Driving down the Road to WrestleMania!

With just three weeks left, we’re in the Road to WrestleMania is in the homestretch! But then who (who who who) is stopping by for some Raw Talk?

Kevin Patrick and Xavier Woods welcome us back to the show!

Fastlane’s in the rearview so we’re on the final stretch to the WrestleMania Weekend! And Kevin is welcoming the positive energy being alongside Woods, who as a former host of Talking Smack was more than happy to fill in when R-Truth couldn’t make it! And of course, Woods had a good night alongside Kofi Kingston. They made AJ Styles understand that while he’s really good, Kofi’s just that much better. Kevin is happy for the New Day but would like to get to what we saw end Monday Night Raw. They’re all smiles on the outside, but on the inside, Kevin’s freaking out. Orton summoned the Fiend, Alexa is there, too, but is Woods not shaken?

Woods says that everything with The Fiend is a crazy mess, in a good way. Woods is happy that he’s not the one worrying about The Fiend, but he’s been there. Woods has visited Bray Wyatt’s darkness, and it’s not a fun place to be. But again, just happy it’s not him. Alexa pointed to the Mania sign, and that’s of course a sign that we’ll get something spectacular. Woods knows that with Fastlane, Alexa winning and the Fiend being back, it was of course going to head for Mania, they’re all great in-ring performers, but this Fiend is something new. Something weird’s gonna happen!

Speaking of weird, Miz attacked Bad Bunny last week with a guitar, but Bunny got his revenge tonight! They’re having a match, but Miz & Morrison are ready to show the world a new song next week! Woods is actually looking forward to that, because the musical stylings of Miz & Morrison are grating and annoying but “MY WORD! The passion is good!” Kevin says the WWE Universe needs to make it a goal to put Hey Hey, Hop Hop at the top of the charts. Woods still can’t get over that Miz wants to fight Bad Bunny this badly. What is 2021? It’s crazy!

Kevin asks Woods: Was the guitar shot fair? Of course! Bunny hasn’t lived within the confines of sports entertainment, so the only way he knows how to get at Miz is what he learns for himself. Woods thinks Bunny is like a fish to water here. Things are even, and Woods wants to see what Bunny can do! Then, McIntyre was up against not just one but two members of the Hurt Business, after fighting them off of Sheamus earlier in the night. Woods thinks what’s interesting here is that the Hurt Business is so accomplished, but then losing to one man in McIntyre is incredible!

Alexander & Benjamin are two of the toughest the New Day have faced, though they still won, but still. McIntyre was in rare form. Lashley VS Sheamus started the night, McIntyre came out to the aid of his former friend. That’s a bit surprising because of the No Disqualification and No Holds Barred battles. That friendship is still there somewhere deep down, and that fills Woods’ heart with warmth just a bit. Kevin gives spoilers and says Sheamus is a guest, so we’ll hear from him about this situation soon enough.

But first, Woods needs to talk about Kofi! Well the fact that Styles & Omos think they’re a team, and one capable of winning the tag titles, is strange. So why accept the match? Because Woods wants to get payback for Omos choke slamming him down into the abyss! So if Woods wants payback against the seven foot behemoth, he had to! Woods vows to bring the pain. But why not just rest as champions? That’s what a first-time champion would do. But the New Day are ready to fight all the tag teams! Problem is, tag teams keep disappearing, so if someone steps up, the New Day accepts. The New Day wants a robust tag division! Someone steps up, they get a shot, but then they get beat because the New Day is that much better.

Kevin asks Woods for a drumroll, and we get the line-up! Sheamus, as Kevin said, but also a welcome to Rhea Ripley, and then BRAUN! That’s a stacked line-up, and it starts after a quick commercial break!

Sheamus joins Raw Talk!

Kevin welcomes the Celtic Warrior, and he still has Matt Riddle’s Razor scooter?! Is this where he’d like to start? He took his anger out on Riddle, but maybe we’ll get to that later. Kevin thinks Sheamus must be the most exhausted man in WWE right now. Five weeks in a row it was McIntyre, Lashley, McIntyre, McIntyre then Lashley tonight. Five weeks? Sheamus asks if that’s all Kevin knows, like he’s only been here five weeks. This string started months ago, with the Performance Center and first days of ThunderDome. Sheamus has been busting his bullocks to be the MVP here every week. Sheamus isn’t sure what the last few weeks is, but he isn’t sure where to start.

