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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Mar. 2, 2020) from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Elimination Chamber event this coming Sunday night in Philadelphia.
Advertised for tonight: Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka, a tag team title match, AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black, and more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the Raw live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR MAR. 2
Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend, I wanna guard your dreams and visions. Just wrap your legs ‘round these velvet rims and strap your hands ‘cross my engines. Together we could break this trap, we’ll run ‘til we drop, baby, we’ll never go back. Oh, will you walk with me out on the wire? ‘Cause, baby, I’m just a scared and lonely rider, and I’ve got to liveblog three hours of this here pro wrestling show.
The show opens with the intro video.
Commentary hypes up tonight’s action.
Brock Lesnar makes his entrance, flanked as always by Paul Heyman.
Paul does his usual introduction before apologizing, saying he can’t do it. He was trying to come out here tonight to hype us on WrestleMania, and though he’ll give credit where it’s due and say this is this the most stacked WrestleMania lineup in decades, the main event is a sham. They want to sell you on Drew McIntyre, and Drew is a hyped-up fraud.
Heyman explains away Brock’s Royal Rumble loss as being the work of multiple men (not Jamie Madrox, alas), and asks how that tells you that McIntyre can pin Lesnar at WrestleMania. He calls Drew a stupid big bitch that’s gonna get squashed at WrestleMania—
Enter Drew McIntyre.
He gets in the ring and Heyman heads to the floor as he and Brock square up. Lesnar has something approaching a grin on his face and Drew pure determination. Brock circles away, jovially pointing at the title as he fakes-out leaving the ring. He rushes McIntyre... CLAYMORE!
Drew leaves and Paul E checks on his client and the crowd gives him a rousing “You deserve it!” chant before seguing into a round of Na Na Hey Hey. They get up to the stage... AND DREW COMES BACK FOR ANOTHER CLAYMORE!
He picks the title up and throws it down at Brock as the crowd chants “One more time!”... AND THEY GET IT!
And so we go to break, with the Beast unconscious on the stage.
Back from commercial, Street Profits make their entrance and hype up the crowd for their title match.
Champions attack before the bell but the Profits dump them to the floor! Ford off the ropes... TOPE CON GIRO BUT HE GETS CAUGHT AND POWERBOMBED INTO THE BARRICADE!
Dawkins checks on him and we go to break before the match proper can begin.
Buddy Murphy & Seth Rollins (c) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship)
Back from commercial, Murphy is in control, working Dawkins over. Action to the floor, he catches Rollins with a slam and then Buddy, throwing him into the barricade. Back inside, tag to Ford, off the ropes... TOPE CON GIRO CONNECTS CLEAN! Throwing Seth back inside, Murphy right behind him, dumps him to the apron, springboard crossbody takes the champs out!
Lariat sends Buddy to the floor, land on his feet off a back suplex and spike Rollins with a DDT before kipping up and hitting a standing moonsault... NOPE! Montez up top, Seth cuts him off, he rolls through but gets caught by Sling Blade! Lining Ford up, he sidesteps Blackout, tag to Murphy, block a Frankensteiner... BUCKLE BOMB / ENZUIGIRI COMBO BUT ANGELO BREAKS IT UP!
Springboard caught with a right hand from the Curse of Greatness, Buddy makes the save and they put Dawkins into the turnbuckles shoulder-first! Tag made, Seth legal, back suplex lift gets him up for a powerbomb... COUNTER FRANKENSTEINER AND MURPHY CLOCKS ROLLINS WITH AN ACCIDENTAL GAMENGIRI! Double stomp off the top, sidestep, pass him to the floor, Seth with a schoolboy for two!
Jumping kick to the ribs, Ford’s fired up and headed up top... ROLLINS SHOVES HIM TO THE FLOOR! Seth calls for the Authors of Pain to come attack Montez but referee Chad Patton sees ‘em and bans ‘em from ringside! While Patton’s occupied, Kevin Owens comes in the ring... STUNNER! Chaos ensues, Dawkins pounces Buddy into the third row, Montez up top...
Street Profits win by pinfall with the frog splash from Montez Ford on Seth Rollins to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship.
The Profits celebrate their victory in a crowd that’s become a sea of red cups and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we see Buddy Murphy and Seth Rollins stumbling backstage when they run into an interview.
Rollins does a little bit of Christian Bale-esque “GOOD FOR YOU” before complaining about how he’s not most WWE Superstars and he doesn’t ask, he demands, so they’re taking their tag titles back at Elimination Chamber. And as for Kevin Owens, he can name a time, a place, and a stipulation, because when he gets his hands on him, he’ll crucify him.
