Raw Deal - Raw recap for March 1, 2021

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Drew says February has been "a bitch of a month" for him, as Sheamus - who he will face in "an absolute war" next - severed their twenty-year friendship, Bobby Lashley attacked him after the Elimination Chamber match, and The Miz cashed his Money In The Bank contract in on him. McIntyre says he has a clear vision of what he is going to do in his head: regain the WWE Championship and main event WrestleMania. He says he did not win the WWE Championship and make it relevant again only to get screwed at the finish line. He says that regardless of whoever wins, The Miz will have a big target on his chest. Suddenly, The Miz and John Morrison show up. The Miz demands to be officially introduced by the ring announcer. It happens, then Miz gets a big pyrotechnical show, much to his pleasure. Miz praises McIntyre for handling everything with dignity and class after he cashed in on him. McIntyre tells Miz to step into the ring and give him a big hug, but Miz refuses, saying he is not McIntyre's favorite person before asking why McIntyre is upset with him, and tells him to blame Bobby Lashley for losing the WWE Championship. McIntyre says he will not do Miz's dirty work tonight and that he will have to face Lashley on his own, and after that, then he will be Miz's problem. Miz says he did not ask McIntyre for his help, and says he is the victim in this situation. Miz says that Lashley threatened his well-being and left him with no choice, and because of that, Lashley now has a title match. He says Lashley has the first title shot instead of somebody more deserving because he is Lashley, and proposes he, McIntyre and Morrison work together. MVP suddenly shows up and asks if this is the start of a new business partnership and asks McIntyre if he is taking this seriously. McIntyre says he isn't, then MVP says it does not change the fact that Lashley will step into the ring tonight and become WWE Champion. MVP also announces that The Miz will defend the WWE Championship against Lashley at 9 PM Eastern Time, at which time Lashley will absolutely destroy him. Miz tries to foster a partnership with McIntyre again, but Sheamus shows up and says that McIntyre does not give a damn about anyone and that he will not be in any shape to help anyone before he and McIntyre brawl outside of the ring. Referees quickly into place in an attempt to break up the ringside brawl, but McIntyre clotheslines Sheamus over the barricade.

Drew McIntyre beats Sheamus after countering the Brogue Kick with a Claymore Kick.

Naomi has a staredown with Nia Jax backstage.

Nia Jax beats Naomi.

We see another vignette for Rhea Ripley, who is coming soon to Raw.

Before the next match, The Miz has stomach cramps backstage. An angry Bobby Lashley rushes backstage and grabs Miz, saying that they will have a match and he will beat his ass for the WWE Championship. As Miz lies on the floor, Adam Pearce tells The Miz that he will defend the WWE Championship at 10 PM Eastern Time even if he has to drag him into the ring.

Braun Strowman heads into the ring. He says that Adam Pearce and Shane McMahon have something against him after he got suspended from headbutting Pearce and being omitted from the Raw Elimination Chamber Match. After saying that Elimination Chamber sucked without him, he says that he is only here for a tag team match he knows nothing about and that Pearce and McMahon are starting to piss him off. As he demands answers, Shane and Pearce show up. Shane says that Strowman is "a little messed up" about being unable to reach his own personal goals, then compares it to taking a few MBA courses and tackling conflict resolution, saying the key to handling it is communication. Shane says he made the match in order to resolve conflict and help him work with WWE management, and says the only way for him to work with management is to be forced to work with management. Shane says the only person he has had any conflict with in management is Pearce, who will be his tag team partner. Strowman hates the idea, but Shane says Pearce has proven himself and that they can do great things if they work together. He then sweetens the pot by having them compete for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships. Strowman likes the idea, but says if Pearce screws things up, he will get these hands. He then grabs Peace by the collar and threatens to end him.

The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) retain the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships against Braun Strowman and Adam Pearce. Near the end of the match, Shane McMahon tells Strowman to tag in Adam Pearce. After some hesitation from Strowman, Strowman tags in Pearce, who proceeds to lose the match after Shelton Benjamin - who has been hit with a running powerslam by Strowman not that long ago - rolls Pearce up with an inside cradle. After the match, Strowman is absolutely livid at Shane McMahon.

