source: WWE
In Raw's go-home show, tension builds between Ronda Rousey and Stephanie McMahon, we find out Braun's potential partner, and the feud between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar intensifies.
source: WWE
Stephanie McMahon and Triple H come face to face with Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey
Jonathan Coachman introduces both teams, announcing that they will be answering questions from fans on social media. Triple H questions Kurt’s intelligence, but Ronda cuts him off by questioning why they would sign her with two-faced ulterior motives.
Hunter says that Ronda’s championships and accomplishments mean nothing. Stephanie continues to shut down Ronda, condemning any future superstars who try to go against the authority.
Coach tells them it’s time for a photo op (never seen one of those in WWE before but okay), but he insists it will be civil. When Angle breaks up a face to face between Steph and Ronda, Triple H hits him in the head with a microphone. Rousey puts her hand on H’s neck, and Stephanie picks her up and puts her through a table.
Highlights:
Kurt says “she’s Ronda frickin’ Rousey”
Stephanie says “when there’s an uprising, your bosses with bite the head off the snake”
Stephanie: “Ronda, the world knows how you handle losses”
Ronda: “Steph, are you left or right handed, because I still want you to be able to sign my checks after I rip it off”
Stephanie chokeslams Ronda through a table and yells at her
Opinion:
While she had a little slip up that as probably caused by the loud fan reaction when she talked about ripping Stephanie’s arm off, Ronda Rousey has been improving. It looks like WWE wants to use her on the microphone in smaller increments, and she’s getting better. Angle is always below par in talking segments, at one point calling her Ronda Rowdy, but Triple H and Stephanie saved the segment with their diabolical behaviors both on the mic and when Steph came out on top with the choke slam.
source: WWE
Bayley vs. Sonya Deville
Winner: Bayley
Highlights:
Paige and Mandy pull Sonya out of the ring and Bayley comes out to pull her back in and attack her
Bayley gets a rollup pin before Sonya and Mandy attack her
Sasha comes to Bayley’s aid, laying out Absolution
Sasha expects Bayley to raise her hand and talks down to Bayley
Bayley attacks Sasha until Absolution comes in and attacks them both
Opinion:
Sonya Deville looks really good lately, and I believe she could be a Women’s Champion down the line. The story between Bayley and Sasha was taken further here, and while I didnt really expect Sasha to come and save Bayley, I thought it was fantastic for her to be snarky and entitled, ordering her to raise her hand for being the bigger person and saving her. I love that we’re getting little tastes of Sasha and Bayley, and I’m excited about this subplot in the women’s battle royal.
source: WWE
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Winner: Seth Rollins
Highlights:
The Miz comes out on commentary 4 days after the birth of his daughter
Miz praises Rollins and Balor, claiming he’s a “new man” and having a baby “changes you”
Rollins launches into a suicide dive onto Balor into the barricade
Seth super kicks Finn in the face
Rollins superplexes Balor and Balor gets a rollup pin, but doesn’t win the match
Rollins almost buckle bombs Balor into the barricade but Balor escapes the move that injured his shoulder
Baloe misses the Coup De Grace
Rollins hits the stomp and wins the match
The Miz stands on the announce table and looks over at Rollins in the ring, holding up his title
Opinion:
This match was fantastic, and the Miz on commentary was fantastic. However, I feel like this was too much of a good thing. This match was already a show stealer—Balor and Rollins are both stars in their own right, and they delivered a classic on Raw. But the Miz was so entertaining on commentary that, at times, took away from the match.
Cameras often showed Miz at the commentary table, and everything Miz said was good as he debuted a newer state of mind following the birth of his first child. His words are always important, but now I was looking forward to things he said simply due to the fact that his baby was born 4 days ago. Both things were great but I feel like Miz on commentary was a bit too much leading into WrestleMania on Sunday.
source: WWE
The Bar meet Braun's partner
Sheamus and Cesaro tell Braun Strowman that they don’t care who his partner is, because they need to work as a team. The Bar condemns Strowman and his partner, telling him that they’ll never be a real team, therefore they’ll never get the tag team titles.
Strowman comes out, saying that he has been told he needs a partner in order to compete, and he will reveal his partner if one of them faces him tonight. Braun goes to get him, warning the Bar that he’s a lot like him, just a little different.
Braun comes out in a button up shirt with no sleepes and glasses with tape. He says that his name is Brains. Brains takes off his costume and is attacked by Sheamus and Cesaro, but breaks free and attacks both of them.
Highlights:
Braun says “my brother is Braun, and my name’s Brains!"
Corey Graves says “Oh my God, its Braun Strowman!” When Brains takes off his shirt and glasses
Opinion:
Brains is hilarious. I love the concept of Braun not having a partner at WrestleMania, and when Strowman said his partner was similar to him, I ruled out James Ellsworth and feared it would be Big Show. I hope that Brains stays eligible at Mania.
source: WWE
Matt Hardy vs. Goldust
Winner: Matt Hardy
Highlights:
Both men cut promos before the match about how they’ll win the Andre battle royal
Hardy misses a Twist of Fate the first time, but gets in and earns the pin
Opinion:
This segment was pretty much pointless, and WWE missed an opportunity here to talk about what happened to Bray Wyatt. Just a filler I guess.
source: WWE
John Cena seeks a response from the Undertaker one last time
Cena says that he was wrong, and this time, silence means no. He says that since he lost in his 5 most recent matches, he can’t just enter the battle royal or any other match. He didn’t want to take an opportunity from another superstar.
