lana starts clapping like a seal (not that Seal) at Lashley’s feat of strength. Lashley realizes that the tire is more over than he is at this point. What was the whole point of that career killer angle with Rusev and Liv anyway?

Andrade is out to defend the US Title against Akira Tozawa next? Oh wait, Andrade forgot he’s the champ and this is a non-title match. Tozawa continues the penance beating on Andrade, picking up where Drew left off. Andrade somehow managed to pick up the win in the end. Maybe he’ll get around to defending the US Title soon, too?

We get another NXT sighting as Santana Garrett takes on Bianca Belair. Good lord, somebody please tell The Street Profits to calm down on commentary. They are so loud but the match doesn’t last long enough for them to be distracting. Belair picks up the win in another squash match.

A quick promo airs for the Climbing the Corporate Ladder Money in the Bank match. Since the match has already been rumored taped, we get a peek at the rooftop set and our suspicions are confirmed. WWE does, in fact, plant fans in the audience. By the looks of it, there may only be one match since both briefcases are shown hanging above the ring.

Main event time with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre getting ready to brutalize Angel Garza with Zelina Vega, Andrade, and Austin Theory in his corner. Drew mauls Garza to the point he is ready to go back to NXT. Drew has an impressive dive over the top rope on to all three of the heels. Drew even asked Vega if she was impressed. Andrade and Theory get wiped out at ringside and Garza gets some color after being Claymored in the ring. Drew celebrates with Saxton at the announce desk and asks if he should kick him again. Drew goes back to the ring and hits Garza with another Claymore Kick. I don’t know why the ref told Theory to go into the ring to get Claymore Kicked again, but he did. I’m guessing Theory will be the Crash Test Dummy for Drew next week. Which begs the question, what’s the point of Vega having a stable of jobbers?

Let’s look at tonight’s highs and lows.

The Highs

Charly Caruso was smoking tonight in that black leather looking dress.

It was good to see new talent pick up some good quality wins tonight. Apollo Crews and Liv Morgan both had really good matches tonight. Even though Murphy lost, he still looked good in his match tonight, too.

The Lows

Welcome to Squash Match City folks. If it wasn’t a Money in the Bank qualifier, it was a squash match. Way too many squashes tonight, eight matches to be exact. Can we try to put a little bit of effort in?

What’s the point of Vega’s new stable other than to be destroyed by Drew McIntyre every week? If this is all they have for Garza and Theory, they should have just been left down in NXT.

Honorable Mention: I love the new Kabuki Warrior characters and can’t wait to see what’s next for them.

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In our crazy new world, stay safe and stay home.

That’s all I’ve got, until next time.