WWE Raw: 5 shocking moments from the show (March 11, 2019)

A potential future rivalry for the Universal Championship?
A potential future rivalry for the Universal Championship?

Fastlane delivered a few shocks, with Vince McMahon shuffling up the card on more than one occasion. However, the Raw side of the matches were kept as they were and did not surprise with their results.

Raw this week, on the other hand, delivered quite a few surprises and shocking moments. We saw Beth Pheonix take Natalya’s side in her match against Nia Jax and come to her assistance inside the ring to avoid a beatdown.

Shield formally announced that their match at Fastlane was probably their last match together. A veteran superstar then made a surprise return to attack the #1 contender for the Universal Championship.

One of the most surprising moments of the show saw Dana Brooke walk out once again to stand face to face with Ronda Rousey before being dismantled by The Baddest Woman on the Planet.

The show was overall fun and delivered good punches, but lacked in the in-ring performances that we expected.

Check out the 5 most surprising and shocking moments from the show, and share your favorite moment in the comments below.


#5 Alexa Bliss’ announcement

Lil' Miss Bliss is heading to WrestleMania
Lil' Miss Bliss is heading to WrestleMania

Alexa Bliss hosted her Moment of Bliss talk show Monday night with a major announcement regarding the special host for WrestleMania 35 guest host.

Her guest for her Moment of Bliss talk show was none other than Alexa Bliss herself.

She ran down the personalities who have hosted a show in the past and ran down names like The Rock, Kim Kardashian, and The New Day. She ended it with a video revealing that she will be hosting WrestleMania this year.

Bliss called herself the Grandest Superstar of All, and concluded: "And this has been your Moment of Bliss."

It is quite shocking that WWE has handed such a big task to Bliss, who is definitely good on the mic but not as good as many other superstars backstage and celebrities who have entered and left WWE.

The Rock and The New Day have natural charisma and others have done a superb job too. It will be interesting to how Bliss hosts the show and whether she will be able to handle the job well considering she isn’t competing in the ring at the moment.

#4 Kurt Angle’s retirement

Angle's final opponent should be much more established
Angle's final opponent should be much more established

While most of us were prepared to see Kurt Angle retire sooner than later, only a few of us would have expected him to make a formal announcement regarding the matter.

A Career vs Career match or a Retirement Match would have been a more interesting choice for WrestleMania 35, but the announcement was probably chosen ahead of it keeping in mind that Batista vs Triple H might turn out to be a retirement match.

Other than that Ambrose too will be leaving the company after WrestleMania, and it is possible that The Undertaker will retire at the event too.

Keeping all that in mind, it is shocking that a star as big as Angle was made to announce his retirement beforehand so that there are not too many uncertain farewell matches on the WrestleMania 35 card.

Angle fought against Apollo Crews on Raw which was another shock, as the superstar's push had been pulled back and he could have fought someone more competitive. We are sure that even Brock Lesnar would walk out and lay down in front of Angle to take the pin since he is one of the biggest stars in the company’s history and deserves the best.

#3 Finn Balor losing the Intercontinental Championship

Balor was distracted by Lio Rush
Balor was distracted by Lio Rush

Just like Finn Balor won the Universal Championship and had to give it up the next night, he had to lose the Intercontinental Championship which he had won not too long ago.

So what was the point of Balor winning the title in the first place?

While many fans were certain that The Demon King would walk into WrestleMania 35 with a big match on hand to defend his Intercontinental Championship, their dreams were shattered on Raw this week.

Balor won the championship only by pinning Lio Rush, and then ate a beatdown last week that curbed his momentum and then was dominated throughout the majority of Monday's match before losing the gold.

This raises many questions as to what WWE is trying to do with the superstar who could be one of their top five guys in the company.

Not only are the fans shocked by this decision, but even many people backstage would have been taken by surprise at the decision taken by the company.

#2 Shelton Benjamin’s attack on Seth Rollins

Benjamin's return was extremely surprising
Benjamin's return was extremely surprising

While it made all the sense in the world to give Raw’s hottest star Seth Rollins a match on Monday Night, no one in their wildest dreams would have thought Shelton Benjamin would be his opponent.

Benjamin attacked Seth Rollins on Raw after Rollins and Paul Heyman had a little one-on-one on the mic.

After Benjamin attacked him from behind, Rollins squared off with the multi-time intercontinental and tag team champion in an impromptu addition to the show.

While many options existed in the locker room who could have done the job, one can’t help but wonder if the Minnesota Stretching Crew is back.

Lesnar and Benjamin have been friends since their college days, and have wrestled and trained together for long.

If Heyman is actually building a stable to work around Lesnar, then Benjamin is a great choice as the first member.

#1 No one came to Ambrose’s aid

Ambrose went through a lot on Monday Night
Ambrose went through a lot on Monday Night

On Mondy Night, before Roman Reigns could battle Baron Corbin in the main event, Drew McIntyre came from out of nowhere to attack The Big Dog.

He laid waste to the superstar by delivering two Claymore Kicks, and Seth Rollins had to come out to the aid of his Shield-brother.

On the heels of McIntyre's assault on Reigns, Dean Ambrose demanded a Falls Count Anywhere match with the Psychopath and was granted one by Triple H.

As expected, Ambrose fought as the underdog and was put through a lot of punishment by McIntyre who was unforgiving throughout the match.

As fans watched the Lunatic Fringe getting beaten up by McIntyre who delivered a Claymore Kick to the former WWE Champion after wrapping him in a piece of railing, one question came to everyone's mind: Where is Dean Ambrose’s backup?

Ambrose stood up to Triple H to avenge Roman Reigns, who was helped by Seth Rollins, but there was no one to help Ambrose when he was being put through a hell of a punishment in a Falls Count Anywhere match.

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