WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 26

The Road to WrestleMania rolled through Cleveland Monday night with a star-studded episode of Raw that featured a main event pitting John Cena against Kane, an appearance by Ronda Rousey and the latest beatdown dealt by Brock Lesnar to his No. 1 contender, Roman Reigns.

There was a greater sense of urgency to the USA Network broadcast as the company continued the build to its most prestigious event, with storyline developments, matches and moments that will unequivocally affect the WWE landscape just two weeks out from The Showcase of the Immortals.

Which Superstars staked their claim to momentum ahead of the April 8 spectacular in New Orleans, and what effect did the results of the night's action have on the Superstars and programs involved?

Find out now with this recap of the March 26 episode of WWE's flagship show.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman Kick Off the Show

Universal champion Brock Lesnar kicked off the show, flanked by his advocate Paul Heyman, just under two weeks from a monumental title defense against Roman Reigns in New Orleans.

Heyman revealed Reigns' suspension has been lifted and proceeded to criticize the No. 1 contender for not being there given the tone and content of his recent promos about Lesnar.

The Big Dog appeared, proving Heyman wrong, and marched toward the squared circle with a steel chair.

Reigns brawled with Lesnar, sending him face-first into the steel post. The Beast answered by blasting The Big Dog with the ring steps and unleashing on him with a steel chair.

The exclamation point on the assault ended with an F-5 to Reigns on to the steel steps. The champion stood tall, his title draped over his shoulder, as his WrestleMania opponent was left in a heap at his feet.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Reigns, beaten and battered following last week's attack at the hands of Lesnar, put in the effort to show up this week and take the fight to his opponent. He proved his dedication to the company and to WrestleMania's main event, but his pride proved damning, as he was once again pummeled and left lying.

Lesnar, the relentless force, looked unstoppable and every bit Reigns' superior as he threw the powerhouse of The Shield around the ring with reckless abandon. It was an impressive beatdown that creates even the slightest bit of doubt in the minds of fans that maybe Reigns cannot beat The Beast.

The outcome of Lesnar vs. Reigns may be a foregone conclusion in the eyes of most, but one cannot claim WWE Creative has taken a boring approach to the match just two weeks out.

Nia Jax vs. Mickie James

Nia Jax has been an unstoppable force as WrestleMania approaches, and after finding out she will challenge Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women's Championship at The Showcase of the Immortals, she squared off with Little Miss Bliss' associate, Mickie James, in singles competition.

James attempted to ground Jax, taking her leg out from underneath her. Jax was nearly counted out, costing her a victory at a time when she absolutely needed one. She returned to the ring by the count of seven, though, preserving her momentum.

In the end, Jax fought off another attempt to punish the knee and delivered a Samoan Drop to score the win.

Bliss attempted a sneak attack after the match, but her assault had no effect on The Irresistible Force.

Result

Jax defeated James

Grade

C+

Analysis

The match itself was really well laid out.

Jax built some sympathy for herself by selling the knee attack and looked like an absolute beast as she fought through the pain to pick up the win. James looked like the wily veteran who knew exactly what body part to attack for greatest effect, but in the end she was unable to beat a more powerful competitor.

The tease that Bliss has nothing to counter Jax's fury will only help to sell their match.

Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali vs. TJP and Drew Gulak

The two competitors who will battle for the vacant Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania were tag team partners Monday, as Cedric Alexander teamed with Mustafa Ali to battle Drew Gulak and TJP.

The heels cut off the ring and isolated Ali, working the fan favorite over in an attempt to spoil their hot opponents' evenings.

A hot tag to Alexander preceded the action breaking down.

Late in the match, Alexander was working over TJP and even delivered the Lumbar Check, which should have earned him the win. Unbeknown to Alexander, Ali had tagged himself in. The high-flyer scaled the ropes and delivered the 054 for the pinfall win.

Result

Alexander and Mustafa defeated TJP and Gulak

Grade

B

Analysis

Competitors of this quality simply will not have a bad match when given even a little television time.

