WWE RAW
Episode 1346
#RAW
Original Air Date: March 11, 2019
Event Date: March 11, 2019
(aired live)
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Renee Young
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Ring Area
The Shield heads to the ring through the crowd. Reigns says that if last night was the last time ever, then he has no regrets. He was doing what he loves with people he loves. Tonight though, they are on the road to Wrestlemania, and the members of The Shield each have some some business to take care of. Reigns wants his first RAW singles match in about five months, Ambrose has something to take care of (though no one knows what), and Rollins has some main event business. Reigns knows that Rollins will burn Wrestlemania down. The Shield members touch fists, then Reigns and Ambrose leave the ring.
Alone in the ring, Rollins looks up at the Wrestlemania sign. He is about to start speaking when Paul Heyman interrupts him. Heyman walks out to the stage and introduces himself. Rollins smiles. Rollins talks about the people Brock Lesnar has beaten, but he also talks about the people who came close to beating Lesnar (like Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, and Finn Balor). Rollins makes the point that Lesnar seems to have trouble with guys of Rollins’ size and style.
Heyman says Rollins is only telling part of the story. Lesnar had no time to prepare for any of the opponents Rollins just mentioned. Rollins smiles again. Heyman says Rollins thinks he knows Lesnar, but he doesn’t Heyman reintroduces Rollins to Lesnar through a highlight video package.
Heyman says that Lesnar has prepared for Seth Rollins, and he’s anticipating everything he will do to Rollins. As Heyman talks, Shelton Benjamin attacks Rollins from behind. Benjamin hits Rollins with multiple German suplexes as the show goes to a commercial break.
Match 1
Seth Rollins vs Shelton Benjamin
(referee: Chad Patton; guest commentary: Paul Heyman)
Result: Seth Rollins wins via pinfall after a curb stomp
Time: 6:56 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Benjamin was here to give a preview of sorts for Rollins versus Lesnar, and I think the match worked in that capacity. Benjamin hit Rollins with multiple German suplexes throughout the match, and Benjamin’s pre-match attack allowed Rollins build a comeback right from the start of the match.
Match 2
Intercontinental Title Match
Bobby Lashley vs Finn Balor (IC Champ)
(referee: John Cone)
Result: Bobby Lashley wins via pinfall after a spear (and a distraction from Lio Rush)
Time: 7:34 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was kind of frustrating, but it was supposed to be frustrating. At least, the finish was. Lashley began to dominate Balor, but Balor fought back as he usually dows. As the match seemed like it was nearing its end, Lio Rush made his presence known at ringside. That led directly to the actual finish of the match. With the way this feud has been going, it seems clear that there will be a rematch for the IC Title at Wrestlemania.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Baron Corbin. Corbin says he wanted Reigns gone from the ring. Now that he’s back, there’s no way Reigns is at 100%. Tonight, Corbin witll “house train the big dog.”
Backstage
Ronda Rousey walks. She looks angry.
Ring Area
Ronda Rousey heads to the ring. First, she tells the crowd to take their applause and shove it. Rousey has come to humiliate both Charlotte and Becky Lynch. Rousey will expose Charlotte, Becky, and the entire WWE as the carney con-artists that they always have been. Ronda says she gives permission for WWE to make the Wrestlemania match a handicap match.
As Rousey finishes, Dana Brooke comes out to the stage and heads towards the ring. Brooke has heard enough. Also, Brooke says she has nothing left to lose. She won’t allow Rousey to disrespect WWE, the fans, or the women’s locker room. Brooke has worked hard to be part of WWE, but she can barely even get a match on TV. All Brooke wants is a chance, so she accepts the open challenge that Rousey didn’t issue.
Rousey attacks Brooke. Rousey completely dominates Brooke as referees come out to try to stop her. Rousey sets up for the arm bar, but she refuses to give the fans anything they might want. The referees are yelling at Ronda to leave, so she slaps one of them (a referee who has never reffed a match in WWE and is clearly a local wrestler in a striped shirt). Rousey then takes her title belt and leaves.
Video
Two weeks ago, Batista attacked Ric Flair.
Match 3
Aleister Black & Ricochet vs Chad Gable & Bobby Roode
(referee: Darrick Moore)
Result: Aleister Black pins Bobby Roode after Black Mass
Time: 4:28
Match Thoughts
Good match, though it was short. I still want Black and Ricochet to each do their own things, but this was fun enough for what it was.
Ring Area
After the match, The Revival attacks Black and Ricochet. Proud of themselves, The Revival walks away as Roode and Gable watch.
Ring Area
Alexa Bliss comes out to the stage for A Moment of Bliss. She introduces the host of this year’s Wrestlemania: herself.
Video
Last week Colin Jost got into trouble with Braun Strowman.
Backstage
Charly Caruso welcomes Braun Strowman. Strowman says Colin Jost better stay away from him. Someone walks up and tells Strowman that his car is here.
