Edge and Christian are set to reunite for a segment on Raw’s go-home show for Backlash.
It was announced on this week’s episode of WWE Backstage that Christian will host a special edition of The Peep Show on Raw next Monday (June 8). While announcing the segment, Christian said no one knows Edge better than him and he’s going to see where Edge’s head is at heading into Backlash.
Edge is facing Randy Orton at Backlash, with WWE promoting that it “could be the greatest wrestling match ever.” Backlash is taking place on Sunday, June 14.
Promos from Edge and Orton have aired on Raw over the past two weeks. WWE has also aired videos where Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair have previewed the match and made their predictions, with Michaels picking Edge and Flair picking Orton.
A decathlon segment with The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders has also been announced for next Monday’s Raw. The teams are tied at 2-2 in their series, which has seen them compete in basketball, axe-throwing, golf, and bowling.
After last week’s Raw ended without Edge giving Randy Orton an answer, Edge vs. Orton is now official for Backlash.
The opening segment of tonight’s Raw featured Edge accepting Orton’s challenge for a traditional wrestling match at Backlash. The PPV is taking place on Sunday, June 14. Edge vs. Orton is the first match confirmed for the event.
Orton started tonight’s Raw by cutting a promo where he asked if a straight-up wrestling match is that hard for people to understand. He reiterated that Edge was the better man in their last man standing match at WrestleMania 36, but he knows Edge isn’t the superior wrestler. Orton said he doesn’t need tables, ladders, chairs, or to be the last man standing — all that he needs is this ring and a referee.
Orton said he knows why Edge didn’t accept his challenge last week. He saw doubt in Edge’s eyes. Orton said Edge’s grit and passion is now just doubt and fear.
That led to Edge making his way down to the ring. He said he knows Orton is playing a game of chess, so he couldn’t rush into his next move. Edge said Orton may be the most talented person he’s ever seen in a wrestling ring, but this isn’t the life Orton wanted — it’s the life that was handed to him. Edge said wrestling was Orton’s backup plan.
Edge said Orton never had a career-ending injury and didn’t have to fight back for nine years just to compete. He claimed that Orton doesn’t love the sport of pro wrestling like he does or like the rest of the locker room does.
After Orton cut him off and wanted an answer, Edge responded by accepting his challenge.
WWE continued to push tonight that Edge vs. Orton could potentially be the greatest wrestling match ever.
It appears that Edge vs. Randy Orton will be made official for Backlash on tonight’s episode of Raw.
On his Instagram account yesterday, Edge posted “Answer tomorrow.” Last week’s show ended with Orton challenging Edge to a straight-up wrestling match at Backlash.
Last week’s Raw was the first time Edge and Orton have appeared on WWE television since their last man standing match at WrestleMania 36. Edge cut a promo saying he got his closure and was ready to move on from Orton, but Orton then interrupted him.
Orton acted like he was there to congratulate Edge on defeating him. But he then said that while the better man may have won at WrestleMania, the better wrestler didn’t. Orton pointed out that Edge has only taken part in the Royal Rumble and their last man standing match since returning. He said Edge hasn’t actually wrestled in nine years — and he doesn’t think Edge has it in him anymore.
Orton said he saw doubt in Edge’s eyes. He said Edge may have grit, but that doesn’t come close to comparing to Orton’s natural ability. Orton said Edge’s passion won’t do anything about his ring rust. He then challenged Edge to a traditional wrestling match at Backlash. Charly Caruso asked if Edge had a response, but Edge didn’t give an answer.
Backlash is taking place on Sunday, June 14.
As part of the brand-to-brand invitation, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will face Baron Corbin in a non-title match on Raw tonight. The IIconics will challenge Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross for the Women’s Tag Team titles on the show, and there will be a segment where The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders compete in an axe-throwing contest.
Edge and Randy Orton look to be headed to a match against each other at Backlash.
For the first time since their last man standing match at WrestleMania 36, Edge and Orton made their returns to Raw this week. Their segment ended with Orton challenging Edge to a traditional wrestling match at Backlash, but Edge didn’t give Orton an answer.
Orton acted like he was going to congratulate Edge on his win in their last man standing match at WrestleMania. But after saying the better man won, Orton said the better wrestler didn’t win. He pointed out that Edge has only competed in the Royal Rumble and a last man standing match since his return and said it’s been nine years since Edge actually wrestled. Orton said he doesn’t think Edge has it in him anymore.
Orton told Edge that he saw doubt in Edge’s eyes. He said Edge may have grit and passion, but his grit doesn’t come close to comparing to Orton’s natural ability. His passion isn’t going to do anything about his ring rust.
Orton said that — if Edge has the guts — they’ll face off in a straight-up wrestling match at Backlash. Edge didn’t respond and appeared to show some doubt. Charly Caruso said the match may just be the greatest wrestling match ever if it does happen.
A few appearances have been confirmed for next week’s post-Money in the Bank episode of Raw.
