Best and Worst of RAW Before Wrestlemania 39, Match Moments
by T Santhosh
Updated Mar 29, 2023
Best and Worst of RAW Before Wrestlemania 39
The latest episode of WWE RAW, which served as the go-home show before WrestleMania 39, had its fair share of highs and lows. While it left some fans feeling underwhelmed, there were still some positives to be found. From a commercial perspective, the episode was a resounding success, despite the absence of major names such as John Cena and Logan Paul. However, their opponents managed to deliver some impressive promos, and Seth Rollins even put on a great match. It is worth noting that the lack of build-up for the RAW Women's Championship match between Bianca Belair and Asuka was somewhat puzzling. Nonetheless, this did not detract from the overall entertainment value of the show. As is often the case with WWE programming, there were both ups and downs throughout the episode, but ultimately, it succeeded in generating excitement and anticipation for WrestleMania 39.
Best Moments of RAW
1. Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and the finish
In this week's main event, Cody Rhodes made history by becoming the first wrestler on the main roster to pin Solo Sikoa. While Sikoa had previously suffered singles losses to Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens, both had been via disqualification, making this his first pinfall loss in nearly a year since June 2022. The match itself was an excellent showcase of talent, with Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens ensuring that The Usos didn't interfere. Looking ahead, Cody's victory sets up an exciting showdown with Roman Reigns on SmackDown, just one night before WrestleMania 39. It remains to be seen how their confrontation will play out, but fans can expect a thrilling buildup to the highly anticipated clash between these two wrestling titans.
2. The weigh-in between Brock Lesnar and Omos
The upcoming match between Omos and Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39 may not be the most anticipated matchup, but it still has fans intrigued about what will happen when the two giants collide in the ring. During their recent encounter on WWE RAW, Omos was once again able to dominate over Brock Lesnar, which has only added to the anticipation of their bout at WrestleMania.
The "weigh-in" segment that took place on RAW was well-received by fans, despite Omos' new entrance music being deemed as generic. Omos was able to overpower Lesnar in the segment, which added to the buildup of their match, as Lesnar has been presented as a dominant force in the ring for many years. Nonetheless, fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming match, and the result is still anyone's guess.
3. Chelsea Green is going to WrestleMania
Chelsea Green has been an underrated talent in the WWE roster but has made a mark with every appearance she has made. This week, she continued to impress with her performance in the ring, as well as her ability to get under the skin of Adam Pearce. Due to Carmella's absence, Sonya Deville became her tag team partner, and the two were able to defeat "Michin" Mia Yim and Candice LeRae on RAW to qualify for the Women's WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match, alongside Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler.
While it is unfortunate for Michin and Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green's win was well-deserved, and she is in a good spot leading up to WrestleMania. Her star power is growing, and she seems like a talent to watch in the coming years.
Worst Moments of RAW
1. Gunther on RAW devalues SmackDown
Gunther made an appearance on RAW this week in preparation for his Intercontinental Championship defense against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. In a match against Dolph Ziggler, Gunther emerged as the victor, which was not surprising given his previous track record. However, this appearance raises concerns about the integrity of the brand split between RAW and SmackDown. The concept of brand exclusivity has been a central tenet of WWE programming, and it is important to maintain it. It ensures that each brand has its own identity and storylines, and it also helps to prevent overexposure of certain wrestlers.
By appearing on RAW, Gunther risks diluting his presence on SmackDown, where he is the current Intercontinental Champion. Moreover, it undermines the importance of the brand split as a whole.
2. The finish of Rey Mysterio vs. Damian Priest
The promo by Dominik Mysterio on RAW was exceptional, and it got the fans excited for his upcoming match with his father Rey Mysterio against Damian Priest at WrestleMania. However, the match between Rey and Priest on RAW didn't end on a satisfactory note as it resulted in a disqualification. It would have been better if Rey had won via pinfall, but WWE seemed to be trying to protect Priest's character as he currently has no match scheduled for WrestleMania.
It's understandable that WWE wants to keep Priest strong, but it could have been done in a better way that doesn't leave fans feeling underwhelmed. However, the appearance of Legado Del Fantasma was a nice touch, adding more intrigue to the father-son match at WrestleMania. All in all, while the match finish was a bit of a letdown, it didn't take away from the excitement of the upcoming WrestleMania match.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc is a global entertainment organization and well-professional wrestling organization that has expanded into various factors, including movies and also other economic activities. In addition, to produce the most influential video games, the Company made licenses its intellectual property to produce good content and simulation characters. The world's largest professional wrestling promotion is WrestleMania, which functions annually between the mid-range of March and April. The world's longest-running record was made and recognized as a popular professional wrestling event. On pay-per-view (PPV), it is broadcasting and is committed to the entertaining television industry, weaving them into interesting concepts that convert physical and emotional elements.
Best and Worst of RAW Before Wrestlemania 39 - FAQs
The main event of the RAW before WrestleMania 39 was Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa.
Some of the major names missing from the RAW before WrestleMania 39 were John Cena and Logan Paul.
No, there was no build-up for the RAW Women's Championship match between Bianca Belair and Asuka.
Yes, the RAW before WrestleMania 39 was a massive success from a commercial standpoint.
Yes, the RAW before WrestleMania 39 was an interesting episode but it admittedly left a lot to be desired.