Tonight, Monday Night Raw continues to head full speed into WrestleMania with a packed show. From a clash between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, to John Cena challenging the Undertaker, to the Ultimate Deletion, this week’s episode has a little bit of everything.
Roman Reigns Shows Up During Suspension
Kurt Angle kicks off Monday Night Raw like always; he lays out what he has planned for the night. He says that Roman Reigns is still suspended from last week, but Reigns shows up anyway. Local authorities arrest him for trespassing and the second he is handcuffed, Brock Lesnar finally shows up to Raw. Lesnar assaults the defenseless Reigns with a chair, an arsenal of German suplexes, and an F-5. Lesnar would leave and come back a couple times just for good measure.
Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka
Last week, Alexa Bliss talked trash to the undefeated Asuka since the latter is challenging Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania instead of Bliss’ Raw Women’s Championship. Regardless, they face each other tonight to see if the champ can break Asuka’s undefeated streak.
After barely escaping an ankle lock, Bliss willingly takes a count-out loss. She immediately gets attacked by Nia Jax, who chases her all over ringside until Bliss can make it to the back. Winner (via count-out): Asuka
Raw Women’s Championship WrestleMania Match Announced
After this match, Bliss complains about Jax to Kurt Angle, but Angle is not in the mood for it. He announces that at WrestleMania, she will have to deal with Jax by defending her title against her.
Braun Strowman vs. Cesaro (w/Sheamus)
Last week, Braun Strowman won a #1 Contender’s Tag Team Battle Royal by himself. Before he chooses a partner to challenge The Bar for the Raw Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania, he takes on Cesaro tonight.
Despite Sheamus being at ringside, Strowman bulldozes the Swiss Cyborg to score a dominant victory. Winner: Braun Strowman
The Revival vs. Titus Worldwide (w/Dana Brooke)
Coming back from the commercial break, this match is on out of nowhere. After not too long, The Revival picks up a win with the Shatter Machine. After the match, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder vow to become the first tag team to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Winners: The Revival
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville (w/Paige)
Before the match begins, Sasha Banks tries to ease the tension with Bayley. Bayley has been distant with the Boss after the Raw Women’s Championship Elimination Chamber match and she asks why Banks was so happy with attacking her. Just as she’s about to get an answer, Absolution interrupts to start the match.
While Banks is fighting Mandy Rose in the corner (both not legal), Bayley goes for the backslide on Sonya Deville for what seems to be a five count. The referee is distracted by Banks and Rose, so the pin never gets counted correctly. While Banks and Bayley are arguing, Deville knocks them into each other and kicks Bayley’s temple to secure the win. Winners: Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
John Cena Awaits The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Response
Over the past few weeks, John Cena has tried everything imaginable to get a spot at WrestleMania. His most recent effort has been to challenge the Undertaker and now he expects a response. Instead, the Undertaker doesn’t give him anything and Kane shows up. Cena asks Kane is he knows the Undertaker’s answer, which ends up being a chokeslam.
The Balor Club vs. The Miz & The Miztourage
Before defending his Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, The Miz leads his trio against Finn Balor’s in a first-ever match.
Balor kicks out of a roll-up, sending The Miz into Curtis Axel on the apron, then he picks up the win with a roll-up of his own. After the match, Seth Rollins helps save Balor from getting a 3-on-1 beatdown. Winners: The Balor Club
The Ultimate Deletion
If you’re familiar with Matt Hardy’s run in Impact Wrestling, you’ll know exactly what to expect. If you’re not, here is the gist of what happened between Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt:
The Ultimate Deletion is a Falls Count Anywhere Match that takes place at the Hardy Compound (Hardy’s house). There are actual wrestling rings involved, but most of the action takes place on the property. This ranges from “Dilapidated City” to the “Lake of Reincarnation.”
This “match” can only be fully understood by watching it, but the finish comes when Wyatt is distracted by Hardy’s drone, Vanguard 1. He then tries to find Hardy, only to find Hardy’s ally Senor Benjamin, who along with Jeff Hardy, distracts him enough to allow for a Twist of Fate and the win. After the match, Wyatt is knocked into the Lake of Reincarnation and the show closes. Winner: Matt Hardy