The four Superstars, easily the cornerstones of the division right now, delivered a quality match that continued the story between Alexander, Ali and the vacant cruiserweight title.

Ali and Alexander may be friends, but they have a competitive rivalry and desire to be champion. Ali sent a message to his buddy here, picking up the win and shining under the bright lights at his WrestleMania opponent's expense.

Miz TV with Finn Balor and Seth Rollins

Intercontinental champion The Miz presented a hometown edition of Miz TV.

The Cleveland boy immediately turned his attention to his cronies, The Miztourage, and chastised them for letting him down. He blamed Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel for him losing matches the last two weeks. "Burn It Down!" exploded over the PA system, and Seth Rollins made his way to the ring.

It did not take him long to rile his WrestleMania opponent, claiming The Miztourage is to credit for Miz's greatest successes. Dallas agreed, calling Miz a phony. Finn Balor interrupted, the second of Miz's April 8 opponents joining the proceedings.

As Balor joined Rollins in stirring the proverbial pot, Miz lashed out, calling himself the best intercontinental champion of all time, even naming the great Mr. Perfect while staking his claim. This infuriated Axel, who dropped all attempts at reconciling Dallas and Miz and confronted his boss.

The heels withstood the tension and turned their attention to Balor and Rollins, beating them down. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made the save.

Eventually, Rollins cleared Miz out of the ring, only for Balor to lay him out and stand tall as the segment closed.

Grade

B

Analysis

Balor and Rollins proving master manipulators by turning Dallas and Axel against Miz was a nice change of pace. Too often, the heels manipulate situations like this, but here the babyfaces were treated like Superstars with brains rather than simpletons who smile and pander to crowds.

Unfortunately, it proved to be the same tired segment, as Miz and his teammates outsmarted Balor and Rollins, even if they were unable to do much damage to the top two contenders to Miz's title.

Even in success, the babyfaces cannot put their competitiveness aside and leave well enough alone. Balor leaving Rollins lying is in tune with the rest of the story to this point.

A solid segment that could have WrestleMania implications if Dallas and Axel are not around to save their boss.

Asuka vs. Jamie Frost

Jamie Frost wrestled her first match on Raw, at least according to a pre-match interview with Charly Caruso.

She would lose her first match.

She attempted to attack Asuka but ended up eating a big kick to the jaw that scored The Empress of Tomorrow the victory.

Result

Asuka defeated Frost

Grade

A

Analysis

Frost or SmackDown women's champion Charlotte, it does not matter. The suddenness of Asuka's strikes makes every match a potential knockout, and that was on full display here.

Charlotte must avoid arrogance or confidence lulling her into a false sense of security come April 8.

Braun Strowman vs. Sheamus

Before the match, Sheamus and Cesaro demanded to know who Braun Strowman's partner at WrestleMania would be, to which The Monster Among Men said if The Celtic Warrior could win, he would reveal him. However, he did guarantee Sheamus would get his hands.

Strowman rolled heading into the first commercial break of the match.

After the break, though, Sheamus capitalized on a brief distraction to ground Strowman and even wear him down momentarily.

But the advantage was short-lived, as Stowman mounted a comeback and won rather easily with the running powerslam.

Result

Strowman defeated Sheamus

Grade

C

Analysis

The tag team champions have been presented as such jobbers against Strowman to this point that fans have no reason to believe The Monster Among Men could not conceivably defeat them by himself at WrestleMania.

Why should fans care who Strowman's partner is when he could probably just win the titles by himself?

It is screwy booking that, yes, is meant to put Strowman over but in the process is devaluing the tag champions' worth.

Ronda Rousey Live

Raw general manager Kurt Angle introduced Ronda Rousey to the Cleveland fans.

Rousey brushed off the idea Stephanie McMahon is tough, calling her "trust-fund tough."

Absolution interrupted the festivities, and Paige offered Rousey a spot as the fourth member of the group.

