Join the Starman for a live recap of WWE Raw from the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana.
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A graphic paying respects to the late Pedro Morales is shown. We then head into the Cajundome where Triple H is standing in the ring. He says there is excitement in the air as we are on the road to WrestleMania. He puts over Sasha Banks and Bayley becoming the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and Finn Balor defying the odds in a handicap match to win the Intercontinental Championship. Triple H then brings up Kofi Kingston’s performance in the Elimination Chamber and says a suspension or knee injury didn’t prevent Becky Lynch from getting to Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey. He then announces that the first inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame this year will be D-Generation X, which includes himself, HBK, X-Pac, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and Chyna.
Triple H goes on to say that he is in charge of NXT and it’s his pleasure to introduce a few new faces with Ricochet, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, who will all be competing in action tonight on Raw. Triple H then points out to the tables on the stage and says a tables match is about to take place right now with Baron Corbin going against Braun Strowman. Footage from last night’s match between these two is aired as we head into the first match of the night.
Match 1: Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin (Tables Match)
Corbin takes his time making his way to the ring and grabs the top part of the steel steps and smiles at Strowman as we head into a commercial break. We return as the bell rings and Strowman quickly tosses Corbin out to the floor and throws him into the barricade. Strowman goes for a table but Corbin hits him from behind and puts the table back under the ring. Corbin begins focusing in on Strowman’s injured ribs until Strowman is able to counter the attack.
Strowman puts a table into the ring but Corbin attacks him from behind and rips off Strowman’s shirt. Corbin connects with a series of stomps before sliding the table out to the floor. Corbin continues to focus on the ribs until Strowman is able to reverse a suplex onto the ramp to take out Corbin. The fight heads up the ramp as Strowman sends Corbin crashing into the video wall. Strowman then clears off the announce table and picks up Corbin, but he counters and sends Strowman into the table as we head into a commercial break.
We return to see a table set up in the corner of the ring with the two stoping themselves from going into it. The match goes back out to the floor where Corbin grabs a kendo stick and nails Strowman in the ribs with it before sending him into the steps. Corbin the makes a run at Strowman from the apron when Strowman picks up the steps to block the attack. Strowman hits Corbin a few times with the stairs and into the barricade. The match then returns to the ring where Strowman picks up Corbin and slams him through the table set up in the corner to win the match.
Winner: Braun Strowman defeated Baron Corbin in a tables match.
The announce team then hypes the upcoming match of DIY taking on the Revival and Ruby Riott getting another shot at Ronda Rousey. As Strowman walks up the ramp, he runs into Paul Heyman. Strowman grabs Heyman by the collar, who pleads with the monster to let him go. Strowman then lets go and walks away as a shaken Heyman asks for a minute and we head into a commercial break.
Paul Heyman is in the ring and says he is not surprised of Braun Strowman’s actions as everyone should be envious of his client, Brock Lesnar. Heyman then shows a video package that shows the life of Lesnar, which shows him wrestling in high school and college. The WWE then recruited Lesnar, where he became the youngest champion after being on the roster for six months. After two years of WWE, Lesnar stepped into the octagon and became the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Lesnar then returned to the WWE to defeat the Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania. Heyman is then cut off by Finn Balor’s music as the new Intercontinental Champion makes his way to the ring and we head into a commercial break.
Balor says it feels good to hold gold once again in the WWE. He says it has been a dream of his to hold the Intercontinental Championship as he is interrupted by Lio Rush who comes out by himself. Rush says Balor doesn’t deserve to the champion as Bobby Lashley then comes in from behind and takes Balor out in the ring. Rush then comes in and helps beat Balor down and connects with a splash. Ricochet’s music then hits as he comes out and takes out Lashley and Rush with a series of high flying moves. Ricochet and Balor then stand tall in the ring as we head into a commercial break.
Match 2: Finn Balor and Ricochet vs. Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush
Ricochet and Rush start out and the two speedsters counter each others moves in an entertaining series of moves. Lashley tags into the match and slams Ricochet down to the mat and shouts at Rush to take note. Ricochet then counters Lashley’s attack and sends him out to the floor. Rush and Balor are tagged into the match as Rush evades Balor and tags Lashley into the match. Lashley comes in and quickly takes Balor down and picks up a near fall after hitting a suplex. Lashley then slows down the match with a headlock and picks up another near fall after slamming Balor down to the mat.
