Credit: WINC
Tonight’s WWE RAW opens up with a look back at last week and how Bobby Lashley made it into the WWE Title match at WWE Day 1. We’re live from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as Jimmy Smith welcomes us to RAW. He’s joined at ringside by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
– We go right to the ring and out comes Bobby Lashley and MVP. They head to the ring to a mixed reaction but mostly boos. The announcers hype Lashley vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins vs. WWE Champion Big E at Day 1.
MVP takes the mic as the boos pick up. He calls on fans to give praise to The All Mighty but they boo louder. MVP touts what Lashley accomplished last week, saying it would be impossible for any other man. He goes on and says no one can disrespect Lashley again because he’s shown what will happen, and you must acknowledge Lashley because he’s shown that we are living in The All Mighty era… the music interrupts and out comes Big E to a pop. Big E gives Lashley some props but brings up how MVP hit him in the knee with the cane last week. Big E says maybe Lashley doesn’t have the cojones he thought he did.
Lashley says he would’ve defeated Big E anyway and didn’t need any kind of help. Lashley says MVP did that on his own. Lashley goes on about how he didn’t need MVP’s help to beat any of the others last week, and MVP agrees. Lashley brings up how MVP said he’d beat Big E if Lashley couldn’t last week. Lashley says MVP is a former champion and all, so he wants to see if this is true. Lashley goes to ringside to watch, and says MVP has his cane to use it if he needs to. Big E readies for a fight.
MVP is keeping Big E backed off with his cane. Rollins and Owens suddenly attack Lashley from behind at ringside. They double team Lashley and send him shoulder-first into the ring post. Big E sees this and runs out, attacking Owens and Rollins. They fight him off and launch the champ into the ring post. Owens and Rollins hit the ring and stomp away on Lashley now as fans boo. Big E runs in to make the save. MVP and Lashley clear the ring now, taking out Lashley and Owens. Lashley’s music hits as he and Big E stand tall, sizing each other up.
– We see recent happenings between Doudrop and Bianca Belair. Belair is backstage warming up when Sarah Schreiber approaches, saying tonight’s match is being billed as the final chapter between she and Doudrop. Belair cuts a promo and says she is The EST of WWE and now they have one final match for Doudrop to finally learn that she can never take Belair out, no matter how hard she tries. Belair says this one will end like the others have, with her hand raised in the air as the undeniable of WWE. She walks off.
Owens and Rollins are arguing backstage when they’re met by Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville. Pearce says he has one of the most interesting tag matches ever in mind. Rollins and Owens vs. Lashley and Big E. Seth chastised Owens for being too loud.
Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop
Belair wins with the KOD.
Winner: Bianca Belair
After the match, Belair stands tall as her music hits. We go to replays. Belair celebrates in the corners as fans cheer her on.
– We see recent happenings between Austin Theory and Finn Balor. Theory is backstage looking into his phone now. Kevin Patrick stops for comments, bringing up how WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon has invested his own time into Theory as of late. Theory says he feels like the luckiest Superstar in the world and there’s a reason why Vince is so proud of him. He goes on and thinks Vince sees him as the future WWE Champion. Theory walks off for his match.
Finn Balor vs. Austin Theory
Balor wins with Coup De Grace.
Winner: Finn Balor
We see what happened last week between The Miz and Maryse after the run-in with WWE Hall of Famer Edge. Miz is backstage with Omos now. Miz says this will be a fascination episode of MizTV and we will see if Edge can do better with The Cutting Edge. Miz also thanked Omos for sharing something with him. AJ Styles walks up and asks what Miz was talking about. AJ asks Miz what he was talking about, but decides it doesn’t matter. Miz says he will see them in the ring. AJ says they will let Miz do his little song and dance tonight, then he wants to beat The Mysterios and be back in the run for the RAW Tag Team Titles and back on top before the end of the year. Omos says he can’t wait, but maybe he didn’t mean it.
