WWE Raw Results, Grade & Opinion: March 15, 2021
A.K.A. The One With Where A Title Was Traded For A Shirt
Results:
- Drew McIntyre def. The Miz
- Dana Brooke & Mandy Rose def. Lana & Naomi
- New Day def. Hurt Business (c) to win the Raw Tag Team Championships
- R-Truth trades Bad Bunny for the 24/7 Championship
- Damian Priest def. Jaxson Ryker
- Asuka def. Shayna Baszler
- Matt Riddle (c) def. Mustafa Ali to retain the United States Championship
- Bobby Lashley def. Sheamus
The Main Event: A Herculean Clash
We’ve got our WWE Championship match for Wrestlemania. The show opened with commentary letting us know that Drew McIntyre will face Bobby Lashley at Wrestlemania. In a classic set-up for their match, the two traded big wins in front of one another.
Ahead of his match at Fastlane versus Sheamus, McIntyre kicked the night off by squaring off against The Miz. Once John Morrison was kicked from ringside, McIntyre had control. He dispatched Miz easily with Lashley’s Hurt Lock.
.@DMcIntyreWWE just sent a BOLD message to the #WWEChampion by defeating @mikethemiz with @fightbobby's HURT LOCK!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/LomfeFzaPX
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Not to be outdone, Lashley battled Sheamus in the main event. McIntyre watched from ringside as Lashley battled through a tough fight and got the win with a spear.
You cannot stop THE ALL MIGHTY @fightbobby. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/yVlA4DkIBx
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
The Undercard:
Shane McMahon managed to get the better of Braun Strowman this week. The two were supposed to have a match, and Shane baited Strowman by insulting his intelligence. It was all a trap to then level Strowman with a camera. He then hit his patented elbow drop through the announce table and followed it up with a sliming of the big man. All of this is working to make Shane less likable ahead of Wrestlemania, and it is working.
We've seen this before…@shanemcmahon just dropped his patented ELBOW on @BraunStrowman! #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/dEEEMB44Re
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Asuka got a measure of revenge on Shayna Baszler for making her lose a tooth a few weeks ago. After the intense win, Asuka wanted to curb stomp Baszler directly onto the turnbuckle. She got it done once, but was stopped before doing it to an exposed turnbuckle. If WWE is turning Asuka heel for Wrestlemania just to face Charlotte, it’s a big mistake.
Tooth for a tooth…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/bU58E0zKUO
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
New Day are now 11 time tag team champions. After the win over the Hurt Business, their Wrestlemania challengers appeared: AJ Styles & Omos. Styles said he’s never been tag champion so he wants to get his hands on the belts with Omos. He would’ve had a shot if Y2AJ didn’t break up so soon. We’re getting New Day versus Styles & Omos at Wrestlemania.
IT'S OFFICIAL!@AJStylesOrg & @TheGiantOmos will challenge @AustinCreedWins & @TrueKofi for the #WWERaw #TagTeamTitles at #WrestleMania!https://t.co/m3JLogaOzm
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Bad Bunny is no longer 24/7 Champion. Notice how I didn’t say he lost it. Instead, he traded it to R-Truth for some Stone Cold Steve Austin merch. Once upon a time I had high hopes for this title. I was wrong.
🗣 WE HAVE A TRADE!@sanbenito gets alllllllll the #StoneColdWeek merchandise … and @RonKillings gets his baby back! #WWERaw #247Championship pic.twitter.com/KVHTcYWPj3
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
After losing trading the 24/7 Championship, Bad Bunny managed Damian Priest while he squashed Jaxson Ryker. Following the match, Miz appeared and smashed Bunny in the back with a guitar. The build to this celebrity Wrestlemania match is officially on.
ICYMI: In a shocking moment on #WWERaw, @mikethemiz targeted @sanbenito with @IAmEliasWWE's guitar! pic.twitter.com/nPjDpd4ltZ
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Alexa Bliss was being creepy as usual and has something planned for Randy Orton at Fastlane. Will The Fiend return from being burned alive? Yes, because wrestling is ridiculous.
What exactly does @AlexaBliss_WWE have in mind for @RandyOrton at #WWEFastlane? #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/MVPjgfG0vo
— WWE (@WWE) March 16, 2021
Grade: B
Overall this show was pretty good. McIntyre-Lashley is going to be a quality match that they’ll develop a story around. Seeing Asuka come back was good, but seeing her with heel tendencies wasn’t as great. New Day winning the tag titles leads to an interesting tag match for Wrestlemania as well. The Shane-Strowman stuff isn’t clicking for me, but the rest of the show was not bad.
