Show Open

The Almighty WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley, who was not featured on last night’s Fastlane PPV, heads to the ring for a match with Sheamus.

Lashley’s ground game and grappling puts Sheamus at a disadvantage early but is not to be outdone by Sheamus’ heavy strikes.

An interesting dynamic here, specifically with Bobby Lashley who is not presented as your typical babyface. Lashley is free to act in a very aggressive manner, throwing heavy strikes and often ignoring the referee’s insistence to follow the rules.

Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander interfered in the match, without being caught by the official. Interestingly, neither MVP nor Lashley seemed to appreciate the meddling.

The second time Cedric tried to interfere, it almost cost Lashley the match. Lashley actually gestured to send them to the back, rather than have them remain ringside.

This segment closed very intriguingly.

Lashley locked Sheamus into The Hurt Lock, which submitted the Celtic Warrior. After Sheamus tapped, Alexander and Benjamin began assaulting him. Although Lashley did not look to approve, he did not intervene. Drew McIntyre then ran in and made the save, and faced off with Lashley.

MVP kept Lashley from attacking McIntyre, as the former WWE Champion stood tall.

Rating: 3/5

Even though I don’t like the seeds of dissension being sown between Lashley, MVP and the rest of The Hurt Business, I do like McIntyre making the save and portraying Lashley as a sort of tweeter character, riding that fine line between valiant hero and vicious villain

Backstage Segment with The Hurt Business

Bobby Lashley is absolutely pissed at Alexander and Benjamin for embarrassing him out there. MVP says he tarnished the reputation of The Almighty and wants them to think about how they’ll make it up to Lashley.

Asuka vs. Peyton Royce

Asuka makes her return to proper competition after attacking Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax last week. Asuka, of course, has been out for over a month after losing some teeth by way of a kick to the face from Baszler.

Royce on the other hand gets the match against the champion that she claimed to deserve in an impassioned promo on Raw Talk just two weeks ago.

Peyton Royce showed her under-appreciated in-ring ability, putting up a very competitive showing against the Raw Women’s Champion.

Some excellent pinning and submission combinations from Royce, which Asuka matched with her own strikes and submission missions.

Highlight: Peyton Royce gets caught in an armor, but Royce is able to squeak out of it.

Asuka submits Peyton Royce with the Asuka Lock, but can’t celebrate for long.

Out comes Rhea Ripley, one of the most badass women in WWE history, and she’s headed for a face-to-face with the Raw Women’s Champion.

Rhea acknowledges Charlotte Flair’s absence and challenges Asuka for a championship match at Wrestle Mania.

Asuka ACCEPTS.

Rating: 4.5/5

Not only did we see a really strong match between a returning Asuka, and the wildly underrated Peyton Royce, but the match was followed by the debut of Ripley and a championship match set for the biggest show of the year. 

Backstage with Drew McIntyre and Adam Pearce

Adam Pearce approaches McIntyre and explains that Benjamin and Alexander have challenged him to a 2v1 handicap match.

McIntyre accepts this handicap matchup, with the stipulation of barring The Hurt Business from ringside at Mania.

MizTV

The Miz and John Morrison (who is rocking a mullet now) come to the ring talking summarize their beef with Bad Bunny and Damien Priest. 

They, along with Elias now, have beef with the multi-platinum selling artist. The Miz thinks it’s time for Bad Bunny to leave the WWE because he has no respect for The Miz.

The Miz announces that next week, there will be a special episode of The Dirt Sheet, where they will debut their newest song, a Latin hip hop track, which made me audibly laugh out loud.

The Miz then challenges Bad Bunny to a wrestling match at Wrestle Mania.

Rating: 2.5/5

If only for the snippet of their upcoming song, The Miz and John Morrison never fail to entertain. I’m very excited about what comes next in this story.

The Miz vs. Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy insists that John Morrison heads to the back, and The Miz confidently agrees that he doesn’t need Morrison. Morrison heads to the back.

Ding-Ding.

The Miz is in control quickly after a short flurry of offense from The Charismatic Enigma.

A bit of back and forth in this short match was put away decisively when The Miz hit Hardy with the Skull Crushing Finale.

Bad Bunny is here, from out of nowhere. He breaks a guitar over the back of The Miz, revenge from last week’s attack.

He accepts The Miz’s challenge at the top of the ramp.

Rating: 3/5

I love Bad Bunny standing up for himself here, showing that he doesn’t need Damien Priest to stay relevant among the WWE roster. I also think it’s strong to have The Miz booked strongly against Jeff Hardy.

AJ Styles vs. Kofi Kingston

AJ Styles, mic in hand, addresses his business associate, Omos, making his in-ring debut at Wrestle Mania. Styles and Omos banter on about the damage they’re gonna do to The New Day at Mania.

The New Day comes down to the ring and makes fun of Styles and Omos. Claiming they’re not even a team, putting on some funny voices, and convincing Omos that he doesn’t even need AJ Styles. 

Highlight: Xavier talking directly to the camera while ringside, analyzing Kofi’s gameplan.

Two of the best in-ring wrestlers on the entire Raw roster really brought their A-game tonight. But as expected, some Omos shenanigans really made this match a little less than it could have been.

Highlight: Kofi looking for Trouble in Paradise, but AJ Styles catches Kingston with an enziguiri in mid-air.

Kofi pinned Styles with the SOS, as Woods distracts Omos from the match by playing the trombone annoyingly.

