Best & Worst of RAW: Bobby Lashley's next opponent revealed, Former World Champion negatively affected by WrestleMania storyline?

A huge episode of RAW
A huge episode of RAW

The biggest talking point in the run-up to Monday Night RAW was how Bobby Lashley's first episode as the WWE Champion would turn out. Well, that was one aspect WWE got right, although there were a lot of drawbacks as well.

Either way, the road to WrestleMania 37 is in full steam, and there are only four episodes of RAW left until The Grandest Stage of Them All, and WWE had to put out their best for the Red brand. While the mid-portions of the show may not have been as fascinating, a great start and a great finish helped save the show.

Here are the best and worst things about RAW this week:


#3. Best: The Miz gets decimated on RAW....again

The introduction Bobby Lashley received on RAW was incredible. He walked into the show with The Hurt Business, and three out of four members were covered in Championship gold.

Bobby Lashley got a great mini-video package before his entrance. He was treated like a World Champion, and he looked like it as well. No matter how much The Miz tried to keep his distance from Lashley, his fate was the same.

A spinebuster followed by The Hurt Lock saw Bobby Lashley retain the WWE Championship - sending a clear message to the locker room. One of the best parts of the show was how WWE presented Bobby Lashley throughout the episode.

Drew McIntyre was seen as a close observer of the match, indicating that he is next for the title. However, Sheamus prevented that from happening right away.

We're interested to see how Bobby Lashley is presented heading into WrestleMania 37, given we're now just a month and two days left until The Show of Shows.

What lies ahead for Bobby Lashley on RAW?

#3. Worst: The basis of the Shane McMahon-Braun Strowman feud on RAW

Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon are currently feuding on RAW. It seems to be leading to a WrestleMania match this year, but the entire basis of this rivalry is ridiculous.

As we know, Braun Strowman has had issues with WWE management - particularly Adam Pearce, and more recently, Shane McMahon. Strowman said that he was over the fact that he wasn't added to the RAW Elimination Chamber match, but Shane's jab at his intelligence last week drew the line.

Later in the show, Shane McMahon kept insinuating from a distance that Braun Strowman is stupid. He then outsmarted The Monster Among Men by making him chase a car that he wasn't even inside of. The entire basis of their feud is about how Shane McMahon is making fun of Braun Strowman's intelligence.

This seems to confirm Vince Russo's theory that this is based on a real-life storyline, and Braun Strowman is getting ribbed on RAW. If so, he is being negatively affected.

While the match-up itself seems enticing at first, the idea isn't a great one. The only positive so far is that WWE isn't trying to present Shane McMahon as a babyface. The perfect payoff at WrestleMania would be Braun Strowman decimating Shane McMahon and perhaps outsmarting him in some way. Otherwise, it's a thumbs down from us.

#2. Best: Randy Orton's entire role on RAW

While his storyline with Alexa Bliss and The Fiend has been one of the focal points of RAW, we've been impressed with Randy Orton lately. With all the bizarre things happening on RAW, Orton hasn't been too bad.

This week on RAW, he confronted AJ Styles backstage for making fun of him and challenged him to the main event. Despite Randy Orton having that sadistic side to himself, we believe that this was a very subtle face turn that happened and has been teased for the last few weeks.

AJ Styles and Randy Orton had a fantastic main event on RAW, and Alexa Bliss was the one to play spoilsport again - appearing on the screen and distracting Randy Orton.

As the black liquid started oozing out of his mouth, AJ Styles quickly capitalized and won with the Phenomenal Forearm. It was a great main event on RAW and good character progression from Randy Orton.

Though Orton was one of the highlights of the show this week, one must wonder what WWE has for AJ Styles at WrestleMania 37.

#2. Worst: All the RAW title matches aren't happening on PPV

Think about this - this past episode of RAW had two title matches, while next week will have two more. Bobby Lashley successfully defended his WWE Championship, as did Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, when they defeated Naomi and Lana to retain the Women's Tag Team Championship.

Next week, we will be getting two more title matches, as The New Day faces The Hurt Business for the RAW Tag Team Championship, while Mustafa Ali will challenge Riddle for the United States Championship.

We only have one question - what about Fastlane? There is only one more episode of RAW before the final PPV stop on the road to WrestleMania, and yet there's nothing from RAW.

Both matches on the Fastlane 2021 card are from SmackDown, while four title matches in two weeks will have taken place on RAW prior to the PPV. What is the point of the Fastlane PPV if WWE plans to have major title matches on the Red brand? That's now four PPV-level matches that were given on free TV.

#1. Best: Sheamus and Drew McIntyre have another hard-hitter on RAW

Sheamus wasn't done with Drew McIntyre despite losing to him last week on RAW. Drew McIntyre may have emerged as Bobby Lashley's next title challenger this week, but Sheamus blindsided him backstage, and it led to a brawl.

Drew McIntyre then demanded that Adam Pearce book a No DQ match between them, and his wish was granted. This time, however, the match would end in a no-contest after both men clashed with a set of steel steps.

While we're not too sure why the feud is continuing on RAW, one can't complain about the quality of the matches. The real-life friendship going back 20 years adds to the element, as well as the fact that Sheamus is currently having his best WWE run in years.

We're not sure whether this will lead to a blow-off match on RAW next week or Fastlane, but the PPV desperately needs a match from the Red brand. Will Drew McIntyre finally get rid of Sheamus as he looks to reclaim the WWE Championship?

#1. Worst: Still no sign of the RAW Women's Champion Asuka

Where is she?
Where is she?

RAW Women's Champion Asuka has been missing since February 22nd - the night after Elimination Chamber. She teamed up with Charlotte Flair to lose to Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax once again.

Since then, Charlotte Flair declared her interest in facing Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania. This week, Asuka wasn't present, but Charlotte Flair had a backstage segment with Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke.

Rose & Brooke seem intent on pursuing the title as well, and Peyton Royce even declared her interest on RAW Talk. It's obvious as to who is going to get the Women's Championship shot at WrestleMania.

What could be interesting, however, is if Asuka defended the RAW Women's title against multiple women. Although Asuka was reportedly concussed and won't be able to compete right now, having her in a backstage segment to hype her title defense at WrestleMania would have been enough. With WrestleMania just being a month away, WWE should start to build up a feud for Asuka without having her compete in the ring.

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