Following Saturday’s NXT Halloween Havoc, Shawn Michaels took part in a media call lasting around 30 minutes. He talked a variety of subjects including tonight’s show, hoping to run events outside of the Performance Center in 2023, the possibility of NXT Japan and Mexico, T-Bar, and more.
Getting out of the WWE Performance Center
Michaels on the media call said he hoped that they start running premium live events outside of Orlando starting in 2023. He said he hopes to start with big shows, then later with other touring shows.
Additionally, Michaels brought up that there have been talks of NXT Japan and NXT Mexico. Announcements regarding them may be coming in 2023.
On Halloween Havoc
Michaels praised the main event, saying that he was a big fan of both JD McDonagh and Ilja Dragunov since they were in NXT UK, saying they could go.
Regarding the cinematic portion of the show between Toxic Attraction and Alba Fyre, Michaels indicated they wouldn’t do those type of segments too much, but tonight’s cinematic match fit in with the Halloween Havoc theme.
Michaels also praised Wes Lee, who won the NXT North American Championship on Saturday’s show. Micheals said that Lee “had to deal with some tough stuff” and that they get along well because they are so emotional. He said that “losing his friend hurt a great deal”.
Michaels additionally cited Nathan Frazer as having a breakout performance on Saturday’s ladder match.
T-Bar
Michaels seemed to confirm that the tease seen on tonight’s show with a burning mask was related to T-Bar, who formerly wrestled in NXT as Domink Dijakovic. He mentioned that they lost him in 2020 on short notice when he ws called up to the main roster. Michaels said that they see what is discussed on social media and praised head writer of NXT Johnny Russo for what he called a “quick tease”.
Michaels additionally said that whenever they get someone back from the main roster, they find the situation as if they were like “a fun new toy.”
NXT’s next premium live event, Deadline, will be held on December 10.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Key Bank Center in Buffalo, New York, before Monday’s Raw.
Apollo Crews (w/ Commander Azeez) defeated T-Bar (5:07)
Crews got his third win in as many weeks on Main Event in a decent five-minute match.
There was some nice storytelling as they actually referenced something that happened on this show last week. T-Bar was selling his left knee, which was wrapped up, because it had been damaged in his match last week against Tommaso Ciampa.
T-Bar did a really good job here of continually selling the knee throughout, even at one stage grasping at it as he was covering Crews for a near fall. It’s a side of his in-ring work that has improved dramatically over the last year and all credit to him for doing so.
Crews used the injured knee as his focus for the match and it played into the finish. T-Bar wasn’t 100% and couldn’t follow through with some of his move set like High Jutsice.
Azeez tried to swipe T-Bar’s knee but missed, but it was enough of a momentary distraction for Crews to regroup and hoist him up for the samoan drop for the win.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Cedric Alexander (w/ Shelton Benjamin) (7:40)
Ciampa continued his run of wins on Main Event in a really strong match with Alexander. This is one to check out if you can.
The Hurt Business have been on this show for the last few months having consistently good matches, either as singles or as a tag team and this one was no different.
The fact that there is no spot for this kind of match on Raw, is inexplicable. It also stands to reason that they should link Ciampa up with someone else so that they don’t get have to send Benjamin all the way to TV to just stand in Alexander’s corner for a match that gets very limited eyes on it.
Ciampa took the early going for the commercial break with Benjamin trying to interfere. When the ref had had enough of his antics, he sent him to the back. Ciampa waved goodbye, but it was all a rouse and allowed Alexander to get the upper hand.
There was a great little moment at the end where Ciampa had kicked out of the Michinoku Driver but was looking done for. Alexander went for the Neutralizer, but Ciampa rose quickly and slide in to hit Alexander with a baseball slide to the face. From there, Ciampa hit a running knee strike and was able to use the Fairytale Ending to get the win.
This was a really good match by the end and one that the crowd was getting into as well.
Final Thoughts:
Two good matches this week with Ciampa and Alexander having a match that is actually worth going out of your way to check out if you can. That said, all four of these wrestlers can now be considered regulars on Main Event, which is not a label that anyone wants.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, before Monday’s Raw.
