WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from February 22

On the heels of the Fastlane pay-per-view, WWE presented a Monday Night Raw that wasted little time stunning the wrestling world.

Shane McMahon made his shocking return to the company, interrupting the Vincent J. McMahon Award presentation and winding up booked in a Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32.

Roman Reigns found himself on the receiving end of a beatdown that bloodied him and left him lying at the feet of WWE world champion Triple H.

His so-called brother, Dean Ambrose, also was handed a beating at the hands of Brock Lesnar, who accepted his challenge for a No Holds Barred Street Fight at The Showcase of the Immortals.

With so many high-profile occurrences taking place, it was easy to ignore the matches that unfolded live from Detroit.

Who won, who lost and how did each match grade out?

Take a look now with this recap of the February 22 episode of Raw.

Vincent J. McMahon Award Presentation

Vince McMahon kicked off this week's episode of Raw by presenting the Vincent J. McMahon Award to his daughter, Stephanie—a decision that drew tremendous heat.

The Billion Dollar Princess was overly emotional as she accepted the award, only to have her speech cut off by the returning Shane McMahon.

Shane refused his father's offer of an embrace and handshake. He took on his sister first, claiming that Stephanie and Triple H have not done what is best for business. Instead, they have driven it into the ground.

Shane said he still had his spot in line, and he had not been passed over by his sister. Vince reiterated it, and Stephanie left the ring flustered.

The segment dragged on before Vince booked Shane vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania in Hell in a Cell, with his son winning control of Raw if he can do the unthinkable and beat The Phenom.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Do not let the above grade change the fact that seeing Shane McMahon skip his way back onto WWE television was an amazing moment. The fans reacted strongly for him—and rightfully so. It was proof positive that, sometimes, keeping a talent off television and letting him make the unexpected return can make for extraordinary television.

The blend of reality and entertainment was also nice, with Shane pointing out the ratings, wrestler injuries and the company-stock price dive. Furthermore, the WrestleMania announcement finally gave the event a can't-miss match.

So why only a "B+"?

The segment, at 30 minutes, was ridiculously and unnecessarily long. That could have been compacted into a shorter segment that would have had the same effect.

Did it undeniably change the course of WWE programming heading into the biggest show of the year? Yes.

But it did it with the continued McMahon family drama that overstayed its welcome nearly a decade ago.

Neville and The Lucha Dragons vs. The New Day

The WWE tag team champions were in action Monday, battling The Lucha Dragons and Neville in six-man tag team action.

The Man That Gravity Forgot found himself isolated from his partners for the majority of the bout but fought back and was throwing himself off the ring apron with a 450 Splash to Big E.

Inside the squared circle, Sin Cara missed a Swanton Bomb and then had his mask pulled on by Kofi Kingston. The distraction allowed the tag champion to deliver Trouble in Paradise for the win.

Result

The New Day defeated Neville and The Lucha Dragons.

Grade

C

Analysis

If you have seen this match once, you have seen it a million times.

Sure, the action was solid and the energy was high, but nothing was accomplished. No one emerged any better or worse than they were when they entered the match, rendering it pointless.

For a show that started off so hot, it was hardly the follow-up one would have preferred from WWE Creative.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman

Brock Lesnar, fresh off a vicious assault of Dean Ambrose earlier in the afternoon, hit the ring with advocate Paul Heyman.

Heyman put his client over with a passionate promo, blaming Lesnar's loss at Fastlane on the fact Roman Reigns and Ambrose turned the Triple Threat match into a street fight of sorts. He used the beating Ambrose suffered as an example of what awaits everyone else who tries to step to Lesnar on the road to WrestleMania.

Ambrose appeared in an ambulance, still hurting from the beating he endured, and challenged Lesnar to a Street Fight.

Lesnar delivered an F5 on the arena floor, and Heyman accepted on behalf of The Beast Incarnate.

Grade

B

Analysis

Heyman was fantastic here, with his very real belief in the man he calls a friend shining through in his impassioned promo.

Ambrose came across as defiant in his desire to battle Lesnar, but the stealing of the ambulance was straight out of the Attitude Era and looks hokey here in 2016.

Fans chanting "one more time" after Lesnar delivered the F5 was hardly the reaction WWE was looking for, and they have to hope it was just the case of smart fans making the trip from last night's PPV to Raw and not a pattern going forward.

The Usos vs. The Ascension

The Dudley Boyz arrived prior to the match and reiterated their assertions that they are not a novelty act; they are as dangerous as ever.

The Usos put their opponents away following Jey's top-rope splash to Viktor.

Bubba Ray and D-Von teased hitting the ring but backed off as the Usos stood tall.

Result

The Usos defeated The Ascension.

Grade

D-

Analysis

This was, without a doubt, the biggest waste of time on Monday night's broadcast. Nothing was accomplished, outside of giving The Usos another useless win.

The Dudleys underwent the interesting character shift, but a lack of a quality follow-up has halted their momentum.