– We go back to the ring and out comes The Miz for another episode of MizTV. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and we get a SmackDown Breakdown replay for this past Friday, showing what happened between Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The announcers hype WWE Day 1 and Liv Morgan’s attack on RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch over the weekend. We go back to the ring and The Miz is out for another must see edition of MizTV. Miz sends a message of love to his wife Maryse and says if she loves him and their family, she will not discuss their relationship on The Cutting Edge tonight. Miz then welcomes us to MizTV, and says tonight’s guests are more combustible than Urban Meyer and his coaching staff. The music hits and out comes AJ Styles and Omos.
Miz welcomes AJ and Omos, who tossed his chair out of the ring. He brings up what happened last week and the recent issues between AJ and Omos, and wonders if the magic is gone. AJ says it’s just like Miz and his wife. AJ goes on and calls it growing pains, noting that he had to take Omos under his wing but Omos has made great strides. AJ says he meant what he said before about how unstoppable they can be when on the same page. He says they did go off the rails a little, but it happens. He goes on praising Omos and says he could be tag team champions by himself if he wanted. AJ says they are on the same page and seeing eye-to-eye now. AJ is ready to move on from what happened and clean house in WWE. AJ proposes they take all the titles in WWE.
Miz says that’s such a big idea, but what if he heard otherwise. AJ says yeah right, from who? Miz says from Omos. AJ knows how Miz deflects on MizTV. AJ wants to ask a question now. He asks what kind of man puts the mother of his children in harm’s way. Miz and AJ have words now. Miz says Omos said he’s sick and tired of carrying AJ, and that when he stepped foot in WWE he was already the biggest and brightest, and hasn’t needed AJ, and that AJ has been holding him back ever since he “recruited” him. Miz says this mutual respect thing is one-sided, pointing to how it took AJ years to get to WWE while WWE begged Omos. Miz goes on and AJ asks if he’s done, and says this is why the should’ve never came on MizTV. AJ asks Omos what’s going on, he’s all ears. Before Omos can speak, the music interrupts and out comes Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. Jimmy says the discussion will have to continue later.
The Mysterios vs. AJ Styles and Omos
Rey goes to the top for the splash but AJ gets his knees up. AJ goes for the tag but Omos ignores him, standing there on the apron. AJ is stunned. Rey takes advantage and rolls AJ up for the pin to win.
Winners: The Mysterios
After the match, The Mysterios exit as the music plays. A disappointed AJ looks at Omos. Omos is still turned away from him on the apron, looking into the crowd. AJ asks if this is how it’s going to be. AJ says he never should’ve helped Omos because he’s a piece of trash. AJ grabs Omos and attacks but Omos comes over the top rope as AJ unloads while he’s hung up on the rope. Omos fights back but AJ keeps fighting and is still up. AJ springboards for the Phenomenal Forearm but Omos catches him in mid-air, puts AJ on his shoulders and then drives him into the mat while yelling out. There are boos and cheers from the crowd, mostly boos it seems. Omos stands tall over AJ. Omos takes the mic and says next time AJ sees him it will be in a match… against you. Trash that, Omos says, as he tosses the mic down at AJ. Omos makes his exit as his music hits.
Randy Orton vs. Chad Gable
Orton wins with the RKO.
Winnef: Randy Orton
After the match, Orton tries to RKO Otis three times but Otis blocks in all three times, sending Orton out the ring and Otis stands tall.
We see what happened earlier tonight with Bobby Lashley, WWE Champion Big E, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens. Lashley is setting up in the locker room now when MVP approaches. MVP asks if he’s good for the night and if he can trust Big E. Lashley says he can’t trust Big E, but he’s going to beat the hell out of Rollins and Owens, and if Big E gets in his way, then he will do the same to Big E. MVP asks about what happened between them in the ring and if Lashley was just setting a trap, right? MVP says he can take care of himself, he just wants to know. Lashley ignores the question and says he needs to re-hydrate, and asks if MVP can get him some water. MVP says sure champ, I’ve got you, and then walks off. Lashley continues getting ready for the main event.
Damian Priest vs. Dolph Ziggler
Robert Roode distracts Priest on the outside and Priest wastes time attacking him. While he’s doing that he gets counted out. Ziggler wins.
