KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT 2/26: Elimination Chamber fallout including Brock’s face-off with Reigns, Asuka has a decision to make, Rousey-Authority fallout

KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT
FEBRUARY 26, 2018
ANAHEIM, CALIF.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK

Announcers: Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman, Corey Graves

---

It’s all good news when you listen the newest weekly addition to the monumental PWTorch VIP Podcast line-up: “Alan4L’s ProWres Paradise.”

Enthusiastic, energetic, expert analysis of the latest best matches worldwide and history lessons. The debut show that dropped yesterday focuses on the history of Kenny Omega and Kota Ibusha “The Golden Lovers” and the origination of the queer aspects of the team, plus three great matches you’ve got to see: A slugfest from PROGRESS, an epic title match in Dragon Gate, and a scientific masterclass from Ring of Honor featuring one of the most under-appreciated wrestlers in the world, Jonathan Gresham. Plus a look ahead to OTT’s huge show next weekend in Dublin. Check out new new VIP podcast host Alan Counihan along with this week’s ohost Joe Gagne in episode one of “ProWres Paradise.”

CLICK HERE TO GO VIP (and check the box that says you’ve signed up because of Alan4L!)

---

[HOUR ONE]

-A video package aired on the Men’s Elimination Chamber with a particular focus on the Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman portion including the post-match attack.

-The announcers hyped the Brock-Braun face-off and also said Stephanie McMahon would “clear the air” regarding the Ronda Rousey controversy. They aired footage of the entire segment. Cole then said, “We can tell you this. Rousey is here tonight on Raw!”

-Alexa Bliss and Mickie James strutted to the ring. As they entered the ring, freeze-frames aired of the Women’s Elimination Chamber. They went to the announcers on camera over seven minutes into the show at this point. Cole quickly said Asuka and Alexa will “apparently” face off one-on-one at WrestleMania. The announcers commented on freeze-frames of the Asuka vs. Nia Jax match.

(Keller’s Analysis: Can you remember a time when they went eight minutes before the opening segment began – either a match or a promo in the ring? Not casting any judgment, just observing they did a ton of recapping, extended by the worthy replay of the Rousey/Kurt Angle-Stephanie/Triple H segment.)

Bliss gleefully recapped her success the night before. She said people for decades will talk about how she changed history on February 25 with her big win. “Now, you know me, I’m not a selfish person; I like to give credit where it is due,” she said. She turned to Mickie and said she showed why she is a future Hall of Famer and former six-time women’s champion. She said they’ve had their ups and downs and a rough friendship, but she has learned so much from her. She said every single woman in the locker room can learn from her, too. She said others have bright futures, but not as long as she is champion. She said she just capitalized on Sasha Banks’s massive ego. She said once she came to Raw, it became her year, and that’s why she’s going to WrestleMania. She pointed at the sign. “I’ve always wanted to do that!” she giggled. “That little point. It feels good.” She said it won’t compare to how she feels when she breaks Asuka’s streak at WrestleMania.

Asuka walked out to her music. When she entered the ring, Alexa asked, “Are you kidding me?” The crowd chanted “Asuka’s gonna kill you!” Mickie to Bliss: “She’s not even Samoan. So weird.” Bliss said Nia Jax deserved to be in the WrestleMania main event, but one tiny little mishap and it’s all over. Bliss spoke slowly and deliberately to Asuka: “I know your English is not great, but your body language is saying very differently.” Asuka made mocking facial expressions. Alexa responded, “You’re cute. Maybe you should wipe that smile off your face before she does.” And suddenly out came Nia to her music. Asuka kicked Bliss and nailed Mickie with a rolling elbow. Jax then checked Asuka to the mat. Asuka surprised Jax with an arm triangle. That left her prone to Bliss and Mickie attacking her. Then Bayley ran out for the save, followed by Sasha Banks. They worked together to clear the ring of Bliss and Mickie. Jax clotheslined both of them. Asuka kicked her. Bliss returned and punched Asuka in the face. Bliss and Jax retreated as the three babyfaces recovered in the ring.

