WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE WrestleMania Backlash this Sunday night. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley faced Drew McIntyre in the main event.
RAW Results (5/10)
- Asuka, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke def. Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair
- Jinder Mahal def. Jeff Hardy
- RKBro & New Day def. AJ Styles, Omos, Jaxson Ryker, Elias
- Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo
- Shelton Benjamin def. Cedric Alexander
- Rhea Ripley def. Asuka
- Damian Priest def. John Morrison & will pick the stipulation for his match against The Miz at WrestleMania Backlash
- Drew McIntyre def. Bobby Lashley via DQ
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Alexa Bliss Interfered In The 6-Woman Tag Team Match
Charlotte Flair and Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler faced Asuka, Mandy Rose, and Dana Brooke in the first match of the night. Baszler stomped on Mandy Rose in the corner of the ring and applied an Armbar to begin the action. Rose tried to escape but Shayna wrestled her to the canvas.
Mandy battled back and drove Shayna to the corner. Asuka tagged in and unloaded some kicks to Shayna’s ribs. Baszler escaped from the corner and went for a Headlock but Asuka countered with a Dropkick. Mandy hit Charlotte with a Dropkick that sent her off the apron and then Dana Brooke knocked Reginald to the floor.
Everyone started arguing but Alexa Bliss interrupted with Lily. Bliss swung on the swing and laughed into the microphone. Bliss apologized for interrupting but then added that Lily wasn’t sorry. Bliss said she was out here with Lily to keep an eye on “someone” as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Charlotte was in control and tagged in Baszler. Shayna went back to work on Mandy’s arm and then went for a cover but Rose was able to kick out at two. Nia tagged in and connected with a Body Slam for a two count. Nia went for a Samoan Drop but Rose escaped and tagged in Dana Brooke.
Nia greeted Dana with a shoulder tackle and tagged in Baszler. Dana knocked Flair off the apron and hit Shayna with an elbow to the face for a near fall. Shayna connected with a Backbreaker and then stumbled to the corner. Baszler’s knee kept buckling and Asuka tagged in. Asuka hit a Shining Wizard for the pinfall victory. After the match, Charlotte laid out Asuka with a boot to the face as Asuka and Lily laughed on the entrance ramp.
MVP Suggested That Strowman Should Injure Drew McIntyre
MVP approached Braun Strowman’s locker room backstage. MVP knocked but he did not answer. MVP entered the room and Strowman told him to leave. MVP said he wanted to discuss business and pointed out that McIntyre beat Braun last week and not Lashley.
Strowman said enough of this BS and MVP finally got to his point. MVP said that Lashley would rather lose the title to Strowman than Drew and noted that Braun hasn’t gotten his 1 on 1 match for the WWE Title. MVP suggested that if McIntyre were to get injured tonight, he wouldn’t be able to make it to the WWE Championship Triple Threat match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Jinder Mahal Returned
Jinder Mahal faced Jeff Hardy tonight. Shanky & Veer accompanied Jinder to the ring.
Mahal dominated early and hit a couple Clotheslines for a near fall. Jeff stumbled around until Jinder knocked him to the canvas and stomped on him. Mahal planted Jeff with a Suplex and delivered a knee to his lower back. Jinder applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Jeff battled back with a Clothesline of his own and went for an Atomic Drop but Mahal blocked it. Jinder then hit the Khallas for the pinfall victory.
RKBro & New Day Picked Up A Win
RKBro (Randy Orton & Riddle) teamed up with New Day to face Elias, Jaxson Ryker and RAW Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos. RKBro and New Day controlled the match early but that all changed once Omos tagged in. Omos dominated and then had a stare down with Randy Orton as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Elias leveled Riddle with an elbow to the face and tagged in Ryker. Jaxson hit a Suplex and tagged in AJ Styles. AJ went for the cover but Riddle kicked out at two. Kingston tagged in and unloaded some kicks on Styles. Woods tagged in and hit a Dropkick for a near fall.
Kofi tagged back in and connected with a Crossbody for a two count. Xavier tagged in as Kofi hit a Backbreaker. Woods hit Elias with a Dropkick off the top rope but turned around into a Spinebuster for AJ Styles in the middle of the ring. Jaxson tagged in and bounced Woods’ face off the top turnbuckle.