Apollo Crews (w/ Commander Azeez) defeated Greg Leslie (4:52)
Crews replaced Veer Mahaan in the spot where you squash enhancement talent each week, but this was really dull.
Since they made so many cuts in the last 18 months, there are fewer lower midcard guys for them to throw on Main Event every week and so we’re starting to see jobbers more and more on this show.
Leslie proved reasonably popular with this post-WrestleMania Raw crowd and he even had his own little chant going as they locked up.
In what ought to have been a straight up squash, Crews ended up using headlocks and wasting time trying to get heat in between moves. They sweetened the crowd noise, which is saying something considering this was the Raw after WrestleMania crowd.
Crews used a fallaway Samoan drop to get the job done and Azeez beat down Leslie after the bell for some further cheap heat. The silence when Crews got the victory said it all: they need to hit the reset button on this act.
Shelton Benjamin (w/ Cedric Alexander) defeated T-Bar (7:07)
Unfortunately, this one also dragged a little with Benjamin getting his hand raised to leave T-Bar winless in his last seven outings.
To say that Benjamin is being wasted on Main Event in 2022 is bad enough, but when you consider that he’s been wasted since late 2019, it becomes beyond a joke.
Apart from a brief Hurt Business run on Raw last year, his match history over the last three years makes for bleak reading.
T-Bar, likewise, must be wondering what he has to do to get some main roster television. He’s visibly improved, but needs to be booked as more of a big man and put over as much more of a threat than he currently is.
T-Bar took most of this one, but again relied on rest holds to further the match minute count. Benjamin kicked out of a modified Eyes Wide Shut and reversed a chokeslam attempt into a German suplex. Benjamin won after hitting a running splash to the corner, followed up with the Paydirt.
A lot of T-Bar’s recent losses have been made to look like he was unlucky, but he sold this one like he was out for the count.
Final Thoughts:
Not only was this post-Mania crowd not interested in these matches, they weren’t interested in hijacking the show either.
Both matches were entirely uninspiring and went a long way to support the argument that the doing the draft post-WrestleMania was the best time in order to freshen things up.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois before Monday’s Raw.
Veer Mahaan defeated Joe Alonzo (4:11)
This was another squash against a local jobber as Veer continues his slow march towards his April 4th Raw debut on April 4th.
Whether that date means that he’ll make a WrestleMania appearance remains to be seen, but at least the ridiculously long wait is over.
Alonzo is a Chicago local and worked some AEW Dark matches in 2020 against the likes of Cody Rhodes. His Twitter account tells you all you need to know: he wants to sign a professional wrestling contract really badly. Good luck to him.
Mahaan didn’t give him much here as he shrugged off his advances. Veer used a nerve hold which seems totally unnecessary in a squash, but I guess he wants to clock up some minutes ahead of his Raw debut.
The finish was the usual three move setup: running splash, lawn dart, Million Dollar Arm. But rather than the DDT, he used a submission move this week which we haven’t seen from him before. It was kind of a choke hold, but looked a little loose.
Let’s see how they book him on the main roster and how long his undefeated streak lasts before they give up on him.
Cedric Alexander (w/Shelton Benjamin) defeated T-Bar (8:59)
Once again, T-Bar looked unlucky in his loss but he is still winless in his last five. Apart from unnecessarily long rest holds, this was good.
This went longer than it needed to (nine minutes) with Alexander managing to wear T-Bar down by hurting his legs so that he was too unstable to hit the Eyes Wide Shut.
T-Bar now has the moniker “The Tyrant” on his trunks, but it’s not something they’re making much of a reference to in the announce booth. This losing streak has been full of people stealing victories, but this, coupled with his continual appearance on Main Event, has to be a concern.
They opened with a good pace and it ended well, but otherwise this dragged a bit.
In the end, Alexander used a dropkick to T-Bar’s left knee and followed it up with a leg sweep which toppled him and made him unsteady. He was wincing when he had Alexander up on his shoulders for the Eyes Wide Shut.
