5 Biggest Takeaways from Monday Night Raw(February 28th, 2022)
I like to keep things as positive as possible.
I like WWE.
I like AEW.
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Monday Night Raw has been the A show for WWE since the draft. This week kept that up as this show was able to accomplish quite a bit without it feeling overbearing or forced. The biggest complaint this week was “too many tag team matches” but when all the matches delivered and the rematch count was at the lowest it’s been in months, it’s a baseless complaint. We got a new champion, two heel turns that should shake things up in the main event scene, a new team making their presence in the tag division and a scary situation that has reared its ugly head at the worst time possible just 5 weeks out from Wrestlemania.
So let’s not waste any more time and just jump right into the 5 biggest takeaways from this week’s Raw!
5: Finn is Back
Last week, Finn Balor returned after a long absence to help Ciampa out in a tag team match and then accept Damian Priest’s challenge for a world title level contender for his United States title. What seemed like another case of Balor showing up to put someone over turned into something much better for Balor. Finn was able to conquer Damian Priest in this United States title match and finally was able to dethrone the champion, handing him a rare clean loss on Monday night. This would be the final nail in the coffin for Priest who had been teasing a heel turn for weeks now as he blamed the fans for helping Finn and never getting behind him in the same way. He would attack Balor after the match to complete the turn and it happened at the best time possible for him. Priest was getting stale and this can revitalize him while at the same time allowing Finn to finally get another singles run on the main roster that will be able to showcase what he has to offer.
Who does Finn take on at Wrestlemania is the question we’re asking now?
4: Bianca Whips Becky
One of the few matches that absolutely needed to happen at this year’s Wrestlemania was Becky Lynch versus Bianca Belair. The story started at Summerslam, continued over the next month and a half and should be coming to a close at the show of all shows. As Becky robbed Bianca on numerous occasions, Vincent Van Goat went on to put over Liv and Doudrop while Bianca built herself back up. Bianca Belair was able to reach the top once again and win the Elimination Chamber to get that spot against Becky and the match is now set.
That no good scoundrel…@BeckyLynchWWE #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/pO4d376JGK
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2022
The narrative that Bianca was buried at Summerslam can now be swept under the rug as the plan all along has been revealed. Break her down, build her back up and let her take down Becky Lynch for another Wrestlemania moment. Becky has done a masterful job of playing her role to help Bianca not only get forgotten during this time but really put Belair over as the biggest threat to her title run. Hopefully this story can continue to grow over the next few weeks and be one of the best programs at this years ‘Mania.
3: Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins
It is an absolute travesty to think that Kevin Owens might be winning his first tag team championship in WWE with somebody not named Sami Zayn. BUT… if it’s going to happen, there is nobody better to accomplish that goal with than Seth “Freak’n” Rollins! This duo has been gold since they aligned a few weeks ago and might even have a more entertaining chemistry than the grand duo of RKBRO. Seth and Kevin have two victories over the aforementioned RKBRO and this week were able to knock off the tag team champs, Alpha Academy.
TEAMWORK!@FightOwensFight @WWERollins #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/88zfpKZ5oa
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2022
With Seth Rollins not having a path to Wrestlemania at the moment and Kevin Owens path seeming somewhat unbelievable(Stone Cold?), it would appear that these two could possibly walk out of next week’s Raw with the tag titles and into ‘Mania as champs. Should both of these guys have better plans for Wrestlemania? Absolutely. Is it a foregone conclusion that they are winning next week? Not at all. But with all the momentum going into this triple threat next week, they are definitely looking to be the odds on favorites to win.
2: RK-OH NO!
When RKBRO got together, the ending was pretty clear. Randy would help Riddle get over, they would split, Riddle would get the rub and we have a new main event player thanks to The Viper. The duo found much more success than I think WWE originally thought would happen and this team was able to really keep Raw afloat for many weeks when Raw was at its lowest point. Randy Orton has never been as over as a babyface and Riddle should be thanked for that. The only question mark that we have left is, who turns on who? Some think it has to be Riddle as the “happy go lucky stoner” gimmick won’t work as a WWE Championship contender. Others say Randy turns because, well that’s just what he does.
Who will walk out as #WWERaw Tag Team Champions next Monday?@RandyOrton @SuperKingofBros@WWEGable @otiswwe@WWERollins @FightOwensFight
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2022
Well now it seems like a monkey wrench has been thrown in the whole situation. Randy Orton took a frog splash from Montez Ford and the landing looked to have clipped Orton’s shoulder. The finish to the match looked a little botched itself following the move and the referee calling to the back after checking on Orton is not a good sign either. Riddle/Orton is supposed to be the biggest storyline going into ‘Mania with an ending that was to make Riddle a superstar. Does that happen now? No word on the severity of Orton’s injury or if there even was one at all right now, but next week we will have a better idea moving forward. RKBRO is set to be a part of the big triple threat match between Alpha Academy and Seth/Kevin for the tag team titles.
Best wishes for the Viper!
1: A Phenomenal Heel
The worst kept secret for Wrestlemania has now been made official. Edge issued an open challenge and after a week, AJ Styles came out to accept said challenge to the surprise of nobody. AJ made it very quick but Edge had bigger plans for the evening.
Edge told AJ he didn’t want the “Omos’ bitch” from the past year, he wanted the bulldog AJ Styles if this match was going to happen. As the hand was held out for a handshake, Edge took a cheap shot and the brawl started. What started as a fair back and forth would quickly turn bad for the Phenomenal One as Edge took the low road and gave AJ a swift kick to the lower region. He would end the confrontation after battling some inner demons before hitting AJ with not one but two one man conchairto.
The Rated-R Superstar is BACK!@EdgeRatedR#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/KsNkcCKkgO
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2022
The closing of the show had Edge standing over a lifeless AJ Styles with the Wrestlemania logo in the background. A sinister shot to get this feud going and they were able to start it at 100 mph with this segment on Raw. A heel Edge will make for some even better promos and this whole program should revitalize AJ Styles back into the main event scene post Wrestlemania.
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