The March 25th, 2019 edition of WWE RAW took place at the TD Garden in Boston, MA.
– WWE RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey comes out to the ring to kick off tonight’s show. She gets on the mic and talks about her upcoming match at WrestleMania, and she promises to tap out both Charlotte and Becky at the same time in their match. She says she has a “beat the clock challenge” tonight, and she doesn’t know what that is, but she’s ready. The Riott Squad comes out, and then Becky Lynch comes out and gets on the mic. Becky says she has the biggest contract but everyone is yawning and no one cared until Becky came around. Charlotte comes out next and says the reason the women are the main event of WrestleMania isn’t what Becky and Ronda have been doing for the last year, but what Charlotte has been doing the last seven years, then she walks to ringside.
– Beat The Clock Challenge: We’re told that the combatants in this match must beat the previous competitor’s time to win against their opponent. Sarah Logan vs. Ronda Rousey: Logan takes control early on in this one, but Ronda fights back with an elbow to the face and an armbar for the finish at 1:25. Charlotte and Ruby enter next for the next timed match, and the bell rings. Charlotte vs. Ruby Riott: Ruby takes the fight to Charlotte right off the bat until Charlotte fights back with a right hand and a backbreaker. Charlotte looks for the Natural Selection, but Ruby escapes and hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Charlotte comes back with the Figure Four, but Ruby doesn’t tap out in time and Charlotte does not beat Ronda’s time. Ronda throws a fit and then leaves. Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan: Becky starts off strong and looks for the Disarm-her, but Liv counters and escapes. Liv starts to fight back, but then Becky hits a suplex and pins, and Becky beats Ronda’s time by 7 seconds. Becky celebrates after the bell and points up to the WrestleMania sign.
Winner: Becky Lynch
– Finn Balor is shown backstage warming up.
– Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley & Jinder Mahal: Lio cuts a promo before the match, and reveals that Jinder will be teaming with Lashley in this handicap match. The Singh Brothers are at ringside for this one. Finn starts off strong against Lashley, but a distraction from the Singh Brothers on the apron leads to Lashley knocking Balor down. Jinder tags in now and continues the offense on Balor. Balor fights back with a kick and then knocks Lashley off the apron. Balor drops Jinder, then Lashley runs in and Finn tackles him then stomps on him. Finn throws them both outside and looks for a suicide dive, but the Singh Brothers interfere. Finn knocks Jinder off the apron again, then hits a suicide dive on all four men at ringside. Back in the ring, Balor hits the Coup De Grace off the top for the three count.
Winner: Finn Balor
– Lashley is not happy and he beats down Balor after the match.
– Still to come: Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe
– We see a pre-taped video of Elias in Times Square, New York City with his guitar. He talks about going to WrestleMania, and briefly exchanges words with some fans on the street.
– Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. The Revival: This one is a non-title match. The Revival tries to jump start this one, but Black and Ricochet fend them off. The opening bell sounds and Dawson and Black go at it on the mat now. Black fights back with kick and tags in Ricochet. Ricochet continues the offense on Ricochet, but Dawson fights back and Wilder tags in. Wilder and Dawson take turns beating on Ricochet until Black finally gets the tag and cleans house. Black hits a series of kicks on Dawson, then he hits a springboard moonsault on both Dawson and Wilder. Dawson starts to fight back and he hits a DDT on Black and pins, but Ricochet breaks it up. Wilder runs in and throws Ricochet out, then Wilder tags in. They look for the double team on Black, but Black ducks it and Ricochet tags in. Black hits the Black Mass on Dawson and Ricochet drops Wilder. Ricochet hits the 630 splash on Wilder for the three count.
Winners: Ricochet & Aleister Black
– After the break, Drew McIntyre is in the ring with a mic, and he is demanding an answer from Roman Reigns. Drew shows a clip of him beating down Reigns. Drew talks about Reigns beating leukemia, but he can’t beat Drew. Drew tells Reigns to think of his children, and says he hopes Reigns’ family will talk him out of facing Drew at WrestleMania. Roman Reigns’ music hits and he comes out to the ring. Reigns gets on the mic and says he accepts Drew’s challenge for WrestleMania. Reigns then tells Drew to never mention his family again, and he attacks Drew. Reigns beats down Drew until Drew dodges a shot and comes back with the Claymore Kick on Reigns. Referees hit the ring and Drew leaves.
– We see a video package looking at Shane McMahon turning on The Miz.
