source: WWE
This week on Raw, Roman blows up at yet another Brock Lesnar no-show, Alexa Bliss reaches her full mean girl potential, and Braun Strowman gets a chance at the tag team championships.
source: WWE
Roman Reigns gets in trouble
Kurt Angle comes out to the ring and announces that even though he was advertised, Brock Lesnar will not be at Raw tonight. Seconds later, Roman Reigns comes out, reiterating that Lesnar doesn’t respect anyone in or watching WWE. He demands repercussions for Lesnar not showing up to work, but he knows there won’t be because Brock is “Vince’s boy”.
Roman calls out Vince McMahon, saying he will not be disrespected by Vince. He drops the mic and walks directly to Vince in the back, standing face to face with Vince and Shane. Vince calls production to cut to commercial, and camera fades out as they’re walking to have a word together.
After commercial, Vince and Roman exit his office. Roman doesn’t say a word, but Vince talks to Renee Young, saying that Brock isn’t anyone’s boy—he’s a man. Vince tells that he reminded Reigns of something his cowsin, the Rock, says: “Know your role and shut your mouth”.
Vince says that Lesnar does have special privileges, but he believes he has earned them. He promises that Lesnar will be in attendance next week, and Roman Reigns has been temporarily suspended.
I really wish I wrote an opinion piece about how I feel about Brock Lesnar before these past few weeks, because I basically said the same things Roman Reigns did before he got the chance to say it. I agree that Lesnar is a lazy part-timer, and he clearly doesn’t have the passion for WWE that many superstars have.
This rivalry is heating up more and more each week, and it makes me happy to have some realistic story to go off of. While it’s obvious that this isn’t a “shoot”, it’s as close as it can get. Involving Vince in this rivalry makes it even more real and very significant.
This is really feeling like a WrestleMania-esque storyline.
source: WWE
Sasha Banks vs. Sonya Deville
Winner: Sasha Banks
Banks and Deville go back and forth as Banks lands dropkicks and Deville hits her with hard strikes. Deville takes control, capturing Sasha in a submission and then hitting her with a kick and a running knee.
Sasha counters a headbutt, retreating to the apron and giving her a couple kicks and knees to the chest and face. When Mandy Rose creates a distraction by jumping onto the apron, Bayley floors her by sweeping her legs. Sasha gets Deville in the Bank Statement, forcing Sonya to tap.
Bayley walks up the ramp and leaves, allowing for Absolution to corner Sasha and attack her. They end the segment on top as it is noted that Alexa Bliss doesn’t have an opponent for WrestleMania this year.
This week wasn’t the best for Sasha and Bayley’s impending rivalry and likely WrestleMania match, but it made it clear that they want to draw out this feud as long as they can before making the match. It makes Absolution look good, of course, and keeps Sasha and Bayley’s hands off each other for a little bit longer.
source: WWE
MizTV features Finn Balor and Seth Rollins
Miz comes out to the ring alone, announcing that Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas have an opportunity to be in WrestleMania and they’re preparing for their match. He brings out Seth Rollins and Finn Balor.
He tries to pin Balor and Rollins against each other, saying that they each denied one another a one on one opportunity at WrestleMania. He calls Finn a pretty good newcomer (I laughed out loud). He says his WWE resume is lacking, but he did beat Rollins to become the first Universal Champion.
Finn and Seth both call him out for trying to trick them, and Miz gets angry. He asks if he’s the bad guy here, and the fans respond with a resounding yes. Miz tries to convince Finn that Seth will stab him in the back, but Rollins stops him—he says that they don’t need to be fired up for their title match at WrestleMania. Rollins continues, saying Balor doesn’t stand a chance.
Finn reminds Rollins who won the last time they had a title match—Finn defeated him with one arm for the Universal Championship. They argue, and Miz sits between them ecstatic. They say that they dont have to wait to fight, and it can be Balor vs. Rollins tonight. Together, they beat up the Miz, and then Rollins attacks Balor before retreating to the back.
This match is featuring arguably the three most talented men on the Raw roster, so its obvious that they’re comma nail each TV opportunity before Mania. This segment sets up a match between Balor and Rollins, which is also obviously gonna be great. I look forward to what else this rivalry has to offer before WrestleMania.
source: WWE
The Bar vs. The Miztourage
Winners: N/A
Cesaro and Sheamus come out to the ring, but are attacked by Axel and Dallas. As soon as the Bar get the upper hand, the Revival enters and attacks. Shortly after, Gallows and Anderson, Titus Worldwide, and Slater and Rhyno join in on attacking the champs.
As the entire Raw tag division attacks Sheamus and Cesaro, they force the champions to retreat through the crowd and up the ramp. The announcers don’t hesitate to make light of the fact that the Bar has been taunting all other teams on social media, saying they don’t have real competition.
