Raw Review 03/12/2018

Tonight Roman Reigns will finally get to be face to face with Brock Lesnar, Reigns has had a lot of controversial things to say about Lesnar but what will he have to say tonight? Bayley and Sasha Banks have been at odds as of late but will the feud continue or will they mend their friendship? Braun Strowman silenced Elias last week but will be next in this budding rivalry? What will be next for Ronda Rousey as she is now slated to team up with Kurt Angle to take on Triple H and Stephanie? Finally Matt Hardy challenged Bray Wyatt to the Ultimate Deletion but when will this take place?

Raw is live tonight from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

Raw kicks off with us being welcomed to the show by Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and The Coach.

In Ring Segment: Kurt Angle
Angle says he is so excited and honor to team up with Ronda Rousey this year at WrestleMania. He says he almost feels sorry for Stephanie for what Ronda will do but he isn’t sorry for what he will do to Triple H. Angle then talks about the universal Championship Match and says it will be epic but informs that Brock Lesnar will not be there tonight. Out comes Roman Reigns.
Roman says he wishes he could say he was surprised but he’s not. He says Brock doesn’t respect him or the company or the fans. Reigns tells again how Lesnar didn’t show up tonight or last week and asks Angle what the repercussions are but then says oh wait there won’t be any because he’s Vince’s boy. Reigns says anyone else would be fired or fined if they didn’t show up. Reigns says the real problem is Vince McMahon and informs Vince didn’t even tell him what was going on tonight. He says he busts his ass for Vince and he can be disrespected by Brock Lesnar but not by Vince McMahon. Reigns then goes backstage.
Reigns confronts McMahon and then McMahon says let’s go to my office and go to commercial.
My Opinion:
I love this to start the night. Angle made some good remarks regarding Mania and kept it simple which is good because you don’t wanna use up all your words now. I love the angle with Lesnar because this is really putting Reigns on another level. Reigns

Backstage Segment:
Renee says during the break Reigns and Vince entered the office and things got loud but it seemed to have worked itself out. Renee asks for Reigns to comment but Reigns walks away. Vince then comes out and says Brock Lesnar is not his boy or Paul Heyman’s because he is a man and his own man. Vince says he didn’t want to disrespect Roman but had to remind him of what his cousin The Rock use to say which is know your role and shut your mouth. Vince says Brock is his individual and he probably doesn’t respect wrestling but he cares about competition whether here or the octagon. He says Lesnar does have special privileges and took advantages of them. Vince says Lesnar will be here next week and you have his word on that. Vince says based on what just happened Roman Reigns has been temporarily suspended.

Match 1: Sasha Banks w/ Bayley vs Sonya Deville w/ Paige & Mandy Rose
Sasha comes at Sonya with big forearms but Sonya takes control. Sasha tries a pin but it doesn’t work. Sasha works Sonya to the mat and tries another pin but Sonya kicks out. Sasha sends Sonya to the outside as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Sonya has Sasha in a submission. Sonya then drops Sasha to the mat and tries a pin but Sasha kicks out. Sasha fights back with shots to the midsection but Sonya comes back with a huge kick. Sonya goes back to the chokehold and wraps her legs around Sasha. Sasha picks her up and backs her in the corner and is able to force the break. Sonya then catches her with a kick and follows with a running knee but Sasha kicks out of the pin. Sonya then gets Sasha into the corner and drives her shoulder into Sasha. Sasha is able to get out of the way and Sonya goes into the middle turnbuckle. Sasha is able to catch her with a knee and then hits double knees form the second rope. Sasha goes for the cover but Sonya kicks out, Bayley takes out Mandy Rose as she tries to interfere. Sasha is able to hit the backstabber and gets the Banks Statement locked in and Sonya taps.
***After the match Bayley leaves and Absolution takes out Sasha.
Winner: Sasha Banks
My Opinion:
Not a bad match, Sonya locked really good tonight and she is really starting to come into her own. Sasha fought tough as always and she had the experience factor tonight and it showed. Bayley definitely played her part but leaving at the end won’t sit well with Sasha. I feel like these two are going towards a big-time rivalry and hopefully, as I’ve said we will get a one on one match at WrestleMania and see which one is best.
*** Kid Rock will be inducted into the 2018 WWE Hall of Fame

