WWE RAW aired from the Performance Center in Orlando. Randy Orton answered Edge’s WrestleMania challenge during tonight’s show.
WWE RAW Results (3/23)
- Heyman & Lesnar delivered a message to Drew McIntyre
- AJ Styles challenged The Undertaker to a Boneyard match
- Andrade & Angel Garza def. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet
- Street Profits def. Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink
- Aleister Black def. Leon Ruff
- Seth Rollins mocked Kevin Owens for his failures at WrestleMania
- Randy Orton accepted Edge’s challenge
Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s RAW:
Paul Heyman Claimed That McIntyre Has No Shot Against Lesnar
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman kicked off this week’s show. Heyman said we live in most uncertain times right now but Brock defeating Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania is a certainty.
Heyman claimed that there is nothing McIntyre can do to change that fact. It does not matter how much he trains, Drew cannot defeat Brock at WrestleMania. Paul added that God’s prayer line is only going to give Drew McIntyre a busy signal right now. He then said that McIntyre is going to be “just another wannabe that got douched out” at WrestleMania.
Styles Challenged Undertaker To A Boneyard Match
AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson came down to the entrance ramp to begin the 2nd hour of this week’s episode of RAW.
Styles said that he is not sure when Undertaker’s wife, Michelle McCool, lets him come out of the house so he isn’t sure what night their match will be on. Anderson suggested that Undertaker wears diapers and AJ added that he wore maternity pants.
AJ joked that Undertaker looked like a gothic version of the Tiger King (Joe Exotic) last week. They poked fun at Undertaker swimming with a tiger at Myrtle Beach Safari as well.
He claimed that Undertaker hasn’t been the same since he lost to Brock Lesnar and it seems like his wife has already taken his soul. AJ said he wants the Undertaker of old and not the one that is posting selfies on Instagram.
Styles said he was going to bring back the Dead Man at WrestleMania and suggested that they fight in a Boneyard Match. Styles closed the show by saying the match will take place in the same plot that Michelle McCool buried Undertaker’s career.
Opinion: I thought this promo was incredibly awkward and I have absolutely no idea what a Boneyard match is. I’m assuming it is along the lines of a Buried Alive match and will be taped in a different location than the Performance Center.
Andrade & Garza Picked Up A Win
Andrade & Angel Garza squared off against Ricochet & Cedric Alexander tonight on RAW. Zelina Vega was ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Before the bell, Ricochet fought off Angel & Andrade and sent them to the apron. Cedric rushed the ring and the match began. Ricochet hit Andrade with a couple chops to the chest. Andrade battled back and leveled Ricochet with an elbow to the face. Andrade Clotheslined Ricochet out of the ring and Garza threw him into the apron.
RAW Tag Team Champions Street Profits joined commentary as the show went to a break. When RAW returned, Andrade and Garza will still in control. Garza hit Ricochet with a knee to the face and followed it up with a Headlock. United States Champion Andrade tagged in and continued to beat Ricochet down in the corner.
Cedric finally tagged in planted Garza with a Flatliner for a near fall. Cedric rolled up Garza for a two count. Angel hit Cedric with a knee to the face for another near fall. Garza followed it up with a Moonsault and went for the cover but Alexander kicked out at the last moment. Andrade tagged in and walked into a Michinoku Driver for another two count. Andrade hit Cedric with an elbow to the face for the victory. Street Profits will defend their titles against Garza and Andrade at WrestleMania.
Becky Lynch Attacked Shayna Baszler
Shayna Baszler appeared on this week’s episode of RAW for an interview segment. Charly Caruso said that Baszler may already be the most dominant woman in WWE and earned the right to face Becky Lynch at WrestleMania.
Baszler was asked how she intends to conduct herself as champion if she defeats Becky at WrestleMania. Shayna didn’t answer but instead asked Charly why she was nervous. Shayna joked that she wasn’t going to bite her and said that Lynch should expect to lose at WrestleMania.
Shayna stated that she wants the RAW Women’s Championship because she wants to destroy Becky Lynch. RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch then attacked Shayna from behind and hit her with a steel chair twice.
Seth Rollins Cut A Great Promo On Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens said that Seth Rollins was nowhere to be found last week but has heard he was here tonight. The Monday Night Messiah Seth Rollins made his way to the entrance ramp and stated that he had a couple of questions for Kevin.
Rollins walked down the ramp and said that Owens doesn’t have the home field advantage in the Performance Center. Seth noted that Owens earned his job in WWE in this building but the PC was built on his blood, sweat, and tears.
Seth added that when he arrived in WWE he was told that everything he had done in the past didn’t matter. Rollins told Owens that he had to succeed for people like him so they could get an opportunity to train in a beautiful facility like the PC. Rollins scolded Owens for refusing to fall in line and claimed that NXT, and the Performance Center wouldn’t exist without Rollins.
Rollins claimed that there would be no Gargano, no Ciampa, no Undisputed Era, and no women’s evolution without him as well. Seth boasted about his track record at WrestleMania and mocked Kevin for failing at the biggest show of the year. He pointed out that Owens wasn’t even good enough to be on last year’s WrestleMania card. Rollins claimed that he becomes a god under pressure and Owens doesn’t stand a chance.
Opinion: Rollins delivered a very good promo tonight and continues to excel as a heel. This is one of the matches I’m looking forward to the most at this year’s WrestleMania.
Randy Orton Accepted Edge’s Challenge
Randy Orton closed this week’s show and claimed that what he has done to Edge and Beth Phoenix came from a place of love. Orton looked directly into the camera and said that there was something he needed to get off of his chest.
Orton claimed he lied to Beth when he said Edge was a junkie for the roar of the crowd. He accused Adam Copeland (Edge) of being a junkie for his own ego. Randy added that just because he was handed an opportunity from his father doesn’t ensure a Hall of Fame career.
Randy boasted about becoming the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history and stated Mick Foley didn’t hand the torch, he took it from him. Randy said that grit isn’t sitting at home for 9-years, it is longevity and being the one constant in the WWE locker room.
He noted that there is nobody in the locker room that has accomplished as much as him and nobody has as much grit. Orton once again said that everything he has done was out of love for Edge and his family. Randy accepted Edge’s challenge and vowed to end Edge’s story at WrestleMania.
Opinion: Edge versus Randy Orton has a fantastic story behind it and should be able to overcome the lack of an audience at WrestleMania. Given the circumstances, this week’s episode of RAW was a solid show. Rollins’ promo was the best part of the night but Orton’s was very good as well.
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