WWE RAW Live Coverage - April 26th, 2021
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The All Mighty WWE Champion Bobby Lashley returns to Raw to address Drew McIntyre
Tonight, The All Mighty Bobby Lashley WWE Champion returns to Raw to address Drew McIntyre. Plus, The Scottish Superstar & Braun Strowman seek retribution of their own against MACE & T-BAR and a pair of hard-hitting Six-Person Tag Team matchup.
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– Tonight’s WWE RAW opens up with a video package on last week’s tag team match that saw T-BAR and MACE defeat Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman by DQ.
– We’re live on the USA Network from the WWE ThunderDome at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida as Adnan Virk welcomes us to RAW. He’s joined at ringside by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
2-on-1 Handicap Match: T-BAR and MACE vs. Braun Strowman
We go right to the ring and out first comes the team of T-BAR and MACE. They are not wearing the masks but they do have new face paint on. We get pre-recorded backstage promos from the former RETRIBUTION members as they head to the ring. We see Drew McIntyre backstage warming up now. Braun Strowman approaches and they argue over last week with Braun taking credit for saving Drew’s career last week. Braun tells Drew to follow his lead, kid. Drew says Braun sometimes speaks before he thinks. They continue arguing and Braun says he’s going out there to beat MACE and T-BAR by himself to prove a point. Braun heads to the ring.
Mike Rome starts introductions but Braun snatches the mic and says no, this is no longer a tag team match, it’s a 2-on-1 Handicap Match, something Drew couldn’t get done last week but he will right now. The bell rings and Braun takes T-BAR to the corner, beating him down. T-BAR fights back but Braun beats him around the ring. Braun with big splashes in the corner for a pop.
MACE decks Braun from behind and beats him into the corner. Braun misses a clothesline and gets dropped by a heel kick from MACE. MACE unloads while Braun is down now. T-BAR tags back in and keeps the assault going in their corner. MACE with another quick tag and more beatdown in their corner. Braun kicks MACE away as they keep fighting. T-BAR tags in but Braun fights them both off. T-BAR with boots to the face in the corner as fans boo. The double team continues now as the referee warns them and calls for the disqualification.
Winner by DQ: Braun Strowman
– After the bell, the attack continues until the music hits and out comes McIntyre. He meets T-BAR at ringside and drops him. Drew enters the ring and unloads on MACE now. Braun joins in as T-BAR comes back in. Drew clotheslines MACE to the floor while Braun knocks T-BAR to the floor. Drew and Braun stand tall together but there’s still some tension as we go to commercial.
Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre vs. T-BAR and MACE
Back from the break and the tag team match is on. Drew McIntyre goes at it with T-BAR. T-BAR blocks a Futureshock DDT and delivers an elbow to the head. Drew with big strikes and a slap. T-BAR rocks him with a big right but Drew drops him for a 2 count with a Glasgow Kiss.
MACE tags in and they double team Drew in the corner. Drew fights back but MACE slams him for a 2 count as Braun Strowman looks on from the apron. MACE grounds Drew now. Drew fights up but MACE puts him back down. More back and forth between Drew and MACE now. Drew tosses MACE. T-BAR and Braun tag in. Braun levels him with a shoulder, then a big splash in the corner. Braun charges again but T-BAR moves and he hits hard.
Drew tags in and knocks MACE off the apron, then drops T-BAR with a neckbreaker for a pop. Drew with a top rope clothesline and a kip up for a pop. Drew puts T-BAR on his shoulders but he fights off. T-BAR does the same but Drew fights off and drops him with a Futureshock DDT. MACE breaks it up at 2.
Braun gets involved and beats MACE into the corner, then sends him to the floor. Braun goes outside and levels MACE as Drew sends T-BAR into the announce table face-first. Braun and Drew end up colliding at ringside. Drew tries to make it back in but he misses the 10 count.
Winners by Count Out: T-BAR and MACE
– After the match, T-BAR and MACE celebrate on the ramp. Braun enters the ring and hits Drew with the running powerslam. Braun yells at Drew about trying to help him for Drew to repay him by hitting him at ringside. Braun’s music hits as he marches up the ramp, yelling back at Drew.
– Still to come, Damian Priest and The New Day will face Elias, Jaxson Ryker and The Miz. Back to commercial.
– Drew McIntyre approaches Adam Pearce backstage. He wants Braun Strowman in a match tonight. Pearce says he can do that and Drew immediately walks off.
