We start off with a look back at Bill Goldberg defeating Kevin Owens at Fastlane and Brock Lesnar’s confrontation with the new Universal Champion.
– Brock Lesnar’s music plays and he does the Brock Bounce on the stage with Paul Heyman followed by the Lesnar Leap into the ring.
Paul gets on his knees and he wonders if it is a vision or an advocate’s fantasy. Did Brock Lesnar F-5 the seemingly indestructible Goldberg? Yes, he did. The result was DOWN GOES GOLDBERG.
Paul introduces himself and he says not only can he see the future, but that vision has been bestowed on each and every one of you courtesy of the Goldberg eating carnivore Brock Lesnar. What is that vision and what is that future? That future takes place on April 2, 2017. It is the night his client BROCK LESNAR causes those so called announcers to scream at the top of their lungs “DOWN GOES GOLDBERG!!”
Paul says he has to confess that for the past few months…
Paul hears the chants for Goldberg, and he says that Goldberg… is not here, but his client is here so Paul asks for everyone to listen to his advocate. Paul says that is the polite way to tell all of the people chanting for Goldberg to shut up.
Paul says they have been wondering what do they do because of the problems they have had with Goldberg. Each time they have met face to face, the result has been Spear… Jackhammer… Goldberg. Not last week. Last week was a different story. The story was F-5… DOWN GOES GOLDBERG. Not only did Goldberg go down at the hand of Brock Lesnar, he went down to the single most effective move in WWE History, the F-5 performed at the hand of Brock Lesnar. Now that we have seen the footage to show about the future, the greatest comeback in Sports Entertainment history. A comeback of biblical proportions shall be hoisted upon the shoulders of this beast and then slammed down to the mat by Brock Lesnar as the resurrection of Goldberg will be put down. Paul says his vision of the future will be validated.
Paul says Wrestlemania Theory of Relativity Goes F-5 = Lesnar goes up… DOWN GOES GOLDBERG.
Backstage:
Mick Foley is in his office and Stephanie enters. Stephanie says Paul is so creepy and she likes that she can make Mick laugh due to the tension between them. We are only three weeks away and tempers are short.
Mick says people say the wrong things.
Stephanie says that people say things that you cannot take personally. In the heat of the moment, there is pressure on you. She says she brought in Mick to be General Manager because of his connection to the WWE Universe and the Superstars. Stephanie says as Mick’s manager, she has tried to nurture him. Tough love has not worked. She wants to apply everything that she has learned and she is willing to teach him.
Stephanie asks if Mick is in because she has his first lesson. Stephanie tells Mick to determine the one person on the roster that he is going to fire. He needs to trim the fat and it will send the message to everyone to be more productive. We go to commercial.
Sasha Banks vs. Dana Brooke
They lock up and Dana sends Sasha into the turnbuckles. Dana with forearms but Sasha with an elbow. Dana sends Sasha into the turnbuckles. Dana works on Sasha on the apron and then she gets a near fall. Sasha with a sunset flip for a near fall. Sasha with Meteora for a near fall. Dana gets Sasha on her back but Sasha escapes and gets a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Sasha Banks
After the match, Charlotte enters the ring and starts ripping into Dana, saying she’s not good enough to stand with her. Dana decks Charlotte out of nowhere and beats her down. Dana sends Charlotte to the floor. Charlotte can’t believe it. Dana tells her to bring it but Charlotte makes her exit.
– The announcers lead us to a video on the 2017 Warrior Award recipient – former Rutgers football stand out Eric LeGrand. He will be honored at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. We go to commercial.
TJ Perkins and Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick and Tony Nese
Back from the break and TJ Perkins is out as is Akira Tozawa. No Austin Aries on commentary as he will be in action later tonight.
Tozawa and Kendrick go at it to start. Tozawa ends up sending Kendrick to the floor and nailing a big dive. Nese comes over to taunt Tozawa but Perkins jumps off the apron and takes him down. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kendrick with a Cobra Clutch on Tozawa while Neville watches from the WWE viewing angle. We see Nese using the ring skirt to take control with Tozawa. Tozawa chops Nese and Tozawa with a forearm. Tozawa with a forearm to Nese and Nese goes down. Perkins is pulled off the apron when Tozawa goes for the tag. Nese with a near fall. Nese with a body scissors on Tozawa.