Alexander wriggled out of the hold and rolled him up for the win. He and Benjamin got out of there as quick as they could and I guess we’ll see if they rematch this one next week.
Final Thoughts:
Another meager Main Event offering this week. Mahaan will have one more squash before he moves up, so it will be interesting to see who they use on this show after WrestleMania. Main Event is still a show that needs a real shakeup, but I’ve been saying that for years now and it doesn’t look like they’re interested in doing anything with it.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, before Monday’s Raw.
Veer Mahaan defeated Gary Heck (3:25)
This was another squash for Mahaan against enhancement talent, but it was a more dominant performance than in previous weeks.
Mahaan’s opponent this week was Heck who seemed to be pretty much fresh out of the box. He is reportedly WWE trainer Larry Heck’s younger brother. That’s some pretty niche trivia right there.
Apart from an unnecessary bear hug, Mahaan could have had this one wrapped up inside a couple of minutes. And, logically, that’s what they should be doing with him. Each week these squashes get slightly shorter, but Mahaan never just plows through the guy.
Heck got in some clubbing forearms in the last minute, but this was very much Mahaan by numbers. He nailed Heck with a running splash to the corner before hitting the Million Dollar Arm and finishing him with the DDT.
Mahaan is now undefeated in twelve straight and getting slightly better, but still no closer to debuting on the main roster.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated T-Bar (5:58)
Ciampa went 3-0 against T-Bar in a match that we really don’t need to be seeing again anytime soon.
Ciampa seems to be nomadic these days as he bounces between NXT, sporadic Raw appearances, and working Main Event. This was his fourth outing on the show and he remains a popular face with the crowd.
When he and T-Bar go at it, it looks pretty stiff, but this was probably the weakest of the three bouts they have had together on this show.
In all three matches, it’s been left with Ciampa getting his hand raised but never felt very definitive or conclusive. The same was true here.
The match was balanced and then went down to near falls. T-Bar landed the Eyes Wide Shut, but Ciampa kicked out. Ciampa went for the Fairy Tale Ending, but couldn’t maneuver T-Bar into it. So, in the end, it was a reversal into a high knee that got it done for Ciampa as he rolled T-Bar up for the win.
The crowd got behind this a little, which was nice. T-Bar looked on disgruntled after the loss while Ciampa waved him bye-bye and blew him a kiss.
Final Thoughts:
Main Event continues to be just a show with little to write home about. What should be the most interesting storyline — when Mahaan will make his main roster debut — has gone on for so long now that it’s just farcical.
A battle royal on Monday night will determine the next challengers for AJ Styles & Omos’ Raw Tag Team titles.
WWE has announced that RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle), The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods), Mace & T-Bar, Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado), and The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) will take part in a five-team battle royal on Monday’s episode of Raw. The winning team will become the number one contenders to Styles & Omos’ Raw Tag Team titles, but WWE hasn’t revealed when they’ll be getting their title shot.
Styles & Omos won the Raw Tag Team titles from Kingston & Woods at WrestleMania 37 this April. On Raw earlier this week, Styles & Omos retained against Elias & Jaxson Ryker after Elias abandoned Ryker during the match.
Two segments have also been announced for Monday’s Raw. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre will take part in a contract signing ahead of their title match at this month’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. Plus, Shayna Baszler will come to Alexa’s Playground.
Date: April 26, 2021 Location: Yuengling Center in Tampa, FL
The Big Takeaway —
Braun Strowman pinned Drew McIntyre and as a result, Bobby Lashley will defend his WWE title against both men at Backlash in a triple threat. Randy Orton and Riddle teamed up and picked up a win, and Charlotte Flair’s suspension is already over.
For the third straight week, AJ Styles and Omos were not on the show.
Also, Raw went almost an hour without any wrestling during the middle portion of the show.
Show Recap —
T-Bar and Mace did a pre-match promo making it clear they were not affiliated with anyone. They’re only interested in extinction. (They aren’t wearing masks but are still going by “Mace” and “T-Bar.”)