– We go back to the ring for another must see edition of MizTV with The Miz and John Morrison. Elias and Jaxson Ryker are in the ring with them.
Miz brags about the success of his WWE 24 documentary and mentions how a new episode of “Miz & Mrs.” will air after RAW tonight. Miz tells Elias to introduce he and Ryker. Morrison introduces himself. Miz says they are all here in honor of Bad Bunny selling out his 2022 tour in minutes. Morrison congratulates Bunny. Miz takes full credit for the tour selling out because of their star power rubbing off on him at WrestleMania 37. They go on and want to give Bunny something. They begin an unplugged version of their “HEY HEY HO HO” song. Miz, Morrison and Ryker are rapping, and they’re all singing the chorus. The lights go out and here comes Damian Priest with his fiery entrance. Priest takes the mic and ends up interrupting The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
They come out as Priest says they have a surprise. Woods is carrying a large guitar case down to the ring with them. The surprise is… tomatoes. The guitar case is full of tomatoes. Priest and The New Day start unloading on Elias, Ryker, Miz and Morrison with tomatoes, getting the best of them as we go to commercial.
Elias, Jaxson Ryker and The Miz vs. Damian Priest and The New Day
Back from the break and we see what just happened with the tomatoes. Xavier Woods starts the match off with Elias. Elias turns it around in the corner and delivers chops as John Morrison cheers his team on. Jaxson Ryker tags in and takes over. Elias with a cheap shot from the apron while the referee is distracted.
Ryker slams Woods for a 1 count. Ryker keeps control and in comes Elias again. Elias drops Woods with an uppercut in the middle of the ring. Woods fucks clotheslines and levels Elias with a rolling elbow for a 2 count. Elias pounds on Woods some more. The Miz tags in but Woods drops him. Kofi Kingston tags in and they double team Miz. Kofi with a 2 count.
Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman is confirmed for later. Woods tags back in as the quick double team offense continues on Miz. Kofi tags back in and springboards in, taking Miz down for a 2 count. Damian Priest wants in and he gets the tag. Miz retreats to his corner and wants no part of Priest. Ryker tags in and talks some trash. They lock up and go at it. Priest ends up sweeping the leg, then again after catching a kick. Ryker tags in Elias but Priest drops him. Miz runs in but Priest gets the best of him. Kofi runs in and sends Elias to the floor, next to Miz. Ryker stumbles over to check on them. Priest dances in the ring with The New Day as the others regroup at ringside.
Kofi brings Elias back in and goes to the top. Kofi with a big crossbody for 2 on Elias. Miz and Elias double team Kofi in the corner now. Miz runs into a kick. Kofi goes to the top but Elias pulls him to the floor on the outside while Ryker has the referee distracted. Miz runs around the ring and levels Kofi with a big kick at ringside. The two teams have words as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Miz levels Kofi with a kick for 2. Miz mounts Kofi with more offense as fans boo. Morrison rubs tomatoes in Kofi’s face while the referee is distracted. Miz and Elias double team Kofi. Elias is legal now as he works Kofi over some more. Elias with the big modified suplex for a close 2 count. The heels continue to punish Kofi and taunt his partners. Ryker comes in and levels Kofi for a 2 count. Ryker grounds Kofi and he starts to fade now.
Kofi reaches for a tag as fans rally but Ryker decks him. Ryker with a slingshot suplex as Elias tags in and follows up with a running forearm on Kofi for a close 2 count. Kofi fights back but Elias keeps swinging. Kofi mounts offense but Elias rams him back into their corner. Miz tags back in and stomps away on Kofi. Elias with more cheap shots while Kofi is down as fans boo Miz and his partners. Miz with It Kicks now while Kofi is on his knees. Kofi ducks the roundhouse and catches Miz with SOS for a big pop.
Kofi and Miz are both down now as their partners reach. Priest and Elias tag in. Priest with a jumping back elbow. Priest decks Ryker as he runs in. Priest leaps into the corner with a stage dive on Elias,then Ryker but Ryker catches him. Priest ends up keeping control and hitting a top rope spin kick to Elias but Miz breaks the pin with a running boot. Priest with Broken Arrow to Miz. Woods comes off the top but Elias hits him with the Simple Knee for a close 2 count.
