We are just a few days away from Wrestlemania Backlash, what shenanigans will go down on RAW tonight?
After a recap of last week, we got the entrance of Charlotte Flair. Our opening match will be the six women tag team match.
Asuka, Mandy Rose, and Dana Brooke defeated Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, and Charlotte Flair via Pinfall (Shiniest Wizard)
During the match, while the six women were in a stare down, Alexa Bliss and her “friend” Lily appeared on the stage with their swing set. Apparently they were there to keep an eye on someone. Once we focused back on the match, Flair was in control and bringing the fight to Brooke. Then Baszler got into the match, but her knee gave out which allowed Asuka to take out Jax. With Baszler having no help, Asuka got the pin.
After the match Flair attacked Asuka from behind. Then we heard the laughter of Bliss and Lily. What they were laughing at exactly? I still don’t know.
We were then shown a video of Randy Orton being hit with tomatoes by Elias and Jaxson Ryker last week. Backstage Riddle was talking to The New Day about registration forms and RKBro becoming an official tag team in a few weeks. Kofi Kingston gave him props and said it was something all tag teams needed to do. Then they talked a bit about what happened last week and what they were going to do tonight in their match.
Unfortunately for Riddle, while he was discussing how it was funny Orton got hit with tomatoes…Orton was behind him the whole time. Orton didn’t find any of it funny.
We then took a commercial break.
Returning from break, MVP let himself into Braun Strowman’s locker room (he did knock though). Once Strowman saw him he yelled at him to leave. MVP though said he had a business proposition for him. Strowman still wasn’t interested, but MVP insisted.
MVP said that Bobby Lashley did not beat him last week, Drew McIntyre did. Lashley apparently said that Strowman is the strongest individual he has ever fought. If Lashley HAD to lose the championship, not that he wants or is going to, he would rather lose to Strowman. Then MVP said that if somehow Drew McIntyre got so injured that he couldn’t make it to Wrestlemania Backlash, well it would be good for all parties involved.
Then we saw a recap of what when down in Damian Priest’s match with John Morrison last week. After seeing the recap Priest was seen in Adam Pearce’s office. Soon Miz and Morrison joined the men and they were not thrilled to see Priest. It was decided that the winner of Priest versus Morrison will decide the stipulation for Priest’s match with Miz this Sunday.
Morrison accepted even though Miz was not keen on the idea.
Jinder Mahal is here! And not he did not come alone! Mahal said he was excited to be back on RAW and then introduced Veer and Shanky (Indus Sher). Mahal said he would remind everyone tonight why he is a former WWE Champion.
He made his entrance to the ring and then we went to a commercial break.
Jinder Mahal defeated Jeff Hardy via Pinfall (Khallus)
It certainly was a triumphant return to RAW for Mahal. Hardy got in very little offense as the match turned out to be all Mahal. After a blocked Twist of Fate, Mahal hit the Khallus and that was all she wrote.
After the much we saw Charlotte Flair walk up to Sonya Deville. We did not get to see or hear much of their conversation as cameras panned away.
AJ Styles and Omos walked up to Elias and Jaxson Ryker, who had a basket of tomatoes. Styles basically told them to grow up and get serious. We then saw Omos crush a tomato with his hand and say that it would be just like what he is going to do to their opponents tonight.
Then Riddle made his entrance to the ring and we took another commercial break.
The New Day, Riddle, and Randy Orton defeated Elias, Jaxson Ryker, AJ Styles, and Omos via Pinfall (RKO)
While Riddle and Elias began the match, Elias was able to tag Ryker into the match after escaping an armbar attempt by Riddle. Soon though, Omos tagged into the match and began to destroy Riddle. The New Day attempted to help Riddle, but Omos easily took them down. Orton thought about it, but wisely stayed outside the ring.
Once the big man was not the legal competitor anymore, the match got a bit easier for The New Day, Orton, and Riddle. They were able to get offense in and keep control of the match.
After the match, Orton gave RKOs to The New Day! Orton definitely did not appreciate them laughing at his tomato experience last week. Riddle was in shock and told Orton they won’t be able to have friends if Orton keeps doing stuff like that.