During commercials that aired during Raw tonight, it was announced that Edge, Randy Orton, and Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch will be appearing next Monday. It will be the first time Edge and Orton have appeared since their last man standing match at WrestleMania 36 and the first time Lynch has been on Raw since April 13.
Edge defeated Orton in their last man standing match at WrestleMania. The advertisement announcing their appearances for next week said Edge would be hunting Orton, but it then asked if the hunter will become the hunted.
Lynch’s appearance on next week’s Raw will be to confront the winner of the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Nia Jax, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, and Carmella are the participants for Sunday’s women’s MITB ladder match. The men’s and women’s ladder matches are being held at WWE headquarters and are taking place simultaneously.
Lynch was most recently in action when she retained her Raw Women’s Championship against Baszler at WrestleMania.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Dana White plowing forward like a cartoon villain running UFC shows on indigenous land and in a private island in the fucking ocean, WrestleMania weekend numbers, RAW, a look at the awesome Edge documentary, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Dana running shows on an island
23:39: UFC 249 card
26:22: WrestleMania Google numbers
36:48: Raw
58:19: Edge documentary
1:09:58: People at Australia show test positive for coronavirus
Date: March 30, 2020 Location: WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL
Show Recap —
The show opened with a long AJ Styles-Undertaker video package. Undertaker was shown in a dark room, wearing his street clothes. He called out “Allen Jones,” since they were being real now. Taker said Syles must either have big balls or is really just that stupid. He’s heard a lot worse from better people but admitted some of Styles’ words were true.
Styles was right not to want to face him 10-15 years ago. Styles was happy being a big fish in a small pond because he couldn’t hang with the likes of Steve Austin, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Eddie Guerrero, Booker T and Edge. Styles waited until they were all gone to show up.
Taker understood why Styles said what he said, but he crossed the line when he mentioned his wife Michelle McCool. He claimed Styles was upset that she did the Styles Clash better than he did — and she got it over. Taker looked forward to their boneyard match and promised to make him famous. He also hoped that Styles brought his two ass clown friends.
Taker said Styles will hurt, he will suffer, and he will rest in peace. The camera expanded to show an AJ Styles tombstone.
Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton are tonight’s announcers. There’s a six-man tag match tonight with Kevin Owens and the Street Profits against Seth Rollins, Andrade and Angel Garza. Becky Lynch was shown arriving in her tractor-trailer.
Lynch cut a promo on the stage. Lynch recalled fighting two champions in last year’s WrestleMania main event. She attacked both fools every chance she got and has been walking the razor blade lifestyle ever since. She invited us to take a look. I assumed we’d be getting a video package, but instead, they aired the full match from WrestleMania 35 with entrances: Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch.
According to Wikipedia, this match was 21:30. With entrances and commercials added, I think it took up about 45 minutes of TV time. The entire first hour was the Undertaker promo, Lynch’s quick speech, and this match.
[Second hour]
Following the match airing, Lynch was still on the stage and said that was the first time she has watched the match. A lot of people have tried to take the title from her since that night and Shanya Baszler was next in line. Baszler claimed that taking the title would destroy her, and she was right, it would. Lynch admitted she didn’t know who she was without the title.
Lynch warned Baszler that she knew about her demons. Baszler walked around looking cool but Lynch was getting to her. Baszler thought she could do the one thing that her pal Ronda couldn’t do and that was beat her and that was her demon. Baszler could finally step out of Rousey’s shadow, but when Baszler loses, she’ll step back into Rousey’s shadow.
Lynch agreed with Baszler that the match would destroy one of them, but then pondered which one of them it would be. At that moment, Baszler snuck up from behind and put Lynch in the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler slammed Lynch into the side of the announce table and posed with the belt before leaving.
They aired clips of Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair from WrestleMania 24.
Aleister Black defeated Jason Cade (0:48)
Cade managed to catch Black with an enziguri, then Black kicked him and nailed a great-looking Black Mass for the pinfall win. (The announcers reminded us/me that Black faces Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania.)
Six-man tag match: Kevin Owens & Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defeated Seth Rollins, Angel Garza & Austin Theory (w/Zelina Vega) (13:25)
Montez Ford bumped elbows with Byron Saxton during his entrance.
Zelina Vega entered with Angel Garza and announced that Andrade suffered a serious rib injury and was deemed unable to compete. Owens and the Street Profits feigned concern, which was funny. Vega had the hottest free agent to join Garza — Austin Theory.
Owens wanted to fight Rollins but Rollins tagged in Theory. Owens immediately decked Theory and hammered away at him. Ford and Angelo Dawkins then took turns on Theory before slamming Garza on him. Ford then wiped them both out with a flip dive and they went to break.
The heels worked over Ford until he tagged in Dawkins who ran over Garza and Theory before Rollins nailed him with a superkick. Owens called Rollins a bitch. With Dawkins down, Owens warned him that a kick was coming from Rollins. “I can tell by his stance.” Dawkins avoided the kick and tagged in Owens, but Rollins managed to tag out.
