WWE Raw on April 28 featured a confrontation between Jacob Fatu and Roman Reigns, building up to Backlash. Key matches included Penta defeating Rusev and Rey Mysterio winning with help from OG Americano.
Key points
WWE Raw took place on April 28 at Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, TX
Jacob Fatu confronted Roman Reigns during the show
Penta defeated Rusev in an in-ring match
Rey Mysterio won with help from OG Americano
Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker had a promo segment
WWEJacob FatuRoman ReignsPenta
WWE Raw on April 28 took place at the Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, TX, and featured a showdown between Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu.
This weekâs show was all about the build to Backlash, which comes in less than two weeks. In-ring action saw Penta pick up a win over Rusev, Rey Mysterio beat El Grande Americano with a little help from the OG Americano, and hometown girl Roxanne Perez got the pin in a tag match with Raquel Rodriguez over Bayley and Lyra Valkyria. Joe Hendry also sang a song with lyrics announcing heâs signed to Raw, and calling for the firing of Logan Paul, which led to a scrap with the tag champs, and another appearance from the Street Profits to make the save.
Hereâs the top takeaways from this weekâs show:
Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker hash it out
The show began with a promo segment with Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker. After both parties were in the ring, Rollins questioned why Breakker had screwed him at WrestleMania, wondering how it had benefited him in any way. Breakker, after mocking Rollinsâ voice, essentially said it was all about sending the message that he never needed Rollinsâ vision, just Paul Heyman, because he was already on his way to becoming the next big thing.
Then the two went back and forth, crediting each other before taking jabs. Rollins said Breakker had every tool needed to be the top dog in the company, except for the mental game. Breakker responded by saying Rollins really is the best in the worldâŠat being No. 2.
"Steiner, youâre not even No. 2 in your own family," Rollins said as he exited.
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This was a solid promo to build up the tension for Backlash. No physicality needed, and seeing Heyman watch this unfold like a proud father was a nice touch. Both Superstars delivered on the mic in a strong opening segment.
Oba Femi issues his own open challenge
After dispatching Grayson Waller with ease, Oba Femi took the mic to deliver a message. Anyone willing to step up to Femi can do so, but "The Ruler" said he would not be kind to anyone who steps through the ropes to face him. Since all of the titles are wrapped up in feuds, Femi wants to stay busy with his own open challenge.
This a good way to have Femi look good every week, but how long can he really do this? The Raw roster isnât that deep, and the company did just release a bunch of names. Ideally, creative would find a sustained feud for him, or at least plant some seeds, but I suppose this is what weâll have to work with for now. Either way, the crowds will go crazy for Femi, and appropriately so.
Becky Lynch defends womenâs IC title vs. IYO SKY
After cutting a signature Becky Lynch-style promo, the womenâs IC champ issued an open challenge to anyone willing to challenge for her crown. IYO SKY answered the call. Lynch questioned whether or not sheâd get IYO SKY or would Rhea Ripley come out too. In fact, if Ripley did come out, Lynch said sheâd take her belt and be "Becky two-belts" again.
Adam Pearce made the match official on the spot, and the two went at it. IYO SKY hit a sunset powerbomb to the floor, and led the match with a few other nice sequences.
Can we pump the brakes on all of the open challenges going around?
Sure, Trick Williams shutters the US title open challenge on SmackDown, but apparently, that just means everyone else can do it now! Surely Lynch will get another feud going soon. It wonât be IYO SKY right now, because she has Asuka business to handle, but maybe after Backlash thatâll be the move since the release of Kairi Sane shut down a lot of potential with the Asuka-IYO SKY story.
Jacob Fatu snaps on Roman Reigns
The final segment of this weekâs show was with Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu.
Reigns started with a promo about elevating the World Heavyweight Championship, a title made in spite of his Undisputed Championship reign. You can now "acknowledge" this title.
"The title doesn't make the man. The man makes the title."
Fatu joined Reigns in the ring, and made it clear that his decision to come for Reignsâ title didnât need to be a weeklong decision. He knew last week what he wanted, and that hasnât changed. Fatu said heâs been grinding for 12 years, and the only person to put him on in the family was Solo Sikoa, Reigns shut that down, saying Sikoa couldnât even order a cup of coffee around here, much less get anyone signed. Reigns said it was him who did that.
The Laredo crowd was a very pro-OTC crowd, but seemed torn when Fatu picked up the title and held it over Reigns. These are both likable characters, so itâs one of those spots where the story will just have to play out, because while Reigns is the Tribal Chief, the grind Fatu has been on and the hunger for more is as relatable as anything.
