Monday Night Raw from Atlanta, Georgia, opens with Jonathon Coachman standing in the ring at a podium, with tables on either side of him. He says we’re six days away from WrestleMania, meaning the road is almost over. So tonight we will have two teams, who will go head-to-head on Sunday, sit down and answer some questions. Coach introduces Stephanie McMahon, followed by her partner and husband, Triple H.
The power couple make their way to the ring as Cole talks about the training they’re doing to prepare to face two Olympic gold medallists. Corey Graves points out something that surprised me, this Sunday will be Stephanie’s first ever match at WrestleMania. Next, Coach introduces Kurt Angle, followed by Ronda Rousey, who both make their way to the ring to be seated. As all the teams take their seats there is a loud “Ronda Rousey” chant from the fans in Atlanta.
Coach starts to say the WWE Universe has submitted questions via social media, but Triple H cuts him off. Triple H says he has a question for Kurt Angle, he says it’s a shame that everyone is chanting “Ronda Rousey” because they really want to like them, but that deafening roar will become a deafening silence after Sunday because of Kurt Angle. HHH says “intensity, integrity, and intelligence” but since the day he’s met with Angle, he never got the “intelligence” thing. HHH says this is Ronda Rousey, biggest signing in WWE history, and he ruins it by setting her up for embarrassment and a loss on the biggest stage possible at WrestleMania. This is a whopper even for Angle. Why?
Angle starts to speak, but Rousey cuts him off. She asks them why they signed her with ulterior motives. McMahon doesn’t like that Ronda asked her a question, and then apologises for Rousey and says they’ll rebuild her career after they defeat her on Sunday. Rousey again asks why they signed her and McMahon says they signed her because she’s a huge star. This crowd is testament to that, they want to see her in a WWE ring. In spite of her appalling attitude, they brought her here because she’s best for business. Stepahnie reiterates that Angle derailed Rousey’s career and cost her millions of dollars. Then asks, who the hell does Rousey think she is? Angle says, “She’s Ronda freakin’ Rousey. She’s an Olympic medallist, a UFC Champion, and this Sunday at WrestleMania she’s going to make you tap out!”
Coachman tries to restore order, but Triple H cuts him off again. He asks what makes Angle so confident? All those accolades mean nothing in this ring. Rousey has been dreaming of coming to WWE her whole life. For Stephanie, WWE is her whole life. To him, it’s his whole life. For them, it’s their whole life from beginning to end. Triple H is so confident because in this ring, they know the rules. Rousey doesn’t know what’s going to happen. There’s a massive learning curve here. They make the rules, which is why they know them so well. It’s inevitable. She’s going to lose.
Coach asks Triple H and Stephanie how important it is for them to win. McMahon says it’s not if, but when. They have to show the locker room that when there is an uprising, their bosses will bite the head off the snake. They’ll take action and shut them down, that everyone in the locker room will learn to respect authority. Coach’s next question asks “How does Angle feel teaming with Rousey on Sunday?” To which he says whether it’s a ring, a cage, or an octagon, Ronda is the baddest woman on the planet. And she’ll prove it again on Sunday by making Stephanie tap out. Coach asks the final question: “do you have any final thoughts before WrestleMania?” McMahon says Rousey chose this path. It’s all on her. Rousey will lose at WrestleMania. In the record books, her first match in WWE will be a loss to her. The world knows how Rousey handles losses. Rousey asks if Stephanie is right or left handed, to which Steph says she is a righty. Rousey just wants to know so McMahon can still sign her checks after she rips her arm off. The crowd liked that one.
Coach says that’s a good place to stop. It’s time for the pre-match photo op. Coach has some photographers come into the ring and he wishes them luck on Sunday. The two teams come face to face while the photographers snap some photos. McMahon goes for a handshake, but Rousey just stares at her. McMahon then starts pointing at her, and Rousey gets in her face. Angle steps in between them, and Triple H hits him in the back of the head with his microphone. Rousey grabs Triple H by the throat, but McMahon grabs her and gives her a back suplex through the table! McMahon talks some trash while pointing at the WrestleMania sign. They then leave the ring.
