This is it, folks. This is the last episode of Monday Night Raw I’ll be recapping for the foreseeable future. After Mania, I’ll be switching to weekly recaps of NXT alongside Dynamite, and dropping Raw and SmackDown. For tonight though, stick with this page for the last WWE Raw Recap!
Drew McIntyre opens the show. Talks about how we’re five days away from WrestleMania. Tells Lashley this match is happening, it’s going down as the biggest fight of their lives. They’ll rip each other to shreds and he can’t wait. What separates them is sacrifice. They made a lot of the same sacrifices, but when Lashley gets home, he makes up for that lost time. McIntyre never had that luxury.
He says his mother was sick at home going through chemotherapy, he wanted to go back so badly. But she told him over Skype that this was his dream and if he went home, she’d kick his ass herself. He talks about pushing forward and sacrificing, asks Lashley how he can beat a man who would sacrifice everything? Tells him he can’t beat him, he’ll put a boot right between his eyes and end the Almighty Era.
WWE Raw Recap continues with Bobby Lashley and MVP interrupting.
Bobby says Drew was a great champion but his time is over. It’s the Almighty’s time. Everyone in the back is afraid of the Scottish Warrior but he saw something different last week. He saw fear. When he grabbed him in the Hurt Lock, he felt him shake, he felt him go out. At WrestleMania we’ll see exactly the same.
McIntyre says the Hurt Lock is no joke. But he derides him for relying on him needing others to do his dirty work. Bobby wants Drew to see what he does to Cedric tonight. McIntyre wants to just fight right now but MVP makes sure that does not happen. Says at Mania McIntyre will lose dignity, consciousness and the match. Drew says he will run him down at WrestleMania and get back his title. MVP reminds him he may not even make it to WrestleMania.
And thus they bring out King Corbin.
He agrees, says Drew shouldn’t even be worrying about Mania. Last week he started it, tonight he’s gonna finish it. There is no WrestleMania for Drew, no WWE Championship for Drew. Tonight he whoops his punk ass.
Riddle meets up with the New Day backstage. Talks about how Omos is huge, his power level must be way over 9000. I was kind of struggling to hear anything else after that but he wishes them luck. Up next on the WWE Raw Recap…
Xavier Woods vs. AJ Styles
AJ with the immediate advantage, rolls him into the Calf Crusher! Kofi gets on the mic and yells at Omos, throws it at him to no effect! Omos chases Kofi into the ring, Styles has to run him off, breaking the hold in the process. Turns back to Woods and gets pulled into an Inside Cradle for the win.
Winner: Xavier Woods
Good call to cut that short, would’ve risked having a good match otherwise.
Braun Strowman makes his way out and we get a video recap of his garbage stupid bad feud with Shane so far.
Braun’s inside the steel cage when the video ends. Says his whole life he’s had to deal with guys like Shane McMahon, bullying him based on his appearance and their perception of what his reality is. He came out with his fake report card trying to act like he’s stupid. But Shane doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into. He can run his mouth all he wants but when the door closes, the running ends.
Says he won’t just whoop his ass for him. He will whoop his ass for everyone who has ever been told they were stupid and couldn’t make it.
I’m just cackling at this. Inspirational hero Strowman! Says Shane won’t be hearing “Here comes the money” at the end of the match, he’ll hear “Here comes the bodybag”. Shane says giving Strowman his choice of stip was a test to see if he’d gotten any smarter since the 5th Grade. Says the Cage match isn’t too stupid, most men would be afraid to share a cage with him. But he’s not just any man, he’s a McMahon. He will outwit Strowman and come out victorious, and the morning after, Strowman will look into the mirror and say “Boy, I really AM stupid”.
