Raw Talk, #BeFairToFlair!

With just days left before WrestleMania Backlash, the Monster Among Men AND Queen Charlotte have some Raw Talk about their coming title matches!

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Kevin Patrick welcomes us back to the show!

Kevin notes that R-Truth said he wanted to be godfather to Kevin’s newborn baby girl, and Kevin is here to ask if Truth really does want to be a godfather! Truth is surprised Kevin is asking, and so of course he will! Congratulations to Kevin and Truth! Kevin will get Truth a checklist to him but it’s a long one thanks to Mrs. Kevin Patrick. But this is still not as big as how Raw ended! Braun Strowman got super pissed- er, mad, and he destroyed Bobby Lashley AND Drew McIntyre! Truth is pretty sure Braun will go through Lashley, MVP and McIntyre to get that title. Braun’s never been THE WWE Champion, this could be the time.

Kevin got creeped out by Lily and Alexa and them messing around with the Six Woman Tag all because of someone they’re keeping their eyes on. Reggie was a bit pesky, too, swirling around where he doesn’t belong. But Alexa was the main concern. Lily needs a dentist. Creepy stuff either way. But Truth liked watching Damian Priest VS John Morrison, winner decided the stipulation for Priest VS The Miz at #WrestleManiaBacklash. Kevin’s a bit surprised Priest went with a Lumberjack match. What did Truth expect? He isn’t sure, but he gives kudos to DP for keeping it secret. Miz got his cheap shots in, of course, because that’s what Miz does.

But what a HUGE show tonight! Braun, the returning Jinder Mahal, and the 13-time Women’s Champion, Charlotte Flair! Stick around after this quick little break for the Monster Among Men!

Braun Strowman joins Raw Talk!

We’re back, Braun is at the table with his shirt off and very sweaty after what he did. Kevin thought he’d be smiling a bit more after what he did to Lashley and McIntyre this close to Backlash and their Triple Threat match. How is Braun feeling? How do you think he’s feeling? Look at what he did tonight. He did what he said he was gonna do, and finally, “the powers that be” woke up and realized that Braun is back at top of the food chain. Sunday, Braun knows he’s up against not normal men, and there is nowhere else in the world you’re going to see a Triple Threat like this. Time and again, Braun has said it, but this is King Kong VS Godzilla VS The Incredible Hulk.

This is three titans that are going to prove who is the alpha being of Raw, and Braun is so fired up that he is trying not to curse, but he will lay down for nobody! Tonight was just a sample! Lashley and McIntyre have NO idea what is coming down the line when the Strowman Express rolls into Backlash. Braun vows to walk out THE WWE World Champion. Kevin says he must feel disrespected, we’ve seen Lashley and McIntyre have their time in the sun, and they’ve been leaving Braun out. Braun says it isn’t about disappointment or disrespect but paying dues. Sometimes you lose, but you learn from that.

Braun has felt Lashley’s Hurt Lock and Spear, those are devastating. The Claymore, Lord knows Braun’s taken more of those than he wants to admit. Double black eyes on multiple occasions, so Braun knows to avoid all of those moves as best he can. In the end, whoever he scoops onto his shoulder and hits with the powerslam, shoulders on the mat, 1-2-3, new champion! Thanks for cutting into his time, he knows there are more guests, he has to go shower anyway, see you later. Truth says Braun might be Truth’s favorite next time! Truth likes that fire! Kevin admits it’s hard to vote against that right now. Truth feels amped right now.

But Kevin is curious, he wants Truth to get off the fence for once. Truth says nothing’s wrong with being on the fence. Alright but just once. Truth might go with Braun. Is that a yes or no? Truth says he’ll go with Drew, Braun, then Lashley. It is hard to pick this Clash of the Titans! Kevin is intrigued by the strategy of a Triple Threat. You could lose without being involved, so there has to be strategy. Truth agrees. Who does Kevin pick? Kevin says he’s an impartial analyst by default. Impartial, huh? Like delivering mail? Um, that’s parcel, but anyway, the Modern Day Maharaja is back on Raw! He’ll be on Raw Talk, after the break!

Jinder Mahal, with Veer & Shanky, joins Raw Talk!

Kevin says he is honored to have Mahal here, and Mahal says he is happy to be here with Veer and Shanky. Mahal is so happy to be back, he can’t stop smiling. He knows that he will once again be WWE World Champion, and if he so feels like it, when a referee is near, he could become WWE 24/7 Champion again. Truth says Mahal has high hopes there. Mahal says Truth is champion for today, but… Truth wants Mahal to take it easy. Let’s talk about what they have on the horizon. Mahal’s got V and “Shanky-Shank” here with him now, let’s just- Mahal tells Truth not to do nicknames. It is Veer and Shanky. Alright, putting some pop on it, some swagger.

Mahal tells Truth to show some respect. Veer is a man who grew up in a small village and became a national track star. And not only that, but such an impressive baseball player, he was the first Indian born player in the MLB, and the inspiration for Million Dollar Arm the movie. Shanky is not only 7 foot tall, he is an accountant so he is a smart giant, and a protégé of the Great Khali. And now with the Modern Day Maharaja, they will all rise so that Mahal may become WWE World Champion again. Truth interrupts Kevin to point out that Mahal is the one not showing respect. Truth was just giving them a chance to have the floor. That jacket Mahal is wearing looks like furniture.

