WWE Raw: Mace & T-Bar appear set for a push

For the most part, the Apr. 12 edition of WWE Raw was a filler episode and not what we’ve come to expect for the show after WrestleMania. With the pandemic, expectations should have been lowered, but even then, the show wasn’t very interesting.

However, there were a couple of exciting segments, including the opening Bobby Lashley vs. Riddle match and the triple threat main event.

The most exciting part of WWE Raw was Mace & T-Bar seemingly aligning themselves with The Hurt Business.

In case you missed it, here’s what transpired to end the show.

First, to set the context, earlier in the show Adam Pearce made the triple threat match between Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, and Randy Orton to determine Lashley’s challenger at WrestleMania Backlash (yes, I also can’t believe that’s what they’re calling Backlash).

Lasting just over 10 minutes with a commercial break early on, this match was pretty good considering the short time. In particular, the last five minutes were furiously paced and filled with intense spots.

It ended when Orton hit an RKO on Strowman in the ring only to be hit with the Claymore Kick from McIntyre as he covered Strowman. It was a nice spot.

As you saw earlier, McIntyre was attacked as he celebrated after being distracted by Montel Vontavious Porter, his assailants leaving the ring as quickly as they entered.

I’m of two minds here. First, especially after what went down earlier in the show, WHY were Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin separated from The Hurt Business in the first place?! If you’re just going to replace them, seemingly, with two other wrestlers, then what was the point?

(Their inevitable and predictable slide down the card is still infuriating even if foreseeable.)

However, another side of me is happy for Mace & T-Bar, two men who have talent far beyond where they’ve been stationed. This isn’t a knock to any member of Retribution from Mustafa Ali down; the writing/booking did them absolutely no favors.

This may mean that Lashley & M.V.P., the exquisitely-dressed businessmen that they are, have Mace & T-Bar ditch the masks and WWE 2K gear for finely tailored suits (did you see Lashley’s sweet, sweet orange suit?)

Further, this could also lead to them dropping their Retribution names and reverting to Dio Maddin (or Brennan Williams) and Dominik Dijakovic, respectively. They wouldn’t then be saddled with a gimmick where they’re swimming against the current.

They’ll instead be on a warship sailing with the current.

By all accounts, Maddin was progressing well at the Performance Center before his short run as a Raw announcer, and he’s done well in short spurts in matches with Retribution. Dijakovic, as we know, can go with the best of them. His series of matches with Keith Lee in NXT, and his match against the late Luke Harper (Brodie Lee) from Worlds Collide, are a testament to his skills.

Tangentially, it will be interesting to see if Slapjack and/or Reckoning are somehow brought into this grouping (most like not for Reckoning). It may be best just to have the two ditch the gimmicks and, particularly with Mia Yim, embark on a singles career. Shane Thorne could head to 205 Live.

In any case, at least there’s some hook for next week. I would like to see Lashley & M.V.P. start the show, explain why and how they came to hire or recruit Mace & T-Bar, and then reveal they’ve made some changes as the two walk out in tailored suits, no masks or face paint, and with M.V.P. introducing them as “Dio Maddin & Dominik Dijakovic.”

We may just bear witness to The Hurt Business evolving into a new, more dominant form.