Then backstage we saw Sonya Deville, Asuka, and Rhea Ripley. Deville had to keep the two women apart by telling them they would not be fighting in her office and would resolve it peacefully. Then she told the women she was given an idea for how they could resolve their issues: tonight they would go one on one! Ripley said she saw Charlotte Flair in Deville’s office earlier and asked if this was Flair’s brilliant idea.
Asuka said while she had already competed tonight, she was ready for Ripley.
Sheamus made his entrance to the Thunderdome and then we took yet another commercial break.
Returning from break, MVP and Bobby Lashley were interviewed. MVP did not like the interviewer’s questions and said he was being disrespectful. Lashley said he would beat McIntyre again tonight. Then MVP said he would not be commenting on any business negotiations.
Back in the ring, we watched a video package of what happened in Sheamus’ match last week with Mansoor. Then Sheamus said last week he proved why he is the baddest man on the planet. He then posed a question to Adam Pearce: why would he want to follow in the footsteps of other US Champions and have an open challenge for the championship? He wants to create a legacy of his own and people should have to earn a shot at his title.
Sheamus defeated Humberto Carrillo via Referee Stoppage
Carrillo started off the match quick, but Sheamus was even quicker to gain control of the match. The match seemed to meet its end because Carrillo may have suffered a legit knee injury. A sunset flip to the outside and the landing was rather rough. The referee really didn’t have much of a choice here.
A Lucha House Party video was then played. It seemed to serve as a reintroduction of the team.
Then Cedric Alexander made his entrance and we went to commercial break.
We got another video for the return of Eva Marie. She still wants to know if she has our attention yet.
Shelton Benjamin defeated Cedric Alexander via Pinfall
Alexander was all about the trash talking in the beginning of the match, but he definitely backed it up. Early on Alexander did all the right moves to keep Benjamin grounded. A dragon screw on the ropes took Benjamin down and Alexander targeted Benjamin’s leg the rest of the match. Ever the veteran though, Benjamin fought back and caught Alexander with a suplex for the win!
Drew Gulak confronted Angel Garza about what happened after their match last week.
We saw Asuka make her entrance and then took another commercial break.
Rhea Ripley defeated Asuka via Pinfall (Riptide)
Charlotte Flair did make an appearance during the match. She joined commentary half way through the match and admitted that she was the one who suggested the match to Deville earlier. Ripley was in control of Asuka for a good bit, but the Empress of Tomorrow was able to mount a comeback with a sliding knee. The Asuka Lock almost got locked in, but then the action went to the outside…right in front of Flair.
Ripley was able to head butt Asuka, which Flair applauded. After Asuka hit a Codebreaker and got a two count, the action went back outside. As Ripley and Flair got in each others’s face Asuka hit a hip attack off the announcer’s table to Ripley! Unfortunately for Asuka though, it just wasn’t enough.
Damian Priest defeated John Morrison via Pinfall (Hit The Lights)
The Miz once again tried and failed to interfere on Morrison’s behalf. It seemed like he was hellbent on getting Priest counted out, but that didn’t work. He also distracted the referee, but it wasn’t enough and actually hurt Morrison as he had a pin attempt.
After Priest won the match, an angry Miz attacked Priest after the match. He went for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Priest blocked it. The Miz wound up running out of the ring before Priest could Hit The Lights on him. Unfortunately for Morrison, Miz did not drag him with and he suffered another Hit The Lights.
We later find out that Priest decided that the match against Miz Sunday will be a Lumberjack Match.
After a commercial we got another Eva Marie promo video. She says life is not picture perfect, but anything is possible.
Drew McIntyre defeated Bobby Lashley via DQ (I Think)
Braun Strowman decided to make his presence truly felt tonight! Lashley was all happy because he though Strowman was going to be on his side. I mean I would have too, especially when Strowman attacked McIntyre first. But after helping Lashley up and a little bro hug, RUNNING POWERSLAM!
Strowman then picked up McIntyre and gave him a second powerslam. By this time Lashley rolled to the outside and Strowman followed. MVP tried to stop him, but of course that didn’t work. POWERSLAM TO LASHLEY THROUGH THE BARRICADE!
Another powerslam to McIntyre in the ring and that’s the show. Remember, Strowman’s allegiance lies with no one.