WWE Raw: Lynch gets the better of Rousey and Charlotte while Reigns will face McIntyre

THERE are just 12 days left before WWE descends on the MetLife Stadium for WrestleMania 35, the biggest show of the year. With the action and drama heating up, here are five big things we learnt from last night’s edition of Raw. Triple H retirement vow Triple H came to the ring to read out […]

THERE are just 12 days left before WWE descends on the MetLife Stadium for WrestleMania 35, the biggest show of the year.

With the action and drama heating up, here are five big things we learnt from last night’s edition of Raw.

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Triple H retirement vow

Triple H came to the ring to read out a letter he supposedly received for Batista, which says Big Dave won’t compete at WrestleMania unless Trips agrees to one last stipulation.

“The Game” poked fun of Batista’s original “Deacon” character from 2002 and even made fun of his and Dave’s atrocious “give me what I want” promo from two weeks ago.

As laid out in the letter, Batista has demanded that Triple H put his career on the line in their No Holds Barred match at Mania.

Triple H accepted the stipulation and said: “If at this point in my career I can’t beat a self-deluded douchebag like you I’d have no business being in this ring anyway.”

It raises the stakes for the match – but pretty much guarantees that Triple H will beat Batista on the Grandest Stage.

Lynch beats the clock

Ronda Rousey stormed out for a promo and told the fans “you’re welcome” for making the women’s triple threat match the main event at WrestleMania.

Ronda also promised to tap out Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at the same time in the match (not quite sure how that would work).

She was followed by Becky and Charlotte who both also claimed the credit for making their match the main event. In truth it’s a perfect storm of all three.

All three women then competed in a beat the clock challenge against the three members of the long-suffering Riott Squad.

First up, Ronda Rousey beat Sarah Logan by tap out in 1 minute 25 seconds.

Charlotte Flair went to a no contest when she failed to beat Ruby Riott in that time – despite clamping Ruby in the Figure-8 just before the buzzer.

The frustrated Charlotte then nailed Becky with a big boot – but “The Man” still beat Liv Morgan in 1 minute 18 seconds to win the challenge.

It was great to hear thunderous “we want Becky chants” and a big response when she came out. It feels like WWE has fumbled the Becky storyline in recent weeks but after last night it sounds like Becky Lynch is still The Man.

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Reigns accepts McIntyre’s challenge

Drew came out to address his WrestleMania challenge to Roman Reigns – which comes after he decimated Roman’s Shield brothers Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins over the past two weeks.

Drew implored Roman to turn down his challenge by addressing Roman as “Joe the father and husband” and pleaded: “Think of your children.”

(As if he really wants Roman to turn him down – it would be straight into the Andre battle royal for Drew if that happened.)

There were huge Roman chants before “The Big Dog” arrived and accepted Drew’s challenge. Roman said: “Don’t you ever run your mouth about my wife and kids.” He then launched into a furious attack on McIntyre. But “The Scottish Psychopath” cut down Roman with a low blow and Claymore Kick before standing victorious over the fallen Reigns.

McIntyre went onto to beat Dean Ambrose again in a Last Man Standing match when he nailed “The Lunatic Fringe” with another Claymore.

Balor will face Lashley at Mania

Balor had a chance to earn a shot at Bobby Lashley’s IC title at WrestleMania – if he could beat Lashley and Lio Rush in a handicap match.

But Lio announced beforehand that he wasn’t medically cleared and would be replaced by… erm, Jinder Mahal.

Unsurprisingly, Finn pinned Jinder with the Coup de Grace, earning his spot against Lashley on the Grandest Stage.

Lashley then battered Jinder’s cronies the Singh brothers and hit Jinder with a spear. How and why Jinder ended up in the match is a mystery, unless – please Vince, no – Jinder is getting added to the Intercontinental Championship match at Mania.

Angle STILL facing Corbin

There was a huge fan backlash after the news that Kurt Angle’s retirement match at WrestleMania will be against Baron Corbin.

And there have been rumours that WWE was considering switching the match, but as it stands nothing has changed.

Last night Corbin cut a promo on the “whining and crying” fans during the commercial break and then beat Apollo Crews.

Later, Kurt Angle defeated his old TNA rival Samoa Joe as part of his “farewell tour” when he reversed Joe’s Coquina Clutch into a pinfall.

But there’s still a week to go. Don’t be surprised if WWE changes the match yet to give Angle a bigger opponent for WrestleMania. Our pick? John Cena.