-The announcers discussed John Cena coming up short in the Elimination Chamber. Cole said he’ll join them later to discuss whether he has a path to WrestleMania left. [c]

---

NOTE: If you have questions or a reaction to tonight’s Raw, send it to wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com for the Mailbag Segment of the #WKPWP taped tonight and available a few hours after Raw ends. Search “Wade Keller” to subscribe to our podcast just about anywhere.

---

(1) SASHA BANKS & BAYLEY & ASUKA vs. NIA JAX & MICKIE JAMES & ALEXA BLISS

Cole said Angle made this match during the break. Cole: “Sasha Banks literally, as you put it last night Corey, stabbed Bayley in the heart.” Graves: “She didn’t literally stab her in the heart. It was more of a metaphor, Cole.” (So Graves has shifted his snark from Booker T’s mistakes to Cole’s mistakes now.) Coach said it was every woman for herself and at some point you have to get over it and move on. Cole said at every turn, Sasha has stabbed Bayley in the back, though. Coach, ironically, said: “Tonight the ego of Alexa Bliss is literally busting out of the arena here in Anaheim.” (Graves did not correct him on air.)

Bayley was taking it to Bliss. Sasha tagged herself in with a hard tag to the back and rolled up Bliss. The announcers made a big deal of it. Graves said Banks is a glory hog. Jax knocked Sasha down hard at ringside. Bliss then beat up Sasha in the ring. When she kicked Sasha to the floor, a fan was picked up by the mic yelling: “Why are you such a bad friend?” [c]

A few minutes later Sasha reached for a tag. Bayley jumped down and to the floor just when Sasha leaped for a tag. Bayley looked a little remorseful as she looked at Sasha’s reaction. Mickie attacked Sasha, but Sasha then hot-tagged Asuka who rallied against Mickie and also knocked Nia to the floor as she threatened to interfere. Asuka then gave Mickie her round kicks. She hip attacked Jax off the ring apron again. Then she went for the cover, but Bliss made the save. Bayley entered and gave Bliss a suplex. Bliss rolled to the floor. Coach said Bayley would help Asuka, but not Banks. Asuka then put Mickie away with an armbar/kneebar combo for the tapout win. Graves said he was proud of Bayley for standing up for herself. Coach said Bayley was not a pro in this match. Bayley looked sad as she turned on the stage to leave on her own. Asuka, meanwhile, celebrated the win in the ring as her music played.

WINNERS: Bayley & Sasha & Asuka in 13:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: More intrigue, without a definite break-up, with Bayley and Sasha.)

-They went to the announcers on camera who discussed Cena. Cole threw to Cena’s disconsolate comments on Raw Talk last night. “I don’t have an opponent, but I may have a plan,” he said. He gulped and welled up with tears, then stood up and left. “I’ll figure it out,” he said as he walked away. Graves then said Cena will address the WWE Universe next. [c]

-Cena made his full ring entrance. Coach said he thinks Cena was disappointed in his performance and his lack of Road to WrestleMania. Graves pointed at the “Never Give Up” slogan on the back of Cena’s shirt. Cole said he’s never seen Cena in 15 years so downtrodden as he was last night. Coach said when options begin shrink, it makes sense why he’d react that way. Cena stood mid-ring. Coach observed, “Not a very sympathetic crowd here in Anaheim toward John Cena.” Cena soaked up various chants from the crowd. Graves said from the looks of it, it seems Cean doesn’t have a Path to WrestleMania. Cena said: “Last night I failed.” He said in that moment, he was immediately rushed into a room and thrown in front of a microphone and he felt demoralized. He said failure is tough, and he’s going through it alone based on the crowd response. He said a person’s character isn’t judged by a wave of success, but when it’s put to the test when your back is against the wall. He said that time is now. He said he spent five minutes feeling sorry for himself, and then he began to move forward.