Elias & Jaxson Ryker vs. Braun Strowman
Strowman attacks, tries to Powerslam Ryker but Elias pulls him free. Double teaming ensues, Back Suplex/Neckbreaker combo. Ryker with a Diving Headbutt off the top, Elias with a Top Rope Elbow Drop. Both cover for a 2 count and he tosses them both off of him. Braun fights back, gets them into a corner together for the avalanche. Powerslam to Ryker, Powerslam to Elias. He makes a point of covering them at the same time for the win.
Winner: Braun Strowman
Miz and Morrison appear in the parking lot and vandalize the car that Bad Bunny and Damian Priest previously arrived in. Just red paint everywhere.
After a commercial, Bad Bunny sees what happened to his car and is outraged. Miz and Morrison were actually visibly there in the background and at one point attack from behind, tossing him across some other car’s hood. Miz drags him over, says he ruined his 3 million dollar and now he’ll ruin him. Eventually agents and Damian Priest come run them off.
Rhea Ripley in a promo says Asuka is getting ripped apart at WrestleMania. If she wants payback, she’ll have to wait until this Sunday.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax vs. Asuka & Rhea Ripley (Non-Title)
Faces arguing at the bell. Asuka locks up with Shayna. Baszler with a wristlock, Asuka reverses into a headlock. Shayna shoves her off, pushing contest. Asuka with a shoulder block after ducking a line. Grinds her boot into Shayna’s face. Pulls her up, wrenching at the arm. Wants a tag now but Rhea just shakes her head. Shayna forearms Asuka into the corner, and now Ripley tags in. She overpowers Shayna and throws her across the ring!
Nia tags in, hoss showdown now. Ripley clobbers her, starts to slam her, Jax blocks, wants a slam of her own but Ripley slips out and tags Asuka in, though she wasn’t ready. Nia takes over on Asuka, wants a Samoan Drop. Asuka escapes, spin kick to the gut and here’s the Octopus Stretch! Jax pulls herself free, shoulder block and a cover for a 2 count. Ripley tags in, Reginald gets involved, she deposits him but Ripley gets nailed with a chop block. Nia pulls her to the floor, shoves her into the ring apron.
Commercial break, WWE Raw Recap will resume when the show does.
We come back to see Shayna hit a big stomp on Ripley’s ankle. Nia tags in, body slam, elbow drop for a 2 count. Snapmare, kick to the back, cover for 2. Heel hook cinched in. Ripley trying to kick her away. Shayna goes to her feet, elbow drops to the inner thigh. Drags her over to tag in Nia who just stands on that leg. Isolation continues until Ripley kicks Shayna away, crawls over and tags to Asuka.
She’s a house of fire now, hip attacks everywhere, round kick to Shayna, German Suplex and a Shining Wizard for a nearfall! Asuka goes up top, suddenly Ripley shoves her to the floor! Inverted Back Suplex onto the floor, Ripley throws Asuka into the ring and Shayna knees her in the face for the win.
Winners: Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
Shayna and Nia have now beaten both of the women’s title matches at Mania. Yay.
WWE Raw Recap rolls on, Cedric and Shelton pin MVP against a wall. Cedric says his greed will cost him. Tells him he’s just a crippled washed up has-been. He might not beat Lashley tonight but he’ll give him a scar to remember him by. And he’ll watch McIntyre kick his teeth down his throat at Mania.
MVP rails on them, says if not for them they’d have never been to a 5-star steakhouse. Lashley comes by and he’s furious, says he’ll destroy Cedric.
Nia and Shayna interviewed about the tag team turmoil. All the teams one-by-one appear backstage to say “Or us?”, including Billie Kay who isn’t even in there yet.
Up next on the WWE Raw Recap…
Bobby Lashley vs. Cedric Alexander
Before the bell rings Shelton jumps Lashley and he’s being double teamed now. Bobby fights back, drops Cedric with a shot, knees to the gut of Shelton and he throws him to the floor. Bell rings now. Body slam plants Cedric, drives him into the corner with shoulder thrusts. Neckbreaker. Biiig biel toss. And another one sends him flying. Throws him out of the ring and goes for a 10 count win. But as Cedric stands, Lashley goes out after him, Cedric rolls into the ring. Pummels him as he goes into the ring but Bobby throws him aside.
