SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE RAW TV REPORT
MARCH 27, 2023
PHOENIX, ARIZ.
AIRED LIVE ON USA
Commentators: Kevin Patrick, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
[HOUR ONE]
-After the “Then, Now, Forever, Together” brand stamp, they went live to the arena where Kevin Patrick introduced the show.
-Miz made his entrance, listed as “The Host of WrestleMania.” As he made his way to the ring, they went to Patrick and Corey Graves at ringside who previewed scheduled matches and segments on the show including Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa, the Brock Lesnar-Omos weigh-in, Gunther in action, and Rey Mysterio vs. Damien Priest.
-Miz TV: Miz welcomed everyone to his talk show. He asked if the fans were feeling the WrestleMania energy. Miz asked Becky Lynch what it feels like to know she couldn’t handle Damage CTRL on her own and had to bring in reinforcements. She said he sounds like “a very insecure man with notoriously tiny balls.” Miz said they aren’t tiny, they are massive, and that is verified by his wife. Becky said it must feel good that his wife didn’t get around much before dating him. Becky said she doesn’t get along with many people, but there are two she does. She said when people fight for her, she fights for them.
Miz asked Lita and Trish why they returned now “just to play back-up to Becky.” Lita said she doesn’t feel like back-up, she feels like one-half of the tag team champions. She was interrupted by Damage CTRL’s music. Out walked Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky. Bayley told Miz to stop talking because she had something to say. When fans booed, Bayley said, “Not now, Phoenix. You idiots, I said I have something to say.” She said every step they’ve taken since Summerslam has led them to this match, and Lita and Trish are in the ring acting like they still mean something, but the truth is they haven’t in 20 years. Trish said the belt on their shoulders indicates they mean something right now.
Bayley said there was a time it would have been a dream match to face them, but now it’s a different kind of dream. Fans yelled, “What?” She repeated herself louder and said they can’t relate to success because they can’t accomplish crap. Bayley said their dream is to take out the top woman in the Division and two legends. Becky said those two behind Bayley haven’t done anything but being lackeys. She said she thought this would end at War Games or when they took the tag team titles, but now it can only end at WrestleMania. They yelled at each other as Patrick said Becky vs. Sky was up next. [c]
(1) BECKY LYNCH (w/Lita, Trish Stratus) vs. IYO SKY (w/Bayley, Dakota Kai)
They match began immediately after the break about 17 minutes into the hour. Becky went on the attack right away as fans chanted “Becky! Becky!” A graphic noted #WWERaw was the no. 1 trend in Twitter in the United States. Sky retreated to ringside a minute into the match. When Becky reached through the ropes and grabbed Bayley’s hair, Sky kicked Becky to take control. Becky made a comeback with some clotheslines. She scored a near fall a minute later, then played to the crowd. Sky countered a Manhandle Slam and landed a double-stomp to score a two count. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Back from the break, both wrestlers were down. They replayed a top rope dropkick by Sky for a two count and then a Becky superplex for a two count. Sky got up and landed a German suplex into a bridge for a near fall. Sky dropkicked Becky off the top rope a minute later just as Graves was saying Sky impressed him in this match. She landed a springboard moonsault and then rolled Becky into the ring and scored a two count. A “This is awesome!” chant broke out. Sky went for an Over the Moonsault, but Becky moved and gave Sky a Manhandle Slam for the win.
Lita and Stratus joined Becky in the ring for the post-match celebration and some gloating to Damage CTRL at ringside.
WINNER: Lynch in 11:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match.)
-They went to Graves and Patrick at ringside. Graves said he can’t wait for those six to tear it up this weekend at WrestleMania. They threw to a video package on Cody Rhodes confronting Roman Reigns last week on Raw, rattling Reigns with talk that after he loses at WrestleMania, he’ll be a chief without a tribe followed by Solo Sikoa going after Cody with a Samaon Spike, but Cody blocking in. Then they aired a clip of Paul Heyman announcing Cody would face Solo tonight on Raw.
-They showed Heyman, Solo, and the Usos backstage. [c]
-They showed postcard shots of Phoenix.
-A video package aired on the Bianca Belair defense of the Raw Title against Asuka. Graves talked about her being a game-changer when she arrived in NXT after having heard about her track record in Japan. Highlights aired of her matches including notes about her initial winning streak. Lita, Kevin Owens, Molly Holly, Charlotte, and MVP were shown touting her.
-A clip aired of last week’s angle with Logan Paul and Seth Rollins. Then a clip aired from last week when Cathy Kelley approached Logan Paul after he knocked out Seth Rollins a second time. He was boisterously boasting about what he did and vowed to do it again at WrestleMania.