He pointed at the WrestleMania sign and said he thought the Royal Rumble would be the key to his path to WM. He said he failed, but didn’t give up. Same thing with the Chamber last night. “And for five minutes I thought it was over,” he said. What’s difficult about failure, he said, is saying it out loud. He said failure gives you two choices – stay down or figure it out. He got fired up and said he has to do something he should have done a long time ago. “And that is put out a WrestleMania challenge (pause) to the Undertaker!” The crowd chanted loudly: “Yes! Yes! Yes!” He yelled, “Thirty-nine WrestleManias between the two of us and we have never stood face-to-face on the grandest stage of them all.” He said, “You want WrestleMania? That is WrestleMania!” Then he said, “That match is not happening.” Boos. He said he doesn’t make the matches, and as obvious as it seems, he’s even told that match is not happening “because that match is, once again, impossible.”

He told the fans they all understand the disappointment of failure. He said he can keep his ass down or get his ass up, and he’s in the “getting-up business.” He said, as a free agent, his Road to WrestleMania goes through Smackdown. He said he’ll go to Smackdown tomorrow and do whatever it takes to hopefully earn a spot at WrestleMania. He waved his hand in front of his face and said, “See you tomorrow night.” Cole confirmed Cena, as a free agent, can go to Smackdown. Graves said he is excited.

(Keller’s Analysis: Good performance from Cena. Some melodrama, but it was fitting given the circumstances.)

-They went to the announcers on camera who discussed a Paul Heyman Tweet about Brock having words for the Chamber winner. Graves said that happens later tonight – Brock and Reigns, face-to-face. [c]

-A commercial aired for this week’s Mixed Match Challenge with first Finn Balor & Sasha Banks and then Miz & Asuka.

(2) BRAY WYATT vs. HEATH SLATER (w/Rhyno)

Bray knocked Rhyno off the ring apron before the bell and attacked Slater aggressively afterward. Rhyno charged back in, so Bray gave him a urinage. Graves said Bray appears to be in some kind of a trance. Bray danced with Slater, then gave him Sister Abigail. Cole said the match never started officially.

WINNER: No contest.

-Afterward, Bray sat in the corner and said: “Look what you made me do? You made me hurt these innocent men. This is your fault, Matt Hardy.” He said the war is far from over. He challenged him to another match and vowed to close his Woken Eyes forever. He laughed maniacally and said he’s coming for him.

(Keller’s Analysis: I like the idea of trying to give Bray some edge again with an aggressive attack on two sympathetic figures, but it doesn’t address the larger issue that his character is just so flat because it never goes anywhere, accomplishes anything, or achieves any set goals.)

-They showed Miz and the Miztourage backstage. Cole said he’s going to find out who his WrestleMania opponent is next. [c]

[HOUR TWO]

-Cole read Tweets from Rousey about what happened the EC last night. They replayed it again.

-Miz and the Miztourage came out to the ring. He took some digs at Anaheim as a suburb of Los Angeles and home to a Disney theme park. He said he will prove to be the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time in 62 days. “There will be no argument,” he said. He listed Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Pedro Morales, Edge, Chris Jericho, and Roman Reigns. “Me, me, and more me!” he declared. He said he’s a big star in the ring, but an even bigger star out there in Hollywood. He bragged up his movies and reality TV series. He insisted they cheer his reality TV show, “Miz & Missus.” He complained about not having merchandise and not being featured on posters. He said his face is better than any others. He said he should be main eventing WrestleMania. He said he should be taking Brock Lesnar on to become the first-ever IC and Universal champion. He said he is tired of being taken for granted and for the disrespect. He said his dream will live on at WrestleMania because he has the IC belt. He paraded around with it and told the fans to take a good, long look at it. He called it the most prestigious and honorable title in all of WWE.

He said he walked into Angle’s office and asked what he will be doing at WrestleMania. Angle told him that his opponent tonight might determine his WrestleMania opponent. Miz went red-faced and bug-eyed and said “might” isn’t good enough. He said whomever Angle sends to the ring is going to take a beating. Out came Seth Rollins. “I like this!” said Cole.

