Bodeen’s Top 5 Moments: WWE RAW (4/5/21)

With WrestleMania week now upon us, this week’s edition of Monday Night Raw delivered an average show that felt more like a go-home show to a minor Pay-Per-View rather than the granddaddy of them all. Luckily there were some positive moments on the show that helped set up the last step on RAW’s road to WrestleMania.

So without further ado, I am Bodeen Green and these are the top 5 moments from Monday Night RAW this week.

5. Asuka and Rhea Ripley face Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler before their WrestleMania match  

While it is disappointing that WWE used the recycled gimmick of Pay-Per-View opponents teaming up against the tag team champions, the match between Asuka, Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax was still enjoyable to watch, with the whole real downside being the match felt recycled.

Throughout the match, Rhea Ripley would continue to ignore the RAW Women’s Champion, ignoring Asuka’s tags and tagging herself to the surprise of Asuka. Despite the miscommunication, Asuka would push Shayna Baszler to her limit and even scored a near fall late in the match.

Asuka would climb to the top rope late in the match, only for Rhea Ripley to push Asuka off the top rope, sending Asuka to the floor outside, with Asuka hitting her knee on the steel stairs. Rhea would then throw Asuka in the ring allowing Shayna to pin Asuka.

4. Bad Bunny, Damian Priest, John Morrison and The Miz get ready for WrestleMania

After this was announced as a singles match between Bad Bunny and The Miz, many fans wondered how the match would week considering Bad Bunny could not be carried in a tag match by Damian Priest. Luckily WWE would change their plans this week as The Miz and John Morrison pushed Bad Bunny to the limit after vandalizing his car and attacking him, forcing Bad Bunny and Damian Priest to up the stakes for WrestleMania as both men challenged The Miz and John Morrison to a tag team match at WrestleMania.

Bad Bunny’s promo was extremely solid considering his short time in WWE. During his promo, Bad Bunny would talk about his passion for WWE and how he loved the business and every person on the roster and even loved The Miz before The Miz disrespected him. Bad Bunny would then threaten The Miz, saying he would whip The Miz’s ass, forcing Miz and John Morrison to appear on the TitanTron with both men accepting the challenge from The Miz and John Morrison.

This was a great promo from Bad Bunny with his emotions and motivations for attacking The Miz felt authentic and real. The fact that this now a tag match can help Bad Bunny stand out more, as well as give Damian Priest a great opportunity to shine under the bright lights of WrestleMania.

3. Riddle and Mustafa Ali trade blows before WrestleMania as Sheamus watches  

With just a few short weeks of build, Riddle and Sheamus did a solid job this week in building their match at WrestleMania for the United States Championship as Riddle faced a familiar opponent in Mustafa Ali. Despite not having Retribution with him, Ali would push the United States Champion to his limit with Riddle eventually getting the win over Ali, looking strong ahead of his match against Sheamus for the United States Championship.

Riddle would get the advantage early in the match as Sheamus watched at the commentary table. Riddle would later be distracted by Sheamus, allowing Mustafa Ali to get the advantage. Both men would trade strikes and submission holds with the match ending after Riddle caught Ali’s tornado DDT and hit Ali with the Bro-Derek with Riddle staring at Sheamus as he hit the Bro-Derek and pinned Ali.

Despite Riddle and Mustafa Ali having multiple matches in the last few weeks, this was another great match between the two men. The face-off after the match between Sheamus and Riddle was a solid way to build their match ahead of WrestleMania.

2. Bobby Lashey destroys Cederic Alexander and Shelton Benjamin

While it is sad to see The Hurt Business go, especially after they carried RAW for so long and were one of the best things in wrestling during a tough 2020 there is no denying that Bobby Lashley has looked great these last few weeks as he gets ready for his match against Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Bobby would get one last chance to show this dominance this week as he faced former Hurt Business member, Cederic Alexander with MVP on commentary.

Bobby Lashley would dominate most of the match with Cedric Alexander getting little offense in on the WWE Champion. Cedric’s only real offense would come after Shelton Benjamin distracted Bobby Lashley, allowing Alexander to hit a series of suicide dives. Cedric to continue to push Lashley only for Lashley to hit the spinebuster on Alexander. Lashley would then pick up Alexander and put him in the Hurt Lock for the win.

After the match, the WWE Champion would put the Hurt Lock on Shelton Benjamin with Bobby Lashley staring at the hard cam as MVP put the belt around him. This was a great segment that made Bobby Lashley look extremely strong heading into his WrestleMania match against Drew McIntyre.

1. Drew McIntyre gets ready for WrestleMania 

After arguably carrying RAW throughout 2020 and the COVID pandemic, Drew McIntyre would once again carry RAW this week as he would open the show and give an amazing promo, talking about the similarities and differences in his career and Bobby Lashley’s career. Drew would then talk about not being able to see his mother during his mother’s chemotherapy, with Drew showing off a rare side as he got emotional.

Drew would later have a match against King Corbin in the main event of RAW. Both men would put on a solid match, with Drew hitting the Claymore for the win after King Corbin tried to hit Drew with MVP’s cane. This was a great showing for Drew as Drew was once again the centerpiece of RAW this week.

Special credit once again has to go out to MVP would once again show how good he is at being a manager and commentator at the same time.

These are my top 5 moments from RAW this week what were your top 5 moments and how excited are you heading into WrestleMania 37. Let us know in the comments below.