Drew McIntyre navigated the final step of his road to WrestleMania by beating King Corbin on Raw.
Scot McIntyre goes into the year’s biggest show on Saturday night to face Bobby Lashley for the WWE title – but only after finally seeing off the final obstacle in his path.
Corbin had last week stepped up to the challenge laid down by Lashley – that anyone who took out McIntyre would themselves earn a title bout – and had made a good start after leaving him laying.
On Monday night McIntyre ensured Corbin would have no such luck in finishing the job – beating him with a Claymore in Raw’s main event before staring down the incumbent with just days remaining until they collide at Mania.
What was the final episode of Raw before the extravaganza saw foes aplenty given the final chance to say their piece – or get in any last cheap shots – before big matches. Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon again traded barbs before Strowman made a huge statement by knocking off Elias and Jaxson Ryker in a two-on-one match.
McMahon’s insistence on calling Strowman stupid over the last week is akin to poking an angry bear, yet we saw more of exactly that in the Raw tag title scene as Kofi Kingston intentionally angered the monstrous Omos at ringside on his way to providing an assist for New Day partner Xavier Woods – Woods rolled up AJ Styles in a small package for a pinfall that gives the champs the edge going into the weekend’s match for the gold.
US Champion Riddle continued his quest to both defend his title and infuriate challenger Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior was given a watching brief this week as he provided guest commentary for the champ’s match against Mustafa Ali; an all-too-quick encounter that Riddle won thanks to Bo Derek.
This weekend sees Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defend against challenger Rhea Ripley. The writing sadly seems to be on the wall for the hapless Asuka after a drab and meaningless reign so far – and that’s little fault of hers. There seems little doubt that Raw newcomer Ripley will motor through the once-feared Empress of Tomorrow at WrestleMania, and the challenger got the better of her rival on Raw despite the two being paired together. They took on Women’s tag team champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, Ripley attacking her ‘partner’ before leaving her as easy prey for the champs to defeat in a non-title affair.
Topping the celebrity offering at Mania this year is undoubtedly Bad Bunny, the rap star going down a storm with WWE fans – and those buying merchandise – after his lengthy stint with the company that is presumably culminating in the weekend’s showdown with The Miz and Morrison.
The two good friends will take on the 27-year-old and his partner Damian Priest, but it was Bad Bunny left in a world of pain on Raw – his rivals attacking him after vandalising his $3 million car backstage.
The excommunication of Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander from the Hurt Business is emphasised more and more with each passing week, as if WWE continues to double down a decision that’s dismayed plenty of viewers. On Raw, the scorned pair confronted MVP backstage before Lashley went on to defeat Alexander in a match – beating down Benjamin after the bell for good measure.
WWE WrestleMania airs across two nights on April 10 and 11 on WWE Network and BT Sport Box Office. For more details visit wwe.com
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