(Keller’s Analysis; Really good promo from Miz. He’s teflon in the sense that he can lose and lose decisively and just talk his way back into fans wanting to see someone new shut him up once again.) [c]

(3) MIZ (w/Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas) vs. SETH ROLLINS

Graves said Miz deserves better and shouldn’t have to face a mystery opponent. Miz bailed out to ringside to regroup a couple minutes in. Graves said he should get himself a Miztourage, but he’s sure they’re expensive. Back in the ring, Seth was distracted by Bo, which gave Miz a chance to knock Seth off the ring apron and take control. Miz went after him at ringside. Graves claimed Miz invented the Yes Kicks. Cole corrected him. They cut to a break with Miz in control. [c]

As Graves continued to complain about Angle, Coach said a great leader sometimes gives himself options. Seth eventually came back with a superplex and a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Bo yanked on Seth’s leg and that gave Miz a chance to go for a Skull Crushing Finale. Seth rolled through on it, though, and scored a leverage near fall. Seth then dove through the ropes onto Bo and Curtis. Back in the ring he clotheslined Miz over the top rope. Next he dove onto all three heels at ringside. He then played to the crowd briefly, then threw Miz into the ring. Cole said it’s been an unreal seven days for Seth. Seth delivered a knee. He then climbed to the top rope and dove three-fourths of the way across the ring for a frog splash for the win. Cole made a very big deal out of that move: “That’s stuff you see on 205 Live. That’s stuff that Crusierweights do!”

WINNER: Rollins in 13:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match. It was good to see Seth kept in the mix in some significant way after the week he had last week.)

-Suddenly Finn Balor’s song played and he walked out. The announcers wondered what was going on. Graves said Balor was stepping on Seth’s moment and it’s disrespectful. Coach said he likes it when stars take it upon themselves. He said he can’t wait to hear what his reason is for coming out. Cole said there’s a storied history between them. Balor did his ring entrance with the arms extending to the beat of his music with the fans. Seth shook his head in disgust and left the ring, clearly resenting Balor’s interruption of his celebration.

(4) THE MIZ vs. FINN BALOR

Cole said Angle made this a match. Graves said it’s ridiculous and unfair and absurd. “Apparently Angle has been watching Smackdown and doing things the Shane McMahon way,” Graves.

WINNER: Balor via DQ.

-Miztourage attacked Balor as soon as the bell rang. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows charged out to the ring to make the save and stop the three-on-one attack. Miztourage battled Anderson and Gallows at ringside. Angle then appeared on the big screen. He said the match is still on – Balor vs. Miz – but with the Miztourage banned from ringside. He said there will be a winner or else Miz won’t be going to WrestleMania. [c]

(4b) THE MIZ vs. FINN BALOR

Miz clotheslined Balor right at the start with Balor still hurting from the Miztourage attack. Miz mounted and punched away at Balor. Miz landed a running knee to Balor’s head a couple minutes in. Graves said that might be the best he’s ever seen the move delivered. They cut to a break. [c]

Miz had Balor in a sleeper mid-ring. They showed Seth drinking water backstage and watching the match on a monitor. Balor made a comeback and eventually finished Miz with a Coup de Grace.

WINNER: Balor in 11:00.

-Renee interviewed Seth backstage. Seth asked why Balor was trying to upstage him. He said if he wants to make his mark and prove he’s the man, you last 65 minutes in the gauntlet match. “That’s how you make this place Monday Night Rollins,” he said. Renee asked where he stands as far as WrestleMania now that he came up short at the EC. Seth said there is more than one Road to WrestleMania and if history is any indicator, he knows how to pave his way to WrestleMania. He challenged Miz to an IC Title match at WrestleMania. Balor continued to celebrate in the ring, which could be seen over Seth’s shoulder on the monitor as he talked to Renee, which was cool imagery.

(Keller’s Analysis: It looks like we know what Seth and Balor and Miz will be doing at WrestleMania. This was a full-on set-up for a Triple Threat. They’ve built tension between Seth and Balor, which makes it seem less likely they’ll have an advantage collectively over Miz, although doing a Triple Threat match with two babyfaces and one heel is almost always perilous. More has to be done to build serious tension between Balor and Seth, if not a full on heel turn by one of them, or else Miz could end up a sympathetic figure in all of this despite his obnoxious promos. Having Miz wrestle twice also sets him up as sympathetic. So there was a lot working against this, but WWE booking tried to account for it by having the Miztourage attack Balor before the second match to try to make it seem more even. Still, though, who can blame Miz for not taking on Balor one-on-one considering he just finished a match with Seth?)

-They went to the announcers who talked about Rousey again. Cole recapped what happened. He said Stephanie addressed the situation on Raw Talk exclusively on WWE Network. Stephanie said Angle needs to apologize because she doesn’t know what he was talking about or where he came up with it. She said on Raw they’d talk it through and “everything will be just fine.” They showed Ronda and Angle talking backstage. Coach said Reigns and Lesnar meet face-to-face next. [c]

-Reigns made his ring entrance to the usual mix of cheers and boos. Graves said it doesn’t get any bigger than Reigns and Lesnar at WrestleMania. Reigns looked around at the crowd. Some boos, some cheers, a lot of nothing. The boos got a little louder. He said he is a man of his word. He said he promised he’d win the Chamber and he did. He said when he says he’s going to WrestleMania and he’ll beat Lesnar, “I’m telling the truth.” He said he’s not sure why he’s covering for this guy, so he’s going to just say it. “They’re not going to like it back there, but I’m going to say it anyway. Brock Lesnar isn’t here tonight.” He said up until 30 minutes ago, he thought he was going to show up, but something happened and he didn’t show up. “Nobody will say this back there, but I’m going to say it – Brock Lesnar is an entitled piece of crap who hides behind his contract.” Cheers.

---

NOTE: If you have questions or a reaction to tonight’s Raw, send it to wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com for the Mailbag Segment of the #WKPWP taped tonight and available a few hours after Raw ends. Search “Wade Keller” to subscribe to our podcast just about anywhere.

---

[HOUR THREE]

“I mean, think about it, y’all. We’re six weeks from WrestleMania, and the Universal Champion is not here today.” He said Brock was in Vegas last night, but he wasn’t at the Elimination Chamber. “He was running around the strip and taking pictures with Dana White on social media.” He said that’s because Lesnar doesn’t respect him or the fans or anybody in the locker room. He said he’s sick of it. “They all know it back there. We all know it. Every single week me and them boys run ‘cross this world and we bust our ass and Brock just shows up whenever he wants to when the money is right or the city is right.” He said he shows up when he says he’ll be there because he said he’d be there.

He said Paul Heyman will come out and claim it’s just business. He said he was born in the business, “and I was taught at an early age there is a fine line between business and respect.” He said Lesnar doesn’t respect Brock Lesnar “and I damn sure doesn’t fear that bitch.”  He said he’s said enough so he’s going to go to the back and take an ass chewing like a man “because unlike some people, I actually care and respect this place.”

(Keller’s Analysis: Now we’re talking. That’s as real as Reigns has ever come across. It just so happens to coincide with working with Paul Heyman. Reigns seemed to be speaking from the heart and had passion about something. If he was doing that two years ago, WWE would be in a better place.)

-The announcers commented on what Braun did to Elias two weeks ago with the guitar shot. A selfie promo aired with Braun Strowman and we got the words on the screen: “Word Polution,” “Sympathy of Destruction” and “Smash Hit.” Cole said Elias will face Braun later tonight. (Finally, a main event for the show is announced.)

-Cole threw to a video package on Black History Month.

-Sheamus & Cesaro made their ring entrance. [c]

(5) SHEAMUS & CESARO vs. TITUS O’NEAL & APOLLO – WWE Raw Tag Team Title match

Cole said The Bar “ran their mouths on social media” after their match last night. Then Titus Worldwide said they beat them three times and they’ll beat them again. Angle said it was time to settle things once and for all tonight – two out of three falls. Coach said the body language is different with Apollo and Titus tonight. He said there are only so many opportunities and they know this might be it. Graves complained that The Bar had to defend their titles again. Cesaro ran across the ring right past Titus, and legal man Sheamus gave a Titus a Brogue Kick and scored a sudden three count. Cole said Titus might not even wake up.

