WWE Raw results: Bobby Lashley wins WWE championship

WWE Raw put the spotlight firmly on Bobby Lashley as he walked into the show with a title shot against the Miz for the WWE Championship.

Monday Night Raw was set to feature a major title opportunity for Bobby Lashley as he earned a title shot against WWE Champion, the Miz. That was not the only storyline in play, but all eyes were on whether Lashley could walk out of the WWE ThunderDome with the title around his waist and the Hurt Business by his side.

Titles were on the line, but the night started with two former champions in one-on-one action as Sheamus and Drew McIntyre stepped into the ring to settle their budding feud. McIntyre made it clear that he was looking to defeat Sheamus and get back to the main event of WrestleMania to take on either Lashley or the Miz for the belt.

Before the match could get underway, the Miz appeared to get McIntyre to focus his anger at Lashley. MVP came out next to inform the Miz that his match was set for 9 p.m. Sheamus came out and the two men started brawling before the match could be made official.

Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus

Sheamus and McIntyre immediately went to the fists, battering each other in the corner. Sheamus got the first upper hand after leveling McIntyre with a clothesline, then landing a knee off the second rope. McIntyre took a page from Sheamus, typing him up in the ropes and beating on his chest until he fell into a heap. Sheamus returned the favor, even landing a big Brogue Kick to McIntyre that dropped him from the apron to the floor outside the ring.

The brutality continued in the ring, as Sheamus assaulted McIntyre with elbows to the chest and a big Irish Curse Backbreaker. They spilled back outside the ring which resulted in McIntyre sending Sheamus into the steel post than into the announce desk. Sheamus avoided the count out but could not avoid the diving clothesline off the top rope. The slugfest continued with both men getting in offense, but neither were able to get the victory.

Both men struggled to stand in opposing corners. They charged at each other but as Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick, McIntyre landed the Claymore first, pinning Sheamus and picking up the win.

Sheamus versus McIntyre was the hard-hitting affair everyone knew it would be. It had all the makings of a big fight and could have even played a part of a major PPV. The two men laid into each other with every strike, making this match look as believable as they come. The pre-match shenanigans took away from things but either way, this is a match worth revisiting this week.

Grade: A-

Nia Jax versus Naomi

Naomi was out next with Lana by her side to take on Nia Jax in one-on-one action. Jax immediately went to the power game, throwing Naomi around the ring with ease. Naomi fought back, but it was not long before Jax planted her again. Fighting back did not help Naomi after she ate the Samoan Drop then the chokeslam for the victory.

Nia Jax versus Naomi was not really needed, especially as both Lana and Naomi are able to challenge for the titles. Why make them look weak by having Jax squash her with ease? The focus should be on the title defense against Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai on Wednesday. This match did not do much for Naomi, an often-overlooked component of the women’s division.

Grade: D

Braun Strowman and Adam Pearce versus the Hurt Business

Braun Strowman came out for a match next but had words for Shane McMahon and Adam Pearce, who were soon out after. The trio had a conversation that led to Pearce being put into a tag team with Strowman.

That brought out the tag team champions, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin, the Hurt Business. Strowman ran through both men then immediately launched them both over the top rope. Alexander continued to be on the wrong end of Strowman’s power, but he found a way to tag in Benjamin, allowing them to get in some tandem offense.

Strowman had the match won but tagged in Pearce at the behest of McMahon. Pearce stepped in and was immediately rolled up for the pinfall.

This was yet another pointless moment in Raw. No one looked strong after this, especially not the tag team champions. If the WWE is heading toward putting Strowman and McMahon in the ring together for WrestleMania, this is not the way to get there.

Grade: D

Elias vs Damian Priest

The two men locked up initially with Priest being able to get the advantage, leading to Elias to duck out of the ring. When the pace picked up, Priest was able to knock Elias from the ring, forcing him to recoup on the floor outside. Priest continued to dominate back in the ring, even as Elias attempted to fight back. He was eventually able to take control, slamming Priest into the top rope, throat first. Elias went to multiple holds to attempt to grind Priest down to finish the match.

