Road to WWE Wrestlemania 37: Week 8

This week on the Road to Wrestlemania we experienced the fallout from Fastlane and the rapid approach to WrestleMania 37. The card is shaping up and things are getting more intense among the superstars. Here is what down on this week’s Road to Wrestlemania.

RAW RESULTS
Bobby Lashley defeated Sheamus
Asuka defeated Peyton Royce
The Miz defeated Jeff Hardy
Kofi Kingston defeated AJ Styles
Drew McIntyre defeated Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defeated Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke
Braun Strowman defeated Elias

THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM RAW
1. I still love the dynamic between Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. They can beat the crap out of each other, but no one else is allowed to beat the crap out of them. I still think Sheamus should be in the WWE Championship match, but he had a run in with Riddle and wasn’t thrilled with his jokes. McIntyre was able to make sure that The Hurt Business will not be at ringside for WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania.
2. Finally Asuka has her opponent for Wrestlemania and it was Rhea Ripley who came out on her Raw debut. This will be the first time that these two have ever faced each other and it’s believable because of how dominating they’ve been over their WWE careers. Asuka has been dominant over the last year, but Ripley is well rested and hasn’t had a match in quite a while. I loved Ripley’s attitude on Raw Talk this week. She really let loose and made me believe in her in what she was saying.
3. I’m still disappointed that AJ Styles is not involved in something bigger for Wrestlemania. I’m not a fan of The New Day versus Styles and Omos and I don’t like that The Hurt Business was cut out of the tag team championship scene. AJ Styles is one of the top superstars in WWE and deserves a Wrestlemania match that showcases that he is one of the top stars in the company.

SMACKDOWN RESULTS
Seth Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
Apollo Crews, Otis & Chad Gable defeated Big E & The Street Profits
Bianca Belair defeated Natalya
Rey Mysterio defeated Dolph Ziggler

THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM SMACKDOWN
1. After the chaos of Fastlane, Daniel Bryan made his case as to why he should be facing Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania. Bryan’s case was heard and he will be added to the match involved Reigns and Edge. I actually love this because all three men have come back from career altering injuries or illness. Both Reigns and Bryan have completed their comeback stories with championship wins, but Edge has not yet. The second night of Wrestlemania will mark exactly ten years to the day that Edge announced his retirement. He’s got the most to prove in this match.
2. It appears that Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik are looking for a Tag Team Championship match at Wrestlemania, but so are The Street Profits and Alpha Academy. From a sentimental perspective, I would love to see a father and son become tag team champions because it’s never been done in WWE before. It will be fifteen years this Wrestlemania since Mysterio won his first World Title by defeating Kurt Angle and Randy Orton. His career could come full circle with his son on the biggest stage of them all.
3. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have been friends, tag team partner, rivals and bitter enemies over the course of twenty years. All I can say is, it’s about time they went one on one on the Grandest Stage of Them All. I have a feeling they are going to look to steal the show as best friends outside the ring usually do. I love Sami’s current character, but I miss his old in-ring style. I have a feeling that Owen is going to bring the absolute best in Zayn during this match. It’s one of the matches I’m looking forward to the most.

BONUS TAKEAWAY
I think it’s amazing that Apollo and Cesaro are getting their first ever singles matches at Wrestlemania this year. Both men have had so many obstacles and adversities thrown their way in their time in WWE, but they are finally getting the opportunity to shine. I’m looking forward to their respective matches and their future post Wrestlemania.

This week’s Road to Wrestlemania is in the books and it was an intriguing one to say the least. Most of the Wrestlemania card is now filled and both nights are going to be spectacular to watch. Check back next week for more on the Road to Wrestlemania.