Curtis Dillion on March 8, 2021
It’s Monday night and you know what that means: a brand new episode of WWE RAW on March 8th, and Ringside News has you covered with live play-by-play results coverage.
Start time for WWE RAW is at 8:00 PM EST. Match-by-match highlights and results from the show will take place on this very page. Feel free to leave any reactions in the comment section below.
Tonight’s RAW will feature the long-awaited title celebration for the new WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley. Last week Lashley defeated The Miz in a lumberjack match to become the Champion and tonight The Hurt Business will celebrate in style. However WWE has announced that Lashley will already defend his Championship against The Miz tonight, so it could be a short-lived celebration!
Also on last week’s RAW, Braun Strowman got an impromptu Tag Team Title match alongside Adam Pearce, but lost due to Pearce getting rolled-up. Strowman was furious and tonight he will deman an apology from Shane McMahon. It seems these two are beginning a feud that will lead to a WrestleMania showdown, however it’s unclear how WWE will continue the feud until then. Perhaps Braun and Pearce will team-up again at Fastlane, or maybe Shane will put the monster in another difficult situation. Let us know what you think!
WWE hasn’t announced a whole lot ahead of tonight’s WWE RAW but we can expect more from Charlotte Flair and the possible return of Asuka, as well as Mustafa Ali’s new feud with Riddle for the U.S Championship, and so much more. We want to know what you’re thinking ahead of tonight’s show, so sound off below and enjoy!
RAW
This week’s Monday Night RAW opens with a look back at last week when Bobby Lashley beat The Miz to become the new WWE Champion.
We see The Hurt Business walking backstage earlier today, with lots of gold (and silver), and Lashley is asked for an interview. He says he is a happy man and it’s gonna stay that way. He says he’s been through a lot, so much that would break a normal man but he’s not normal, he’s All Mighty. He had to wait 16 years; years of busting his ass, navigating backstage politics, and biding his time. And it all came to a head last week when he beat The Miz and now he has to do it again and that’s OK, because he’s going to show the rest of the locker room what awaits them. 16 years is too long to let it go now. The All Mighty era has begun.
The Miz and John Morrison come to the ring. Miz says he’s standing here empty-handed because of Bobby Lashley. He says he fully expected tog et his ass kicked but he didn’t expect to lose his Championship. He says Shane McMahon screwed him. After all the endless years of travel, signing autographs, making movies, and shaking hands. He never takes time off, so when he says he doesn’t feel well people should believe him. He had cramps and it happens to athletes sometimes, we wouldn’t know that. Yet he still went out to the ring and successfully defended his WWE Championship. There was a match and he got counted-out, he lost, but he retained his title.
Miz says what he did was sketchy, for sure, but it was perfectly legal. His contract said he had to defend the title but not how, and it definitely didn’t say he had to defend it twice in one night. Yet he was physically threatened and coerced into defending it. The title he worked so hard to get, would be stripped from him if he didn’t defend it against Lashley and to top it all off it was a lumberjack match. So we can all agree it was unfair. And even after the match, Lashley brutalised him and nobody batted an eyelid. Regardless, tonight he gets a rematch. And anyone who was celebrating Lashley’s win last week, he wants everyone to watch because there will be a new WWE Champion.
*Commercial Break*
Lashley has a totally new entrance that includes lightning bolts hitting the stage and a hype video before The Hurt Business music plays.
WWE Championship
(C) Bobby Lashley W/MVP Vs. The Miz W/John Morrison
The match gets underway and Miz rolls out of the ring and wanders around before getting back in. Lashley looks to lock-up but again Miz rolls out. Lashley grabs Miz from the ring but gets hits head pulled down on the top rope. That just annoyed the All Mighty however, and he hits Miz with a stalling suplex from the apron into the ring for a two-count. We see Drew McIntyre watching on a monitor backstage. Lashley beats Miz into the corner, then runs for a tackle but nobody’s home and he hits the post and falls to the floor. Miz goes out and shoves Lashley into the ring post but the Champion comes right back with a clothesline.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back live and Lashley is grinding a fist into Miz’s face in the ring. Miz fights up but Lashley shoves him to the ropes and catches him with a clothesline. Miz kicks Lashley to the corner, then hits a running clothesline but Lashley catches him and throws him across the ring. Miz rolls outside and Lashley goes with him and sends him into the barricade, then drops him on it. A head-slam on the announce desk, then Miz gets sent back into the ring.
