WWE Raw Results
March 8, 2021
St. Petersburg, Florida (Tropicana Field)
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Samoa Joe
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video recaps Bobby Lashley winning the WWE Championship from The Miz last week on WWE Raw.
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley is walking backstage with the Hurt Business. Lashley says it took way too long for him to get an opportunity. It took 16 years, but he’s the almighty and finally has the WWE Championship. Lashley is the almighty one going into WrestleMania.
The Miz and John Morrison make their way to the ring. We’re kicking off the show with a WWE Championship rematch. Miz complains about being a company guy and doing everything that has been asked of him, but Shane McMahon interfered and cost him the WWE Championship. Miz didn’t deserve that happening to him and McMahon changing the plans. Miz vows to be WWE Champion again.
-Commercial Break-
WWE Championship
The Miz w/ John Morrison vs. Bobby Lashley (c) w/ MVP
The bell rings, and Miz quickly gets out of the ring. Lashley quickly grabs him and brings him into the ring with a delayed vertical suplex. Drew McIntyre is shown watching backstage. Lashley shoulders Miz in the corner of the ring. Lashley backs up and charges, but Miz sidesteps him and sends him into the ring post shoulder first. Lashley goes to ringside, but manages to scoop up Miz. Miz slides off Lashley’s shoulder and sends him into the ring post. Lashley quickly responds with a clothesline on the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Lashley digging a fist into Miz’ face. Miz fights up, but Lashley clotheslines him down. Miz pushes Lashley to the corner and goes for his patented corner clothesline, but Lashley catches him and throws him. Miz rolls out of the ring, so Lashley follows. Lashley sends Miz into the barricade and drops him ribs-first on it. Lashley bounces Miz off the commentary table and puts him in the ring. Miz quickly boots him back, but that just infuriates Lashley. Lashley goes for a press slam, but Miz slides off and boots him again. Miz gets out of a flatliner and pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Miz goes for a baseball slide, but Lashley moves. Lashley puts Miz in a fireman’s carry and drives him headfirst into the ring post!
Lashley gets Miz in the ring and connects with a flatliner. Lashley immediately follows up by mounting him and punching away at him. Lashley sends Miz into the ropes and hits an Almighty Spinebuster. Lashley is fired up and sizes Miz up. Lashley applies the Hurt Lock, and Miz taps out.
Winner by Submission and still WWE Champion: Bobby Lashley
Tickets for WrestleMania 37 will be available one week from tomorrow.
Drew McIntyre is backstage and being interviewed. McIntyre says Lashley has no passion or balls. He worked with the Miz to get the title off him so Lashley could beat the freakin’ Miz for the title. McIntyre beat Brock Lesnar… Lashley beat the Miz. Sheamus all of a sudden blindsides McIntyre and beats on him. Sheamus says he’s not through with McIntyre.
-Commercial Break-
Rhea Ripley is coming soon to Monday Night Raw.
Footage is shown of Sheamus attacking Drew McIntyre moments ago.
Drew McIntyre is steaming and punching walls backstage. McIntyre bumps into Adam Pearce and demands he set up a match with Sheamus tonight… and it has to be No Disqualifications.
Footage is shown of Braun Strowman and Adam Pearce teaming together at Shane McMahon’s behest last week to go for the Raw Tag Team Championship. Pearce got pinned out of nowhere to lose the match for them, enraging Strowman.
Braun Strowman is walking backstage when he bumps into R-Truth. R-Truth says he has something he needs to get off his chest. Bugs Bunny has gone to the dark side… the only way he can get his baby back is to get a Mon-star. R-Truth asks for Strowman’s help, but has to apologize to him. R-Truth apologizes for digging a tunnel under the ThunderDome and ruining Hornswoggle’s wedding. Strowman cuts R-Truth off and says R-Truth doesn’t owe him an apology. He’s going out there and demanding an apology from Shane McMahon. R-Truth says in that case, this never happened. R-Truth tries to erase Strowman’s memory with a device like from the movie Men in Black and scampers off.
-Commercial Break-
It’s official: we’ll see a No Disqualification Match with Drew McIntyre and Sheamus later tonight.
