— We open up Monday Night Raw from the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. We’re told that cameras are standing by for Edge’s arrival.
— Becky Lynch’s music hits and out she comes to a big pop with the Raw Women’s Championship. Beck grabs a microphone and tells Washington DC that The Man has come around. She tells everyone she’s not here to joke around because her opponent is Shayna Baszler. She motions to the Titantron to show a clip of last night’s PPV match for the number one contender.
We get a recap of the Elimination Chamber that Baszler won.
Fans start chanting for Becky. She mentions that Baszler managed to easily beat someone it took Lynch her entire career to beat. She names off a few accolades of Baszler’s, then calls her a blackhole of charisma. Becky says she might be a bitch, but she’s the bitch that runs this division. Becky says that Baszler is the biggest threat to her title ever since she ripped the title out of Ronda Rousey’s cold dead hands. Becky says at WrestleMania it’ll be “heart vs skill,” or “The Man vs The Queen of Spades.” She tells Baszler she’ll defeat her at WrestleMania.
Becky’s music hits and she exits the ring.
— We see a video package promoting Drew McIntyre for tonight.
— Backstage, Rey Mysterio is walking to the gorilla position for his match against Angel Garza next. We go to commercial.
Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Angel Garza (with Zelina Vega)
Rey Mysterio is out first. He hugs all the kids on his way down the entrance. We see a replay of last month when Angel Garza took out Mysterio on floor that put Mysterio on the shelf.
Angel Garza is out next with Zelina Vega. He kisses someone on the cheek on his way down the ramp. Garza enters the ring and lays on top of the turnbuckle.
Rey rushes Garza as soon as the bell rings. Mysterio sends Garza to the turnbuckle with a head scissors. Mysterio hip tosses him now. Mysterio goes for a hurricanrana but Garza nearly turns it into a powerbomb. Mysterio escapes. Garza nails a giant boot to Rey’s face that lays him out. Garza drop kicks a kneeling Mysterio outside of the ring. Garza removes his pants to a small pop from the crowd.
We get a picture-in-picture. Garza catapults Mysterio into the turnbuckle. He stomps on his face until the referee makes him back off. Mysterio recovers in the corner, but Garza runs and clotheslines him against the turnbuckle. Garza puts him into the tree of woe and stops at his head. He drags him over and goes for a pin, but only gets a 2.
Garza applies a headlock. Mysterio fights back, but Garza launches him into the air and knees him in the chest. Rey is racked on the ropes and Garza calls for a 619. He runs off the ropes but Mysterio recovers and lays him out. Garza is on the outside. Rey runs, slides off the apron and hits a frogsplash. He tosses Garza into the rope.
Mysterio enters the ring by hitting a seated senton. Mysterio with a pin, but only gets a close 2.
Both men get to their feet. Mysterio jumps off the middle rope, but Garza catches him. Garza hits a springboard reverse suplex and goes for a pin. Mysterio kicks out at 2. Garza picks up Mysterio, but he hits an enziguri that sends Garza to the ropes. Mysterio goes for the 619 but Garza moves out of the way. Garza lays out Mysterio.
Garza puts Mysterio on top of the turnbuckle. They trade punches. Mysterio gets the upperhand. He launches off, but Garza stops him. Mysterio counters and sends Garza against the ropes again. This time he nails the 619. Mysterio hits the Dropping the Dime and gets the pin.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
– Garza recovers in the ring as Mysterio heads up the ramp.
– We see Kevin Owens entering the arena. He’s stopped by Seth Rollins and his stable. Rollins is eating popcorn. He tells Owens its really good to see him and offers him some popcorn. Owens says he’s good then tosses his briefcase at them and goes in for the attack. The numbers game is too much though and they send him into several different metal structures. Rollins watches Owen’s wither in pain while he enjoys his popcorn.
– We get an advertisement for Stone Cold Steve Austin’s return to Raw on 3:16 day.
– They show us Rhea Ripley talking about WrestleMania. She brings up how everyone has always compared her to Charlotte. She talks about how she changed her look and entire to differentiate herself. She says she’s going to beat the best to be the best at WrestleMania.