Charges, big spear in the corner! Pulls him to the center of the ring, Delayed Vertical Suplex! Bobby takes him to the apron, clobbers him in the face. Pulls him back into the ring, not sure why we went to the apron there. Deposits him. Pulls him onto his shoulders on the outside, runs him right into the ringpost!
Commercial break, WWE Raw Recap will resume when the show does.
We come back to see Cedric trying to fight back, kick to the face, dropkick. Charges, Lashley stops him, Flatliner. Bobby takes him outside, wants to post him again but Shelton pulls Cedric free. Lashley’s distracted by Shelton, Alexander sends him into the steps! Into the ring, nails a couple of BRUTAL Suicide Dives into the barricade! Lashley back into the ring, Cedric nails a Neuralizer! Enziguri in the corner, goes up top, Missile Dropkick! Cover for a 1 count.
Alexander to the apron, boot up, rolls into the ring but Lashley with a Flapjack! Pulls him to his shoulder for the Dominator! Stalks, Shelton yells at Lashley to stop. Bobby pulls Cedric up to his feet and makes Shelton watch as he plants Alexander with a Spinebuster! Pulls him into the Hurt Lock. Cedric passes out quickly.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Bobby keeps the hold on, Benjamin into the ring to break it up and Lashley gets him with a Flatliner. Pulls Shelton into the Hurt Lock as well.
Video package for the Orton/Fiend/Alexa angle.
Now Bad Bunny and Damian Priest making their way out as the WWE Raw Recap rolls on. Priest says Miz is jealous that Bad Bunny is such a star and Miz is yesterday’s news. He was so focused on Bunny that he couldn’t hold onto the WWE title for more than a week. He wants to up the ante, make it a tag match.
Miz and Morrison vs. Bunny and Priest at WrestleMania.
Bunny says he came here to do his job and he’s grateful with the opportunity to perform at the Royal Rumble with a song he made for Booker T. He loves Booker T like he loves Triple H, Stone Cold, The Undertaker, Ric Flair, the wrestling legends of his country. He even used to respect and love the Miz. But he doesn’t respect him. Says he knows he did what he did and he’s not a pro wrestler but he demands he respect him. Says he disrespected his DJ and his career. He knows he jumped from the top rope at the Royal Rumble. But what fan wouldn’t do that?
He says a lot in Spanish. Goes back to talking about respect. Says at WrestleMania he will show him how to respect him and shut his mouth and whip his ass. Miz and Morrison with a promo from the parking lot. Miz says they’ll embarrass him and hurt him and send them to the ER. They accept the challenge for a tag team match. They go into their limo and drive off.
Sheamus and Mustafa Ali meet up backstage, talking about their mutual disdain for Riddle. Eventually Riddle whizzes between them on his scooter, making scooter noises. WWE Raw Recap is up next…
WWE United States Champion Riddle vs. Mustafa Ali (Non-Title)
Ali takes over with a wristlock. Riddle takes him into a triangle choke, Ali rolls him into a 2 count. Riddle wants a kimura, Ali backs him into the corner for the break. Forearm nails Riddle, Riddle tackles him, Gutwrench and holds on! Rolls through for another but Ali reverses into a roll-up for 1. Riddle shoots him off, Ali with a nice single leg dropkick, 2 count! Now Riddle with a headlock, Ali fights up, Riddle back body drops him to the floor. Riddle to the apron, Punt Kick to the face!
Throws Mustafa into the ring. Takes Sheamus’ hat and starts dancing, Mustafa attacks him from behind. I realize distractions inherently make people look stupid but Riddle literally did that one to himself, Sheamus was just sitting there.
We go to commercial break. WWE Raw Recap will resume when the show does.
