Bodeen’s Top 5 Moments: WWE RAW (3/22/21)

After Fastlane was a show of two halves with the first half being boring to watch and the second half being amazing to watch. RAW delivered a solid show heading into WrestleMania, as Rhea Ripley made her official RAW debut and The Fiend returned and more.

That being said it is time once again to look at the top 5 moments that stood out on Monday Night Raw this week.

5. The Miz sends a WrestleMania challenge to Bad Bunny 

Over the years The Miz has proven himself to be one of the greatest workers in WWE given most circumstances. The Miz would prove this once again as he cut a great promo on RAW this week, what he has achieved inside of WWE and how hard he has worked in the company. Miz would then call out how mistreated he felt after Bad Bunny was put on the WrestleMania poster and not The Miz, with Miz then challenging Bad Bunny to a match at WrestleMania 37.

The Miz would then face Jeff Hardy in a match which would result in The Miz hitting the Skull Crushing Finale onto Hardy for a clean win after John Morrison granted Hardy’s request to leave the ringside area. After the match, Bad Bunny would get revenge on The Miz, hitting The Miz with a guitar, then accepting Miz’s request for a match at WrestleMania 37.

While Bad Bunny’s promo was short, it was still a decent promo that was nice to watch. It will be interesting to see how this match will work, as it is a singles match between Miz and Bad Bunny and not a tag match with John Morrison and Damien Priest.

4. Asuka beats Peyton Royce as Rhea Ripley makes her official RAW debut

After Peyton Royce drew the attention of fans a few weeks ago on RAW Talk after a great promo, Peyton Royce would get a chance against the RAW’s Women Champion, Asuka. Despite Peyton Royce getting the advantage over Asuka throughout the match, Asuka would eventually lock the Asuka lock on Peyton Royce, forcing Peyton to tap out after a solid match.

After the match the former Women’s NXT Champion, Rhea Ripley would come out and making her official RAW debut. Ripley would address the fact that Charlotte was missing from WWE programming due to having COVID. Ripley would then challenge Asuka to a match at WrestleMania 37 for the RAW’s Women Championship with Asuka accepting the challenge.

A match between Rhea Ripley and Asuka at WrestleMania 37 for the RAW’s Women Championship without a doubt has the potential to be an amazing match and can easily steal the show if given the right time and the right treatment and Rhea winning over Asuka and becoming RAW Women’s Champion can revive the RAW’s women’s division.

3. AJ Styles and Kofi Kingston put on an amazing match 

After it was announced last week on RAW that Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston would defend their Tag Team Titles against AJ Styles and Omos at WrestleMania 37, Styles and Kingston would get a chance to square off with each other with both men putting on the best match of the night on RAW this week.

Both men would trade high flying offense against each other as they proved to fans why they are some of the best workers in the business. Late in the match, Kingston would go for the SOS on Styles, only for Styles to reverse and put him in the Calf Crusher, with Kofi barely reaching the rope.

Styles would then go to hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Kingston, only for Xavier Woods to distract Styles with the trombone. Styles would then attempt the Phenomenal Forearm again, only for Kingston to catch Styles with the SOS for the surprise win, giving The New Day momentum.

2. The Fiend finally returns to Monday Night RAW 

After the Fiend returned at Fastlane on Sunday, the entirety of Monday Night RAW this week was based on Randy Orton summoning the Fiend after his return at Fastlane. Orton would eventually come out late in the night cutting a solid promo on what happened at Fastline. Alexa Bliss would then come out, toying with Orton before The Fiend appeared out of nowhere.

The Fiend would then stare at Orton without moving, with The Fiend not even reacting when Orton began pouring gasoline near him. Just as Orton began to light a match, The Fiend would attack Orton, only for Orton to hit The Fiend with an RKO.

Alexa Bliss would then distract Orton allowing The Fiend to get right back up and hit Orton with the Mandible Claw and the Sister Abigail, with The Fiend and Alexa Bliss standing over Orton as RAW went off the air.

1. The Hurt Business starts to show its cracks heading into WrestleMania  

When The Hurt Business lost their RAW Tag Team Titles to The New Day last week on RAW many wondered what would happen with Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin heading into WrestleMania. Surprisingly, we would get a huge clue on what would happen with Alexander and Benjamin as tension began to rise in the ranks of The Hurt Business.

Tension would begin to show early in the night, as the WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley took on Sheamus in the opening match. Bobby Lashley would beat Sheamus with the help of Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. However, Lashley and MVP were displeased by this, with MVP berating Alexander and Benjamin for making Lashley look weak.

Alexander and Benjamin would then get a chance to redeem themselves later in the night in a 2 on 1 handicap match against Drew McIntyre. Drew McIntyre would dominate the start of the match and would eventually beat both men meaning that Benjamin and Alexander are banned from ringside for the match between Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley.

These were my top 5 moments from Monday Night RAW this week. What were your top 5 moments and what do you think on RAW this week? Let us know in the comments below?