Owens gave Garza a cannonball and senton but Theory broke up the cover. Ford tossed Theory from the ring then went for a flip dive. However, Theory didn’t catch him and Ford went splat against the black mats and the edge of the ramp. They even showed replays to show that he completely missed and Theory fell down anyway.
Owens gave Garza a stunner to win via pinfall. Immediately after, Rollins gave Owens a curb stomp.
They aired a commercial for The Big Show Show on Netflix.
After a break, Owens sat down in the ring and cut a promo. He said Rollins kicked some sense into him. Owens thought a lot about what Rollins said last week, and after what just happened, he had a lot to say.
Owens recalled Rollins saying that everyone should be thankful for everything he’s done and getting the Performance Center built on his hard work. But Owens heard the opposite from everyone. The Performance Center was built despite him. Owens said Rollins was a nightmare from the day he stepped into that warehouse in Tampa and nobody could stand him.
Owens said Rollins has proven to everyone lately that he is an arrogant dipshit. The difference between them is that he was not delusional. Rollins claimed to be a god at WrestleMania and Owens was just a disappointment. Owens admitted that those words stung, but Rollins has a skewed view of reality.
Owens mentioned his own championships, including being Universal Championship before Rollins. Owens admitted that he had people watching his back and helping him for each of his title wins – but so did Rollins. Rollins always had help or some underhanded way to achieve all of those Mania moments.
The only thing Rollins said that made sense was that his past didn’t matter. Owens sat up and said that on Saturday he would prove that Rollins is not a messiah or a god and he would take his first WrestleMania from him. Owens would be the one to burn it down.
They aired a video package for Edge vs. Randy Orton.
[Third hour]
Edge promo
Edge cut a promo sitting backstage. He said Orton was probably right when he said Adam Copeland was a junkie for Edge, but it wasn’t an ego thing. He loved the feeling and reaction from the crowd when his music hit. He shared a connection with the fans. He loved it because he was one of those fans.
He recalled being at WrestleMania 6 to watch Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior. He said they were all junkies for this, and if they weren’t, they were taking up space. He said they must have different definitions of the word grit.
Grit didn’t mean getting handpicked by Evolution, or coasting and showing only spurts of magic, or being okay with being okay. And for Orton, being okay was still being better than most. But for Edge, grit meant reaching down into that hole and pulling someone out who didn’t deserve it, turning down a spot in Evolution because you didn’t want to be somebody else’s lackey, forging your own Hall of Fame career, and working for nine years to end things on your own terms.
Edge was wrong when he said Orton was jealous of him. Orton was jealous of his passion. You either have passion or you don’t. Edge had it and Orton didn’t. Orton only felt passion when Edge was with him. Everyone was saying Orton was at his best right now and it was because of Edge, and the last time he was this good was nine years ago.
Orton was a junkie for how Edge made him feel. The voices in his head forced Orton to make a horrible mistake. The Royal Rumble might have been enough closure for him but then Orton put his hands on his wife and mentioned the names of his little girls.
Orton accepted a last man standing match against a man who dove headfirst into a flaming table with thumbtacks in every inch of his body just to grab the torch that Orton took for granted. Orton stepped into another hole and this time, Edge would not pull him out, but push him so far in that he can’t step out. This was excellent.
Asuka defeated Kayden Carter (1:13)
Asuka cut a promo before the match, seemingly questioning why she was even having this match, then asked Carter “who are you?” Asuka won fairly quickly with the Asuka Lock.
They showed footage from earlier today of Charlotte attacking Rhea Ripley outside the building, booting her from behind. An agent and a referee, who happened to be nearby, checked on Ripley and backed off Charlotte. Charlotte said she would see Ripley at WrestleMania and walked off. Instead of running after her, Ripley got up and said, “Yeah, yeah you will.”
They aired Brock Lesnar vs. Rey Mysterio from Survivor Series 2019. They inserted two separate commercial breaks into this 7-minute match.
The announcers ran down the full WrestleMania card. They still plugged Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns.
Brock Lesnar / Paul Heyman segment
Lesnar and Heyman stood in the ring. Heyman didn’t want to pull the curtain back on the business because he loved the magic of WWE but he said they call this the go-home segment on the go-home Raw before WrestleMania. More often than not, the man standing in the ring for that very segment was Brock Lesnar.
He was the beast to be slain and the conqueror to be conquered. This year, Drew McIntyre has truly stepped up. McIntyre was special. Compared to some guy on the street, McIntyre was special. Compared to the dumbass in the gym who claims he can do that WWE stuff, McIntyre was special. Even compared to the locker room, McIntyre was special.
Heyman said The Rock was also special, and he got beat down by Lesnar. So was Hulk Hogan, whose blood was wiped across Lesnar’s chest. So was Randy Couture, Shane Carwin, John Cena and the Undertaker. They were all special and legends but when they got in the ring with Lesnar they ended up like everyone else — not so goddamn special, but Brock Lesnar’s bitch.
The Claymore Kick wasn’t going to work, just like the Rock Bottom and leg drop and Attitude Adjustment and Tombstone didn’t work.