Miz kicks Lashley and runs at him for a big boot but it barely fazes the All Mighty. Miz backs up to the ropes and pulls them down to send Lashley over and out. Miz hits the ropes and looks for a diving dropkick to the outside but Lashley sidesteps it, then lifts him and runs him head-first into the ring post. Bobby gets Miz back in the ring and slams him, then beats him on the mat. Lashley hits a massive one-handed spinebuster, then pumps himself up and applies The Hurt Lock for the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
We get a promo video for this year’s WrestleMania, which fans will be able to buy tickets to. Tickets go on sale one week from tomorrow.
Drew McIntyre is interviewed backstage and he’s not in a good mood. He says he is the only challenger there is. Drew says Lashley worked for 16 years, put all the work in, but then wouldn’t fight him. Lashley helped The Miz, then took the belt from him. McIntyre asks him where his passion and where his balls are. Sheamus attacks McIntyre out of nowhere and beats him down the hallway. Drew is thrown into production boxes and walls, then Sheamus screams at him that it’s not over yet. Sheamus says he will make his life a miser.
*Commercial Break*
Drew McIntyre is stomping around backstage, punching things. Adam Pearce stops him and Drew shouts at him to book a match with him and Sheamus tonight, no disqualification, and do it now. Drew walks off and Pearce nods.
We see a replay of last week when Shane McMahon booked Braun Strowman and Adam Pearce in a Tag Team Title match and they lost because Pearce got rolled-up. Strowman is walking backstage when R-Truth stops him and says he needs to get something off his chest. Truth reads a bizarre story about how needs a monster to fight Bad Bunny. Braun makes him pause and says he’s going to the ring to make Shane McMahon apologise to him.
*Commercial Break*
Braun Strowman comes to the ring. Braun ask what Shane’s motivation is? He says he excluded him from the Elimination Chamber match and he’s over it. But then last week he put him in a match with Adam Pearce and made him tag him, so they lost. Braun says Shane’s either laughing at him, or with him, and given all the snide comments he’s been making he thinks it’s at him. Which is strange because they both know he can snap his neck like a twig. Strowman says he knows Shane can fire him but all he wants a damn apology.
Shane answers the call and gets into the ring with Braun and squares-up to him. Shane says he apologises, then walks off. Braun isn’t happy and Shane stops on the ramp to speak again. He turns and leaves without speaking and Strowman shouts after him to say what’s on his mind but McMahon ignores him. The Monster is not satisfied.
Sheamus is on his way to the ring. He’ll be facing Drew McIntyre in a No DQ match after the break.
*Commercial Break*
No Disqualification Match
Drew McIntyre Vs. Sheamus
This match gets underway quick as McIntyre attacks Sheamus during his entrance. Drew beats Sheamus all the way down the ramp and into the steel steps, then inside the ring. McIntyre chops the Irishman in the corner but Sheamus starts firing back. McIntyre catches Sheamus with a running forearm, then backs him into the corner and punches him. Sheamus whips McIntyre to the corner and stomps him down. Sheamus goes to the top rope and hits a flying shoulder block for a two-count. Sheamus kicks Drew across the ring and the Scot rolls outside.
Sheamus jumps off the apron at Drew but misses and gets shoved into the steps. McIntyre throws Sheamus over the announce desk onto the chairs. Sheamus slams Drew into the ring apron, then hits him with a lariat. They continue to brawl around ringside and Drew tosses Sheamus over the barricade. Sheamus crawls back over but McIntyre grab him and body slams the Celt onto the steel steps. Drew puts Sheamus inside and grabs a Kendo stick. As he’s getting in the ring Sheamus runs and clobbers him with a knee.
