Monday Night Raw TV Report for March 21st, 2016
A picture of a woman, Mary Katherine Stewart, with an unknown man (probably her father), is shown at the start, with her birth year and death at the bottom. (1994 – 2016). God rest her soul.
Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming
A recap of Roman Reigns’ attack on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H from last week’s Raw airs, then Michael Cole, John “Bradshaw” Layfield greet us from Philadelphia.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
Stephanie McMahon struts out and says that her husband, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, is not at Raw due to business matters. She rips on the Philly fans for lacking “responsibility,” but is quickly interrupted by Roman Reigns. The number-one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship warns Steph and the fans that he will beat down Triple H at WrestleMania, regain the WWE World Heavyweight Title and be “The Authority.”
Later tonight, an announcement regarding the Hell In A Cell match at WrestleMania between Shane McMahon and The Undertaker for control of WWE. Up next, Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens will face A.J. Styles in a rematch from last week’s Smackdown!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – A.J. Styles VS. Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens (Non-Title)
Kevin grabs A.J. in a standing headlock to begin, but Styles breaks out of it with a wrist and hammer lock. Owens turns A.J. around into a headlock and takes him to the mat with it, wrenching at the back of the head. Styles elbows out, then hits a dropkick after whipping Owens against the ropes. He goes for a plancha, but Owens counters. A.J. tries a springboard move, but Kevin moves then chucks “The Phenomenal One” into the corner barrier.
Ads.
The I.C. Champ is in control with another headlock, but A.J. punches out until he is slammed to the canvas. Styles counters with an enziguri and quick hits. He runs with a low-forearm-clothesline, then a leaping-clothesline in the corner. He ducks a clothesline by Kevin and slams him facedown for a near-fall! Kevin moves from a Pele Kick try, and hits a fierce clothesline, spinning A.J. over. He drives him down again but only gets two!
A.J. manages a fireman’s carry-kneebuster, then props Owens on the top turnbuckle after a close fall! He climbs, but Owens pushes him off and gives him a great frogsplash! 1 – 2 – A.J. just gets his shoulder up! Owens goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but A.J. grabs the ropes and elbows back on Kevin. Both slug away with elbows and punches, and Owens superkicks Styles while “The Phenomenal One” hits a Pele Kick!
Commercials.
A.J. is sat atop the turnbuckle and Owens chops away. Styles punches back, but so does Owens with a fist and chop. The I.C. Champ tries a top-turnbuckle move, but A.J. slides under and gives Kevin a Torture Rack Submission, then turns it into a spinning-powerbomb. They are both on the turnbuckle again, with Kevin being slammed down with a sunset-flip-powerbomb for a near-fall!
Calls of “A.J. Styles” are heard from Chris Jericho, who slowly walks to the ring. A.J. turns around, and is overall distracted enough for Owens to roll him up for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens
Post-match, Styles chases Jericho to the back, and Owens proclaims this “the Kevin Owens show.” He talks about WrestleMania and his potential I.C. Title match, but is stopped by Dolph Ziggler. He tells Owens that he wants to be the one to defeat Owens, but they are both halted by The Miz, who disputes Ziggler’s claim to be a number-one contender. They argue until Sami Zayn makes his presence known. He wants a shot at Owens too, but Owens himself denies all three the opportunity, but does change his mind “in the interest of fairness.” He says he will talk to The Authority about those three going at it in a Triple-Threat to determine a number-one contender.
Later tonight, Dean Ambrose meets Braun Strowman.
Segment #3: Video Promo
Dean Ambrose is at the Tavern Philadium of Philadelphia, and talks about Brock Lesnar having “quit” in his body. He is talking with legendary wrestler Terry Funk! The Hall of Famer and former World Heavyweight Champion puts over Ambrose for his toughness and says that “The Lunatic Fringe” has what it takes and more to defeat Lesnar. He gives him his chainsaw and walks away, and Ambrose uses it on a table.
Ads.
Segment #4: Office Promo
Owens talks to Stephanie about the I.C. Title situation, and she agrees to make a Triple-Threat Match tonight.
Segment #5: Video Promo
Legends and current wrestlers Mick Foley, John Cena, Michael Hayes, Booker T., Chris Jericho, Edge, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ric Flair, and Jerry “The King” Lawler comment on Shane McMahon’s return, The Undertaker, and their match in Hell In A Cell at WrestleMania.
The New Day are walking through the backstage area, getting the assistants involved some dancing.
Commercials.
Match #2: Rusev (with League of Nations members Wade Barrett, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio) VS. Tag-Team Champion/New Day member Big E. (with Tag-Team Champions and New Day members Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston)
Prior to the belt, both teams rip each other on the microphone and then brawl until the referee gets order.
The bell rings and both go to the outside. Big hits Rusev a couple times then throws him back in the ring. He stomps away a couple of times in the corner then runs at him with a knee. E. chokes Rusev under the bottom rope and gives him a big splash, bouncing off the apron to the floor!
Ads.
Rusev is now controlling, having Big E. in a rear chinlock. Rusev harshly hits away, but is slammed with three belly-to-belly suplexes! Big goes for a running splash, but Rusev blocks with his knees then spin-kicks E. He tries a run in the corner, but big one-arm-slams him for a two-count! Big goes for a run now, but is hit with a knee and subsequent hard-kick! 1 – 2 – Big gets his shoulder up!