WINNER FALL ONE: The Bar.

As Sheamus & Cesaro celebrated at ringside, Apollo helped Titus to his feet. Apollo started the second fall as Titus struggled to even maintain his balance on the ring apron for a while. Titus tagged back in and was upset with Sheamus. Sheamus begged off, but then kicked Titus and bailed out, tagging Cesaro on his way. Titus looked sternly down at Sheamus. Titus blocked a Cesaro roll-up and then slapped Cesaro in the chest. Apollo tagged in and continued to work over Cesaro including a standing moonsault and then a flip dive at ringside. They cut to a break. [c]

Cesaro had taken over during the break. Apollo tried to tag out, but Cesaro stopped him and then tagged in Sheamus. Apollo managed to tag in Titus anyway. He went to work on Sheamus with a barrage of punches in the corner and then a Biel throw. Coach said Titus might be embarrassed by what happened at the start of the match. He powerslammed Sheamus and showed fire. He splashed Sheamus in the corner, clotheslined Cesaro off the ring apron, and then lifted and dropped Sheamus in a botched spot of some sort leading to a two count. He tagged in Apollo who frog-splashed Sheamus. Cesaro broke up a cover. Titus threw Cesaro out of the ring. Sheamus knocked Titus out of the ring. Apollo then rolled up Sheamus for a two count. Apollo came right back with an enzuigiri and a standing moonsault for a believable near fall. Apollo went for a tag, but Cesaro yanked Titus off the ring apron. Titus clotheslined Cesaro, but Sheamus attacked Titus from behind. Sheamus threw Titus into the ringside barricade. Apollo dove onto Sheamus, which the camera didn’t get a good view of. Apollo climbed to the top rope, but Cesaro knocked him off balance. Sheamus and Cesaro then gave Titus their double-team finisher off the top rope for the win

WINNERS: Sheamus & Cesaro in two straight falls in 12:00 to the tag titles.

(Keller’s Analysis: That was a clumsy mess of a match, but sort of thoroughly entertaining at the same time. There were times I thought Titus was just going to lose total control as he got more and more worked up as the pace just went into the frenzied zone.)

-Charly Caruso interviewed The Bar afterward, who gloated that they’ve defeated everybody. They listed teams they’ve defeated, and laughed about injuring Dean Ambrose’s arm. Sheamus asked Cesaro how his hair looks. They also joked about Jason Jordan. Sheamus said with WrestleMania season in full swing, everybody wants to be part of the greatest show. Sheamus said they’re going to be punished because they’re so dominant and now there’s nobody left to beat. Cesaro said they don’t just set the bar, they are The Bar. Graves said it was a good point. Their music played and they celebrated some more. Graves said Stephanie has demanded an apology from Angle.

-The announcers threw to a video package on this year’s Warrior Award recipient, Jarius “J.J.” Robertson.

-Graves plugged the Elias vs. Strowman match and said it’s up next. [c]

-Elias strummed his guitar mid-ring under a spotlight and complained that Strowman called his music “noise pollution.” He did his usual bit about what WWE stands for. Then he sang about Braun. “Braun wants to be me, I know this much is true, but it can’t hold a candle to Elias, it’s just like all of you.” Braun’s music interrupted. He walked out and they cut to a break. [c]

(5) BRAUN STROWMAN vs. ELIAS

Elias stalled a bit early. Braun eventually overpowered him. Elias caught him twice with boots as he charged, but then Braun took him down with an axe handle blow to the chest. Braun methodically beat on Elias for a few minutes. Elias came out from under the ring with a fire extinguisher and sprayed Braun with it. He was DQ’d.

WINNER: Braun via DQ in 5:00.

