6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (23 March - Results & Review)

By Scott Carlson /

DOWNS…

5. Frozen Mysterio

Distraction finishes are an absurd WWE trope that faded from sight for a period after Triple H took over in mid-2022, but they’ve worked their way back into the mix more frequently during the past couple of years.

Monday saw a distraction finish that was so egregious that it has to be called out here.

During the Intercontinental Championship match between Penta and Dominik Mysterio, Dirty Dom had capitalized on interference from JD McDonagh and was setting up for a frogsplash to recapture his IC Title, when Finn Balor’s music hit.

Mysterio froze on the top rope while Balor made his way onto the stage, and McDonagh raced up the aisle to confront him. Finn took JD out, all while Dominik looked on from the top rope. He finally sprung back to life after a good 30 seconds, attempting a frogsplash that promptly hit Penta’s knees, and the champ cradled Dom for the pin.

It’s understandable that WWE wants to heat up the Balor/Mysterio feud for WrestleMania 42, and the post-match brawl was solid, but the distraction finish did no one any favors. Penta had to play dead on the mat off a 619 for a half-minute. Dominik had to sit there staring like a goof watching everything unfold rather than winning back his title.

They could have simply gone back to the ring bell hammer lore and had Finn prevent Dominik from using that to cheat, and it would have worked much better and been internally consistent – and they probably could have pulled that off without making it look like Penta was doomed to lose without the assist.