Here are the results for this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW.
We kick off the show with Randy Orton. He said that he wrote the final chapter in Edge’s redemption story, but he also gave him closure because he knew when he saw him at the Royal Rumble, there was no way he’d be the competitor he was once was. All he needed to do was let him help him and trust him, but he wouldn’t listen to him. Orton trusted Edge when he saved him from his own self-destruction back in the day. He wasn’t the Last Man standing at Wrestleania, but he’s the last man standing after the greatest wrestling match ever and that makes him the greatest wrestler ever, and he doesn’t need a title to prove that.
Orton thanks Edge for reminding him what it’s like to be the Legend Killer. He also knew the moment he tore his triceps and could have ended it there, but he wanted to make him suffer. He’s not here because he’s in the hospital while a team of doctors try to re-attach that muscle, and that’s another mountain for him to climb. He hopes he reaches the peak of that mountain. He says he’s going to be cleared in July…..July of 2029, so hopefully their paths cross again…in 9 years. Out comes Christian.
Christian asks Randy what kind of man he is. Christian says he sees a cold, calculated son of a bitch, and not the greatest wrestler over. Christian says Edge’s career isn’t over and he isn’t going to quit. Orton doesn’t get to determine when this story ends, and Edge will get his closure on his terms, not Orton’s. Randy says this story is about him and Edge, and it’s never been about Christian. He’s just jealous of Edge, but he knows what Christian wants with that look in that eye. What he wants is one more match. Christian says he doesn’t want that, but he wants to defend his friend.
Randy says he can’t accept the fact that wrestling was taken away from him, and he knows that Christian isn’t medically cleared. But he has away around it. He offers him an unsanctioned match against him tonight, and the offer expires before RAW ends. If he doesn’t accept the offer, it only proves what he already knew, which is that he’s a coward. Orton leaves and Christian is deep in thought.
Backstage, Angel Garza and Zelina Vega are interviewed. Zelina says that there is no discension and nobody cost anybody the United States Championship. Angel says he was just trying to help Andrade last night, but when you care dearly about something, you must be willing to let it go and he can’t imagine Andrade’s heartbreak, but he’ll get over it. He feels for him, but he also feels for Kevin Owens because he’s going to have to prove Kevin Owens is inferior once again. Garza also suggests Charly come in the ring for a special one-on-one interview.
Abdrade comes and shakes Angel’s hand and he wishes him luck in his match against Owens, but he also says he hopes he can handle disappointment as well.
Kevin Owens vs. Angel Garza
Andrade distracts the referee and Owens defeats Garza with the Stunner.
Winner: Kevin Owens
After the match, Andrade mocks Garza in the ring and Zelina berates both men and tells them they want the same thing and they need to work together. The three leave begrudgingly.
MVP gives Bobby a pep talk backstage. MVP is interviewed but he says it’s a private meeting. Lashley tells the reporter they’re having a discussion for their strategy in tonight’s tag team match. MVP is asked about Lana’s role last night at Backlash, and MVP says they’ll address that right now.
MVP and Lashley arrive to the ring, and MVP says Lashley’s night was ruined and Drew capitalized on the circumstances. It’s Lana’s fault why Bobby isn’t WWE Champion, and if Drew had any integrity, he would have given Bobby a rematch on the spot. Instead, he chose to hide behind another man’s wife, even when she was told not to come to the ring. Lana comes out.
Lana says it was Lashley’s stupid idea to banish him from ringside and he’d never do anything to hurt him. Lana got a divorce for him, and everything was ruined when MVP came into the picture. MVP calls Lana a thot and that before MVP came around, Lashley was nowhere near the WWE Championship. Lana tells MVP that he needs to lower his tone and tells Bobby to tell MVP the truth because the two were on a hot streak before MVP entered the picture.
Lashley said the two were never on a hot streak and asks Lana when was the last time she wrestled and won anything besides likes on social media. She only leveraged him for fame, fortune, notoriety and a good sex life. Lana calls Bobby delusional and that if she wanted to use him for good sex, she would have chosen someone way more famous. With that, Bobby asks for a divorce.
We get a recap of the Viking Raiders/Street Profits brawl at Backlash.
The two tag teams are interviewed backstage and they are asked if there is a plan to settle the score. The Street Profits said they had to team up and put aside their differences to take out a bigger threat, and they have a lot of big things planned in the future. Akira Tozawa and his squad come out, and he says something in Japanese. Dawkins says they can throw down at any time. The samurai from last night then comes by and Akira laughs manically. Erik has to be held back, and Dawkins says he isn’t worth it. Akira laughs as he and his posse walk off. Ivar asks what they are going to do and Ford says he has an idea.
