WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for February 27
By Bryan Heaton
New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E, w/ Kofi Kingston) vs. Rusev & Jinder Mahal (w/ Lana)
Result: New Day defeated Rusev & Jinder Mahal via pinfall
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Not going to lie, I think the Oscars joke with the New Day tonight is the most topical WWE has ever been. I mean, this is less than 24 hours removed from the gaffe with Best Picture. Pretty impressive.
Another envelope snafu leads to #TheNewDay getting the wrong opponents on @WWE #RAW on @USA_Network! @TrueKofi @WWEBigE @XavierWoodsPhD pic.twitter.com/ZiRQLjpErw
— WWE (@WWE) February 28, 2017
Also impressive: Big E casually mentioning that he “didn’t write that” terrible joke. E is so good on the mic, it’s a little frustrating that he doesn’t get all that much time to shine. He’s the closest thing to a natural on the mic that I’ve seen in some time. He never really sounds like he’s cutting a promo, he just sounds like he’s talking to a bunch of friends.
Once the low hanging fruit of ice cream jokes have been picked by New Day, they get an actual match against
The Shining Stars
Rusev & Jinder Mahal. It’s a pretty standard tag team match, with the bad guys controlling the match by isolating the smaller of their opponents (Xavier Woods).
The "hard body" of @JinderMahal just got SPLASHED by @WWEBigE! #RAW #NewDayRocks pic.twitter.com/zTQlVT2RHu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 28, 2017
It works, because Big E is one hell of a hot tag. Those suplexes are textbook, and the big splash always looks great. I liked the little changeup, with Big E getting tagged as he fell out of the ring so Woods can pick up the victory. Keep the people guessing, you know?
A little dissension showed between Rusev and Jinder after the match. This continues Rusev’s career arc of “have friends for a little while but never for too long.” It’s a shame he and Jinder likely won’t be forming a League of Nations 2.0.