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

Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil (w/ Dana Brooke) vs. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre

Result: Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre defeated Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil via pinfall

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Hey, Apollo Crews got his last name back — time to print those “CREWS CAN’T LOSE” shirts!

Still not a fan of the record scratch with Ziggler’s entrance, but HOLY CRAP everything else about this whole thing rocked so hard. Drew McIntyre is a dang beast, and if he isn’s main eventing shows in the next 6-12 months someone dropped the ball big time.

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/988588596494909440

I don’t know how long the plan to putt Ziggler and McIntyre together has been around, but the amount of tandem offense they’ve used is terrific. The superkick to a prone opponent into an Alabama Slam is so simple, but so effective. And as I mentioned last week, the Claymore Kick/Zig Zag is a perfect tandem finisher.

After the match, Ziggler actually doesn’t phone it in on the mic as he puts over Drew for being a beast. The “locker room is soft” talking point is a little touchy, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s McIntyre. He does look like a superstar, and whoever he goes through to prove his point is in for a hurting.

Plus, bagpipes and heavy metal — how can you hate that?

Chad Gable, Pride of America

Do you think WWE picked Nicholas at Mania just so they could do this thing with Jinder (or anyone) and Gable? Or was it a happy accident that the kid had long hair, and someone put two and two together after the fact?