WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for March 27

Raw, WWE.com

Raw had its last episode before WrestleMania 33 in Philadelphia on Monday night. What happened when Brock Lesnar and Goldberg met face to face?

Previously on WWE Raw, Mick Foley got fired about seven weeks after he stopped being effective at his job. But it was only one week after he shoved a sock down one of his boss’s throats, so there’s that.

And The Undertaker showed up via spooky zombie magic! That’s always cool! But he made weird grandpa faces before eating a spear, and that’s not so cool.

This week, it’s the go-home episode of Raw ahead of WrestleMania 33. By this time next week, we’ll all be in that post-Mania glow in anticipation of the best episode of Raw of the year. Well, almost all of us – I’ll be on a plane for most of next week’s show.

What happened this week before Mania? The big advertised segment was a face to face meeting between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg. The last time these two were in the same place at the same time, the Universal Champion was on the receiving end of a big F5. Did things get physical again?

Also advertised was a contract signing between Seth Rollins and Triple H. With Rollins unable to be medically cleared before WrestleMania, Triple H offered a non-sanctioned match instead. Rollins was invited to Philadelphia to sign a “hold harmless” agreement to compete. Did Rollins show up and ink the deal?

Related Story: 25 Greatest WrestleMania Moments in WWE History

Please continue reading for all the highlights and results for WWE Raw for March 27.

Raw Women’s Championship Gets Center Stage

I feel like I’m always really harsh on the Raw Women’s Division when it comes to non-wrestling segments. Maybe it’s unfair, but it’s because the in-ring work is usually so good, and the talking parts stand out in such contrast that you can’t help but notice how bad they are.

I really tried to find something good about this segment, but it’s so difficult. The closest I can come up with is Nia Jax and her utter disdain for all the drama. That’s basically what I say every time these superstars get on the mic!

But overall, the whole thing just falls flat. Bayley’s character is so far removed from what made her the most popular thing on NXT that it’s scary. Charlotte Flair has a whopping two settings when she talks: loud and louder. Sasha Banks (with a darker purple hairdo – DOES THAT FORESHADOW SASHA GOING DARK AT WRESTLEMANIA?) can barely speak without mutilating the English language. The idea that Charlotte thinks she’s cunning by noticing that Sasha may turn on Bayley is hilarious. And Nia tries to save it, but it’s too late.

The segment devolving into a brawl probably comes closer to saving it than anything any of the four women did before that, because again, their in-ring stuff is light-years ahead of the talking parts. Thankfully, after the break, we get an actual wrestling match.

And, hey, the nonsense opening promo segment of Raw was centered around the Women’s Division! I know this will sound snarky, but I sincerely mean it: Yay, equality!

Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair & Nia Jax

Result: Bayley & Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte Flair & Nia Jax via pinfall

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

First things first: We get the official confirmation that the WrestleMania Raw Women’s Championship match is now an elimination affair. It’s an interesting wrinkle, because now the “Bayley doesn’t have to be pinned to lose the title” talking point is gone.

As far as the match goes, it served as a nice prelude to the match this Sunday. Charlotte and Nia worked exceptionally well together during the first part of the match. Nia blind-tagging in – which confused Charlotte – worked perfectly when Sasha went for a schoolboy and the ref didn’t count. It gave Nia the chance to get the advantage back for her side.

On the other side of the bout, Sasha and Bayley had their own brand of teamwork and cohesion. Granted, it was mostly “get beat up and finally tag in your partner,” but it worked for them. I’m glad they worked well together and there was no blatant miscommunication to cost them the match. Sometimes, subtlety is key when you tell a story. If Sasha is going to turn on Bayley, there’s no reason to spell it out for everyone ahead of time.

Bayley picking up the victory is meant to be a confidence booster, I guess. Not sure how I feel about that, since we’ve all been conditioned to think that a champ winning clean before a pay per view usually means there’s a title change incoming. But I also don’t think Nia is walking out of Mania with the title, and she annihilated everyone post-match.

Sami Zayn Backstage

Poor Sami Zayn. First, he gets to watch his idol get fired last week. Then he tries to do what literally every other superstar does all the time – add himself to a match – and gets shot down. To top it off, he’s in a career-threatening match against his former best friend who he’s never supposed to fight again but still does every two weeks or so.

On the plus side, Sami’s like a real main event babyface now, isn’t he? The authority figure hates him and makes his life miserable. The fans want him to win, but he never really does. My guess is he loses the battle royal on Sunday, but somehow gets involved in another match. Probably Rollins vs. Triple H.

Austin Aries vs. Noam Dar (w/ Alicia Fox)

Result: Austin Aries defeated Noam Dar via submission

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Nice of WWE to spend the entire segment before the commercial doing introductions and talking to Neville at the announce table, then showing a single running dropkick before cutting to commercial.

Once back from break, the match was deliciously violent and stiff. Aries seems to be on a mission to concuss every member of the 205 Live roster, doesn’t he? And Dar seemed to be trying to hold his own, as well.