Backstage, Bad Bunny and Damian Priest are met by Elias and Jaxson Ryker. Elias shows respect for Damian Priest, then has a business proposal. Elias says that Bad Bunny has a lot of potential, and proposes they drop a single and turn the music industry upside down. Bad Bunny seems to show interest, and Elias says he will have his people call Bad Bunny's people, but Damian Priest says that according to Bad Bunny, "That's a no."

Before the next match, Elias says that the biggest travesty in the music industry today is his new album being snubbed at the Grammys, then says now is a great time to remind everyone that WWE stands for "Walk With Elias." Elias gets interrupted by Bad Bunny's entrance after playing only a few notes, and Bad Bunny shows up just before Damian Priest makes his entrance for the next match.

Damian Priest beats Elias.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Randy Orton. Orton says he does not what happened last week, but what he does know is that Alexa Bliss had a part to play. After a replay of his regurgitation of some black bile last week, Orton says that unless Alexa wants to share the same fate as The Fiend, she should move on. After Orton says there will be no compassion if she does not, Alexa appears on the screen near Orton and shows him the image of himself telling him this will not end on his terms and that he will have to come to terms with everything he has ever done. Orton then starts coughing and regurgitating again.

Before the next match begins, The Miz tries to make a deal with MVP, saying that Raw is not the stage that Bobby Lashley should have their match at and that they should face each other at WrestleMania. MVP says they are doing it right now, and the WWE Championship match is underway. It then ends as soon as it begins with The Miz immediately runs away from the match with the WWE Championship, leaving Bobby Lashley to win by count-out. The Miz retains the WWE Championship.

Backstage, MVP and Bobby Lashley meet with Shane McMahon. Shane says there will be another championship match tonight, to which MVP replies "This is bullshit"! Shane McMahon considers stripping The Miz of the WWE Championship and giving it to Lashley, but Lashley says he wants to fight Miz.

Before the next match, Charlotte Flair says the last few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. She says that she did not want to be a tag team partner and team with someone respectable, and did not want to be part of the Raw Women's title picture. She says that last week, she told her father "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair to go home, and now that she has, she has six weeks before WrestleMania, and asks who will face Asuka for the WWE Raw Women's Championship. She then says that she wants to face Asuka for the WWE Raw Women's Championship, but Asuka is at home injured because Shayna Baszler kicked her in the mouth and knocked a tooth out. Charlotte says nobody knows Asuka better than her and that Asuka will come back, for she is a fighting champion, and when she does, she will challenge for the Raw Women's title. Suddenly, Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler show up. Shayna says that Charlotte likes to call herself "The Queen," but is fighting an uphill battle as an army of one, then gloats about kicking Asuka's teeth out of her mouth and telling Charlotte she could benefit from some help. Nia Jax says it is a shame that Charlotte sent her father home, as everyone in the locker room wishes she went home instead, and tells Charlotte it will be her, not Charlotte, to face Asuka at WrestleMania. Charlotte says she does not have to say how great or dominant she is, and that others do not have to do it either. When Baszler gets in the ring, she and Baszler brawl, and Nia lays Charlotte out before the two of them overpower her.

Charlotte Flair beats "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler after countering the Kirifuda Clutch into the Natural Selection.

Backstage, Shane McMahon tells Adam Pearce to let Bobby Lashley know that if The Miz does not show up for another WWE Championship match tonight, Miz will be stripped of the title and the title will be given to Lashley.

The Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik) and Matt Riddle beat Retribution (T-Bar, Mace, Slapjack). After the match, a furious Mustafa Ali wants Riddle one-on-one.

Mustafa Ali beats Matt Riddle after Slapjack distracts the referee and Mace distracts Riddle at the top rope.

Backstage, The Miz meets with Shane McMahon and Adam Pearce, saying he defended the WWE Championship. Shane says he will do it in legitimate fashion tonight, but Miz says he is needed as champion and deserves respect. Miz says he feels humiliated and that he is a main event champion, then asks what kind of champion Lashley could be. Shane tells Miz it is all up to him.

WrestleMania 37 is 40 days away!

As soon as The Miz takes his WWE Championship away from the referee before the next match begins, Shane McMahon shows up and introduces some lumberjacks into the match.

Bobby Lashley beats The Miz with the Hurt Lock in a lumberjack to become the WWE Champion! After the match, Lashley puts The Miz in the Hurt Lock again.

Raw Talk: Drew McIntyre vows to main event WrestleMania.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!