In Ring Segment: Miz TV
Miz says the Miztourage is not out here with him tonight because they have an opportunity to punch their ticket to WrestleMania in a tag team match tonight. He says his guest tonight are the people who Kurt Angle gives opportunity after opportunity and the men he will beat at WrestleMania. He then welcomes Seth Rollins and then Finn Balor.
Miz says they both seem very comfortable and then tells Rollins he’s in the ring with the man who took away his singles match at Wrestlemania. Miz tells Balor he is a great up and comer but he doesn’t have the accomplishments they have. Rollins asks how stupid he thinks they are. He tells Miz it’s a triple threat match deal with it. Miz then calls Balor the man in bingo halls. He says Balos has one thing, he defeated Seth Rollins to become the first Universal Champion. Miz then says maybe Balor is the one who deserves a one on one spotlight at WrestleMania and says why should Balor have to prove he’s better than Rollins again. Balor asks what makes him think this will work on him. Miz says he made the Intercontinental Championship prestiges, he says everyone acts like he is the bad guy. He tells Rollins to admit he resents Balor. He then tells Balor that Rollins is the man who will stab you in the back. Rollins tells him to shut up and says they don’t need to be fired up they already are fired up. Rollins tells Miz he is gonna take the Intercontinental Championship and Balor doesn’t stand a chance. Balor asks Rollins what happened the last time they had a championship match. Rollins again says he is gonna be the Intercontinental Champion. Balor tells Rollins they don’t need to wait four weeks they can do it right here in Detroit. Balor and Rollins then face off but then turn to Miz. They take out Miz and then Rollins turns his attention to Balor and takes him out.
My Opinion:
This was a pretty good segment, I always love Miz and I think he is awesome on the mic. Rollins and Balor both looked focused and honestly, I have to give the edge to Rollins right now. Balor seems a little too caught up in the lights but Rollins has been there done that and I think e could fair well in this match. As we get closer Miz will continue to try to get an advantage but I think when push comes to shove this will be every man for themselves and it’s gonna be an amazing match.

The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) vs The Miztourage (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas)
Before the match begins The Miztourage goes right after Cesaro and Sheamus. They continue the assault on the champs and send them to the floor. Sheamus and Cesaro get back in the ring and go after The Miztourage. The Revival comes out and they get involved. They help The Miztourage and send Sheamus and Cesaro to the floor. Out comes The Club and they go after the tag champs. Next out is Titus WorldWide and Rhyno and Heath Slater. The teams go after the champs and they have to retreat.
My Opinion:
This was a good segment because the tag division on Raw hasn’t been the best as of late so to throw all the teams out there was a good move. This definitely added excitement and the crowd loved it. I don’t know exactly where they can go with this but they could do a match with all the teams in it because it works. It may not be the traditional match people want but the more guys out there the more they can do and I think the guys on Raw are veteran enough where they could make it work.