Nese with a bear hug on Tozawa and he sends Tozawa into the center of the ring. Tozawa with an Enzuigiri to Kendrick on the apron. Perkins tags in and he kicks Nese and then hits a drop kick followed by a running back elbow. Perkins with a bulldog out of a wheelbarrow. Kendrick tries to break up the cover but Kendrick hits Nese. Tozawa is sent to the floor by Kendrick. Kendrick is sent to the floor. Nese gets a near fall. Perkins avoids Nese and hits a springboard DDT but Kendrick breaks up the cover. Perkins gets Nese up for the Detonation Kick but Kendrick pulls Nese off. Tozawa with a running kick to knock Kendrick off the apron. Nese pushes Perkins into Tozawa and Nese with a rollup for the three count.
Winners: Tony Nese and Brian Kendrick
Backstage:
Luke Gallows are in the interview area and they are asked about the number one contender match and who they would like to face. Karl says they won the title six weeks ago but everyone wants to talk about the other teams. They are not flashes in the pan so why are you asking about other teams. Luke says to ask someone else about those teams. They says that if they don’t get the opportunity, they will take it.
– Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring as we go to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and Kevin stands in the ring with his spotlight. Kevin says one month ago today, he took the spotlight and he put it back right where it belongs.
Kevin says a lot of you people are very upset with him for doing that and betraying Chris Jericho. You are upset because Kevin pretended to be Chris’ best friend for months. Kevin says he was never Chris’ best friend. Chris Jericho never, for one second, truly considered him to be his best friend. Chris was getting close to Kevin so he could get close to MY Universal Title. Chris is mad, not because Kevin betrayed him. It was because Kevin did what everyone else would have done. He stabbed Chris in the back before Chris could stab him in the back.
Now Chris wants his revenge. Chris got him at Fastlane. Chris Jericho beat him at Fastlane, not Goldberg. At Wrestlemania, Chris thinks he will get the greatest payback at Wrestlemania, but that just means Chris is dumber than he thinks. Kevin says he will take Chris’ title at Wrestlemania. When he is done, the only think left of Y2J will be the Tears of Jericho… Cry it out man. As far as tonight goes, the only thing Chris Jericho and that waste of space partner of his, Sami Zayn is going to get is a lesson. That lesson is who needs best friends when you have a destroyer.
Samoa Joe is out next as we take another break.
Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn and Chris Jericho
Owens and Jericho are in the ring when the bell rings but Joe is tagged in. Jericho with a drop kick but Joe with a reverse atomic drop followed by a running boot and back senton for a near fall. Joe with head butts followed by an Irish whip but Joe runs into an elbow and Jericho with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Zayn tags in and he punches Joe. Joe with a chop and jabs. Joe with another chop. Zayn leaps over Joe and hits a head scissors take down. Zayn punches Joe and Joe with an Irish whip and running elbow followed by an enzuigiri.
Owens tags in and he kicks Zayn. Owens with a Jericho cover as he looks at Jericho. Owens super kicks Jericho off the apron because he can. Joe tags in and Zayn with forearms to Owens and Joe. Both men are sent to the floor and Zayn with a flip dive onto everyone. Zayn limps back into the ring and while Zayn punches Joe, Owens clips Zayn and they double team Zayn. The referee warns Owens and Joe but then he calls for the bell because he has lost control.
Winners: Chris Jericho and Sami Zayn (by disqualification)
After the bell, Joe drops Sami and applies the Coquina Clutch. Owens stomps. Jericho makes the save. Owens and Jericho go at it in the middle of the ring. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho but Owens fights it. Joe makes the save and lays Jericho out. Joe and Owens double team Jericho as referees try to stop them. Owens nails a pop-up powerbomb. Owens and Joe finally leave as officials tend to Jericho.
Backstage:
Foley and Stephanie are backstage. She offers help if he needs assistance picking a name from the roster to fire. Stephanie suggests Sami Zayn and calls him an under-performer. Nia Jax appears. She says she put Sasha Banks on the shelf for 1 month, then Sasha barely pinned her at Fastlane but gets a title shot. Nia wants justice. Stephanie says Nia is absolutely correct and she will give Nia a spotlight tonight. Stephanie makes Nia vs. Bayley for tonight. Foley walks off to clear his head. Stephanie asks if he wants some company, to help with the decision.
– Still to come, Roman Reigns addresses The Undertaker. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Mick Foley walks in the back and Jinder Mahal stops him and he says that he has heard something about someone being fired. Jinder says it better not be him. He says Rusev has been holding him back. Foley tells Jinder if he stops talking, he will get a match. Mick says Mahal will face Roman Reigns.