We all saw Fastlane, the No Holds Barred, he and McIntyre worked to break each other. The kicker might be that the main event of WrestleMania was already announced, so Sheamus gets shafted again. Sheamus asks Kevin if hard work really pays off. It doesn’t feel like it to Sheamus. Even against Lashley tonight, after everything he went through, he isn’t 100% but he sucked it up because he’ll never back down from a fight. Sheamus’ neck is on fire, his back is in bits, the Hurt Business lackeys attack, McIntyre acts like he’s the hero! Lashley and McIntyre, the main event, but who built that match for them!? Sheamus did! Sheamus made those lads raise their game because Sheamus was coming out week after week!

And Sheamus doesn’t want us thinking he’s the kind to bitch and moan and say, “Woe is me~!” Sheamus comes to work, makes everyone else stand up, but what happens at the end? The same as when Sheamus was promised his title match: he gets the shaft! It’s about those two and not Sheamus, but Sheamus made a mockery of that main event Everyone wants Sheamus in the match! That match is nothing without Sheamus! The only ones who don’t see it are the ones who run this place! There are so many people out there telling Sheamus. Sheamus has thrived here! Sheamus got the animal out of Big E! Then the stuff with Jeff Hardy! Twelve MONTHS of breaking himself!

And then that Muppet with the scooter comes around, scooting around! Who even cares anymore? He slaps the scooter away. Who cares about Riddle?! Then let’s talk about not being in the main event at Mania. Sheamus has been busting his ass, year after year, night after ight, bringing more out of people. Why is he not part of that match? That is the million dollar question, right? Why isn’t Sheamus in the match when he brings out the best of the others? He can’t answer it! Can the fans answer it? Can anyone here answer it? Where’s Kevin from? Dublin, Ireland, 10 minutes down the road from Sheamus. Well, Sheamus almost feels embarrassed to say it.

But Woods knows Sheamus. Sheamus’ welts show the story. Woods knows Sheamus is a hard worker, a hard hitter, a winner, a loser, and he never lets the losses get him down. Woods gets the frustration, but they’ve talked many a time. Sheamus feels so much frustration. Lashley tapped him out? No, Sheamus was being thrown around like a rag doll with his body in bad shape. That was another way to take credibility away from Lashley, when he’s got his lads with him! Where’s the ref for all that? Where are the rules we abide by!? Sheamus had Lashley’s number, but no, that goes against the narrative, right? Then they find away to not have the Hurt Business for the Mania match because that would ruin things~!

So is Sheamus saying, if he were 100%, no one interfering, Sheamus would have beaten Lashley and/or McIntyre? Yes, Sheamus would beat them both. There is a fine line that makes all the difference. Those moments go against Sheamus and he’s tired of it! He’s tired of jokers on scooters. Sheamus has come back from serious injuries. Others would coast, phone it in, wrestlers/superstars just rest on their laurels. But Sheamus tells Woods and what’s-his-name that he won’t just take it easy. Sheamus goes out there like he’s never won a single title, and that’s motivation! Sheamus wants to remind the world that he is the best thing in the WWE today! Sheamus storms off, and Woods and Kevin both like the fire! That was absolute passion, and Kevin doesn’t even mind Sheamus forgot his name.

Rhea Ripley joins Raw Talk!

The former NXT Women’s Champion, the Nightmare, she finally brings her brutality to Mondays! Kevin and Woods are happy to have her, and Kevin says that was an unprecedented way to debut, going right up to Asuka and demanding a title match. Not only did she demand it, she’s getting it at Mania! Woods asks Rhea what she feels right now. She had success in NXT UK and NXT, having impact at a WrestleMania last year, what is she thinking right now?

Rhea says she has a million things going through her head, just like last time she was on Raw when she challenged Charlotte Flair to challenge her for the NXT Women’s Championship. Rhea is making it full circle by challenging Asuka for her title. There are so many things going on in Rhea’s head right now, she isn’t sure how to describe them. She is excited, glad that she’s got what she wanted, and why she was waiting for a good month, watching from the shadows, waiting for the time to come out. She did a good job. What makes Rhea the Nightmare? Has Kevin not watched her career? Or is he THAT new? Has he not seen what she does? She BRUTALIZES whoever is in the ring with her, and she wins.