In Ring Segment:
Cena claims he has finally found his Road to WrestleMania. He says it’s a different path but he’s brave enough to face the truth. He says the truth is he has had opportunity after opportunity but he didn’t get the job done. He says he has no excuses and no one to blame but himself. He says it’s ever superstars dream to step in this ring and contribute to WrestleMania. He says he is here tonight to tell you he will not contribute to WrestleMania this year. Cena says this doesn’t mean he quits or he is walking away, he will be at WrestleMania but his road is the same as everyone else’s. He says he gets to be the energy at WrestleMania because he’s going as a fan. He tells that the WWE Universe is the best part of WrestleMania. He says he is going excited and fired up. Cena then goes into the crowd and jokes around with the fans starting the popular chant this is awesome and then jokes saying let’s go Roman. He gets back in the ring and says let’s get this chant out of our systems and starts the let’s go, Cena, Cena sucks chants. Cena then says if he does what he isn’t supposed to do does it change his road to WrestleMania. He says, either way, he’ll just buy a ticket and then says I challenge Undertaker to a match at WrestleMania. Cena says he was told the match was impossible but never asked why. He then again challenges Undertaker. Cena says there is one individual keeping this match from happening and it’s The Undertaker. He tells Undertaker to get over his own ego. He says when he fails he puts a smile on his face and gets back to work. He says Taker just buries his head and hides behind his excuses. Cena says he isn’t old or too washed up because if he was he wouldn’t be posting workout videos. He calls Undertaker an egomaniac and then asks the crowd if they want to see Undertaker beat him at WrestleMania. He tells that they want to see it and he wants to see him try it. Cena says he is either going as a fan or going as Undertaker’s opponent. He says the ball is in his court and it’s time to see if he’s still got it. He says if he was Undertaker he would want one more match.
My Opinion:
I love this segment so much! Cena is really making the most of this and I loved his remarks at the end where he just completely called out Taker and took it to a personal level. Cena is the perfect guy for taker to have one last match with and I think everyone wants to see it. I hope Cena turns heel at least for these couple of weeks and makes this a real fight with Undertaker. Taker and Cena are two of the best to ever do it and there’s no better person for Taker to go on one last ride with.

Backstage Segment:
Cesaro and Sheamus tells Angle what happened tonight was uncalled for. They say they don’t feel safe on Raw because management doesn’t support them. They tell Angle they want to be traded right now. They then bring up teams on SmackDown and say they want them all. They tell that they know when they are not wanted. Kurt says he will find them competition in a Raw tag team battle royal tonight where the winner will face them at WrestleMania.

In Ring Segment:
Elias tries to play but then says this is your fault and leaves the ring.

Backstage Segment:
Strowman says last week he dropped a piano on Elias and he’s lucky. He says he doesn’t have a match at WrestleMania but he’s gonna go make his own path of destruction. He says he guarantees someone will get these hands at WrestleMania.

Match 2: Seth Rollins & Finn Balor
The two start with a lock up and Balor is able to work Rollins to the mat. Rollins gets to his feet but Balor keeps control of Rollins arm. Rollins fights back and lands a snap mere followed but a huge kick to the back. Rollins tees off on Balor and continues with huge kicks. Balor is able to work Rollins to the floor and Rollins crashes into the barricade. Balor is in control as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Rollins works the neck of Balor. Balor gets to his feet and creates separation but Rollins knocks him back down to the mat. Rollins goes to the outside and works Balor and gets back in the ring going back to the neck of Balor. Rollins wrenches on chin and head of Balor. Rollins flies off the top rope but misses and then is hit by Balor. Balor hits the sling blade and Balor fires up. Balor lands a knife edge chop in the corner and another to follow. Balor is then hit by a big kick but he comes back with an enziguri. Balor hits an elbow and pins Rollins but it’s not enough to keep him down. Rollins counters Balor and does once more but is hit with a forearm. Rollins fires back and the two trade blows. Balor hits a big kick and then Rollins answers with a jumping enziguri and both men are down. Balor is able to roll up Rollins but he kicks out. Balor hits the sling blade but Rollins lands a huge kick. Rollins goes for the cover but Balor kicks out. Rollins hits a huge forearm and follows with another. Rollins tries once more but misses and Balor catches him with a kick. Balor goes to the top but Rollins is able to knock him off. Rollins meets him up there and looks for a suplex but Balor is able to counter. Rollins continues to fight and hits the suplex. Balor counters Rollins attempt of the Falcon Arrow and turns it into a pin. Balor gets the 1 2 3.
Winner: Finn Balor
My Opinion:
One heck of a match between these two. Rollins and Balor have each other so well scouted and it showed a lot. The counters they had were so impressive and they even lead to the finish of the match. I love the way Balor and Rollins both fight until the end, they’re never get rattled they just keep wrestling. I think when it comes to WrestleMania Miz will be able to keep up for awhile but eventually, the talent these men have as wrestlers may lead to more of a one on one match between the two and I’d love to see more and more of them one on one.