The Street Profits and Viking Raiders vs. Akira Tozawa and Ninjas
Raiders and Profits squash.
Winners: The Street Profits and Viking Raiders
The big, tall ninja enters the ring, and out comes a returning Big Show. He cleans house on the ninjas with chokeslams and KO punches. Akira and the tall ninja retreat.
Seth Rollins is backstage and he’s asked about Dominick arriving on RAW tonight. Seth says that it’s his understanding that no one has seen Dominick, but he’s here and he can sense his presence. It makes him happy because he needs him here. Right now, he’s going to the ring to deliver a message to him and his father.
Christian is on the phone backstage speaking with someone and he says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do, but he can’t let Randy get away with this one. He hangs up.
Rollins comes out and he says he kindly invited Rey Mysterio to come to RAW, and while he’s not cleared, he wanted to have a conversation with Rey so he can clear the air with any confusion. He says Rey Mysterio is a hero and he sacrificed himself for the greater good and the future of Monday Night RAW. Sadly, Mysterio declined his invitation and took the cowardly way out by not having a conversation.
Fortunately, his son has taken it on himself to make his way to RAW on behalf of the Mysterio family. Mysterio interrupts him on the titantron. Rollins asks him how he’s doing, and Mysterio says not to worry about it. He says he didn’t know Dominick was going to RAW and he gives him a warning. Seth is offended that Rey would think he’d harm Dominick, and Dominick is a part of the future and greater good. He implores Mysterio to do his fatherly duties and encourage him to join him, Murphy and Theory.
Rollins tells Mysterio that Theory and Murphy are looking for him and that he’s going to bring him here and if he’s not a part of the solution, he’ll be a part of the problem and he’ll have to be sacrificed too. Mysterio says if anyone lays a hand on him, he’ll end Seth. Rollins says Mysterio can quote an eye for an eye, but Dominick is a grown adult and doesn’t have to answer to Rey. Dominick can choose to be on the right path of history or make the choice that Rey did, and become a sacrifice. Either way, he wants to thank him, and from behind Dominick attacks Seth and sends him flying and into the ring steps. Murphy and Theory come to the ring and intercept him. He then escapes.
R-Truth comes backstage and wanted to offer his “consults” to Lashley for losing last night. He doesn’t even know where Claymore Country is, and he must be jet-lagged. On top of that he’s getting divorced. Lashley asks if he has action to back up his tough talk. Truth says he’ll back it up because he’s teaming up with Drew McIntyre. Lashley reminds him that’s later tonight, but he doesn’t see Drew here now. Truth runs away. MVP says he can’t hide.
Lashley and MVP are looking for Truth and Truth is seen hiding under a ring backstage. Drew backs him up. MVP says Drew may have won last night, but he’s not a champion, but a pretender. McIntyre says there’s a reason he turned down MVP to represent him because he’s nothing full of false promises. MVP says if Drew had any integrity, he and Truth would put both of their championships on the line in a winner take all tag team match. R-Truth says YAZTIE and he accepts on their behalf. Drew looks disgusted. Lashley asks if Drew is having cold feet and thought he never runs away from a fight. Drew reluctantly accepts. MVP and Lashley walk away happy. Truth says Drew needs to look on the bright side, because by the end of the night, he could very well be the new Becky 2 Belts.
The IIconics vs. Liv Morgan and Natalya
The IIconics hit the Fall To Grace on Morgan for the win.
Winners: The IIconics
After the match, Royce calls out Sasha and Bayley and Kay says they hope they were watching because that’s what happens when they fight one team and not two. Kay and Royce call out Sasha and Bayley and are challenging them to a tag title match right now. No response. Kay says they’re cowardly, but fortunately they know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody that can make the match next week. And when they win the titles, it’ll be IIconic.
Christian is still backstage contemplating things and he’s met by The Big Show. Big Show says he recognizes that thinking face. Big Show warns Christian of the violent nature of an unsanctioned match. Christian is asking if Big Show is telling him to decline the challenge. Big Show says no, but he also can’t remember the last time Orton was this sadistic and he is unhinged in these situations. SHow says Christian can either step back or go in the ring and tell him that he’s not the one to mess with. If it were him, he’d shut him up with his fist. Christian thanks him and he knows what he has to do now.
Backstage, Natalya berates Liv Morgan for making rookie mistakes and it’s no wonder why Ruby Riott let her go. Morgan walks away. Natalya then speaks to herself and says she built this division only for a bunch of ingrates. Lana approaches and asks if she thinks she has it bad and she’s tired of being blamed for everyone’s shortcomings. Natalya says she knows exactly how she feels.
