WWE is officially in the fast lane on the road to WrestleMania, since the Fastlane event is this Sunday. Tonight’s RAW has a lot of work to do, though. There is only one RAW match set as Drew McIntyre will be facing Sheamus. You would have to think that tonight someone will challenge Riddle for the United States title and the RAW tag team belts should also be on the line. We’ll find out when we head into the ThunderDome.
A big announcement kicks off the show; Bobby Lashley will be defending the WWE title at WrestleMania in a match versus Drew McIntyre.
The champ makes his way to the ring with MVP. The Hurt Business would like to reiterate that we have entered the All Mighty Era. Lashley promises to beat McIntyre and then destroy the entire roster.
The Miz and Morrison interrupt. Lashley’s speech inspired Miz to come out and congratulate him. They are all in on the All Might Era. Miz was proud to share the ring with him. Miz feels his rivalry with Lashley is just getting off the ground. Miz wants a WrestleMania match with Lashley; channeling his inner Stone Cold to ask him for it. Miz goes on to make excuses for his loss.
Drew McIntyre has heard enough; cutting Miz off. He wants to offer his congratulations to Lashley, because they both know what it took to win that title. They essentially followed the same path, except Drew won the Royal Rumble and then beat Brock Lesnar. While Lashley cut a deal to have Miz win the belt and then beat him.
Speaking of Miz, he is so thirsty to get into this feud. McIntyre is giving Miz two options. He can attack or he can run for his life. Drew woke up this morning and choose violence. And Miz will be on the receiving end of that decision. McIntyre vows to end the All Mighty Era. MVP has to hold Lashley back, encouraging him to leave the ring.
Miz pipes up again, so Drew shuts him up. Lashley uses this as an opportunity to take out McIntyre. Miz is fine with this, and then picks up the scraps, laying a beating on him.
At the top of the ramp, Sheamus jumps Lashley, beating him on the stage until WWE officials break it up.
Backstage, Sheamus tells Sarah Schreiber that he attacks Lashley because he wants McIntyre at one hundred percent on Sunday. He doesn’t want Drew to have any excuses. Tonight, though, Sheamus is going to do what Drew won’t be able to; beat Bobby Lashley.
Drew McIntyre vs. The Miz w/John Morrison
McIntyre tells the official that he is good to go. The bell rings and Miz is all over Drew. McIntyre fights back, chopping away at Miz in the corner. He chokes Miz on the ropes, dumping him to the floor. McIntyre slams Miz into the barrier before tossing him back into the ring. Morrison grabs Drew heading back into the ring and then tosses his sunglasses at him. McIntyre stomps on them, but Miz uses the distraction to blindside him. McIntyre hits a reverse Alabama Slam and calls for the Claymore. Morrison pulls Miz to safety. The ref tosses Morrison from ringside as we got to commercial.
After the break, Miz connects with a DDT, but only gets a one count on the pin. McIntyre builds momentum with clotheslines and an over head suplex. Miz is tossed to the outside, again, with Drew repeatedly slamming him into the barrier and the ring apron. In the ring, Drew delivers the Future Shock DDT. McIntyre hits the Claymore, but doesn’t go for the pin. He picks Miz up, pointing to the camera and then the Mania sign. McIntyre puts Miz in the Hurt Lock, Lashley’s finisher, and gets Miz to tap.
Winner via submission: Drew McIntyre
Grammy award winner 24/7 champion Bad Bunny is in the house.
Braun Strowman is in the ring, demanding Shane McMahon come out to talk. McMahon is fine talking from the stage. Braun isn’t happy being called stupid. Shane finds this disgusting, as he would never make fun of another man, ever. Braun knows Shane was flat out scared last week and didn’t have the guts to say he wants a match. Braun issues the challenge for him. Shane tells Braun that he doesn’t want any of this. He calls Braun stupid again. Strowman demands an answer. Shane tells him it is on.
R Truth is doing his best Stone Cold cosplay for Stone Cold day, but Mandy Rose tells him that tomorrow is 3/16.
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke vs. Lana and Naomi
Women’s tag team champions, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax, join the commentary desk. Lana hits Mandy with a bulldog and then double knees across the ropes. Lana takes out Brooke with a kick. Rose hits a suplex, when Asuka’s music hits. Shayna goes to take care of her. Instead, Asuka connects with a spin kick. WWE officials have to separate the two.
