wrestlemania week is here
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

It’s time for RAW In A Nutshell, and the point is simple: WrestleMania week is here!

After all the hype, all the talk, all the planning…WrestleMania week is upon us.

It’s an exciting week, of course. You’ve got tonight’s WrestleMania RAW…and the same flair for the Dallas-based SmackDown on Friday.

That show is chased by the Hall of Fame, where we all cannot wait to see The Undertaker take his bow.

Then, things get even more ramped up. NXT Stand and Deliver…and then it’s two nights of WrestleMania.

Brock…Roman…Pat McAfeeCody Rhodes…on and on and on.

So, it’s worth being excited, right? I mean, WrestleMania week is here!

But, it’s a long week, and things cannot really kick into gear until we get to Dallas…and we can’t get there without getting through this.

So….it’s time for….

RAW In A Nutshell: WrestleMania Week Is Here!

So, let’s get right down to it and crack open this Nutshell!

Best Match of the night:

The main event was good…but there wasn’t really a best match, per se.

It was as close as we got to it though…so that lands here.

Worst match of the night:

Did not like the handicap match…but it wasn’t the worst.

wrestlemania week is here

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

How about a nearly blink-and-you-missed-it-match, between Ricochet and Austin Theory.

I get it, Theory could be McMahon’s new golden boy. But Ricochet is the current Intercontinental Champion…and he lost, clean and quick.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

Only one matters…Cody.

But the Suplex City and What chants were good too.

Star of the Night

It’s the start of WreslteMania week, so a lot of stars were out this week.

Brock Lesnar…Roman Reigns…Bobby Lashley…you get the idea.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Becky…Bianca…and on and on.

Oh yes…it is indeed WrestleMania week.

Spot of the Night:

Not much here. I’d almost say that some were playing it safe, saving things (and themselves) for the weekend.

But…Bianca Belair did channel her inner Brutus Beefcake…

wrestlemania week is here

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Jobber of the Night:

I hate to do it, but let’s say it was the Viking Raiders.

That’s what happens when you get stuck in a handicap match to put over Omos.

Upset of the Night:

Theory over Ricochet. Maybe not an upset…but this one shouldn’t have happened clean, in my opinion.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Planting this one here….but remember how some have said that Steve Austin has been getting into “phenomenal shape”?

And how some have said that IF he were to come back, it would not be for just one more match?

Well…we did get not one, but two significant Superstars name dropping him in Pittsburgh.

Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Now…we don’t know that Austin is even coming back for anything beyond WrestleMania.

But…it does make you wonder. Was this two top Superstars simply working with the crowd and those incessant “What” chants?

Or…is there something to that?

Botch of the night:

Hardly a botch by usual measure…BUT…Lesnar still is a little clunky at times with the mic.

It happens when Lesnar had, for a very long time, Heyman doing that for him.

Which is something he acknowledged. He said a line, said it felt good but probably sucked, and that was that.

Crowd loved it and he’s having a blast now…so I can’t hold it against him.

Then again…Mr. Green, aka Omos, might have at least had a hand in a potential injury.

That handicap match had an abrupt ending. I don’t think Erik was supposed to be counted out…

LOL Moment of the night:

The best? Brock Lesnar’s promo.

Anyone that says Lesnar is having fun is just understating it. Nice promo, nice trip through Suplex City.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

How can you not love two 24/7 themed engagements, and the tease of R-Truth officiating one or both weddings…all with an eye on winning back his baby.

Yes, I am tired of the current 24/7 belt program…but this could at least make things a new kind of funny.

Noteworthy Moment:

Seth Rollins has his match at WrestleMania. We all have a pretty good idea of who…but nothing to be announced until the ring entrance.

Now…it would be kind of funny if we all got swerved and it was Shane. And then on Monday, Cody came back.

And, speaking of matches…Omos has his opponent for WrestleMania, as Lashley returned-without MVP.

wrestlemania week is here

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

This makes me wonder a couple things. One, is this a face run for Bobby? (Totally fine with that).

And…did he have surgery, or did he not need it…or will Omos crush him at ‘Mania, writing him off so that he can have it and come back better than ever?

Overall lowlights:

While both men gave good promos (I enjoyed Lesnar’s more), we did not see them clash.

Not that I expected a brawl…I am sure the lack of contact is a calculated move for this build. Just, even another confrontation like we saw on SmackDown would have been fine.

However…I half expect Lesnar was already in a plane en route Dallas by the time Reigns hit the ring.

Overall highlights:

Lots of good stuff from the show, and it certainly felt like a big time go-home show that it was.

I felt it was a good, strong way to set us off on the final stretch toward WrestleMania.

My bigger hope…bigger ask? That we get a legit, big time RAW after WrestleMania.

It’s been several years since we had an awesome one, between the end of the old NXT post-‘Mania call-ups, and the pandemic and all…

After the final bell:

Well, it was a loaded go-home show for WrestleMania week, which is nice.

There was a lot happening, and for the most part this was not about building stories. This was about driving things home for the most part.

And, in one or two spots, adding matches to the weekend.

A busy show, and fun for what it was. Next stop…Dallas!

Share: 

Mentioned in this article:

More About: