Raw was live last night in Boston, Massachusetts. The Road to WrestleMania is getting closer and closer day by day. The news broke early Monday that the Raw Women’s Championship match between Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair will be the main event of WrestleMania. As we get closer to WrestleMania, what message can be sent and what statements can be made to rivals before the date at the Grandest Stage of Them All?
Ronda Rousey v. Sarah Logan: Beat the Clock Challenge
Raw kicks off with the Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey. The three women who will fight at WrestleMania will compete in Beat the Clock Challenge matches.
Ronda came out to state to the WWE Universe they are welcome. Stating that without Ronda, there would be no women’s Main Event of WrestleMania. She then would go on to say she is going to make both Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair tap at the same time at WrestleMania. She then called out her opponent to get this gimmick over with.
Before the match began, Becky Lynch came out to state that she made Ronda’s title reign where it is at today. Without Becky Lynch, Ronda’s reign would not be talked about to the magnitude it is at today. Before she could continue, Charlotte Flair made her way to the ring.
Charlotte stated that the reason why the women are main eventing is because of what she has put in the last four years to change the women’s division.
As Ronda competed, Charlotte & Becky stood at ringside. Ronda made short work of Sarah as she beat her in 1:25.
Charlotte Flair v. Ruby Riott: Beat the Clock Challenge
Charlotte attempted to beat the clock, but as she locked in the Figure 8, the time had run out.
As Becky entered the ring, Charlotte attacked her from behind giving an advantage to Liv Morgan.
Becky Lynch v. Liv Morgan: Beat the Clock Challenge
With the advantage in the favor of Liv, there did not seem a chance that Becky could beat the clock. However, she was able to roll up Liv Morgan at 1:20 to beat the clock. Can Becky Lynch have the same luck and end WrestleMania as the new Raw Women’s Championship?
Finn Balor v. Bobby Lashley & Jinder Mahal
WrestleMania hangs in the balance for Finn Balor. Finn Balor must defeat the Jinder Mahal & the Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley in a handicap match to have a match against Lashley for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. It was scheduled to be Lashley & Lio Rush taking on Finn but as Lashley came to the ring, Lio Rush announced that he was not medically cleared to compete, thanks to Braun Strowman.
Jinder & Lashley used the numbers game against Finn in the early going. It did not help that Lio Rush & The Singh Brothers were at ringside making the numbers odds were severely out of his favor.
However, there is no one with a bigger heart than Finn Balor. He was able to use his heart and speed to beat the odds. Finn was able to capitalize on a big dive which led to a Coupe de Grace on Jinder Mahal for the win. Finn Balor is going to WrestleMania to face Bobby Lashley for the Intercontinental Championship.
Aleister Black & Ricochet v. The Revival
Aleister Black & Ricochet have been on a major hot streak since making their main roster debuts. Could a win over the Raw Tag Team Champions put them in line for a potential shot at the titles at WrestleMania?
The two teams went back and forth in a highly contested match. However, due to an uncommon miscommunication by The Revival, Aleister was able to hit the Black Mass and Ricochet hit the 630 for the win. Are Black & Ricochet in line for a shot at the Raw Tag Team Championships?
Drew McIntyre wants an Answer
Two weeks ago, Drew McIntyre viciously attacked Roman Reigns and left him dazed and seriously injured. Then last week, Drew McIntyre challenged Roman Reigns to a match at WrestleMania. Drew McIntyre had taken out The Shield over the last few weeks. However, there is one last one and it is the Big Dog. He knows Roman will accept the challenge, but he does not want Roman’s family to suffer anymore watching Roman Reigns in pain all over again.
Roman Reigns then came out for an intense staredown with the Scottish Psychopath. He came down to accept the challenge. He then attacked Drew McIntyre after the remarks Drew made about his family. He was on the attack until Drew hit a low blow on Roman which led to a Claymore.
Sasha Banks v. Natalya
The Boss returns home to Boston to take on Natalya. Over the last few weeks, new challengers have emerged to try to dethrone Sasha Banks & Bayley as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, including Natalya & WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix. They’ve made it clear that they want to challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania.