Winner by countout: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Priest continues attacking Roode. Back in the ring, Ziggler tried an attack but doesn’t work. Ziggler escapes and Priest hits Roode with a Recokoning on the outside and he stares him down from the entrance ramp.
Balor is asked backstage about his win and he says he feels good and it’s time to focus on more important things. Theory ambushes him and suplexes him on a cart.
We go back to the ring for the return of The Cutting Edge as WWE Hall of Famer Edge makes his way out to a big pop. Edge stops on the ramp and poses as the pyro goes off. We go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Vince McMah9on is in his office when Austin Theory walks in, apparently after Vince sent for him. Theory apologizes and explains himself, and says he got Finn Balor back. Theory calls it a cold-blooded, calculated attack, but he got Balor back. It’s really hard to make out what Vince is saying these days. Vince says he liked that but Theory still lost his match, and maybe he should fire Theory. Vince says he likes firing people, it gives him a warm feeling inside, especially before the holidays. Vince says he will give Theory another chance in the form of a rematch against Balor next week. Vince hopes he’s not making a mistake.
Vince says he didn’t become a ruthless billionaire by making minor adjustments. He erases something on a piece of paper, with an eraser like he pointed to last week, blows the shavings in Theory’s face, and ends the segment with a “Ho! Ho! Ho!” as Theory looks away. We go back to the ring and Edge welcomes us to the return of The Cutting Edge, saying he’s been waiting a long time to say that. Edge introduces his guest for tonight, saying they don’t have much in common except for the fact they’re both Canadian and both frustrated with The Miz.
The music hits and out comes Maryse. We see how Miz tried to use Maryse as a shield last week, then hit Edge with a Skull Crushing Finale, but was slapped by his wife. Edge asks how frustrating it is to be married to Miz. Maryse says they’re not friends, she’s not going to be his buddy and talk bad about her husband, she’s not here for that, she just wants to use this platform to speak. Edge asks if she couldn’t get a spot on MizTV. Maryse talks about how her husband is narcissistic, and doesn’t let anyone get a word in.
Edge didn’t realize this would be a therapy session. Maryse says everyone thinks she has this perfect life but at the end of the day she is a person, and just wants a big thank you from her husband, for what she does at their home, for their businesses, and every single thing she does for them. Fans are booing Maryse now. Maryse says she’s truly exhausted, she’s tired. Maryse says last week Edge could’ve really hurt her bad and he didn’t. She says she has two kids and who’s going to take care of them if something happens to her?
Maryse gets emotional but fans continue to boo. Maryse asks Edge if he ever would’ve done this to his wife, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix. Edge says he’s sorry… sorry that her life is some kind of horrible country song. Edge asks if anyone else is buying this? Fans boo some more. Edge tells Miz to cut the act. Edge believes Miz sent Maryse out here to bait him into a trap. Edge calls Miz out. Edge says no, he would not do this to Beth because he respects her. Fans cheer Edge on. Edge calls Miz out again and the music hits. Maryse walks away to the corner but Miz tries to sneak attack. Edge meets him and beats him down. Maryse hits Edge with her purse and then slaps him. Miz follows up with a Skull Crushing Finale in the middle of the ring. Maryse laughs now and kisses Miz as the boos get louder. The music starts back up as Miz and Maryse exit the ring, all smiles and back on the same page. Edge slowly recovers on the mat.
Queen Zelina vs. Rhea Ripley
We see Nikki watching from backstage. Ripley with another counter and a big boot to level Vega. More back and forth now for the next few minutes. Vega with a sliding knee to the chin. They tangle and Ripley superkicks her. Ripley follows up with a Riptide in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
After the match, Ripley stands tall as the music hits. We go to replays. Ripley stands tall over Vega and poses in the middle of the ring now.