Ryker tags in but Woods fights he and Elias off. Ryker goes for a tilt-a-whirl slam but Woods blocks it. Priest runs in and holds him with Elias as Kofi goes to the top for a missile dropkick but he still kicks out at 2. Morrison with an assist but it backfires. Priest ends up leaping out of the ring to Miz and Morrison on the floor. Ryker fights Woods off from behind. Kofi also gets involved but goes back to the floor, which leads to Woods rolling Ryker up for the pin to win.
Winners: The New Day and Damian Priest
– After the match, Priest and The New Day begin celebrating as the music hits and we go to replays. The celebration continues on the stage as we see the heels recovering at ringside.
– We see SmackDown official Sonya Deville waking backstage. She walks to an arena back door and opens it, to let Charlotte Flair in. Fans in the arena are booing at the sight of the suspended RAW Superstar. Deville and Flair walk together as we go back to commercial.
– Back from the break and SmackDown official Sonya Deville is in the ring with a mic. She introduces Charlotte Flair and out she comes. The announcers talk about how Flair was “suspended indefinitely” and fined $100,000 for attacking referee Eddie Orengo last week.
Orengo is also in the ring. Deville introduces him and says he was the referee for the match that unfortunately ended in a bad way last week. We get a video package of replays and fans boo. Deville talks about Flair being suspended indefinitely and the fine. She says Adam Pearce’s decision was a bit rushed, and she doesn’t think Flair got a chance to give her side of the story. Deville tells Flair to give it now.
Flair thanks Deville and admits the error of her ways. She apologizes to WWE management and the WWE Universe, but most importantly Orengo, for her childish ways. Flair says she doesn’t understand what happened, instinct just took over but she’s here tonight to take the high road, admit her wrongs. She addresses Orengo and apologizes for putting hands on him, then apologizes for man-handling him last week. Eddie apologizes and says he didn’t see RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley interfere, and if he did Flair would’ve won.
Deville says Flair has already paid her fine, and she’s happy to announce that the suspension has been lifted. Fans boo louder. Deville announces that Flair will also return to action tonight, and Orengo will be the referee of the match. Flair interrupts and points to how Eddie just admitted that last week was his mistake. Flair ends up demanding an apology from Orengo, and he does but he’s not thrilled. Flair and Deville exit the ring together as Flair’s music hits. They smirk while strutting up the ramp. Orengo looks concerned in the ring.
Flair and Deville stop backstage at Pearce in the Gorilla Position. Pearce is upset and asks what the hell was that just now. Deville says it was a last minute thing, she tried to find him. She apologizes. Pearce says he might accept that apology if she actually believed it. Pearce storms off as Flair and Deville look on.
– We go back to the ring and out comes WWE United States Champion Sheamus for a title defense via Open Challenge. Sheamus hits the ring as the pyro goes off and we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Adam Pearce is on the phone with someone talking about Sonya Deville having too much power in the back. Braun Strowman walks in and points out how Randy Orton lost the #1 contender’s Triple Threat a few weeks ago, which Drew McIntyre won, not Braun. Braun wants to be put into the WWE Title match at WrestleMania Backlash if he beats Drew tonight. Braun asks if Pearce needs to check with Sonya Deville first. Pearce ends up making the chance official and Braun storms off. We go back to the ring and Sheamus has a mic. We see a video from last week where Humberto Carrillo came out to answer an Open Challenge but Sheamus just destroyed him without having a match.
Sheamus says that beatdown is proof that The Celtic Warrior is back and better than ever. Sheamus goes on about being dominant and what he proved against Carrillo last week. Sheamus says he’s doing it again tonight, so if you’d like a front row seat at your own funeral, come out but realize this… the title will not be on the line. Fans boo. The music hits and out comes Carrillo again.
Sheamus asks Carrillo if he’s serious or out of his mind. Are you loco, ése? Sheamus says Carrillo had his opportunity and he’s not going to fight him… Sheamus attacks out of nowhere and beats Carrillo down as fans boo. Sheamus talks some trash on the mic but Carrillo attacks and ends up sending him to the floor, then dropkicking him off the apron, twice. Carrillo nails a suicide dive to send Sheamus over the announce table as fans cheer him on. Sheamus is furious and dazed as he tries to recover. Carrillo marches up the ramp as Sheamus throws a fit at ringside.
