This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw kicked off with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman in the ring. The crowd chanted “Suplex City” as Lesnar laughed in the ring. Heyman stated that Wrestlemania is the night that Brock Lesnar causes the announcers to scream “down goes Goldberg!”. A “Goldberg” chant started to echo throughout the arena. Half of the crowd tried to drown them out by booing. Heyman announced that Goldberg was not there this evening and the crowd cheered. Heyman told the fans chanting “Goldberg” to shut the hell up. Heyman bragged about Lesnar hitting an F-5 on Goldberg last week on Raw. Heyman claimed that when Lesnar wins the Universal Champion at Wrestlemania 33, it will go down as the greatest championship comeback in sports entertainment history.
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley were shown backstage. Stephanie McMahon instructed Foley to scour the Raw roster and find someone to fire. Stephanie stated that Foley makes things too personal and needs to think more like a business person. Foley agreed to do it but looked nervous.
Sasha Banks vs Dana Brooke
Bayley and Charlotte were ringside for the match. Dana Brooke started off in control of the match and beatdown Sasha in the corner. Charlotte was yelling out orders to Dana Brooke from beside the ring. Sasha fought back and hit the Double Knees for a two count. Banks then rolled up Dana Brooke for an easy victory. Corey Graves tried to claim that Sasha cheated by grabbing the tights.
After the match, Charlotte grabbed a microphone and scolded Dana Brooke. Charlotte called Dana a disgrace and stated that she doesn’t deserve to be by her side. Charlotte said that she is finally get rid of Dana Brooke. Dana then attacked Charlotte and beat her down in the ring. Charlotte rolled out of the ring but Dana followed her and beat her down some more. The crowd then started to chant “Dana” as Charlotte retreated backstage.
Winner: Sasha Banks
Akira Tozawa & TJ Perkins vs Brian Kendrick & Tony Nese
Tozawa knocked Kendrick out of the ring. Tony Nese went to check on his tag team partner but was interrupted by Perkins who hit him with a Hurricanrana outside the ring. Raw went to a commercial break with Tozawa and Perkins in control of the match. When Raw returned, Kendrick had Tozawa in a Chinlock and Neville was shown watching the match backstage. Tozawa went to tag in Perkins but Kendrick dragged TJ off the ring apron. Nese then went for a cover in the ring but Tozawa kicked out at two. Tozawa finally tagged in Perkins and he planted Nese with a springboard DDT but Kendrick broke up the pinfall. Tozawa hit Perkins off the ring apron. Tony Nese then shoved Tozawa into Perkins and Tozawa fell out of the ring. Nese then rolled up Perkins and grabbed his tights. The referee didn’t notice and Kendrick and Perkins picked up the victory.
Winners: Brian Kendrick & Tony Nese
Reaction: The first hour of Raw was good. Paul Heyman cut a great promo to kick off the show. The most surprising moment of the night was that the crowd actually chanted “Dana!” after she attacked Charlotte. Dana Brooke has struggled mightily on the main roster. Many of her matches have contained several botches. Having said that, I’m glad that she got that reaction simply because the Women’s division on Raw is incredibly thin. Bayley, Sasha Banks and Charlotte are the only ones that get any reaction from the crowd. Nia Jax should be in that conversation but the fact is that she has just not connected with the WWE Universe in any capacity. It could just be a one night thing, but Dana Brooke did get a reaction from the crowd. Hopefully she continues to improve in the ring and is able to provide the Women’s division on Raw another viable talent. There has been zero evidence on the main roster that she can provide that, but hey at least the crowd responded to her tonight.
Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe vs Sami Zayn & Chris Jericho
Owens cut a promo in the ring before the match. He had a spotlight on him and the crowd started to chant “Y2J”. Owens showed footage from last month where attacked Jericho at the Festival of Friendship. Owens claimed that Jericho never considered him his best friend either. Owens said that Jericho was just trying to get close to his Universal Championship. Owens claimed that he simply stabbed Jericho in the back before Jericho turned on him. Owens bragged about outsmarting Chris Jericho and said that Goldberg wouldn’t have won at Fastlane if it weren’t for Jericho interfering. Owens said that who needs best friends when you’ve got a destroyer and Samoa Joe came down to the ring.
Jericho and Samoa Joe started off the match. Jericho connected with a Dropkick off the second rope for a one count. Sami Zayn was then tagged in and connected with a couple of punches. Joe fought back and landed a kick to the side of Zayn’s head. Owens was then tagged in and he stomped on Zayn several times and taunted the crowd. Owens then kicked Jericho in the head and he fell off the ring apron. Zayn knocked both Joe and Owens out of the ring and then Moonsaulted onto both of them. Zayn grabbed his knee after the move, but powered through and rolled Joe back in the ring. Owens followed them and targeted Zayn’s knee.