Ricochet vs. Riddick Moss (c) (WWE 24/7 Championship)
Ricochet using his speed early until Moss runs him over. Disdainful kicks and posing, body blows, Ricky lands on his feet and pops him one before springboarding into a crossbody that gets caught... FALLAWAY SLAM OVER THE ROPES AND TO THE FLOOR TO SEND US TO BREAK!
Back from commercial, Moss tries to dump Ricochet but he gets a boot up, Black Magic enzuigiri, off the ropes, flying forearm connects! Riddick stumbling into the corner, Ricky with the shoulder thrust, smashing his face into the turnbuckles, and he follows it with a knee. Springboard, nobody home, hard back elbow and Moss heads to the second but Ricochet cuts him off and snaps a Frankensteiner off!
Running shooting star press, only two! Uppercut, fired up, fireman’s carry, elbow to break and Moss lays in overhead elbows for separation! Dropkick, enzuigiri, the One and Only not letting him breathe, superkick caught, pop-up lariat...
Riddick Moss wins by pinfall with what I can only describe as a hangman’s neckbreaker driver.Back from commercial, Moss tries to dump Ricochet but he gets a boot up, Black Magic enzuigiri, off the ropes, flying forearm connects! Riddick stumbling into the corner, Ricky with the shoulder thrust, smashing his face into the turnbuckles, and he follows it with a knee. Springboard, nobody home, hard back elbow and Moss heads to the second but Ricochet cuts him off and snaps a Frankensteiner off!
Running shooting star press, only two! Uppercut, fired up, fireman’s carry, elbow to break and Moss lays in overhead elbows for separation! Dropkick, enzuigiri, the One and Only not letting him breathe, superkick caught, pop-up lariat...
Riddick Moss wins by pinfall with what I can only describe as a hangman’s neckbreaker driver to retain the WWE 24/7 Championship.
We see the OC backstage and go to break.
We see Kabuki Warriors backstage getting hyped up for Kairi Sane’s match against Shayna Baszler.
We see a recap of Undertaker beating AJ Styles at Super Showdown.
AJ is on the mic complaining about the bad mood he’s in, thanks to the Undertaker and... Mark Wahlberg? Who is apparently sticking his nose into this to promote his upcoming Netflix reboot of Spenser For Hire, of all things.
Anyway, Styles acknowledges that he’s on a collison course with the Undertaker and he hopes he’s watching what he does to Aleister Black tonight.
Styles gets on the mic and says somebody didn’t read the contract they signed, because Black has to beat Karl Anderson first!
Aleister Black vs. Karl Anderson
Anderson with a whip, passed to the floor, Black with a dropkick to Gallows, to the floor, duck a lariat and a roundhouse knocks Karl ass over teakettle and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Anderson with a lateral press for two. Reverse chinlock applied, Black to his feet, back elbow, lighting him up with stripes, legsweep, sliding knee and a kip-up! Quebrada connects...
Aleister Black wins by pinfall with Black Mass.
Post-match, AJ gets in the ring and of course, Black has to fight Gallows next.
Aleister Black vs. Luke Gallows
Beating Black down on the floor, in the ring, the bell rings, boots up in the corner but Gallows drops him with a superkick! Off the ropes, elbow drop gets two and he lays repeated elbows down before locking a reverse chinlock on. Aleister with a knee to the gut, Luke throws him out of the ring through the ropes and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Black lands a hard knee into a series of kicks, Gallows catches one, right hands ensue until referee John Cone breaks it up. More right hands, again Cone has to admonish Big Hoot and again he comes in for punches until finally the Donut King calls for it...
Aleister Black wins by disqualification.
Post-match, Gallows and Anderson put boots to Black and Styles gets in the ring... MAGIC KILLER!
AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black
Styles with a desultory offensive segment, Black fights back, roundhouse kick staggers AJ, he follows it with leg kicks but the Phenomenal One hits an STO backbreaker for separation! Sheerdrop brainbuster, he heads to the apron...
AJ Styles wins by pinfall with the Phenomenal Forearm and the Undertaker pin.
Backstage, Ruby Riott is interviewed.
She talks about how people make and break promises all the time, but now the only person she’s responsible for is herself, and on Sunday she’s gonna prove her ability to strike whenever she damn well pleases. She’s gonna show the WWE Universe that there are no friends in the Elimination Chamber.
Liv Morgan makes her entrance, she’ll be in action after the break.
Back from commercial we get some hype for WWE Backstage tomorrow night.
Becky Lynch is shown in a big yellow coat chatting with a crew member.
We see that Sarah Logan is special guest referee for our next match.