Backstage:
We go to the New Day in the back since they are the hosts of Wrestlemania. Xavier mentions their new show New Day Talks. Xavier says you need the biggest guest possible for a debut show. Kofi says their guest is the star of the Jetsons/WWE movie, the Big Show. Xavier says that Big Show will have a chance to become a two time Andre the Giant Battle Royal winner. Xavier, Kofi, and Big E ask a series of questions without allowing Big Show to answer.
Titus O’Neil stops by and he is told to leave. Titus says someone’s job is on the line so why should he care about being on this stupid talk show. Titus leaves but he comes back and says he cares about why the Titus Brand is not the star of the Jetson’s movie. Titus pushes Show and Show looks angry. We go to commercial.
– We are back and Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady make their way to the stage to do their entrance.
Enzo says that they got a gift for the guy who spills coffee and he has an Enzo and Colin themed coffee cup. Enzo says there are only two types of men in this world and Sheamus and Cesaro aren’t either type. Colin says you are looking at your bracketbusters and they are the Cinderella Story. Colin says that they are going to Wrestlemania in style and they are going to beat up Sheamus and Cesaro from the Joe to 8 Mile.
Enzo & Cass vs. Sheamus and Cesaro
Cesaro with a drop kick and European uppercut to Colin but Colin with a side slam. We see Anderson and Gallows watch from the back. Sheamus tags in and he gets a near fall. Sheamus with punches and the referee pulls Sheamus out of the corner and Colin with punches. Sheamus with punches followed by a shoulder and a knee lift. Colin with a slam and then he slams Enzo onto Sheamus. Cesaro pulls Enzo off and then they stand across from each other and yell at each other as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro with a clothesline to Enzo for a near fall. Sheamus tags in and he hits a spike power slam for a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm to Colin. Cesaro tags in and he connects with a running European uppercut. Sheamus tags in and he applies a reverse chin lock. We see footage from the commercial break when Sheamus hit a Finlay Slam and Cesaro hit a double stomp. Sheamus goes into the ring post when he misses Enzo. Enzo tries to dive for the tag but Cesaro grabs Enzo by the leg. Enzo with an enzuigiri.
Colin tags in and hits a running shoulder and back elbow. Colin with a fallaway slam and a splash into the corner. Colin another fallaway slam and splash. Sheamus makes the tag as Colin hits a boot on Cesaro. Sheamus with a clothesline off the turnbuckles. Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick. Colin with elbows followed by a running boot that sends Sheamus to the floor.
Anderson and Gallows show up at ringside and they attack Colin and Sheamus. The referee calls for the bell.
Double Disqualification
After the bell, Gallows and Anderson send Cass into the barrier. Sheamus tries to fight them both but they beat him down and send him into the ring post. Cesaro comes over but they double team him into the ring. They also take Enzo out. Cesaro takes a Magic Killer to boos. Gallows and Anderson stand tall and “too sweet” each other.
– We see what happened last week with Roman Reigns and The Undertaker. They are now official for WrestleMania. We see Reigns backstage walking to the ring. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
Back from the break and Foley walks up on Gallows and Anderson backstage. He’s not happy with what they just did. Foley threatens to fire both of them, champs or not. He makes it a Triple Threat match for WrestleMania with the titles on the line. Foley tells them to have a nice day and walks off.
Jinder Mahal vs. Roman Reigns
They lock up and Reigns with a clean break but Mahal with a kick and forearms. Mahal with back elbows but Reigns with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall.
The lights go out for a moment and there is a gong sound. Roman loses his focus and Jinder with a Harley Race knee and leaping knee drop. Mahal with a power slam for a near fall. Mahal with punches and a kick. Mahal with punches to Reigns in the corner. Mahal with more kicks but Reigns with a Superman punch and then he hits a second Superman punch for the three count.
Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match, Roman gets a mic and he says he is not messing around tonight. Roman tells the Undertaker to come out like a man as we go to commercial.
We are back and Roman Reigns paces quietly in the ring.
Shawn Michaels’ music plays.and he makes his way to the ring and he poses.
Roman says it is pretty cool to see Shawn and he says Detroit loves Shawn. Roman says he did not call out HBK. Roman says he called out the Undertaker.
Shawn says he won’t waste Roman’s time and he says he saw what happened last week with the Undertaker and he saw what happened a few minutes ago. He says that Roman is distracted and unfocused. Shawn says it is not a good thing if Undertaker is already in your head. At Wrestlemania, Shawn says Taker will eat him alive.
Roman says that will not happen. Roman says maybe the Undertaker should think about being in the ring with him since so many people ask him about what it is like to face The Undertaker.