In Ring Segment: Asuka
Charly brings up last night and how Asuka told Charlotte she wants her at WrestleMania. Charly says she thinks everyone assumed she’d face Alexa Bliss but chose Charlotte instead and everyone wants to know why.
Out comes Alexa Bliss. Alexa says Asuka is a fierce competitor. Alexa says Asuka wouldn’t want to dare risk standing in the ring against her at WrestleMania. Mickie adds in that everyone knows that nobody is read for Asuka. Alexa says at the Elimination Chamber she defied the odds and redefined what it meant to be Raw Women’s Champion. Alexa says Asuka knows she couldn’t win so why even try. Alexa says if it’s a fight you know you can’t win it’s a smart strategy. She says she applauds Asuka for choosing the champion of the B show. Asuka says she chose Charlotte because to be the women you have to beat the women. Asuka says she wants to be a champion in WWE. Alexa says Asuka wanted to face the easiest champion to defeat so she chose Charlotte. Asuka says she beat her once and she will do it again right now. Alexa tells her to dream on and says she can face this women and points to the stage. Mickie then cheap shot Asuka. Ickie says she is ready for her today.
My Opinion:
I’m glad Asuka chose to face Charlotte, I think it’s gonna be a much better match for her and if she wins it really does cement her as the best. Alexa is great but it was getting really hard for her to keep this rivalry with Asuka. I think with Charlotte it’s more about the wrestling which makes it much easier to hype up. Plus with Asuka facing her, it gives the other woman on Raw a chance again because no offense to Asuka but it’s kinda hard for anyone else to get anywhere when you have someone with an undefeated streak and is billed to never lose.

Match 3: Asuka vs Mickie James
Mickie works Asuka in the corner and the throws her to the mat. Mickie goes for the cover but Asuka kicks out. Mickie drives her knee into Asuka and then unloads with right hands. Mickie lands a kick and then brings Asuka to her feet. Asuka fires back with strikes and is able to hit Mickie with a rear view. Asuka lands a big kick and Mickie goes to the outside. Asuka meets her and drops Mickie with a huge kick. Asuka brings her into the ring but Mickie goes right back out. Asuka grabs Mickie and bounces her off the ring post. Mickie is able to dodge Asuka and Asuka kicks the ring post. Mickie gets back in the ring and ref starts the count. Asuka is able to beat the count but Mickie goes right after her leg. Mickie then slams Asuka’s leg into the ring post. Mickie uses the rope to wrench on the leg of Asuka. Asuka tires for the Asuka Lock but Mickie turns it into a pin. Asuka kicks out and lays out Mickie. Asuka trades blows with Mickie and is able to get the advantage. Asuka catches Mickie with a knee to the nose but Mickie comes right back going after the leg of Asuka. Mickie goes to the top but Asuka knocks her off and tries for a suplex. Mickie fights her off and hits a sunset flip powerbomb. Mickie tries a cover and another but neither work. Asuka finally is able to get Mickie in the Asuka Lock and Mickie taps.
Winner: Asuka
My Opinion:
Mickie looked awesome tonight but Asuka showed once again it’s about how you finish the match not start. Asuka has something special and she is a big threat for any champion in general. Asuka is in for a big challenge though because when she meets Charlotte that’s gonna a tightly contested match and looking at Asuka the past couple of weeks Charlotte just needs to find one move to put her down and not let her stay in like everyone else does.

Backstage Segment:
Asuka asks Nia where she was. Nia says Kurt said not to go out because she has a match next. Alexa says she set it up perfectly for her. Alexa gives Nia encouragement and tells Nia she needs her in her corner. Alexa wishes luck.