– Drew McIntyre is shown walking backstage, and he walks right by Dean Ambrose. Ambrose gets in Drew’s face and they briefly exchange words.
– Sasha Banks vs. Natalya Bayley and Beth Phoenix are at ringside for this one. Natalya starts off strong and puts Sasha in a surfboard submission. Sasha escapes and fights back with a dropkick. They fight out to ringside and Sasha hits a hurricanrana and then a knee to the face. Back in the ring, Sasha applies the Banks Statement, but Natalya escapes. Natalya comes back with the Sharpshooter, but then Nia Jax and Tamina attack everyone. The ref calls for the bell, and Natalya and Beth fight off Tamina and Nia.
Winners: No contest
– The broadcast team tells us that a Last Man Standing match between Dean Ambrose and Drew McIntyre has been booked for tonight.
– We see a video package looking at the Hart Foundation being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
– Kurt Angle is backstage for an interview. Kurt talks about his farewell tour before retirement, and he talks about being honored to face Chad Gable, but tonight Samoa Joe is his test. Baron Corbin interrupts and talks trash to Kurt about his age, and says the fans are cheering him because they feel sorry for him and think he should have retired 10 years ago. Kurt says “screw you” and leaves.
– Sasha and Bayley are backstage for an interview saying they’ll take on all comers at WrestleMania.
– Alexa Bliss comes out to the ring to host “a Moment of Bliss.” She talks about her hosting duties at WrestleMania, and then she shows us a replay of Braun Strowman’s interactions with the other WrestleMania hosts from SNL. She invites out her guest, Braun Strowman. Braun comes out to the ring and sits down. She talks about Braun’s past feats of strength, and asks what would happen if he gave those hands to the guys from SNL. Braun says he wants to smash their faces. She welcomes the guys from SNL, Colin Jost and Michael Che, via satellite on the big screen. One of them says he learned his lesson not to wear a Mets hat, so he puts on a Yankees hat and the Boston fans boo. They talk about respecting Braun, but say that Braun crossed the line. Jost says he went to Harvard and his parents paid millions of dollars to get him on the women’s lacrosse team, and he thinks he could be a mentor to Braun. They ask to be paid back for the destroyed car plus interest, and they want an autograph from their favorite wrestler Brock Lesnar, or else they might not go to WrestleMania. Braun tells Colin to join the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania to make it right. Braun says if he doesn’t enter, he’ll just find them backstage when they’re alone and take care of them. Michael answers for Colin and says Colin is in. Colin doesn’t seem happy, but Michael says there’s only chance of something bad happening in the Rumble, while if Braun catches him backstage something bad will happen for sure. Colin says if he’s in, Michael has to be in too. Braun tells them to shut up, and he asks Alexa if she can make this official. Alexa says she can totally make that happen and it’s official that they will all be in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania.
– We see a pre-taped video of Elias standing outside of Madison Square Garden in New York City.
– Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews: Crews starts off strong and rolls up Corbin early on for a couple of one counts. Corbin misses a shot in the corner and Crews answers with a dropkick. Crews knocks Corbin out to ringside, then he hits a moonsault off the apron on Corbin on the floor. Corbin comes back with a suplex for a two count. Crews misses a shot and Corbin comes back with the Deep Six for the three count.
Winner: Baron Corbin
– Corbin attacks Crews after the match and hits the Deep Six on him.
– We see a replay of Ronda, Charlotte and Becky in the Beat The Clock challenge earlier tonight.
– Seth Rollins comes out to the ring next and gets on the mic. Rollins says he’s going to cut to the chase, and he says that he and Brock Lesnar aren’t cut from the same cloth. Rollins says his match with Lesnar for the Universal Title is going to define the future of their business. Rollins says he wants to be a Champion who inspires people, like Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Ric Flair and John Cena. Rollins says this is the biggest match of his career, and he’s wanted this for a long time. Rollins says Lesnar is a bully, but Rollins is unstoppable. Rollins says together, we are going to march through Suplex City and burn it down. Paul Heyman comes out to interrupt. Heyman talks about how Rollins craves affirmation from the fans and is crying. Heyman mocks Rollins, and tells Rollins he’s undersized and overconfident. Paul says Brock is going to conquer and victimize Rollins, and says Rollins will need the fans’ thoughts and prayers at WrestleMania, because Rollins doesn’t have a thought in his head or a prayer in beating Lesnar. Rollins hops out of the ring and chases Heyman up the ramp. Heyman trips on the stage and Rollins stands over him. Rollins says we are going to WrestleMania to beat Lesnar for the Universal City, and march into Suplex City and burn it down. Rollins leaves as Heyman cowers on the stage.
