WWE Raw: Results, Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for April 23

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Elias vs. Bobby Roode

Result: Elias defeated Bobby Roode via pinfall

Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars

Look, I love Bobby Roode as much as the next guy, but interrupting Elias is a surefire way to get on my bad side. LET THE MAN SING, BOBBY.

Robbing the WWE Universe of a great musical performance aside, Roode and Elias had a pretty nifty match. It’s not going to top anyone’s end of year lists, but it was solid and helped both guys get over. Elias is being touted by commentary as a “main eventer” which I’m not totally sure I agree with, but he definitely proved tonight that he’s a force to be reckoned with. And Roode is new to Raw, and still inexplicably playing the plucky babyface, but he’s able to play his role perfectly.

One thing I wasn’t a fan of? Too many rest holds in this one. It’s not the fault of either superstar, but rather questionable direction behind the scenes. After returning from a commercial break, it was time for chinlock city as an in-program ad for the Greatest Royal Rumble aired. Seriously? Put the commercials in the commercial breaks — that’s literally what they’re there for!

The finish of the match shows there’s more to come between these two, and I’m okay with that. Elias gets a big victory over a veteran and former champion, further stating his case as a major player. He has to cheat a bit to do so, but who cares? Give me more between these two.

Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt, directed by Ed Wood

Speaking of awkward direction behind the scenes, woof. Someone missed their cue to shut the lights off when Wyatt came in from stage left, and the whole thing looked like a bad high school play. (And I’ve seen enough high school plays to know good from bad.)