Winners And Grades On April 17, 2023

WWE Raw advertise Brock Lesnar’s response to Cody Rhodes’ challenge at WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico. Raw also advertised Trish Stratus explaining her actions after turning heel on Becky Lynch, The Miz vs. Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Theory.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE Raw averaged 1.818 million viewers.

WWE Raw Results on April 17, 2023

• Solo Sikoa def. Rey Mysterio
• Bianca Belair def. Dakota Kai
• Seth Rollins def. The Miz
• Bobby Lashley def. Austin Theory by Disqualification
• Sami Zayn, Matt Riddle and Kevin Owens def. The Judgment Day

WWE Raw Ratings

• April 10, 2023 | 1.818 million
• April 3, 2023 | 2.260 million
• March 27, 2023 | 1.843 million
• March 20, 2023 | 1.771 million
• March 13, 2023 | 1.705 million

• WWE Raw Venue: Simmons Bank Arena (Little Rock, Ar.)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 7,085
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 574

WWE Raw Winners And Grades

Solo Sikoa def. Rey Mysterio

Paul Heyman seemed to unveil a tier system for Bloodline feuds, which start out as a wrestler being a “concern” before graduating to a “problem.”

Heyman brokered a deal between The Bloodline and The Judgment Day to become allies, because as this storyline drags out and slowly wears out its welcome, The Bloodline definitely needs new characters to work with.

If Solo Sikoa was going to beat a newly returning Matt Riddle, there’s no way he was going to lose to Rey Mysterio.

The LWO came to Rey Mysterio’s defense, but the heel Solo Sikoa still won. I don’t think Legado Del Fantasma has had one positive moment since WWE revived the Latino World Order.

Rey Mysterio vs. Solo Sikoa Grade: B

Bianca Belair def. Dakota Kia

This entire segment was designed to make you think Damage CTRL will be broken up by the WWE Draft. The announce team continued to talk up this possibility throughout this match.

Bianca Belair vs. Dakota Kai sure sounded great on paper, but this match was just pretty good at best.

Fans came alive for the KOD, but Dakota Kai had a unique counter when she grabbed Belair’s hair.

During a backstage segment, Bronson Reed was rechristened as “Mr. Nice Guy.” As an ironic nickname for a fire-breathing monster like Reed, I like it.

Bianca Belair vs. Dakota Kai Grade: C+

Cody Rhodes Calls Out Brock Lesnar

Cody received another massive reaction, and when he called out Brock Lesnar, Adam Pearce made a heel out of himself by telling Rhodes he’s not medically cleared.

Brock Lesnar walked out with a black cowboy hat and a trench coat like he was the Brock-ertaker.

Cody Rhodes wiped out WWE security/local independent talent before they were able to hold him back. Lesnar walked out, smiled, and did little else as part of his advertised appearance. Between Lesnar, Reigns as a part-time champion and MJF as an AEW world champion who never wrestles, it’s Bare Minimum Boys SZN in pro wrestling.

Cody Rhodes got the last word when he said he grew up around cowboys and Lesnar was a cowboy, but a coward.

Cody Rhodes and brock Lesnar Segment Grade: B-

Seth Rollins def. The Miz

This is Seth Rollins’ first Raw since storming out of the Raw After WrestleMania, and if he loses to The Miz, that will suggest he has heat for it.

The Miz jumped Rollins before the match started, immediately putting an end to the Rollins chants. They inevitably returned throughout the match, especially when Rollins led them in song.

Miz vs. Rollins earned very generous “this is awesome” chants. The match wasn’t bad, but neither Miz nor Rollins had to do much to get the crowd going. It’s a testament to their star power.

At one point, Corey Graves was doing it all to where he barked “feel free to step in at anytime K.P., I’m almost out of breath!”

The second round of “This is Awesome” was well-deserved. Miz will never get the credit he deserves for being a highly skilled wrestler.

The Miz vs. Seth Rollins Grade: B+

Bobby Lashley def. Austin Theory by DQ

Theory’s new 360-degree posedown entrance is perfect for his character.

Austin Theory received a lot of heat, assuming it wasn’t piped in, but he wasn’t wearing his new John Cena-inspired t-shirt.

Fans didn’t really get into this one until Lashley’s started his comeback after he had been in a headlock for ages.

As the match continued to pick up, there were dueling chants of “let’s go Theory/Theory sucks!”

Bronson Reed crashed this match by pouncing on Lashley. Between how much WWE needs to protect both Lashley and Theory, this match had non-finish written all over it.

Just as Lashley made his comeback, forcing on a Hurt Lock, Austin Theory flew in with a drop kick.

Kevin Patrick does the “Tsunami!” call so much better than Corey Graves does.

Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley Grade: B-

Heel Trish Stratus Appears Live

Trish Stratus walked out wearing essentially the same long coat and cowboy hat as Brock Lesnar.

Trish stratus proceeded to take credit for the women’s wrestling while effortlessly battling “what” chants. She went on to call herself the “single most important figure in WWE history.”

Trish Stratus, who admitted to taking out Lita, stumbled on a few words, but had the perfect heel delivery after what was a random heel turn.

Heel Trish Stratus Promo Grade: B-

Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville def. Candice LeRae and Michin

Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville received much more fanfare, with a long entrance, compared to the makeshift team of Candice LeRae and Michin.

Kevin Patrick had no idea what the name of Chelsea Green’s finish was, and neither do you.

WWE changes the women’s tag team titles too much, but Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville feel like an actual unit, and they should be champions.

Green and Deville vs. LeRae and Michin Grade: C

Matt Riddle, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens def. The Judgment Day

Matt Riddle was a much more serious version of himself as he said there would be no screwing around. Riddle kicked his flip flops off, but there were no 3D animals.

WWE announced Riddle, Zayn and Owens vs. The Usos and Solo Sikoa for WWE Backlash.

To nobody’s surprise, Dominik Mysterio easily had the most heat in this entire match.

Sami Zayn’s comeback—and Dom feeding for him—was something to behold in a great way.

Dominik Mysterio landed right on the back of his head while taking a sunset flip bomb from Zayn.

The Bloodline held up their end of the bargain, but The Judgment Day lost to Riddle, Zayn and Owens. This will likely lead to a side-beef between The Judgment Day and The Bloodline.

WWE Raw Main Event Grade: B