Sheamus drops McIntyre, then lifts the Kendo stick and smashes him across the back with it. Sheamus stands on Drew’s face before lifting him up for a rolling fireman’s carry. Sheamus grabs Drew by the face and toys with him but Drew headbutts him. McIntyre hits a belly-to-belly, then a running neckbreaker. Drew kips up and grabs the Kendo stick and peppers Sheamus with it over and over. Sheamus rolls outside and Drew gives chases but the wily Irishman shoves him face-first into the ring post, then hits a one-handed Chokeslam onto the announce table but it doesn’t break.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back live and the two former besties are trading shots but Sheamus drives a thumb in the eye and follows-up with a backbreaker. Sheamus applies a cloverleaf submission and tries to get the tap-out. McIntyre gets free and lands a spinebuster for a near-fall. Sheamus catches Drew with a boot, then goes to the top rope. Drew crotches Sheamus and climbs up with him to hit a superplex for a near-fall. McIntyre wants the Future Shock but Sheamus kicks him back and hits the Irish Curse backbreaker for a near-fall.
Sheamus goes out and grabs a steel chair but McIntyre knocks it from his hands and uses it himself to hit Sheamus across the back. McIntyre then hits the Future Shock onto the chair for a near-fall. Drew goes to the corner and readies for the Brogue Kick but Sheamus throws a chair into his face and hits a knee. Sheamus slams the chair into McIntyre, then wedges the chairs between the turnbuckles. McIntyre knocks Sheamus into the wedged chair, then hits a Claymore but Sheamus spills out of the ring!
Drew goes out and drags Sheamus back into the ring with great difficulty but as he gets in himself, Sheamus rolls back out. On the floor, Sheamus catches McIntyre with a Brogue Kick, then lifts the steel steps and so does Drew, and they run into each other and both go down on the floor. The referee checks on both men but neither of them answer and he calls for a no contest.
No Contest
Referees and officials come down to the ring to check on both men and help them come to.
*Commercial Break*
We see a lengthy video package chronicling the Randy Orton/Bray Wyatt/Alex Bliss feud.
New correspondent, Kevin Patrick, interviews AJ Styles and Omos backstage. Patrick starts to ask a question but Styles interrupts him and says he’s more interested in what’s going on between Randy Orton and The Fiend. Styles says it’s incredible to watch them tear Orton down, bit by bit, and they’re using voodoo magic to do it. Orton appears and asks if his situation is funny? Styles says it isn’t funny…it’s weak. Orton says they can meet in the ring tonight and he’ll show how weak he is. AJ points to Omos and asks Orton if he needs even bigger problems. If so, he accepts, and Orton is happy to oblige.
*Commercial Break*
Xavier Woods W/Kofi Kingston Vs. Shelton benjamin W/Cedric Alexander
The match gets underway and they lock-up but Shelton forces Woods out of the ring. Woods gets back in the ring and forearms Benjamin, then ducks a clothesline and hits a leg lariat. Benjamin drops Woods, then whips him to the corner hard and hits a body slam. Woods is selling the back so Benjamin sticks a knee into it and applies a rear chinlock. Woods starts to fight up but once again gets body slammed. Shelton knocks Woods to the corner, then throws him to the apron.
Woods knocks Shelton back and tries to jump inside but gets caught with a big knee and a near-fall. Shelton goes back to the chinlock but Xavier quickly climbs to his feet and connects with a jawbreaker. Woods chops and punches Benjamin over and over, then slides between his legs and delivers a big forearm. Woods rolls Shelton up for a two but then eats a boot to the face. Woods rolls-up Shelton for the win!