Ryker kept Woods grounded for the next few minutes and prevented him from making a tag. Jaxson planted Woods with a Spinebuster for another two count. Riddle tagged in and Omos hit him with a punch. New Day dragged AJ Styles around and distracted Omos. Randy Orton hit Elias with an RKO for the pinfall victory. After the match, Randy Orton hit Woods and Kingston with an RKO. Orton stared at Riddle before leaving the ring.
Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo
United States Champion Sheamus faced Humberto Carrillo in a non-title match tonight. Before the match, Sheamus boasted about beating Mansoor and Humberto last week. Sheamus said that Adam Pearce suggested that he walk in the footsteps of those before him and have an Open Challenge for the US Title. He thought that was stupid because people should have to earn a shot at his title. Sheamus added that Carrillo is going to try and earn a title shot tonight but all he is going to get is a Brogue Kick to the side of the head.
Sheamus and Humberto locked up in the middle of the ring to start the match. Sheamus connected with a shoulder tackle and several strikes to Carrillo’s midsection. Humberto caught Sheamus with a boot to the face and followed it up with an Arm Drag. Humberto Dropkicked Sheamus out of the ring and went after him. Sheamus tripped him up and launched Carrillo into the timekeeper’s area as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Sheamus had Humberto in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Carrillo broke free with a Jawbreaker but the Celtic Warrior responded with an Alabama Slam for a two count. Sheamus brought Humberto up to the middle turnbuckle and went for White Noise but Carrillo escaped.
Humberto connected with a Hurricanrana off of the middle turnbuckle and both superstars crashed to the canvas. Carrillo went for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the apron but it was botched and both superstars fell to the floor. The referee called for the bell because Carrillo could not continue due to an injury.
Shelton Benjamin Taught Cedric Alexander A Lesson
Cedric Alexander faced Shelton Benjamin tonight on RAW. Benjamin and Alexander battled to the ring apron. Cedric tied up Benjamin’s knee on the ropes and then delivered a Dragon Screw. Alexander locked in a Heel Hook in the middle of the ring but Shelton was able to each the ropes to break the hold. Cedric once again got Shelton in a submission hold but Benjamin countered into a Sharpshooter. Alexander quickly reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Alexander dropped Benjamin with a kick to the knee and followed it up with a Dropkick that knocked Shelton out of the ring. Alexander hit a Suicide Dive that sent Shelton into the barricade. Cedric went for another one but Shelton was ready this time and caught him with a knee to the face. Cedric connected with a Dropkick and then started taunting Shelton and it cost him. Benjamin then hopped up and connected with a slam for the pinfall victory.
Rhea Ripley def. Asuka
Rhea Ripley faced Asuka tonight on RAW. Ripley will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against Asuka and Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Ripley controlled the action early and started taunting her. Asuka battled back but Ripley sent her flying across the ring. Rhea stomped on Asuka several times in the corner of the ring. Asuka escaped and went for an Armbar but Ripley was able to reach the ropes.
Asuka went for a Hip Attack but Ripley avoided it and hit a Dropkick through the ropes. Ripley bounced Asuka’s face off the ring apron and then Charlotte Flair’s theme hit. Charlotte made her way to the entrance ramp and Ripley got distracted. Asuka connected with a forearm to the face and then stared at Flair as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Rhea was in control as Charlotte Flair was on commentary. Asuka hit a knee to the face but Rhea threw her out of the ring. Charlotte distracted Asuka and Ripley attacked her from behind. Ripley brought Asuka back into the ring and hit her with an elbow to the face. Rhea connected with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count.
Rhea went for Riptide but Asuka countered with a Codebreaker for a near fall. Ripley started arguing with Charlotte outside the ring and Asuka capitalized with a Dropkick. Asuka followed it up with another Dropkick off the top rope and went for the cover but Rhea was able to kick out at the last moment. Asuka went for a Hip Attack but Ripley caught her. Rhea then connected with the Riptide for the pinfall victory.