Braun Strowman makes his way to the ring. Strowman wants to know what Shane McMahon’s problem is with him. McMahon made him team with Adam Pearce and then forced him to tag him in. Is Shane getting a laugh out of this? Strowman is beginning to think McMahon is laughing AT him. That can’t be the case because they both know if Strowman wanted to he could snap McMahon’s neck like a twig. Having said that, Strowman knows he could get fired on the spot for that. Strowman doesn’t want to be fired… he just wants respect. Strowman demands McMahon come out here and give him an apology. Strowman is livid.
Shane McMahon’s music hits, and he comes down to the ring before getting right in Strowman’s face. McMahon then simply says, “I apologize.” McMahon then walks off. Halfway up the ramp, McMahon stops and turns around. He looks at Strowman and then turns around and walks off. Strowman shouts that if he has something else to say, he should say it. McMahon declines.
Sheamus is walking backstage. Footage is shown Sheamus attacking Drew McIntyre a little while ago. He’ll face McIntyre in a No Disqualification match, next.
-Commercial Break-
WWE 24/7 Champion Bad Bunny will be performing on the Grammys this Sunday.
Shane McMahon is walking backstage when Sarah Schreiber stops him. She asks if he had more to say to Braun Strowman. McMahon goes to speak, but then walks off.
No Disqualification
Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre
Sheamus starts to make his entrance, but Drew McIntyre attacks him from behind. McIntyre punches him down the ramp and sends him into the barricade. McIntyre sends him chest-first into the ring steps before driving him spine-first into the LED apron.
McIntyre gets him in the ring, and the bell rings to start the match. McIntyre punches away at him, but Sheamus responds with a kick to the midsection. They trade punches in the center of the ring. Sheamus hooks a side headlock, but McIntyre whips him off. Sheamus shoulder blocks him down and hits the ropes. Sheamus gets out of a hip toss, but McIntyre shoulder blocks him down soon after. McIntyre viciously punches him in the corner, but Sheamus rakes the eyes before kneeing him in the face. Sheamus whips him hard into the corner, but McIntyre elbows him back. McIntyre goes to the second rope, but Sheamus pulls him off and down to the canvas. Sheamus stomps McIntyre and punches him. Sheamus backs up, but McIntyre puts him on the apron. Sheamus snaps him off the top rope and goes to the top rope. Sheamus connects with a diving clothesline for a near fall.
Sheamus knocks McIntyre out of the ring and goes for a diving clothesline off the apron, but McIntyre ducks. McIntyre sends him into the ring steps before throwing him over the commentary table. McIntyre balls up his fist and absolutely CLOCKS Sheamus in the forehead with a nasty potato shot. McIntyre pulls him to ringside, but Sheamus quickly responds with a clothesline. Sheamus goes under the ring and grabs a kendo stick, but McIntyre ducks the swing. McIntyre then sends Sheamus over the barricade. McIntyre sets up the lower half of the steel steps. McIntyre pulls Sheamus over the barricade and hits a scoop slam on the steps.
McIntyre gets Sheamus in the ring and grabs the kendo stick. As McIntyre gets in the ring, Sheamus kicks the middle rope into his groin. Sheamus knees him in the face and clotheslines him down. Sheamus picks up the kendo stick and starts beating McIntyre with it. Sheamus digs his boot into McIntyre’s face before hitting him in the midsection with the kendo stick. Sheamus connects with a rolling senton, but McIntyre kicks out. Sheamus quickly transitions into a camel clutch while ripping at McIntyre’s face. Sheamus lets go and sizes him up for another kendo stick shot, but McIntyre grabs him. McIntyre hits a pair of belly-to-belly overhead suplexes before hitting a neckbreaker. McIntyre kips up and grabs the kendo stick. McIntyre viciously beats Sheamus with the kendo stick and hits a side leg sweep with the stick over Sheamus’ throat for a near fall.
McIntyre continues to beat on Sheamus with the kendo stick, so Sheamus rolls out of the ring. McIntyre scoops Sheamus up, but Sheamus slides off and sends him headfirst into the ring post. Sheamus then slams McIntyre onto the commentary table, but it doesn’t break.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Sheamus and McIntyre punching away at each other. Sheamus connects with an Irish Curse Backbreaker before locking on a Cloverleaf. McIntyre screams in pain, but he manages to twist through and grab Sheamus’ ankle. McIntyre then punches away at Sheamus. McIntyre punches Sheamus back and connects with a big spinebuster. McIntyre follows up with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Sheamus fights back and goes to the top rope, but McIntyre crotches him up there. McIntyre connects with a superplex for a near fall. Sheamus quickly pops up with White Noise for a near fall.