Braun Strowman confronted Drew McIntyre in Gorilla position asking where his thank you was for saving him last week. McIntyre said he didn’t ask for any help. Strowman called him “kid” which offended him. Strowman said he could beat both guys alone.
Braun Strowman defeated Mace & T-Bar via DQ (2:55)
This was supposed to be a tag match but Strowman entered and demanded they start the match without McIntyre. Strowman fought off both guys as long for as he could but they double-teamed him in the corner which led to a disqualification (because one guy wasn’t legal).
McIntyre ran out to make the save and they cleared the ring. McIntyre sarcastically asked for a thank you and Strowman called him a funny guy.
Strowman made a hot tag but his offense was cut off quickly after he sent himself shoulder-first into the post. McIntyre tagged himself in and gave T-Bar a Future Shock DDT but Mace broke up the cover. Strowman charged around the ring but T-Bar ducked a McIntyre clothesline and McIntyre knocked down Strowman by mistake.
T-Bar slipped in the ring before a ten count and his team won by countout. McIntyre just barely missed getting back in the ring on time. A weak win to say the least. (The match started during a break. The TV portion went about five minutes.)
Strowman laid out McIntyre with a powerslam afterwards. (McIntyre got to his feet by the time Strowman got to the ramp.)
(I think Adnan Virk was told to increase his excitement level by 200% because he was freaking out when Strowman ran around the ring and when he did the powerslam.)
McIntyre approached Adam Pearce in his office. He wanted a match with Strowman tonight. Pearce accepted.
MizTV
John Morrison was back with Miz. They were joined by Elias and Jaxson Ryker. Miz plugged his feature on the Network and his reality show before once again taking credit for Bad Bunny’s success.
Miz said the four of them had a concert for us. The four men (including Ryker) performed very poorly until the lights went out and Damian Priest interrupted. Priest said he wanted to witness this in person, just like he was able to witness Bad Bunny beat the Miz at WrestleMania.
Priest had a surprise for them. The New Day entered. Xavier Woods carried an instrument box to the ring, but there was no instrument inside. Instead, it was filled with “rotten” tomatoes.
Priest, Woods and Kofi Kingston chucked the tomatoes at the heels who took bumps for the tomatoes instead of simply leaving the ring. They had to sell this like they were getting doused with a hose filled with beer.
6-man tag match: Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods & Damian Priest defeated The Miz, Elias & Jaxson Ryker (w/John Morrison) (16:48)
The good guys were in control until Elias pulled Kingston down from the top rope to the outside. Miz booted him and they went to break. Back from break, Miz distracted the referee so that Morrison could rub a tomato in Kingston’s face (which is only fair).
They worked over Kingston for a long time until he ducked an It Kick and hit an SOS. Priest made the hot tag and used a series of kicks on Ryker before taking down Elias with a clothesline for two. Priest hit a spinning kick off the top but Miz broke up the cover. Priest gave him a Broken Arrow before tagging in Woods.
Woods came off the top but was immediately knocked down with a jumping knee by Elias for a nearfall. Woods and Priest held Ryker as Kingston nailed Ryker with a missile dropkick. Priest wiped out Miz and Morrison with a dive and Kingston yanked Elias out of the ring (returning the favour from earlier). Woods then rolled up Ryker for the pinfall win.
Sonya Deville was shown walking through the arena. She held a door open and Charlotte Flair entered. The announcers acknowledged that Charlotte had been suspended. (Charlotte and Deville walked as slowly as possible for the camera, which looked completely unnatural.)
[Second hour]
Sonya Deville and Charlotte Flair segment
Deville introduced Charlotte Flair, as well as Eddie Orengo, the WWE referee that Charlotte attacked last week. They showed a replay of what happened. Deville thought Pearce’s punishment was a bit harsh.
Charlotte said she wanted to sincerely apologize to WWE management, the fans, and to Orengo for her childish ways. She said instinct took over last week. Charlotte apologized for “manhandling” Orengo. He accepted the apology. He said he didn’t see Rhea Ripley’s interference and said Charlotte would have won the match if not for him.
