WWE Raw Results and Grades: The first Raw of 2021 was going to be a cracker with ‘Legends Night’ being advertised.
Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan were going to be present while a huge WWE title match between Drew McIntyre and challenger Keith Lee was also advertised.
However, we started off with Hogan, The Miz and more as we dive into this week’s WWE Raw results and grades piece.
The Miz and The New Day
Hogan started off this show with a horrible vignette and then it was The Miz and John Morrison starring on Miz TV.
They brought out The New Day as their guests but it turned around with the Day taking over the show.
Teddy Long made a surprise cameo and said Miz and Morrison would face the Undertaker, in a hilarious bit, but then corrected himself and set up a match against The New Day.
Grade C
This was an OK segment to start off with and it was fun seeing Teddy Long again but it just felt out of place given what happened with Randy Orton and Alexa Bliss last week.
Surely, you would explain the ending from last week to start off this week’s show, right? No.
Tag team action
The New Day took on The Miz and Morrison right after the first segment and it were the The Day who had the early momentum.
The heels then took over but it was not enough for the win as The New Day kicked off 2021 with a W.
New Day beats Morrison and Miz
Grade C
This was a good match but it still didn’t click for some reason. Miz and Morrison might be a comic duo but it was great to see Miz being upset after the loss.
Styles vs Elias
Angel Garza tried to flirt with Mickie James and Alicia Fox and then the match between AJ Styles and Elias started off.
Omos and Jaxson Ryker were there to support and help Styles and Elias respectively. It was Styles who got the win in the end but Omos came to his rescue as Ryker tried to attack the Phenomenal One but his guitar was smashed by Styles’ bodyguard.
Styles beats Elias
Grade C
This match again made little sense given that Styles was a heel throughout his time over the past year and now is a face all off a sudden.
Ryker getting some time is fine but Elias starting a feud with Styles from out of nowhere makes little sense too.
Charlotte and Asuka in action
The Women’s Tag Champions were in action as the took on Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans. Ric Flair was watching Charlotte in action while Asuka also did her bit as the champs came out on fire.
However, Royce and Evans were able to corner Asuka and took the Japanese star out. Flair then cost Charlotte the match but tripping her and The Queen blasted her father and sent him away.
Royce and Evans beat Flair and Asuka
Grade B
This was a decent enough match but the real story was how Charlotte treated her father. This has happened in the past and it is a little weird that she is being turned as a heel despite being a face since her return.
Riddle vs Lashley
Bobby Lashley took on Riddle in the next match on Raw. Both stars had close calls during the match.
Lashley then got Riddle to tap out and he let go of the star but the referee didn’t see it. The match was restarted by the referee and Riddle got the roll-up win.
Riddle beats Lashley
Grade D
What are WWE trying to do with Riddle is beyond guessing. He doesn’t need such a finish to win matches while Lashley letting go of his lock makes no sense either.
This was another wasted match and it made little sense with how it was dealt with.
Brooke vs Baszler
Mandy Rose was to face Shayna Baszler but she was attacked by the Queen of Spades and left injured.
Dana Brooke, Rose’s partner, then challenged Baszler to the match and she got the win in the end.
Rose then saved Brooke after the match and attacked Baszler to leave the heel in a heap.
Brooke beats Baszler
Grade D
Brooke and Rose look good as a pair but this was another weak segment that didn’t help any star in particular.
Baszler now looks weak after getting a huge win last week while Brooke and Rose still need something extra to get them going.
Hardy vs Orton
Orton opened up on why he didn’t burn Alexa Bliss last week and gave a weird explanation.
He then faced Jeff Hardy in a one-on-one match and it was the Viper who tried to take out Hardy one body part at a time.
Hardy came roaring back in the match but it wasn’t enough as Orton got the win in the end.
Orton beats Hardy
Grade C
The pair did try their best and this was a decent enough match. However, the Bliss explanation made little sense.
Booking Hardy against Orton also didn’t make a lot of sense either.
LHP vs Hurt Business
Melina also made a return to WWE but it was Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado who teamed up to face Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander of the Hurt Business with MVP doing commentary.
While The Business did well it was Metalik who got the win thanks to a crucifix roll-up.
The tag champions were left in shock and MVP wanted the two to iron out their differences but Alexander walked off while Benjamin had to held back by MVP.
LHP beats Hurt Business
Grade B
Dealing with the problems in the Business was needed and it was great to see WWE deal with that.
Alexander has been looking to split up for a while and it will be interesting to see what is next for them.
WWE title match
The main event saw Drew McIntyre defend his title against Keith Lee. The pair came off with a lot of energy and both had some huge moments in the match.
McIntyre even sent Lee through a table while the Limitless One had the champion down on several counts.
However, it was McIntyre who picked up a hard fought win to end the night. Things weren’t done for him yet though.
Goldberg came out to challenge McIntyre for the title and the champion laughed it off initially.
However, the pair ended the night by having a bit of a scuffle.
McIntyre beats Lee
Grade B
The match was incredible and there was no nonsense in declaring the winner. Lee looked incredible in this clash and he could be a future champion given this outing.
However, bringing Goldberg back for McIntyre makes absolutely no sense and WWE needs to be slated for this.
Goldberg brought down the overall grade for this and WWE are missing the beat.
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