WWE Raw Results: 6 Things We Learned as Kurt Angle Gets a Surprise WrestleMania 35 Opponent
Note: This article contains full show match results from WWE Monday Night Raw from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois which aired on Monday, March 18, 2019.
The Road to WrestleMania 35 is speeding up, and we're now less than three days away from the big day (and a rumored SEVENTEEN MATCHES) in New Jersey. And on Monday Night Raw yesterday we got another confirmed match-up plus a couple more almost-locked-in additions to the card.
Read on for six things we learned last night.
1. Kurt Angle will face... Baron Corbin in his WrestleMania 35 retirement match
A few days ago WWE.com ran a great feature on eight dream opponents for Kurt Angle's retirement match at WrestleMania 35, making the case for each in turn.
They were:
John Cena
Shelton Benjamin
Samoa Joe
Chad Gable
The Undertaker
Rey Mysterio
Roman Reigns
Drew McIntyre
There were arguments for each which convinced more or less, and it's fair to say that on paper we were sold for each and every one, even if some seemed more likely than others.
But it was likely all a bit of misdirection, and despite the assumption that John Cena would return at Mania to see off Kurt, after seeing off Chad Gable's challenge on Raw the Olympian has chosen... Baron Corbin as his last opponent.
Now, there's plenty of storyline reason why Kurt would want to have one last crack at the man who stole his Raw GM role and sparred with him for much of his final run, but we have to admit to feeling a little underwhelmed.
Kurt Angle vs Baron Corbin... again?
Things can change of course, it's WrestleMania season after all, and even if they don't there's no reason why these two men can't put on a great match one last time, but as it stands it feels a shame to have something at Mania we've seen so many times in the past.
2. Beth Phoenix is coming out of retirement for a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship
This welcome return has been coming for a little while now.
After showing her support for fellow Diva of Doom Natalya in recent weeks, Beth Phoenix has made her intentions clear.
She'll come out of retirement to team up with the Queen of Harts for a crack at the Sasha Banks and Bayley's WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
And that Past vs Present matchup would be a great Mania battle, but Beth and Natalya aren't the only ones with the Boss 'N' Hug Connection in their sights.
Despite already failing at Fastlane, Nia Jax and Tamina feel they deserve another shot a the belts, while The IIconics over on SmackDown Live feel it's more than their turn.
What odds a multi-team match at Mania?
The Boss 'N' Hug Connection vs Divas of Doom vs Nia & Tamina vs The IIconics sounds pretty good to us.
3. Drew McIntyre wants to bury The Shield by beating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 35
Drew McIntyre all-but ended Dean Ambrose's WWE career last week with a vicious No Disqualification, No Count-out, Falls Count Anywhere victory.
And this week he attempted to do the same to Seth Rollins and replace him as Brock Lesnar's opponent at WrestleMania.
He didn't quite manage that, though he did pick up his second win over a member of The Shield in two weeks with a little bit of help from Lesnar, after the three men (plus Paul Heyman) laid the groundwork in the opening segment.
Just as Rollins was poised to win in the main event with a Curb Stomp Lesnar reappeared and Drew McIntyre took advantage with a brutal Claymore.
Roman Reigns is yet to formally accept the challenge, but it seems certain that he'll defend his fallen brothers' honor and the memory of The Shield by facing up against the giant Scot.
4. Dean Ambrose is still around (just about) but is in WrestleMania limbo
Will Dean Ambrose have one last WrestleMania moment, or is his final onscreen contribution to the WWE his addition to the Drew McIntyre/Roman Reigns feud by being beaten to a pulp?
The Lunatic Fringe is still working for the company, and he even popped up after the official WWETV cameras stopped rolling last night to help Seth Rollins repel an attack from Baron Corbin.
But as it stands he'll be leaving the company next month without taking up any space on the WrestleMania card, which seems a shame.
Maybe he'll pop up in the now-confirmed André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal (first confirmed entrant? Braun Strowman).
Or perhaps he'll be there to provide support to either Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins or both?
Or is there one more twist and turn in The Shield's story that will convince DA to reverse ferret and stick with this brothers and the WWE?
It could give the Reigns/McIntyre AND Rollins/Lesnar matches the shot in the arm that both feel like they need.
5. Ronda Rousey put poor Dana Brooke in the hospital
Poor Dana.
She stood up for the whole of the WWE when she faced off with Ronda Rousey last week.
She not only earned herself a beating AND our respect, but also a shot at RR's WWE Raw's Women Championship on last night's show.
It didn't go too well.
Not only did she succumb to a brutal armbar, she ended up in a local medical facility after Rousey refused to release the hold and in fact just kept yanking.
Rousey and her UFC fighting husband Travis Browne (you may remember him from some Becky Lynch photoshops) stomped off after the match, fighting their way through refs and security.
Let's hope Dana can get herself patched up before WrestleMania, and that Becky and Charlotte were watching and taking notes.
6. Elias will be the headlining musical act at WrestleMania 35
Elias defeated No Way Jose last night to confirm his main event musical status, and NO-ONE, least of all a suit-wearing newly-inducted Hall of Famer, will interrupt him by putting his guitar over his back in New Jersey, right?
*coughs*
WWE Monday Night Raw full show match results: Monday, March 18, 2019
Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush vs Finn Bálor & Braun Strowman
WINNERS: Finn Bálor & Braun Strowman
Elias vs No Way Jose
WINNER: Elias
Kurt Angle vs Chad Gable
WINNER: Kurt Angle
Natalya vs Sasha Banks
WINNER: Sasha Banks (by DQ)
Jinder Mahal vs Ricochet
WINNER: Ricochet
WWE Raw Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs Dana Brooke
WINNER and STILL WWE Raw Women's Champion: Ronda Rousey
Apollo Crews vs Baron Corbin
WINNER: Apollo Crews
Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins
WINNER: Drew McIntyre
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