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WWE Raw delivers their go-home show before the Fastlane PPV this Sunday night. Riddle will defend his United States title against Mustafa Ali. The Hurt Business are also set to defend their Tag Team titles against The New Day.
Editors Note: I’ve been experimenting with new ways to review and structure the wrestling review articles. Moving forward, every match on WWE Raw will include highlights, storyline progression, and a final analysis. Each match will be given a star rating and ranked from worst to best.
Matches Ranked from Worst to Best
8) Mandy Rose & Dana Brooks d. Lana & Naiomi
Highlights: The match went back and forth before WWE Women’s Champion Asuka appeared and took out Shayna Baszler who met her in the aisle way. Back in the ring, Dane Brooke hits a spinning neckbreaker on Lana for the win.
Storyline Progression: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler join the commentary table to help promote their upcoming tag title match at Fast Lane.
On an absolute ROLL are @NaomiWWE & @LanaWWE in this showdown against @WWE_MandyRose & @DanaBrookeWWE on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/i2cnae2o3r
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Final Analysis: Pretty basic match to help add fuel to the fire for the upcoming Asuka vs Shayna match on WWE Raw. Take a Pass.*
Bad Bunny takes a shot
7) Damien Priest d. Jaxson Ryker
Highlights: Damien Priest with a quick victory after connecting with Hit the Lights.
Storyline Progression: After the match, Bad Bunny saved Priest from a beatdown from Elias. John Morrison then acts as a distraction on the entrance ramp allowing The Miz to break a guitar over the back of Bad Bunny.
ICYMI: In a shocking moment on #WWERaw, @mikethemiz targeted @sanbenito with @IAmEliasWWE's guitar! pic.twitter.com/nPjDpd4ltZ
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Final Analysis: Quick squash to fast track the apparent tag match between The Miz & John Morrison against Damien Preist and Bad Bunny. Skim it for the guitar shot. SQUASH.
Slime Time
6) Braun Strowman vs Shane McMahon
Highlights: Before the match, Shane McMahon set up a game of hopscotch much to the dislike of Braun Storwman. McMahon beat Storwman with a camera and hit an elbow from the top rope through a table on the outside. McMahon then dumps buckets of green slime on Storwman for the apparent no-contest.
We've seen this before…@shanemcmahon just dropped his patented ELBOW on @BraunStrowman! #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/dEEEMB44Re
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Storyline Progression: For weeks, Shane McMahon found ways to poke fun at Bruan Strowman and on WWE Raw, the big man got his match. It didn’t work out for Strowman who continued to be made to look like a fool. It’s likely these two meet again in a gimmick match at Wrestlemania.
.@shanemcmahon is WILD and CRAZY!!!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/qMWgvudetE
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Final Analysis: Hard to judge this as the storyline is that Shane McMahon is a jerk who makes fun of Braun Storwman for being “stupid.” However, everything Shane does just proves his point and Braun ends up looking like a fool. Skim It if you like laughing at Storwman. [NR]
Asuka’s Revenge
5) Asuka d. Shayna Baszler
Highlights: Asuka takes out Nix Jax before the match to even the odds as the bell rang. Baszler locks in a rear-naked choke but Asuka rolls back for the quick win. After the match, Asuka goes off on Baszler before removing the bottom turnbuckle pad. Asuka attempts to American History X Baszler before the referee puts a stop to it.
The intensity of @WWEAsuka vs. @QoSBaszler is next-level.#WWERaw @NiaJaxWWE pic.twitter.com/o9v77fMy0v
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Storyline Progression: A few weeks back on WWE Raw, Shayna Baszler legit kicked a tooth out of the mouth of Asuka. With Asuka coming out looking strong, it’ll be interesting to see who she matches up with for Wrestlemania.