John announces that he’s proud to be going to Mania as a fan, and he’s happy to see the most stacked WrestleMania card ever. He gives shoutouts to Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Elias, Rusev, and the women’s matches.
He tells Atlanta that they can try to summon the Undertaker, but says he doesn’t think they’ll be loud enough. After 3 tries, the crowd is super loud, and Cena tells Taker that he’s not disappointed about WrestleMania, but he’s disappointed in him. He says if he leaves the fans hanging like that, he’s a dead man walking.
Opinion:
I think Cena has been the most respected and loved he’s been in a while in this storyline. Undertaker isn’t playing the heel, because as soon as his music hits, fans will go crazy. However, in begging Taker for a response, Cena honors the other fantastic wrestlers (both men and women), the fans, and even Undertaker himself.
It’s possible that when Taker shows up at WrestleMania (it’s kind of a foregone conclusion, right?), he will be in the American Badass persona, which is perfect, because the Kid Rock theme begins with the words “dead man walking”.
source: WWE
Elias vs. Heath Slater
Winner: Elias
Highlights:
Rhyno wears a shirt that says “I walk with Slater”
Elias delivers the Drift Away for the victory
Opinion:
I find it strange that Elias hasn’t announced himself as a member of the Andre battle royal. I’m under the assumption that he will perform somewhere in the show. It’s possible that he’s in the legends spot, and there have been rumors that the Rock will show up. Maybe Rock will perform his own “Rock concert”.
source: YouTube
Renee Young interviews Nia Jax
When asked about Alexa and Mickie, Nia Jax tells Renee that she made them doubt herself. She had no idea how Alexa truly felt, and the comments she made took a toll on her. She says that she loves who she is, and she shouldn’t feel sorry for herself.
Nia turns to the camera, telling Alexa that she’s an insecure little girl and a pathetic fly. She claims that at WrestleMania, she will squash her like a bug.
source: WWE
Alexa Bliss and Mickie James vs. Dana Brooke and Asuka
Winners: Dana Brooke and Asuka
Highlights:
Asuka gets the hot tag and lays out Mickie James with kicks
Asuka delivers a sliding kick off the apron to James
Asuka traps James in the Asuka lock and Mickie taps out
Alexa and Mickie attack Asuka and Dana after the match
Nia runs out and Alexa escapes, so Nia devours Mickie
Opinion:
I love the way Alexa and Mickie are portrayed in this feud. It’s been a while since we’ve seen true mean girls in WWE, and Bliss and James are perfect in this role. Nia is a good role model babyface all of the sudden, but it works because you can empathize with her. I can’t wait to see her crush Bliss at Mania.
source: WWE
Brock and Roman meet once more before WrestleMania
Before Lesnar’s segment, Kurt Angle approaches Paul Heyman, asking him to keep the situation under control. Kurt asks him not to add fuel to the fire, wanting Roman Reigns not to injure Lesnar before Mania. Heyman laughs, and tells him he’ll see what he can do.
Angle also came up to Reigns, asking him for peace. Roman laughs at the concept that Angle believes that Lesnar and Heyman will be civil. He doesn’t cooperate when Angle asks him to with Lesnar tonight, saying that as long as Brock is there, he will be too.
Lesnar comes out to the ring, and various WWE superstars form a human wall at on the ramp, attempting to barricade Reigns if he comes out. Instead of talking about Roman, Heyman says that Kurt Angle has no control over any situation.
Heyman says that it was a spoiler when he said Lesnar would break Undertaker’s streak, and its a spoiler that he will beat Roman Reigns. Paul says there are things to respect about Reigns, but Reigns is still gonna lose.
Paul says that if a freak accident occurs and Brock loses, you will never see Lesnar and Heyman in WWE again. Heyman preaches about how no one can afford Lesnar, let alone compete with him.
Right before Brock and Paul leave, Roman’s music hits. The superstars step up and block his way. Roman asks if the superstars will protect the “part-timing bastard”, and they part so he can come through. Roman enters the ring, and Brock retreats out of the ring with his title.
Brock grabs a steel chair and reenters the ring, but when he aims at Reigns, Reigns gives him FIVE superman punches. Roman picks up Lesnar’s Universal Championship and raises it in the air. He turns around and is caught in an F5 from Lesnar, who escapes the ring afterward.
Highlights:
Reigns tells Angle to take his “peace treaty” to the pawn shop where he sold his gold medals
Heyman claims that only an Act of God can cause Lesnar to lose at WrestleMania
Paul namedrops UFC
Heyman claims that Reigns will be another notch on Lesnar’s title belt
Brock backs down at first when Roman confronts him
Roman floors Brock with 5 superman punches
Lesnar gives Reigns an F5
Opinion:
This may be the only time I have been excited about a Brock Lesnar match in the last 5 years, and that is solely because it’s a possibility that he will lose. I’m glad Brock got the upper hand at the end of the night, because Roman still looked strong with some offense and it’s not uncommon to see the person who’s gonna lose the match go over in the go-home show.
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