Monday Night Raw: 3 things WWE got right on this week's episode and 2 things they got wrong (March 11, 2019)

Another episode of WWE Monday Night RAW is in the history books, and it's plain to see that we are well on the road to WrestleMania 35.

A huge title change was just one part of an epic edition of WWE's longest running weekly program, which also saw Dean Ambrose and Drew McIntyre wage a war in the main event.

Now, just 26 days until the showcase of the immortals, the company is running on all cylinders as they try to get fans pumped for the big show.

But with all this positivity, the WWE did have some setbacks this week that they'd sooner forget.

Here are three things that happened on the latest edition of Monday Night RAW that went great, as well as two things that could have been a whole lot better.

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#3 Got it right: Banking on the Benjamin

Benjamin returned at the request of former tag-partner Brock Lesnar

Shelton Benjamin's return to WWE has been objectively so far, a flop.

After having his return announced on WWE programming, it would be over a year before fans would see the Gold Standard compete after an injury derailed all plans.

Losing all momentum, his return would get even worse as he would have zero meaningful feuds, briefly teaming with Chad Gable, before he was moved to RAW.

Debuting on RAW himself this week, Benjamin returned with a new-found mean streak, facing Seth Rollins at the request of Paul Heyman.

Working for Brock Lesnar, Benjamin and the Beast do have a history, as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, an obscure team from OVW.

Though Benjamin came up short against the Architect, it was great to see the former Intercontinental Champion do something.

#2 Got it wrong: Braun Strowman wrecks a car

Strowman's car was a gift from Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost, who will appear at Mania

The Braun Strowman experiment is over.

Just a few months ago Strowman was competing for the Universal Championship, with everyone convinced that he would be the next top star on Monday Night RAW.

Instead, Strowman lost in repeated attempts to Brock Lesnar and has fallen down the card dramatically.

This week, Strowman was seen destroying his own car, a gift he had received, and something we've seen the Monster Among Men do before.

With WrestleMania 35 around the corner, it seems there are no plans for the Greatest Royal Rumble winner, who captured the RAW Tag Team Championships with Nicholas last year.

If this continues, expect Strowman to be just another face in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale, though we can't even see him winning that.

#2 Best/Worst: Lashley's championship win

Lashley's second Intercontinental Championship win has left more than a few fans unhappy

This has left me very conflicted.

Last night, Bobby Lashley captured his second Intercontinental Championship, when he flattened Finn Balor.

Balor, who had defeated Lashley at Elimination Chamber for the title, put on a great show, but found himself a victim of the numbers game, with Lio Rush making the difference.

This title change hasn't pleased fans, who have rallied behind the Extraordinary Man for years, and who now feel this title reign was far too short.

But if fans can see the bigger picture, this could lead to a much bigger match at WrestleMania, where Balor would likely recapture the gold, perhaps in his demon attire.

Though if this happens, fans will still probably complain about hot-potatoing the gold, but a Lashley-Balor match at the show should be an excellent contest.

#1 Worst: Batista on the mic

The Animal and the Game will battle in a No Holds Barred at WrestleMania

After his action two weeks ago during Ric Flair's birthday, many fans have been left wondering, "why Batista, why?"

Well this week, the Animal got a chance to explain himself, when he met Triple H face-to-face on RAW, and did just that, kinda.

In a bizarre moment, Batista's promo was by far not his best work, as he stumbled over his words, and repeated: "give me what I want".

The Animal has never been known for his bad mic skills, but even with his long-time friend, The Game, with him, this was clearly an off night for the two-time Royal Rumble winner.

Hopefully, things will improve between now and WrestleMania, and the duo will put on an epic match, 14 years after their first encounter at the showcase of the immortals.

#1 Got it right: Kurt Angle's big announcement

Angle gave a passionate speech in his hometown

In my opinion, Kurt Angle is up there as one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time.

An incredible athlete, Kurt could also do intensity, comedy, had mic-skills, knowledge for the business, and everything that makes a star into a superstar.

So when the Olympian announced his retirement last night, it stung.

But upon reflection, this is for the best. Angle was dealing with severe neck injuries in 2003, and now, 16 years later, who knows what shape his body is in?

It's clear that Angle has slowed significantly in the ring since he returned to WWE in 2017, and a retirement match at WrestleMania seems a fitting send-off.

The only question now is who will face the former World Champion is his last match? Perhaps the man who got his start in WWE against Kurt, John Cena?