A steel chair is brought into the ring. McIntyre connects with a Future Shock DDT on the chair, but Sheamus kicks out! McIntyre sizes him up in the corner and does the countdown. McIntyre charges, but Sheamus throws the steel chair into his head. Sheamus follows up with a vicious knee strike for a near fall. Sheamus viciously drives the tip of the chair into McIntyre’s midsection and wedges it in the corner. Sheamus goes to drive McIntyre’s face into the chair, but McIntyre turns it on him. McIntyre immediately follows up with a Claymore Kick that sends Sheamus out of the ring!
McIntyre goes outside and grabs Sheamus. Sheamus knocks him back and hits a Brogue Kick. Sheamus grabs the top half of the steel steps, as does McIntyre. They charge and clash their respective steps, taking each other out. McIntyre goes over the barricade, while Sheamus goes down at ringside. The referee checks on them and determines that they cannot continue. The referee ends the match and calls for medical attention.
No Contest
Replays show that both of their faces were driven into the steps when they collided, knocking them both unconscious. Referees and producers run down to help. McIntyre comes to on his own and gets to his feet on his own power. Sheamus is at ringside holding his forehead.
-Commercial Break-
Footage is shown of the end of the Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus match. They are still receiving medical attention.
Video Package: Randy Orton vs. The Fiend
We meet the new interviewer Kevin Patrick backstage. Patrick will interview AJ Styles and Omos. Styles cuts Patrick and says he wants to talk about The Fiend and Randy Orton. Styles says Orton took The Fiend out and is being haunted by Alexa Bliss. They’re tearing Orton down bit by bit. Orton already hears voices in his head and now there’s voodoo magic. It’s ridiculous…
Randy Orton walks up and asks if Styles finds it funny that his mind is being messed with. Styles doesn’t find it funny — he finds it weak. Orton challenges Styles to a match later tonight to show him how weak he is. Styles says Orton already has problems, but if he needs bigger problems then he accepts. Orton is pleased and walks off.
The New Day make their way to the ring. Xavier Woods faces Shelton Benjamin, next.
-Commercial Break-
Next week on Raw, The New Day will challenge The Hurt Business for the Raw Tag Team Championship.
Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston vs. Raw Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin w/ Cedric Alexander
They lock up, and Benjamin powers Woods into the ropes and pushes him out of the ring. Kofi Kingston runs over to Woods to check on him. Woods gets back in the ring. Benjamin pushes him, but Woods responds with some right hands. Woods connects with a side kick for a two count. Woods hooks a side headlock, but Benjamin takes him down with a back suplex. Benjamin hits a scoop slam before whipping him hard into the corner. Benjamin connects with another scoop slam and stares at Kingston. Benjamin applies a rear chin lock. Woods fights up, so Benjamin knees him and hits a third scoop slam. Benjamin forearms him into the corner and whips him to the opposite corner. Benjamin counters a slingshot, but Woods knocks him back. Woods goes to leap back into the ring, but Benjamin hits a knee to the head. Benjamin attacks the throat and drags him into the ring for a two count.
Benjamin applies a chin lock, but Woods gets out with a jawbreaker. Woods punches and chops Benjamin into the ropes. Benjamin reverses a whip, but Woods slides through the legs and hits a forearm shiver. Woods rolls him up for a two count. Benjamin quickly fights back and talks some trash to Kingston. Woods then catches him with a small package for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Xavier Woods
Riddle makes his entrance. He’ll be in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Next week on Raw, Riddle will defend the WWE United States Championship against Mustafa Ali.