– Charlotte Flair’s music hits and she comes out to some pyro. She’s introduced as the winner of the Women’s 2020 Royal Rumble match. Charlotte does a little spin in the ring and points to the WrestleMania sign. Fans “woo.”
She asks if everyone say Rhea Ripley’s vignette. She calls her the new shiny toy. She says that package fired her up and asks if it fired everyone else up too. Charlotte assures Ripley that regardless of how much she has ever looked like her, she’ll never be her. There’s only one of her. She says Ripley will have to stand in front of 90,000 people and get humbled. She ends with a WOO. Ripley’s music hits.
Ripley comes out to a small pop. Ripley makes her way into the ring as the fans chant “Rhea.” Ripley goes to talk but Charlotte cuts her off and says everyone already listened to her talk in that video package. Charlotte says this isn’t NXT, its Monday Night Raw and that’s her kingdom. She tells Ripley she’s excused. Ripley responds by decking Charlotte in the face. Ripley exits the ring while Charlotte looks on with a smirk.
– Backstage, we see Randy Orton do the slowest possible turn towards the camera in live television history.
– We’re told that AJ Styles in this week’s guest on WWE Backstage, on FS1.
Match: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley vs. Zack Ryder (with Curt Hawkins)
Lashley makes his entrance without Lana. The King reminds us that Lana is absent because she’s recording a movie with Bruce Willis.
The bell rings and Lashley bulldozes through Ryder. Lashley hits a massive spear in the corner. Lashley tries to get the fans hyped but we get nothing. Ryder goes for a missile dropkick while Lashley is distracted, but Lashley catches him and a spinebuster.
Lashley hits the Dominator and gets the easy win.
Winner: “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley
– Lashley celebrates in the ring.
– We’re treated to a replay of Drew McIntyre nailing multiple Claymore Kicks to Lesnar last Monday on Raw. Drew McIntyre is in action next. We go to commercial.
– Back from commercial, and Aleister Black is in his dark room. Before he can talk, he gets a knock on his door. First, we see Buddy Murphy. Then Seth Rollins walks in. Rollins says that Black has been running into a bit of a numbers game lately. Rollins says he’d like Black to join him. Buddy tosses him a t-shirt. Seth Rollins says maybe he joins him. Black tosses the t-shirt back at Murphy and says “Maybe not.” Rollins says you’re either with him or against. Black reminds Rollins that he just knocked on his door, and that means a fight. Fans pop.
Match: Erick Rowan (with cage) vs. Drew McIntyre
Rowans is out first with his cage. Drew McIntyre’s music hits and fans give a huge pop. McIntyre marches to the ring with a smile. He passes by Rowan’s cage and doesn’t even flinch.
The bell rings and Rowan charges, but Drew gets a boot up. Rowan goes for the Iron Claw, but Drew slips out and clotheslines Rowan over the top rope. Outside the ring, McIntyre flips Rowans onto the floor. McIntyre sits on the apron for a bit, getting a rest. He spots Rowan’s cage. He grabs it and places it on the floor, then flattens it with the steel steps. Rowan attacks from behind, but McIntyre hits the Glasgow Kiss and tosses Rowan back in the ring.
Drew hits the Future Shock DDT, counts down from three, and nails the Claymore Kick for the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
– Drew flips out of the ring. As he walks by the cage, be pretends to kick dirt on it. On the stage, he points to the WrestleMania sign to a small pop.
– We once again see Orton backstage. They air a video package of last week’s segment between Randy Orton and Beth Phoenix where he nailed the RKO on her.
Match: Kabuki Warriors vs. Natalya and Liv Morgan
The Kabuki Warriors make their way to the ring with the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. We go to commercial.
Back from the break, the Kabuki Warriors are dancing to their music. They cut a promo without subtitles while laughing hysterically. Kairi Sane asks Asuka how her wrist is doing. She pretends to cry as she tells Sane it’s okay. Then she gets angry and says she wants to beat someone.
Natalya’s music hits. She comes out to the ramp, then Liv Morgan’s music hits. They head down to the ring together. Natalya stops to talk to a kid in the audience. Morgan and Natalya pose together on the apron.