Match 4: Nia Jax vs jobber
Nia throws her opponent and then lands a huge elbow drop. Nia hits the Samoan Drop and gets the 1 2 3.
*** After the match Mickie and Alexa come on the titantron and don’t realize it. Mickie tells her she couldn’t believe what she said to Niz. Alexa says the truth hurts and she could’ve been much worse. Alexa says the truth is she uses Nia cause she is a vulnerable human being. Alexa says she can’t believe Nia screwed her this week. Alexa says Nia is dumb as she is big. She says Nia knows she would be nothing without me. Alexa tells Mickie next week they will use Nia and if she decides to think for herself for once we will have to beat her. Charly tells them that the microphone has been on the entire time and now everyone has heard everything they have just said. Alexa and Mickie pack their bags and run out of the dressing room. Charly says next week it will be Alexa vs Asuka. Nia comes in the locker room and tears it apart.
Winner: Nia Jax
My Opinion:
Nia made quick work out there but the post-match wow. Alexa is great at being mean I gotta give her that. Nia though is ready to destroy and Alexa better watch out. Finally after all the hype and waiting I think it’s time Nia lives up to her potential and gets her time as the Women’s Champion.

Backstage Segment:
Wyatt says Hardy is a fool, a liar, and is just a man. He says Hardy has made a very bad decision. He tells Hardy when the devil is standing on your doorstep you should never let him in. he then accepts the invitation to the Ultimate Deletion. He tells him he has a beautiful home and family and it’d be a real shame if something happened to them. He tells Hardy to run.

Backstage Segment:
Angle says he knows Bray was crazy but what the heck happened to Matt. Angle says tells the ref that he needs to be the referee next week in the Ultimate Deletion match. Angle says he needs to make sure they both make it back to Raw in one piece.

Match 5: Tag Team Battle Royal: The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson) vs Titus WorldWide (Titus O’Neil & Apollo) vs Rhyno & Heath Slater vs The Club (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs The Miztourage (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel) vs Braun Strowman:
Winner faces The Bar at WrestleMania for the Raw Tag Team Championships
As the match starts Strowman eliminates Apollo. Strowman goes to the outside and drives Slater into the barricade. The teams gang up on Strowman and try to eliminate him but can’t. Rhyno gets eliminated by The Revival. Strowman cleans house but Titus tries to stand up to him. The team’s conference on the outside as Raw goes to break.
As Raw returns, Strowman takes out The Revival. The teams gang up on Strowman and throw him into the steps. They bounce the steps off of Strowman and do it once more driving him into the timekeeper’s area. In the ring, Titus goes after Wilder and throws him to the mat. He then hits a splash on Dawson in the corner. The Miztourage stomps on Titus and The Revival join in to help. The Revival then turns on Axel. Dallas eliminates Dawson and Axel eliminates Wilder. Strowman cleans house and eliminates Gallows. He tosses Axel out of the match and then Bo Dallas. Anderson takes Strowman to knee and lands a huge kick. Strowman grabs him and flips him. Strowman then throws Anderson over the top rope.
Winner: Braun Strowman
My Opinion:
Let’s go Braun! I love this cause it’s awesome and honestly, it’s a good story. If they let Braun compete alone it’d be great and no doubt it’d be awesome for him to win on his own but maybe they could give him a tag partner and that’d give him a better chance to win them because I feel like many people would have a problem if one person won the tag titles by themselves. Either way, this is interesting and I can’t wait to see where it goes, either way, Braun in the match will make the Raw Tag Team Championship match one to see.

Final Thoughts:
Tonight’s Raw was awesome, to kick off the show we get Roman Reigns confronting Vince McMahon and it was so cool. That right there was perfect cause everyone talks like Roman is Vince’s boy which he is but this makes it seem like he’s not and only helps his case going forward. I loved the match we got between Rollins and Balor tonight, both are so talented and it amazed me how the match came down to who could counter best. I think with them and Miz their match at Mania will be epic and they’re gonna put on a show. I liked Nia getting angry tonight, I’m a huge fan of Alexa but I truly believe it is time for Nia to shine and have her time as champion. John Cena calling out Undertaker was epic! I loved that Cena went right after him, this is the Cena I wanna see leading into this match and if it happens it will be a perfect last ride for Taker. Finally, Braun Strowman winning the tag team battle royal was definitely interesting. I could see him getting a partner even though he wouldn’t want one and then go on to win the titles. Although personally, I say screw the follow the rules and let Strowman win the titles on his own, one person as the tag champions? Sounds crazy but for Braun, it could work.
Overall Rating: 7/10