Veer gets mad but Mahal has him stand down. Their story will be told in due time. Now it’s about the Modern Day Maharaja. Right, Truth won’t give spoilers. Mahal came back from a knee surgery, was rebuilding himself, and was looking for someone to watch his back. He found not just one but two of the finest to represent the 1.4 BILLION of India! Kevin asks what the 1.4 billion fans can expect then. Mahal physically looked great defeating Jeff Hardy, so what’s next for him? Custom suits, Rolex watches and the greatest conditioning in the world! And then, WWE World Champion, maybe WWE United States Champion, and Veer and Shanky can even be tag team champions. Or maybe… 24/7 Champion.

Truth likes that, that’s a good joke. Kevin warns Truth, there are still refs around. But what are Mahal’s thoughts to Backlash and the Triple Threat? Mahal has history with McIntyre, he’s come across Lashley and Braun in the past, but they’re at the mountaintop Mahal wants to get to. How does he feel about that match? Mahal’s thoughts are, that it doesn’t really matter. Coming out of Backlash, whoever is champion, whether it be Mahal’s good friend McIntyre, the All Mighty Lashley, or Braun, “their days are numbered as champion.” And he’ll have V and Shanky-Shank by his side, right? Mahal says he doesn’t need them for that match, because they are united as they represent India.

That is something that a lot of cultures don’t do. These three stick together. They’re always together backstage, and when one is in the ring, they all show up together. Kevin thanks Mahal for his time, and Mahal thanks Kevin. The Maharaja is excited to be back, he and his new allies head out, and we see The Queen making her way back to gorilla!

Charlotte Flair joins Raw Talk!

Kevin welcomes her to the show, and then asks where her head is at. She sees Rhea Ripley get the title opportunity at WrestleMania 37, beat Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship, and Charlotte comes back to then get herself suspended and fined. How is Charlotte feeling about that? She feels great! She’s back on top! And Charlotte is going to be on a PPV that still has the name “WrestleMania” in it, which is funny in a way. Kevin is trying to buy this. After everything that happened, how can she feel good? Charlotte says people are trying to hold her back. The suspension, the fine, the bias, all of it.

Do you know what it feels like to be jealous? Because Charlotte doesn’t, she’s never been jealous of anyone. That’s just the thing. But then with what happened in the Six Woman Tag, Charlotte going after Asuka after the match, why? Because Asuka deserved it! But then later on, Charlotte obviously had something to do with Asuka VS Rhea Ripley becoming a match, and then she was there to watch it. Truth, stop siding with Charlotte! It’s the North Carolina connection. Charlotte isn’t cocky, she’s confident, and people admire that. Truth agrees, there is a difference. Like cousins or something.

Kevin asks if Charlotte is manipulating Sonya, or in cahoots with her. Manipulating? Kevin, please be polite as you ask things. That’s what she did when she asked if Asuka and Rhea could have a match. So she’s admitting that she suggested making that match? Well she wanted to see that. You can never get enough Rhea VS Asuka. Truth agrees again. Kevin notes that Charlotte has beaten both Asuka and Rhea, each on a WrestleMania, so what is her strategy now? Walking in, feeling confident, walking out champion. That’s all? Well, taking every opportunity in the match, since it’s a Triple Threat.

Then what is the mindset shift going from 1v1 to 1v1v1? Again, seizing opportunities. Maybe Rhea and Asuka are going after each other, she can get in and do something. As a 13-time champion, which she lost count on so she says, what goes through her mind seeing Rhea with the title? Truth says Rhea looks good with it. Charlotte admits, Rhea does look good with the belt. “But I’d look better.” That’s the Queen for you. Kevin looks forward to this match, wishes her luck and thanks her for her time. Charlotte and Truth do a little dance and Charlotte heads out. Kevin says this is it for Raw Talk, and he says we’ll all see them Sunday for Backlash!

My Thoughts:

Can we all agree Peacock TV sucks? It sucks, right? Right. I couldn’t find this episode under the Raw Talk tab or Recently Added. I had to use the SEARCH function, which maybe should’ve been obvious, but if in a span of 24 HOURS, the official tab didn’t have the episode, that is still bad form. Still a good episode, with Braun having a lot of energy despite literally just having come off a strong and physical finish to Monday Night Raw and with Mahal keeping Truth on his toes about the 24/7 title. I do like that we got quick introductions to Veer (Rinku Singh) and Shanky, and that Mahal is spinning this not as a leader and his henchmen, but three equals with Mahal simply as the one speaking for them. Chances are it’ll end up the usual leader and henchmen, but time will tell.

Charlotte’s segment was good, too. She was her usual self, didn’t really add too much more than what we could understand from Raw itself. She pretended to innocently suggest this, want to see that, but then admits to becoming an opportunist so of course she is pulling the strings. I kinda wish Asuka or Rhea was on this one so they could give us their feelings about Charlotte doing all that, maybe Asuka could share thoughts on what happened with Shayna in the Six Woman Tag and how Alexa was ringside. Honestly, Charlotte should’ve been asked about that, herself, just to plant seeds of Alexa VS Charlotte. Guess it’ll just have to “come as a surprise” this Sunday or next Monday.