Amid concerns about the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, WWE made the decision last week to move its weekly television brands to the Performance Center in Orlando. Earlier today it was announced the same fate was in store for WrestleMania 36. With the bizarre circumstances surrounding the show -- and the world -- Raw struggled through an odd three hours of television, much of which was taken up by a replay of the men's Royal Rumble match.
Some important moments did occur, however, to further build toward WrestleMania. Edge laid out a last man standing challenge to Randy Orton for WrestleMania, The Undertaker and AJ Styles put pen to paper to make their Mania match official and Kevin Owens accepted Seth Rollins' "any time, any place" challenge for a match, setting up their own showdown at the biggest card of the year. On top of that, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin returned to WWE with his normally electrifying presence being dulled by an almost entirely empty building.
Let's take a look at what went down on an edition of WWE Raw that featured only one live match and a few of the biggest superstars in WWE history.
WWE Raw results, grades
Edge cut an in-ring promo. Edge, who interrupted the broadcast crew's open to the show, said he and Randy Orton are very much the same and have intertwined paths and destinies, but Orton is a spoiled brat who had everything handed to him unlike Edge, who had to work for everything. Edge then finally laid down the official challenge for WrestleMania -- a Last Man Standing Match. "I write this story, and this story is not a tragedy, man. This is a redemptive story. And at WrestleMania, you won't stand back up." Grade: B-
The Undertaker and AJ Styles had a contract signing. At least, that's what was supposed to happen. Instead, a shirtless, angry Undertaker stormed the ring and flipped over the table before pacing waiting for Styles. Styles appeared on a video screen with The O.C. while holding the contract. Styles again said Michelle McCool is the one behind Undertaker continuing to "embarrass" himself. "You see, at WrestleMania, the lights can go off, but you can't hide," Styles said. "And we know you can't run. When WrestleMania is over, I will gladly pay your assisted living costs. I'm kind of doing everyone a favor when I finally have you Rest In Peace." Styles then signed the contract and asked Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows to take the contract to the ring. Both men refused initially before going to the ring together. After Undertaker stared The O.C. down, the lights went out and he appeared behind Gallows and Anderson, laying a beating on the duo as Styles watched from backstage. Undertaker signed the contract before walking up the ramp. Grade: C
Rey Mysterio def. Andrade via pinfall after Dropping the Dime. This was the show's lone live match. Zelina Vega got involved early, but that wasn't enough to turn things around for Mysterio, who won after kicking out of a back elbow and hitting the 619 followed by the top rope splash for the win. The victory snapped a lengthy losing streak for Mysterio against the United States champion. Grade: B-
Becky Lynch cut an in-ring promo. After arriving earlier in the day in a customized semi truck, Lynch stepped into the ring to talk about how her championship status drives WrestleMania opponent Shayna Baszler crazy because it turns her world upside down. "Every word, every action, every tweet and every interview is designed to make you think exactly what I want you to think of me," she said. Baszler was shown watching the interview on a monitor, fuming after Lynch said "I'm going to prove your whole life is a lie, and it's going to hit you like a truck." Grade: B-
Kevin Owens cut a backstage interview challenging Seth Rollins to a match at WrestleMania. Owens said there was never any doubt over his acceptance. Owens said after today's announcement, the match would happen at the Performance Center, where he would have the home field advantage. Owens said Rollins told him he didn't belong in WWE before his tryout with the promotion and is still saying it now. "When you and I face each other right here, I will add one more memory when I beat you in the middle of the ring in the same building where I earned my place in WWE," Owens said. "And I'm going to do it at WrestleMania." Grade: B-
Steve Austin cut an in-ring promo, celebrating 3:16 Day, which he declared to be a national holiday. Austin broke out the expected lines before laying out what 3:16 Day means before playing to the nonexistent crowd. Byron Saxton began holding up number cards rating each of Austin's bullet points on what 3:16 Day means. Austin ended those points by saying 3:16 Day is "a day you can whip anybody's ass and get away with it" before inviting Saxton to the ring. Austin handed Saxton a beer, raised a toast to the commentator, called him a jackass, chugged a beer and hit a Stunner. Austin chugged a few more beers before Becky Lynch's music hit and the Raw women's champ hit the ring with a cooler full of even more beer. Austin pointed out that Lynch hit him with a Stunner, before sharing a few beers as the show went off the air after one of the more awkward segments in recent WWE history. Grade: C