Heyman guaranteed that next year, on the go-home segment, on the go-home Raw, Brock Lesnar would be standing there with the title over his shoulder and he would be talking about McIntyre getting beaten at WrestleMania 2020. This year, McIntyre walks in special and walks out just like everybody else — Brock’s bitch.
The Edge episode of WWE 24 will also be made available on the WWE Network’s on-demand section at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday (April 5).
**********
Edge’s return to the ring will be featured on the next episode of WWE 24.
WWE Network News reported that “WWE 24: Edge: The Second Mountain” will premiere on the WWE Network after night two of WrestleMania 36 on Sunday, April 5. Edge is facing Randy Orton in a last man standing match at WrestleMania, though WWE hasn’t revealed which night their match will be airing on.
The WWE 24 episode will cover Edge’s “return to professional wrestling and the hardships and triumphs along the way.”
After being forced to retire due to injury in 2011, Edge returned to in-ring action as an entrant in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match. The next night on Raw, there was an angle where Orton attacked Edge and laid him out with a con-chair-to.
WWE Network News also reported that a new WWE Untold episode is coming to the WWE Network on Friday, April 3. It will focus on Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle’s feud and their match at WrestleMania 21.
Here’s the description for the Untold episode: “At WrestleMania 21, two of the greatest technical wrestling artists of all time created a masterpiece. Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle reminisce about the match Angle calls the best of his career.”
WWE has announced a few appearances for the final episode of Raw before WrestleMania 36.
Monday’s go-home show will feature WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Edge, and The Undertaker. The show, along with both nights of WrestleMania, has been taped in advance.
Lesnar made a brief appearance on Raw this Monday, with Paul Heyman cutting a promo saying Lesnar will make it quick for Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania but won’t make it painless. Lynch was also on the show and attacked Shayna Baszler with a steel chair as Baszler was doing an interview in the ring.
Edge and The Undertaker’s WrestleMania opponents were both on Raw this past Monday as stipulations were confirmed for their matches. Orton accepted Edge’s challenge for a last man standing match at WrestleMania, while Styles challenged Undertaker to a boneyard match.
WrestleMania 36 is airing on the WWE Network on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5.
Edge and Randy Orton’s last man standing match was made official for WrestleMania 36 on last night’s episode of Raw.
In the main event segment of last night’s show, Orton responded to Edge and accepted his last man standing match challenge. Orton said Edge may be writing his own story — but Orton will write the last chapter of it and end it at WrestleMania.
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman appeared last night, with Heyman cutting a promo sending a message to Drew McIntyre. Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch also appeared and attacked Shayna Baszler with a steel chair.
A new stipulation was added to The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles at WrestleMania. They will now face off in a “boneyard match.”
Andrade & Angel Garza vs. Ricochet & Cedric Alexander, The Street Profits vs. NXT’s Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink, and Aleister Black vs. EVOLVE’s Leon Ruff were the live matches that took place last night. WWE also re-aired Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. John Cena from Royal Rumble 2015 and Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka from WrestleMania 34.
Date: March 23, 2020 Location: WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL
Show Recap —
The show began with a Brock Lesnar/Drew McIntyre video package, the same one that aired a week or two ago where Paul Heyman claimed no one has dominated for as long as Lesnar.
Heyman and Lesnar stood in the ring. The camera faced the stage like it did on AEW Dynamite. That also means you can sometimes see the announcers, who are still positioned near the stage. They’ve also curtained off the empty seats.
Heyman said McIntyre can train as much as he wants in as many different ways as he wants, but he still cannot defeat Lesnar. Heyman used the line that WrestleMania would be unique because it was “too big for one night.”
Heyman said that Lesnar would make it quick at WrestleMania but it would not be painless. Heyman called McIntyre a main eventer who was a made man after everything he has done to Lesnar already, but at WrestleMania, he would be made a bitch like everyone else.
Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton are tonight’s announcers. No Jerry Lawler.
They aired Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins from Royal Rumble 2015. It was somewhat striking to see how much the crowd cheered for Lesnar. This took up approximately 35-37 minutes of TV time.
They showed clips of Rob Gronkowski’s appearance on smackdown.
Earlier in the show, they aired clips of AJ Styles’ various promos on Undertaker. They proceeded to air a long video package here repeating all of the same stuff.
[Second hour]
AJ Styles promo
Styles and the OC stood on the stage. Styles let us know that WrestleMania was too big for one night (as Phillips has multiple times already, in addition to Heyman earlier).
Styles didn’t care if their match was on Saturday or Sunday but it would probably depend on when Michelle McCool lets Taker out of the house. Styles poked fun at Taker’s pants, which Luke Gallows said were maternity pants.
Styles then showed a McCool and Taker save the tigers video. Styles asked, “who is this man?” and questioned whether he was still the same man since losing at WrestleMania 30. Styles claimed McCool has already taken Taker’s soul before he got the chance. Styles didn’t want the Mark Calaway who was posting selfies on Instagram, he wanted the Taker of yesteryear.