– Kevin Patrick stops MVP and WWE Champion Bobby Lashley backstage, asking about the possible WrestleMania Backlash change. MVP interrupts and says Patrick likes dealing in hypotheticals as nothing has been changed yet. MVP goes on and says he and Lashley have some grievances to go public with tonight. He taunts Patrick some more before they walk off together. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is with Sarah Schreiber. Schreiber asks about Charlotte Flair’s return. Rhea says Flair’s apologies never mean anything but she was glad to see her get fined $100,000. She’s glad Flair is back and hopes one day their paths cross, but shes focused on tonight’s six-woman match. While Flair is off playing with the referees, she will be busy remaining the RAW Women’s Champion. Ripley walks off.
– We go back to the ring and out comes WWE Champion Bobby Lashley with MVP. They show highlights of Lashley’s WrestleMania 37 win over Drew McIntyre.
Lashley stands tall in the ring and the pyro goes off as more fans boo. The announcers hype the title match at WrestleMania Backlash. Lashley recalls the big WrestleMania win over Drew and how he commanded respect after the match. The respect he received from the crowd after not having them for a year felt great. Lashley goes on and compares Drew to a piece of gum on the bottom of his shoe. He mentions how he will defeat Drew again at Backlash, but now it might be a Triple Threat?
MVP speaks up and wonders why WWE would treat their champion like this. Any decision must be ran by them first or it’s intentionally disrespectful. MVP says it’s disgusting, not fair and unacceptable that Lashley would be able to lose the WWE Title without getting beat at WrestleMania Backlash. Lashley says Drew and Braun both know he can take them in a one-on-one contest at any time. Lashley says he’s going to come out during tonight’s main event for a closer look on his investment. Lashley says after chasing the WWE Title for 16 years, he will leave Backlash with the title. MVP says Lashley has spoken and that’s it for their promo. The music hits and they leave together.
– We see how Riddle defeated Randy Orton in a big upset last week. Riddle is riding around Kevin Patrick backstage on his scooter. Riddle feels awesome over last week’s win, like he’s riding in the clouds. Riddle says Orton is a legend, an Apex Predator, which Riddle still doesn’t know what is. Riddle goes on about Orton until Orton appears. Orton doesn’t know what planet Riddle is from… Orton says they have nothing in common. Riddle keeps interrupting and Orton doesn’t like it. Orton admits he underestimated Riddle last week and planned to teach him a lesson in respect, but Riddle ended up sort of earning Orton’s respect. Orton brings up how Riddle suggested “RK-Bro” would be their tag team name if they ever teamed up. Orton hates to admit it but the name is kind of catchy. Orton asks Riddle what he thinks about giving it a try tonight. Riddle has so many ideas, including matching snake skin Speedos. Orton hushes him, says let’s first see how things go tonight, and then maybe we will have a chat. Orton walks off and Riddle is excited. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see recent happenings with Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, and how a distraction allowed Lana and Naomi to pin the champs last year in a non-title match. We see Baszler, Jax and Reginald talking now. Jax rants about Charlotte Flair’s return and says she’s a spoiled brat that WWE enables. Baszler interrupts and says no more distractions, no Flair, Brooke or Rose, even Reginald. Jax and Reginald scoff but Baszler points out how Reginald’s distraction led to Jax losing. Jax says it was Baszler’s fault. Baszler storms off by herself after telling them again – no more distractions! A crew members delivers flowers to Jax. She thinks they’re from Reginald but Angel Garza walks up and they’re from him. Reginald isn’t impressed. Garza sent them to Jax because she is beautiful. He kisses her hand and wishes her good luck, then walks off. Jax and Reginald keep walking. Jax is walking by Rose and Brooke when she nails Rose with the flowers, telling her to put these in water, b---h! They keep walking as Rose and Brooke seethe.
– MVP walks up on Braun Strowman and wants to talk but they have some words. MVP goes on about how WWE Champion Bobby Lashley isn’t happy about Braun trying to get into the title match at WrestleMania Backlash. Strowman interrupts and says Lashley can bring his own messages to Strowman, but MVP can tell him that there’s nothing they can do to stop Braun from winning the WWE Title at Backlash after he beats Drew McIntyre tonight. Braun taunts MVP and walks off.