Liv Morgan vs. Ruby Riott
Riott rams Morgan into the corner, she turns her around, hard rights, Logan demands the break and gets it. Missile dropkick, running hip attack in the corner, smashing Ruby face-first into the mat. Handful of hair, arm wringer into an armbar, Riott gets under the plane of the ropes and Sarah counts the five to force the break. Sidestep, Ruby shoves her face-first into the post, kick connects, cravate applied.
Wrenching it in, knee lifts when she threatens to get out and then Riott follows it up with boots in the corner. Forearms and Logan physically pulls Ruby away to restore order. Morgan sidesteps a charge, pin for two, right hands, off the ropes but Riott connects with a reverse STO... NOPE! Accidentally hitting Sarah Logan on the kickout, tensions running high, falling northern lariat but Sarah is slow to start her count and it’s only a nearfall!
Riott and Logan jawing, Liv with a schoolboy pin...
Liv Morgan wins by pinfall with a schoolboy pin and a fast count.
Post-match, Ruby and Sarah get into a shoving match and Liv dropkicks Riott before Logan takes her out in turn.
We see Randy Orton chilling in the bowels of the building somewhere to send us to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of all the Randy Orton / Edge business.
No Way Jose and his conga line are shown partying backstage when they run into Erick Rowan and his little animal friend.
Jose asks why the mystery and politely asks to see what’s in the cage. Erick asks if he’s sure and says all he’s been waiting for is a guy to be real respectful and ask nice, so for him and his friends, he’s gonna show them. He reaches into the cage and pulls out a hilariously oversized animatronic spider.
Jose’s posse run screaming.
I... yep. That happened.
We go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of our opening segment, because Raw is three hours long. (Three hours long.)
Asuka and Kairi Sane cut a promo before the match, Asuka informing Shayna Baszler that she’s lucky because she got hurt and can’t compete. Kairi says she’s got it, there’s hugging, there’s calling out Becky Lynch, talking about how Sane is hungry for Baszler, you know, the usual.
Kairi Sane vs. Shayna Baszler
Circling, Sane going for a leg pick, Baszler blocks and trips her. Kairi ducks a roundhouse kick, go-behind, Shayna reverses to a Jim Breaks Special and she’s only saved by the ropes. Leg kick, the Queen of Spades toying with her but she gets distracted by Asuka and Kairi hauls off with a palm strike! Headscissors takeover, legsweep and Sane spanks herself for a taunt.
Sliding forearm caught, armbar attempt reversed into a schoolboy pin, scoop lift, float out, go-behind, off the ropes, duck the lariat, spinebuster connects! Stomping away at Kairi, kicks set up a DDT to the leg, trying to follow up but Sane throws her off and sets her on the apron. Sidestep the charge, hard kick, cover for two. Kneeling toehold applied, wrenching it up to 90 degrees and wrenching the ankle hard.
Stepping on the pit of her knee... SHAYNA STOMPS THE ACHILLES TENDON FLAT! Asuka up on the apron, Kairi nearly steals it with a schoolboy but Baszler hits a roundhouse kick for two of her own.
Enter Becky Lynch and her giant yellow coat.
Shayna throws Sane to the floor and we go to break.
Back from commercial, slugging it out, Baszler goes for the Kirifuda Driver but it’s countered into a DDT as we see that Becky Lynch has joined commentary and stolen Jerry “the King” Lawler’s crown. Trading blows, sane catches a kick and trips her up. Off the ropes, running blockbuster, Kairi heads up top but Shayna cuts her off... AVALANCHE KARELIN LIFT! Wristlock knees to the face, off the ropes, Sane hits the spear!
Kairi up top, her knee wobbly... BOOTS UP ON THE ELBOW! Kirifuda Clutch is locked in...
Shayna Baszler wins by submission with the Kirifuda Clutch.
Post-match Baszler grabs the Kirifuda Clutch again and chokes Kairi all the way out.
Lynch calls Shayna out from the commentary booth.
Humberto Carrillo and Rey Mysterio are interviewed backstage.
Mysterio talks about how important family is and says this thing ends when and how they want it to.
They make their entrance and we go to break.
Andrade “Cien” Almas & Angel Garza vs. Humberto Carrillo & Rey Mysterio
Almas and Carrillo to start, whip across, Andrade bails and Humberto fakes out a handspring. Mysterio with a dive, he gets caught and thrown into the barricade, Almas puts Carrillo into the barricade after and then takes him into the ring to put boots to him. Tag made, double whip into a double back body drop and Garza follows it with a kneeling armbar briefly before taking him into the corner for chops.
