Road to WWE Wrestlemania 34: Week 3
This week on the Road to Wrestlemania things are heating up for the Raw pay-per-view Elimination Chamber and Smackdown’s pay-per-view Fastlane. This week was full of surprises and announcements that are going to shape up an exciting few weeks that will build up towards the “Grandest Stage of them All.” Before I begin with the events of the week here are the results of this weeks Road to Wrestlemania:
WWE Raw
John Cena defeated The Miz (The Miz enters the Elimination Chamber last)
The Revival defeated The Club
Bayley defeated Sasha Banks
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville defeated Alexa Bliss and Mickie James
Roman Reigns defeated Sheamus
Finn Balor and Seth Rollins in a double pin defeated Apollo Crews, Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
WWE Smackdown
Charlotte Flair defeated Sarah Logan
Baron Corbin defeated Kevin Owens to advance to the WWE Championship Match at Fastlane
The New Day defeated Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable
Dolph Ziggler defeated Sami Zayn to the WWE Championship Match at Fastlane
WWE 205 Live
Mark Andrews defeated Akira Tozawa to advance in the Cruiserweight Title Tournament(Match of the Week)
Drew Gulak defeated Tony Nese to advance in the Cruiserweight Title Tournament
WWE NXT
Pete Dunne defeated Roderick Strong to retain the WWE UK Championship
TM-61 defeated Two Jobbers
Shayna Baszler defeated Ember Moon by DQ
Monday Night had a different feel to it this week and I think it’s because they are scrambling to re-write Wrestlemania storylines. Jason Jordan may have not been a main event match but I do believe their were big plans for him possibly being involved with Angle or Rollins. Rollins was placed into the match that would determine the final spot for the Elimination Chamber. The match ended in controversy with Balor and Rollins pinning Crews at the same time. Angle announced after Raw that both men would enter the Chamber match but how will it work? Do they start the match with The Miz or do they share a pod? I feel like they would have to start first with The Miz. We know The Miz is starting first and Elias is coming out last. Elias is going to need to come out last with the beating he took from Braun Strowman. I think Strowman is the best thing on Raw right now. He is starting to show more depth as a character and a personality the fans love have began to love him. He iOs starting to remind a lot of Steve Austin in the fact that it doesn’t matter who he’s beating up because he’s going to get cheered no matter what. The biggest news from Raw is that Ronda Rousey will be signing her Monday Night Raw contract at Elimination Chamber which will probably start her road to New Orleans.
The road to New Orleans seems to be getting difficult for AJ Styles who now has to defend his WWE Championship. Originally Corbin and a returning Dolph Ziggler were scheduled to go one on one for the right to be in the Fatal Four Way for the WWE Championship. When Smackdown started Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked Baron in the ring and Dolph in the arena. Shane McMahon put the hammer down and changed the complexion of the WWE Title picture. He put KO against Baron, and Dolph against Sami. If Baron and Dolph won their respective matches they would be added to the WWE Title match. Well unfortunately for AJ Styles both men did win their matches and now the title match is a Fatal Five Way. I feel like WWE is trying to create unpredictability with these multi-man matches but I have a spoiler alert for you. We already all assume that Roman Reigns will win the Elimination Chamber and AJ Styles will keep his title going into Wrestlemania. Styles and Nakamura were both notably absent which is not good when you’re preparing for the biggest show of the year. These two are the two biggest stars that Smackdown has and people wonder why ratings were not good this week. Styles and Nakamura are a must every week even if they are just in the ring talking or doing a backstage segment.
The only show that didn’t feel off this week is 205 which continues to deliver and feel like the Cruiserweight Classic did. Mark Andrews and Drew Gulak won their respective matches to advance in the Cruiserweight Title Tournament that will culminate at Wrestlemania. I feel the in-ring quality of 205 Live has improved tremendously over the last three weeks and I think in the long run that’s what will help it come out of it’s drought that its in. NXT also seemed off even though they continued the feud between Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler which ended in disqualification due to Kairi Sane attacking Baszler. I am hoping we see some build up for Takeover New Orleans soon because it seems NXT doesn’t have a direction right now. I will say that Roderick Strong and Pete Dunne had a hell of a match but it was kind of predictable considering Strong is now in the Cruiserweight Title tournament. Hopefully Raw, Smackdown and NXT will start making some smarter decisions in the n The Road to Wrestlemania has seven weeks left. In those seven weeks we will see title matches, contract signings and shocking developments along the way. Until next week stay strong, be safe and remember Controversy Doesn’t Come Without Criticism!