Then they went backstage to Seth earlier in the day where Kelley said Logan has sucked punched and knocked him out twice in recent weeks. She asked if Seth has anything to say. Mustafa Ali interrupted and said that since Seth has nothing nice to say about him, he won’t be saying anything. He said Logan and his crew had no idea who he was before the Royal Rumble, and now Logan and his fans can’t wait to see if he lands another KO punch at WrestleMania. He said he should be more grateful. “You should be more positive-Ali,” he said. Seth laughed and said he gets his play on words. Seth said he deserves a prize for being so clever. He said Ali once begged him for a fight when he was U.S. Champion. “Good things come to those who wait,” he said. He said tonight he’ll wrestle him. He cackled and walked away. Ali said that wasn’t what he was getting at. [c]
(2) SETH ROLLINS vs. MUSTAFA ALI
Seth’s ring entrance took place after the break. The bell rang 47 minutes into the hour. Seth landed a stomp to Ali when he was in the corner of the ring about 90 seconds into the match. Graves said that could be Logan’s fate this weekend. Seth landed a traditional mid-ring stomp for the clean win.
WINNER: Rollins in 2:00.
-Seth said if he can’t beat Logan at WrestleMania, “he’s not the joke; I am.” Fans groaned. Seth said Logan threw him out of the Royal Rumble and cost him at the Elimination Chamber and “cheap-shotted me not once, but twice.” He said in five days it all comes back around. Fans cheered. Seth said April 1 is Logan’s birthday, so the fans will be serenading him all day long with his theme song. He held up the mic and fans sang Seth’s song as Seth soaked it up.
-Baron Corbin told Adam Pearce backstage that it’s embarrassing he doesn’t even have a match scheduled at WrestleMania, and it’s embarrassing. Chelsea Green interrupted. Pearce said Corbin he can be part of the Andre the Giant battle royal on Friday. He turned to Green. She wanted to know why she’s not part of the WrestleMania Showcase qualifier match later. Pearce said no one wants to team with her. Sonya Deville walked up to them and said Pearce is intimidated by strong women. Peace said they can be a team and call themselves The Complaint Department or Misery Loves Company. Sonya told Green that he’s not usually smart, but this was a good decision. In walked Corbin who said, “Seriously?” An exasperated Pearce just walked away. [c]
-Graves stood mid-ring with a referee and Pearce. Omos made his ring entrance.
[HOUR TWO]
A clip aired of last week’s interaction between Omos and Brock Lesnar. Graves began to introduce Lesnar when MVP yanked the mic away from him. Fans booed. He talked about how Lesnar has defeated some of the greatest ever like Kurt Angle, Goldberg, and Roman Reigns. He said ending the streak of the Undertaker at WrestleMania was perhaps his biggest achievement. He said Lesnar cannot suplex or F5 him. Omos then weighed in at 410 pounds. MVP said Lesnar is a bad man, but he’s not that bad. Lesnar’s music then played.
Lesnar entered the ring and attacked Omos. He charged into him and knocked him into the ropes. He stumbled and then picked up the scale. Omos kicked Lesnar in the head as Lesnar was swinging the scale at him. Lesnar rolled out of the ring as Omos picked up the scale. Lesnar leaned against the ringside barricade to regroup as fans chanted “Suplex City!” Omos’s music played as Lesnar eyed him from ringside.
(Keller’s Analysis: Wait! What does Lesnar weigh? We can’t have the match without getting his weight! They did a good job there with what they have to work with making Omos look like he’s a physical threat to Lesnar.)
-A video package aired on Charlotte Flair’s defense against Rhea Ripley.
-Byron Saxton interviewed Ripley backstage. Ripley said there is no denying how great Charlotte is, but she doesn’t need to be reminded by her all the time how many times she’s been a champion. She said she won’t let Charlotte’s legacy define her destiny. She said she must beat Charlotte and become the biggest star in the industry. “And I need Charlotte’s title to do so,” she said. She said Charlotte can’t stop her from becoming Smackdown Champion at WrestleMania.
(Keller’s Analysis: Straight-forward and effective. There’s something to Ripley saying she doesn’t need Charlotte constantly reminding people of how many time she’s been champion.)
-The Street Profits made their ring entrance. Braun Strowman and Ricochet then made their ring entrance. [c]
A soundbite aired with Finn Balor addressing Edge. He said it was always going to lead to the Hell in a Cell. He said he doesn’t summon his demons, his demon is always there, you just have to look closely. They overlayed Demon facepaint over Balor’s face in flashes.