Randy Orton and Riddle vs. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander
We go back to the ring and out first comes Randy Orton. Out next comes Riddle as a “Bro!” chant starts up. Riddle enters the ring and kicks his flip-flops as more pyro goes off. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and here comes Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander. Riddle starts off with Cedric and they go at it. Riddle with a big takedown and a gutwrench throw. Riddle with the Bro-mission from behind. Cedric ends up taking Riddle and his leg out. Shelton tags in to mount Riddle with strikes. Shelton with a big counter to the knee, making Riddle clutch the leg and scream out.
Shelton focuses on Riddle’s knee now, as does Cedric when he tags back in. Cedric fights Riddle and mounts him with more offense to the face. Shelton tags back in and stomps. Cedric ends up nailing a dropkick and taunting Orton as Riddle reaches for a tag. Cedric with a big stomp to the back of the hurt knee. Cedric drags Riddle back to their corner as Riddle yells out and fans boo.
Shelton tags back in and keeps Riddle down by focusing on the leg. Shelton breaks the hold and tags Cedric back in to deliver more offense while Riddle is down. Riddle fights up and levels Cedric with a big knee to the face. Orton an Shelton tags in at the same time. Fans cheer Orton on as he runs wild on Shelton. Orton with a big clothesline out of the corner after Shelton tries to turn it around.
Shelton with a big counter and kick to the face. Orton comes right back with the powerslam in the middle of the ring. Orton drops down and hits the apron as he stalks Shelton, waiting to deliver the RKO.
Cedric comes flying off the top and Riddle alerts him, allowing Orton to drop Cedric in mid-air with the RKO for a big pop. Shelton attacks but Orton sends him to the apron. Orton is going for the draping DDT but Riddle begs to be tagged in. Orton drops Shelton with the draping DDT as he tags in Riddle, who goes to the top and follows up with the Floating Bro on Shelton for the pin to win.
Winners: Team RK-Bro
– After the match, Orton and Riddle stand tall as Riddle’s music hits. We go to replays. Riddle drops down to pose in front of Orton but Orton wants no part of it. Orton exits the ring by himself and looks back at Riddle celebrating to “Bro!” chants.
– We see Alexa Bliss and Lilly backstage at Alexa’s Playground. Back to commercial.
Asuka, Lana and Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
Back from the break and out first comes Asuka. She hits the ring and the pyro goes off. Lana and Naomi are out next together. Out first for the heels are WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler with Reginald. RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is out last.
Asuka starts off with Baszler, taunting each other. Asuka also talks trash to Ripley. Baszler wrestles Asuka to the mat to start. They tangle back up and Ripley refuses to tag in. Baszler wrestles Asuka back down and now Ripley comes in, tossing her. Asuka fights Ripley off and delivers a big knee to the face. Asuka takes it to her corner and in comes Naomi for a running splash. Lana tags in and they double team Ripley with rolling kicks. Lana tries to capitalize but Ripley counters. They tangle with counters and Lana rolls her for 2.
Ripley levels Lana with a huge headbutt to drop her. Ripley with a high suplex for a 2 count on Lana. Ripley beats Lana around the ring and taunts her partners. Ripley with a body scissors now. Lana struggles in the scissors but Ripley keeps working her over. Lana turns it into a 2 count and Ripley keeps pounding on her in the scissors.
Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose come walking down the ramp now. Baszler meets them at the bottom of the ramp and they throw a bucket of water at her. Jax comes walking over but she slips on the water and falls. Brooke and Rose laugh at her from the stage as fans do the same. Reginald tries to help Jax up as she throws a fit on the ground.
Back from the break and Baszler has Lana down, working on her limbs. We see what Brooke and Rose did before the commercial break. Baszler is in the ring working on Lana’s arms. Lana counters a move and delivers a side Russian leg sweep. Asuka tags in and dropkicks Ripley to the floor from the apron. Asuka drops Baszler with a shoulder now. Jax gets leveled off the apron, then Asuka delivers a Hip Attack to Baszler for a 2 count. Asuka unloads with kicks to Baszler’s face now.
Baszler ducks a kick and rolls Asuka for 2. Baszler levels Asuka with a stiff knee to the jaw now. Baszler brings Asuka over and in comes Jax. Jax slams Asuka and hits the elbow drop for a 2 count. Jax splashes Asuka in the corner. Ripley crawls back up to the apron now. Jax with a Samoan Drop to Asuka as she smiles. Asuka gets up and dodges a running splash in the corner. Naomi tags in and she springboards at Jax with a crossbody for 2. Naomi kicks Ripley and Baszler on the apron, then goes back to work trying to get Jax off her feet but she’s still fighting. Naomi with the springboard kick. Naomi uses her knees to slam Jax face-first into the mat for a 2 count as Baszler breaks it up.