Starting out is Liv Morgan and Kari Sane. Morgan quickly rolls of Sane, but only gets a 1 count. Sane hits a head scissors. Sane goes to capitalize, but Morgan knocks her down then hits a dropkick on her back. She goes for another pin but still only gets one. Tag to Natalya. Natalya takes down Sane and goes for a pin. She once again gets a 1 count.
Sane recovers against the ropes as Ruby Riott makes her way down to the ring. We get another commercial break.
We get picture in picture. Natalya tries to apply the Sharpshooter but Sane slides outside the ring. The Kabuki Warriors recover on the outside, but Natalya and Morgan hit stereo baseball slides. They roll Sane back in the ring. Natalya tags in Morgan who goes for a sliding pin, but only gets a 2. Sane tags in Asuka.
Asuka levels Morgan with a clothesline. Asuka applies a wrist lock. She toys with Morgan by kicking her nonchalantly on the mat. Asuka applies multiple chokeholds with her foot while the referee tells her to break it up. Morgan starts fighting back. She knocks Sane off the apron then takes down Asuka. Morgan makes the tag to Natalya.
Asuka attacks Natalya’s injured shoulder. Asuka tags in Sane and they double team Natalya’s arm. Sane tags in Asuka and they continue their double team on the arm. Sane is now tagged in and once again they attack the arm. Sane pins Natalya by stepping on her, but Natalya kicks out at 2. Sane tags in Asuka and they double team her. Sane hits a missile dropkick to Natalya’s chin. Asuka goes for a cocky pin but only gets a 2. Asuka applies an armbar to her hurt arm. Natalya tries to fight back, but Asuka tightens the hold.
Sarah Logan now makes her way to the ring. Both former Riott Squad members watch the match from the floor. Logan and Riott start battling on the outside. Morgan jumps off the turnbuckle and takes them both out, leaving Natalya alone to face the Kabuki Warriors. Natayla thinks she has the upperhand, but Sane tags in Asuka when she’s not looking.
Natalya locks in the Sharpshooter on Sane, but Asuka nails her from behind. She pins Natalya for the win.
Winners: The Kabuki Warriors
– We get a shot of Morgan, Logan, and Riott recovering on the outside.
– We get another reminder that the cameras are watching the parking lot for Edge’s arrival.
-The OC come out to AJ Styles’ music. They’re introduced as “The Best Tag Team In the World” and the “Phenomenal” AJ Styles. Style has a microphone. He reminds everyone that he had Black beat until the Undertaker had shown up. We see a video package of Taker’s return.
Styles says that he remembers Taker losing at WrestleMania three years ago to Roman Reigns and that Taker was ending his career. He says he believes that Taker really should have retired after his streak ended by Brock Lesnar. Styles says whatever reason he has to return will cost him, because he wants him at WrestleMania. We get a very small pop.
He says a few years ago he would be scared to call Taker out, but today he doesn’t see a phenom. All he sees is an old man named Mark Calloway. Styles says that the only reason Taker keeps coming back is because his wife is to blame. He name drops Michelle McCool. He says that she gets everything she wants because she’s spoiled and conniving. AJ Styles blames McCool for what’s about to happen and repeats that he’s challenging Taker for a match at WrestleMania and Taker is an old man.
The fans boo, so Styles says those fans can boo all they want because the truth is they don’t care about Taker at all. Styles says if Taker accepts the challenge, he’ll be the final nail in the coffin.
– Backstage, Black is still in his dark room waiting for his match against Seth Rollins.
– We see a video package of John Cena accepting a challenge from the Fiend for WrestleMania.
-Backstage, WWE attempts to get an interview out of Randy Orton but he stays quiet.
24/7 Championship: Riddick Moss (c) vs. Cedric Alexander
The bell rings and Riddick Moss lays into Alexander. Riddick tosses him out of the ring, then rolls him back in the ring. He goes for a pin but barely gets a 2-count. Riddic applies a rear chinlock. Alexander escapes with a jawbreaker.
