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WWE Monday Night Raw Results: Winners, By The Numbers Analysis, TV Ratings, Reaction From April 24

Brian Mazique
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Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
I cover video games and combat sports.
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This article is more than 7 years old.

The Braun Strowman vs. Kalisto match didn't go exactly as planned, but there was still a measure of destruction. The Miz's tag-team partner for his match against Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho was a blessing and a curse.

image: WWE.com

This was the final episode before Sunday's pay-per-view Payback. Here's a numbers-based breakdown of the matches, results, and winners. Also, here's the TV ratings per TopRopePress.com:

  • First Hour: 2.999 million viewers (3.405 million viewers last week)
  • Second Hour: 3.141 million viewers (3.469 million viewers last week)
  • Third Hour: 2.881 million viewers (3.165 million viewers  last week)

Could This Be Y2J's Last Appearance on Raw?

Chris Jericho opens the show with what he calls "the last ever episode of The Highlight Reel on Monday Night Raw." Jericho says he will beat Kevin Owens at Payback and move over to SmackDown Live with the United States championship.

Jericho goes in on Owens calling him "The Hemorrhoid of America." He was just about to put him on The List, but The Miz and Maryse interrupted. The Miz says The Highlight Reel has been canceled and the show quickly morphs into an episode of MizTV, but then, Dean Ambrose makes an appearance with a microphone in hand.

The Lunatic Fringe then changes the "set" to an episode of Ambrose Asylum.

Ambrose says the show's guest is Jericho...and The Miz and Maryse. Ambrose apologizes for his past issues with Jericho and gives him a gift. It's a new Jacket of Jericho after he destroyed the original.

This ends predictably, but in an entertaining way. Ambrose gives The Miz Dirty Deeds and Jericho puts Maryse on The List.

It seems likely Jericho is headed to SmackDown, though it feels strange that Owens would drop the title to him. We'll see what happens at Payback.

Matt Hardy def. Sheamus

image by author, wrestler pics by WWE.com

This singles match was a little better than expected. The drama here is: will the team of Sheamus and Cesaro turn heel as they head toward the championship battle at Payback? There were a few rough points between the two teams, but they ultimately kept things sporting.

Matt Hardy won the match with the Twist of Fate after Jeff Hardy argued with Sheamus on the apron. Last week Jeff beat Cesaro in a singles match. That means the Hardys are 2-0 against Sheamus and Cesaro which suggests the latter could come out with a win at the pay-per-view.

Don't count on it. I believe The Hardys keep the belts on Sunday. Matt won on Monday, but he hasn't been victorious a lot in singles matches on Raw.

image by author, wrestler pics by WWE

Miz and Maryse Approach Kurt Angle

The Miz and Maryse have issues with Jericho and Ambrose and they interrupt the Raw General Manager with their concerns. Angle puts them in a tag-team match with Y2J and Ambrose, but The Miz has to find a partner.

Jack Gallagher and Austin Aries def. Neville and TJ Perkins

image by author, wrestler pics by WWE.com

As expected, the action in this one was fast and furious.

There weren't as many high-flying maneuvers as one might expect, but there were still very few slower moments. Neville wound up abandoning Perkins in the ring allowing his new ally to take the pinfall loss after Aries planted him with The Discus Fivearm.

It looks like Perkins' career is headed nowhere fast.

Kalisto def. Braun Strowman in Dumpster Match

image by author, wrestler pic from WWE.com

In a mild surprise, Kalisto defeated the odds and scored a win over Braun Strowman in a Dumpster Match. The hype for this supposed squash match was a hint something different was on the way. Kalisto had a few escapes, but ultimately he forced Strowman into the Dumpster by landing a front dropkick to Strowman's legs as he stood on the apron.

That was the end of the good news for Kalisto.

Strowman would beat the luchador down, lock him in the dumpster, take it to the top of the ramp and push it off the stage. It wasn't nearly as grand as what he'd done the last two weeks, but it's clear Strowman is headed for top-notch billing in the near future.

This was only Strowman's fourth loss in singles match on Raw and the first that didn't come by disqualification or count out.

image by author, wrestler pic by WWE.com

Bray Wyatt House of Horrors Match Promo

We learned a little more about the HOH match on this episode of Raw. The match begins in The House of Horrors but will end in the ring. I'm not excited yet, but we'll see.

