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The WWE RAW after WrestleMania is usually one of the most exciting shows of the year. However, this year was a little different as there wasn’t too much to talk about from the show.
WWE allowed a few top superstars to return to RAW after taking some time off from the ring. However, the matches that took place during the night were a huge let-down from the action fans saw at WrestleMania.
A confrontation between Riddle and Bobby Lashley led to a match between the two men. Randy Orton returned after defeating The Fiend at WrestleMania. He competed in a Triple Threat Match against Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman to crown the new number one contender to the WWE Championship.
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The Miz and John Morrison teamed up to face Damian Priest in a two-on-one handicap match. The heels defeated Priest thanks to a distraction by the returning Maryse. The Miz and Morrison had been humiliated by Bad Bunny and Priest at WrestleMania.
The New Day defeated Elias and Jaxson Ryker, while Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler competed in a match that ended rather bizarrely. Let’s take a look at five things WWE got right on the first episode of RAW after WrestleMania.
#5 The Viking Raiders returned to WWE RAW
Several superstars have made their return on the WWE RAW following WrestleMania. This year was no different.
The Viking Raiders finally returned to WWE RAW for the first time since September. An injury to Ivar had forced him to undergo neck surgery. The duo took on Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin in a tag-team contest. Ivar did not miss a beat and went after Alexander right away.
Benjamin tagged in and tried to gain control of the match for his team. He worked on Erik for some time and scored a couple of near-falls before Ivar exploded into the match.
After taking down both Alexander and Benjamin, The Viking Raiders hit the Viking Experience for the win.
WWE RAW’s tag team division has been rather weak over the past several months. The Hurt Business was doing well before WWE decided to split them up. It was good to watch The Viking Raiders return post-WrestleMania to strengthen the division.
Erik and Ivar could end up being good challengers for AJ Styles and Omos’ WWE RAW Tag Team titles.
#4 Riddle and Bobby Lashley had another match on WWE RAW
Bobby Lashley arrived on WWE RAW after successfully defending his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania. He had a confrontation with Riddle that led to a match being booked between the two Superstars.
Riddle lost his United States Championship to Sheamus at WrestleMania after a good contest. However, WWE decided to put him in a match against Lashley rather than allowing him to have a go at Sheamus again. The All Mighty attacked Riddle when he was making his entrance, and made him pay immediately.
Lashley nearly destroyed Riddle by throwing him into the ring post, steel steps, and barricades. However, The Original Bro wanted the match to go ahead and told the referee to ring the bell.
As soon as the bell rang, Lashley went after Riddle once again. Riddle impressed the WWE RAW audience by making a comeback and hitting Lashley with a few big strikes. He tried to take Lashley down and attempted the Floating Bro. However, Lashley moved and locked in the Hurt Lock to win the match.
This was an odd booking following the events of WrestleMania. It allowed Riddle to once again show that he’s always up for a fight. Lashley will need some bigger segments and competitors to make his WWE Championship reign more memorable.
#3 A surprise return ruined the match between Asuka and Rhea Ripley on WWE RAW
Charlotte Flair made a surprise return to WWE RAW following WrestleMania. Rumors flooded the internet over the past several weeks since she disappeared from the Red brand. After missing WrestleMania 37, Flair was ready to ensure that she did not miss any more action.
The Queen claimed that missing WrestleMania was not her fault, and things were out of her control. She talked about how nobody in the women’s roster measured up to her and blamed the WWE Universe for thinking she steals opportunities.
After she left, Asuka came out for her WWE RAW Women’s Championship rematch against Rhea Ripley. The superstars locked up, and Ripley threw her around the ring.
Ripley showed her heel side throughout the contest and overpowered Asuka. The Empress tried to gain control by hitting a DDT on the apron. But just as both women tried to get back up on their feet, Flair arrived to attack and shoved them into the steel steps.
She took out both superstars before walking away. It seems the company has already managed to build the storyline for the next big match for the WWE RAW Women’s Championship.
Fans will likely watch these three women in a Triple Threat Match at the upcoming pay-per-view.
#2 Alexa’s Playground revealed the next chapter; The Firefly Fun House returned on WWE RAW
Alexa Bliss returned to WWE RAW right after appearing at WrestleMania. The match between ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton had a bizarre ending thanks to The Goddess.
Bliss hosted another segment of Alexa’s Playground and told the story of how she was rescued by The Fiend when she was lost. Bliss said The Fiend protected her, but left her for some time.
She then explained that she may have never needed The Fiend in the first place. The Goddess also revealed that she had unlocked something truly evil, and then introduced the WWE Universe to a doll named Lily on WWE RAW.
Later on the show, Bray Wyatt returned to the Firefly Fun House. He was happy to be back with his true friends, and said he felt reborn.
Both segments were good and allowed the creatives to write the next chapter in The Fiend’s storyline. While the ending to the match at WrestleMania did not make much sense, it was good to have Wyatt and Bliss back on WWE RAW.
Wyatt has been doing well with his character, while Bliss has been outstanding. There is so much more RAW can do with the two superstars going forward.
#1 Drew McIntyre once again became the #1 contender to the WWE Championship on RAW
The final match of WWE RAW was held between Randy Orton, Braun Strowman, and Drew McIntyre. All three men fought to become the number one contender to Bobby Lashley’s WWE Championship.
Strowman started well and took out both men, before McIntyre bounced back. He took Strowman out with the steel steps. The Viper gained control of the match soon after and worked over both his opponents.
The Strowman Express took Orton down at ringside and went after McIntyre. He used the steel steps to his advantage and kept the pressure on the two former WWE Champions.
Orton finally caught Strowman with an RKO, but McIntyre came out of nowhere to deliver a Claymore Kick to Orton and pick up the victory on WWE RAW.
After the match, MVP appeared on the stage to distract The Scottish Warrior. T-BAR and Mace then entered the ring and hit him with a double chokeslam before walking away. With this development on WWE RAW, McIntyre has remained part of the WWE Championship picture in one way or another since WrestleMania 36.
However, it was good to see fans will get a rematch between Lashley and McIntyre. The two did not hold back at WrestleMania, and another match could give Lashley a chance to showcase his dominance again.
