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Welcome to this week's edition of Best and Worst of RAW. It's a special edition since it was the go-home episode before Fastlane 2021 and a few matches were finally added to the PPV from the red brand's side.
It's shaping up to be interesting, and this was the best episode of RAW in a month. Let's jump right into the good and the bad of the red brand before Fastlane 2021.
#3 Best: Asuka's return to RAW after her reported concussion
There was a lot of concern about RAW Women's Champion Asuka and her status for WrestleMania 37. Last month on the RAW after Elimination Chamber, Asuka reportedly suffered a lconcussion at the hands of Shayna Baszler.
The match where Baszler kicked the RAW Women's Champion's tooth out was highlighted on the show. While this is a spot we usually see during matches, the reported concussion came as a bit of unexpected news. There was a lot of worry about whether Charlotte Flair's WrestleMania plan had gone down the drain again.
Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case. During a Women's Tag Team match, Asuka made her return and Shayna Baszler went to attack her from the commentary table.
It culminated in a match on RAW where The Empress Of Tomorrow defeated The Queen Of Spades, whose shoulders were down while she was applied the Khirifuda Clutch on the Women's Champion.
Asuka caught Baszler's leg when she tried repeating the same kick, and brutalized her, getting revenge in the process.
With Shayna Baszler seemingly out of the way, it seems as though Asuka has to address Charlotte Flair next week. As we know, The Queen challenged her to a RAW Women's Title match at WrestleMania, and we assume that will be the direction continued.
Asuka's return to RAW has saved the title match at WrestleMania 37, and WWE will be relieved to have one of the most important stars of the pandemic era back in action before the Show Of Shows.
#3 Worst: The New Day dethroning The Hurt Business to win the RAW Tag Team titles
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods defeated The Hurt Business' Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander to capture the RAW Tag Team Titles again. The New Day are now 11-time WWE Tag Team Champions after their title win on RAW.
Immediately after, they were confronted by an unlikely Superstar - AJ Styles (along with Omos). The Phenomenal has had nothing planned for WrestleMania 37...until now. He revealed his intention to capture the RAW Tag Team titles with Omos, who will now be making his WrestleMania debut.
The New Day accepted the challenge, and it was made official.
While it's interesting to think of the possibility that AJ Styles will be a Grand Slam Champion in just a little over five years, we feel that the decision to change the RAW Tag Team Titles was a mistake.
Benjamin and Alexander did a great job as the Champions and kept The Hurt Business' momentum alive as well. While Bobby Lashley might be doing the heavy lifting now, it's unfortunate for the two men to potentially lose a major WrestleMania spot for a throwaway title match.
#2 Best: WWE's handling of Bad Bunny and Damian Priest on RAW
While celebrity appearances on RAW aren't always great, we have to admit that Bad Bunny has been in the top one percent. Not only is he dedicated to WWE, but in his current run since the 2021 Royal Rumble, the Puerto Rican rapper has essentially been a full-time superstar.
This week on RAW, he exchanged the 24/7 Title for a custom 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin WWE Championship. This was presumably to promote the 3:16 sale on WWEShop.com
His run on RAW has also helped elevate Damian Priest, who has been undefeated since his main roster debut. The Archer Of Infamy put away Jaxson Ryker with relative ease on this week's episode.
However, two men that they have clashed heads with are John Morrison and former WWE Champion, The Miz. This week on RAW, The A-Lister attacked Bad Bunny from behind with Elias' guitar - and it didn't even break.
This could well and truly setup the Puerto Rican rapper for a big match at this year's WrestleMania. He could be teaming with Priest to take on the former Tag Team Champions.
#2 Worst: Backstage fun on RAW before a match?
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke were scheduled to face Naomi and Lana on RAW. It was presumably a high-stakes match-up since the winner would take a step closer to securing a WWE Women's Title shot at WrestleMania 37.
Given the level of competition they're at, we wonder why they had a segment before their match where they were seen politely talking to each other and having fun on RAW.
R-Truth chimed in and added a humorous element to the segment, but we wonder why the two teams were lightly joking around before their match. It seems to take away some of the legitimacy that they have. As it is, the women's tag team division has little depth on the main roster.
The two teams faced off and that was where Asuka made her big return. The altercation she had with Shayna Baszler led to a little chaos and Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke ended up getting the victory on RAW.
So far, Natalya and Tamina seem set to compete for the Women's Tag Team Title at WrestleMania 37. It would be a shame if Lana and Naomi aren't involved as well - particularly the former, who has had a good run in the last half-year or more.
#1 Best: Alexa Bliss on RAW
The Alexa Bliss-Randy Orton story on RAW keeps taking new twists and turns. This week, the former Women's Champion challenged Randy Orton to a match at Fastlane 2021.
You read that right. We're not sure what the implication is, but given how she has been torturing The Viper on RAW these last few months, he was quick to accept the challenge.
What we like about this storyline is that it's different from anything on RAW, SmackDown, and even NXT. We could potentially get an intergender match, but it won't be as straightforward as it seems.
If anything, it could be the set-up for Bray Wyatt's return to WWE after more than three months. The Fiend hasn't been seen since he was set on fire at TLC 2020.
It was easily the best match the two had, and if the story is good enough, they could even top that at WrestleMania 37.
#1 Worst: Shane McMahon and Braun Strowman's match on RAW gets postponed... to Fastlane?
Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon's feud on RAW was expected to culminate at WrestleMania 37. Instead, we're getting it at Fastlane 2021. We're not sure how it makes much sense.
There were two important title matches on RAW this week that should have ideally been on the Fastlane card. Now, we're getting a WrestleMania-worthy match at the PPV?
Braun Strowman challenged Shane McMahon to a match on RAW and he accepted, but it was filled with antics. Ultimately, Shane O'Mac smacked Braun Strowman with a camera and ended up pouring green slime over The Monster Among Men.
The story on RAW continued with the entire "Braun Strowman is stupid" angle, and Shane McMahon managed to get the better of him. We can only hope that the Fastlane match sets up a legitimate WrestleMania bout with a stipulation to make it fun.
The entire payoff from this feud on RAW needs to see Shane McMahon get his come-uppance. Braun Strowman is in a very different position compared to last year's WrestleMania.
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