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This week’s episode of WWE RAW set up several feuds ahead of WrestleMania 37. The show confirmed four more matches for the upcoming pay-per-view. Asuka will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley, while Braun Strowman will face Shane McMahon in a singles match at WrestleMania. Bad Bunny will lock horns with The Miz, and Randy Orton will clash with The Fiend at The Show of Shows.
It was one of the most action-packed shows in the recent history of RAW. We will take a look at WWE Superstars who impressed us on the red brand and those who didn’t.
#1 Impressed on WWE RAW: Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre picked up a well-deserved victory over Sheamus at WWE Fastlane 2021. Both superstars engaged in a gruesome exchange inside the ring and subjected each other to a vicious beatdown. After his win, McIntyre turned his attention towards Bobby Lashley as the two superstars are set to face each other in a title match at WrestleMania next month.
The opening match on WWE RAW witnessed Sheamus and Lashley lock horns in a brutal match. It was a well-balanced encounter, and at one point, Shelton Benjamin took a cheap shot at Sheamus. Lashley eventually won the match, but things were not yet over for Sheamus. Benjamin and Cedric Alexander attacked The Celtic Warrior as the former tag team champions wanted to send out a message.
This prompted McIntrye to walk out and defend his former best friend. Later in the night, The Scottish Warrior faced Benjamin and Alexander in a two-on-one handicap match. He carried himself very well against two hard-hitting opponents. Both The Hurt Business members subjected McIntyre to a lot of punishment.
The former WWE Champion still refused to give up in the match and found a way to keep both Alexander and Benjamin down. He eventually pinned Alexander to pick up a big victory and gain a lot of momentum on the road to WrestleMania. Lashley was understandably upset with the result and told his group members that they had embarrassed him.
Not only that, but the WWE Champion also went to the locker room and offered a title shot to anyone who can stop McIntyre on his behalf. It will be interesting to see which RAW Superstar will step forward.
Lashley is on a great run as the WWE Champion. Drew McIntyre was a dominant champion and had defeated Brock Lesnar for the title at WrestleMania last year. With the crowd coming back for this year’s event, The Scottish Warrior would like to reclaim his moment. He is on the path to face one of the most brutal superstars in the promotion right now, and it won’t be an easy battle.
#2 Impressed on WWE RAW: Asuka
WWE Superstar Asuka looked like her old brutal self on RAW this week. She returned inside the ring for a match against Peyton Royce. The latter had demanded a match against the RAW Women’s Champion and finally got her opportunity on the Red brand. Both superstars faced each other in an entertaining match that added more credibility to Royce’s claims about deserving better chances on the show.
Asuka was dominant in this match right from the get-go. However, she still faced a tough challenge from her opponent, who took the fight to the champion. Asuka was terrific with her maneuvers on the mat. After a few near pinfalls, Asuka got hold of an exhausted Royce and caught her in the signature lock for submission. This allowed her to pick up a good win on WWE RAW before she met her WrestleMania opponent.
After the match, Asuka’s celebration was interrupted by Rhea Ripley, who debuted on RAW tonight. The former NXT Women’s Champion directly demanded a shot at the RAW Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. Asuka agreed to the match, and both superstars will now lock horns in a highly-anticipated title match at the next WWE pay-per-view.
#3 Impressed on WWE RAW: Sheamus
WWE Superstar Sheamus was dragged through the gates of hell during his match against Drew McIntyre at Fastlane. He somehow managed to come back inside the ring for another brutal match against Bobby Lashley on RAW this week. The Celtic Warrior deserves every bit of praise for his relentless hard work inside the squared circle.
Sheamus pushed Lashley to his limits on RAW tonight. Despite not being at his hundred percent, he managed to dominate the WWE Champion on several occasions. This led to Benjamin running a sneaky interference and hitting Sheamus at ringside. In the final moments of the match, Sheamus had momentum on his side and was gearing up for a Brogue Kick.
However, Alexander caused a temporary distraction, and Lashley got an opportunity to hit his opponent with an All Mighty Spinebuster. The latter then quickly held Sheamus in a Hurt Lock that forced the latter to submit. Even though The Celtic Warrior ended up losing the match, he was just as good as the current WWE Champion.
Later on in the show, we saw Sheamus in a backstage segment. He was approached by Riddle as the United States Champion wanted Sheamus to see his scooter. However, the latter picked up the scooter and used it to hit Riddle. This could lead to a title feud on RAW, and we are glad to see that the creative wants Sheamus to remain involved in the championship picture in WWE.
#4 Impressed on WWE RAW: Kofi Kingston
This week’s RAW witnessed a good match between two former WWE Champions. Right after The New Day won the RAW Tag Team Championships, they were challenged for the title by AJ Styles and Omos at WrestleMania. Both teams wanted to gain momentum ahead of the big pay-per-view, and it led to a match being booked between Styles and Kofi Kingston on WWE’s Red brand.
Both Styles and Kingston were aggressive right from the beginning of this match. The Phenomenal One tried to use the top rope on several occasions, but Kingston was quick with his counters. This also changed the flow of the match when Styles tried his Phenomenal Forearm. He was distracted by Xavier Woods, and it left Kingston with ample opportunity to deliver a perfect Trouble in Paradise.
Styles will look to make things even on WWE RAW next week. This match looks exciting as it would mark Omos’ in-ring debut in WWE at WrestleMania. There is a good chance that Styles and Omos will win the titles next month. On the flip side, Kingston and Woods won’t let that be easy as they doubt whether their opponents can work as a team.
#5 Flopped on WWE RAW: Elias
Elias is one of the criminally underused WWE Superstars on RAW. After his defeat against Braun Strowman at Fastlane, he was once again booked in a match against The Monster Among Men. From their overall fight to the outcome, nothing was different on RAW, and it begs the question about the creative’s plans for Elias.
Elias had both Shane McMahon and Jaxson Ryker at ringside. He managed to gain the upper hand in this match for probably a few seconds. Strowman then rammed him through the barricade and brought him back inside the ring. The match ended with The Monster Among Men hitting Elias with a disastrous dropkick. Strowman picked up an easy victory, and Elias was once again pinned on WWE RAW.
At least after the match, it was confirmed that Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon would face each other at WrestleMania. With less than three weeks left for the pay-per-view, it will be interesting to see what else McMahon can do to make the other guy look stupid. Until now, his most significant attacks include throwing green slime and writing songs which is pretty much all it takes to intimidate a WWE Superstar.
Flopped/Impressed on WWE RAW: The Miz
Every once in a while, there comes a WWE segment where it is difficult to make an instant call over its accurate impression. There could be a thin line between an exciting and a bizarre booking, and The Miz seems to be tap-dancing on that divider. This week’s RAW confirmed that the two-time Grand Slam Champion in WWE would face Bad Bunny, a rapper and former 24/7 champion, at WrestleMania.
Not only that, The Miz and John Morrison also confirmed that they would be dropping a diss track on Bad Bunny next week. There would be no judgment for anticipating a banger. Apart from revealing his next music project, The Miz also faced Jeff Hardy on RAW tonight. He looked sharped inside the ring and managed to beat The Charismatic Enigma.
The former WWE Champion then celebrated his big win, totally unaware of the fact that Bad Bunny was lurking in the corner. He sneaked inside the ring and broke a guitar on The Miz’s back. Bad Bunny then accepted The Miz’s challenge for a WrestleMania match. It could get more interesting if the creative decides to add Damian Priest and John Morrison to the mix.
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