Welcome to Monday Night RAW.
We open with Roman Reigns, who comes out to a pop.
Ziggler says he doesn’t suck, he’s trying to be the bigger man here, so the crowd needs to shut up. Ziggler says Reigns was almost hit by a lighting rig but that’s nothing compared to the Spears he took from WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg. Fans chant for Goldberg and Ziggler doesn’t like it. Ziggler goes on ranting about how bad last week was, and how “it should be me” once again. Ziggler keeps talking and suddenly drops Reigns in the middle of the ring with a superkick.
Roman Reigns vs. Dolph Ziggler
The referee backs Ziggler off and checks on Reigns, who is still down. Fans chant “you still suck!” at Ziggler as he bounces around the ring and taunts Reigns, who is slow to recover. Fans chant for Goldberg again. The bell rings. Reigns dodges another superkick and knocks Ziggler out of the ring with a big right hand. They end up on the outside and Ziggler drops Reigns with a Zig Zag. We go to commercial with Reigns down on the floor as Ziggler stands over him.
Back from commercial, Roman forces Ziggler into the corner and hits a series of moves for 2. Dolph fights back and he gets another Zig Zag and that gets a 2 count. Dolph preps for the Superkick, but Roman blocks it and counters with a Superman Punch and that gets a 2 count. Roman preps for the Spear, but Ziggler counters that into a Fameasser for a 2 count. Ziggler taunts Roman while he is on the ground. Roman is backed into a corner. Ziggler goes for a corner splash but Roman pops up with a Spear for the victory.
Winner: Roman Reigns
The King’s Court with Sasha Banks is up next. Also later tonight, Cesaro vs. Samoa Joe and Cedric Alexander vs. Sami Zayn in first round King of The Ring matches.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of last week’s events. Next, we get a pre-recorded promo from Becky Lynch. Lynch says she wants the best, most aggressive version of everyone coming after he title and she wants to fight eveeryone at the peak and at their most interesting, and that’s what Sasha is at the moment. Four months ago, Sasha Banks ran away crying from WWE, her career cold as ice. Last week, she’s hotter than ever. And Becky asks what Sasha did in her four month vacation that made her so hot. Nothing. But she did, and it only took a couple of press events to do so.
Becky says this is a cat and mouse game, and she is going to give Sasha something to run home and cry about. Jerry Lawler says before she talks about Sasha Banks, he talks about the KOTR tournament and mentions past winners such as Brock Lesnar, Stone Cold and Bret Hart. He makes his predictions from the RAW side, and he believes it will come down to Ricochet and Cedric Alexander. Before he makes his prediction on the Smackdown side, The Fiend’s music hits and Lawler tries to escape the ring. The lights go out and we see Lawler at the top of the ramp with Wyatt standing behind him. He takes him out with The Claw.
Ricochet and The Miz vs. Baron Corbin and Drew McIntyre
Ricochet and Miz get the advantage with a series of high moves and Ricochet hits a moonsault on the outside before we reach commerical break. Back from commercial, Corbin is working over Miz with a few punches. He tags in Drew and gets an overhead Belly to Belly on Miz for a 2 count. Miz tries to fight back but Drew get s a clothesline and he tags in Corbin. Miz fights back against both Drew and Corbin in the corner, but Corbin gets an open-handed shot and leads Drew into a spinebuster and Jackknife cover for 2.
Miz escapes and tags in Ricochet who gets in a series of kicks on both Corbin and Drew. Enziguri and jumping dropkick gets a 1 count. Top rope clothesline downs Corbin and a standing moonsault gets broken up by Drew. Miz and Ricochet double team Drew but Drew gets a big boot on Miz and flings Ricochet halfway across the ring. Drew preps for the Claymore but Ricochet dodges with a kick and Miz gets a Skull Crushing Finale. Corbin gets a chokeslam on Miz. He goes for a clothesline on Ricochet but he escapes but Corbin counters again with a Deep Six which gets 2.
Corbin goes for a corner slam but he doges. The Miz attacks outside and a Codebreaker from Ricochet gets 3.
Winners: Ricochet and The Miz
Up next, AJ Styles defends the United States Championship against Braun Strowman. Backstage, we Sasha Banks preparing for an interview. Next, we get a Skype interview with Booker T. Booker T addresses the attack on Jerry Lawler, talks about the time he won KOTR in 2006 and predicts that Drew McIntyre will win the tournament.
AJ Styles (C) vs. Braun Strowman – United States Championship
We start with Styles playing mind games and slapping his face. Strowman goes to the corner but Styles dodges. He goes for leg chop but Strowman shakes it off and hits a shoulder block. Styles runs away and Strowman chases him into the ring and gets a few shots before Styles gets caught in a Chokeslam. He escapes, but Braun flips him on his back. Braun takes out Gallows and Anderson.
