WWE Raw: The New Day win tag team titles

WrestleMania is only a few short weeks away as the show continues to take shape. Monday Night Raw announced that Bobby Lashley will defend his title against former champion Drew McIntyre at the big show. That news and other developments occurred during the latest edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.

The night opened with Lashley cutting a promo on what is next for him before being interrupted by the Miz and eventually Drew McIntyre. The three men talked back and forth until both Lashley and the Miz attacked McIntyre. But before Lashley could leave the ring, Sheamus attacked him, making it clear that he has his eye on the title as well.

This led to a match between The Miz and McIntyre immediately after the television break. The Miz jumps on McIntyre before the former champion can even get out of the corner. That does nothing but enrage McIntyre, who starts to batter the Miz. The Miz was left graveling all around the ring, even trying to escape up the ramp to no luck. John Morrison got involved in the match, doing just enough to distract McIntyre so the Miz could take control.

After an Alabama Slam, Morrison saved the Miz from eating the Claymore, but he was thrown out from ringside. The Miz was already in a bad spot but being out there against McIntyre alone made it worse. The beating continued outside the ring, even seeing the Miz’s head bounced off the steps like a ball. The Claymore landed, but McIntyre used the Hurt Lock on the Miz to get him to submit.

The next match out for the night was a women’s tag team affair. Lana and Naomi were up against Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose.

Naomi and Brooke started things off, and Naomi was able to get the early advantage on both women. That was until Rose was able to get into the ring, hitting a nice fallaway slam to isolate Naomi on their side of the ring. Lana got the tag and got in a lot of offense on Rose, but the tag offense by Rose and Brooke set up the opening needed to get Rose back on top. As Asuka and Shayna Baszler battled outside the ring, Brooke hit a twisting neck breaker on Lana, getting the pinfall victory.

The men’s tag team titles were up next. The New Day against the Hurt Business for the Raw belts was a highly anticipated match heading into the show.

Xavier Woods and Cedric Alexander were the two to start things off. When Kofi Kingston made the tag, that opened the door for Alexander to get the advantage, tagging in Shelton Benjamin who hit a big spine buster. Kingston took all the offense before landing a double stomp to Alexander and making the tag. The New Day went for tandem dives, but it did not work as they got caught on the outside and tossed into the furniture around the ring.

Back in the ring, Woods and Alexander exchanged blows. Alexander almost picked up the win, as he hit the Michinoku driver, but Woods was able to kick out. Benjamin and Kingston made the tags and the pace of the match picked up. Kingston went to the top rope, but Benjamin joined him on the top, throwing him off with a hip toss. Kingston hit the Trouble in Paradise on Benjamin, followed by an elbow drop from Woods. They then went into the Day Break, pinning Benjamin and taking the tag team titles.

Damian Priest and Jaxson Ryker were set for singles action up next. This was a very quick match as less than three minutes passed by before Priest landing the Hit the Lights to pin Ryker in the middle of the ring.

Shane McMahon was out next for his apparent one-on-one match against Braun Strowman. Strowman comes out but McMahon goes right into stalling. Strowman had enough and McMahon went to running, but Strowman got a hold of him and the beating began. Strowman was about to run McMahon over, but McMahon grabbed a camera and smashed Strowman with it multiple times. McMahon put Strowman through the table with an elbow drop, then covered the big man with buckets full of slime.

Asuka was out next to get some revenge against Shayna Baszler for kicking her tooth out a few weeks ago.

Asuka did not waste any time, going right after both Baszler and Jax before the bell rung. That continued until Baszler avoided the second hip attack and landed a stiff knee to Asuka’s face. Baszler attempted to capitalize on Jax’s distraction, but Asuka rolled into a pin and defeated Baszler. However, Baszler did not let go of the choke and tried to attack Asuka after. She countered and even pushed Baszler’s mouth into the exposed steel of the bottom corner.

Mustafa Ali got a shot at the WWE United States title and had to do so against champion, Matt Riddle.

As expected, the match started off at a quick pace, with both men exchanging offense and landing hard outside the ring. Back inside, Ali had the advantage, laying into Riddle as he was laid across the bottom rope. Ali looked to get an early pinfall, but Riddle countered, landing the PK to Ali’s chest.

The numbers game came into play but still, Ali was unable to get the win. Riddle countered a pinfall and landed the Bro Derek to keep the belt around his waist.

The main event was a battle between Sheamus and Bobby Lashley. The two big men started brawling right from the start. Lashley slammed Sheamus to the mat, went to the knee-on-belly position and continued to hammer him into the mat. The physicality continued as Lashley continued to attempt to send a message to McIntyre watching at ringside.

Sheamus went to a chop block, but even that momentary offense from the former champion, could not stop Lashley’s domination. Sheamus had his moments, even knocking Lashley down and off the ring apron. Sheamus attempted a flying clothesline but was tossed aside for his trouble. Sheamus lucked up into some offense after Lashley missed a shoulder block. Lashley was able to kick out easily, but he continued to absorb a lot of offense from Sheamus. Sheamus attempted the Brogue Kick, but Lashley avoided it, hitting the Flatliner.

Sheamus continued to fight back, but he went for the Brogue Kick one too many times, running into a Spear from the champion. Lashley immediately pinned him to pick up the win.