Reginald gets on the apron but Naomi swings and misses. Jax drops her from behind. Ripley tags back in and goes to work on Naomi, slamming her face-first but Asuka breaks the pin up. Ripley tosses Asuka to the floor. Naomi counters Ripley and in comes Lana but Ripley doesn’t see it. Ripley counters Naomi and drops her with the Riptide. Ripley turns around to Lana hitting a top rope splash for a close 2 count. Lana with running knees to the back. Ripley catches Lana as Baszler pulls Asuka off the apron to the floor.
Asuka drops Baszler with strikes but Jax runs over and levels Asuka. Lana counters Ripley in the ring for a close 2 count. Ripley keeps control and drops her with Riptide. Jax tags in and delivers the big running leg drop to Lana for the pin to win.
Winners: Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
– After the match, fans boo as the champions stand tall together in the middle of the ring. Reggie joins them. We go to replays. They go to kick Lana from he ring but her partners pull her to safety as the titles are raised in the ring.
– Still to come, Alexa’s Playground. We see Alexa Bliss and Lilly backstage. She tells everyone to come play with them because they’re about to have so much fun. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and announced for RAW Talk are Sonya Deville, Riddle, MVP and WWE Champion Bobby Lashley.
– Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose are backstage laughing at what happened to Nia Jax. Sonya Deville walks up and says they should be ashamed – one for getting involved in a match they weren’t in, and for how they treated the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. Deville and Rose have some words over their history, and Deville threatens to get physical. Deville picks Rose to be Charlotte Flair’s opponent tonight, and that is next she says. Deville walks off.
– We go backstage to Alexa’s Playground now. Alexa Bliss is on her swing and her puppet friend Lilly is on a swing next to her. Bliss talks about how Lilly is her true best friend, the real devil and angel on her shoulders.
Bliss says we too can have our own Lilly. She tells the viewers too look into her eyes, concentrate, think dark thoughts, think twisted thoughts. We all have them, she says. Now repeat after Bliss – Lilly, Lilly, Lilly. Next… Bliss wants you to picture something peaceful. Take a deep breath, inhale, exhale, think about how peaceful it is… the calm is interrupted by Lilly screaming and Bliss laughing. Bliss asks if she got us? That was Lilly’s idea. Bliss goes on and says to be honest, she thinks Lilly is getting a little restless just hanging with Bliss on the playground, so it’s time she went to play with the rest of WWE, but don’t blame Bliss for what happens next.
Bliss stares ahead and says, “Lilly made me do it.” She starts laughing again and swinging in her swing. We get a close-up of Lilly, who also laughs and snarls at the camera. The camera flashes à la The Fiend to end the segment.
Charlotte Flair vs. Mandy Rose
We go back to the ring and out first comes Charlotte Flair as the boos pick up. Flair stops on the ramp and poses as the pyro goes off. Flair smiles and heads to the ring as we see how she attacked referee Eddie Orengo last week. We also see tonight’s segment with Flair, Orengo and Sonya Deville. Flair poses in the middle of the ring now as fans boo her some more. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and out next comes Mandy Rose with Dana Brooke. They hit the ring together and pose as Flair looks on. They lock up and Flair takes control, working on the arm. Rose turns it around and works on Flair’s arm now. Flair gets free and slams Rose to the mat by her hair. Rose kips up for a pop. More back and forth now. Flair levels Rose after ducking a clothesline. Flair uses the bottom rope for a 2 count as Dana runs over and points it out to the referee.
Flair taunts Brooke from the ring now. Rose attacks Flair and dropkicks her. Rose unloads in the corner now, delivering more offense. They end up in the corner. More back and forth for a few minutes. Rose with a missile dropkick from the top but Flair kicks out just in time. Flair ends up mounting offense and almost colliding with Eddie Orengo in the corner but she puts the brakes on. This leads to another close call for Rose. Flair yells at Orengo, apparently accusing him of a slow count.
Flair backs Orengo into the corner and yells at him about the slow count. Rose rolls Flair up from behind for a 2 count. Rose follows up with a big knee strike for 2. Flair catches Rose in the corner, hitting the backbreaker and then sending her face-first into the turnbuckles. Flair follows right up with Natural Selection for the pin to win.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
– After the match, Flair stands tall as her music hits. She has Orengo open the ropes for her as she makes her exit. Brooke checks on Rose.