-Then Elias threw him into the ring. He hit him with the extinguisher in the gut and then beat on him some more. Despite being blinded, Braun grabbed Elias by the throat and punched him. Elias fell to ringside. Strowman rubbed his eyes, then went after Elias up the ramp. They brawled past the announce table and backstage to the parking area. They cut to a break with the camera focused on a black limousine. [c]

-The announcers hyped Cena on Smackdown tomorrow night and Jax vs. Asuka in a rematch next week on Raw.

-Triple H and Stephanie McMahon came out to Triple H’s music. Stephanie said last night was supposed to be the highlight of their executive careers. She said Angle had double pneumonia and was talking nonsense and hallucinating in the middle of the ring. She said Ronda believed every word he said. “I mean, why wouldn’t she?” she said. She said such action might be okay in the world of MMA, but not in WWE. They replayed extended highlights from the segment last night for a third time.

[OVERRUN]

Back live in the ring, Stephanie said she had to communicate with Ronda in a way she could relate. “I had to get physical with Ronda Rousey to remind her of the hierarchy here in WWE,” she said. She said Angle reports to her, which means as of last night, since Rousey did sign her contract amidst the chaos, she now reports to her. “Which means WWE owns Ronda Rousey.” She said as a good manager and boss, she needs to call everyone out and explain their roles and responsibilities so they can move forward on the road to WrestleMania.

Rousey marched to the ring. Kurt Angle followed immediate and told Ronda he had to tell her one thing first. “You coming to the WWE is the best decision you ever made,” he said. Rousey said she meant every thing she said last night and she wants this more than anything, but she has never been slapped before and she refuses to be disrespected. “And I am no one’s property,” she said. Angle said this is a completely different world than she is accustomed to and she has to work within the system. He said he needs this job and he needs to do what he has to do. He said he lied last night. The fans booed. Triple H and Stephanie, who had taken cover out of the ring, reentered with more confidence. He said he had pneumonia and he doesn’t even remember what he said, but he lied. Stephanie thanked Angle for clearing the air. She said they aren’t horrible people despite what they read on social media or hear from the fans. Stephanie thanked Angle for apologizing and then asked them to put this all behind them so they can make Rousey the superstar she deserves to be. Hunter smiled and he and Stephanie left.

Rousey said, “We have addressed everything, except your slap.” Ronda said for this to be put behind them, “You need to apologize to me.” She said if she doesn’t apologize, she will not hesitate to rip her arm out of its socket.” The fans chanted, “Rip it out!” Stephanie walked up to Rousey and said, “I am terribly sorry. I am so sorry, Ronda. I am. I reacted. You put my husband through a table. There is no excuse. I am sorry. I am so sorry. Welcome to WWE. It’s all good now.” Angle exhaled. Hunter then punched Angle in the face as Stephanie was leaving. “What the!?” asked Cole. Coach asked, “What was that for?”

(Keller’s Analysis: Good performance from Rousey. Good to see her get serious and lose the wide smile when called for.)

---

NEW & IMPORTANT: WADE KELLER PODCAST ANNOUNCEMENT…

Tonight after Raw (and tomorrow night after Smackdown), the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-Show goes LIVE taking your calls for about 30 minutes starting within a few minutes of Raw ending. Call (347) 215-8558 as soon as Raw ends to participate and stream it, if you choose, HERE. You can listen even if you’re not planning to call. Just stand by until Keller and guest cohost Jonny Fairplay introduce the show within a few minutes of Raw ending.

The entire show will be available as usual a few hours after Raw goes off the air with the rest of our usual format (including an on-site correspondent and mailbag section), but we’re aiming to have it available for you sooner now than in recent months.

TO HEAR THE POST-RAW AND POST-SMACKDOWN EPISODES OF THE WKPWP, THOUGH, YOU MUST SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW FEED. Search “Wade Keller” in Apple Podcasts (or click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts) or wherever you listen to our shows and subscribe to the “Red Feed” (the show with our red logo). The first two shows of the week will not, though, be available at Podcast One’s website or app, so if you’ve been using that for our four shows, instead us a different app for the first two shows each week. The Flagship and Interview editions are still available through Podcast One as usual on our “Blue Feed” (the show with the blue WKPWP logo).