Winner: Xavier Woods
Riddle is interviewed backstage and asked how he feels about fighting all of Retribution. Riddle says he doesn’t get distracted by them, he’s more concerned with where he can park his scooter. Riddle says he can’t leave it backstage anymore because he got a ticket, and he can’t take it ringside because Ali might break it. New Day come through the curtain and they joke around and talk about video games, then Riddle gives them his scooter to look after.
*Commercial Break*
Riddle Vs. Slapjack W/Ali
The match gets underway and Riddle catches a running Slapjack with an overhead suplex. Riddle runs roughshod over Slapjack and hits a P.K followed by a Broton. Slapjack rolls outside and Riddle comes after, looking for another P.K on the apron but Ali distracts him and Slapjack grabs the foot and slams him down. Slapjack gets Riddle back inside and stomps him. Slapjack puts Riddle on the top rope and hits a snap suplex, then a falcon arrow for a near-fall.
Riddle starts fighting back but Slapjack catches him with a dropkick for a two-count. Ali directs Slapjack, who goes to the top rope. Riddle jumps up alongside him and they trade shots until Slapjack headbutts Riddle back off. Slapjack jumps for a dropkick but Riddle avoids it and hits the Final Flash knee for a near-fall. Riddle looks for a powerbomb but Slapjack lands on hit feet and hits a knee for a two-count. Riddle hits an impressive counter, then a leaping knee and the Bro-Derek for the win!
Winner: Riddle
Ali is completely furious after the match and he berates Slapjack and beats on the announce desk.
We see a replay of earlier when Braun Strowman came out and demanded an apology from Shane McMahon. Shane is backstage with Adam Pearce and he admits there was something else he wanted to say to Braun Strowman, so he tells Pearce to go get Braun and meet him in the ring.
*Commercial Break*
Shane O’Mac is in the ring and out comes Braun Strowman. Shane gets out of the ring to get a better microphone and starts walking back around the ring and up the ramp. Shane says he wanted to say this face-to-face and Braun looks confused. Shane says what Braun said has made him do some introspection and he’s right, he’s been having fun at Braun’s expense. Shane says there is one thing they have to get done, is come to an understanding. Shane comes back down the ramp and stands outside the ring, then turns and walks back up.
Shane takes forever and says something he would never do is make Braun look stupid, and he can tell he’s upset with him. McMahon says other people think Braun is as dumb as they come, but not him. He wouldn’t say Braun has a big body and tiny brain like a dinosaur. Shane then mocks Braun and runs off but Strowman chases after him to the back. Shane is shown running through the arena and he gets into an SUV. Braun runs after but the SUV takes off. Strowman is not happy and walks off but then Shane appears from behind him and laughs, saying Braun is stupid.
Lana & Naomi dance their way to the ring. We’re getting a Women’s Tag Team Title match after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler come out alongside Reginald from SmackDown. Nia says Reggie is down on his luck but lucky for him, she recognises fine wine. She says she brought him here to observe this match and says he’s cute.
Women’s Tag Team Championships
(C) Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax W/Reginald Vs. Lana & Naomi
The match begins with Nia and Naomi and the latter beats on the former but gets shoved back and Lana tags herself in. Lana and Naomi attempt to double-team Nia but both get shoved down. Baszler tags in and puts Lana in the corner but Lana knocks her back and hits a bulldog. Naomi tags in and hits a leg-drop, then forces Shayna to the corner and tags Lana. Together they hit a double-team Russian leg sweep for a two-count. Baszler knocks Lana from the ring and her and Nia stand over her but Naomi leaps on them from the ring as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back live and Baszler clobbers Lana with a lariat for a two-count. Baszler applies a submission and taunts Naomi on the apron. Tags to Naomi and Jax, and Naomi hist a springboard kick to Jax, then knocks Baszler to the floor. Naomi hits repeated kicks to Jax, and gets her down to one knee, then hits headscissors slam. She covers but Shayna drags her off. Naomi hits Baszler and goes back inside but Reggie grabs her by the leg. She tags Lana and grabs Reginald, then Lana slides through her legs with a baseball slide to him. Jax knocks Lana into Naomi, then hits Lana with a powerbomb for the win.