Tooth for a tooth…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/bU58E0zKUO
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Final Analysis: The match was too short to judge, but Skim It to see Asuka go off. [NR]
WWE Raw: Drew sends a message
4) Drew McIntyre d. The Miz
Highlights: Drew McIntyre hits a sweet-looking reverse Alabama Slam. John Morrison is ejected midway through the match to even the odds. Despite The Miz jumping on offense, McIntyre gets the win with Lashley’s finishing move, The Hurt Lock.
AAAAAAAAND @TheRealMorrison IS OUTTA HERE!
The playing field just evened out for @DMcIntyreWWE against @mikethemiz on #WWERaw. pic.twitter.com/28DCJ24HT6
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Storyline Progression: The Miz, Drew McIntyre, and Sheamus all confronted Bobby Lashley before the match before it ends in a big brawl. McIntyre and Lashley was also announced as one of the main events for Wrestlemania next month.
Final Analysis: This was exactly what you would want it to be on WWE Raw. The Miz continues to play the role of annoying heel well as he gets beat up by the main event talent. Skim It. **1/4
WWE Raw: New Champions
3) WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match: The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) vs The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
Highlights: Solid back and forth action, especially when Xavier Woods got the hot tag. Shelton Benjamin hit a sweet-looking top rope belly to belly onto Woods. Kofi Kingston connecting on leaping frankensteiner from the top rope. Woods hits a top rope elbow onto Benjamin before Woods is tagged in. Daybreak from The New Day finishes off the match for the win and titles.
The #HurtBusiness @sheltyb803 & @CedricAlexander do NOT plan on letting #TheNewDay @TrueKofi & @AustinCreedWins leave #WWERaw as 11-time #TagTeamChampions! pic.twitter.com/ffyP6RHTLB
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Storyline Progression: Xavier Woods got the win over Shelton Benjamin last week to set up the tag title match. With The Hurt Business showing some dissension lately, it was only a matter of time before they dropped the belts. The New Day getting win makes them 11-time champions. AJ Styles and Omos appear after the match to challenge The New Day for a title match at Wrestlemania.
NEW DAY WINS!
We have NEW #WWERaw TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/bnsvqEOKYq
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Final Analysis: Both teams work very well together and it was only a matter of time before The Hurt Business dropped the titles. Skim It. **3/4
US Title Action
2) US Title Match: Riddle d. Mustafa Ali
Highlights: Mustafa Ali hits a swinging neckbreaker from the apron to the floor on Riddle and that bump looked rough. Ali trips up Riddle before putting the apron cloth over his head in a creative spot. Riddle gets off several close counts, including a fisherman’s buster into a cradle pin. Retribution accidentally distracts the referee allowing Riddle to hit Bro Derek for the win.
😲😲😲😲😲😲😲#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/9XtTw7j1a9
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Storyline Progression: Mustafa Ali has struggled to get members of Retribution on the winning track. After a non-title win over Riddle on last week’s WWE Raw, Ali got his shot at the title this week.
Clever offense!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/hprx4GWWv8
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Final Analysis: Solid match a few creative spots to boot. The Retribution implosion doesn’t appear too far away. Worth a Watch. ***
WWE Raw: Main Event
1) Non-title Match: Bobby Lashley d. Sheamus
Highlights: This was a hoss fight from the start. Bobby Lashley catches Sheamus leaping off the apron to the outside and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Sheamus gets a close count after a closeline from the top rope. Sheamus hits two Irish Curse backbreakers but can only get a one count. Lashley kicks out of White Noise before getting the win following a spear.
The ALL MIGHTY #WWEChampion is victorious on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/IdMlIPqrIA
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Storyline Progression: Before the match, Drew McIntyre came to the ring to announce he was getting an up-close seat for the main event. Bobby Lashley puts the Hurt Lock on Sheamus after the match before eating a Claymore from McIntyre to end the show.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1371657907352313856
Final Analysis: Good main event between two tough heavyweights as the Era of the Almighty moves forward. Sheamus has been on a roll lately and Bobby Lashley is a legit beast. Worth a Watch. ***1/2