Owens and Joe then beat the hell out of Zayn in the ring. The referee then disqualified Owens and Joe because they wouldn’t stop. Joe applied the Coquina Clutch and Owens stomped on Sami’s chest. Jericho got back in the ring and knocked Joe out of the ring. Jericho then went for the Walls of Jericho but Joe got back in the ring and broke it up. Joe then held up Jericho and Owens punched him in the face several times. Owens then hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb on Jericho.
Winners via DQ: Sami Zayn & Chris Jericho
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley were once again shown backstage. Stephanie McMahon suggested that Foley fire Sami Zayn. Nia Jax interrupted and said that she should be in the Women’s Championship match at Wrestlemania. Stephanie McMahon then made a match between Bayley and Nia Jax later tonight.
The New Day were backstage and were promoting the new Jetson movie with WWE Superstars. The Big Show showed up to talk about the film but was quickly interrupted by Titus O’Neil. Titus shoved the Big Show because he was not a part of the movie.
Reaction: The New Day hold the record for longest tag team title reign. There was a point where I thought that they were one of the most entertaining aspects of Raw. Now, they are consistently thrown in crappy segments to sell ice cream or DVDs. They went from being the best tag team on Raw to a group of salesmen. Woods, Big E and Kingston are incredibly talented. I have no idea why they are in this role, but hopefully after Wrestlemania 33 they will return to performing in the ring.
#1 Contenders Match: Cesaro & Sheamus vs Enzo & Cass
Cesaro hit Big E with a Dropkick right when the match started. Big E shrugged it off and planted Cesaro with a slam. Cesaro fought back and tagged in Sheamus. Cass and Sheamus traded punches in the corner. Cass slammed Sheamus to the mat and tagged in Enzo. When Raw returned, Enzo was predictably stuck in the ring and was getting his ass kicked. Sheamus applied a Chinlock as Enzo desperately reached for a tag. Enzo got out of the Chinlock and Sheamus tagged in Cesaro. Enzo tagged in Big Cass and he leveled Cesaro with a couple of shoulder blocks. Cass then hit a Fall Away Slam and followed it up with a Splash onto Cesaro in the corner. Cesaro tagged in Sheamus but he was hit with a big boot that knocked him out of the ring. Gallows and Anderson then appeared and attacked Sheamus and Big Cass outside the ring. Gallows and Anderson then proceeded to beatdown Cesaro and Enzo. Gallows and Anderson hit the Magic Killer on Cesaro and posed in the ring.
Foley then confronted Gallows and Anderson backstage. Foley announced that Gallows and Anderson will defend the Raw Tag Team Championships against Enzo & Cass and Sheamus & Cesaro at Wrestlemania 33.
Roman Reigns vs Jinder Mahal
Reigns was beating Jinder down in the corner and the gong from The Undertaker’s theme music went off. Jinder used the distraction and kneed Reigns in the face. Jinder went for a pinfall but Reigns kicked out at two. Reigns connected with a Superman Punch and then pulled Jinder up and hit another one for the victory.
After the match, Roman Reigns grabbed a microphone and called out The Undertaker. Shawn Michaels came down to the ring for his annual “do you know what you are getting yourself into?” speech about The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Michaels stated that Reigns was already distracted and that The Undertaker is going to eat him alive at Wrestlemania 33. Reigns said that it should be The Undertaker that should be worried about him. Michaels claimed that he was on Roman’s side. Reigns said that The Undertaker retired Michaels and that Reigns is the guy that is going to retire The Undertaker. Reigns left the ring but was attacked by Braun Strowman on the entrance ramp. The crowd chanted “thank you Strowman” as the segment ended.
Reaction: I enjoyed this segment and the attitude of Roman Reigns during the promo. It will be interesting to see where Braun Strowman fits in here because as of now he isn’t in a match at Wrestlemania. I guess it is possible that he gets added to the Reigns and The Undertaker match if the WWE wants to take some of the stress off of The Undertaker for health reasons. It is also possible that Reigns beats the hell out of Strowman for a couple of weeks and then Braun is in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 33.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Foley and Stephanie McMahon were once again shown backstage. Foley still hadn’t made up his mind about who he will fire tonight. Stephanie McMahon informed Foley that he had one hour to make a decision. If he didn’t fire someone within the hour, Stephanie would make the decision and Foley won’t like who she chooses to fire.
Austin Aries vs Ariya Daivari
Daivari controlled the beginning of the match and launched Aries out of the ring. Aries hit the ring apron on his way down. The match returned to the ring and Daivari leveled Aries with a Clothesline. Aries battled back and connected with a discus elbow for the victory.
