WWE RAW Review, March 28: 5 takeaways

Review of the March 28 episode of WWE RAW by looking at the five biggest takeaways

WrestleMania is a mere six days away and March 28 at the Barclays Center signified the go-home episode of WWE RAW. Though the go-home episode of RAW before any major pay-per-view event is often a dud as the company looks to protect superstars from injury, that wasn’t the case in Brooklyn.

The show started off with a bang as Shane McMahon and The Undertaker came to blows and Shane actually dove off the top rope and elbow dropped The Deadman through the announce table. Throw in the fact that Roman Reigns and Triple H brawled twice and the fact that everyone in the seven-man Intercontinental Championship ladder match was in action and WWE really wasn’t holding back on this episode of WWE RAW.

Yes, there were problems that have persisted all the way through this build to WrestleMania and those problems are indeed Roman Reigns related. However, it’s hard to deny that this is one of the best go-home shows in a long, long time.

For the results from the March 28 episode of WWE RAW, click here.

Now let’s get onto the five takeaways from WWE RAW, including the best and worst matches, biggest winner and loser, and the best moment of the night.

Best Match of the Night

Kevin Owens, Stardust & The Miz vs. Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler & Sin Cara

When I saw the graphic for this match pop-up I assumed it was going to be a dud because of the timing and this being the go-home episode of WWE RAW. Thankfully, they proved me wrong as this match was a great showcase for six of the seven men in the IC title ladder match at Mania. A lot of times, these showcases can be quite obvious, but this one was different as it furthered the plights of every wrestler and really helped paint the picture for WrestleMania.

Moreover, Sami Zayn pinned Kevin Owens to pick up the win for his team, which only furthers their rivalry. Anything that progresses or adds another chapter to the Zayn-Owens rivalry is top in my books.

Worst Match of the Night

Big Show & Kane vs. Social Outcasts

Can you even consider this a match at all? It couldn’t have been more than 10 seconds after the bell rang to start the bout that the rest of the Social Outcasts interfered and all hell broke loose.

Only making things worse for this match, though, is that I have no idea why a billion people came down to the ring to brawl. I mean, it was obviously to set the stage for the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but you could have set it up a little better than just having wrestlers run to the ring with no motivation to do so.

Biggest Winner

Shane McMahon

If anyone was doubting or was worried about Shane McMahon facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32, worry no more. The opening segment on WWE RAW was the best in quite some time (since Shane’s return probably) as Taker and Shane O Mac only helped build to their Hell in a Cell match even further with their promos and then with things getting physical.

And then that elbow drop.

That glorious, glorious elbow drop off the top rope and onto the announce table.

This is the Shane McMahon that fans know and love from the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras. He’s a ballsy risk-taker and nothing has changed—and I loved every second of it. If you’re not excited for this match more than anything else at WrestleMania after their segment on the go-home RAW, check your pulse.

Biggest Loser

Roman Reigns and, by proxy, WWE

WWE better have something up their sleeves or Mania is going to get ugly in the main event. Look, Roman Reigns is a talented dude who has a major future in professional wrestling. But as this current iteration of his character in this storyline, he’s hot garbage. No one wants to see him be the hero of the people or be the babyface to topple The Authority. The crowd is essentially begging WWE to make him turn heel right now and they stubbornly seem to be resisting.

I understand that the company wants to stick to the plan, but if that plan is so blatantly leading to an outcome that fans don’t want and that, subsequently, WWE won’t like because of the reaction by the fans, then where is the sanctity in sticking to the status quo? Roman was the least popular person in Brooklyn not named Eva Marie. The only problem, of course, is that you’re supposed to hate Eva at this point—the same isn’t true for Roman, though, and therein lies the issue.

Best Moment

Shane O Mac Diving Elbow

I could wax poetic about this spot all day long, but just watch it again:

Shane McMahon forever.

For all your WWE news, updates, and more, stay in touch with the FanSided hub.