Non-Title Match
WWE United States Champion Riddle vs. Slapjack w/ Mustafa Ali
Riddle quickly takes Slapjack down with some exploder suplexes and strikes. Riddle kicks him and knocks him out of the ring. Mustafa Ali is furious. Slapjack punches Riddle’s bare foot and slams him on the apron. Slapjack takes Riddle down and hits a snap suplex. Slapjack follows up with a falcon arrow for a two count. Ali shouts instructions to Slapjack. Riddle hits the ropes, but Slapjack hits a wild dropkick for a near fall. Slapjack kicks away at Riddle and hits a snap suplex. Slapjack goes to the top rope, but Riddle cuts him off. Riddle goes for an exploder off the top rope, but Slapjack knocks him off. Riddle counters a missile dropkick and connects with a vicious Final Flash. Slapjack is under the ropes, so Riddle pulls him into the ring and picks up a near fall. Slapjack gets out of a slam and knees him in the face for a near fall. Ali is furious at the referee’s count. Riddle soon hits a Final Flash followed by Bro Derek for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: WWE United States Champion Riddle
Mustafa Ali is absolutely livid at ringside. Ali berates Slapjack and tells him to stop embarrassing him.
Footage is shown of Shane McMahon sheepishly apologizing to Braun Strowman earlier in the night. McMahon looked like he had more to say, but held himself back.
Shane McMahon is on the phone backstage when WWE Official Adam Pearce walks up to him. Pearce asks if McMahon had anything to say to Braun Strowman. McMahon didn’t realize how nosy everyone is. McMahon says he did have something else to say and tells Pearce to have Strowman meet him in the ring, next.
-Commercial Break-
Shane McMahon is in the ring. Braun Strowman’s music hits, and he angrily makes his way to the ring. Strowman demands to hear what McMahon has to say. McMahon pretends that his microphone isn’t working and asks for another one. McMahon gets out of the ring to get it and walks up the ramp. McMahon says he wants to say something face-to-face to Strowman, though he’s nowhere near him.
McMahon has engaged in some self introspection. McMahon does like to have fun and have fun at other people’s expense, but Strowman isn’t like that. McMahon says they need to get one thing done. McMahon then says he doesn’t know if he can talk to him about this. Strowman shouts wondering why they’re even out here. McMahon wants to get stuff done… he trails off in speaking. McMahon says one thing he needs to get done is to come to an understanding with Strowman. McMahon walks back down to ringside, but doesn’t speak. McMahon says one thing he would never do is make Strowman look stupid. Stupid is an abhorrent word. McMahon can tell that Strowman is pacing around and upset. Strowman says he’s not playing games. McMahon says those are disgusting, cruel, and abhorrent words. McMahon says there are a few other words that Strowman may have heard in his life: stupid is as stupid does, he fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch, or this guy is so stupid. That’s not McMahon saying that. It’s a stereotype of big man, little brain. McMahon never would specifically call Strowman stupid. Strowman gets out of the ring, and McMahon runs away.
We go backstage to see McMahon running away and getting into an SUV. The SUV skids away when Strowman gets backstage. Strowman then walks off, and McMahon emerges from a hiding spot and waves at Strowman, who has his back to him. McMahon scoffs and says, “So stupid.”
Footage is shown of Lana defeating Nia Jax in a Tables Match last month. This is the infamous “MY HOLE” match.
Naomi and Lana make their way to the ring. They have a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match, next.
Video Package: WWE celebrates Women’s History Month
-Commercial Break-
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Naomi and Lana vs. Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax (c’s) w/ Reginald
Nia Jax introduces her new friend Reginald, a sommelier who is down on his luck. Reginald was fired by Carmella and slapped by Sasha Banks last Friday on Smackdown. Luckily she knows her way around a fine glass of wine and is bringing him to ringside. Jax thinks Reginald is cute.
Naomi starts against Nia Jax. Jax quickly throws Naomi into the ropes, so Lana tags in. Naomi and Lana kick Jax, so Shayna Baszler tags in. Baszler knocks Lana to the corner, but Lana fights back with a bulldog. Naomi tags in and attacks Baszler. Baszler hits a gutwrench suplex on Naomi. Lana tags in and hits a double-team with Naomi for a two count. Lana applies a waistlock, but Baszler quickly knocks her out of the ring. Naomi then hits Jax and Baszler with a corkscrew plancha.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Baszler dominating Lana. During the break, she stomped on Lana’s arm. Lana goes for a tag, but Baszler stops her before knocking Naomi off the apron. Lana then boots Baszler down. Naomi tags in and dropkicks Baszler. Naomi hits a weak Rear View on Naomi as Jax tags in. Naomi kicks away at Jax before hitting an enzuigiri. Naomi hits a head-scissor DDT, but Baszler breaks up the pin. Jax charges Naomi, but Naomi sidesteps her to send her into Baszler. Reginald grabs Naomi’s foot to distract her. Lana tags in. Naomi grabs Reginald and Lana hits him with a baseball slide. Jax avalanches Lana into Naomi. Jax then powerbombs Lana for the win.
