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Well, on the road to WrestleMania, Raw stopped off in Cleveland on the penultimate episode before the show of shows in New Orleans.
With Kane vs John Cena being the only real advertised match, this one was always bound to be full of surprises - and it did not disappoint!
Here's a rundown of the results and a synopsis of the night's events.
Tonight's Monday Night Raw kicked off with The Beast in Cleveland, Ohio. Paul Heyman relived last week's Brock Lesnar assault and broke the news that Roman Reigns' suspension had been lifted, but also that The Big Dawg was not in the building this evening.
Paul Heyman said that the credit for Roman Reigns not being there was not because of Brock Lesnar, but spoke of Roman Reigns' bloodline and family members who dominated the industry and raised Reigns to compete, fight, wrestle and win - but that it was a shame they didn't raise him to be a man as a man would be here tonight, as Reigns said a few weeks back.
The crowd went crazy, however, when Reigns made his way through the crowd to face "The Beast Incarnate."
Reigns picked up a steel chair but Lesnar exited the ring to meet him and floored the contender with a thunderous clothesline. Reigns hit back, though, throwing Lesnar into the post before unleashing some chair shots to the Champion's spine. Lesnar hit back with a suplex on the outside before dismantling the steel steps and driving them into Reigns' skull.
Lesnar then destroyed Reigns yet again with a chair and the stairs, as he hammered Reigns with the chair repeatedly. Lesnar's music hit and he made his way up the ramp, but of course, he wasn't finished there.
"The Beast Incarnate" would F5 Reigns on the steel steps before standing atop the steps with the Universal Championship on his shoulder.
After the ad break, we came back to see Roman Reigns leaving the arena on his own two feet, albeit looking worse for wear.
#2 Nia Jax vs Mickie James
After Kurt Angle's huge announcement last week that Alexa Bliss would defend her Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax at WrestleMania, The Irresistible Force would take on the Champion's acquaintance, six-time Women's Champion Mickie James.
Jax came out to a huge pop from the WWE Universe, and WWE replayed the video of Bliss and James speaking about Jax's appearance from two weeks ago before the match. Mickie James came out with Alexa Bliss, to the Women's Champion's music.
This match, as expected, was ALL Nia to start off with. The Irresistible Force started the match by throwing Mickie around like a ragdoll.
James managed to turn it around and get Jax to the outside, prompting an intense staredown with Bliss. James identified a weakness when Jax started to favour her knee and took advantage. This match actually had some great storytelling and James looked like pulling off an upset at one point.
James went to the top, though, and Jax caught her with a Samoan Drop for the win. After the referee counted three, Bliss came into the ring and tried to attack her foe - but it didn't even nudge Nia. Bliss made her escape and Nia made a beeline for Bliss.
Next up, we saw a package on Ronda Rousey and Stephanie McMahon's rivalry - with Triple H and Stephanie being interviewed in the Performance Center about their training regime ahead of facing off against Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey. Their trainer also spoke of their desire and commitment, and we saw clips of the pair training at the PC
Stephanie spoke about Rousey not having one match, saying she grew up in the ring and it is HER ring. Stephanie also said Rousey should be intimidated by her, not the other way around. The package then shifts to the history of Triple H and Kurt Angle and Triple H compares Angle and Rousey starting out in WWE.
Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali vs Drew Gulak and TJP
The next match saw 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick join the commentary team as the Cruiserweights took to the ring. The two men who reached the final of the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Alexander and Ali, would team up against Gulak and TJP.
Alexander and Ali ran through their opponents, but showed some signs of tension ahead of their WrestleMania showdown. Alexander hit the Lumbar Check on TJP, but didn't realise Ali had tagged himself in. Ali hit the 0-5-4 and picked up a pinfall victory over TJP.
Miz made his way to the ring to "welcome home" chants from the Cleveland crowd before the Intercontinental Champion said, "I live in LA."
Before bringing out his guests, Miz said he needed to get a few things off his chest. Miz asked Bo Dallas and Curt Axel how they thought it was going, they said it was going well, but Miz said he wasn't happy. He brought them from mediocrity into a meaningful place on the roster, but said the Miztourage had bailed on him. Dallas and Axel pleaded with Miz, but he told Dallas to "Bo-lieve himself back to catering" - but before the tension could escalate, Seth Rollins joined the party.