A feud with the ice-cold Usos does not help.

AJ Styles and Chris Jericho vs. The Social Outcasts

One night after losing the rubber match in his rivalry with AJ Styles, Chris Jericho called The Phenomenal One to the ring to get a few things off his chest.

Styles obliged and then stood by as Jericho put him over as a phenomenal wrestler. Their handshake was interrupted, though, by The Social Outcasts.

Heath Slater mocked the display of showmanship, and his teammates followed suit.

A match pitting Jericho and Styles against Axel and Slater was made.

Back from break, Slater had Styles isolated from his partner before a hot tag to Jericho re-energized the babyface side of the match.

Y2J tore through the heels and forced Axel to tap to the Walls of Jericho for the win.

Result

Chris Jericho and AJ Styles defeated Heath Slater and Curtis Axel.

Grade

C-

Analysis

This was hardly the way most would have liked to see Styles utilized after such a quality win a night ago at Fastlane. The promo was generic, the match was nothing special and the overall segment was a giant waste of opportunity.

The only newsworthy bit to come out of it is Styles and Jericho look to remain linked, either as a tag team or as enemies following a heel turn.

Only time will tell which direction the company takes the story.

Kane, Ryback and Big Show vs. The Wyatt Family

In the Fastlane rematch no one wanted to see, Kane, The Big Show and Ryback battled The Wyatt Family. Bray Wyatt replaced Braun Strowman, ensuring the quality of the match surpasses its predecessor, even if slightly.

Big Show received the hot tag late and proceeded to run over Wyatt with a series of clotheslines and a big spear.

Just as Kane exploded into the match, with his sights set on choke-slamming Harper, Ryback dropped off the apron and walked out on his partners.

Wyatt delivered Sister Abigail to the distracted Kane for the win. 

Result

The Wyatt Family defeated The Big Show, Kane and Ryback. 

Grade

C- 

Analysis

The last time Ryback turned heel, it worked out so well for his career. A nonsensical one, on the heels of a big win at Fastlane, will hardly help The Big Guy.

The action here was better than Sunday night, if only because it was energetic and had a more-invested crowd. The Big Show was, for the second night in a row, the best guy in the ring and looked as motivated as he had been in the last year.

Wyatt scoring the win was the right decision, but it does not erase the incredibly bad decision to job his teammates the night before.

Sasha Banks vs. Naomi

On the heels of a strong tag team match at Fastlane, Sasha Banks battled Naomi, who had partner Tamina at ringside.

The second-generation Diva's presence paid off early as her interference turned the tide in Naomi's favor heading into break.

The former Funkadactyl controlled the match until The Boss' comeback put her back in the driver's seat. Tamina's continued interference led to Becky Lynch's arrival. Lynch took her out on the floor.

Back inside the squared circle, The Boss delivered the Bank Statement to score the victory. 

After the match, Charlotte appeared and mocked the blossoming respect between Lynch and Banks before announcing a future No. 1 Contender's match between them. She then attempted to drive a wedge between the enemies-turned-friends.

Result

Sasha Banks defeated Naomi.

Grade

B-

Analysis

Banks is finally starting to show the confidence as a performer she had in NXT after months of looking nervous and out of place on Raw and SmackDown. It was on full display Sunday night at Fastlane and, to a lesser extent, on Monday Night Raw.

Charlotte's mic work needs help, but she got the point of the promo across with the announcement of the Lynch-Banks match. With no date formally announced, one has to wonder if WWE will take the opportunity to book it for the March 12 show in Toronto, which will air exclusively on the WWE Network.

Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus

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Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus...it feels like we have seen this one before.

After being at the The League of Nations's mercy at ringside, Reigns mounted a comeback and was on his way to beating The Celtic Warrior one more time when the action spilled to the arena floor. Reigns beat the referee's count, looking like he was going to score a count-out victory, when Motorhead's "The Game" played, and WWE world heavyweight champion Triple H appeared.

Clad in a leather jacket, t-shirt and jeans, he made his way to the ring and beat down his WrestleMania 32 opponent, bloodying him in the process.

From there, he delivered a vicious Pedigree on the steel steps. He posed with the belt to close the show.

Result

Roman Reigns and Sheamus fought to a no-contest. 

Grade

C- 

Analysis

If you have seen one Reigns vs. Sheamus match, you have seen them all. That was not the point of this match. The point, as it turned out, was to have fans relive the glory days of the Attitude Era when Triple H was a jeans-wearing badass who beat people down and told people to "suck it."

See, what was meant to create sympathy for Reigns actually backfired. Instead, it reminded fans of how bland he is in relation to the cooler, more defined and intimidating Triple H. It exposed every deficiency about the character. Then, to make matters worse, it gave the impression the younger Reigns could not handle a Superstar much past his prime. 

What probably looked good on paper was, instead, a major misstep on the Road to WrestleMania.

Thankfully, the company has five weeks to make up for it.