Styles promised the WWE Universe that we would get the return of the Dead Man. He challenged Taker to a “boneyard” match. Styles had the perfect place picked out and it would be the same plot of land that McCool picked out for when she buried Taker’s career.
The Street Profits will defend the tag titles against Andrade and Angel Garza at WrestleMania.
Charly Caruso interviewed Zelina Vega, Andrade and Garza. Caruso still appears to have a thing for Garza. Vega called them the most charismatic team in WWE and Andrade would soon be the most decorated champion. Andrade said the Street Profits may want the smoke, but they want the titles. Garza told Caruso that he knew exactly what he wanted. He winked at her before leaving.
SmackDown will feature a new episode of the Firefly Fun House. New Day faces the Usos with the winners facing Miz and John Morrison for the titles at Mania.
US Champion Andrade & Angel Garza (w/Zelina Vega) defeated Ricochet & Cedric Alexander (20:10)
Ricochet shaved his beard. He and Cedric both wore red tights. Andrade and Garza tried attacking Ricochet during his entrance but he wiped them out with a springboard crossbody.
Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins entered to their music two minutes into the match and joined commentary ahead of a commercial break. I guess Asuka was put on commentary last week to help make some noise and the Street Profits did the same here, especially when the babyfaces were on offense. Andrade chopping people also made a lot of noise.
Andrade picked up the win after a back elbow strike on Alexander. The referee stopped counting after two, perhaps thinking Alexander would kick out or Ricochet would make the save, but nothing happened, so he counted the three.
The Street Profits brawled with Andrade and Garza briefly after the match until the heels bailed.
I could be wrong, but the Street Profits seemed to reference things they were being told to say on commentary in their headsets, or at least how to react. Dawkins mentioned something about being told to “wake up.”
They aired a clip of Kofi Kingston defeating Daniel Bryan to win the WWE title last year.
Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defeated Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink in a non-title match (4:10)
Dawkins gave Thorne a spinebuster and Ford followed with a frog splash for the pinfall win.
Video aired of R-Truth winning the 24/7 title from Riddick Moss as he jogged through his neighbourhood.
On NXT this week, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have to answer to Triple H.
[Third hour]
The announcers ran down the Mania card which now includes Elias vs. Baron Corbin and Aleister Black vs. Bobby Lashley (with Lana).
Shayna Baszler sit-down interview
An uncomfortable Charly Caruso interviewed Shayna Baszler in the ring (the lights were turned off except for a spotlight). Caruso asked Baszler a question and Baszler just stared her down. Caruso asked her for a response. Baszler noted that Caruso looked nervous and wondered if she thought she might bite her.
Caruso asked another question, then Baszler said Becky Lynch should expect to lose. Baszler loved to destroy and wanted the title. When she takes the title, that will destroy Lynch. As Caruso began asking another question, Baszler was suddenly hit from behind by a chair. (The sound of the chair smacking her seriously came out of nowhere.)
The lights turned on revealing that it was Lynch. Lynch hit her one more time before leaving as Baszler remained down in the ring.
Aleister Black defeated Leon Ruff (1:00)
Ruff appeared terrified and didn’t move much, so Black just sat down. Ruff implored the referee to get Black to his feet, but the ref told him “that’s not my opponent, that’s your opponent.” Ruff tried to attack but Black blocked his attempt and killed him with Black Mass for the pinfall win. Ruff sold this great.
Kevin Owens / Seth Rollins segment
Kevin Owens was in the ring. He wanted an answer from Seth Rollins. Rollins entered alone. He had a few questions about Owens’ comments last week. Rollins wondered why Owens thought fighting at the Performance Center gave him an advantage. Rollins knew that Owens went through the PC but wondered if Owens even knew how he got there.
When Rollins started in WWE, there was no PC. It was built on his blood, sweat and tears. Rollins had to suffer, not for himself, but for people like Owens. Rollins rebuilt the system from the ground up and was trying to do the same thing on Raw, but Owens kept refusing to fall in line.
Rollins claimed that the PC and NXT wouldn’t exist without him. There was no Gargano, no Ciampa, no Undisputed Era, no Takeovers, and no women’s revolution without Seth Rollins. And most importantly, without Seth Rollins, there was no Kevin Owens.
Rollins also wondered why Owens would want to fight at WrestleMania and noted how successful he’s been at WrestleMania. Rollins also noted Owens’ failures at WrestleMania and that he wasn’t even on the show last year. Rollins was always at his best at Mania and when the pressure was on, he was a god. Rollins said Owens didn’t stand a chance. He left.
(Owens did try to interrupt once during Rollins’ promo, but he didn’t come across well here just standing there with no response at the end.)
Just after 10:20 pm ET, they aired another full match from the past: Charlotte Flair defeating Asuka at WrestleMania 2018.
Caruso interviewed Charlotte backstage. Charlotte called her win over Asuka inspiring. She warned Rhea Ripley that she would make history again. (Charlotte also said she would be the first woman to win the NXT Women’s Championship. I’m pretty sure she meant the first to do it at WrestleMania.)
