WWE Raw Match Ratings And Podcast Notes For 4/9/18 From Sean Ross Sapp

Stephanie and Ronda

• Stephanie McMahon brings out Ronda Rousey and says she's proud of Rousey, who is all smiles. Stephanie has a huge brace on her arm and says Rousey is her friend. They embrace, and Rousey stares at Stephanie.
• Flying Armbar! Rousey rips off Stephanie's arm brace and armbars Stephanie. This got an insane reaction. This is really looking like Ronda could be the Stone Cold Steve Austin to Stephanie's Vince McMahon. I can't convey how good this is. 

Nia Jax & Ember Moon defeated Alexa Bliss and Mickie James

• Huge "You deserve it" chants for Nia Jax. Well, I dunno about that chant. Nia debuted less than three years ago, got called up early, and has had an entirely forgettable run to this point. But here's to that changing.
• Alex Bliss comes out and cuts a promo about being under emotional distress because Nia had attacked Mickie James last night. Nia reveals her partner Ember Moon to a huge pop. 
• This is a short match that Ember wins on Alexa with the Eclipse. Alexa Bliss took it really well. 

Backstage crappenings

• Kurt Angle is backstage and announces the Superstar Shakeup. Nicholas gets a huge pop with Braun Strowman. They relinquish the tag team titles because he's a fourth grader. The Bar show up and Kurt Angle tells them they'll get their rematch in Jeddah.
• Backstage, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens want a shot on Raw, but Kurt Angle says they'll have to wrestle each other for a contract. "My tag team division is full, but I hear that TNA is hiring…" WOW

No Way Jose defeated John Skyler

• You'll be confused about No Way Jose being called up until you go to a live event, he starts the show and the place goes crazy. He has the goddamn rosebuds though. 
• Short arm hip toss neckbreaker. You heard me right. Fastball Punch. That's a wrap. 
• I think No Way Jose will get a lot more over with Corey Graves attempting to be disgusted by him than Michael Cole and Coach trying to convince us how fun and cool he is.
• Too short to give a rating to.

Tag Team Eliminator
The Revival defeated The Good Brothers
5/10

• At least one of these teams has to win. Kind of sad that it's joined in progress though. 
• Good ol' High Flyin' Karl Anderson flip and floppin around, and he almost gets pinned as a result. No shocker, his spinebuster still rules. He eats a Shatter Macine though. Revival win. 
• If this had ten minutes, it would have been a 6.5-7/10 match

Jeff Hardy

• Seth Rollins comes out and talks about his accomplishment of reaching the Grand Slam. The crowd reacts in kind, and gives him a great ovation.
• Finn Balor follows Rollins out and says that he wasn't pinned, and wants the opportunity to face Rollins, which is agreed upon by both parties.
• The Miztourage come to the ring, and Miz gets a great reception for having a child from the crowd and Rollins & Balor. This character could be a lot of fun. He says he wants his rematch at the WWE Backlash PPV, but they can go 3-on-2 right now.
• Instead, Jeff Hardy makes his return and stands tall with the babyfaces as Miztourage leave.

Mandy Rose (w/ Absolution) defeated Sasha Banks (w/ Bayley)
5/10

• Bayley comes down to even the odds, and gets cheered heavily by the crowd. I think that's a cool thing that should be referenced by Sasha later.
• Sasha hits a good Thesz press and works over Mandy. Mandy comes back but has elementary offense. 
• This isn't great. Sasha has a heatless opponent to work with that doesn't have the benefit of being experienced. Sasha gets a big knee on the apron and double knees off the top rope. 
• Bayley accidentally punches Sasha Banks instead. Mandy Rose cracks Bayley with a big knee for the win.
• This would have went subpar, but the story and finish helped it. 

Paige

• Paige takes to the mic and admits that she's not able to compete anymore. She's 25 years old.
• She cuts a great promo and thanks Daniel Bryan for giving her hope. She says that Edge talked to her yesterday about his career. 
• She retires in New Orleans, where she made her WWE debut. 
• Much respect to Paige. I don't know of many in wrestling that have had more ups and downs in a four year period than her. 
• If WWE doesn't have something for her, they aren't trying. Manager, announcer, GM, scout.

Elias 

• Elias is super over and has a great ovation and sings a hilarious song.
• It doesn't matter. Bobby Lashley is here.
• Neckbreaker, hanging vertical suplex. Perfect night to debut Lashley.
• Score one for Kevin Dunn missing the ramp again. Just like AJ Styles.

Authors of Pain (w/ Paul Ellering) defeated Heath Slater & Rhyno

• Heath Slater is mad he's not in the tag team eliminator, and makes an open challenge.
• AUTHORS OF PAIN.
• I'm very, very surprised Ellering is with them. Didn't think he'd be making towns, but they ditch him at the end of the match anyway.There you go. I mentioned on the podcast I was told this months ago, but tonight was a nice explanation and farewell. However…I hope he sticks around on NXT
• This was a sloppy ending and they need a better finish. Legsweep/clothesline doesn't scream "fear us. It does, however, scream "god damn let me finish this create a wrestler's move set already."
• Another too short to rate. 

Roman Reigns

• Roman vs. ESTABLISHMENT. 
• Samoa Joe interrupts and clowns Reigns for always losing to Brock Lesnar. He says he'll be waiting for Roman Reigns at Backlash. 

Tag Team Eliminator
Woken Wyatts defeated Titus Worldwide (w/ Dana Brooke)
5.25/10

• We see a backstage vignette with Hardy and Wyatt.
• They appear in the ring and we see a "delete" vs. "worldwide" chant.
• Bulldog to boot from Broken Wyatts. Babyface Bray is long overdue.
• They're pushing Greatest Royal Rumble HARD. Commentary tonight has been the worst since Coach's first night back
• A lot of offense from Wyatt and Hardy. They're dominating. 
• Twist of Abigail. Finish.

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
7.5/10

• Zayn and Owens are trying to pull out all the stops and making this match feel really important.
• That 20 seconds without commentary was really good.
• Owens does a Cannonball with Zayn on the apron and then a big Frog Splash for two. 
• The pace of this match has been outstanding. Zayn hits a Helluva Kick, but Owens is in the ropes. Owens falls out of the ring after a pop-up powerbomb.
• I have missed the Super Fisherman's Buster. It results in a ten count.
• It's announced that neither will join Raw as a result. TNA chant, lol.

Seth Rollins, Jeff Hardy & Finn Balor defeated The Miztourage
5.75/10

• Backstage, Matt and Bray run into Jeff Hardy. They plug a plot hole and make sense of the new partnership. 
• Hardy's gear kind of matches Balor's.
• Jeff Hardy hits Poetry in Motion, and it leads to Cole messing up the call, then admitting he came up with the name of it. 
• Back and forth tag action, but I don't know how we're supposed to care about Axel and Dallas. 
• Whisper in the Wind hits on both Dallas and Axel, and it looked really good. So does Rollins' suicide dive. They got "Burn it Down" over tonight. Poor Axel and Dallas are catching everyone tonight. 
• The Falcon Arrow is always over to me. Rollins gets a Curb Stomp for the win. 
• After the match, Twist of Fate, Coup De Grace, Swanton Bomb. Superkick. Another Coup De Grace. Another Swanton Bomb.  Another Curb Stomp. Hope these guys thank Dallas and Axel for the ass kicking they took tonight.
• I see Jeff Hardy moving into the RVD spot from a few years ago.