John Cena makes his way to the ring to a big reception from Dallas. Cena says this is not your typical Monday Night RAW; everything is bigger in Texas. Last week, he put out a WrestleMania challenge to The Undertaker and gave him a choice: yes or no. Tonight, we will find out The Undertaker’s response. Cena still finds it amazing that The Undertaker has been in hiding for so long simply because he feels embarrassed. The Undertaker feels like everyone thinks he no longer belongs here. Cena says that’s ridiculous because as long as there is a WWE, the name “Undertaker” has meaning and fans still care.
Cena says The Undertaker’s response to his challenge at WrestleMania is… nothing. Silence. Not a yes or a no. Nothing. That is the biggest mistake The Undertaker has ever made. Cena said it last week and meant it. Cena doesn’t mind going to WrestleMania as a fan, but he wants to be Undertaker’s opponent. For Undertaker not to respond is damn disrespectful to him and the WWE Universe. Without the fans, there is no Streak, Rest in Peace, or Undertaker. Cena says, “So, Mr. Undertaker, after all those people have given you everything they have, you can’t find it to give them a yes or a no?” The crowd is buzzing, but they cannot agree on a singular chant. Cena says if Undertaker is retired, then he should say so. But if he’s not retired, say yes and give the world what they want to see. Undertaker is not the god they made him. He’s the man he’s allowed himself to become. That man is a coward. Cena says, “The Undertaker is a coward!” Cena dares him to prove him wrong. Cena tells him to do some magic tricks. Do something! The crowd starts a “Do something” chant.
Nothing happens. Cena says this is the exact moment Undertaker has let everyone down that ever believed in him. Undertaker is not a god and shouldn’t be considered a man. Suddenly, Kane’s music hits, and Undertaker’s half-brother makes his way to the ring. The commentators are wondering if this is the sign Cena was looking for from The Undertaker. Cena says Kane has been sent by The Undertaker to give them the response they deserve. Cena asks Kane if it’s yes or no. Cena hands him the microphone, but Kane won’t take it. Kane then grabs him by the throat and gives him a Chokeslam! Kane leaves Cena in the ring, and we’re none the wiser.
We see lengthy replays from the start of the show again, when Reigns got arrested, then beaten to a pulp by Brock Lesnar.
Still to come, a recap of Ronda Rousey’s road to WrestleMania, and The Ultimate Deletion. First however, out comes the Intercontinental Champion and The Miztourage as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return from commercial and see a Dallas Cowboys player in the front row. We then get a quick video of Matt Hardy preparing for The Ultimate Deletion. Matt is asking for guidance from a giraffe named George Washington while feeding it carrots.
The Miz and his boys are patiently waiting as we return. The Miz says it’s three weeks from WrestleMania and he gets no respect. Promotion is in full effect and he’s nowhere to be found on the posters and can’t even get on WrestleMania magazine?! The WWE Champion AJ Styles, Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, they get to be on the cover and in singles matches and he has the deck stacked against him in a triple threat?
And you know what irks him the most? Is he the bad guy? The crowd chants in the affirmative and he again decries the lack of respect. Just because you buy action figures of Finn Balor and Seth Rollins that makes them the heroes? Last week he exposed both men for liars, but beneath the fake smiles and shows of respect they hate each other and all it took was a brief nudge to get them to blows.
Miz says at WrestleMania that brief nudge will turn into a shove for “Tyler Black and Prince Devitt” as they get sent back to the bingo halls. Weird call-out to their former names. And if Miz can’t get our respect he’ll take it when he emerges from WrestleMania as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Balor Club, including the Prince himself, make their entrance. Seth Rollins comes out next and joins the commentary desk to send us to break.
*Commercial Break*
The Balor Club Vs. The Miztourage
We return to see the match already in progress. The Club is in control of Axel until he kicks Balor in the face and tags Dallas. Miz tags in and delivers a knee to the gut for a two count. Axel comes back in and takes a low dropkick to the face. Bo manages to cut Balor off from his partners to prevent a tag.
The Miztourage beats on Balor in the corner for a long time. Eventually, Karl Anderson gets the tag and he goes to work against Axel. He hits a neckbreaker from the middle rope for a two count. He gets the same result with a cross body from the top rope. Miz makes the blind tag and hits a DDT for a quick near fall as we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Karl Anderson plant Axel with a spinebuster. Balor and Dallas both get the tag and the former universal champion goes wild. He takes out Miz on the apron before flipping over the top rope onto Axel and Dallas.