Styles gets a few kicks and strikes from the outside and prepares for the Phenomenal Forearm before Strowman turns it into a chop. Strowman prepares for the powerslam but Gallows hits a superkick and Styles gets DQ’ed.
Winner by DQ: Braun Strowman
Gallows and Anderson continue the assault and shove him into the corner post. They prepare to hit the Magic Killer before Seth Rollins comes out and takes out The OC. Seth and Braun shake hands, but Braun holds onto his hand for an extra while before sharing a laugh. Rollins and Strowman stand tall.
We see Samoa Joe walking backstage as he prepares to face Cesaro up next.
Back from commercial, we see Strowman walking backstage. Seth comes from behind and says he isn’t stupid and says he saw how he looked at his Universal Championship. He says if it was up to him, he’d be his next challenger. However, he says the two have to deal with Gallows and Anderson first. Seth suggests the two team up and challenge Gallows and Anderson for the RAW Tag Team Championships in tonight’s main event. Braun nods his head. Seth says he likes that he’s a man of a few words and runs to try and make it official. Braun stares.
Cesaro vs. Samoa Joe
Cesaro starts with a major uppercut that knocks Joe into the corner for a 2 count. Joe responds with a few chops and Cesaro gets some shots of his own. Joe gets a high elbow. Cesaro gets a flying uppercut for a 1 count. Cesaro preps for the Swing but Joe fights out. Joe gets a knife edge chop and sends Joe into the corner for a clothesline and enziguri combo. Joe gets a diving forearm on Cesaro that sends him over the barricade into the crowd. We cut to commercial.
Back from commercial and Joe has Cesaro in a headlock. Cesaro fights out and gets a series of uppercuts in the corner and gets a big boot for 2. Cesaro tries to deadlift suplex Joe onto his feet. He stumbles, but he eventually gets it for 2. Joe gets some chops but Cesaro responds with another uppercut. Cesaro runs around the ring and gets another uppercut. He then gets a flying crossbody for 2. Joe gets a corner Urinagi and a senton for 2.
Cesaro with more uppercuts and gets the Swing briefly before going into the Sharpshooter. Cesaro shifts into a crossface before Joe counters into a pin for 2. Back drop attempt on Cesaro but he lands on his feet. Cesaro goes for another springboard uppercut but Joe counters into the Coquina Clutch and that’s all. Joe advances
Winner: Samoa Joe
Later tonight, Sasha Banks’ interview to come, The New Day vs. The Revival and Cedric Alexander vs. Sami Zayn. Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman vs. The OC for the RAW Tag Team Titles is also made official.
We get video of a failed 24/7 victory attempt by Drake Maverick on Elias. Elias is in the ring and he tries to speak but there is feedback from his mic. He says tonight is a night that we won’t forget, because tonight is Elias’ Farewell Performance. He says he has so much going on before being cut off by the mic again. He says being 24/7 Champion and other responsibilities is a risk he can’t take, so he will leave us with an unforgettable emotional ballad. He says to silence cellphones, hold applause and shut our mouths. The guitar is not functioning correctly and Elias requests a new guitar. A guitar is thrown in the ring and Elias requests him to get in the ring and hand him the good one. The new guitar is handed to him before Elias shoves him away.
The hooded figure who hands him the guitar is revealed to be R-Truth. He reveals another hooded figure who is a referee. Truth tries a series of covers but both only get 2. R-Truth gets a Scissors Kick, but that only gets 2 as well. Truth goes for the guitar and attempts to hit Elias with it, but Elias escapes. Up next, Rey Mysterio addresses rumors of retirement.
Back from commercial, we get Rey’s interview. Rey Mysterio reflects on his career, the injuries that he he’s had, and he talks about how his body doesn’t seem to be responding anymore. He says that what Andrade did was a disgrace, and he says he knew one day he’d have to retire, but he never thought that day would be today. Rey says it’s time to hang up the mask and gets ready to take it off before his son, Dominic, comes and implores him to stay, talking about how he was raised. Rey says he’ll do it for Dominic and he’ll stay in WWE. They hug it out.
The New Day vs. The Revival
Wilder starts with some clotheslines in the corner before Woods gets the advantage. Woods and Big E hit a series of double team moves and clothesline both members of the Revival out of the ring. Back from commercial, we see Woods and Wilder on the top rope. Woods fights out of it. Big E tags in and goes wild. He hits a splash on Wilder. Big E then goes for another move, but Randy Orton comes out of nowhere to hit an RKO. Kofi Kingston comes down for the save and takes out The Revival but Orton gets an RKO from behind. Woods ambushes Orton, but The Revival lead him into another RKO.
Scott Dawson has Woods in a leg lock while Wilder is on the top rope. Orton shoves Kofi and he forces him to watch Wilder brutally attack Woods’ knee from the top rope. Orton and The Revival pose on the ropes.