Deville lifted Charlotte’s suspension. She announced that Charlotte would compete tonight and Orengo would be the referee.
Charlotte wanted an apology from Orengo because he admitted it was his mistake. He hesitated but did apologize. Charlotte said, “good boy.” He held the ropes open for her so that she could exit the ring. Charlotte and Deville left together.
Pearce was waiting for them in Gorilla. He was annoyed and asked Deville when the hell she planned on telling him about this. She said she was sorry. He didn’t accept the apology because he didn’t believe her.
After a break, Pearce was on the phone with someone complaining about Deville until he was interrupted by Strowman. Strowman was fine with wrestling McIntyre and loudly reminded Pearce that Randy Orton was the one who got pinned in their number one contender’s match.
Strowman said he wanted to be added to the WWE title match at “WrestleMania Backlash” if he beat McIntyre tonight. Strowman mockingly asked if Pearce had to check with Deville first to make it official. Pearce agreed to the stip. If Strowman wins tonight, it’ll be a triple threat match at Backlash.
Sheamus segment
Sheamus (in street clothes) entered for his open challenge. He said he attacked Humberto Carrillo before a match could start last week because Carrillo didn’t belong in the ring with him. He asked who wanted to be next, while also making it clear that the US title was not on the line.
Carrillo entered. Sheamus mocked him before hitting him with a cheap shot. Sheamus turned his back on Carrillo who attacked Sheamus and sent him out of the ring. Carrillo dropkicked Sheamus off the apron twice before nailing a suicide dive. An angry Carrillo marched to the back. Sheamus was pissed and chucked aside a leather chair.
Kevin Patrick approached Bobby Lashley and MVP in the back. He asked about Strowman. MVP blew him off. MVP said he had a scoop but wouldn’t tell Patrick what it was. They left.
They plugged the next A&E biography which will be on Randy Savage.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Ripley. Ripley didn’t believe any apology from Charlotte but was happy to know she got fined $100,000. Ripley knew her path would cross with Charlotte again one day but she was focused on her match tonight.
Time for another talking segment.
Bobby Lashley & MVP segment
Lashley said he did exactly what he said he was going to do: walk in and out of WrestleMania as champion. He made McIntyre pass out, held his belt high, and commanded respect from the fans that were in attendance for the first time in over a year. He tossed McIntyre aside, but McIntyre was like a piece of gum stuck to his shoe. He planned on beating McIntyre again.
Lashley noted that the match could suddenly become a triple threat. MVP couldn’t understand why the company would treat their champion that way. MVP said any decision involving Lashley should go through the champ first. Lashley called the decision disrespectful.
MVP noted the ways that Lashley could lose the title without getting pinned. Lashley said he could beat both men and nobody was taking the title from him after it took him 16 years to get it. Lashley planned on walking out of Backlash as champion. Lashley was good in this segment.
Time for more talking. Patrick interviewed Riddle in the back. He made some bad jokes before being interrupted by Randy Orton. Orton wasn’t sure what planet he was from. Riddle quickly stated that he was from earth. Orton told him not to interrupt. He said they have nothing in common and Riddle interrupted to say they were both from earth.
Orton admitted that he underestimated Riddle last week. He also admitted that “R-K-Bro” was a catchy name. He got them a tag match tonight if Riddle wanted. Riddle was excited. He wanted them to get matching snakeskin speedos. Orton motioned for him to stop talking. Orton said tonight was just an audition. They could talk again after the match if it went well.
Riddle acted like a child in his excitement to be tagging with Orton.
Reginald, Nia Jax, and Shayna Baszler stood shoulder-to-shoulder-to-shoulder in the back for another talking segment. Baszler didn’t want any more distractions tonight. Baszler left.
Some guy handed Jax a bouquet of flowers. She thought it was sweet and thanked Reginald, but Reginald didn’t buy them. Angel Garza entered the frame. He wished her luck tonight and kissed her hand. Jax was flattered. As she and Reginald walked through the back, she clobbered Mandy Rose with the flowers and called her a bitch. Rose and Dana Brooke just stood there.