Finn gets tripped on the top rope by Axel, but he still manages to counter the Skull Crushing Finale with a roll-up. Balor knocks Axel off the apron and rolls up Miz for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Balor Club
Miz attacks him after the match and his cronies join in. Dallas and Axel take out Anderson and Gallows while Miz focuses on Balor in the ring. Rollins decides he has seen enough and runs down to clear The Miztourage from the ring. He Stomps Miz into the mat and comes face to face with Balor. They share a staredown as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return and get a new video package that showcases Ronda Rousey – although this one is more than just a rehash of recent weeks, it shows her gorwing-up and struggles in life, including her UFC losses. That was a far better way to showcase Ronda than by simply replaying her debut over and over.
We get a video showing Bray Wyatt arriving at the Hardy Compound. Wyatt is greeted by Vanguard 1, which shows a hologram of Matt welcoming him, and telling him to follow the music. Bray follows it to a ring in the woods, where Matt is waiting, alongside his wife playing the piano. Bray stands on the apron. After the break, the Great War will reach its climax and we will see The Ultimate Deletion.
*Commercial Break*
The Ultimate Deletion
Broken Matt Hardy Vs. Bray Wyatt
The match starts in the ring, and they circle the ring doing their weird laughing. Matt Hardy says the time for laughter is over and they square up. Vanguard One goes into attack mode while Hardy takes him down and punches away at him. Hardy boots him back and hits a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate, but Wyatt counters into a Sister Abigail attempt. Hardy gets out, but Wyatt clotheslines him down. Wyatt says he’s a god before remembering he has a housewarming gift. Wyatt goes under the ring and grabs a chair. Hardy says, “Vanguard, initiate!” Vanguard One sets off some fireworks, and Wyatt is startled, leading to Hardy hitting him with the chair in the midsection a few times before cracking him in the back.
They now begin to fight across the compound into the Dilapidated City. Hardy asks if it reminds him of anything, and it’s the shed that Randy Orton burnt down last year. Wyatt laughs with glee at the return of his home. Hardy brings him back to reality by hitting him in the midsection with a kendo stick. Wyatt blocks a shot and smacks it off Hardy’s back. Hardy disappears again and Bray follows after.
Wyatt searches for Hardy and goes to the Land of Obsolete Men – which is like a graveyard of Hardy symbols. Matt pops out from behind a tombstone and says, “Consumer, I’m over here!” Wyatt hits one of the gravestones but he’s gone. Matt appears from behind another and calls out to Bray, who we see hitting the different gravestones. Hardy then waddles off towards the camera laughing – very Scooby Doo sequence there. They then start fighting in the woods. Wyatt gets the better of him and kicks him in the ribs. Wyatt smacks a log off his back and picks up a two count. Wyatt punches away at him and laughs.
Wyatt throws him into the garage door of a shed, comically shouting “what’s behind door number one?!”. The door opens, and we’re inside the Dome of Deletion. It has a ring in it, a lawnmower, a wheelchair and a grand piano. Wyatt goes for a uranage on the piano, but Hardy blocks it. Hardy sends him head-first into the ring post. Hardy grabs a ladder and hits Wyatt in the midsection with it. Hardy says, “Welcome to the Dome of Deletion!” Hardy slams the ladder off Wyatt’s midsection. Hardy looks at the “Chair of Wheels” and the “Mower of Lawn”, trying to choose which to use, before shouting, “Wonderful” and choosing the lawnmower. Hardy gets on the Mower of Lawns and goes to run over Wyatt, but Wyatt arcs his back and scares him. Wyatt attacks and puts him in the ring. Hardy snaps him off the top rope. Wyatt then DDTs him on the apron of the ring and picks up a two count. This is amazing.
Bray drags Matt out of the dome. Vanguard 1 scans the area and finds Wyatt carrying Hardy to the Lake of Reincarnation. He tries to hit Sister Abigail on a dilapidated boat, but he grabs Vanguard 1 instead and throws it away. Bray turns to find the boat overturned and Hardy seemingly underneath. He finds Senior Benjamin under the boat, who tosses a globe to Wyatt. Brother Nero appears behind Bray singing He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands for a second before Matt grabs Wyatt and lands the Twist of Fate for the three count.
Winner: Broken Matt Hardy
Matt laughs with his arms out to celebrate. Bray says it’s not over before Matt knocks him into the lake. He tells Senior Benjamin to retrieve Wyatt from the lake. Benjamin says he can’t find Wyatt and Hardy declares the great war to be over and Bray Wyatt has been DELETED. Matt chants DELETE to end the show.
That was….amazing in its own right. I like the return of Jeff and Matt needed the win. Hopefully this signals big things for the future of the Broken Empire and maybe Bray can even return and join forces.
That’s it for this week’s Raw. Let us know what you thought of the show and remember to come back tomorrow night for SmackDown Live results. Until then, safe travels!
