Live from Portland, Oregon, RAW started with Stephanie McMahon in the ring. Before she could introduce whoever she would bring out, Becky Lynch came out. Stephanie got her introduction out after Becky came out. She played a video of when Becky confronted Rousey on RAW last week. It was pointed out that Becky was wearing a knee brace tonight. Stephanie pleaded Becky to get a medical evaluation. Remember that Becky drove away from Smackdown last week because she feared she would have to be sidelined again. Stephanie said that she won’t let her compete unless she is cleared by the staff. Lynch started to talk about struggle, saying that Stephanie has never had to struggle in her life. She continued by saying that nobody will stop her. Stephanie says that if Becky doesn’t see the doctor, she will be suspended. Becky didn’t let up, so she was officially suspended.
Once Stephanie turned around, she got attacked by Becky. Becky tried putting on the Disarmer, but couldn’t. While limping she beat up some security guards. Poor Stephanie seems to get put in a submission move by every top women’s wrestler. First Ronda and now Becky. After the break we saw Lynch getting escorted out of the building. She stopped walking, seeing Ronda Rousey. Rousey was angry that Lynch threw away their Wrestlemania main event. Personally I actually really enjoyed this segment. They are making it obvious that Lynch is a anti-authority, and a go by the beat of her own drum type of character. Rousey’s promo backstage was also very well done.
Liv Morgan w/ Sarah Logan & Ruby Riott vs. Ronda Rousey
The first match of RAW this week was LIv Morgan versus Ronda Rousey. As the bell rang Morgan immediately ran out of the ring. After more tomfoolery, Rousey put in an Armbar to win the match. Right after, Rousey called out anyone else who wanted to fight her.
Sarah Logan w/ Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott vs. Ronda Rousey
Sarah Logan came in, and another match happened. Logan was put in an Armbar, but escaped as her two friends dragged her to the ropes. This fight went through the commercials, but Rousey won with an Armbar eventually. Ruby Riott considered fighting Ronda, but didn’t. Good, because I wouldn’t want to see a third match. It would just get too grating at that point.
Heavy Machinery (Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight) vs. Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik) vs. The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) vs. The B-Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) (WWE RAW Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match)
The next match was a four corner survival match, with the winning team getting a tag team title shot. Otis did a great move where he did the dance move The Worm, and then a standing Elbow Drop. The Revival landed a Shatter Machine to win the match. Backstage we saw a backstage segment between Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. Ryder said that they will end Curt’s multi-year losing streak as a team.
Kurt Angle Tries To Retire
Kurt Angle came to the ring to address his future. He talked about how he has had success over the course of his career, but recently has had trouble. He said that there is one opponent that he can not defeat. “That opponent is father time.” Before he finished what people thought was his retirement speech, Baron Corbin cut him off. After Corbin insulted him, Angle said he could break his ankle in two. Well, he had the chance to last time they fought. Drew McIntyre, someone else who break Angle, came out too. McIntyre said that they will put out Angle for good. They then charged towards the ring, but were distracted by Braun’s music hitting. Braun made the save, making Corbin and McIntyre leave. Man, could you make Angle look any more weak? At one point McIntyre made a pretty good observation, mentioning how Angle wanted to retire but then wanted to fight again only minutes later when Corbin came out. It was announced later that Angle will tag with Stroman.
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Alicia Fox & Nikki Cross (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match)
The next match was scheduled to be Bayley and Sasha Banks versus Alicia Fox and Nikki Cross. As Banks’ music hit before the match, we saw that they got jumped on the ramp. A brawl broke out between the four wrestlers. Even though Banks and Bayley seemed pretty laid out from the attack, when we came back from the break the match was underway. The winning team of this match would be added to the Elimination Chamber match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Fox landed a Scissor Kick for a two count. Bayley won the match with a roll-up, which is lame but whatever.
Jeff Jarrett vs. Elias
Road Dogg introduced Jeff Jarrett. They both sang a song together. After too much singing, Elias finally cut them off. Elias said he turned down the Super Bowl, and went to a city where there isn’t even a football team. Jarrett had heard enough, saying “Don’t sing it, bring it.” Their match started after this. Elias won his match but was attacked by Road Dogg afterwards. The legends made a comeback, and Jarrett hit Elias in the back with a guitar. The guitar did not break. I just didn’t have interest in any of this. Jarrett was a cool Rumble surprise entrant, but what made it cool was that it would most likely just be a one night return. Backstage we saw Dana Brooke apologize to Natalya for costing her their tag match last week. After being ignored, Brooke decided to book a match against Nattie. Cool.
Finn Balor vs. Lio Rush w/ Bobby Lashley
Before Finn Balor’s match, he did an interview where he admitted that an arm of his is still injured from the Kimura that Brock Lesnar put him in last week. When Balor’s opponent, Bobby Lashley came out he and his assistant Lio Rush cut a promo. Lashley claimed he is better than Brock Lesnar. Since Lashley thought Finn should fight people his own size, he’s going to fight Lio Rush tonight. If he entertains Lashley, he could get a Intercontinental Title shot down the line. Lashley attacked Balor before the bell. Lashley was banned from ringside early on. Balor tired for a Coup de Grace but Rush stopped it before it happened. Rush kept Balor at the top rope and did a Huricanrana. Balor landed a Swingblade and then tried for something else but Rush reversed it into a roll-up. Rush tried for a Frogsplash but Balor dodged. He was positioned up and given the Coup de Grace to end the match. Lashley stormed the ring afterwards but Balor escaped.
“A Moment of Bliss” With EC3
Paige made a special appearance right after the match. She told everyone about her upcoming move “Fighting With My Family.” A trailer then played. After the break, Alexa Bliss had another episode of “A Moment of Bliss.” Her guest this week was EC3. Nia Jax and Tamina came out as the interview was just starting. Dean Ambrose also interrupted. Ambrose said that Nia has a huge crush on him. When Ambrose asked who EC3 was he knocked his microphone out of his hand. Dean absolutely went in on EC3, and then got punched in the face. EC3 went the whole segment without talking.
EC3 vs. Dean Ambrose
After the break we saw Ambrose versus EC3. EC3 won the match in short time after reversing a move into a Jackknife Pinfall. That makes it another match that Ambrose has lost. Ambrose’s stock is dropping by the second. People question if Ambrose’s contract expiring in April is true, and personally I think it is. It wasn’t mentioned at all on this show, so I don’t see why it would be a part of a storyline. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Drew McIntyre & Baron Corbin vs. Braun Stroman & Kurt Angle
The main event of the show was Braun Stroman and Kurt Angle versus Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin. Late in the match Angle got a hot tag, giving McIntyre and Corbin German Suplexes. The match was thrown out after Stroman attacked Corbin. Stroman wasn’t the legal competitor. Like, can they even tell this story with honesty? Because illegal members attacking legal members is a huge part of tag team matches. Corbin and McIntyre attacked Angle. They put a steel staircase in the ring and set up for a move, but Stroman came in to end stop them and use the staircase himself. This match being the main event showed how little the show mattered this week. This was a real boring episode where nothing happened besides Becky Lynch being suspended.
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