Randy Orton segment
Orton (wearing his gear) walked out onto the stage with less than seven minutes left in the show. Orton said some of his words have been misunderstood. Some of the things he has said and done have come from a place of love, but they’ve been taken as acts of brutality. Orton looked at the camera and had a message for Edge.
Orton wanted to apologize. He lied to Beth Phoenix. He said Edge was a junkie for the roar of the crowd, but he was really a junkie for his own ego. Adam Copeland was a junkie for Edge. Edge was right that Orton didn’t have to pay his dues to get an opportunity, he was handed that opportunity. But being handed an opportunity doesn’t guarantee a Hall of Fame career.
Orton recalled winning the Intercontinental title and World title quickly into his career. That wasn’t handed to him. Orton said Mick Foley didn’t pass them the torch. He handed Edge the torch but put Orton in a pile of thumbtacks, so he beat Foley and took that torch.
Orton said grit wasn’t about sitting on his couch for nine years. To him, grit meant being the one constant in the locker room. Orton looks around the locker room today and doesn’t see anyone who has accomplished anything close to him. Orton said he had more grit than Edge.
Orton wondered what Edge would have done if he was handed the same opportunities. Orton wondered if Edge would have actually said no if Triple H offered him a spot in Evolution.
Orton said he did love Edge’s daughters and tried sending him home for them but now Edge wanted a last man standing match. Edge was writing his story, but Orton was writing the last chapter and would end it. “I accept.”
The stipulation looks to be set for Edge and Randy Orton’s match at WrestleMania 36.
During a promo on tonight’s Raw from the WWE Performance Center, Edge challenged Orton to a last man standing match at WrestleMania. Orton will appear on Raw next week to respond to the challenge.
This will be Edge’s first singles match since being forced to retire in 2011. He returned to the ring in the men’s Royal Rumble match in January. On Raw the next night, Orton attacked Edge and laid him out with a con-chair-to.
Edge and Orton’s storyline was furthered when Orton gave Beth Phoenix an RKO on Raw two weeks ago.
Phoenix tweeted that Edge drove 17 hours to get to tonight’s Raw: “FYI…@EdgeRatedR had to drive 17 hours total to deliver his words on #RAW after travel problems. #Grit #LastManStanding #RAW”
WWE issued a statement today confirming that WrestleMania is being moved from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to the Performance Center in Orlando. It’s still taking place on Sunday, April 5.
“In coordination with local partners and government officials, WrestleMania and all related events in Tampa Bay will not take place,” WWE’s statement said. “However, WrestleMania will still stream live on Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm ET on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view. Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania.”
WWE put out a statement on Friday announcing that Monday’s Raw will take place at the WWE Performance Center with only essential personnel in attendance. The show was originally supposed to be held at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The arena had announced last week that Edge would be appearing on the episode.
For the first time since the angle where he was attacked by Randy Orton the night after the Royal Rumble, Edge made his return to WWE television last Monday. It came the week after Orton laid out Beth Phoenix with an RKO.
Edge came to the ring when he arrived to last Monday’s show. He interrupted a segment where MVP was cutting a heel promo about wanting to manage Edge and saying Edge is lacking focus. When MVP brought up Phoenix, Edge gave him a spear. Orton then tried to ambush Edge, but Edge hit an RKO on him.
Orton bailed after that, so Edge gave MVP two con-chair-tos as Orton watched from the stage.
With Monday’s Raw falling on March 16, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be on the show to celebrate 3/16 Day. WWE has also announced that The Undertaker and AJ Styles will have a contract signing for their match that’s scheduled for WrestleMania.
One week after Randy Orton laid out Beth Phoenix with an RKO, Edge was looking for payback on last night’s Raw.
Edge returned to WWE television for the first time since the angle where he was attacked by Orton the night after the Royal Rumble. He arrived and came straight to the ring as MVP was cutting a heel promo about wanting to manage Edge and how Edge is lacking focus.
MVP said Edge’s mental is off and he’s focusing on the wrong things. Edge then gave MVP a spear after he brought up Phoenix.
Orton used that opportunity to try and ambush Edge, but Edge hit an RKO on Orton and then went to get steel chairs. Orton bailed, so Edge gave MVP two con-chair-tos as Orton watched from the stage.
Date: March 9, 2020 Location: Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Big Takeaway —
Edge returned and attacked MVP before giving Randy Orton an RKO. Edge tried to go after Orton but Orton managed to escape the arena.
AJ Styles issued a challenge to Undertaker at WrestleMania and threatened to kill him.
Steve Austin and Undertaker appear next week.
Show Recap —
There’s a camera in the back awaiting the arrival of Edge.
Becky Lynch came out to start the show. She said the time for joking and treading water was over because she finally knows who her WrestleMania opponent is — the cage fighter, Shayna Baszler. She had a video package played of Baszler’s win last night. They included a post-show interview by Baszler where she said she would take the title and called Lynch a bitch.