In a rematch of a match that was supposed to happen last week but was ruled a no contest thanks to interference from Nia Jax & Tamina, these two look to find a decisive winner. In a highly competitive match, each woman looked t be closing in on victory.
However, just like last week, Nia Jax & Tamina made their ways down to the ring. They attacked the women, but Beth Phoenix took out the two and hit the Glam Slam on Tamina. Beth Phoenix most certainly still has it.
Alexa Bliss’s Moment of Bliss with Special Guest: Braun Strowman, Colin Jost & Michael Jay
Over the past few weeks, the Correspondents of WrestleMania Michael Jay & Colin Jost have continuously gotten on the bad side of the Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman. The Host of WrestleMania, Alexa Bliss attempted to bring them together to relieve the tension because if not, it would be a PR nightmare.
Braun was in Boston, however, Michael & Colin were in New York on the set of Saturday Night Live. They wanted Braun to pay back the money for the car he wrecked a few weeks ago. However, Braun challenged the two to enter the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania. Alexa made it official that the two are now entered.
Baron Corbin v. Apollo Crews
Baron Corbin made his way to the ring just weeks away from his match at WrestleMania against Kurt Angle. However, he is coming off a loss to Apollo Crews last week.
Baron made sure to get in the zone this week however as he was able to beat Apollo with the End of Days for the pin and the win. After the match, he beat down Apollo to send a message to his opponent at WrestleMania Kurt Angle.
Seth Rollins’ Vow
The no. 1 contender for the Universal Championship, Seth Rollins came out to the Boston crowd to give a statement to the WWE Universe. He states that he wants to be a Universal Champion that inspires people.
He named champions that inspired people except for Brock Lesnar. Seth states that Brock has held the WWE Universe hostage of a Champion that can inspire them. That is why he stated that the match at WrestleMania is a must win.
Paul Heyman then came out to state that Seth is undermatched and is in over his head. Which, will ultimately be his downfall to losing at WrestleMania to Brock Lesnar. However, Seth got in Paul’s face and stated that he and the WWE Universe will march into Suplex City and burn it down.
Kurt Angle v. Samoa Joe
The Kurt Angle Farewell Tour heads into Boston to take on SmackDown’s United States Champion Samoa Joe. These two have had tons of history wrestling around the world. Now, in their last encounter, it is time to write the last chapter of their historic rivalry.
The match begins how their rivalry began, with a headbutt, but this time by Samoa Joe. In a highly contested match, Kurt Angle was able to defeat Samoa Joe via a roll up. The Kurt Angle Farewell Tour now heads to SmackDown tomorrow night to take on another former rival, AJ Styles.
Triple H Reveals the Final Stipulation for his Match at WrestleMania Against Batista
Triple H responds to the statements that were made by Batista last week. He also stated that Batista made sure there is one more stipulation added to their match at WrestleMania. The stipulation reveals that Triple H must put his career on the line or Batista will not show up for WrestleMania. Triple H accepts the stipulation and states that he will keep his career alive at WrestleMania.
Dean Ambrose v. Drew McIntyre: Last Man Standing
Drew McIntyre while he verbally attacked The Shield, stated that Dean Ambrose was a cockroach that he has exterminated. However, Dean feels that if he is still standing, he is still fighting. That is why he challenged Drew McIntyre to a Last Man Standing match.
The two had yet another hellacious match. The two destroyed each other around the arena, doing anything in their power to beat their opponent down so they cannot reach the count of 10. Drew seemed to have the match in hand, but Dean continuously got back up before the referee reached 10. Drew kept on finding new objects to try to take down Dean, but Dean continued to get up.
Eventually, Dean was able to get the upper hand and looked for the opportunity to pick up the win. However, one attempt to beat Drew with the use of a table cost him a chance at victory, it led to Drew hitting the Claymore for the win, leaving Dean laying in a heap in the middle of the ring.
Conclusion
This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw was fairly intriguing. There was action all over Raw. Tons of build heading towards WrestleMania. Also, finding out that the Raw Women’s Championship match is going to main event of WrestleMania was the best news of the night. Great episode of Raw as we head one step closer to WrestleMania.
David Jacobus
Staff Writer