Winners: Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
After the match Nia lifts Reggie over her shoulder and carries him up the ramp.
Randy Orton is interviewed backstage and told people are concerned about his wellbeing. Orton says that’s shocking to him because nobody has ever mentioned anything to him. Orton says they’re all like AJ Styles, laughing at him. Well we’ll see if AJ is laughing once he gets introduced to the three most dangerous words in sports entertainment: RKO.
*Commercial Break*
Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke are interviewed backstage and they say they shouldn’t be overlooked for a RAW Women’s Title shot at WrestleMania. They’re as ambitious and talented as any women. Charlotte walks up and says they have every right to be ambitious but they only have five weeks to prove they have what it takes. She hopes their bite is as strong as their bark.
AJ Styles is interviewed backstage and asked if he regrets what he said about Randy Orton earlier tonight. AJ says he doesn’t but he also wasn’t expecting a match. He says it proves that Randy is twisted and his brain is mush because he shouldn’t be wasting time with him, he should be focused on The Fiend. Well he’s going to tie the bow on Orton’s storm and send him into WrestleMania with a big loss. Styles and Omos make their way to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We see a long replay of Bobby Lashley’s entrance earlier tonight, then much of the match with The Miz.
AJ Styles W/Omos Vs. Randy Orton
The match begins and they lock-up and Orton quickly pushes AJ back to the corner and bullies him. Orton drags AJ to the other corner and slams his head into the buckles, then stomps his leg a few times. Orton puts Styles in the corner and hits him a few times, then looks for an RKO but Styles shoves him off and retreats out of the ring. Randy chases after AJ and back into the ring where Styles stomps him down. AJ hits the ropes but Orton connects with a back elbow. Randy then hits Styles with a knee and AJ rolls from the ring. Orton goes after and slams AJ into the announce desk before putting him back in the ring. Orton takes a minute to stare at Omos, allowing Styles to leap over the ropes with a forearm to the Viper.
*Commercial Break*
We return to find AJ stomping Orton down in the corner. Styles then whips Orton to the other corner and targets his left leg. Orton gets dropped with a right hand, then starts fighting back but gets caught with an enziguiri and collapses. AJ applies a sleeper and grounds Orton in the middle of the ring for a few minutes. Orton eventually backs AJ into the corner and elbows him to get free. AJ whips Orton to the ropes but the Viper takes his head off with a lariat.
Both men slowly get to their feet. AJ runs at Orton but gets caught with a snap powerslam for a two-count. Randy wants a suplex but Styles lands on his feet, only for Orton to catch him with a backbreaker for a near-fall. AJ is bleeding from the mouth but Orton slams him face-first into the buckles, then lifts him onto the top rope and punces him. Styles knocks Randy down and drops to the apron. AJ wants the Phenomenal Forearm but Orton shoved his foot on the top rope and Styles collapsed onto the apron.
Orton drags AJ though the ropes for the draping DDT but AJ jumps off and rolls into the calf crusher but Orton fights it. AJ gets it locked in and Randy screams in pain. Orton gets to the ropes, then manages to hit the draping DDT while smiling at Omos. The Viper coils for the RKO but Omos drags AJ form the ring. Suddenly Alexa Bliss appears on the screen with a jack-in-the-box and winds it but then says “not yet.” Bliss lights a match and blows it out, then the ring posts around Orton explode into flames and he regurgitates the black goo. AJ takes advantage and hits the Phenomenal Forearm for the win.
Winner: AJ Styles
After the match AJ quickly leaves the ring and Randy wipes the goo from his mouth. Bliss comes back on the screen and laughs while Orton stares on.
That’s it for this week’s WWE RAW. Let us know in the comments below what you thought of the show, and we’ll see you again tomorrow for all your wrestling needs. Until then, stay safe.
March 8, 2021 7:00 pm
Disqus Comments Loading...
