WWE Raw Match Ratings For 3/26/18, Podcast Notes From Sean Ross Sapp

Lesnar, Heyman, Reigns

• Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are out, and Heyman is taunting Roman Reigns about not being there as advertised, even though his suspension is now up.
• Reigns comes out through the crowd, looking the same way he does every week. Does Roman own any actual human clothes? He comes out in his Roman Reigns shirt again.
• Reigns and Lesnar battle it out with chairs briefly, but Brock Lesnar quickly gains the upper hand. The crowd is cheering for Lesnar to repeatedly bash the WWE's hopeful face of the company with a chair. Lesnar F5's Reigns on the stairs and leaves.
• WWE is really ramping up the "How will Roman overcome this?" and "He's so DEFIANT" stuff. Brock Lesnar will be working the ribs during WrestleMania 34

Nia Jax defeated Mickie James (w/ Alexa Bliss)
5.25/10

• There's a lot of powdering by Mickie James, who capitalizes on it by attacking the knee. 
• Nia Jax has gotten much better at working to her strengths. 
• Gorilla Press Samoan Drop gets it done, and the crowd loved it
• Alexa Bliss tried to attack Nia after the match, but Bliss lightly jogs away and Nia hilariously screams and goes off. Nia called her a "little Bliss" then backtracked and said bitch. 
• "After what you did to me! You little … (screams)! Run now all you want you little Bliss. I know where to catch you, right here (points at ground) at WrestleMania, you little bitch! … What, oh, you wanna stand there? (Exits Ring and pursues Alexa)

Stephanie & Triple H

• We get a great video package for the Helmsleys vs. Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle.
• Stephanie McMahon has employed the services of Seth Petruzelli, who wasn't mentioned in the video, but knocked out Kimbo Slice. 
• This was what it needed to be. More of this on WWE programming. 

Mustafa Ali & Cedric Alexander defeated TJP & Drew Gulak
5.25/10

• Drake Maverick on commentary and NO PURPLE ROPES! That's a good thing. This is a part of WWE's push to get people interested in the Cruiserweight Title match that they've not built at all on Raw.
• This match is quick and fine. Cedric hits the Lumbar Check but Mustafa Ali tags himself in and gets his Imploding 450 for the win.

 The Miz

• The Miz is in Cleveland, where he was born, but tells the crowd that he lives in LA now.
• Miz goes off on Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. Is this the "breaking up Miztourage so Miz won't have their help at Mania, then they rejoin him right after" deal?
• Seth Rollins comes out and says Miz needs to thank Miztourage, and says if he were Miz, he'd start "Miztourage" chants. 
• Dallas says that Miz is a phony A-Lister who can't fight. Finn Balor comes out and drags it out of Bo Dallas again. The crowd is hot for this segment. 
• Miz says he wants to become the greatest WWE Intercontinental Champion of all time, even better than Mr. Perfect, which fires Curtis Axel up. 
• Miztourage tease attacking Miz, but it's a SWERVE. Fortunately for Balor, the Good Brothers come out and help out. Miz is able to escape, though.
• Rollins and Balor face off, and Balor keeps Rollins from getting attacked by Miz, but punches him anyway.
• WWE putting out an "OG BC" shirt. Well played.

Asuka kills a jobber.

• Jamie Frost cuts a promo saying that Asuka hasn't seen anyone like her.
• Kick. Pin.

Backstage Crappenings

• Matt Hardy enters the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal.
• New Elias Snickers commercial. 
• Bayley and Sasha Banks argue backstage. Bayley says Sasha is mad because Sasha can't beat her, and couldn't hold on to the Women's Championship. The two brawl backstage and we get a Sarah Stock cameo!!

Braun Strowman defeated Sheamus (w/ Cesaro)
5/10

• Braun comes out, and the Bar cuts a really unfunny promo. I don't really have a problem with it though, since they're heels. 
• They want to know who Braun's partner is, and he says that all Sheamus has to do is beat him. Sheamus' reaction is rather great. Strowman seamlessly transitions into his catchphrase.
• Sheamus gets an early advantage because of Cesaro setting up a distraction. Strowman "tweaks" his knee, and later gets posted. Much is made about Strowman's knee injury.
• It doesn't really matter. Powerslam. Pin.

Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle

• Kurt Angle brings out Ronda Rousey. Her makeup made her look like she has pink eye. 
• Rousey says that Stephanie McMahon is trust fund tough and personal trainer tough and she'll rip Stephanie's arm out of its socket at Mania.
• Absolution — specifically Paige offer to have Ronda Rousey's back, but Rousey says she has Kurt Angle watching her back.
• So much for Sonya wanting her interaction with Rousey being something special. She hits Rousey and there's a pause. Then she suplexes Mandy onto Sonya, but Sonya gets there too late.
• Rousey hip throws Mandy Rose, but Angle keeps Ronda from breaking Mandy's arm. 

Good Brothers defeated Miztourage
5.5/10

• Anderson's rocket kick is a really fun babyface move. 
• Gallows gets a great pumphandle slam on Axel, followed by a Boot of Doom, but Dallas breaks it up. I brought that as the finish.
• Karl Anderson with a flying neckbreaker and the Magic Killer wins it. Best match of the night so far.

Elias defeats Rhyno (w/ Heath Slater)
4.75/10

• Elias is out trolling the crowd about LeBron James leaving yet again.
• Rhyno is out. Crazy to think 19 years ago, Rhyno was the "Rookie Monster" in ECW. 
• Some hard hitting action, then Elias wins with Drift Away. He gives Heath one, too.

No Disqualification
John Cena defeated Kane
5/10

• John Cena not being able to lift Kane insults my intelligence. 
• Kane will be 51 years old in a month. Will he headline a Raw or WWE PPV as a 51 year old?
• Cena gets suplexed into a barricade at ringside. 
• While Kane is taking the turnbuckle off, Cena sits up like the Undertaker. He does the throat slash and a chokeslam, too. Wow.
• Kane runs Cena into a cornered table.
• AA through the table, pin. Mercifully.
• Cena keeps calling out The Undertaker. He's mad that Taker still hasn't shown up.
• Cena has to let the "going to WrestleMania as a fan" thing go.