Rating: 2.5/5

I would have loved to rate this full segment higher, but with Omos’ involvement in every single AJ Styles match since his debut, I’m just tired of this act.

Backstage Segment with Sheamus

When asked why Sheamus accepted a match with Bobby Lashley just one day removed from his grueling match with Drew McIntyre, Sheamus said he does it because he lives for the fight. But he doesn’t want anything to do with McIntyre.

In rolls Matt Riddle, riding a scooter around Sheamus and asking a few questions about Ireland. Sheamus asks if scooters are easy to ride, steals his scooter, then hits Riddle with the thing.

Rating: 3/5

Cleared up a few things for Sheamus in terms of character, almost like a soft reset, and it made me laugh with Matt Riddle’s involvement. Anytime WWE can make me laugh, I’m bound to rate the segment higher.

Drew McIntyre vs. Cedric Alexander/Shelton Benjamin

Drew starting off against Shelton Benjamin, commentary plays up the importance of The Hurt Business’ ringside presence.

It took illegal double team moves in order for these two former tag team champions to finally get the upper hand on McIntyre.

Without the implications of tag team wrestling, Alexander and McIntyre had plenty of opportunities to utilize tag team maneuvers, which they took advantage of often and to great success.

A double down from a huge Glasgow kiss from McIntyre to Benjamin, and when McIntyre came up with fire, he absolutely destroyed Alexander and Benjamin with a pair of Claymore Kicks.

Drew picks up the victory, Alexander and Benjamin are barred from ringside at Wrestle Mania.

Rating: 2/5
I understand the story being told right now, but that doesn’t excuse WWE from feeding both Benjamin and Alexander to Drew McIntyre in short order, This just makes The Hurt Business look both fissured, and weak on both sides.

Backstage with The Hurt Business

MVP is lecturing Cedric and Shelton on their actions, Lashley interrupts and says he’ll find some more capable help.

Bobby Lashley puts a bounty on Drew McIntyre in the Raw locker room.

Rating: 2.5/5

I love the logic here, if the faction is heading in the direction of a split, it makes sense to see Lashley livid in this situation.

Mandy Rose/Dana Brooke vs Nia Jax/Shayna Baszler

Reginald does some back handsprings on the way to the ring, the focus is (unfortunately) not at all on the Women’s Tag Team Champions.

This match ended mercifully quickly, and the focus immediately returned to Reginald.

Rating: 1/5

No Commment.

Backstage with Alexa Bliss

Alexa tells Randy Orton to be careful what he wishes for, as he prepares to call out The Fiend.

Rating: n/a

Elias and Shane McMahon In-Ring Segment

Elias, along with Jaxon Ryker and Shane McMahon stand in the ring. Shane has set up a rematch tonight between Braun Strowman and Elias.

Shane and Elias have a new song called “Braun is Stupid”

 5/5 solely for getting through the entire song without being interrupted.

Braun comes out to the ring, and promises that Shane and Elias are both gonna “get these hands.”

Braun Strowman vs. Elias

Braun Strowman is dominant against Elias, while trash-talking McMahon on the outside. Why do these people insist on riling up Braun Strowman? What is the benefit?

This is mostly a retread of last night, Elias gets the upper hand on distraction once again, but it doesn’t last long.

Braun picks up the easy victory. 

Shane attacks Braun with his crutch, and Braun doesn't even flinch. Meanwhile, Shane runs away, showing he never needed the crutch in the first place.

Braun challenges Shane McMahon to a one on one match at Wrestle Mania, which Shane accepts.

Rating: 2/5

I’m good with this Shane vs. Braun Match, I just think this build has been really bad. Elias getting thrown around like a rag doll, Ryker a total non-factor, and Shane continues to get away. This actually does make Braun look stupid, and makes Shane look like a coward.

Randy Orton In-Ring Segment

The Legend Killer approaches the ring with a black canvas back in hand.

Orton is pissed that The Fiend is back, and vows to finish the job. He claims that “after tonight, the bullsh*t comes to an end.”

Out comes Alexa Bliss, whose makeup and music get just a little creepier with every appearance.

She has a jack-in-the-box, and a small Fiend puppet pops out of it.

The lights cut to black.

And when they come up, this mangled, burnt version of The Fiend, what’s left of him, is in the ring, face-to-face with Orton.

Orton reaches for the bag and pulls out a gas tank.

He slowly approaches The Fiend and douses him in gasoline. The Fiend doesn’t move.

Orton goes to light the match, but The Fiend steps towards him. RKO delivered.

Alexa Bliss steps into the ring, face-to-face with The Viper. The Fiend gets up and puts The Mandible Claw in Orton’s mouth, followed by Sister Abigail.

Alexa points to the Wrestle Mania sign in the rafters of The Thunderdome, fire goes off in the arena.

Cut to the match graphic:

Randy Orton vs. The Fiend

Fade to black.

Rating: 3/5

A really enjoyable segment as a re-introduction to The Fiend, showing that Randy Orton isn’t stupid, just outgunned and outmanned.

Overall

Rating: 3.2/5 (not counting Elias’ song)

This show was all about setting up the Raw matches for Wrestle Mania, which is just 3 weeks away. Which I’m all for, considering Smackdown already has its main matches scheduled. Some really solid storytelling throughout, not a lot of nonsense tonight. I’m more excited for Wrestle Mania than I was yesterday.