Priest got back to his feet, forcing Elias to the corner, and hitting him with a big splash. Jaxson Ryker tried to interfere, but his efforts did not pay off for Elias. Priest held out long enough to land Hit the Lights and pin Elias in the middle of the ring.

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Damian Priest has been built up as a force the last few weeks, so it was unspectacular to see him struggle so much with Elias. Anytime Jaxson Ryker is on television the segment deserves to get a bad grade. Elias is a solid worker in the ring, but Priest should not have sold so much for him, nor should this match have gone so long.

Grade: C-

The Miz versus Bobby Lashley

The bell rang and the Miz grabbed the title, running to the back to get counted out.

Charlotte Flair vs Shayna Baszler

Charlotte Flair was out to the ring for the next segment and made it clear that she wants to face Asuka at WrestleMania. However, Asuka is out injured after suffering a kick in the face from Shayna Baszler last week. Baszler and Jax join her in what results in them jumping Flair before the match started.

That attack put Baszler in firm control from the onset. Flair fought back, taking momentum from one half of the tag team champions. Flair landed a patented chop block on Baszler, taking out her knee before stomping away at her. Baszler tried to lean on Jax’s interference, but Flair used that to her advantage, kicking out Baszler’s knee then hitting the Natural Selection to win.

Flair versus Baszler was not an exciting match, it was clear that Flair was going to go over. Jax won in demanding fashion earlier, but the other half of the tag team champions lost in the same evening. Hopefully, this will be used to explain a potential split between the two, but that is hopeful wishing. This was a solid match, but nothing to write home about and did not help the women involved too much.

Grade: C-

RETRIBUTION versus Matt Riddle, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik

Six-man action was next as Matt Riddle teamed with the Lucha House Party to take on RETRIBUTION. Riddle was on the defense immediately as RETRIBUTION attacked Riddle, catching him off guard. Each man took turns on Riddle, nearly finishing him off before Riddle made the tag to Lince Dorado. It would be the tandem offense between Dorado and Gran Metalik that would allow them to land a big splash on Slapjack, giving them the victory.

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Before the celebration could occur, Mustafa Ali called out Riddle for a single’s match and the US champion agreed.

Riddle took control early, but Ali landed a stiff dropkick to Riddle’s arm, focusing on that joint immediately after. Ali nearly found a way to pin Riddle, but he was unable to stop the assault of offense that came his way. Riddle climbed to the top rope but was distracted by the other members of RETRIBUTION. Ali took that opportunity to land a top rope maneuver, pinning Riddle right after to get the win over the current champion.

This segment was good. Solid quick action in the tag team match, then we see Ali go over Riddle. The singles match was not all there, as it looked like the two men were not on the same page. Ali’s finish from the top looked botched and Riddle hit hard on the back of his head. It was good to see Ali get some positive push currently and hopefully this leads to something more for the entire group.

Grade: B-

Bobby Lashley versus the Miz

The main event of the evening was the title match that the Miz tried to avoid all night. After two attempts, he could not delay longer than the final hour of the show. Before the match would start, McMahon came back out to the ring to announce the match would be a lumberjack match instead.

The Miz tried to get himself disqualified but that last ditch effort did not work as well. Lashley finally got his hands on the Miz and the destruction began. Every time the Miz ran outside, he was tossed back in and battered by the challenger. When the Miz got back into the ring, he ate a Spinebuster, leading to the Hut Lock, the Miz tapped out and Bobby Lashley became the new WWE Champion.

Stringing the fans along was exceedingly difficult to watch but seeing the WWE title strapped around Bobby Lashley’s shoulders for the first time in his career was worth the trouble of the show. Lashley’s been a top performer throughout his return to the promotion and this is the victory that he deserved during what has been some of his best performances in the WWE.

Grade: A