Raw Recap: Rollins’ Redemption

It’s the final Raw before Wrestlemania, so naturally it’s time to shoehorn all the final bits and pieces of the puzzle in to place! The Undertaker spooked up the opening titles a storm! Spooky boy!

The first 30 minutes of Raw was dedicated to the Raw Women’s Championship situation, Bayley opening the show with a promo about her love for Wrestlemania. The other participants in the match made their ways out and spoke their pieces, but the ghost of Teddy Long holla holla’d his way from the heavens and we have a tag team match, playa.

The team of Bayley and Sasha Banks beat Charlotte and Nia Jax, who, if you didn’t know, is not like most girls. This was a good way to hype up the Mania match, and they continue to tease the Banks heel turn, which will surely play a factor come the PPV.

Sami Zayn declares himself in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, in honour of our fallen Hardcore Hero, Mick Foley. But Stephanie McMahon tells him he has to beat Kevin Owens in a No DQ match first.

As if Zayn in the Battle Royal was sad enough, we also find out that Neville vs Austin Aries for the Cruiserweight Championship has been relegated to pre-show status as well. I hope you like bitter pills, you marks, because this is what our passion gets us.

Aries beat Noam Dar, gathering further momentum ahead of his match with Neville. Aries’ opponents have been getting in way too much offense in his matches for my liking though. For the past few weeks since his return, he really has looked like just another guy.

Seth Rollins and Triple H have their non-sanctioned fight contract signing next. Triple H can really deliver in these one-on-one segments and sell the absolute shit out of a match. Triple H wants to rip Seth’s leg off and send him back to the indies to work for hotdogs. Rollins says the match is no longer about revenge, but about redemption. He will get back to being Seth Freakin’ Rollins.

They both sign and a brawl almost breaks out, but Rollins manages to send The Game out of the ring.

After weeks of uncertainty about The Architect’s medical status, I am very interested after this promo to see what this fight delivers. How well will Rollins be able to fight back, and what tricks/sledgehammers/Kevin Nashs will Hunter pull out of his bag to win?

There was meant to be on Over The Top Rope Challenge, to tease the Battle Royal (also pre-show) but Big Show gave everyone bops on the noggin’. Braun Strownman came out and said he would kick Big Show’s ass, but we have to wait till Mania. Seems as if they were setting up Show and Strowman to be the final two men in the match. I think most people can see Strowman winning this, he probably needs it more than anyone else, but I wouldn’t rule out Sami Zayn or even Samoa Joe being dark horses.

Raw Tag Team Champions Anderson and Gallows attacked Sheamus and Cesaro with a ladder backstage. They would later be scheduled for a match with Enzo and Cass, but Sheamus and Cesaro would seek their ladder revenge, and a brawl between all three team broke out.

This not-so-subtle weapon addition was WWE’s not-so-subtle way of making this Triple Threat Tag Team Match at Wrestlemania a ladder match, which was confirmed on social media earlier today.

I hope Enzo Amore is thrown off the top of a 20-foot ladder and in to the same Netherworld that Reigns disappeared down a few weeks ago. I admit now that Enzo is a horrible wrestler. Just… awful.

Neville beats Jack Gallagher with a submission, answering back to Aries who beat Dar with a submission earlier in the night

Roman Reigns cut a promo on Undertaker next, and said he would put The Deadman down. He doesn’t care if you are Golberg, Lesnar or Cena, this is his time, his house and his yard.

GONG.

Undertaker appears on the Titantron, reminding Reigns the ring is his yard, and the appropriately pictured grave he is digging will be Roman’s yard. The Roman Empire will fall and The Ultimate Thrill Ride will be his Last Ride.

Mr Spooky McGee advises Reigns to live each day as his last, because soon it will be.

GONG. LIGHTNING.

Taker appears in the ring now. He finishes that at Wrestlemania, Roman will Rest. In. Peace.
Reigns doesn’t flinch a bit. The lights go out again.

Aquaman does not fear The Spooky Old Boy.

Later on, Kevin Owens assures us he will end Zayn’s career, and turn Wrestlemania in to Chris Jericho’s ultimate demise.

Owens and Zayn had what was definitely the best match on the show, no surprises there. They battled all the way around the ring and up the ramp, eventually taking things back to the ring. Samoa Joe appeared trying to help Owens, but Jericho comes out to even the odds. The distraction allowed Zayn to roll-up Owens for the pin, and secure his spot on the pre-show. Whoop.

Closing the pre-Mania Raw, Brock Lesnar and WWE Universal Champion Goldberg have a face-to-face.

Heyman goes all out to push and sell this match. Goldberg is the man, but Lesnar is the Beast. Firing on all cylinders, he tells Goldberg he will go to Suplex City, but he will not check out. Lesnar does not fear the spear, because Goldberg can not survive the F-5.

Goldberg comes out now. People want them to fight, not talk. We also want a Wrestlemania main event that lasts longer than five minutes, but we don’t get everything we want. Magic is dead.

Lesnar rushes out the ring to get a piece of Goldberg, but is quickly dispatched with a huge spear. Goldberg stands tall to close out the show, and plant the seeds of doubt that maybe, just maybe, Lesnar can not topple Goldie after all.

I suspect the match will see Lesnar finally kick out of the spear, before hitting an F-5 or two to Goldberg, and winning the Universal Chamionship.

Whilst this Raw was not exactly the spectacular it needed to be to completely sell Wrestlemania, it had enough decent-to-strong go home segments. I have to recommend Zayn vs Owens, the Triple H/Rollins contract signing, Heyman (and the final segment), Reigns/Taker and the Women’s opening segment.