Alexander gets hyped up and lays in some punches. Alexander launches off the top rope and connects with Riddick. He goes for a pin, but gets a one count. Riddick fights back and hits a huge spear into the corner. Riddick nails his neckbreaker finisher for a very quick win.
Winner: Riddick Moss
– After the match, Riddick holds up the title and yells to the audience that he’s the champion and isn’t going anywhere.
– We see a title card reminding us that Edge is coming up.
– Back from commercial and MVP is in mid-sentence. He trash talks the city and says he’s rather be somewhere. He says he’s transitioning from a competitor in the ring to an “absolute Brainiac.” MVP says he’s going to build his new stable around someone like… Edge. He says Edge just needs a little guidance from him to get his focus back. He claims he could be the one to make Edge a champion once again. He says Edge isn’t here, but then we see on the Titantron that Edge has arrived. Edge is making a beeline for the ring. We hear the familiar “You think you know me,” and Edge makes his way to the ring. He’s in no mood.
Edge rips the microphone from MVP’s hands. He tells Orton to grow a set and get out here right now, then he shoves the mic back into MVP’s hands. MVP says that’s Edge’s problem, then asks how’s his wife. Edge hits a spear. Randy Orton attempts to attack from behind, but Edge hits his own RKO. Edge rolls out to the floor and grabs a chair to a pop.
Edge enters the ring, but Orton rolls out and retreats. Edge chokes MVP in the middle of the ring, but never takes his eyes off Orton. Edge nails an RKO onto the steel chair. Edge grabs a second chair. He tells Orton that this is him. Fans chant “one more time.” Edge rolls him over and hits a second one. Orton and Edge keep eye contact. Edge’s music hits to a pop.
Orton stares on from the ramp. Edge starts to exit the ring and run after Orton, who retreats to the back. The chase is on as we cut to commercial.
– We see Triple H winning the Lifetime Achievement Award from arnold schwarzenegger.
– Paul Heyman cuts a pre-taped backstage promo. Heyman says that for 18 year Lesnar has been the most dominating wrestler in the WWE. He names off all wrestlers Lesnar has defeated.
We get a pre-taped promo for Drew McIntyre as well. McIntyre says that he had to Claymore Kick Lesnar to remind him that it wasn’t a fluke when he eliminated him at the Royal Rumble. He says that he’s going to be the next WWE champion.
– Backstage, they try to get an interview from Edge, but he asks repeatedly where Randy was. She says that she’s sorry to be the one to tell him this, but Orton has left the arena. Edge looks furious.
Match: Seth Rollins vs. Aleister Black
Rollins is out first and introduced as the Monday Night Messiah. He makes his way to the ring with more popcorn. Aleister Black is out next. During his entrance they once again plug Stone Cold’s return next week on 3:16 day.
The bell rings and they lock up. Black gets a headlock, but Rollins reverses it into a wristlock. Black flips out and lays out Rollins. They exchange offensive moves but they both dodge and reverse. Rollins is sent outside the ring. Black pretends he’s going to fly over the top rope onto Rollins, but he does a moonsault instead and sits indian style in the middle of the ring.
Rollins slowly climbs into the ring, but Black doesn’t get up. Rollins goes to boot him, but Black ducks it and does a kip-up to his feet. Alesister remains in control with strikes. Black hits a knee to Rollins chest that sends him outside the ring. Black rolls out and Buddy meets him on the outside. Buddy backs up and Rollins attacks him. He rolls him back into the ring.
Rollins stomps on him in the middle of the ring. Black tries to recover against ropes, but Rollins continues the assault. Black is able to fight back. He tries to hit a German suplex, but Rollins escapes and hits a sling blade. He goes for a pin but only gets a 2.
Rollins applies a rear chinlock, but Black gets out of it. Rollins sends him face first into the turnbuckle with a Flatliner. Buddy watches on from the outside and applauds. Black gets fired up and battles back. He nails Rollins with a bunch of strikes that puts him down. He taunts to the crowd. Murphy climbs onto the apron. While Black is distracted, Rollins tries to roll him up. Black kicks out. Black hits a German Suplex into a pin, but Murphy breaks it up for the DQ.