Lynch said Baszler cut through the one woman Lynch took her entire career to beat, just in a matter of minutes. She put over Baszler’s MMA career and dominant NXT title reigns. Lynch also called Baszler a black hole of charisma. Lynch admitted she might be a bitch but she’s the bitch that runs this division. The crowd chanted for Lynch.
Lynch recalled Baszler refusing to shake her hand after Mania last year after she beat her pal, Ronda Rousey. Lynch knew Baszler has been waiting in the shadows for this. Normally, regular people like her don’t be trained killers like Baszler — “Except I do, I did, and I will again.” It would be heart vs. skill at Mania and Lynch would smash her face in.
Rey Mysterio defeated Angel Garza (w/Zelina Vega) (8:57)
Garza wore green, white and red pants. He also kissed a fan in the front row. He posed on the top rope before the match and Mysterio was unimpressed.
Garza superkicked Mysterio and dropkicked him out of the ring, then ripped off his pants before a break. The break came less than two minutes into the match even though this is the only thing that’s happened since the last break. Garza called for a 619 but Mysterio kicked him in the face, then kicked him out of the ring and followed with a sliding slash.
Mysterio hit a seated senton and a kick to the head for a two count. Garza cut him off and used a springboard reverse suplex for two. Mysterio hit an enziguri but Garza ducked a 619 and hit a superkick. Mysterio came back later with a 619 and springboard splash for the pinfall win.
Owens was shown being greeted at the building earlier today by Rollins, Murphy and AOP. Rollins was eating popcorn. Owens chucked his luggage at AOP before attacking them. They overwhelmed him though and left him laying (AOP and Murphy did all the work). Officials (including Lance Storm) arrived to help Owens as Rollins watched while eating popcorn.
Steve Austin was announced again for Raw next week in Pittsburgh.
They aired a Rhea Ripley video package. She toured the stadium where Mania is being held and talked about her journey there. She mentioned that she didn’t want to be anything like Charlotte.
Charlotte Flair promo
Charlotte sarcastically called Ripley the next big thing and the newest shiny toy. Charlotte was confused over why Ripley would say that to be the best, you have to beat the best, when she also claims she wants to be nothing like her.
Charlotte wanted to teach Ripley a lesson. It was one thing to stand in front of an empty stadium dreaming about Mania and another to be humbled in front of 90,000 people.
Ripley interrupted. Before she could say anything, Charlotte stopped her to remind her that Raw was her kingdom. Charlotte told her to leave, so Ripley punched her in the face, knocking her down. Charlotte sold this by smiling and chuckling. Ripley also smiled as she left. Charlotte stood right up and smiled back.
AJ Styles will be on WWE Backstage tomorrow.
Bobby Lashley defeated Zack Ryder (w/Curt Hawkins) (1:20)
Lashley won quickly with a modified Dominator. Lana was not with Lashley. The announcers said she was filming a movie. A few people chanted “we want Lana.”
They replayed Drew McIntyre attacking Brock Lesnar last week with three Claymore Kicks.
[Second hour]
Aleister Black was back in his dark room, wearing an all-black suit. Before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Rollins and Murphy entered. Rollins has noticed that Black has had a problem with numbers lately and Rollins knew all about having the numbers advantage. Rollins offered a spot with him. Black said no. Rollins said he was either with him or against him. Black said that sounded like a challenge and he accepted. The crowd cheered.
Drew McIntyre defeated Erick Rowan (2:18)
McIntyre gave Rowan an overhead suplex outside the ring. He then grabbed Rowan’s cage and smashed it with the steel steps, which the crowd enjoyed. Rowan went after him but ate a headbutt. McIntyre gave him a Future Shock DDT and Claymore Kick for the pinfall win. The crowd liked McIntyre. This was good.
Randy Orton was shown standing around backstage. They aired a video package recapping last week’s angle.
On Friday’s SmackDown, Paige confronts Bayley, and Jeff Hardy returns.
Tag Team Champions Asuka & Kairi Sane defeated Natalya & Liv Morgan in a non-title match (10:54)
Asuka and Sane cut a promo in Japanese before the match. Asuka wanted to beat someone up. This went longer than usual before they were interrupted by Natalya and Morgan. Natalya had new gear last night but was back to her regular gear tonight. Asuka had her wrist taped, Natalya had her arm taped. Early in the match, Ruby Riott sauntered out and they went to break.
The Warriors worked over Natalay’s arm. Sarah Logan also decided to watch from ringside. Riott and Logan attacked each other before long. Morgan then nailed a dive on both women off the top. Natalya made a comeback and put Sane in the sharpshooter, but Asuka had made a blind tag. Asuka slipped in the ring and kicked Natalya in the head for the pinfall win.
AJ Styles promo
The OC came out to Styles’ music instead of their team music. Styles said Undertaker has twice stuck his nose where it doesn’t belong and stolen moments from him. First his trophy, then last night’s match. They aired a video recap from last night. The crowd chanted for Taker.