Shawn says he is on Roman’s side and he reminds him that he is Mr. Wrestlemania. Shawn tells Roman he knows about walking around with a chip on your shoulders. He says there are people who want to see him fail. Shawn is not out here to get confrontational with him because he is on Roman’s side.
Roman appreciates the advice, but he reminds Shawn that the Undertaker retired him. Roman says he is the guy who will retire the Undertaker.
Reigns is making his way up the ramp when Braun Strowman comes out and lays him out with a cheap shot. Braun stares at HBK and threatens to do the same to him, if he wanted to. A “thank you Strowman” chant starts as we go to replays. Officials tend to Reigns on the ramp as fans chant for HBK.
Backstage:
Mick and Stephanie are in the office and she says she knows that Braun won’t be fired. Mick says this is a tough decision and he hopes to talk Stephanie out of it. Stephanie says she is doing this for Mick and it will position him as a leader and raise the competition in the Raw locker room. Mick says he does not want someone to lose their job before Wrestlemania. Stephanie says that he has an hour to make his pick and if he cannot make a decision, she will make the decision for him and it will be a decision he will not like.
– The announcers lead us to a video package on what happened last week with Austin Aries and Neville. Aries will make his RAW in-ring debut next against Ariya Daivari. Back to commercial.
Austin Aries vs. Ariya Daivari
Daivari with a kick but Aries with a forearm and he sends Daivari into the turnbuckles. Aries with an arm drag but Daivari with a head scissors. Aries with a headstand and he hits a drop kick. Aries goes to the turnbuckles to relax. Aries with forearms but Daivari back drops Aries over the top rope to the floor. Daivari with forearms to the back. Daivari with a hammer lock and short arm clothesline for a near fall. Daivari works on the surgically repaired orbital bone. Daivari with a chop. Aries boxes the ears and then he hits a clothesline and back elbow. Aries with a chop and gutbuster followed by a slam. Aries with a pendulum elbow.
Daivari with an elbow but Aries sends Daivari to the floor and Aries with a suicide dive. Aries sends Daivari back in and Aries with an atomic drop to the knee followed by a belly-to-back suplex Aries with a rolling elbow for the three count.
Winner: Austin Aries
– We take a look back at the start of Raw featuring Paul Heyman. We go to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get a vignette for Emma’s re-debut, coming soon.
Big Show vs. Titus O’Neil
We go to the ring and out comes Big Show. He’s not happy. Titus O’Neil is out next.
The bell rings and Show takes Titus right to the corner for a big chop to the chest. Titus ducks a chop and unloads on Show in the corner. Show runs over Titus and beats him around some more. Titus slides out of a scoop slam and takes Show down. Show gets right back up and nails a chokeslam. Show lifts Titus for another chokeslam but fans want one more. Show delivers a third chokeslam for the easy win.
Winner: Big Show
After the match, Show marches to the back as his music hits. He stops and points up at the WrestleMania 33 sign.
– Saxton leads us to a Women’s History Month video package on tennis star Billie Jean King.
Backstage:
Bayley is backstage talking to Sasha Banks about tonight’s match with Nia Jax. Sasha says Nia is beatable. She tells Bayley not to listen to the haters who say she’s not championship material. Sasha tells her to get past tonight and then they can focus on stealing the show at WrestleMania. Sasha wishes her good luck but Bayley looks worried. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
Chris Jericho is asked about how will he respond to Kevin Owens. Chris says at Wrestlemania he will get the Revenge of Jericho. He will pay him back man. Chris says he wants to show the real Kevin Owens. Not the Kevin Owens who pretended to be his friend and turned on him at the Festival of Friendship. On a special episode of The Highlight Reel, his guest will be the real Kevin Owens.
Chris tells Tom to leave but Mike Rome says he is not Tom. Chris does not believe Mike and he tells Mike that when you insult Chris Jericho’s intelligence and don’t even know your name… YOU JUST MADE THE LIST!
Bayley vs. Nia Jax in a Non Title Match
Bayley with a side head lock but Nia sends her into the turnbuckles. They lock up and Nia pushes Bayley away and then she tosses Bayley across the ring and Bayley rolls to the floor. Nia with a head butt and then she sends Bayley back into the ring. Bayley with kicks but Nia throws the ring steps in anger.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Nia stretches Bayley over her knee. We see a spinebuster by Nia during the commercial break. Bayley with knees to the head and she gets away from Nia. Bayley with a jawbreaker. Nia with kicks to Bayley against the ropes but Bayley moves and she has Nia’s leg caught in the ropes. Bayley wtih a kick to the leg followed by a drop kick. Bayley with another kick when Nia gets back into the ring. Bayley with kicks.