After a commercial break, Strowman finds that Colin Jost has given him a car as a sort of apology for what he said last week. Strowman, of course, destroys the car.
Ring Area
In the ring, Elias says it’s a miracle he’s become such a success since Pittsburgh is his hometown. Pittsburgh is full of miserable people, and miserable people hold great people back. Then he makes a sports reference.
Suddenly, No Way Jose heads to the ring with his conga line. As Jose makes it to ringside, Elias attacks. Elias beats up Jose as the conga line watches.
Video
Harlem Heat are headed to the WWE Hall of Fame.
Ring Area
Lacey Evans walks out to the stage. While Lacey interacts with the announce team, Nia Jax and Tamina come out and head to the ring.
Natalya comes out next. From the stage, Natalya says the attack on Beth Phoenix last night got Natalya thinking. Natalya’s not sure if she can trust many people, but she knows she can trust her best friend. Beth Phoenix comes out and accompanies Natalya to the ring.
Match 4
Nia Jax w/ Tamina vs Natalya w/ Beth Phoenix
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Nia Jax wins via DQ when Beth Phoenix attacks her
Time: 0:30
Match Thoughts
This was barely a match. The action had just gotten started when Beth Phoenix entered the ring and attacked Nia Jax.
Backstage
After Nia Jax and Tamina got backstage, they got into a brawl with Sasha Banks and Bayley. Officials separate the four women.
Outside the Venue
Batista has arrived.
Video
Zelina Vega and Shania Hurtado interview each other for Girl Up.
Ring Area
Triple H heads to the ring. He says nothing. He’s waiting for Batista.
Batista comes out to the stage. After listening to his own music for a few seconds, some personal security guards walk and and line the ramp in front of Batista. Triple H invites Batista to come down to the ring and face him like a man. Batista declines. Batista says they will do things on his terms, and Triple H will give him what he wants.
Triple H refuses to give Batista anything. He wonders how many times Batista has quit, yet now that he’s a movie star he expects to be handed stuff? All that Triple H offers to give Batista is a beating on the RAW stage. Batista says he quit because he wanted to get as far away from Triple H as possible. Triple H always held Batista down. Batista again demands that Triple H gives him what he wants. What Batista wants is Triple H at Wrestlemania. Triple H gives Batista what he wants.
Batista says “thank you.” All he ever wanted was one last match end end his career on his own terms, and one last match to end Triple H’s career on Batista’s terms. Triple H says the Wrestlemania match will be on his terms, and those terms will be no holds barred. Batista walks away.
Ring Area
Kurt Angle heads to the ring. Angle says that throughout his career, he has considered Pittsburgh his hometown. Being in Pittsburgh, Angle announces that he will compete in his farewell match at this year’s Wrestlemania. Tonight, he’d like to have one last match in Pittsburgh.
Match 5
Kurt Angle vs Apollo Crews
(referee: Chad Patton)
Result: Kurt Angle wins via pinfall after the Angle Slam
Time: 3:03
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was clearly an exhibition for Angle. Though it was short, it was a nice final bout for him in his hometown. I imagine Apollo Crews was thoroughly honored to take the easy loss from Angle tonight.
Backstage
Roman Reigns prepares for his match.
Ring Area
Roman Reigns heads to the ring for a match against Baron Corbin. As he enters the ring, Drew McIntyre hits Reigns with a surprise attack. McIntyre beats on Reigns and runs him into the ring post. Reigns fights back at ringside, but his comeback is cut short by a Claymore Kick from McIntyre. McIntyre waits for Reigns to get up, hen he hits Reigns with a second Claymore which causes Reigns’ head to smash into the ring post.
Referees get McIntyre to back off as medical staff attend to Reigns. Seth Rollins comes down to the ring to check on Reigns. Reigns stands and walks away under his own power. Reigns seems a bit unsteady as he walks up the ramp with Rollins.
Backstage
Rollins and Ambrose walk Reigns to the trainer’s room. Rollins enters the room with Reigns while Ambrose walks over to Triple H. Ambrose tells Triple H that he wants Drew McIntyre right now in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Triple H immediately agrees to the match.
Match 6
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Dean Ambrose vs Drew McIntyre
(referee: Rod Zapata)
Result: Drew McIntyre wins via pinfall after a Claymore Kick
Time: 10:49 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The first half was just brawling throughout the crowd which was fine, but the best bits of the match happened near the end. The match made its way up to the stage, and McIntyre got real mean and dirty. McIntyre definitely made a statement tonight.
Show Impressions
This show was okay. Nothing really stood out as great. It was just okay. I did like McIntyre taking out two members of The Shield by himself though. That was neat.
Match of the Night
Ambrose vs McIntyre
It’s not something that I’ll necessarily watch again, but the match as a whole was a memorable moment.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2019-03-11