– Kurt Angle comes out next, as Paul Heyman is still sitting on the stage. The crowd chants “you suck” along with Kurt’s song, as Kurt points at Heyman along with the chant.
– Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe: Joe’s U.S. Title is not on the line in this one. Joe cuts a brief promo before the match, and says he has a special gift for Joe in his last match in Boston – putting Kurt’s ass to sleep one last time. Joe and Kurt come face to face and Joe headbutt’s Kurt, like in their first meeting in TNA years ago. Joe and Kurt trade blows now until Joe connects with a snap suplex. Joe follows up with a kick and then he dumps Kurt out to ringside. Joe follows up with a suicide dive on Kurt on the floor. Back in the ring, Joe misses a shot and Kurt latches on to him. Kurt hits a series of German suplexes on Joe for a two count. Kurt looks for the Olympic Slam, but Joe escapes and hits an inverted atomic drop. Joe follows up with a kick for a two count. Joe misses a shot in the corner and Kurt hits the Olympic Slam for a two count. Joe comes back with a side suplex for a two count. Joe takes Kurt in the corner, but Kurt fights him off and hits a missile dropkick off the turnbuckle for a tow count. Joe and Kurt trade strikes now, and Joe looks for a side suplex but Kurt escapes. Joe catches Kurt in the Coquina Clutch, but Kurt doesn’t go out, and he reverses it into a pin for the three count.
Winner: Kurt Angle
– We see Dean Ambrose backstage getting ready for his match tonight.
– Triple H’s music hits, and The Game comes out to the ring and gets on the mic. Triple H cuts a promo on Batista, then he pulls something out of his pocket. Triple H says it’s a letter stating at Batista won’t be competing at WrestleMania this year, unless Triple H agrees to another stipulation. Triple H says the letter is rambling, and Batista accuses him of all sorts of things like forming Evolution just to protect himself. Triple H brings up Batista’s “deacon” gimmick following D-Von Dudley around with a collection plate, and says Batista couldn’t beat John Cena. Triple H says that Batista feels Triple H blocked Batista from returning to WWE, after Batista quit for the second time. Triple H says he reached out to Batista earlier, but Batista’s manager requested they move the date of WrestleMania to fit Batista’s Guardians Of The Galaxy filming schedule. Triple H finally gets to the stipulation in Batista’s letter — Batista says he really really wants, which is for Triple H to put his career on the line in a match against Batista at WrestleMania. Triple H says he agrees and he’s going to make Batista show up for WrestleMania. HHH says he never gave a crap about Batista, and if at this point in their careers he can’t beat a douchebag like Batista, then he has no business being in the ring anyways. Triple H seems to accept Batista’s terms and he leaves the ring.
– We see pre-taped video of Elias performing on the street with his guitar and collecting donations form passers-by. Elias talks to the camera, and someone steals his cash. Elias goes back to playing, and someone steals his guitar case next.
– Next week: Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle
– Dean Ambrose vs. Drew McIntyre: This one is a Last Man Standing match. The opening bell sounds and Ambrose dumps Drew out to ringside early on. Ambrose looks for a flying elbow off the top down on to Drew on the floor, but Drew dodges it and Ambrose crashes into the barricade by himself. Back in the ring, Drew brings in a kendo stick and nails Drew with it, then chokes him with it. Drew then misses a shot and Dean knocks him outside, then he hits a suicide dive on Drew. They start brawling around ringside, and Drew slingshots Dean into the ring apron. Drew then nails Dean with the ring steps and throws him back in the ring. Drew brings a steel chair back in the ring with him, and he jams the chair between two turnbuckles in the corner. Drew misses a shot and Dean comes back with the Dirty Deeds. The ref counts, and McIntyre gets back up at the 8 count. Ambrose hits a big boot on Drew and then pummels on him on the mat. Dean grabs a table at ringside and slides it in the ring. Dean sets up the table in the corner, but then Drew grabs him and hits a spinebuster through the table in the corner. Dean gets up and McIntyre hits the Claymore Kick on him. Dean doesn’t get up from this one, and the ref counts to ten for the finish.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
– The ref raises Drew’s hand and Drew celebrates on the turnbuckle as RAW goes off the air.