Bayley goes to the turnbuckles and Nia catches Bayley. Bayley escapes a Samoan drop attempt. Bayley with a kick and a front face lock but Nia tosses Bayley across the ring. Nia misses a splash into the corner but Nia with a bear hug and hot shot. Nia with a splash into the corner. Nia with shoulders in the corner but Nia does not listen to the referee and he gets to five so he calls for the bell.
Winner: Bayley (by disqualification)
After the match Nia continues the attack and puts Bayley in the tree of woe. Bayley is taken down from the turnbuckles and Nia throws Bayley into the ringside barrier.
– Mick Foley walks in the back as we go to commercial.
– We are back and as a result of what happened earlier, Roman Reigns will face Braun Strowman next week on Raw.
In the Arena:
Stephanie McMahon is in the ring. She says she gave the chance to Mick Foley to prove that he can make the tough decisions. She brings out the man who will fire someone on Raw, Mick Foley.
Foley wasn’t fond of this task but he knows it will make him a better General Manager in the long run and a better person overall. Foley has chosen to fire… Stephanie McMahon. A “yes!” chant starts up. Stephanie gets upset. She wants a name now. Foley says she’s the only one that deserves to go. He yells at her for how she treats the RAW Superstars. Foley treasured his 18 year friendship with Stephanie until recently. Foley calls Stephanie a liar and a bad person. He starts ranting on Triple H now. Stephanie asks Foley if he wants to find out how bad she really can be. Stephanie starts insulting Foley. Foley says he will not be silenced. The music interrupts and out comes Triple H to a pop.
Triple H tells Foley to say something to his face if he has something to say. Foley wasn’t sure if Triple H was real. Triple H says everyone always has trouble finding him but he’s around, he’s running a business. Triple H says he doesn’t need a lawsuit this close to WrestleMania, threatening to rip Foley’s other leg off. They trade insults. Triple H says he would’ve never brought Foley back but Stephanie has a big heart. Triple H works hard at creating the future so he doesn’t have to look at pathetic has-beens like Foley. Triple H says Stephanie really likes Foley, he amuses her. Triple H goes on and CM Punk chants start up. Triple H tells Foley not to underestimate Stephanie, she is every bit the business woman Vince McMahon taught her to be. Triple H says Foley is close to dragging his pathetic self around the globe again to tell his stupid stories about the man he used to be. Foley doesn’t need this company. Foley goes on, takes his teeth out, and says he’s happy with who he sees when he looks in the mirror. Triple H knocks him again and wonders how his kids will feel about him no longer being with the company. Triple H brings up Noelle Foley’s dream of being in WWE and Dewey Foley working back at WWE HQ. Maybe Mick will give Dewey a ride to the unemployment office.
Triple H goes on in Foley’s face, telling him to get the hell out of his ring and take it to the back. Foley puts the mic down and goes to leave. Stephanie says let that be a lesson to everyone else. She says those that have a job should go to work in the morning and thank their bosses for the opportunity. Foley is still standing in the corner. Triple H tells him to get out. Triple H walks over but Foley puts Mr. Socko in his mouth. Stephanie drops Foley with a low blow. Fans chant for Foley now. Triple H rolls his sleeves up as Stephanie eggs him on. Triple H goes for Foley but the music interrupts and out comes Seth Rollins on a crutch. Rollins limps to the ring as Triple H looks on.
Triple H is ready for a fight. Rollins stares at him from ringside. Rollins drops the crutch to a big pop. He takes off his jacket and looks ready to go. Rollins hits the ring and they start brawling. Rollins unloads and drops Triple H. He gets up but Rollins kicks him to the mat. Rollins runs the ropes and knocks Triple H out of the ring to a pop. Rollins tells Triple H to bring it back into the ring. Fans chant for Rollins. Triple H grabs the crutch and runs back into the ring but Rollins drops him. Rollins unloads and hits the ropes but Triple H nails his bad knee with the crutch. Triple H with another crutch shot. Triple H takes his shirt off and goes to work on the bad leg of Rollins, dropping him in a Figure Four. Rollins screams in pain as Stephanie yells at ringside. Triple H breaks the hold as officials hit the ring and check on Rollins. Triple H grabs the crutch and waits for Rollins to get up. Triple H knocks him right back down with a shot to the knee. Triple H tosses the crutch at Rollins as fans boo. RAW goes off the air with Rollins clutching his leg as Triple H looks on.