MVP approached Strowman in the back. Strowman said if Lashley had something to say to him, he should say it to his face. Strowman said after he beats McIntyre tonight, there was nothing that could stop him from becoming champion at “WrestleMania Backlash.”
Randy Orton & Riddle defeated Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin (5:31)
The first match of the second hour started at 9:47pm. It’s been 54 minutes since the previous match ended.
Alexander and Benjamin worked over Riddle for a few minutes until Riddle hit a knee strike and tagged Orton. Orton gave Benjamin a powerslam. As he set up for an RKO, Riddle warned him about Alexander who was on the top rope, so Orton gave Alexander an RKO.
As Orton set up Benjamin for a draping DDT, Riddle excitedly asked for a tag. Orton tagged him before hitting the DDT. Riddle followed with a Floating Bro for the pinfall win.
Riddle wanted a hug from Orton but, obviously, didn’t get one. Orton left as Riddle celebrated in the ring. Orton smirked on his way up the ramp. Corey Graves thought for sure Orton would give Riddle an RKO at some point but that didn’t happen.
We’ll see how long this lasts, but I do like this duo.
[Third hour]
6-woman tag match: Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley & Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (w/Reginald) defeated Asuka, Naomi & Lana (11:33)
Asuka was down for a moment so Ripley tagged herself in but Asuka quickly responded with a knee strike. Naomi and Lana each tagged in to team up on Ripley. Lana used a rollup for two but Ripley cut her off with a headbutt and followed with a vertical suplex.
As Ripley worked over Lana, Rose and Brooke sauntered out. Baszler marched toward them but they chucked a bucket of water at her. Jax attempted to go after them but she slipped and fell on the water. Jax rolled around on the mats as Reginald tried helping her up. Commercial break.
Baszler worked over Lana until Lana tagged in Asuka who hit Baszler with a running hip attack and kicks. Baszler came right back with a knee to the face. Jax followed with a scoop slam and elbow drop for two. Jax hit a Samoan drop but Asuka came back with strikes before tagging in Naomi.
Naomi used a disaster kick but Baszler broke up a cover. Reginald distracted Naomi allowing Jax to attack her. Ripley tagged in and slammed Naomi. Asuka broke up a cover but Ripley managed to get rid of her. Ripley gave Naomi the Riptide but Lana had made a blind tag.
Lana hit a flying crossbody for two. She also got a two on a crucifix pin but Ripley gave her a Riptide. Instead of going for the cover, Ripley tagged in Jax who gave Lana a leg drop for the pinfall win. The three champions posed with their belts.
In the back, Rose and Brooke bragged about their prank. Deville approached them and called them unprofessional. Deville wasn’t surprised by Rose’s actions considering her laughable taste. Deville said Rose would be Charlotte’s opponent tonight. (This was basically meant as punishment like Teddy Long forcing people to wrestle the Undertaker.)
Alexa’s Playground
Bliss had a video played that was meant to be serene and peaceful. She spoke softly over the video when Lilly the doll suddenly popped and screamed for the purpose of a jump scare. (It didn’t work on me because I wasn’t really paying attention.) Bliss laughed and said Lilly made her do it. She giggled and swung on her swing set.
Charlotte Flair defeated Mandy Rose (w/Dana Brooke) (4:19)
Corey Graves no longer thinks Mandy Rose is god’s greatest creation because she slipped and fell at WrestleMania.
Rose got some offense after Charlotte was distracted by Brooke. Rose whipped Charlotte into the corner and she almost collided with referee Orengo but they avoided it. Charlotte booted Rose for a two count and Charlotte admonished Orengo for a slow count.
Rose used a schoolboy for two, followed by a knee strike for two. Charlotte came back with Natural Selection for the pinfall win. Charlotte made Orengo hold the ropes open for her again.
McIntyre told Patrick that Strowman was not going to screw things up for him. Tonight was ending with a Claymore.
Braun Strowman defeated Drew McIntyre (13:19)
Strowman was going to do the thing where he runs around the ring about two minutes into the match but Lashley’s music hit so he stopped for some reason. They went to break as Lashley and MVP entered the stage while Strowman and McIntyre looked on.