Is it just me, or does Aries vs. Neville have one of the better builds this Mania season? It really has been a well-told story all the way through. And the best part? Both guys are holding certain moves back in their “prelim” matches. I think Neville has done a single Red Arrow in 2017. How many 450 splashes has Aries done since coming back from injury?

The focus that Aries showed tonight was out of the norm for WWE superstars. He managed to avoid distraction from Alicia Fox. He won a big match while still managing to taunt Neville at the announce booth. It’s almost like when he was serving as a broadcaster he actually paid attention to what happens in the business. He actually became an even better competitor in his down time.

Speaking of Neville at the announce table, he is absolutely killing it as the King of the Cruiserweights. Equating Aries to the embodiment of America was brilliant. Neville is so eloquent in his own special way.

Hold Me Harmless, Tiny Dancer

I am incredibly torn on this segment. Part of me loved every second of it, but part of me thinks it was the stupidest and most boring way to build to what amounts to a street fight.

Why did I like it? Well, because Triple H is proving once again that he is one of the best baddies in the game. I know a lot of people don’t like the heels being logical while the good guys are kind of stupid, but Triple H makes a lot of good points as he sets the tone for the contract signing here. He also embodied the role of “corporate fat cat who’s out of touch” to a T.

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In addition, Seth being such a fighter that he’s risking his health just to throw one kick at Triple H is so stupid it’s admirable. He’s sacrificing for what he believes is the greater good – a little pain today, but a shot at causing even more pain in 6 days.

Why did I hate this segment? Oh god, how could I not? Here it is, the year is 2017, and Triple H is still the top heel in WWE. There’s no one even close to him. Owens? Samoa Joe? They’re like puppy dogs compared to Hunter’s werewolf. Why is that the case? Does that make sense to anyone else?

And Seth is quite possibly the dumbest superstar in WWE history. It’s like when he beat and almost killed Sting, he absorbed his babyface naivety in the process. Has he never seen a single WWE contract signing? When does it not break down into violence?

Although I will say this: Trips kicking the table into Seth’s leg was the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t stop laughing. It was like an episode of 2 Broke Girls inside a wrestling ring. And “stupid but hilarious” seems to be the theme of this year’s WrestleMania, so it fits perfectly.

Big Show, Jinder Mahal, Bo Dallas, Primo, Epico, Goldust, R-Truth, & Curtis Axel, Over the Top Rope Challenge

Result: No contest

Rating: 2.0 out of 5 stars

I like to call this part of the show, “Hey, remember these guys? No? Well, you should watch WWE Superstars!” Seriously, Golden Truth and The Axe Man? To what do I owe this pleasure?

Clearly, these 8 guys (plus Braun Strowman, and I’m assuming Sami Zayn) are Raw‘s entrants into the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. And this segment was designed to show how good Big Show is in a battle royal setting. Because, clearly, no one knows that he’s already won the ATGMBR once before.

So there were lots of chokeslams, one KO punch, and a bailout, but no winner, because this doesn’t really matter. What does matter is Braun Strowman coming out and continuing to be one of the best things on Raw. Oh, and the battle royal is on the WrestleMania kickoff again this year.

Backstage Segment Roundup

We get a trio of backstage segments here, because it’s 205 Live time again afterward. First up, Gallows and Anderson discuss their “loss” last week. The most notable part is finding out that Luke Gallows does a terrible Big Cass impression. Well, at least compared to his Fink impression.

Next, Roman Reigns tells Charly Caruso that he’s a big boy now, and he doesn’t get scared. Dude, I don’t think the random cuts to a cemetery are supposed to be as much scary as they are creepy.

Finally, we come full circle as Sheamus and Cesaro get jumped by The Club. In an intriguing twist, Gallows and Anderson use a ladder to lay the smack down. Is this a bit of foreshadowing for a WrestleMania stipulation?

New Day Visit Philly

Live via remote segment, The New Day re-enact the Rocky run up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. Because Booty-O’s are magical, Big E wins the race despite not running for even a second. I don’t get it either.

Neville vs. Jack Gallagher

Result: Neville defeated Jack Gallagher via submission

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

It’s Neville’s turn to tune up for his WrestleMania debut, after Austin Aries did earlier in the evening.

Neville draws Jack Gallagher, and it’s a pretty good match. It’s nowhere near their championship match at WWE Fastlane, but good nonetheless. Neville is a beast, and the term “King of the Cruiserweights” may actually be an understatement.

Just look at the release German suplex he hits right before the commercial break. It shouldn’t be possible for a guy his size to make that move look so brutal. But he does it with such nonchalance all the time.

Something underrated in Neville’s “King” character? His refusal of every pre-match handshake. It makes total sense, but the broadcast team never mentions it. True kings don’t shake hands with peons, you know?

Neville trying to one-up Aries with his own submission here is a nice touch. Both guys have submission moves that can earn a victory. Both guys have seldom-used aerial moves that basically assure victory. And they each have enough of a grounded offense to win a match that way. So it’s a very even bout at WrestleMania.

