WWE Raw Results: News And Notes After Coronavirus Compromises WrestleMania 36

WWE Raw was sure to be a newsworthy show well before going on the air, and that was before the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

That’s because weeks in advance WWE announced the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin in honor of 3:16 day, however COVID-19 forced Raw out of the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. to the Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.

Still, WWE Raw from the Performance Center in Orlando was sure to be a newsworthy show well before going on the air. That’s because just minutes before WWE Raw was set to air an empty arena show from the Performance Center, it announced that WrestleMania 36 has been moved to the Orlando venue as well.

WWE Raw’s main event segment saw Steve Austin giving Byron Saxton a Stone Cold Stunner in celebration of 3:16 Day. Austin celebrated in the form of a beer bash with Becky Lynch.

Despite advertising the return of Edge, WWE Raw garnered its second-lowest viewership of 2020 with just 2.163 million viewers.

WWE Raw Viewership—Last Five Weeks:

• March 9, 2020—2.163 million viewers
• March 2, 2020—2.256 million viewers
• February 24, 2020—2.210 million viewers
• February 17, 2020—2.437 million viewers
• February 10, 2020—2.337 million viewers

WWE Raw Key Competition: 

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) News Coverage
• The Bachelor

WWE Total YouTube Viewership for WWE Raw Last Monday: 10,021,735 (Up from 8,832,632 views)

• Most-Viewed: Edge goes Berzerk on Randy Orton and MVP (3,025,059 views) 
• Least-Viewed: Riddick Moss vs. Cedric Alexander—24/7 Title Match (149,573 views)
• Median Viewership: 529,889

WWE Raw Results: Monday, March 16, 2020

Opening Segment Featuring Edge

Edge was listing all the reasons him and Randy Orton bonded, and among one of those reasons was they both disliked the same people. Some of my closest friendships started because we both hated the same people.

Edge vs. Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing Match at WrestleMania will essentially become an Empty Arena Match.

WWE 2020 Royal Rumble Match

Given how Ricochet has been booked since this Royal Rumble, I’m surprised they didn’t edit out his low blow of Brock Lesnar. I’m sure this will be the case when they show the WrestleMania video package for Lesnar vs. McIntyre.

WWE was very smart with its commercials, typically going to break during moments when the crowd had been whipped into a frenzy. and/or the Final Four.

At least Samoa Joe was featured in the Royal Rumble match so fans don’t forget about him when he returns from his wellness violation.

I get all these “Poor Drew” tweets but Kofi Kingston had to wait 11 years for his WrestleMania moment, and even though it was in a full stadium, I feel like he’s 11 times the sympathetic figure than a guy who Vince called The Chosen One upon entry & was fast-tracked to Mania upon his return.

WrestleMania Contract Signing

The Undertaker didn’t even bother taking off his entrance gear when he won the Tuwaiq Trophy, but for this segment, h barely bothered to put his gear on as he stormed out to the ring half-nekkid and pissed off.

Man, The Undertaker stormed to the ring faster than that time he was burned by his own pyro at Elimination Chamber 2010.

I’m glad The Undertaker did away with the contract signing table. The Undertaker with a pen in his hand is just too human.

AJ Styles talked about The Undertaker’s wife last week and he was steaming mad this week. Styles made no mention of Michelle McCool when it was [kayfabe] clearly getting to The Undertaker. What a novice heel.

In the end, The Undertaker signed the contract and it almost ruined this entire segment for me.

Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade

I know this isn’t true at all but I’m convinced that anybody who criticizes Asuka on commentary tonight hates women. And commentary.

Jerry Lawler translating Asuka’s commentary would add 10 years of relevance to his commentary career.

This was the first time in my life I’ve ever enjoyed the commentary more than one of Rey Mysterio’s matches.

Becky Lynch Calls out Shayna Baszler

At some point (maybe even tonight), Shayna Baszler has to destroy Becky’s truck, right?

They spent tens of thousands of dollars painting a big rig in Becky Lynch’s honor just so she can say “it’s going to hit you like a truck”?

Add “coronavirus” to the endless list of banned words in WWE.

Steve Austin Returns on 3:16 Day

Go watch Royal Rumble 1997. Nobody cared when Steve Austin came out. It was still near the beginning of his run as “Stone Cold.” Watching it back during Rumble season, I told myself it may have been the last time Austin’s glass break got zero reaction. Little did we know.

Tonight was a good night for Broken Skull IPA .

I wouldn’t mind if this entire segment was just Steve Austin getting drunk in the middle of the ring.

This was definitely a segment that could have used a live crowd. It was a list of jokes about 3:16 with no audience. Why?

Byron Saxton takes one helluva stunner.