As the weeks count down to WrestleMania. The path is still littered with questions. Did The Undertaker answer John Cena? Did Brock Lesnar show up? What is this much hyped “Ultimate Deletion”?
Many questions to the path to WrestleMania still unknown. Did Brock Lesnar show up? Did Undertaker answer? How was Ultimate Deletion great as it was before? Let’s dive in and find out on our Rawtrospective!
The Big Dog will not stand aside.
Roman Reigns and the Raw GM stat the show of. Both banter against each other about MIA superstar, Brock Lesnar. Kurt tells Roman that Brock is not here again. Roman loses it and says he will not leave the ring until Brock faces him in the ring. Reigns sits in the ring on a steel chair. The “U.S Marshals” come out to remove him for trespassing. Roman was suspended last week by Vince McMahon. As the Marshal’s escorted a handcuffed Roman out. Reigns loses his temper and attacks the Marshals.
The Beast enters.
Brock Lesnar’s music hits. The Beast makes a bee-line towards a handcuffed Reigns. Brock delivers a suplex, then starts to attack Roman with a steel chair. The crowd did not seem too invested in the beatdown. After multiple suplexes and a F-5 exclamation point. The medical crew comes out to assist Roman out via stretcher. However, The Beast is not done! He attacks a handcuffed, bounded to the stretcher Roman to make a point. The Beast has arrived.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFsp5b4AUTE&w=640&h=360]
The Goddess vs The Empress.
After a great promo from Alexa Bliss. In, which she gives her “Alexa apology” and goes full heel. Asuka enters the ring with her undefeated streak on stake. The Empress has a WrestleMania match against The Smackdown Live Champion, Charlotte Flair.
The match started off with Alexa gaining control over Asuka! What is going on here?! WWE seems to want to have Alexa look strong. With that being said. They picked the wrong opponent for her to do so. Now they have made Asuka look like a lucky wrestler, rather an unstoppable force. Asuka gains control here and there. But the focus was how Alexa can hold her own. In the end Asuka wins after a long ankle lock that was applied. With Alexa deciding to be counted out. Both ladies had a finish that didn’t ruin their push. AKA: weak ending.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YRPY-ku4bY&w=640&h=360]
A Friendship is over.
Nia Jax makes her way down to intercept her former best friend Alexa. All of the sudden a limping Alex is doing a full on sprint to get away. Nia barely gets ahold of her, only for Alexa to escape through the crowd. Later on Kurt Angle makes a WrestleMania match between Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax. For the Raw Women’s Championship.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhj2WRdexR0&w=640&h=360]
The Monster Among Tag Teams.
Braun Strowman makes his way down to the ring. He cuts a promo on how he won the Tag Team Battle Royal by himself last week. The Monster was informed that even though he won. He must STILL have a partner for the WrestleMania match. The Bar comes out and interrupts. Braun let’s them know that one of them is scheduled to have a match with him. Sheamus “tricks” Cesaro in to the match. The beat down begins.
Cesaro fights valiantly. Even getting some good shots on The Monster. However, Braun is simply too much for him alone in the ring. Sheamus tries to get involved, but The Monster remains supreme. Braun has yet to announce his WrestleMania partner.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=657Fgs5RGT4&w=640&h=360]
Ultimate Family!
In one of the best Woken Matt Hardy promos since his introduction. The Woken One introduces his Woken Family and it does not disappoints. Senor Benjamin, Lord Wolfgang, King Maxel, and Queen Rebecca are in the video package. Deletion is here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqDrfomztYU&w=640&h=360]
A squash match.
A tiring feud between Titus Worldwide and The Revival finds its way on air. Both teams deserve better. But are regulated to “filler matches”. Titus is beaten down by The Revivals mix of Old-School/New-School tag moves. Only to have Titus give Apollo Crews a hot tag and clean up. The Revival gains control back and hits the Shatter Machine for the win.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L5tEq_nTig&w=640&h=360]
Afterwards, they are interviewed, Throwing in their name for the Andre The Giant Battle Royal match. Claiming that they will be THE first tag team to win it.
A strain in a friendship.