Winner via DQ: Aleister Black
AOP enters the ring now and its 4 on one. They all take turns beating on Black until we hear the Viking Raider’s horn. They charge to the ring and start fighting the heels off. The numbers game is still too much. Now, the Street Profits music hit. They chase off the heels. Before the heels can retreat to the back, the Street Profits challenge them to a 4-on-4 match. They say they want the smoke, and Rollins agrees to the challenge. We go to commercial.
Match: The Viking Raiders and Street Profits vs. Seth Rollings, Buddy Murphy, and AOP
Montez and Dawkins get Buddy with some offensive. Dawkins goes for a pin but can’t keep in him. Ivar is tagged in. AOP’s Akam is tagged in. He gets the advantage and tags in Rollins. Rollins tries to whip Ivar but he can’t. He tags in Murphy to try and double team, but he can’t. Ivar runs through them both.
The Viking Raiders beat on Akem. Montez is tagged in. He tries to chop Akem in the chest but it has no affect. The heels take turns tagging in and beating on Montez now. He continuously tries to get a tag but the heel team stops him. He eventually escapes and tags in Erik. Rezar is tagged in, but is sent to the outside. Erik flies to the outside but Rezar doesn’t budge. We once again go to commercial.
Back from commercial and Buddy is beating on Erick in his corner. Rollins is tagged in. He attacks Erik on the outside of the ring. Rollins attempts to whip Erick, but he reverses and sends Rollins into the barricade. Erick rolls in the ring and attempts to tag someone in, but Rollins grabs his foot. Erik gets extremely close, but Buddy enters the ring and knocks the whole babyface team off the apron.
Rollins tags back in Buddy now. He attacks Erik in the corner. Both members of AOP get tagged in now. They double team Erik. Akam goes for a pin, but only gets a two. Akam applies a chinlock. Erik tries to fight back, but Akam nails him with a knee to stop him in his tracks. Rollins is tagged in. He chokes Erick in the corner. The referee pushes him back, and while he’s distracted, the heels take a cheapshot to Erik in the corner. Rollins applies a chokehold in the middle of the ring. The fans are chanting “we want the smoke.” Rollins yells out that Erick isn’t going nowhere, and no one is getting the smoke. Erik starts to fight back, but Rollins gets a cheap shot. Rollins goes to attack again, but Erick hits a knee to the face. The tag is made to Montez Ford.
Montez flies off the turnbuckle and takes out Rollins. He attacks each of the heels at their corner. In picture-in-picture, Montez climbs the turnbuckle to attack Buddy, but he’s pushed off and racked by Akam. Akam is tagged in and attacks Montez on the outside. Both men are back in the ring, and Buddy is tagged in. Buddy nails Montez in the back. Rollins gets in his face and taunts him. Buddy chokes him against the ropes. Rollins gets in his face again, but Montez decks him. Buddy attacks him from behind and keeps control. Rollins tagged in now.
Rollins keeps control on Montez. Montez tries to fight back, but Seth Rollins decks him. Rollins tags in Buddy. Montez tries to get the tag again but Buddy stops him. Montez hits a superkick out of nowhere. Montez tags in Ivar.
Ivar runs through all the heels. Ivar tags in Erick. Erik gets distracted and turns around to a superkick from Rollins. The Street Profits enter the ring and take out AOP. Erik nails a giant slam on Rollins. Montez launches off the turnbuckle with a frogsplash. Its a close 2 but Buddy makes the save. Everyone starts battling outside the ring. Ivar hits a suicide dive taking out everyone. Montez takes out Rollins in the ring, this hits a flip over the top rope onto the whole group. Montez quickly enters the ring, but Rollins cuts him off out of nowhere with a Curbstomp. Rollins gets the pin and victory.
Winners: Seth Rollins, Murphy, and AOP
– Rollins attempts to celebrate in the ring. Owens comes out of nowhere and takes out Rollins. AOP and Buddy enter the ring, but they all get a Stunner. Rollins enters the ring and hits a curbstomp. Rollins looks furious. He hits a second curbstomp as the fans boo. AOP and Buddy watch from the outside. Rollins hits a third curbstomp as the show ends.