– Sarah Schreiber stops WWE Champion Big E backstage, asking if he and Bobby Lashley can… Big E interrupts and tells her not to say the filthy C… co-exist word. Big E gets hyped up but Schreiber steps away when Lashley appears. Big E asks if Lashley came to talk or fight, or does he need to prepare for another sneak attack by MVP. Lashley doesn’t need help to win the WWE Title, but tonight he’s focused on beating up Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins, and wonders if he can trust Big E. Big E tells him to leave MVP in the back. Lashley tells him not to worry about MVP.
We go back to the ring and out comes Liv Morgan. She’s wearing a cast on her arm. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Morgan is standing in the ring with a kendo stick. We see last week’s promo where Morgan challenged RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch to a rematch at WWE Day 1, before they brawled and Lynch used the steel ring steps to injure Morgan’s arm. Lynch then accepted the Day 1 match. Saxton hypes Morgan vs. Lynch at WWE Day 1 and wonders if Morgan will be 100%. Morgan goes on about how Lynch tried to help herself at Day 1 by injuring her arm last week. Morgan goes on about how she couldn’t let Becky get the upperhand, so she followed Becky to the gym that Becky owns with her try-hard husband Seth Rollins to attack, but little did Liv know that Becky had something similar in mind. Liv shows us the wacky footage that aired on social media this past weekend.
Liv admits Becky may have been a step ahead there, but she learned Becky is afraid of her as she had a student dress up like her because she knew Liv was coming for payback. Liv didn’t want to beat up an innocent woman but she was so happy when she thought it was Becky. Liv goes on and says it will be her arm raised at the end of the WWE Day 1 match, and Becky will have all the time in the world to hang out with her baby and husband. Liv says Morgan can try to break her arm, but at Day 1 she’s going to break Becky’s face and leave with the RAW Women’s Title. The music interrupts and out comes Becky to a mixed reaction.
Lynch congratulates Liv for beating a poor girl senseless. Becky goes on and says she’s paid her dues, which is why she’s not soft, and it’ll take more than a few kendo stick shots to keep her down, and when you’re this Big Time, you’re too big to be down. They have words and Becky says Liv did show her students that everyone can get lucky at least once, but at Day 1 she will show them that luck does run out. Becky says Liv has stepped up more than she thought. Becky goes on and Liv says she can’t scare her any longer because she will start off the New Year as champion. Liv says her spotlight feels good and Becky can come check it out, and finish what she tried to start. They have some more words and Liv tosses her kendo stick out at Becky’s feet, saying she brought it for Becky to use, not for herself. Becky yells at Liv and tells her not to disrespect her. Becky says Liv is lucky she has a private jet to catch. She storms off as Liv stands tall in the ring, all smiles as her music starts up.
We see what happened between MVP and Bobby Lashley earlier tonight, and how Lashley was then attacked by Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins until Big E made the save for Lashley. We see Owens and Rollins having a friendly disagreement backstage now. Owens thinks they should be called SR-KO.
Big E and Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens
Big E attacks Owens and sends him to the apron. Big E runs for the Spear off the apron but Owens knees him. Big E gets dropped in the ring. Rollins and Lashley tangle now. Lashley goes for a Spear but Rollins jumps over it and the Spear takes out Big E instead. Owens goes for a Stunner on Lashley but it’s countered and Lashley hits the Spear on Owens instead. Lashley covers for the pin to win.
Winners: Bobby Lashley and Big E
After the bell, there’s some confusion as Rollins broke the pin up but the referee already counted the pin and the decision is final. Rollins attacks Lashley and now Lashley is double teamed at ringside as fans boo. Rollins and Owens take apart the steel ring steps but smash the upper half into Big E’s face as he runs over to make the save for Lashley. They run the steps into Lashley’s face now to put him back down. Rollins helps Owens deliver an apron powerbomb to Lashley at ringside now as the boos get louder. Owens holds Lashley down face-first into the bottom half of the steel steps as Owens encourages him. Rollins runs and delivers the Stomp, smashing Lashley’s face into the steel. The boos are really loud now as Owens and Rollins return to the ring and shake hands.
They both seem suspicious of each other as they turn their backs. They turn back around and rush towards each other but stop and hug instead of fighting. Rollins and Owens stand tall together and are all smiles as RAW goes off the air with the boos picking up.