Bayley, Sasha Banks are scheduled to have a match against Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille. Before the match starts, Sasha pleads her case to Bayley on their friendship. For the first time on the mic. Bayley is not hearing it and shows signs of becoming a heel.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdqGRAoJRyU&w=640&h=360]
Absolution interrupts with another good Paige promo. The match starts with Sonya taking out both Sasha and Bayley. Mandy Rose and Sonya display pretty good tag moves throughout the match. With Bayley finally getting away from absolution, she gives a hot tag to Sasha. While Sasha about to enter, Bayley goes for a cover. Maybe forgetting she tagged Sasha in or not. The two argue and allow Sonya to hit a jumping roundhouse kick for the pin.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe1SEkntm-4&w=640&h=360]
Cena still needs a road.
Cena comes out to ask for an answer from The Undertaker. He goes on to a great promo. Calling out Undertaker, playing off the crowd, and throwing in some shoot style work. This is Cena in his comfort zone. Something we probably haven’t seen in a while. It felt like that Vince said, go ahead… do what you do on the mic. Man, did The Champ deliver. I’ll stop writing and let you see yourself. Along with the repercussion of said promo.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oixChs-kT4&w=640&h=360]
Miztourage Vs Balor Club.
Another “filler match” with Seth Rollins commentating. A six-man tag team match between The Miztourage vs The Balor Club. This would’ve been a show stealing match. But it seemed it was cut short for The Ultimate Deletion match. Both teams put forth their strengths. But the Balor Club comes out with a win. Shortly after the bell, The Miztourage attacks Finn Balor. That prompts Seth Rollins to run down to the ring and stop the beating. It seems that Seth wants everyone to be on the top of their game for WrestleMania.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfNyA2pTq8Q&w=640&h=360]
Come forth Ultimate Deletion!
Finally the long-awaited, much hyped match, Ultimate Deletion has begun! It is in the Hardy Compound and Bray Wyatt walking up to the Gates of Deletion. A Woken Matt Hardy hologram invites Bray Wyatt in and so it begins.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfNyA2pTq8Q&w=640&h=360]
A man’s deletion begins.
The warriors of the Great War meet in a ring within the Hardy Compound. Both men hit most of their signature moves. Bray exclaims that he has a “house-warming gift”. In Which is a steel chair. The Woken One calls upon Vanguard for assistance and invokes the “Broomstick protocol. Unleashing a barrage of rocket fireworks upon Bray. Both continue on to the next battlefront. The Dilapidated City.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u29y5w2mJQ&w=640&h=360]
Land of Obsolete Men.
In a twisted game of hide and seek. Bray tried to chase down Matt Hardy. Finally finding him. The two battle again. With Matt nearly falling to a three count. The Woken One kicks out and continues the Great War.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufHg23WF4co&w=640&h=360]
Enter The Dome Of Deletion.
Bray goes for the Sister Abigail to Matt on a piano. Matt counters and attacks Bray with a ladder. Afterwards with Bray down The Woken One contemplates on using. The “Chair of wheels” or the “Mower of lawns”. He chooses the Mower of Lawns to finish the match. The Face of Fear springs to his feet and takes Matt of the dreaded Mower of lawns.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgaJaqyIUPs&w=640&h=360]
A familiar lake.
The battle continues to the infamous Lake of Reincarnation. Bray Wyatt sets up Matt for the Sister Abigail on the Dilapidated Boat. Only to have Vanguard-1 initiate attack mode. Bray let’s go of Matt and focuses his attention on Vanguard. Halting any attack the Woken Drone would have done.
Wyatt begins to realize that his opponent in The Great War needs to be defeated. Upon turning over the Dilapidated Boat, Wyatt finds Senor Benjamin as a distraction! The Woken One’s sibling, Brother Nero further distracts Wyatt! Broken Matt Hardy seizes the opportunity to hit a Twist of Fate for the pin! Then throws Wyatt in the Lake of Reincarnation.
Afterwards, The Woken One asks Senor Benjamin to fetch the carcass of Bray Wyatt. Senor Benjamin could not find a body. Leaving The Woken Matt Hardy that he is now reincarnated.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjCYqSFc7x0&w=640&h=360]
Was this the Ultimate Match we have been waiting for?
In short, YES! Finally we get to see the utter campiness that is a reborn Matt Hardy. The show as a whole as average. There some nice promos again. But the in ring action seemed to take a backseat to the WWE experimentation of The Ultimate Deletion. As a fan of the old, ultra campy Broken Matt Hardy. I dug it and was surprised Jeff “Brother Nero” Hardy made an appearance. Due to his recent trouble with the law. Here’s hoping that WWE keeps us on our toes. While on the Road To WrestleMania.