Rush is then tagged back in, who picks up the pieces, but Balor counters with a dropkick and begins toying with Rush and wearing him down. Balor then connects with a Slingblade and begins heading for the top rope, but Lashley distracts Balor and Rush is able to take Balor out at the knee and sends him to the floor. Lashley then sends Balor back into the ring and picks up a near fall before wearing him down with a submission hold. Balor is able to escape but Lashley takes him down with a slam for another near fall as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Balor locked in a submission hold, but he fights his way out of it only to be slammed into the corner. Rush is tagged back in, who continues to wear down Balor, but Rush’s mouth gets the best of him and Balor takes him down. Balor begins crawling to his corner but Rush is able to nail Balor and roll him back to their corner. Lashley tags in and Balor takes Lashley down and makes the hot tag to Ricochet. Rush is tagged in and is quickly taken out by Ricochet and is sent out to the floor. Lashley tries to run after Ricochet, but Ricochet leaps onto the barricade and flips over Lashley. Balor then takes Lashley out as Ricochet hits a 630 splash from the top rope to pick up the victory.
Winner: Finn Balor and Ricochet defeated Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush by pin fall.
Drew McIntyre catches up with Triple H backstage and says he wants to main event WrestleMania and says he wants Seth Rollins. Dean Ambrose comes in and says he doesn’t have anything to do tonight and slaps McIntyre across the face and walks off. Triple H asks McIntyre if he still wants Rollins and McIntyre tells him to put him in a match against Ambrose as we head into a commercial break.
Lucha House Party makes their way out to the ring as we see video from last week where Vince McMahon suspended Becky Lynch for 60 days and announcing Charlotte Flair as a replacement. Two days ago, Lynch attacked Flair at a house show where Flair would nail Lynch with a chair into the injured knee. Last night, Lynch came out to the ring after Ronda Rousey’s match and attacked both Flair and Rousey with crutches. The announce team says if Lynch pulls a stunt like this again, she will be arrested.
Match 3: Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado vs. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
The match starts with the Lucha House Party getting the early advantage and double team Ryder to pick up a near fall. Ryder is able to counter and tags in Hawkins, who takes out both luchadores with dropkicks for a near fall over Dorado. The match then breaks down and Hawkins connects with an enziguri on Dorado, but a distraction from Metalik allows Dorado to take Hawkins down with a hurricanrana to pick up the pin fall. Lucha House Party celebrates their victory as Hawkins looks on in disbelief.
Winner: Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado defeated Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder by pin fall.
Charly Caruso is on the stage and introduces Heavy Machinery as the two big men come out. Caruso asks what the WWE should expect out of them as Tucker Knight says they are ready for anyone and their have each other’s backs. Lacey Evans then walks out and struts down the ramp and back. Heavy Machinery then does the same thing while doing the Bushwacker strut as we head into a commercial break.
Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano are backstage when they are approached by Bobby Roode and Chad Gable. They think they are great wrestlers, but wonder why they have a match with the Revival as they should be starting at the bottom. Gargano says they have been running NXT for over two years and they are here to take over. The Revival step in as Ciampa says they are not here to earn respect but to make a statement. The Revival wishes them luck as their match is up next.
Match 4: The Revival vs. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano
Gargano and Ciampa take turns working over Dash Wilder to get things started. Roode and Gable are seen watching the match on a monitor as Wilder makes the tag to Scott Dawson. Dawson works over Gargano until he is sent out to the floor. Gargano then sends Wilder out to the floor and dives through the ropes to take them out. Ciampa joins in on the action as they take out the Revival and we head into a commercial break.
We return to see Gargano counter a double team move from the Revival and tags in Ciampa. Ciampa comes in and takes Dawson down with a series of German suplexes and connects with a running knee for a near fall. Wilder tags in and takes Ciampa down with a double team move for a near fall. The Revival then goes for a Shatter Machine, but it is countered and Ciampa picks up a near fall. Gargano is tagged in and takes Wilder down with a DDT for another near fall. Gargano then picks up a couple of near falls until Wilder counters and Dawson is tagged in. The Revival hit a top rope double team move for a near fall on Gargano. Gargano then counters Dawson and tags in Ciampa, who comes in and they hit the DIY finisher to pick up the pin fall.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano defeated the Revival by pin fall.
Charly Caruso catches up with Finn Balor and Ricochet backstage and asks Balor about the last two nights. Balor says he had his night last night and tonight belongs to Ricochet and welcomes him to Raw. Ricochet is glad to be on Raw and is living his dream. He says we haven’t seen the last of Ricochet. We then see Ronda Rousey and Ruby Riott warming up backstage as we head into a commercial break.
Kevin Owens is seen at a movie theater, who says he is enjoying the time with his family while training for his return. Owens says his time off has put things in perspective as he argues with his son about not getting change back for a popcorn and a soda.
Sasha Banks and Bayley come out to the ring with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships as the crowd starts a “You deserve it!” chant. Bayley says she cannot believe they are the first ever Women’s Tag Team Champions. Sasha says it feels like a dream to see how far they have come from NXT. Sasha says she can’t imagine doing this with anyone other than Bayley. They plan on defending the title against anyone past, present or future on Raw, Smackdown or NXT.