Setting him up on the middle rope, running knee to the midsection, tag to Almas. Double whip, Humberto snaps off a headscissors takeover, springboard lucha arm drag, the springboard headbutt... NOPE! Kick connects, whip reversed into forearms from Cien, whip reversed, tranquilo in the ropes! Charging in, Angel blocks and takes his pants off! Back body drop into a dropkick, Rey diving in with a Frankensteiner!
Humberto with a corkscrew tope, back inside and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Carrillo wants the tag but Almas is hanging onto him as he pastes him with forearms. The path is clear, crawling, desperate, but Andrade recovers and stomps him. Scoop, float over to the apron, Shotei but Garza yanks him face-first into the apron! Almas follows, whip into the barricade, Garza tags in and kicks him for two.
Grounded Cobra Twist, Humberto throws him off, jawbreaker for separation, enzuigiri opens the door... TAGS MADE! Seated senton, tijeras, quebrada into a satellite DDT, Rey is running hot but can’t get the pin! Almas with a back elbow, Mysterio gets the tag and the Dragonrana! Carrillo with a dropkick to the floor, up top... PLANCHA COMES UP EMPTY!
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, tags are made again, Mysterio with la casadora on Garza, setting him up on the second for the 619 but he blocks and puts Rey in the corner for his knee to the ribs and a nearfall! Jockeying for position in the corner, flip piledriver... ALMAS BREAKS IT UP! Andrade tags in, back elbow, Three Amigos and Rey tags out! Dropkick and a back roll standing moonsault, only two!
Dragging Andrade over, Humberto heads up top and Cien cuts him off. Corner knees, Mysterio breaks it up, Angel comes in, powerbomb countered into a Frankensteiner, tijeras puts Andrade on the second to join him... DOUBLE 619! Headscissors off the apron takes Garza out, Carrillo up top...
Humberto Carrillo & Rey Mysterio win by pinfall with a diving moonsault from Carrillo.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, Beth Phoenix makes her entrance.
She says she’s here to give a medical update on Edge—
Enter Randy Orton.
He gets in the ring and offers first a hug and then a handshake, to which Beth says he ain’t getting either and calls him a son of a bitch. Orton gets up in the turnbuckles and she says if anybody here needs to hear this, it’s him. She’s here as a wife because she needs her husband, as a mother because her kids deserve their father.
Randy gets down and gets a mic and says he knows what she was gonna say, but it’s a certainty that after what he did to Edge, Edge will never wrestle again. He owes her an explanation, and he’s gonna give her one, and he doesn’t know how to say it but he’ll start with a story. Back in 1999, in the fall, WWE had a live event in St. Louis, where he lived. His father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, took him downtown to the event to meet Jack Lanza and Tony Garea, WWE agents, because he wanted to break into the business.
But at that point, at 19 years old he was just a fan, despite being third generation, and seeing all those stars like Austin and the Rock blew his mind, but the one guy that shook his father’s hand was Edge. Randy was so proud to be Cowboy Bob’s son as Edge told his dad he was one of the best bad guys in wrestling history and a guy who inspired him.
And then his dad introduced him to Edge, who proceeded to look Randy in the eyes, shake his hand, wish him luck, and tell him just maybe they could work together one day. That motivated Orton and he went from being insecure about his abilities in the ring to being confident, and years later they were battling in main events and stealing the show every damn night.
A few years after that, they started Rated RKO and became tag champs, and just when things couldn’t get any better, and they were flying high as high can be, Randy flew too close to the sun and made some poor life choices. He dug a hole so deep he should have been buried in it, but Edge pulled him out of the hole and saved his life, made him realize there was more to life, starting a family, and so on.
He was able to have a family because Edge saved his life, and he returned the favor by saving his life. At the Royal Rumble, that reception that Edge got, he gets goosebumps thinking about it, but he knew somebody like him would eventually want to make his name on Edge, but he wanted to save him as a father for his daughters, to be able to take them to softball practice.
He did it because he loves Edge, he loves Beth, and he loves their two daughters. But the sad truth is everybody blames him for what he did, thinks it was his fault, but you know deep down in your heart that it wasn’t his fault. It was Beth’s fault, and she is an enabler. Edge is a junkie for the roar of the crowd and she did NOTHING to stop it, to help him, so Orton had to step in because he loves him like a brother and had to make sure he could go on to be a husband and a father.
Phoenix is sobbing at this point.
Randy says when he says that out loud he realizes something... he loves Edge and his daughters more than she ever could.
She hauls off and slaps him at this point.
She then kicks him low but he’s able to shrug it off... RKO!
We get long shots of the crowd absorbing what just happened, followed by commentary solemn-voiced discussing the incident while Beth collects herself in the ring.
We see Natalya, Curt Hawkins, Zack Ryder, Rey Mysterio, and others check on her.
That’s the show, folks.