Winner: Austin Aries
Big Show vs Titus O’Neil
Big Show hit Titus with three Chokeslams to win the match. It was announced that Big Show will be a part of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania. I guess his rumored match with Shaq will not be happening.
Winner: Big Show
Bayley and Sasha Banks had a conversation backstage. Sasha told Bayley to ignore all the haters. Bayley didn’t know what Sasha was talking about. Sasha Banks described the haters as people that don’t view Bayley as championship material. Sasha then said that Bayley can defeat Nia Jax and then focus on Wrestlemania. Banks and Sasha then shook hands and Sasha walked away. Bayley had a confused look on her face as Raw went to a commercial break.
Chris Jericho was shown backstage icing his neck. Jericho announced that there will be a special edition of the Highlight Reel next week and his guest will be “the real” Kevin Owens. Jericho then called the interviewer Tom Phillips even though it wasn’t him. Jericho then added Mike Rome to the list for not being Tom Phillips.
Bayley vs Nia Jax
Nia controlled the match early and threw Bayley out of the ring. Bayley fought back and Raw went to a commercial break with Nia frustrated outside the ring. When Raw returned, Nia Jax was back in control of the match. Bayley battled back and tied Nia up in the ropes. Bayley connected with a Dropkick to the backside of Nia and she fell out of the ring. Back in the ring, Nia launched Bayley into the turnbuckle. Bayley went for a Crossbody off the second rope but Nia caught her. Bayley escaped and went for a DDT but Nia threw her across the ring. Nia then beatdown Bayley in the corner and the referee disqualified her because Nia wouldn’t stop. Nia then hung Bayley up on the turnbuckle and went for a Splash but the referee got in the way. Nia then dragged Bayley out of the ring and slammed her into the barricade.
Winner via DQ: Bayley
It was announced that Braun Strowman will face Roman Reigns next week on Monday Night Raw.
Stephanie McMahon came down to the ring and the “CM Punk!” chants started immediately. Raw GM Mick Foley then came down to the ring to announce which WWE Superstar he has chosen to be fired. Stephanie asked who it was and Foley stated that at first he couldn’t think of one Superstar that deserved to be fired. Foley then claimed that he had came up with a name and thanked Stephanie McMahon for giving him this oppurtunity to make Raw better. Foley then said the name he came up with was Stephanie McMahon and the crowd erupted into a “yes!” chant. Foley said that Stephanie was the only one on the roster that deserved to go because she doesn’t treat WWE Superstars like jokes rather than human beings.
Foley said he was looking into Stephanie’s eyes and all he sees is a really good liar and a really bad person. Foley accused Stephanie of colluding with her husband Triple H to get what they want in the WWE. Triple H then came down to the ring with a smirk on his face. Triple H called Foley a “fun little nostalgia act”. Triple H said that he worked so hard on creating the future so that he doesn’t have to look at “pathetic has-beens” like Foley. The crowd started to chant “CM Punk” once again. Foley said that the Raw Superstars envy him because he doesn’t have to pretend to like Triple H. Triple H then threatened to fire Dewey Foley and crush Noelle Foley’s dream of being a WWE Superstar. Triple H then told Foley to get the hell out of the ring and do whatever Stephanie says from now on.
Foley pulled out Mr. Socko and applied the Mandible Claw to Triple H. Stephanie then hit Foley with a low-blow and Mick fell to the mat. Triple H then approached Foley and Seth Rollins’ music hit. Rollins limped down the entrance ramp with his crutch and Foley rolled out of the ring. Rollins dropped the crutch and ran into the ring. Rollins and Triple H traded punches in the ring. Rollins then connected with a kick and knocked Triple H out of the ring. Triple H then got back into the ring with Rollins’ crutch. Triple H hit Rollins in the knee with the crutch and the crutch bent. Triple H then applied a Knee Bar hold to Rollins and Seth screamed in agony. Raw went off the air after Triple H hit him in the knee one more time with the crutch.
https://twitter.com/WWE/status/841487806530707457
Reaction: It looks like the Triple H and Rollins match is back on at Wrestlemana 33. That is a good thing because that is one of the only matches on the card that I’m really looking forward to. I’m assuming that Mick Foley is also done as Raw GM after he attacked Triple H. This could mean the return of The Authority with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe being the ones that do Triple H’s dirty work. I find it odd that the WWE is making Nia Jax look like a monster, yet she is not a part of the Raw Women’s Championship match at Wrestlemania 33. Overall, Monday Night Raw was decent this week. There is at least things that happened on the show that are worth discussing in the weeks leading up to Wrestlemania.
What did you think of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw? Let us know in the comments below.