Big backdrops Rusev then splashes him for a near-fall, but is kicked hard again after Barrett got his attention. On the outside, Xavier hits both Barrett and Del Rio, but Sheamus takes him down. Rusev sets Big up for The Accolade, but E. crawls out and Electric Chair drops him! Sheamus hops on the apron, but Big spears him to the floor, almost landing on his own head! Kofi kicks Rusev from the other apron, which allows Big to finish this with the Big Ending!
Winner via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champion/New Day Member Big E.
Segment #6: Video Promo
The Wyatt Family predict what Braun Strowman will do to Dean Ambrose later tonight.
Commercials.
Segment #7: Arena Promo
The Big Show is out, and poses with the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy. He will be in that match, and puts over the legendary late-great Hall of Famer. As he goes to leave, The Social Outcasts walk out and say that Show will not win thanks to them. Show doesn’t give and starts to attack, but the numbers are too much as Heath Slater, Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, and Adam Rose begin a beat down. They don’t get too far though, as Kane returns and saves Show, but after Show gives him a hug, Kane chokeslams him from the second turnbuckle!
Ads.
Segment #8: Video Promo
It is announced that Stan Hansen will be inducted into the Hall-of-Fame.
Match #3: Single – Fandango VS. Chris Jericho
Jericho dominates for most of this and drives Fandango into a Codebreaker to get the 1 – 2 – 3, despite A.J. Styles trying to distract him with calls of “Y2-Jackass.”
Winner via Pinfall: Chris Jericho
Up next, we will continue to look at Shane McMahon and The Undertaker.
Commercials.
Segment #9: Video Promo
Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Pat Patterson, Booker T., Edge, and Mick Foley talk about The Undertaker and Shane McMahon’s WrestleMania match.
Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens is shown talking to referees backstage. The Triple-Threat to see who will face him at ‘Mania is next!
Ads.
Match #4: Triple-Threat to determine the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship
Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens is in the ring and announces the participants … Stardust, Sin Cara, and Zack Ryder! He has pulled a swerve, which is talked about with the commentary team. Those three wrestle legitimately until Sami Zayn, The Miz, and Dolph Ziggler walk out. they yell at Owens about what he’s done, then Ryder, Cara, and Stardust join in. They all beat on Kevin until he retreats.
Winner: No Contest due to Interference
Segment #10: Office Promo
Stephanie is on her cell phone, talking to Triple H about leaving Raw, when Kevin Owens walks in. He demands to know what she is going to do about the other guys attacking him, and she angrily accosts him for interrupting her phone call and books him in a 7-Man Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania!
Commercials.
Segment #11: Backstage Promo
Stephanie meets Triple H and their limo goes to drive, but Roman Reigns is blocking the entrance. He attacks “The Game” again as Stephanie yells, but HHH is able to hop in the stretch-hummer and escape.
Ads.
Match #5: Single – Natalya VS. Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair) (Non-Title)
(Note: Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch are on commentary.) They circle each other then lockup. Nattie waistlocks and rolls Charlotte, then the Divas Champion shoves back and “whoos.” Natalya trips up Charlotte and places her in a surfboard-stretch. She clotheslines Charlotte on the floor as Charlotte was distracted by Lynch; Charlotte takes over back in the ring in the corner.
Charlotte’s attention turns again, allowing Nattie to sit-down-powerbomb her and trap her in the Sharpshooter! Charlotte works out of it and goes for the Figure-8, but Nattie reverses into a small-package for a near-fall! Charlotte fights back with the Natural Selection snapmare-facebuster and completes this!
Winner via Pinfall: Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair)
Dean Ambrose’s meeting with Terry Funk is re-aired.
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – R-Truth VS. Bubba Ray Dudley (with D-Von Dudley)
Bubba takes this one after a big boot!
Winner via Pinfall: Bubba Ray Dudley (with D-Von Dudley)
Post-match, The Dudleyz double-team Truth until Goldust runs out and helps. Bubba and D-Von drop him too, but The Usos run out and attack They set D-Von on a table, but Bubba pulls him out in time before he can get splashed by Jimmy and Jey!
Ads.
Segment #12: Arena Promo
Mr. McMahon is out and speculates on what will happen at WrestleMania. He threatens The Undertaker to win against Shane McMahon, or it “will be his last.”
Dean Ambrose makes his entrance for the main-event, next!
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – Dean Ambrose VS. Braun Strowman (with The Wyatt Family)
(Note: Paul Heyman is on commentary.) Dean starts out avoiding Strowman and then punching the big-man, but Braun takes over after punching him in the gut and shoulder-blocking Dean. “The Lunatic Fringe” battles back with a low-dropkick then a dive-through-the-ropes. He goes for a second, but Strowman blocks. He punishes Ambrose on the outside and takes over for a while, until running into the ring post.
Dean grabs a chair and swings away for the deliberate DQ.
Winner via Disqualification: Braun Strowman (with Wyatt Family members Luke Harper, Bray Wyatt, and Erick Rowan
Post-match, Dean fends off the rest of the Wyatt Family and even plants Braun with the Dirty Deeds DDT onto the chair, then gets in Heyman’s face to close the show!
End of Raw.