Nia Jax and Tamina make their way out as Nia congratulates the champions but warns Bayley that Sasha only cares about herself and that she always loses the title on her very first defense. Tamina says their luck is about to run out and they charge the ring but the champs knock them off the apron. Nia and Tamina then retreat to the back.
The announce team talk about D-Generation X being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as we see a video package highlighting their time as a team. They then announce that the Hall of Fame will be taking place at the Barclays Center the Friday before WrestleMania as we head into a commercial break.
Match 5: Dean Ambrose vs. Drew McIntyre
The match starts and Ambrose goes after McIntyre until McIntyre lays him out with a Glasgow Kiss. Ambrose is able to turn it around by dropping the rope and sending McIntyre out to the floor. McIntyre returns to the ring and levels Ambrose with a Claymore Kick and then waits for Ambrose to get up only to take him down with another Claymore kick to pick up the pin fall.
Winner: Drew McIntyre defeated Dean Ambrose by pin fall.
A second video package is aired that continues the life of Brock Lesnar. Video of John Cena being taken to Suplex City is aired. Lesnar is shown going through challenger after challenger, which brings us to Seth Rollins. Heyman says Rollins is able to get up after insurmountable amounts of pain and Lesnar is going to have to put Rollins down. That isn’t even a spoiler, that’s the end of the story named Seth Rollins.
Rollins is backstage with Charly Caruso who says Paul Heyman is telling the truth about Lesnar, however, he isn’t walking into WrestleMania with a death wish, but an acceptance of his fate. Rollins says Lesnar’s reign of terror is done and he promises to leave WrestleMania as the Universal Champion, even if he has to be carried out. Dean Ambrose then walks in and wonders where Rollins was while he was getting beat by McIntyre. Rollins asks if he has lost his mind and Ambrose shrugs him off and leaves. We then see Elias in the ring as we head into a commercial break.
Elias is in the ring and says he is fed up with the way he is being treated. Elias says he is a musical genius and makes magic with his fingers every night. He then starts playing a song and is interrupted by Aleister Black’s music. Black says tonight Elias will fade to black as we head into the next match of the night.
Match 6: Elias vs. Aleister Black
The match starts and Black sends Elias out to the floor and then flips on the ropes and sits in the middle of the ring as we head into a commercial break. We return to see Elias in control over Black and is methodically picking him apart. Black fights his way back into the match and picks up a near fall after hitting a moonsault. Black then tries for a move off the middle rope, but Elias connects with a jumping knee for a near fall. Black then counters Elias’ attack and connects with the Black Mass to pick up the pin fall.
Winner: Aleister Black defeated Elias by pin fall.
The announce team hype the main event with Ronda Rousey and Ruby Riott, which is up next.
The announce team hypes next week’s Raw which will be a 70th birthday celebration for Ric Flair in Atlanta, GA.
Match 7: Ruby Riott (w/ Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan) vs. Ronda Rousey (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
The bell rings as Rousey quickly takes Riott down, who rolls out to the floor to regroup with the Riott Squad. Ruby returns to the ring and drops Rousey to the mat and continues on the attack but Rousey counters into an armbar submission. Ruby escapes from the hold as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Ruby in control and see that the Riott Squad attacked Rousey on the floor during the commercial break. Ruby then connects with a spear to pick up a near fall as a “We want Becky!” chant starts. Rousey mounts a comeback and tosses Ruby around and goes for an elbow in the corner, but Ruby counters and slams Rousey head first into the turnbuckle. Ruby then jumps off the middle rope to pick up a near fall. Ruby then connects with a headbutt and a Riott Kick for another near fall.
Ruby takes too much time, though, and Rousey recovers and slams her down to the mat. Rousey heads to the top rope where a distraction by Morgan and Logan allows Ruby to hit another Riott Kick on Rousey for another near fall. Ruby then heads to the top rope and goes for a high risk move but Rousey counters into an armbar, but the Riott Squad pull Ruby out to the floor. Rousey then heads to the top rope and dives on the Riott Squad and rolls Ruby into the ring. Rousey then Alabama Slams Riott face first into the turnbuckle before locking in an armbar to pick up the submission.
After the match, the Riott Squad comes in and go after Rousey, but she quickly takes them out as Raw comes to a close.
Winner: Ronda Rousey defeated Ruby Riott by submission to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
Quick Results
– Braun Strowman defeated Baron Corbin in a tables match.
– Finn Balor and Ricochet defeated Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush by pin fall.
– Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado defeated Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder by pin fall.
– Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano defeated the Revival by pin fall.
– Drew McIntyre defeated Dean Ambrose by pin fall.
– Aleister Black defeated Elias by pin fall.
– Ronda Rousey defeated Ruby Riott by submission to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.