Strowman was in control but McIntyre fought back and hit an impressive overhead belly-to-belly suplex. McIntyre followed with a neckbreaker for two. He went for a Claymore but Strowman caught him and hit a powerbomb for two. McIntyre headbutted Strowman and hit a spinebuster for two.
They battled on the ropes until Strowman hit a superplex for a nearfall. Strowman grabbed McIntyre by the head and I’m pretty sure he yelled, “I’m a monster!” before clubbing him on the chest.
Strowman set up for a powerslam but Lashley distracted the referee and MVP pulled McIntyre off of Strowman’s shoulders. McIntyre followed with a Future Shock DDT.
McIntyre set up for a Claymore kick but had to fend off T-Bar and Mace. The distraction allowed Strowman to hit a powerslam for the pinfall win.
So it’s Lashley vs. McIntyre vs. Strowman at Backlash.
(This was the second time they’ve done this stip with Strowman in the past two months. He fought Lashley in February for a chance to be added to Lashley’s title match against the Miz, but he lost that one.)
A tag team rematch is set for Monday’s episode of Raw.
A commercial that aired during SmackDown on Friday night announced that Drew McIntyre & Braun Strowman will team up against T-Bar & Mace on Monday’s Raw. Their match on Raw earlier this week ended in a disqualification after McIntyre ripped off Mace’s mask and wouldn’t stop attacking him with it. Strowman then also ripped off T-Bar’s mask and hit him with it.
Before the tag team match, McIntyre had at first faced T-Bar & Mace in a handicap match on Raw this week. McIntyre won by DQ after T-Bar & Mace were both in the ring at the same time and wouldn’t stop attacking him in the corner. Strowman then came out to the ring to make the save ,
On the post-WrestleMania 37 episode of Raw, McIntyre defeated Randy Orton and Strowman in a triple threat match to become the number one contender to Bobby Lashley’s WWE Championship. As McIntyre’s attention was turned to MVP following the match, T-Bar and Mace ambushed McIntyre and laid him out with a double chokeslam. T-Bar & Mace then attacked McIntyre again in this week’s opening segment.
T-Bar & Mace were formerly members of RETRIBUTION. In storyline, MVP has claimed that there’s no affiliation between The Hurt Business and T-Bar & Mace.
WWE has also announced that Lashley will appear on Monday’s Raw and address McIntyre. Lashley wasn’t on Raw this past Monday.
Lashley retained his WWE Championship against McIntyre at WrestleMania 37 night one. He then defeated Riddle in a non-title match on Raw two nights later.
Lashley is defending his WWE Championship against McIntyre at WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday, May 16.
RETRIBUTION revealed on Raw that their core five members have signed contracts with the company.
The five members of the group opened up Raw tonight, revealing new masks with more visible faces. Dio Maddin (Mace), Donovan Dijakovic (T-Bar) and Shane Thorne (Slapjack) were later identified on the show with new names. Mia Yim and Mercedes Martinez also had new masks, but were not identified.
It was during the opening of the show that returning announcer Tom Phillips said that RETRIBUTION had been given contracts. Yim said that despite signing contracts, they were not going to be stopped. T-Bar said that they were here to destroy the WWE and rebuild it in their image.
The segment eventually ended with The Hurt Business coming out. However, they were quickly taken out by the secondary RETRIBUTION members. T-Bar and Mace laid out Lashey with a double chokeslam.
RETRIBUTION appeared several times on the show, attacking Titus O’Neil and Humberto Carrillo backstage. The Hurt Business later took out more secondary members of RETRIBUTION in another segment.
In the main event, Mace, T-Bar & Slapjack faced Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley in a six-man tag team match. The match ended in a DQ when T-Bar, who wasn’t the legal man, attacked Lashley.
The show ended with all of RETRIBUTION, including the secondary members, attacking The Hurt Business. The rest of the Raw roster, headed by Drew McIntyre, came out for the save. McIntyre, however, was laid out by Randy Orton, his opponent at WWE Clash of Champions on Sunday.