Then going up against someone with the record of Asuka, the dangerous skillset and tone she sets, it’s a bit like Rhea. What does Rhea see as what puts her in the winner’s circle? Wouldn’t you all like to know. Rhea won’t spill her secrets. Well you don’t get what you don’t ask for. Rhea knows Asuka is fantastic, perhaps one of the best, bloody fantastic. She’s someone Rhea’s been watching for a long, long time. But Asuka doesn’t understand Rhea. Not many do, Kevin. But Rhea is going to show everyone who she is, and why not start at the top? Asuka says no one is ready for her, but is Asuka ready for Rhea?

Kevin asks what Rhea learned from Mania last year, and the loss to Charlotte. Well Woods is being ridiculous, his mics never seem to work. But again, Rhea’s secrets to success are her secrets. What Rhea has learned is for her to know and for us to find out as she brutalizes her opponents. Rhea won’t put her hand on the table. Asuka could be watching. Rhea won’t be an open book. Just watch and find out. Woods agrees, and we can all see at Mania in 19 days. Kevin thanks Rhea for being welcoming, but also admits she’s scary. Woods says she’s very Deatheater right now…

BRAAAUN~ joins Raw Talk!

The Monster Among Men has a very menacing mask but he takes it off so he can talk. Kevin wants Braun to start with Elias. What’s to talk about? We saw what happened. And he’s not angry. He’s got what he wanted. He’ll get his revenge on Shane. Tonight was just a taste. Everyone’s that ever seen Braun knows what his hands are capable of. Braun has the power to literally rip human flesh, and we might just see that at Mania. So obviously, a lot of anger towards Shane. Woods says this is the first time that anyone’s taken this angle at Braun, with the verbal abuse and calling him stupid. Is this hitting differently than past opponents?

Braun says without a doubt, it is. Ever since joining the WWE, not many wanted to step in the ring or even be in the same building as him. “Shane McMahon is not a smart man.” Braun hates the word “stupid.” He had a reading disability and people called him stupid. They said he’d never amount to anything. All Shane is doing is relighting the fire within Braun. No one understands the rain of hell Braun is about to bring on Shane! Braun’s always been told he’ll never be anything, and he always proved them wrong! Braun says he does not take any of this lightly! Shane will get the worst whooping he’s ever had in his life! Shane’s father will come out to beg Braun to stop! Shane’s kids will come out to beg Braun to stop! The WORLD will beg Braun to stop!

But Braun is going to show the world he is not stupid! He will show the world who he is, what he is, and what he represents when eh smashes Shane’s “dumb bully ass” back to his mansion, where he can take that silver spoon and stick it up his ass! Braun storms off, and Kevin says Woods’ first Raw Talk as host is something.

Kevin brings this back to Shane McMahon, what he did to Taker at their Hell in a Cell, jumping off the Cell. And what he did to Braun a week ago, jumping off top rope to go through a table! Woods will say this: a lifetime ago, he faced Braun, and that was when Braun had hair on his head. They fought in a swamp. Braun tried to put Woods through a windshield, Braun was picking glass out of his elbow months later. Woods fought this man! And it was terrible! Woods can still feel those wounds. Shane is an adrenaline junking, willing to go to places no one else is, but he is NOT prepared for what Braun could and will do to him. Kevin is giddy for that match now. And quick applause for Woods filling in for Truth! But that’s all for Raw Talk!

My Thoughts:

A very good Raw Talk, but I’m seeing the same format as the most recent Talking Smack, where for one, we weren’t given the line-up until watching the show. Then we had “commercial breaks” allowing for more space between guests. We still got guests entering here as opposed to Talking Smack where they were already on set, but I can’t be sure if that’s better or not.

All three guests were very intense, which makes sense because all three are very intense by default. Sheamus did a great job putting things into frame for himself pretty much the last year and his entire career. Sheamus is definitely better than we’ve all perhaps given him over his career, and he clearly has staying power since he’s still here now. Bringing Riddle’s scooter with him is another sign he and Riddle are going to tear it up over the US Championship for Mania. Rhea was crisp and confident, but I’m a bit surprised she goes for the typical, “I’m not sharing my secrets!” I was hoping they’d try to dig more into her loss to Charlotte but taking the “that’s for me to know and for you to find out” tact really limited what she could say.

Braun was very good for his segment, he got right to what he wanted to say and was much more confident in it than other promos he’s been made to give. No stumbling, it felt very genuine, could technically explain for the times he’s stumbled with delivering a promo he was fed rather than one he could come up with himself, and definitely can help fans relate. I hope Braun goes with something strong for the match stipulation, since daredevil Shane dared him to choose.