This doesn’t really clear up the WrestleMania picture for Raw’s tag division. This week seemed like a filler, even though it was a good way to see all the other Raw tag teams. Upon seeing all of the possible competition for the Bar, it makes me realize that none of these teams have been built up well enough to seemingly put on a good show at Mania.
Along with many other fans, I have been hoping that this is the opportunity for a dominant NXT tag team (cough, the Authors of Pain, cough) to make their debut and blow all of the other teams out of the water.
However, later in the night, the Bar claims to Kurt Angle that they don’t feel safe on Raw. They’ve beaten everyone, and they don’t want to have to wait for a post-Mania superstar shake-up (it is happening this year!) to get out of Raw. Angle announces that there will be a tag team battle royal tonight to find out who will take on the champs at WrestleMania.
source: WWE
John Cena calls out the Undertaker
Cena comes out to the ring, saying he has had opportunities on both brands to carve a path to WrestleMania. He doesn’t make excuses, saying he will not contribute to WrestleMania this year. He is going to be there, he just has a different road—one as a fan.
He touts the greatness of the fans, saying that without them, there would be no WrestleMania. He even goes into the crowd and takes a sip of a fans beer.
Cena realizes that he can do whatever he wants, since he’s just going to be a fan and buy a ticket. He notes that he knows what he’s not supposed to do, and does it anyway: he challenges the Undertaker at WrestleMania.
He asks why this was impossible. Cena knows its not the executives, who could shut off his microphone and suspend him. He repeats over and over that he challenges the Undertaker at WrestleMania. He says that there’s one person that wont allow that match to happen, and that’s the Undertaker.
John tells Taker to get over his own ego, and to stop hiding behind his lame excuses. Undertaker isn’t too old, too washed up, or too broken down. He looks straight into the camera, calling Taker a self-centered conceited egomaniac.
The “ball is in your court”, Undertaker. It’s probably already a foregone conclusion that this match will happen at the grandest stage of them all, Cena’s unkind words about taker don’t hurt the feud at all.
This match, if done right, will be legendary. The concept of the match itself is amazing, and it’s insane that these two have never really met in the ring before.
source: WWE
Elias is done, so who will Get These Hands?
Elias comes out to the ring and plays guitar for a minute before leaving the ring solemnly. He leaves his guitar on the stool in the center of the ring. Backstage, Braun Strowman is angry. He tells the camera that he dropped a piano on Elias last week and he still doesn’t have a road to WrestleMania. He vows to make his own way.
Both of these men will be snubbed if they don’t have Wrestlemania matches. I have no doubt that Strowman will make it into a match, but unfortunately, Elias might have to be in the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal. If he doesn’t win it, that will be a true travesty. Both of these men are too talented to miss the card, be unsuccessful, or not have a meaningful match at WrestleMania.
source: WWE
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Winner: Finn Balor
Early on, Rollins takes control of Balor with chops and kicks in the corners. Balor bounces back with a dropkick outside of the ring, sending Rollins into the barricade. He knocks Rollins down with a knee to the shoulder from the apron.
Seth catches Balor in the cheek with a running knee on the apron, and then stretches his neck in a submission. Balor fights back, but Rollins sends him face first into the middle turnbuckle. Finn turns the tables with chops in the corner and a jumping enziguiri.
Balor delivers a slingblade, but runs right into a super kick. Rollins keeps Balor in the corner with knees to the chest, but Balor reverses and climbs up to the top rope. He knocks Rollins down and sets up for the Coup De Grace, but Rollins pops back up and climbs to the top rope quickly.
Rollins grabs Balor into a huge superplex, but when he tries to go for the Falcon Arrow, Finn reverses into a rollup pin, getting the victory.
This match was great, but I’m sure it was just a preview for WrestleMania. This match could’ve been longer and neither man seemed to utilize his full potential, but it’s a good idea to utilize a rollup pin to end the match and save some of the good action for Mania.
source: WWE
Mickie James vs. Asuka
Winner: Asuka
Asuka comes to the ring, but before she can get a word out, Alexa Bliss comes out with Mickie James. Bliss claims that Asuka is avoiding her at Mania, saying that she’s smart for choosing the champion of the B show.
Asuka says that she chose Charlotte because in order to be the woman, you have to beat the woman. Asuka claims that she wanted to beat the best champion. When Alexa narrowly avoids Asuka’s challenge for tonight by saying that she’s going to face someone who has unfinished business with her.
While Alexa and Mickie point to the stage and ramp, waiting for someone to come out, no one does. It seems a bit awkward for a second, and I was confused as to if there was someone who was supposed to come out or not.
After a brief and quiet conversation between Alexa and Mickie, Mickie attacks Asuka. This sets up a match between the two after commercial break. After commercial, Mickie is in control, but it isn’t long until she’s taken down by kicks and strikes.