The Kingslayer came out and said while Miz TV normally isn't great, he loved this episode. Rollins told Miz he should be thanking the Miztourage because, without them, he wouldn't be the Intercontinental Champion. Rollins then led the WWE Universe in a "Miztourage" chant.
Miz said he would still be champion without them, then said he would still be... Before Bo Dallas chimed in with "A phoney A-lister who can't fight." Rollins and Miz asked Bo to repeat but before he had to get out of the situation, Finn Balor came to the ring. Balor said he heard it all and that Dallas said Miz was the biggest jerk he'd ever met.
Balor then coaxed Dallas into repeating the insult.
Miz told Dallas to repeat it, but before he could, hit Dallas with a cheapshot leaving Axel to play mediator. Miz said he was just trying to fire up The Miztourage to focus on helping Miz achieve 34 more days as Champion to become the longest reigning champion of all time for combined reigns. Miz said he would prove he's better than Mr Perfect, prompting Axel to take offence.
Miz then cancelled Miz TV and asked the Miztourage to leave with him, but both men stood in his path. Miz said nobody wants to see this, prompting cheering and yes chants from the WWE Universe, and backing himself into a corner between all four men - but the Miztourage both attacked Balor and Rollins.
Before Miz could hit the Skull-Crushing Finale, though, Gallows and Anderson came to the ring to help their good brother, leaving one man standing tall.
Kane and John Cena, again
Next up, we saw Kane backstage addressing John Cena via the camera. Kane says some demons should never be called by name as they only want to rest in peace, and that Cena isn't going to WrestleMania, he's going straight to hell.
Asuka vs Jamie Frost
Asuka made her way to the ring to attempt to continue her streak, against Jamie Frost - an enhancement talent on the outside of the ring.
Charly Caruso interviewed Frost outside the ring, detailing that it's her first ever wrestling match. She says Asuka isn't ready for her - hopefully, everyone watching was ready for the match as Frost got one slap in before Asuka floored the enhancement talent with a kick and pinned her to continue the streak.
Next up, Michael Cole apologised for his comments regarding the Ultimate Deletion. Well, kind of. Corey Graves and Byron Saxton slated Cole for not paying attention before we cut to Matt Hardy cutting a promo, saying he will honour Humongous Wonder Number Eight at WrestleMania, when he enters the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Next up, we saw Bayley standing backstage on her phone. Sasha turned up saying she got her text and the pair had a back and forth. Bayley said she's entering the Women's Battle Royal, and said she's sick of being in Banks' shadow, but Sasha told her she is the Boss.
Bayley said Sasha Banks keeps screwing her over because she can't beat The Hugger. Sasha told Bayley she's a four-time Raw Women's Champion before Bayley asked how long she kept it.
Sasha then attacked Bayley from behind and threw her into lockers before the pair brawled on a table and had to be separated by officials.
Braun Strowman vs Sheamus
After defeating Cesaro last week, Braun Strowman went head to head with the other Tag Team Champion tonight ahead of his title shot at WrestleMania.
Sheamus and Cesaro cut a promo on their way to the ring saying it's all the element of surprise that Braun uses, and it was his music that helped him win the Tag Team Battle Royal. The Bar demanded to know who will partner Braun at WrestleMania.
Braun said he'd tell them who his partner is - but only if Sheamus managed to beat him. He said they might get to know who his partner is, but the one certainty is they would get these hands.
As you may suspect, Strowman dominated this match. Cesaro caused a distraction to help Sheamus garner some offence. Strowman looked to have tweaked his knee, and Sheamus targeted accordingly.
Needless to say, Sheamus' offence didn't last long as The Monster Among Men charged through Sheamus and smashed him into the barricade. Strowman ended up eating some ring post as he tried to charge Sheamus, and the Celtic Warrior floored Braun from the top rope before stomping Strowman. Cesaro trying to hit Braun with a cheap shot, but the referee caught him. Strowman hit a splash on Sheamus then buried him with a Running Powerslam to pick up the victory.
Strowman is now 2-0 against the Tag Team Champions in singles competition, and still has a partner to announce.
After a package earlier in the night hyped up Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, Kurt Angle came to the ring to introduce Ronda Rousey and the pair let the WWE Universe know their thoughts.
