WWE RAW: 2 Superstars who flopped and 4 who impressed – Big warning ahead of WrestleMania title match, former World Champion humiliated (Mar 15th, 2021)

The go-home episode of WWE RAW before Fastlane was quite an interesting one. A couple of matches were confirmed for WrestleMania, while a few matches were added to Fastlane. We also saw Asuka make her return to the Red brand, and she looked fierce inside the ring. In the show's main event, WWE Champion Bobby Lashley squared off against Sheamus, but it was Drew McIntyre who had the last laugh.

In this article, we will take a look at Superstars who impressed us on WWE RAW this week and those who didn’t.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON #WWERaw!!! pic.twitter.com/TDEDAiJ52p

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021

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#1 Impressed on WWE RAW: Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre is looking strong ahead of WrestleMania

WWE RAW's opening segment saw Bobby Lashley and MVP celebrating The All Mighty Era's beginning on the Red brand. They were soon interrupted by John Morrison and The Miz, with the latter demanding a title rematch. Soon, McIntyre made his way to the ring and pointed out how he and Lashley are similar in their early struggles in the promotion.

These two are so ready to collide for the #WWEChampionship at #WrestleMania!!!@DMcIntyreWWE@fightbobby#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/LFlcJ9TRO8

— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021

McIntyre then pointed out how he worked hard to become the champion, but Lashley chose to cut deals with The Miz to get his hands on the title. It led to a brawl between the two Superstars, and Lashley hit McIntyre with a cheap shot. However, the champion was attacked on his way backstage by none other than Sheamus on WWE RAW.

Back inside the ring, The Miz was happy about Lashley’s attack on McIntyre. He then locked horns with McIntyre in a singles match and looked to make the most of the situation. Both McIntyre and The Miz went on to compete in a grueling match on WWE RAW. The latter was also booked strongly, which helped make McIntyre look all the more powerful inside the ring.

Both Superstars battled well and took turns to dominate the match. McIntyre carried the rage well, and gradually, Miz started struggling to keep up with his opponent. The closing moments of the match saw McIntyre deliver a perfect Claymore, but he did not go for the pin. Instead, he decided to send a strong message to Bobby Lashley by using the Hurt Lock to win his match on WWE RAW.

McIntyre and Lashley are slated to face each other for the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania. But before that, McIntyre has a massive match against his best-friend-turned-enemy Sheamus at Fastlane. As was evident on WWE RAW this week, McIntyre looks prepared to take on the upcoming challenges over the next month.

#1 Flopped on WWE RAW: Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman can be used in better feuds

The ongoing storyline on WWE RAW that involves Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon is probably setting up a WrestleMania match between the two superstars. They are already scheduled for a match at Fastlane. Even though that means Strowman will have a match at The Show of Shows, he deserves a better booking on the Red brand.

This week on WWE RAW, Strowman confronted Shane McMahon because the latter had implied that The Monster Among Men was 'stupid'. Their argument led to a match on the show that ended in Strowman’s humiliation. It started well for Strowman when he drove Shane McMahon through the barricades.

However, as soon as Strowman started running around the ring, Shane McMahon seized his opportunity and used a camera to knock him down. He then delivered an elbow drop and put Strowman through the announce desk on WWE RAW. Since all of this action took place outside the ring, the match never technically started.

Shane McMahon then got his hands on two buckets of green slime and poured it all over the former Universal Champion. The latter will look to avenge these actions at the upcoming pay-per-view. We hope that he will come out of this feud looking strong and then move to better storylines on WWE RAW. There is no reason why he should be kept away from the WWE Championship picture just when he has started gaining momentum again.

#2 and #3 Impressed on WWE RAW: Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods

The New Day were at their best this week

This week, we saw the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships change hands as Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods defeated Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin for the titles. This also allowed The New Day to become the 11-time Tag Team Champions in WWE.

Both teams were booked well, and the momentum swayed to-and-fro during their match. All four superstars put in a lot of effort to deliver an entertaining in-ring battle. The Hurt Business members had their fair share of dominance in this match, but both Kingston and Woods were adamant about reclaiming the WWE RAW tag team titles.

After struggling for a while, Kingston and Woods managed to disrupt their opponents' momentum by driving them to the ringside floor. Kingston and Benjamin then became the legal competitors. Benjamin tried to roll up Kingston from behind, but the latter escaped and responded with the Trouble in Paradise.

He then tagged in Woods, who hit Benjamin with a flying elbow while Kingston went for a leap from the top rope to take out Alexander once again. Woods then tagged Kingston, who used the Daybreak stomp to win the WWE RAW tag team titles.

The match was as entertaining as it could get, and the two teams are expected to lock horns for the title again sometime. Interestingly, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were instantly challenged by AJ Styles and Omos for the WWE RAW tag team titles at WrestleMania. Considering that it would be Omos' in-ring debut and Styles has never won the tag team titles, this match looks promising ahead of the biggest WWE pay-per-view.

#2 Flopped on WWE RAW: Jaxson Ryker

Jaxson Ryker would want to forget this match

This week on WWE RAW, Jaxson Ryker faced Damian Priest in a short singles match. Ryker was the first to land a blow, but Priest was quick to respond. The latter immediately hit his opponent with a devastating Broken Arrow to gain the right momentum. Priest then delivered Hit The Lights and followed it with a quick pin over Ryker. Both Bad Bunny and Elias were present at ringside throughout this encounter.

Following this match on WWE RAW, Elias tried to attack Bad Bunny and Damian Priest. He managed to lift Bad Bunny for an attack, but the latter escaped and punched Elias. Soon, Priest interfered and hit Elias with Hit The Lights as well. While Priest looked dominant in the squash match, it didn't bode well for Jaxson Ryker. The creative could have done a little more to make Ryker look strong while simultaneously ensuring that Priest's unbeaten run on the Red brand remains intact.

For a while, the creative teased a potential feud between Priest and Bad Bunny and Elias and Jaxson Ryker on WWE RAW. However, it now appears that they are slowly moving towards a storyline that will see Priest and Bad Bunny face The Miz and John Morrison. As for Elias and Ryker, we hope that they will be involved in a few good feuds that will help them establish a bigger threat in at least the tag team division of WWE RAW.

#4 Impressed on WWE RAW: Asuka

This match gave us a taste of what's coming

The reigning WWE RAW Women’s Champion Asuka returned on the show this week. She was forced to spend some time away from the ring after she sustained an injury during the tag team match against Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax. The two superstars faced each other in an exciting singles match on RAW.

Asuka unleashed a different side of herself during this match. She first attacked Baszler from behind and then took out Nia Jax when the latter decided to interfere. Asuka turned her attention towards Baszler and continued to assault her inside the ring. Baszler tried to go for the Kirifuda Clutch, but Asuka turned it around and went for a quick pin to win her match on WWE RAW.

Even though the match was short, both superstars were booked equally well. Asuka couldn't celebrate her victory as Baszler went for her hold again. The WWE RAW Women's Champion faded out, and after a while, Baszler tried to attack her again. However, this time Asuka responded with brutal kicks and drove Baszler face-first into an exposed turnbuckle.

Baszler then collapsed on the floor while Asuka celebrated in the background. This match brought out the version of Asuka that fans have missed on WWE RAW. It also showed glimpses of Baszler's true potential. We hope that the two superstars will be booked in a title rivalry in the future.