– Patrick stops Drew McIntyre backstage and asks him about tonight’s main event stipulation for WrestleMania Backlash. Drew brings up Braun Strowman getting handouts and says he’s a monster… a monster complainer. He goes on and says Braun is not going to screw up his title shot at Backlash. Drew says tonight ends one way – with a Claymore. Drew walks off and we go to commercial.
– Back from the break and the announcers plug World Wish Day, which is this Wednesday. Fans are encouraged to support WWE and Make-A-Wish on World Wish Day.
Braun Strowman vs. Drew McIntyre
We go back to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first comes Drew McIntyre. If Braun Strowman wins this match, he will be added to the WrestleMania Backlash WWE Title match to make it a Triple Threat. Drew hits the ring to pose as more fireworks go off. Strowman makes his way out next.
They stare each other down before the bell hits. They lock up and go at it. Strowman shoves Drew off first and taunts him. They go to lock up again and Drew takes control from behind. Braun runs into an elbow in the corner. Drew collides with a big shoulder but Braun just stands there, mocking Drew. Braun ends up leveling Drew with a big shoulder of his own.
Braun talks some trash now. Braun with a forward roll but Drew takes control and kicks his leg out, then drops an elbow, keeping Braun down and focusing on his knee. Drew keeps control but gets sent to the apron. He rocks Braun from the apron and goes to the top but Braun launches him across the ring from up top. Braun rocks Drew over the top rope to the floor. Braun calls for a run around the ring and he exits the ring but he’s distracted by the music of WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. Out comes Lashley with MVP. Braun and Drew watch from ringside as Lashley stops on the stage and raises the WWE Title in the air. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and Braun whips Drew into the corner, putting him back down. MVP and Lashley are watching from their chairs at ringside now. Braun works Drew over in the corner now.
Braun launches Drew across the ring and he hits hard in the turnbuckles. Braun looks down as Drew hurts. Braun goes for the powerslam but Drew slides on his back with a Sleeper hold. Braun rams him into the corner to break it. Braun runs into the turnbuckles as Drew moves. Drew launches Braun over his head with a belly-to-belly and he lands hard for a big pop. Braun blocks a Futureshock DDT and they tangle. Drew drops Braun for another close 2 count.
MVP gets up at ringside and barks for a distraction. Drew charges at Braun for a Claymore Kick but Braun catches him with a big powerbomb for a close 2 count. Braun stalks Drew as he tries to pull himself up. MVP and Lashley are watching closely from their chairs. Drew blocks a big clubbing shot from Braun. Drew drops Strowman with a Glasgow Kiss headbutt. Drew waits for a Claymore Kick as the referee checks on Braun, but he nails a big Spinebuster instead as Braun gets up. Drew covers for a close 2 count.
Drew stomps while Braun is down. Braun blocks a Futureshock DDT and takes Drew to the corner for more big strikes as MVP and Lashley watch. Braun climbs up for a big superplex and he nails it. Drew kicks out at 2. We get another replay of what Graves says was more like a super Brainbuster. Braun clubs Drew back to the mat with a big shot to the chest. Braun charges into the corner and splashes Draw at full speed.
Braun shoves Drew into the opposite corner for the same move but Lashley is on the apron distracting the referee. MVP gets on the other side of the apron to pull Drew out of Braun’s clutches for the running powerslam while Lashley has the referee distracted. Braun swings and Drew dodges, but the punch connects and knocks MVP off the apron for a pop. This leads to Drew waiting to hit Braun with the Claymore now. He has to turn around and knock T-BAR and MACE off the apron as they try to interfere. Drew turns back around to Braun delivering the powerslam for the pin to win and earn the spot at WrestleMania Backlash.
Winner: Braun Strowman
– After the match, Braun’s music hits as he slowly gets back to his feet. The announcers confirm Strowman vs. McIntyre vs. Lashley for WrestleMania Backlash. Lashley is standing on top of the announce table with the WWE Title, looking angry. Braun takes off his shirt and yells out as we go to replays. Braun and Lashley stare each other down now. Drew gets up and meets Braun face-to-face in the middle of the ring. They have some words and point out to Lashley. The three Superstars stare each other down as RAW goes off the air with Lashley holding the WWE Title high above him.