Unmoved by Paige's words, Rousey declined and proceeded to wipe out both Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. The segment ended with the mainstream sports icon teasing her devastating armbar on Rose, only for Angle to pull her away.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was more about Rousey getting physical and laying out two expendable characters this late in the build to WrestleMania than it was about any invitation to join Absolution.

The timing was a bit off on Rousey's part, particularly the spot in which she launched Rose at Deville, but that is to be expected from someone who is as green and inexperienced as the former UFC star.

Having Angle in the ring to kind of corral and guide her is a smart move on WWE's part. Booking him as her handler, the one person who can sort of control her fury is another.

A solid segment that put Rousey over without overexposing her interactions with The Authority.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. The Miztourage

Born of the segment earlier in the evening, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson battled Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel in tag team action.

The heels isolated the smaller Anderson, keeping him away from the big man on the apron.

Their control was short-lived as Gallows tagged in and unloaded on the opposition. He delivered a big boot and pump-handle slam to Axel. A big splash followed.

Gallows tagged in Anderson, and the tandem delivered the Boot of Doom for a near-fall as Dallas broke up the pin attempt.

At ringside, Gallows blasted Dallas with a big boot, leaving Axel to endure the Magic Killer as the Good Brothers rolled to victory.

Result

Anderson and Gallows defeated Dallas and Axel

Grade

C

Analysis

Yes, this was the result of a segment earlier on the show, giving it a bit more meaning than it otherwise would have had, but this was a match that means nothing in the long run.

Neither team is in line for a big tag team push of any kind, so this was just kind of here, and the fans treated it as such.

Elias Returns

Elias ran down the city of Cleveland in a pre-match song, going as far as to compare himself to LeBron James.

Rhyno entered the arena for his showdown with The Drifter, interrupting his opponent's musical exploits.

A rather lethargic and one-dimensional match ended with Elias delivering Drift Away for the pinfall victory.

After the match, a focused Elias assaulted The Man Beast's tag team partner, Heath Slater, before standing tall as Michael Cole reminded fans he is still looking to cash his ticket to WrestleMania.

Result

Elias defeated Rhyno

Grade

C+

Analysis

Elias' mic work alone earns the segment the plus, but the match itself was nothing all that interesting.

What was interesting was Jonathan Coachman bringing up the possibility of Elias becoming Strowman's tag team partner at WrestleMania and Cole's reminder that Elias does not have a match to this point.

Maybe it is a red herring meant to play up speculation among fans, but it should be interesting to see if that is the route WWE Creative does go.

No Disqualification Match: John Cena vs. Kane

The No Disqualification match between John Cena and Kane, born of the former's insults and disrespect to his opponent's iconic brother, The Undertaker, capped off the show.

Cena and Kane fought to the arena floor and then toward the announce table, where Kane delivered a nasty suplex on a guardrail.

The Superstars battled back to the squared circle, where Cena delivered a side suplex and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena mocked The Undertaker on more than one occasion, even going as far as to deliver The Deadman's own chokeslam against Kane for a count of two.

Cena retrieved a table from under the ring, and the Superstars teased putting each other through it.

Kane eventually tossed Cena through the table but only drew a count of two. The Big Red Monster introduced another table, and this time Cena delivered the Attitude Adjustment and scored the hard-fought victory.

After the match, a frustrated Cena called out Undertaker as fans chanted The Deadman's name. Cena implored Undertaker to show up, to do something...anything...to sum up his entire career.

"I hope for the sake of all that is good inside of this ring that I see you in this ring next week," Cena said before tossing the mic down and walking away.

Result

Cena defeated Kane

Grade

C

Analysis

Are there two wrestlers of this era who have wrestled each other as many times as Cena and Kane without an even halfway-decent match between them?

Cena and Kane just do not have in-ring chemistry, and no amount of plunder or lack of disqualifications changed it.

This was plodding, and the fact the outcome was never in question only hurt it.

Cena has been money in this ongoing program with Undertaker, and this was no different. He was phenomenal here, as he expressed sadness and disappointment with a man he once had so much respect for.

The result? A greater desire to see The Deadman return and battle Cena at WrestleMania.

As it should be.