Christian is at the top of the ramp, and he is interviewed on if he is going to accept Orton’s challenge. Christian says he’s proud of his WWE career and he has nothing to prove to Randy, but he’s also not going to be disrespected. Christian accepts Orton’s challenge.
Apollo Crews is working out backstage and is approached by MVP. MVP says he’s proud of Apollo, and MVP thanks him and says he’s proud of being a fighting champion. MVP says that it’s not about being a fighting champion, but being a smart champion and fighting the right person, at the right time for the right amount of money. He says giving free opportunities to people who don’t deserve it will lead to him losing the title quicker than he thinks. With MVP’s services, he’ll hold onto that title for a long time, and being one of the longest reigning United States Champions ever proves it. Apollo says if he’s not a fighting champion, then he’s no champion at all. He declines his offer. MVP accepts the denial, but he says that the only way he’ll remain champion is with him in his corner. He hands him his title.
Ric Flair and Charlotte Flair is backstage, and Ric says he wanted to know if someone is getting under her skin and Charlotte says a lot of people get under her skin, but she’s the queen and she can handle it. Woo!
A pre-scripted promo by Shelton Benjamin has him tells Apollo that he would be wise to take up MVP’s offer and that he’d better hope that his offer is still on the table after Shelton beats him tonight.
Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin
Crews rolls up Benjamin with his hands on the rope after Benjamin tried to do the same thing.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Truth is approached by Akira and the ninjas. AKira says something in Japanese and Truth says if that’s the way you want it, that’s the way you’ll get it, and it’s time for him to get his Japanese Jaden Smith on. He’s approached by Drew, and Drew says he needs Truth to focus because he was out of order for what he did. He asks Truth if he understands the gravity of the situation and he tells him that they can both lose everything. Truth says he knows what to do.
Asuka is asked backstage if Nia is too dominant a competitor for her to handle. Asuka says something in Japanese before saying Nia started this fight, and she will finish it. Drew is backstage and Truth says he talked to the powers that be and he made things right. Now, the only championship on the line in the tag team match is Drew’s WWE Title. Truth says there’s nothing to worry about because it’s the only thing that made sense.
The Street Profits and Viking Raiders are backstage and they are talking about how to settle things before Big Show interrupts them. Ford thanks Big Show for the help and Big Show says that it was his pleasure. Show says he’s also been paying attention to the feud and he says he’s been impressed by he knows the way to settle it. Big Show says next Monday, The Street Profits should put the titles on the line next week to ultimately settle things.
Drew McIntyre (C) and R-Truth vs. Bobby Lashley and MVP – WWE Championship Tag Team Match
McIntyre retains when he hits the Claymore on MVP and helps Truth splash MVP from the top rope.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and R-Truth
Ric Flair speaks to Christian backstage, and he says that Christian isn’t ready for this and that Orton is at the top of his game. Untouchable. Christian says he can’t forgive Randy for the things he said. Flair says Christian will regret it, but Orton will regret it even more.
Sasha Banks and Bayley are out, and Bayley recaps Backlash and they’re in the mood to celebrate because it’s also Bayley’s birthday. They will dominate NXT and finisth the week on SmackDown. Sasha also calls out The IIconics and tells them to learn their place and The IIconics interrupt. Kay says no one wants another reading of their resumes and what everyone actually wants to hear is an answer to their challenge. Bayley reminds The IIconics they lost. The IIconics remind Sasha and Bayley remind them they lost the titles at WrestleMania to them last year.
Kay says Sasha and Bayley couldn’t handle the pressure then and they can’t handle the pressure now. Sasha gets in their face before Kay slaps Banks and Bayley accepts their challenge for next week.
Asuka (C) vs. Nia Jax – RAW Women’s Championship
Nia shoves the referee out of frustration and the ref comes close to calling for the bell, but Asuka rolls her up from behind and the ref fast counts and Asuka retains.
Winner: Asuka
Backstage, Orton asks Charly if she thinks Christian is a legend, and she also is asked if she knows what an unsanctioned match is. Randy says that means in a few short minutes, the legend of Christian will be destroyed with the RKO.
Randy Orton vs. Christian – Unsanctioned Match
Before the match starts, Ric Flair comes out and he says he spoke to Edge. He tells Christian there is nothing he has to prove to Randy and to let it go. Christian tells Ric once again that he has to do this. As soon as the match begins, Flair low blows Christian from behind and Orton punts him. Orton hesitates before pinning for him for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match, he consoles Christian and he says that he shouldn’t have come and that it’s his fault. Orton tells security to make sure they take care of him. Randy tells an unconscious Christian he had to do this and he didn’t want to end Christian’s story like he did Edge’s but that this is his fault. He shouldn’t have interrupted him and he shouldn’t have gotten involved. He yells that this is his fault as Christian is stretchered away.
