WWE Raw results, recap: Ronda Rousey gets physical, Brock Lesnar destroys Roman Reigns

With just about all of its plans in stone just two weeks out from WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, WWE kept its focus Monday on tying up some loose ends as the major storylines steer closer to consummation on April 8. The result was an episode of Raw which teased the spark of electricity without ever being able to sustain the heat for too long across the three-hour episode.
Both Brock Lesnar, in a repeat beatdown of Roman Reigns to open the show, and John Cena, who continued to cry for The Undertaker to "do something" following a main event victory over Kane, kept their respective storylines in neutral by rehashing the previous weeks.
Instead, the show's true high points came in the development of the build toward former UFC champion Ronda Rousey's debut match. Not only did a prepackaged video interview from Triple H and Stephanie McMahon perfectly set the mood for the storyline opposition Rousey and teammate Kurt Angle will face, the "Rowdy" one was up to the task physically later on in an in-ring skirmish with Absolution that perfectly sold the physical dangers she possesses.
The rest of Raw was a hot mess mix of squash matches and physical attacks, including Bayley and Sasha Banks brawling backstage and The Miz feigning the break up of his own faction to take out his intercontinental title challengers.
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Ronda Rousey's road to WrestleMania heats up
A sitdown interview, filmed at the WWE Performance Center, featured Triple H and Stephanie McMahon blaming the "idiot" Angle's ego for their WrestleMania feud with Rousey. The two heels put over their work ethic and year-round physical shape. McMahon also stressed Rousey's vulnerability in a world she knows nothing about. "We have a completely different set of rules in our ring," McMahon said. "She hasn't had one match. I grew up in a WWE ring. It is my ring, I own that ring." Triple H recalled his history of beating Angle in 1-on-1 matches. McMahon, meanwhile, continued to boast how Rousey should be afraid of her. "I'm a McMahon, which means Ronda Rousey will simply work for me," she added. Triple H and McMahon closed by laughing about how they will repackage Rousey after they defeat her. "At WrestleMania, we will humble Rousey the same way we have humbled every single superstar at WWE," McMahon said.

Later on, Angle and Rousey entered the ring to address the crowd. After calling McMahon "trust fund tough," Rousey said she will get everything she deserves at WrestleMania, "which is me ripping her arm out of its socket." Out came Absolution to make an offer as Paige invited Rousey to join the faction. Rousey declined, which caused Mandy Rose and Sonia Deville to corner her in the ring. After decking Deville, Rousey blocked a Rose kick and suplexed her fallen teammate. Rousey then turned back around just in time to hip toss an attacking Rose before placing her in an arm bar. Angle pleaded with her to relent, which Rousey ultimately did after an intense stare.
This was exactly what this feud needed to reinject excitement. Triple H and McMahon were simply brilliant in their delivery and Rousey looked much more impressive and believably dangerous than her online skirmish with Dana Brooke that was held back from the Raw broadcast. Introducing Absolution as one-week foils was a nice touch to the story as well, planting potential seeds for the future. But the key to Monday's success was Rousey's presentation, and the maniacal backbone her babyface character was given.

Lesnar beats down Reigns for second straight week
Lesanr's advocate Paul Heyman announced that although Reigns' temporary suspension from Raw had been lifted, he wouldn't be on the broadcast. He went on to verbally undress Reigns' manhood until the "Big Dog" himself interrupted by limping through the crowd with a chair in hand.
Lesnar exited the ring to lay him