(3) BRAUN STROWMAN & RICOCHET & THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. OTIS & CHAD GABLE & THE VIKING RAIDERS (Erik & Ivar) – WrestleMania Showcase Preview
Gable worked the early minutes for his team. When he “shoosh’d” Braun, everyone entered the ring and faced off and then brawled. Most wrestlers bailed out to ringside leaving Ivar, Otis, and Strowman. Otis knocked Strowman out of the ring. Ford leaped offd the top rope, but Otis caught him and powerslammed him. Gable kissed him on the cheek as they cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Back from the break, Erik and Ivar were beating up Ford. They showed Maxxine admiring Otis in the ring. Graves said she sees Otis was “a moldable piece of clay.” Ford tagged in Dawkins at 9:00. He got the better of Ivar. Later, Ricochet broke up Erik’s cover on Dawkins. Dawkins then tagged in Braun who circled the ring at full speed and knocked of his opponents down one after another. Back in the ring, he powerslammed Erik and then tore off his shirt. He tagged in Ricochet and launched him off the top rope onto Erik. Ford then leaped over Braun with a splash on Erik for the win.
They showed Maxxine looked distressed with the outcome of the match.
WINNERS: Profits & Ricochet & Braun in 11:00.
-Kelley interviewed Cody Rhodes backstage. She asked if he put himself in a vulnerable position by taking on Solo less than a week before his WrestleMania match. He said Solo hasn’t been pinned or submitted yet. He said The Bloodline knows the answer to the question of whether Cody Rhodes has earned it. He said he’s not only earned it, he’s lived it. He said Solo will find out he’s not ready and then he’ll beat Reigns to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
-They cut to a “H0llywood” skit recorded in a restaurant with Heyman, Sikoa, Reigns, and the Usos laughing at Reigns. Heyman said he’s funny. Reigns got serious and asked Heyman what he means by that. Heyman stammered and said he’s impressed by him and he’s funny. Reigns asked if he thinks he “funny like a Tribal Clown.” Reigns asked Heyman if he said he’s there to amuse him. They broke into laughter together. Reigns then bashed the server in the head with a glass. He said he was asking for WrestleMania tickets just last week. [c]
-More shots aired of Phoenix.
-Another video aired on the Belair-Asuka match at WrestleMania with soundbites from Liv Morgan, Graves, Ford, Beth Pheonix, and Kevin Owens touting Belair.
-They went to Graves and Patrick at ringside. They threw to a promo recorded earlier in the empty arena by Austin Theory in the ring. Theory addressed John Cena. He said for some reason, Cena thinks he exposed him on the mic. Theory said he exposed himself by showing that the one thing he can’t see in the future right in front of his eyes. He said he tried to tell him nobody believes him in including Cena. He said he’s in the arena alone because there’s no difference between him being in the ring alone or in a sold out arena. He said he doesn’t do this for the WWE Universe or some kid who wants to be the next Austin Theory. He said he certainly doesn’t do it to become the next John Cena. He said he does it for himself because he had a purpose before anyone had an opinion about him. He said it’s so sad to know that he would have let him go down the hero, but he made it personal. He said everybody looks up to him, but it’ll be so fitting he’ll be looking up at him. He said he will make Cena believe in him and he’ll make the WWE Universe stop believing in him. Then he looked up at the WrestleMania sign.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like the way WWE is shaking up the routine of how they present match hype with video packages and now this empty arena promo. Good delivery and good, serious message by Theory.)
-Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville made their ring entrance. [c]
-Graves and Patrick talked about Stacy Keibler being the next entrant in this year’s Hall of Fame class.
(4) CHELSEA GREEN & SONYA DEVILLE vs. MICHIN & CANDICE LERAE
Green distracted the ref, and Sonya took a cheap shot at Michin, and then Green scored the pin. Graves said WrestleMania will be “Karen-Mania!” Patrrick said, “A Tale of Two Karens.”
WINNERS: Deville & Green in 3:00.
-The ring entrance for Damien Priest with Dominik Mysterio took place. [c]
[HOUR THREE]
-Kelley interviewed a pacing Paul Heyman backstage. She asked for his response to Cody’s comments earlier. He said Cody doesn’t fear the Tribal Chief because he is not ready. He said Solo is ready to weaken Cody in his match against Reigns. He said Reigns is ready for Cody, the guy who had puppy dog eyes his whole career. He said Cody has never been ready. He said he was never ready to fill the shoes of his father and he’s not ready to be The Man of this generation. He said he has to take a beating tonight and then absorb the emotional baggage Reigns will dump on him this Friday, and then he’ll be ready for one thing only – losing to Reigns. He said in the glory of his own defeat, after disappointing the WWE Universe, he should be ready to acknowledge Reigns in the main event this Sunday.