Kurt Angle spoke of how intimidating WrestleMania can be but said that after seeing Rousey train, he thinks she is ready for WrestleMania. The pair quickly responded to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon saying they make the rules and adding WrestleMania will be fun, but not easy.
Rousey responds that she didn't come for easy, she came for a challenge. She says Stephanie isn't real tough, and she'll get whatever she deserves - which is Ronda ripping her arm out of the socket.
Rousey didn't get much further before Paige came to the ring to interrupt, saying this is Absolution's show and it's her house. Paige offered the services of Absolution to Rousey in case she needed backup, but she politely declined as she has an Olympic Gold Medallist onside.
Paige then explicitly told Rousey she can be the fourth member of Absolution. Again, Rousey thanked her for the offer and declined - before Paige unleashed Rose and Deville on the former UFC star.
Rose tried to attack Rousey but Kurt Angle blocked, but Deville tried to throw a punch. Rousey caught her with a clothesline then hit Rose with a judo throw, wiping out Deville.
Rousey went for the Armbar on Rose, but Kurt Angle managed to talk her down.
Gallows and Anderson vs The Miztourage
Next up was a throwback to earlier in the night as Gallows and Anderson went head to head with Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.
Sadly, we didn't see a great deal of this match as it started on an ad break, but there was some nice intensity and aggression as Anderson and Dallas brawled on the outside of the ring. Gallows went to town on Axel before tagging in Anderson and hitting the Boot of Doom, but it only got a two count. Anderson hit a wonderful neck breaker from the top on Axel and the pair hit the Magic Killer and Gallows pinned Axel for the victory.
Elias vs Rhyno
Elias promised to give the performance of a lifetime at WrestleMania, after saying he sold out Madison Square Garden last week, so coming to Cleveland was very disappointing.
After cutting an incredible promo, Elias was interrupted by Rhyno.
The pair went head to head in a quick match that saw Elias pick up the win after hitting Rhyno with Drift Away. Elias then attacked Slater and laid him out with Drift Away, standing tall and pointing at the WrestleMania sign.
Two announcements are made for next week's Raw, with Finn Balor and Seth Rollins going one-on-one, and Kurt Angle, Ronda Rousey, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon sharing a ring.
John Cena vs Kane, No Disqualification Match
Ahead of the main event match between John Cena and Kane, we saw a video package of John Cena calling out Undertaker over the past month to try and forge a path towards WrestleMania. Cole reiterated that we don't know if the match will actually happen.
John Cena made his entrance with a special towel...
Early on in the match, Kane took control with a big boot before it spilt to the outside, Kane hit Cena with big strikes to the throat as the WWE Universe chanted "Undertaker". The pair fought back into the ring and exchanged holds, while Cena struggled to lift Kane and crumbled under the pressure of the Big Red Machine.
Yet again, the match spilt to the outside with Kane taking control yet again as we went to break.
When we came back from the break, Cena rammed a barricade into Kane's gut at the technical area beside the announce table. Kane then suplexed Cena onto the barricade while it was perched on the stage.
Kane dragged Cena back to the ring and we saw that, during the commercial break, Cena drove Kane into the steel steps. Kane exposed the turnbuckle and Cena sat up, much like Undertaker before taking advantage of the distraction and delivering a Five Knuckle Shuffle to the Big Red Machine.
Cena drove Kane into the exposed turnbuckle, drew his thumb across his throat and kit Kane with the Chokeslam.
Only getting a near fall, Cena went to the outside and brought a table into the ring. Setting it up, Kane sat up and tried to put Cena through the table, Cena reversed it to get Kane up for the AA, but Kane flipped the table and turned the tables to escape.
Kane then perched the table in the corner and threw Cena through it, but again only managed a two-count. Kane brought another table into the ring, delivering on his earlier promise of taking John Cena to hell.
Kane went for the Chokeslam, but Cena managed an AA through the table this time, and put away Kane for the three count.
After the match, Cena looked dumbfounded, grabbed the microphone and asked, "No lightning? No bells of terror? No Undertaker?" Saying the match had no rules and anyone can be here, again asking where Undertaker is.
After several minutes of Cena calling out Taker, telling him to do something, and the crowd chanting, Cena's music hit, he dropped the mic and left the ring - ending the show by rolling his eyes and drawing his thumb across his throat one more time.
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