Dana Brooke def. Alicia Fox

image by author, wrestler pics by WWE.com

This was a space filler that also was used to elevate Dana Brooke above the jobber level. Fox has been relegated to nothing more than a person on the roster who is plugged in from time to time when someone needs an easy win.

Emma was pleased, but this feels like a weak and short-lived angle.

Enzo & Cass and Seth Rollins vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson and Samoa Joe

image by author, wrestler pics by WWE.com

After a warning promo from Gallows, Anderson and Samoa Joe, the trio attacked their opponents ahead of the match. Samoa Joe would ambush Big Cass backstage and Gallows and Anderson took out Enzo. Seth Rollins came to the ring and attacked Gallows and Anderson.

He held his own long enough for Cass to escape and join him. After a commercial break, Angle announced Enzo was unable to compete and that Rollins and Cass would have a new partner.

Balor isn't currently attached to a feud. It's unclear where he could fit in here, but it was good to see one of the brightest young stars join this match. Ultimately. Rollins got the win with his new finishing move.

Balor has never been the loser or one the losing side of any match on WWE programming since he was called up from NXT.

image by author, wrestler pic by WWE.com

Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley Promo

Alexa Bliss comes to the ring in all her splendor to address the crowd. She handles the stupid "what" chant pretty well before she's interrupted by Bayley. The Raw Women's champion comes to the ring to defend the most recent person taking aim at her feel-good story.

Sasha Banks again injects herself into the conversation. She and Alexa have words, Sasha decks her and the two women have a match set up.

Something has to give with Sasha. Her protector role with Bayley is getting pretty lame.

Sasha Banks def. Alexa Bliss via Count Out

image by author, wrestler pic by WWE.com

This was a very average booked match because it was set to be an abbreviated run. Alexa Bliss would escape a less than advantageous situation to take the count-out loss. Bayley was on commentary and she attempted to attack Alexa as she tried to escape.

Bliss would again get away from trouble, but as Bayley turned her back, Bliss came back to pound her in the back.

Sasha came to her friend's assistance but Bliss again fled the scene. They've got to put the title on Bliss on Sunday. She's a mega star waiting to happen. Alexa seems to lose non-title matches but comes up bigger when the gold is on the line, or in No. 1 contender matches.

image by author, wrestler pic by WWE.com

Hilarious Miz, Maryse, Heath Slater, Curtis Axel and Rhyno Spot

The Miz's search for a tag-team partner leads him to approach Heath Slater and Curtis Axel. He gets turned down on both ends as Slater tells him, "I already have a partner." Rhyno shows up with his signature Cheez Whiz and crackers.

He offers Maryse a cracker, but she slaps the plate in his face. He replies, "no crackers for you." I'm on the floor.

Meanwhile, the Miz is handed a note with information on an "awesome tag-team partner."

Apollo Crews def. Curt Hawkins

image by author, wrestler pic by WWE.com

Hawkins continues his Superstar callout and this time Apollo Crews answers the call. The two men have a fairly short match and Crews wins with his gigantic sit-out powerbomb. The crowd seemed completely checked out of this match.

At the end, Titus O'Neill showed up as he continues to try to align himself with Crews.

I'm hoping this angle leads to a team up rather than a feud.

Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho  vs. The Miz and ...

image by author, wrestler pic by WWE.com

The Miz is waiting for his partner to show up, but he doesn't. He tries to get out of the match, but Angle shows up and tells him he has to compete even if it's in a handicap match. Ambrose and Jericho work The Miz over for 10 minutes or so and ultimately the latter tries to escape.

Ambrose chases The Miz on top of the Raw announcer's table and this happens...

Bray Wyatt was apparently the mystery partner. He delivers Sister Abigail to Ambrose on the entrance ramp. He and The Miz double team Jericho and take him into the ring. Jericho fights back and delivers the Codebreaker to The Miz, but Wyatt plants him with Sister Abigail as well.

The Miz attempts to celebrate with Wyatt, but The Eater of Worlds drops him with his finisher as well.

Wyatt is headed for the HOH match with Randy Orton on Sunday. Could he be set to win and bring the title to Raw? If so, that means Brock Lesnar might be headed to SmackDown. His show allegiance was never determined during the Superstar Shakeup. This could be the final swerve in the concept.

Come back tomorrow for the by-the-numbers recap of SmackDown Live and on Sunday for the same concept for WWE Payback.

Stats per Cagematch.net

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Brian Mazique
Brian Mazique