In the ring, Rose nearly get a pin. Brooke makes a blind tag. Lana hits Rose with a face buster, but Brooke runs in with a spinning neck breaker. She covers Lana and gets the pin.
Winners via pinfall: Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose
Riddle rolls up on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to congratulate them on their tag team title match. Kofi says they will reclaim their place on the mountaintop. Riddle wants them to get matching scooters.
Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander (champions) vs. The New Day (challengers) – RAW Tag Team Championship Match
Heading into the first commercial break, Kofi and Xavier look for dual suicide dives, but Shelton and Cedric counter, tossing them into the announce desk. In the ring, Woods and Alexander trade punches. Woods with a forearm shot, but Cedric answers with a clothesline. Alexander hits a Michinoku driver, but Woods is able to kick out. Benjamin and Kingston tag in. Kofi with a head scissors coming off the turnbuckle. He follows with the SOS, but Shelton kicks out. Kofi wants Trouble in Paradise, but Benjamin ducks it. Kofi gets caught on the top rope and slammed to the mat. Woods breaks up the pin. He then sends Cedric to the floor. Woods follows with a tornado DDT on the outside. Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise. Woods tags in, hitting a elbow drop for the top rope. Kofi tags and hits Daybreak. He covers Benjamin and covers to get the pin.
Winners…and new RAW Tag Team Champions…via pinfall: The New Day
After the match, AJ Styles walks out with Omos. He congratulates them on another title victory, and just in time for WrestleMania. AJ doesn’t have any plans for Mania. Styles has been crossing things off his bucket list, when Omos had an idea. They should be tag team champions. Styles officially challenges them to a title match at WrestleMania. Okay, but what about Fastlane? Kofi has a some questions. Are they even registered as a tag team and can they work together. Woods cuts to the chase, accepting the challenge.
The Miz runs into Damien Priest and Bad Bunny backstage, mentioning how bad he looks since losing the WWE title. Miz isn’t impressed with Bunny’s awards. He never main evented WrestleMania or made a crappy Marine movie. Priest wants a piece of Miz, who just walks out. Damien does catches R Truth trying to sneak up on Bad Bunny. Truth says he has gifts. It’s all Stone Cold merch. Truth really wants the 24/7 title. Bunny respects the business and Truth and gives him the 24/7 title. Several wrestlers chase Truth.
Jaxson Ryker w/Elias vs. Damien Priest w/Bad Bunny
Ryker comes out firing, knocking Priest into the corner. Priest answers with the Broken Arrow and follows with Hit the Lights. He covers Ryker and gets the win.
Winner via pinfall: Damien Priest
After the bell, Elias attacks. He takes Priest down and then grabs his guitar. Bad Bunny is able to grab the guitar and lands some shots. This gives Priest enough time to recover and take out Elias.
Morrison walks down the ramp. Miz slips in the back of the ring, nailing Bunny in the back with the guitar.
Sarah Schreiber tries to get an interview with Bobby Lashley, but MVP takes it over. He vows Sheamus will not be at one hundred percent going into Fastlane after the attack on the champ.
Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman
As Braun enters the ring, Shane bows out. He wants to warm up, getting in some push ups and running the ring steps. Strowman demands Shane gets in the ring. McMahon plays hopscotch. Strowman chases Shane around the ring. He catches Shane trying to slide into the ring. Braun tosses him into the barrier and then runs him over on the floor. The Strowman Express picks up speed, but Shane stops him dead by hitting him with a camera. McMahon kicks Strowman in the ribs and hits him with the camera again. One final shot put Strowman down. Shane climbs to the top turnbuckle and drops on elbow on Braun, putting him through the announce table. McMahon then dumps buckets of green slime on him. What?
No Contest
Alexa Bliss is on the playground, telling Randy Orton that he has to take her out of his life. He will have a chance at Fastlane if he is willing to take it.
Molly Holly is the first member of the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame class.
