WWE Raw comes to us live from the WWE ThunderDome – Will Drew McIntyre finally be stopped? Is Sheamus ripping a hole through the WWE Locker Room? Is Braun really a steam train? Does Lashley show any signs of stopping?
The Hurt Business Breaks Up
As they make their way down to the ring, MVP says he has an announcement reiterating that as we are less than two weeks away from WrestleMania, if anyone can take out Drew before WrestleMania they will get that opportunity
The faction goes back and forth about the failure of Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin when they attempted to take out McIntyre last week, how they have lost the titles and become an embarrassment.
They end up in a tussle and to end, Lashley clears the ring and grabs the microphone and announces that The Hurt Business is dead.
Sheamus vs Riddle
In the early stages of the match, the pair lock-up and either struggles to gain control. Riddle tries to build some offence but Sheamus is hell bent on destruction and Riddle is the target tonight! Suddenly, off the back of hitting the ropes, Riddle leaps onto Sheaums and tries to down him as he applies a sleeper hold.
All is for nought, Sheamus is down for a moment but roars back into life with Riddle on his back and slams him into the turnbuckle.
Sheamus drops vicious elbows in the corner and Riddle tries to fight back with some pretty stiff kicks and straight punches – the pair exchange back and forth into the commerical break and beyond
In the closing moments, Sheamus lifts Riddle for an Alabama Slam gaining a near-fall. Sheamus goes to hit a Brogue Kick but Riddle hits him with another stiff knee and a roll-up for a near fall. Riddle is back on him straight away and swings for a kick, unfortunately for him, Sheamus catches it, lands a kick and knees him in the head for the match win.
Winner: Sheamus
Braun Strowman vs Jaxson Ryker
Shane McMahon, Elias and Jaxson Ryker are all in the ring together, Shane says his running last week doe not mean he isn’t injured, and that his adrenaline kicked-in and allowed him to escape from the wrath of Braun so that he could survive, and go on to face and defeat him at WrestleMania.
The rest of this segment is basically Shane calling Braun dumb, let’s get into the important bit shall we.
As soon as the bell rings, Braun boots Ryker into the corner, and proceeds to throw him accross the ring like a ping pong ball. Braun rolls out of the ring and (of course) he chases after Shane who clearly has another bout of adrenaline and runs away. Braun reenters the ring and beats Ryker into the corner, headbutts him but suddenly, Shane gets on the apron to distract him and Ryker manages to attack Braun from behind.
Ryker hits a chop block, following that up with a basement bulldog. Ryker climbs the middle rope and for an axe handle but Strowman boots him (again). Ryker rolls out of the ring and Braun goes out to run after him as train sounds fill the ThunderDome (of course, Braun is a steam engine don’t you know)
Braun then lifts Ryker above his head and stares down Shane before hitting a huge running power slam for the match win.
Winner: Braun Strowman
Miz and Morrison New Single
‘Hey Hey, Hop Hop’
I will just leave this here, this was entertaining, and is a jibe at Bad Bunny to build toward The Miz vs Bad Bunny at WrestleMania, it does its job.
Damian Priest and Bad Bunny enjoyed the video, and come out to deliver a message (and a right hand) to The Miz.
Bobby Lashley vs Shelton Benjamin
Right in the opening moments of this match, Shelton goes right after Lashley who was distracted having a gossip with MVP. Shelton beats him around the ring and takes him down to the mat. The pair exchange power struggles back and forth, with some ground-and-pound to boot.
Cedric Alexander tries to aid his tag team partner and swipes Lashley’s feet but the All Mighty WWE Champion is having none of this, he jumps out of the ring, as Cedric runs up the ramp.
Lashley slowly gets back into the ring, only to be blindsided by a Paydirt for the near-fall. The opponent’s trade right-hand blows until Benjamin forces Lashley into the corner.
Benjamin gains some significant offence by hitting two huge running knees to the jaw but just like he always does Lashley comes right back with a one-handed spine buster, some more punches and finally another spine buster, before applying the Hurt Lock to pick up the match win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Game Night with The New Day, Omos and AJ Styles
New Day are hosting a game night!! – which is a set up for the next match and an attempt to build Omos as a formidable tag partner for Styles.
Xavier Woods def. AJ Styles by Disqualification
The match begins with a good old lock-up, Woods gaining early offence only to be hit back by Styles.
Later in the match, Woods dodges a splash from Styles and slams him to the mat for a two-count near fall. Woods is gaining offence again, but this time Omos is there to be looming and ‘scare’ Woods.
Woods tries to fight his way through, and drops AJ with a flying forearm x 2, followed up by an axe kick. After some back and forth, and albeit sloppy at times, offence Omos grabs Woods by the foot, throwing him over the ropes and the referee calls a DQ win.
Winner: Xavier Woods
Naomi def. Shayna Baszler
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke are on commentary which is a change of pace.
Thanks to a Reginald distraction causing an all-out chaotic brawl at ringside, Baszler is caught off guard and Naomi rolls her up for a win.
Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka Contract Signing
Adam Pearce introduces Rhea Ripley and Asuka to sign their WrestleMania contracts.
Drew McIntyre def. Ricochet
In the opening seconds of this match, Ricochet hits McIntyre, bounces off the ropes but is stopped in his tracks as Drew hits a back body drop.
McIntyre beats Ricochet into the corner, and sends him flying with a belly to belly suplex. The Scottish Powerhouse shows remorse, and looks as if he does not want to inflict pain upon Ricochet, but he has to do this, and teach the locker room a lesson.
Ricochet hits McIntyre with a lovely head scissors into the turnbuckle and unloads a flurry of kicks. The pair exchange offence back and forth, and the action spills out of the ring, Ricochet crawls back inside and sets up McIntyre for a 450 splash but the Scotsman is smart, he avoids it and hits a devastating Claymore for the win.
Drew McIntyre def. Mustafa Ali
This surprise match-up has a lot of back and forth, with Ali being Ali hitting all the right moves fueled with the rage of his Retribution buddies turning their back on him, but McIntyre hits the Claymore for the win.
After the match, out comes our WWE Champion, The All Mighty Bobby Lashley to distract our Scottish Superhero so King Corbin can hit him from behind, MVPs message must have finally delivered.
What did you think of RAW this week? Did the action deliver? Join the conversation on Twitter and don’t forget to hashtag #WWERaw