Monday Night Raw was in Anaheim this week, which meant, of course, I had to attend. I can honestly say it was one of the best live wrestling events I’ve attended.
The crowd was electric from the start, but that comes as no surprise since the California crowds are always impressive. WWE definitely agrees with this sentiment because, at the beginning of the show, they announced a five-year partnership with the Anaheim Honda Center.
Let’s take a look at some of the best matches from Monday Night Raw.
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE Monday Night Raw, February 19)
The show opened up with two of the most over wrestlers in the business today. Drew McIntyre made his entrance first, then came the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes. While this match didn’t have any special stipulations, the brutality in it could have convinced me otherwise. McIntyre seemed to have an answer for everything Rhodes tried, consistently pounding him with punches when he was down. McIntyre also hit Rhodes with devastating DDTs. However, the turning point came when Rhodes hit a suplex from the top rope on McIntyre. He followed this up with some Cody cutters and was ready to do his Cross Rhodes finisher until the Bloodline interfered. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa distracted Rhodes from the match, and next thing you knew, McIntyre hit his own finisher, the claymore, to get the victory.
Chad Gable vs. Ivar (WWE Monday Night Raw, February 19)
Chad Gable is simply a beast, but I had forgotten how agile Ivar is for a heavyweight, and this match reminded me. While Gable was the shorter and smaller opponent, Ivar was more crafty. He often used Gable’s momentum against him, throwing him into the ring apron monitor, jumping from the top rope on top of Gable multiple times and hitting kicks that weren’t even part of his regular moveset. On Gable’s side, he tried to suplex Ivar consistently throughout the match to no avail until the momentum shifted enough for him to do so. After the suplex, Gable took to the sky with a moonsault. Following that, he locked Ivar in an ankle lock submission hold, which earned him the win after Ivar tapped out.
Jey Uso vs. Gunther (WWE Monday Night Raw, February 19)
Brutal matches must have been the theme for Monday, because the battle for the Intercontinental Championship between Jey Uso and Gunther was chaotic. Gunther is known for delivering some of the most sinister chest chops, and at one point it was too many to count. Jey’s chest was red, but he still didn’t slow down enough to lose. He gave some slaps of his own and got his momentum going with several spears and a splash. Just when it seemed Jey was ready to win, in came his brother Jimmy Uso and cousin Solo Sikoa to interrupt. In a similar fashion to the Rhodes match at the beginning of the night, the two Bloodline members cost Jey Uso the match. Jey tried to hit another splash from the top rope, but Gunther put his knees up to reverse it and get the 1, 2, 3. After the match, the Bloodline stayed to attack Jey until Rhodes came to his aid. While I would have liked Jey to win, it seems he has bigger fish to fry in the future.
What was an amazing night turned even more amazing when CM Punk came out to address the crowd after the show went off the air. Even though he’s injured right now, it was still great to see him live. The only thing missing from this show was Seth Rollins, but I’ll see him next time.
“Sports Entertainment Solidified” is a pro wrestling column by Maddy Myer that runs every Monday.