Styles remembered seeing Taker get beat by Roman Reigns at Mania three years ago before taking off his hat and gloves and laying them down in the ring. Taker raised his arm in the air as if to signal he was done. Styles said Taker probably should have done that when Brock Lesnar ended his streak, “but whatever.”
It was a beautiful moment three years ago, but Taker ruined his own moment. Styles wanted Taker at Mania. Ten or fifteen years ago, Styles might’ve been worried about calling out Taker, but now he’s just a broken-down old man named Mark Calaway. The crowd booed.
Styles said Taker should have retired ten years ago. He wasn’t sure why Taker kept coming back, but he had an idea. It was his wife, Michelle McCool. Styles announced to the crowd that Taker and McCool were married, and McCool was playing him like a fiddle. He said they have a great family, but McCool was the most conniving person he’s ever met.
Styles warned Taker that his wife was going to run him into the ground, and he was going to help her. “I’m going to make sure you die in that ring at WrestleMania. I am gonna take the Undertaker’s soul at WrestleMania. I’m gonna do exactly what his wife wants me to do at WrestleMania.”
Styles said Taker has nothing to lose because he’s already lost his pride, dignity and mystique. Styles said he would literally put the nail in Taker’s coffin.
WWE congratulated themselves on their Youtube page reaching over 40-billion views.
Charly Caruso found Orton backstage and asked him his thoughts. He didn’t answer. She left.
Riddick Moss defeated Cedric Alexander to retain the 24/7 Championship (2:02)
Moss won with a neckbreaker.
[Third hour]
Back from a break, MVP was in the ring mid-promo, insulting Washington DC. MVP said he was transitioning from in-ring competitor to brainiac. He wanted to build a stable and needed a solid foundation. He wanted to build his stable around a guy like Edge. He went way back with Edge. He said Edge lacked focus but he can make him a champion again.
Right on time, a black SUV pulled up to the arena. It was Edge. Edge’s music hit and he marched out. He took the mic from MVP. He told Orton to grow a set and come out right now. MVP told Edge he was focused on the wrong things. The crowd chanted for a spear. MVP asked Edge how his wife was, so Edge gave him a spear.
Orton attacked from behind but Edge fought him off and gave him an RKO. Edge grabbed two chairs but Orton bailed from the ring. MVP got in the way so Edge put him down with a standing head-and-arm choke. Edge then gave MVP an RKO onto a chair before giving him a con-chair-to. The crowd very loudly chanted “one more time,” so Edge did it again.
Orton watched from the stage as this happened. I was about to complain about Edge just standing there too, but then he sprinted after Orton as they went to break.
There will be a contract signing next week with Undertaker and AJ Styles.
They showed Triple H getting a lifetime achievement award at the Arnold Classic.
There was a Lesnar-McIntyre video package. Heyman spoke about Lesnar’s dominance and they showed clips of him taking out Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, John Cena, and Undertaker. Heyman said nobody has dominated for this long. McIntyre responded by saying Lesnar has finally met his match. McIntyre said he would kick Lesnar in the face, knock him on his ass, and become heavyweight champion.
Edge stormed through the back until Caruso informed him that Orton has left the arena.
Aleister Black defeated Seth Rollins (w/Murphy) via DQ (7:32)
Black interrupted his comeback to knock Murphy off the apron. The distraction allowed Rollins to apply a schoolboy for two. Black came back with a roundhouse kick and German suplex but Murphy broke up the cover for the DQ.
AOP came out and they all attacked Black until the Viking Raiders joined the fight. The Street Profits came out next to make the save. The babyfaces cleared the ring as the crowd chanted “we want the smoke.” Montez Ford suggested they have an eight-man tag match. Rollins accepted.
Eight-man tag team match: Seth Rollins, Murphy & AOP defeated Tag Team Champions The Street Profits & The Viking Raiders (23:36)
The heels beat up Erik forever and the crowd chanted “we want the smoke” as he made the hot tag to Montez Ford who dropkicked AOP out of the ring before spiking Murphy with a DDT.
They very abruptly went to commercial break during Ford’s comeback (just as things were getting exciting). The announcers didn’t mention anything about a break, so maybe there was a timing issue.
After a break… Rollins was beating up Ford. Ford superkicked Murphy and made the hot tag to Ivar. Ivar tried a springboard move but Akam knocked him out of the ring. Rollins gave Erik a Falcon Arrow but Ford broke up the cover. Everyone traded moves, leaving Erik and Rollins in the ring. Erik slammed Rollins, then Ford hit a frog splash but Murphy broke up the cover.
The Raiders took out AOP and Murphy with dives, then Rollins wiped out Angelo Dawkins with a flying knee. Ford then did a big flip dive, taking out everyone (including his own teammates). Rollins managed to avoid the dive, then gave Ford a curb stomp as he entered the ring for the pinfall win. The last few minutes were good. The crowd liked the Street Profits.
After the match, Owens ran out and attacked Rollins before giving Akam and Murphy stunners. However, Rollins managed to give Owens a curb stomp, then gave him a second one.
Right before they went off the air, Rollins gave him a third curb stomp.