Tonight, we’ll see Brock Lesnar ahead of the WrestleMania match. We’ll also see if Undertaker will respond to John Cena. Coming up next though, Bayley is in action.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Bayley looking at the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal Trophy. Absolution make their way to the ring. This should be fun because I haven’t seen this match-up in some variation a hundred times before…
Sonya Deville W/Absolution Vs. Bayley
They circle the ring before Deville kicks her in the leg. Deville kicks her again and talks some trash. Bayley avoids a kick and kicks Deville back. Deville sends her to the corner, but Bayley slingshots over her and applies a headlock. Deville whips her off but gets tackled.
After an awkward sequence, Bayley takes Sonya down with a botched cross-body. They nearly botch a headlock takeover. Deville gets out and shoulders her in the corner. Bayley drops her face-first on the top turnbuckle and elbows her. Deville eventually takes her over with a nice kick as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Bayley trapped in a body scissor. Bayley fights out and hits the ropes, but Deville counters with a spinebuster for a two count. Deville knees her in the chest a few times before hitting the ropes and hitting a sliding knee for a near fall. Deville kicks her in the corner, but Bayley gets away. Bayley forearms her back and hits a pair of clotheslines before putting her in the corner and stomping her down. The referee backs her up.
Bayley goes to the top rope and connects with a cross-body block. Bayley hits a running knee for a near fall. Absolution pulls Deville out of the ring. Bayley leaves the ring, but Deville knees her. Bayley manages to get her in the ring and snap her off the second rope for a two count. Mandy Rose gets on the apron, and Bayley knocks her off. Deville kicks her and rolls her up for a two count. Bayley then rolls her up for the win – Paul Smackage would not have been impressed.
Winner: Bayley
That quick finish was a mercy killing. Bayley has no time to celebrate because Mandy Rose quickly attacks her from behind. Deville soon joins in for the double-team. Sasha Banks runs down to help Bayley. She throws Mandy over the top rope. Bayley then throws Deville over the top rope. Banks smiles at Bayley and tells her to raise her hand up. Banks tells Bayley just saved her so she should raise her hand. Bayley says she didn’t need her. Banks grabs her by the face, so Bayley hits her! They brawl before Absolution gets in the ring and attacks both. Deville kicks Bayley in the head. Mandy Rose then hits Banks with the Bed of Roses. Absolution then walks off as the former best friends are laid out.
Seth Rollins will face Finn Balor later tonight. We’ll look at Asuka’s undefeated streak next. We see replays of Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns feud before heading to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We get a lengthy video package that chronicles Asuka’s rise to success, all the way from her NXT debut to now. She will face Charlotte at WrestleMania for the Women’s Championship.
The commentators then show the news coverage of the birth of Miz and Maryse’s daughter, Monroe Sky Mizanin. Congrats to the family!
Finn Balor makes his way to the ring for a match against Seth Rollins, one last time before they face The Miz at WrestleMania in a Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Championship.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and The Miz joins the commentary team. Seth Rollins makes his entrance for a match against Finn Balor.
Finn Balor Vs. Seth Rollins
As the match begins and the competitors circle each other, The Miz mentions that it was here in Atlanta that he defeated John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania. Throughout the first half of the match, Miz talks about becoming a father and you can tell how happy he is about.
In the ring, the lock up and Balor applies a hammerlock. Rollins hooks a side headlock and wrenches the arm, but Balor twists out. Rollins takes him down, but Balor kips up and takes him down by the arm. Rollins gets out and hits a side headlock takeover, but Balor gets out. They stare at each other, which is quickly becoming a pet peeve of mine – stop begging the crowd for cheers, Austin never had to.
Balor goes for the leg before wrenching the arm. Balor whips Rollins, but Rollins comes back with a shoulder block. Rollins hits a headlock takeover. Balor fights up and whips him off before hitting a pair of arm drags and applying an arm bar. Rollins fights up, but Balor whips him off. Rollins shoulder blocks him, but Balor comes back with more arm drags. They’re back to staring at each other for cheers as we go to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
