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From a few obstacles in the WWE Championship scenario to a significant change in a WrestleMania match, this week's edition of WWE RAW featured many contrasting moments.
The go-home episode of RAW before WrestleMania is usually expected to be an explosive affair. But this week's show did not live up to that standard. While it wasn't a terrible show by any means, there were no plot points from the episode that fans will actively discuss until WrestleMania 37.
Let us know your thoughts about this particular episode in the comments section below.
Here are the five biggest news stories from this week's WWE RAW (April 5, 2021).
#5 Braun Strowman dedicated his WWE WrestleMania 37 pursuits to everyone who has been called "stupid"
Surrounded by the Steel Cage structure, Braun Strowman cut his final promo on WWE RAW before WrestleMania 37.
After being called "stupid" throughout the last few weeks, Strowman vowed to destroy Shane McMahon when both stars will be locked inside a Steel Cage during Night One of this year's WrestleMania pay-per-view.
He dedicated McMahon's upcoming beatdown to anyone across the world who, at some point, has been labeled "a stupid person." WWE tried to spin a sympathetic angle here, but fans have little to no reason to care for this storyline in the first place.
Shane McMahon soon came out and agreed that a Steel Cage stipulation wasn't really a dumb idea at all. Still, he considers himself a more intellectually superior man because, after all, he's a "McMahon."
Strowman faced Elias and Jaxson Ryker in a handicap match this week. As expected, he defeated the duo to send a defiant message to his WrestleMania opponent.
Despite the buildup to Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon's WrestleMania showdown, the match could turn out to be an enjoyable affair. After all, McMahon's high-risk maneuvers should be a delight for fans at The Show of Shows.
#4 Rhea Ripley turned heel before her WWE WrestleMania 37 showdown against Asuka
Before their WWE WrestleMania 37 clash, Rhea Ripley and Asuka teamed up to face Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler on RAW.
Ripley accepted the match last week, without Asuka's approval. Her decision turned out to be an elaborate way to send a vicious message to Asuka ahead of their WrestleMania match.
At one point during the tag team contest on WWE RAW, Ripley betrayed her tag team partner and fed her to the wolves. Baszler capitalized on the opportunity and pinned Asuka to win the bout.
Post-match, Rhea Ripley's facial expressions made it clear that she is not the noble hero in her current storyline with Asuka. It will be interesting to see if Ripley's heelish attitude will last on Monday Night RAW, even after WrestleMania 37 concludes.
After all, when Charlotte Flair returns to the Red brand, she is expected to face Ripley at some point. If this possibility comes true, the heel-face dynamic between both stars will be an intriguing situation, to say the least.
#3 A two-night angle was made official for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 37
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championships will be defended at WrestleMania 37. Several teams could earn the opportunity to face the titleholders, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, at The Grandest Stage of Them All.
WWE has announced that a Tag Team Turmoil match will occur on Night One of the pay-per-view. The teams involved in the match are:
- Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke
- Lana and Naomi
- Natalya and Tamina
- The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan)
Whoever wins the said match will face Jax and Baszler for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships on Night Two of WrestleMania.
After Jax and Baszler's match on RAW, the two were asked about WrestleMania in a backstage segment. All the challenging teams came out to send a message to the champions. However, Jax and Baszler did not seem worried about the situation in any capacity.
Additionally, WWE teased that Billie Kay could also partner up with Carmella during the Tag Team Turmoil contest. She made a small cameo during the backstage segment between all the women's teams, revealing that Carmella is still reviewing her resume.
Billie Kay would be a great addition to the Tag Team Turmoil match, and her comedic abilities could benefit the tone of WrestleMania 37, in general.
#2 The Miz and John Morrison vandalized Bad Bunny's expensive Bugatti on WWE RAW
Bad Bunny arrived in style during this week's WWE RAW. But John Morrison and The Miz had different plans in store for the Puerto Rican rapper.
The Miz and Morrison walked up to Bad Bunny’s $3.6 million Bugatti when the rapper wasn't around. They painted all over the white car and signed their names on the vehicle.
Bad Bunny eventually showed up at the scene and seemed infuriated over the damage done to his Bugatti. Unfortunately for the rapper, he was quickly ambushed by The Miz and Morrison. The Miz promised to ruin him in the ring at WWE WrestleMania 37, but Bad Bunny and Damian Priest had different plans of their own.
Later, Priest and Bad Bunny made their way into the ring, as the two stars increased the stakes and challenged The Miz and Morrison to a tag team match at WrestleMania.
Bad Bunny also cut a heartfelt promo about how much he loves and respects the wrestling entertainment business. However, he felt that The Miz crossed the line, which is why the latter must pay for his actions at The Show of Shows.
The Miz and John Morrison appeared on the big TitanTron and accepted the tag team challenge to end the segment.
Bad Bunny is clearly one of the better celebrities who have been involved in a WWE storyline. A tag team match sounds better than a singles clash between Bad Bunny and The Miz at WrestleMania, so this was a good development overall.
#1 Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre faced their final obstacles before WWE WrestleMania 37
This week's WWE RAW kicked off with an emotional promo by Drew McIntyre. Although McIntyre and Bobby Lashley have struggled to become the WWE Champion, the former highlighted a key difference between them.
McIntyre talked about how he had no luxury of going home during his days of struggle in professional wrestling. His mother encouraged him to make that sacrifice and achieve his dreams even after he was fired by WWE years ago.
The Scottish Warrior is essentially a man who has sacrificed everything, so how can Lashley beat him at WrestleMania?
As for Lashley, he fought Cedric Alexander to settle The Hurt Business' affairs before WrestleMania. As expected, he defeated Alexander and stood tall ahead of the upcoming pay-per-view.
McIntyre fought King Corbin in the main event of this week's WWE RAW. Corbin had a chance to dismantle The Scottish Warrior and earn himself a shot at the WWE Championship. However, Corbin ultimately failed, as McIntyre eventually picked up the victory.
After the main event, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley had a staredown to end the episode.
Despite the predictability of it all, Corbin scored some considerable offense and looked like a determined man. While Lashley and McIntyre's feud carried most of the proceedings this week, the episode could have benefited from a surprising angle between The Fiend, Randy Orton, and Alexa Bliss.
Regardless of the buildup on the go-home show, Lashley and McIntyre's clash should be an all-out war at WrestleMania 37.
Do check out the latest edition of 'Legion of RAW' with Dr. Chris Featherstone and former WWE Head Writer Vince Russo in the video embedded above.