Damian Priest Will Face The Miz In A Lumberjack Match At WrestleMania Backlash
Damian Priest faced John Morrison tonight on RAW. The Miz was ringside for the match. The winner of the match will choose the stipulation for the match between Damian Priest and The Miz at WrestleMania Backlash.
Priest beat Morrison down in the corner of the ring and then hit a Sidewalk Slam for a two count. Morrison took down Damian in an awkward sequence and followed it up with a knee to the face for a two count. John got Damian in a Headlock as The Miz cheered him on.
Damian battled back and slammed Morrison into the turnbuckle. Morrison dodged a kick but Priest caught him with a punch to the face. Damian went for the cover but Morrison grabbed the bottom rope. Morrison rolled out of the ring but Damian went after him. Priest rolled Morrison back into the ring and started trash talking with The Miz as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Morrison Clotheslined Priest out of the ring and then Miz hit him with a cheap shot. Back in the ring, Morrison applied Headlock but Damian broke free with a series of kicks. Priest hit a Splash in the corner and followed it up with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall.
Both superstars battled on the turnbuckle as Miz clapped while sitting on the barricade. Priest threw Morrison to the canvas and Miz covered his face in horror. Priest then hit a spin kick off the top rope for a near fall. Priest went for a Chokeslam but Morrison countered into a roll-up for a two count. The Miz then distracted the referee as Priest was setting up for his finisher.
Morrison countered into a roll-up but the referee was late due to the distraction. Priest then connected with Hit the Lights for the victory. After the match, The Miz attacked Priest but Damian battled back. The Miz cowardly scampered out of the ring and Priest planted Morrison with another Hit the Lights.
Damian then approached Adam Pearce backstage and said he wanted to face The Miz in a Lumberjack match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Braun Strowman Sent A Message Heading Into WrestleMania Backlash
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley faced Drew McIntyre in tonight’s main event. MVP accompanied Lashley to the ring for the match. Lashley will defend his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat match this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Lashley controlled the action early and applied a Headlock. McIntyre lifted Lashley all the way to the ring apron but Lashley didn’t break the hold. Lashley got back in the ring and planted McIntyre with a Neckbreaker as Strowman was shown watching the match backstage.
McIntyre battled back and unloaded some punches in the corner of the ring. Lashley shrugged them off and hit some punches of his own. McIntyre leveled Lashley with a boot to the face that knocked the WWE Champion out of the ring. McIntyre followed him out there and hit a massive Suplex on the floor as RAW went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Lashley sent McIntyre to the turnbuckle and then slammed him to the canvas. Lashley applied a Headlock again but Drew quickly battled to his feet. Lashley ducked under a Clothesline and went for a Suplex but McIntyre countered into a Suplex of his own.
Lashley leveled McIntyre with a shoulder tackle as MVP shouted “that is why you are the champ!” from outside the ring. Bobby shoved his boot in McIntyre’s face until the referee broke it up. Lashley knocked McIntyre out of the ring and to the floor. Lashley bounced McIntyre’s face off the apron and rolled back into the ring.
Lashley got back out of the ring and slammed McIntyre’s face into the ring post. The action returned to the ring with Lashley in control. Lashley charged at Drew but he was ready and launched the WWE Champion into the turnbuckle. McIntyre and Lashley then traded punches in the middle of the ring.
McIntyre hit an overhead throw that sent Lashley across the ring. McIntyre followed it up with a Neckbreaker and went for the Future Shock DDT but Lashley blocked it. Drew connected with a Spinebuster and went for the cover but Lashley powered out at two.
Drew went for the Claymore but Lashley countered with a Crossbody. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock but Drew escaped. McIntyre then connected with the Claymore but didn’t go for the cover because Strowman’s theme hit. Braun attacked McIntyre from behind to end the match in a DQ. Strowman planted McIntyre with a Running Powerslam and then walked over to Lashley.
Braun helped the WWE Champion up and shook his hand. Lashley gave Braun a hug and then Strowman planted him with the Running Powerslam as well. Strowman then delivered another Running Powerslam to McIntyre as Lashley rolled out of the ring. Strowman went after him and MVP tried to hit Braun with his cane. Strowman blocked it and hit Lashley with a Running Powerslam through the barricade. Braun got back into the ring and delivered a third Powerslam to McIntyre to close the show.