-Dominik and Priest were pacing the ring. Dominik said it takes a real low life to hit his child. He said he really is a deadbeat and he’ll lose to Priest tonight and lose to him at WrestleMania. He threw to highlights of the angle on Smackdown. He asked what kind of mother sits there and does nothing when a father hits her son. He said he should have told her shut up a long time ago. He said he’s never said it outloud before, “but I wish Eddie was my real father and you never existed.” He said his entire family is a disgrace to the Mysterio name, and the Mysterio name will be his after WrestleMania. Rey’s music then played. As Rey made his entrance, Patrick said the most emotional weekend of his life takes place this weekend.[c]
(5) REY MYSTERIO vs. DAMIEN PRIEST (w/Dominik Mysterio)
Priest dominated early. Rey made a comeback on the top rope and head scissored Priest to the mat. He landed his 619 seconds later and then climbed to the top rope. Dominik knocked him off balance, so the ref DQ’d Priest.
WINNER: Mysterio in 2:00 via DQ.
-Priest and Dominik attacked Rey two-on-one. Patrick said it was hard to watch. Legado Del Fantasma ran out for the save. Graves said they have great respect for Lucha Libre and what Rey stands for. Priest and Dom fled the ring. Fans loudly chanted, “You suck!” as Priest and Dominik retreated.
-They went to Graves and Patrick at ringside who reacted to that segment. Then they pivoted to hyping the Andre the Giant Battle Royal on Smackdown this Friday. A video aired with clips of Andre the Giant and then various battle royal participants.
-Backstage, Johnny Gargano, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson saw their names on the list posted to a wall. Rick Boogs was so excited to see his name. Elias said he is a lock to win the trophy. Dexter Lumis walked up to Elias, so he turned the other way. Bronson Reed was standing there, so Elias turned back. There stood Bobby Lashley who said he’d see him on Friday. Elias looked nervous. Boogs said it’s going to be super.
-Gunther made his ring entrance with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovani Vinci. [c]
-A video package aired on last week’s happenings with Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and the Usos.
-A promo aired with Sami and KO backstage who spoke about their WWE Tag Team Title match at WrestleMania. Sami said Los Angeles is where they had their first break and first made a name for themselves. Owens said every fight they’ve had has been about taking their careers to the next level. He said it doesn’t get any bigger or better than this weekend against the longest-reigning tag champions of all time. He said they’ll show the Usos and the world what they can accomplish together. Sami loved how worked up KO got.
(6) GUNTHER (w/Gionvani Vinci, Ludwig Kaiser) vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER
Gunther brutalized Ziggler for a couple minutes before they cut to a break. [c]
Ziggler rallied after the break. Gunther blocked a Zig Zag and then chopped him out of mid-air. He followed with a powerbomb and his Last Symphony for the win.
WINNER: Gunther in 6:00.
-After the match, Gunther addressed facing Drew McIntyre and Sheamus at WrestleMania. He said it’s a disgrace he has to defend against both of them in one match, but Ziggler is an example of the fate that awaits them. Graves said, “Ominous but succinct.”
-They went to Graves and Patrick who hyped the new WWE videogame.
-Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance. [c]
(7) CODY RHODES vs. SOLO SIKOA (w/Paul Heyman)
The bell rang 46 minutes into the hour. They took turns on offense early. Cody made a comeback at ringside and punched away at Solo. He then leaped through the ropes, but Solo caught Cody and threw him onto the announce desk. He did it a second time. They cut to a break. [c]
Solo had Cody in a nerve hold after the break. Cody fought out of it and landed a snap powerslam followed by a Disaster Kick and a Cody Cutter. Cody waited for Solo to stand, then delivered a Crossroads. Cody was slow to make the cover, but he crawled over for a two count; Solo put his boot on the bottom rope to stop the count. Cody dragged Solo to a different spot in the ring, then stomped his chest. He yelled down at Heyman and went for a moonsault, but Solo moved. Heyman broke into a sinister laugh.
Both Cody and Solo stood. Solo headbutted Cody and set up a Samoan Spike, but Cody blocked it and hit another Cody Cutter. The Usos’ music then played. They came out to the ring. Graves said, “Panic has set in.” Solo superkicked a distracted Cody and then landed the Spinning Solo for a near fall. The Usos were practically already in the ring to celebrate the Solo win when Cody kicked out. Sami and KO ran out to Sami’s music. The Usos met them in the entrance area and they brawled. Cody then gave Solo a Crossroads again for the win. They immediately cut to a disappointed Heyman. Patrick hyped Cody and Reigns facing off on Smackdown as the show ended with Cody yelled down at Heyman.
WINNER: Cody in 13:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Cody’s had some good opponents lately. Solo is still pretty limited in the ring and it showed here. Cody looked less impressive than in his prior WWE matches. Overall, this was a match to give Cody and the Bloodline an excuse to interact some more and in that sense, it succeeded.)
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