Winners by Pinfall and still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
A sneak peek is shown of Charlotte Flair on Straight Up Steve Austin.
Sarah Schreiber is with Randy Orton backstage. She says some WWE Superstars are concerned for his mental state. Orton didn’t realize he has friends, but says there’s nothing wrong with him. AJ Styles needs to watch out for the RKO.
-Commercial Break-
Rhea Ripley is coming soon to WWE Raw.
Sarah Schreiber is backstage with Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke. They say they’ve worked hard and want a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Charlotte Flair comes up and says she wants a title match at WrestleMania. Brooke says they want a shot and will leave it all in the ring at WrestleMania. Flair says they have five weeks and hopes their bite is as strong as the bark.
Footage is shown of AJ Styles and Randy Orton having a confrontation earlier tonight.
AJ Styles is with Omos in the Gorilla Position. Kevin Patrick asks him about Randy Orton. Styles says Orton should be focused on The Fiend. Instead, he’ll be taking a big loss heading into WrestleMania.
AJ Styles makes his entrance with Omos by his side. Styles faces Randy Orton, next.
-Commercial Break-
Footage is shown of Bobby Lashley’s entrance earlier tonight and his dominating WWE Championship defense over The Miz.
AJ Styles w/ Omos vs. Randy Orton
They lock up, and Orton powers Styles to the corner. The referee tries to get between them, but Orton leaps over him to punch Styles. Orton takes Styles down and stomps the hand. Orton stomps the ankle and bounces him off the turnbuckle. Orton viciously uppercuts him down and goes for an RKO, but Styles pushes him off and gets out of the ring. Orton follows him out, so Styles gets in and stomps him getting in the ring. Orton reverses a whip to the ropes and connects with a back elbow. Orton wrenches the arm and kicks Styles in the ribs. Orton rakes his boot on Styles’ face and knocks him out of the ring. Orton hits a back suplex on the commentary table before putting Styles in the ring. Styles quickly knocks Orton off the apron and hits a forearm plancha.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Styles stomping away at Orton. Styles shoulders Orton in the midsection and whips him to the opposite corner. Styles blocks a boot and kicks away at the hamstring. Styles pulls him to the center of the ring and attacks the leg. Styles then ties the leg up in the ropes and twists it. Styles then jumps on it. Styles grabs the leg, and Orton tries to fight back. Styles then absolutely lays him out with a right hand. Orton crumbles in the corner. Styles bounces him off the turnbuckle and rips at the face. Orton kicks Styles back, but Styles quickly responds with an enzuigiri. Styles applies a rear chin lock and cinches it in. Orton fights up and backs him to the corner. Orton elbows him in the face to get out.
Orton punches away at Styles, but he has a whip reversed. Styles blocks a kick, so Orton wipes him out with a big clothesline. Orton soon hits a powerslam for a near fall. Orton continues to fight back at Styles and hits a reverse headlock backbreaker for another near fall. Styles is bleeding from the mouth. Orton puts Styles on the top rope and punches away at him. Styles slides off and knocks Orton off the ropes. Styles sets up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Orton falls into the ropes to knock Styles down. Orton hooks a front facelock and drags Styles to the ropes. Styles gets out of the draping DDT and goes for a Calf Crusher. Orton fights it, but Styles knocks him back and cinches it in. Orton screams in pain as Styles tightens up the Calf Crusher. Orton reaches for the rope before fighting out of it.
Orton sends Styles flying with an uppercut before hitting a draping DDT. Orton limps around the ring from the Calf Crusher and signals for the RKO. Orton drops down and starts to size Styles up. Omos drags Styles out of the ring to save him.
All of a sudden, the lights go purple, and Alexa Bliss appears on screen in the middle of a pentagram. She plays with a Jack in the Box, but stops it before “pop goes the weasel.” She says, “Not yet,” and blows out a match. The ring posts explode with fire. Orton starts throwing up that black liquid. Styles then takes him out with a Phenomenal Forearm for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: AJ Styles
After a few moments, Randy Orton comes to in the ring. Alexa Bliss laughs heartily at him as the show comes to an end.