WWE Raw: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (April 25)
A good go-home show!
On Monday, WWE presented the final episode of Raw before Payback, and it was actually a great show. Not only that, but it built up the matches at the Pay-Per-View and made fans actually want to see them. For the first time in who knows how many months, a go-home show delivered.
It didn't hurt that the episode was wrestling-heavy. Four matches were hyped beforehand - AJ Styles versus Sheamus, Sami Zayn versus Rusev, Roman Reigns versus Alberto Del Rio, and The Usos versus Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows - and they all got plenty of time. As a result, each bout was exciting in its own way, and this week's Raw stood as a testament to the fact that WWE is learning how to better use its vast store of talent.
Every single match scheduled for the Payback card was touched upon in an effective way, from Kevin Owens attacking Sami Zayn after his match to Dolph Ziggler attacking Baron Corbin before his match. Payback may not have the star power that WrestleMania did, but as far as logical build for matches, this show is light years ahead of the last. Let's hope they keep up the good work at and through the Pay-Per-View.
Here are ten things from Monday's Raw that you may have missed:
10. It Runs In The Family
For another week, Shane McMahon started off the Raw broadcast, coming down to the ring to talk about how a new era was dawning in WWE and how he was giving stars the opportunities they deserved. This time, though, Shane was interrupted by his sister, Stephanie, who was making her first TV appearance since WrestleMania.
Stephanie ran Shane down, then revealed that at Payback this Sunday, Vince McMahon is going to make his final decision as to who will run Raw in the long term. Shane was okay with that, but he reminded Stephanie he was still in charge on this show, so she would have to leave. When she refused, Shane called security to have her removed.
Stephanie decided to leave of her own volition, but when one of the security guards put his hands on her, she slapped and kicked him to the ground. It was oddly reminiscent of several weeks ago, when Shane single-handedly took out a quartet of guards who attempted to remove him from the ring. There's no messing with a McMahon.
The only difference this time, of course, was that Stephanie's offense looked believable.