Ali stomping Riddle into the corner when we get back. Riddle grabs the ankle and stands, trips him to the mat. Shots to the gut, Ali stops that by bouncing him off the ropes, rolls him to his back, stomp to the foot! Kick to the ribs, cover for a 2 count. Bodyscissor locked in. Riddle fights to his feet, LEAPS to send him crashing onto the mat! Riddle with a charging forearm in the corner, into the Exploder! PK ducked, Standing Moonsault dodged but the Broton lands. Cover, Ali reverses into the Koji Clutch!
Riddle powers him into an impressive Brainbuster from here though, nearfall! Into a Triangle, Ali gets a boot onto the bottom rope for the break. Knee to the gut, Gutbuster for a nearfall! Ali pulls Riddle up, he kicks him away but Ali comes off the middle rope for the Satelitte DDT only for Riddle to catch him into the Bro Derek! And that’s that.
Winner: Riddle
Good match.
Drew McIntyre backstage says heavy is the head that wears the crown. Says you’d think somebody with a giant melon head like King Corbin would have more sense. But he gets it, taking him out to get a shot at the title. He could say plenty of terrible things about Corbin, everyone could. But he’s dangerous. To get that Mania title match, he’d step over his own grandmother. But the result will be the same as always, McIntyre with a Claymore, straight between the eyes.
Drew McIntyre vs. King Corbin
As Corbin makes his way out, Lashley backstage talks about how he’ll kick McIntyre’s ass. Lock-up at the bell after about ten minutes of nothing. They eventually break in the middle of the ring. Lock-up again. McIntyre shoots him off, Corbin with a shoulder block. Drew with a waistlock. Corbin pulls his hands free. McIntyre reverses into a cravat and then a headlock. Corbin shoots him off but Drew holds on.
Corbin pulls him to the ropes, body shot. McIntyre with a shoulder block, very popular in this match, Corbin powders. Back into the ring, pummels Drew in the corner. He comes back out and nails him. Whip, back elbow drops him. Cover for 1. Snap suplex for a 2 count. Chop, whip reversed into the corner. Corbin charges, McIntyre deflects, but the Ring-Around-The-Ringpost lands for a 1 count. Corbin with a power whip bounces McIntyre off the buckles! Belly to belly for a 2 count. McIntyre explodes out of the corner with lariats, Overhead Belly To Belly lands! And another! Kip-up!
Wants the Future Shock, Corbin bails, trips him onto the apron! But McIntyre reverses a whip and posts him, sends him into the steps!
Commercial break, WWE Raw Recap will conclude when we get back.
McIntyre batters Corbin in the corner, Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall! Corbin tries to fight back but Drew wins a strike exchange. Corbin takes him tot he apron, shot to the face, posts him! Throws him to the steps, takes him into the ring. Elbows to the shoulders. Suplex for a 2 count. Corbin hooks his leg around McIntyre’s arm and rolls forward, brutal hammerfists to the face! Drew fights back, hits the ropes, Corbin stops him with a Chokeslam! Nearfall. Charges, gets deflected, wants Ring-Around-The-Ringpost again but of course he can’t hit Ring-Around-The-Ringpost twice in one match, runs right into a Main Event Spinebuster for a nearfall!
Tries the Future Shock DDT but Corbin takes him into the corner and nails him. Pendulum Side Slam for a nearfall. Corbin pulls McIntyre up, wants the End of Days, Drew with a Glasgow Kiss to counter! Future Shock DDT! McIntyre goes up top! Corbin cuts him off. Wants a superplex, and gets it! Nearfall. Exchange of blows. McIntyre wins out, hits the ropes, Deep Six gets him for a nearfall!
MVP takes the headset off and goes to instruct Corbin. Says it’s not about beating him, it’s about taking him out. He hands King Corbin his cane! Corbin swings it at McIntyre but he ducks it, Claymore! And that is that.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
That was about what you could expect from this match-up.
Bobby Lashley appears on the stage to confront McIntyre as we go off the air.