Asuka vs. Shayna Baszler w/Nia Jax
Baszler isn’t sorry she kicked Asuka’s teeth out a few weeks ago, in fact she enjoyed it. Before the bell, Asuka jumps Baszler, delivering a beating. The ref regains control and rings the bell. Baszler catches Asuka with a knee to the jaw. Asuka fends off Nia Jax with a drop kick from apron, but this allows Baszler to lock in the Kirifuda Clutch. Asuka bridges into a pin and gets the three count.
Winner via pinfall: Asuka
After the match, Baszler looks to kick Asuka in the face, but the champ blocks it. Asuka kicks Shayna face first into the bottom turnbuckle. She then rips the pad off the bottom turnbuckle. Asuka takes out Shayna’s mouth guard and makes her eat the exposed turnbuckle. Asuka looks to kick her into the exposed corner, but the referee intervenes.
Mustafa Ali is in the back, promising to right wrongs when Riddle zooms through on his scooter.
Riddle (champion) vs. Mustafa Ali (challenger) w/RETRIBUTION – United States Championship Match
Riddle with a big chop followed by a suplex. He kicks Ali out of the ring, but is tripped into the announce desk by Ali. The two fight on the apron, with Mustafa delivering a neck breaker to the floor.
After a commercial break, the two are trading blows in the middle of the ring. Riddle is shot into the corner and Ali hits him with a neck breaker. Ali ducks a splash in the corner and hits another neck breaker. Riddle connects with a Pele kick and then a bro-ton. Ali blocks a knee and counters with a kick. Ali counters a roll, but the ref was distracted by T Bar. Riddle kicks out of what should have been a pin and is able to hit the Final Flash knee strike. He covers Ali and gets the pin.
Winner…and still United States Champion…via pinfall: Riddle
Randy Orton is going to take Alexa Bliss on her offer to kick her out of his life at Fastlane.
Drew McIntyre is in the ring and he is still in is ring gear. It has caught his attention that MVP has made some guarantees. He has a guarantees at for Fastlane. He and Sheamus will bring a level of physicality that hasn’t been seen. Drew also wants to see this next match close up.
Sheamus vs. Bobby Lashley w/MVP – Non-Title Match
Lashley picks up Sheamus, driving him into the corner. The referee has to separate the two. Sheamus uses the opportunity to corner Lashley and the official steps in again. Lashley slams Sheamus to the mat. Lashley leap frogs Sheamus and hits a clothesline. Sheamus cuts Lashley down with a chop block. The champ hits a suplex and Sheamus rolls out to the floor. Lashley stares down McIntyre and then knees Sheamus in the face. He slams into the the ring post, but get caught entering the ring. Lashley blocks the Ten Beats, but get clotheslined to the floor. A warning from MVP allows Lashley to catch Sheamus coming off the apron. The All Mighty One spikes him into the floor. MVP steps in to prevent Lashley from getting into it with McIntyre as we go to commercial.
After the break, Lashley elbows Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus dodges a charge and Lashley catches the ring post, falling to the floor. Sheamus rolls him back into the ring and hits a clothesline off the top rope. It only nets a one count. Sheamus sends Lashley over the top rope. He hits the Ten Beats of the Bowery on the apron and follows with the Irish Curse back breaker. He hits a second one. Sheamus locks in a modified cloverleaf. The champ powers out and hits a power slam. Sheamus kicks out. Lashley with a clothesline. Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick and nearly gets put in the Hurt Lock. Lashley hits a flatline, but can’t get the pin. He sets Sheamus on the top turnbuckle and delivers a superplex. Lashley runs into a knee strike, allowing Sheamus to hit White Noise. Bobby stops Sheamus dead in his tracks with a spear. He covers and gets the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Bobby Lashley
After the match, Lashley stares down McIntyre and puts Sheamus in the Hurt Lock. McIntyre enters the ring as Sheamus is released. Drew kicks Lashley in the face with the Claymore. See you next week in the ThunderDome.
Monday Night RAW 3/15/2021
The ThunderDome at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Tonight was the “Go Home” show heading in Fastlane, but RAW was more concerned with WrestleMania than the show this Sunday. The New Day won the tag team titles, only to challenged to a match at WrestleMania. Why not Sunday? It was a great match against the Hurt Business though. Asuka made her return and demolished Shayna Baszler, showing a mean streak that we had not seen before.