Last week, Monday Night Raw ended with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H beating Roman Reigns senseless. After getting surgery for a deviated septum, Reigns is likely to be back tonight to get some revenge on The Game. Perhaps the most surprising part of the night was the return of Shane McMahon, who will face The Undertaker at WrestleMania inside Hell in a Cell for control of Monday Night Raw.
Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw features the return of “The Deadman,” The Undertaker, for the first time since he feuded with the Wyatt Family. Tonight also features Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch to determine who will face Charlotte at WrestleMania for the WWE Divas Championship.
Opening Segment
Triple H comes out for his opening promo (a surprise to nobody), and says that everybody is afraid to challenge authority. Roman Reigns challenged authority, and it sent him home for the week, so we won’t be seeing him tonight.
Dean Ambrose decides to interrupt, and he and Triple H makes some jokes that are topical to the Oscar’s, which happened last night. After some smack talk both ways, Dean Ambrose challenges Triple H to a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match. Triple H will think about it and have an answer before the end of Monday Night Raw. Since Ambrose came out and talked some smack, Triple H set him up in a match against Alberto Del Rio later on tonight.
Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks – #1 Contenders Match
Charlotte, the current WWE Divas Champion is sitting ringside with her father, Ric Flair (Did you know they are related?), to scout her opponent for WrestleMania.
Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks scout each other perfectly at every point, leading to several counters. After hitting a sunset flip powerbomb, all four shoulders were down, leading to a draw (remember this happening with Samoa Joe and Sami Zayn in NXT?). The fans chant what a lot of us are thinking, “Triple Threat.” Result: Draw
Backstage Segment
Bray Wyatt interrupts, explaining that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results (If anyone reading has played Far Cry 3, it is reminiscent of Vaas’s monologue.). According to him, either he’s insane, or his mind is key to saving the world.
Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz
Before the match starts, we get a replay of the Raw Pre-Show last week, where Dolph Ziggler said that The Miz has done nothing to prove himself, or to deserve being on the WrestleMania card. Ziggler said that The Miz doesn’t even deserve to be a WWE Superstar (he totally does).
After some missed superkicks and wrong turns, the Miz rolls up Dolph Ziggler for the win. Winner: The Miz
Dolph Ziggler will be on SportsCenter tomorrow night on ESPN, as the guest of former WWE employee Jonathan Coachman.
In-ring Segment
Last week, Stephanie McMahon was awarded with the first ever Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award, but she was interrupted by the returning Shane McMahon. Tonight, Stephanie McMahon is in the ring to give her acceptance speech that she didn’t get to give last week.
The fans start chanting for Shane McMahon, and Stephanie has had enough. She knocks over the table that was holding the award, and goes on a rant about how much she hates her brother, and how the WWE Universe should bow down to the Authority.
Lucha Dragons vs. Sheamus & Rusev (w/Alberto Del Rio & King Barrett)
Sin Cara has gotten some awesome new ring attire, with a very simple black and silver color scheme. This is not the first time the Lucha Dragons and the League of Nations have faced off, and there is just no excitement behind it. Along with the fact that it is boring on its own, it diminishes the United States Championship title reign of Kalisto, by giving it no buildup for WrestleMania so far. As soon as John Cena dropped the US title, WWE seems to have stopped caring about it.
Rusev hits Kalisto with a superkick for the win. Winners: Rusev & Sheamus
After the match, Alberto Del Rio hits Kalisto with the double foot stomp from the top rope, signifying what might happen later tonight against Dean Ambrose.
Backstage Segment
Natalya shamelessly promotes Subway and it’s terrible.
Ryback vs. Adam Rose (w/Social Outcasts)
Recently, Ryback turned heel for whatever reason, and Adam Rose is part of the third most entertaining team on the roster (second to Y2AJ and The New Day). Hopefully Rose will build some momentum for the Social Outcasts.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. After punching Adam Rose on the ground way too many times, Ryback hits the Shell Shocked for the win. Winner: Ryback
The New Day vs. Y2AJ (Chris Jericho & AJ Styles)
This match features some of the best talent that WWE has to offer right now, and it’s a match that is worthy of a spot on the WrestleMania card. Hopefully this feud will continue, instead of the slightly hinted feud between the New Day and the League of Nations. Y2AJ teamed up with Mark Henry to take on the New Day on Smackdown last Thursday, and hopefully they won’t overdo this match.
After blocking Trouble in Paradise, Chris Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho for the win. Winners: Y2AJ
After the match, Y2AJ challenges the New Day to a Tag Team Championship match next week on Raw.
In-ring Segment
Vince McMahon enters the ring, to hype the Hell in a Cell match between his son Shane and the Undertaker at WrestleMania. After some hyping, he introduces the Undertaker to the ring. After an approximately three minute-long entrance, Undertaker says that Shane’s blood will be in Vince’s hands, and walks back. Vince denounces Shane as his son to end the promo. Man, this is stupid.
Jey Uso (w/Jimmy Uso) vs. Bubba Ray Dudley (w/D-Von Dudley)
A few weeks ago on Monday Night Raw, the Dudley Boys turned on the Usos after winning a tables match together against the New Day. Since then, these two teams have been feuding, including a win for D-Von Dudley over Jimmy Uso last week.
D-Von gets a table and throws it at Jimmy Uso to provide a distraction, and Bubba Ray takes advantage to hit Jey with the Bubba Bomb for the win. Winner: Bubba Ray Dudley
Golden Truth Update
There’s still hope.
Kevin Owens vs. The Big Show
Last week on Smackdown, Kevin Owens defeated the Big Show by count out, and Big Show looks to redeem himself for that loss.
After using the top rope to low-blow Kevin Owens, The Big Show wins the same way Owens won on Smackdown. Winner (via count-out): The Big Show
Backstage Segment
Brie Bella is being interviewed by Renee Young, and for some reason Lana interrupts and insults Brie about her marriage with Daniel Bryan. This might be hinting at a feud where Lana steps in the ring, but there’s nothing certain as of now.
Brie Bella vs. Naomi (w/Tamina)
I assume the reason why this match is happening is to expand on what happened backstage between Brie Bella and Lana.
Naomi locks in… something to win. Winner: Naomi
After the match, Lana comes out and laughs at Brie Bella after her loss.
Backstage Segment
Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks are debating who would have won the match if it wasn’t a draw. Charlotte interrupts, and announces that Banks and Lynch will have a rematch to determine the #1 Contender for Charlotte’s Divas Championship.
Dean Ambrose vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/League of Nations)
I can’t wait for Monday Night Raw to feature the League of Nations less than twice in one night. Once is too much, but twice in one night is overkill.
During the match, Triple H comes down to the ring, and the League of Nations attacks Dean Ambrose to end the match. Winner (via disqualification): Dean Ambrose
After the match, Triple H hits Dean Ambrose with the Pedigree and grants him his rematch. Ambrose thanks Triple H while half-unconscious, and Triple H comes back to the ring and beats Ambrose senseless (not like Ambrose had much sense to begin with) to end Monday Night Raw.
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