After the match, Aries goes back to his journalist roots with The New Day. It’s… well, it’s something. A couple of gyrations later, and it’s clear Neville is taking the match seriously and Aries only thinks he is. Big difference, folks.

Roman Reigns Does Some Yard Work

For all the flak Roman catches for being The Guy without anyone wanting him to be The Guy, I have to give him credit. He knows what kind of reaction he’s going to get, and – lately, at least – it doesn’t seem to faze him.

And Reigns has definitely seemed more comfortable on the mic in recent weeks, too. I don’t know if he’s getting better, or being less scripted, or what, but I feel like “Sufferin’ succotash, son” was ages ago. He’s not great by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s passable.

But come on, this is WrestleMania season, and any segment featuring Undertaker’s opponent is going to lean heavy on Taker himself. All those random signal interruptions to cut to a cemetery made more sense when The Deadman appeared. I mean, you had to know he was there, but confirmation helps solidify some things. Even Spielberg eventually showed us the shark in Jaws.

As much as I love Undertaker, is it just me getting older and more cynical, or is it getting lamer and lamer? The entrance is cool, the teleporting is cool, but just about everything else is cheesier than Kraft Mac & Cheese.

No physicality and just mind games tonight was probably a good call. Taker can barely walk, so him taking another spear this close to what could very well be his last match is ill-advised.

Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson

Result: No Contest due to interference

Rating: N/A

Man, Enzo & Cass turned into pandering annoyances so gradually I barely noticed. And because the WWE Universe loves being pandered to, they are super over. It’s gotten kind of annoying because they are better than that.

The match never kicks off, though, because everyone loves the Interrupting Cow knock knock joke, I guess. And the ladder comes back into play, which really makes me think the triple threat Raw tag title match is going to be a ladder match. Either that, or I’m reading too much into weapons coming out in Philadelphia.

Kevin Owens Backstage

I know earlier I said that Kevin Owens was just a puppy compared to Triple H. But maybe the puppy is cutting his teeth more than I thought. Owens is just a different kind of bad guy that Triple H is. Trips is the guy who you almost want to listen to because he makes logical points. Owens is just a jerk.

The fact that Owens would take such pleasure in ending a former friend’s career is the icing on the jerk cake he is. There’s really no redemption for him – until whatever moment in the future when he finally saves Sami from a severe beatdown and they hug it out.

Source: WWE.com (via Twitter)

Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn, No Disqualification Match (If Sami Loses, He Must Leave WWE)

Result: Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens via pinfall

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I could watch these two fight every day and not get tired of it. Every time they hook up in the ring, they build on their previous contests. And this match tonight was among their finest work.

The intensity right from the get-go is something that’s almost a lost art in WWE these days. Usually, if a match starts off fast and furious, it’s over in less than two minutes. But Zayn and Owens just dial it up to 10 right at the start, maybe come down to like a 6-7 in the middle, and crank it to 11 for the close.

The scouting that’s clearly evident adds to the continuity. By now, just about every Raw superstar should know that Sami can reverse an Irish whip into the barricade by leaping up for a moonsault. But how many people actually knock him down before he can hit it? Just one, and it’s KO.

For once, a no-DQ stipulation actually added to the match. Owens wants to end Sami’s career, and he actually has the freedom to do whatever he wants? Ok, cool, spike DDT on the ring steps. It’s brutal.

Of course, a no-DQ stipulation also opens the door for interference, which does usually cheapens the finish. Based on how this match came about, only a stupid idiot wouldn’t have thought that Samoa Joe, Chris Jericho, or both wouldn’t get involved in this match. And yeah, a distraction roll-up after both guys interfered isn’t the awesome finish we would have loved. But it’s still a tremendous match that actually hypes WrestleMania.

Source: WWE.com

Fear the Spear

There’s not much in this main event segment that we haven’t seen already. Lesnar paces around the ring, like a lion in a zoo. Heyman rambles on and on for a while, increasing his intensity like a maestro at the philharmonic. And Goldberg wanders backstage before emerging through a wall of pyro. It’s all tried and true, and you go with what works – especially if you’re trying to hype your biggest show of the year.

What’s different about this is that the physicality actually happened. Two years ago, the last Raw before WrestleMania featured a lame tug of war over the WWE Championship. It was awful.

But tonight, Goldberg says he wants to fight. Lesnar meets him on the floor, and walks right into a spear. Lesnar drops like a stone, because his diverticulitis has given him a weaker stomach than King Hippo.

(Extra bonus points to Paul Heyman, for his “eulogy” of Goldberg in Yiddish after realizing Goldberg was “one of me.”)

As much as some fans are against this match, or the match’s prominence on the card, or the fact that it’s a title match, you can’t argue that it’s intriguing. Sure, everyone and his mother is convinced that Lesnar is winning because Goldberg is probably done after Mania. But there are some unknowns about the match. Namely, can this match last more than 120 seconds?

All in all, this was a somewhat uneven episode of Raw. Some matches still seem like they could have stood a bit more build, while others have been built up perfectly. After Sunday, we’ll see what the state of WWE and Raw are.

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What did you think of this week’s episode of WWE Raw?