Next we have our interview with Sasha Banks. Michael Cole asks Sasha to explain her actions. Sasha says it’s been a crazy, emotional week for her and she wants to explain from the beginning. Last week, Sasha looked in the mirror and told herself that blue is her color. Sasha says she looks good, feels better and wants to show up and show out. Cole says no one is talking about her blue hair, but that she attacked her friend grieving over her father’s death. Cole asks why she chose last week to do the attack. Banks says “you’re welcome” and ends the interview.
Out come Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. They are taking on Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville next.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose
Deville with a front facelook on Cross to star, but Cross escapes before tagging in Bliss. Deville gets a series of covers that each get 1 counts. Rose and Deville get a series of kicks before shoving her to the ground. A cover gets two. Rose gets a hard shot to the face and a back elbow. Rose gets a dropkick and a running knee to the face on Bliss for two. Bliss forces Rose into the ropes before Cross gets a knee from behind. Rose takes out Cross from the outside but Bliss gets a baseball slide and goes to work on Rose. Cover gets a 2 count.
Cross tags in and she gets a clothesline before Bliss gets a slap and retreat. Cross gets a headlock on Rose and shakes her around. More tag team moves from Cross and Bliss before Rose catches Bliss with a high knee. Bliss tags in Cross and Rose tags in Deville. Sonya gets a series of clothleslines, kicks and a shot to the face. Cross takes out Rose, but Deville gets a spinebuster on Cross. Cross gets a twisting neckbreaker and that’s it.
Winners: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
Backstage, we see Seth and Braun preparing for their match. Seth is talking strategy, but Braun is staring at Rollins’ Universal Title in the background. Seth notices as he says that Braun has to focus on tonight and follow his lead so they could become champions. Braun says he is focused, but that Seth has to follow his lead and he’ll lead them to victory.
Cedric Alexander vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn starts with a series of strikes and gets a clothesline for a 1 count. Zayn presses his knees against Alexander’s head on the ropes. Alexander responds with a knife edge chop. Zayn gets a backbreaker for 2. Zayn gets a side headlock. Alexander escapes but Zayn gets a Mchinoku Driver for 2. Zayn gets in another headlock, but Alexander responds with some chops and a big elbow. Alexander gets a jumping forearm and gets a backflip takedown and a dropkick. He follows that with a suicide dive. Alexander gets the jumping enziguri and the Lumbar Check for 3.
Winner: Cedric Alexander
Backstage we see The Street Profits and they have predicted the matches correctly tonight and they announce the matches for tomorrow and next week. Angelo asks why they don’t make a Tag Team King of the Ring. Ford says they don’t need it because they are already kings.
Backstage, we see The OC getting ready for their match and they say Rollins and Strowman have done nothing to deserve a title match. Styles says this is their opportunity to prove why The OC are the best in the business.
We see Natalya and says that this has been an emotional week for her. She said she did not expect Sasha Banks, her friend to do what she did. Natalya says she cannot wrap her head around why she attacked her at a vulnerable time in her life. She continues before Sasha attacks her again backstage. She kicks her casted arm into a dresser. Sasha tells Natalya to go to hell and to tell her dad she said hi.
The OC (C) vs. Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman – RAW Tag Team Championship
Braun shoves Gallows and forces him into the corner before tagging in Rollins. Gallows takes him down with a punch and fores him into the corner where they work over his ribs. Rollins responds with a series of knife edge chops and a running forearm. Rollins goes for a cover but has to take out both Anderson and Gallows on the outside. Styles distracts Rollins and Gallows gets an uppercut and sends Rollins rib first into the barricade a couple of times.
Back from commercial, Rollins fights off both Gallows and Anderson before Anderson hits a huge spinebuster for a 2 count. Gallows attempts a superplex, but Rollins fends him off before hitting the Blockbuster. Rollins goes for the tag before Gallows comes in and attacks. Styles distracts Strowman on the outside before Gawllows shoves Strowman into the ring post and Gallows downs him with a superkick.
Rollins gets a superkick on Gallows in the ring, a Slingblade on Anderson and takes out Gallows with a Suicide Dive. Back in the ring, Rollins hits a Falcon Arrow on Anderson for a 2 count. Rollins goes to the top rope before begin knocked off by AJ. Gallows and Anderson hit a tag team move for a 2 count. The OC go for the Magic Killer but Seth fights out. Gallows holds Rollins down for an AJ attack, but Braun runs wild on AJ and Gallows. Strowman gets the hot tag and he destroys Anderson with clotheslines and shoulder tackles. Gallows gets a tackle. Strowman gets the running powerslam on Anderson, Rollins gets a stomp on Styles and we have new champions.
Winners: Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman
Seth and Braun celebrate before they notice they are both holding the Universal Championship before RAW goes off the air.