Mickie James goes to the outside and talks to Alexa when Asuka knocks her down with a kick. She goes to kick James but she dodges, and Asuka kicks the post. James capitalizes and takes the brief advantage, but she’s stopped with a hard kick.
Asuka is hurting with that kick to the post, and even though she can barely stand, she’s still kicking and hitting Mickie. James hits Asuka with a sunset flip powerbomb, but she doesn’t secure the pin. Asuka locks in the Asuka lock and forces to Mickie to submit as Alexa storms to the back.
Backstage, Alexa yells at Nia for not coming out when they wanted her to help attack Asuka. Nia explains that Kurt told her stay away before her match. She tells her to stop sulking, and that she loves her. They have a brief heart to heart, and Alexa makes sure Nia is there for her against Asuka next week.
source: WWE
Nia Jax vs. Joan King
Winner: Nia Jax
Nia backs a fearful King into the corner before throwing her across the ring and stomping on her. She delivers a Samoan Drop before getting the victory.
The camera cuts to Alexa and Mickie backstage, and they’re talking about Nia. Bliss says she was being nice, and they call her an outcast for being bigger than the other girls. They say watching her is like watching “Shrek lumber through TSA”. They mock her for not being able to handle the truth.
Alexa admits that she uses Nia because Nia’s a vulnerable human being. She tells Mickie that she has Nia in the palm of her hand—Nia’s easily manipulated and is as dumb as she is big. Bliss says that Nia worships her because she makes her relevant.
Charly Caruso shows up late to their interview and informs Alexa and Mickie that the microphone has been on the whole time, and that everyone just heard what they said. Nia sulks toward the back and then angrily stomps backstage.
Alexa and Mickie run off, and Jax narrowly misses them—she storms into the dressing room and tears the room apart. Screaming and holding back tears, she rips up suitcases, clothing racks, and everything in between.
This was amazing. We haven’t seen true mean girl women in WWE in several years, and Alexa is the perfect mean girl. Recruiting Mickie as her sidekick gives us what could be some of Mickie’s best work in a long time (possibly ever), and she’s doing great as a heel.
This feud could unlock Nia’s true potential. While she’s been seen as a dominant force in NXT and WWE for a while now, we haven’t witnessed her this angry or fired up before. I’m surprised they allowed Alexa and Mickie to take it so far when they insulted Nia, and I’m sure there’s a bit of truth in that Nia has said she’s been bullied like this before. I only see good things coming for these two in the next couple weeks.
source: WWE
Tag team battle royal to determine the Bar’s WrestleMania opponents
Winner: Braun Strowman
Before the battle royal begins, Braun Strowman comes out to the ring, pretty much demanding to be in the match. The battle royal begins, and Strowman chases Heath Slater out of the ring, mutilating him before sending him back in the ring to eliminate him.
Braun turns around to see all of the other men who teamed up to attack him. Everyone tries to eliminate him except the Revival, who capitalizes and eliminates Rhyno. Strowman breaks free and knocks everyone out of the ring, but doesn’t send them over the top rope.
Titus O’Neil approaches Strowman alone in the ring, but then backs out and joins the other teams to talk strategy. One by one, they all jump onto the apron, but Braun floors each of them before they can gain any advantage.
After commercial, all of the men attack Strowman, but he breaks free yet again. When Luke Gallows sends Strowman out of the ring via the middle ropes, the Revival and the Miztourage work together to send him into the steel steps. They pick up the steps and attack with them, but it takes them a few tries to knock Braun down.
When Braun is temporarily taken down at ringside, other teams return to the ring to continue the battle royal. The Revival are eliminated over the top rope, and Strowman returns and eliminates Titus and Luke Gallows.
The Miztourage tries to eliminate Strowman, but the Monster Among Men reverses and eliminates them both, leaving him and Karl Anderson in the ring. Anderson gets a couple kicks in, but Braun picks him up and yells at him, saying he is going to Wrestlemania, before tossing him over the top rope. The Bar stands by the announce table, terrified.
This is awfully surprising. Considering that there are several eligible teams to compete for the Raw tag team titles at WrestleMania, I don’t think anyone thought that Braun Strowman would take the spot.
This surprise is a good one, though—never before has an individual won both titles for themselves, and Braun seems to be the only real threat to the titles. Unfortunately, it seems like Elias is out of a clear Mania path, unless he is made to be Strowman’s partner.
If Strowman on his own for a chance at the titles doesn’t pan out, it would make a lot of sense to put these two enemies together. They’re both beloved by the audience, and the the current Raw tag champions have been incredibly successful—and it all started out with a rivalry between Cesaro and Sheamus. It’ll be interesting to see where this one goes.
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