Credit: WINC
The final RAW of the ThunderDome era opens up on the USA Network with a tape delay. The Money In the Bank go-home show begins with a video package looking back at last week.
Bobby Lashley vs. Xavier Woods
As Bobby Lashley goes for a signature slam, Xavier Woods surprises Lashley with an inside cradle and pins Lashley clean for an upset victory.
Winner: Xavier Woods
Bobby storms to the back in frustration after the match. New Day mock MVP while they’re in the ring.
MVP is interviewed backstage and is told Lashley left the building. MVP says he knows where he went and it’s not a big deal. He left to let out some steam after a rough evening. He guarantees that he’ll be on the VIP Lounge tonight because whatever he’s going through isn’t anything champagne, good vibes and music can’t fix.
We get a replay of Mahal stealing McIntyre’s sword last week. An earlier segment that plays shows Mahal riding in backstage on a motorcycle and asks for the sword, which he receives.
Alexa Bliss is backstage on Alexa’s Playground, sitting on a swing. She talks about how exciting RAW is and looks to possibly winning the Money In the Bank briefcase, and the kind of fun she can have with the contract. Eva Marie interrupts and is sitting on a swing, with Doudrop sitting behind her. Eva wants to be introduced. Bliss goes on about how she likes Doudrop’s name. They laugh about it but Eva isn’t thrilled. Bliss asks Doudrop a question, to describe her time on RAW in one word, but Eva interrupts and goes on taking credit for everything like usual, including last week’s match. Bliss calls Eva a bonus guest but she’s not happy with that idea because she’s the star of RAW, a headliner.
Eva goes on and calls this a dingy, dirty, grubby, little playground. Eva says she can see why Bliss only invited Doudrop. Eva calls on Doudrop to leave with her and says the Eva-Lution deserves so much better. Doudrop waves at Bliss and walks off behind Eva as Bliss mocks Eva.
We go back to the ring and out comes Jinder Mahal, Veer and Shanky. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and we see how Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair won an award at ESPN’s The ESPYs Awards this past weekend. Jinder is in the ring now. He’s reflected this past week and maybe he took things too far with Drew McIntyre last week, even through Drew has always taken from him. Jinder goes on and wants to extend an olive branch. He calls Drew out to the ring so he can apologize, shake Drew’s hand, and give the sword back.
Drew appears on the big screen. He wants Jinder to cut through the BS and get to the point because he knows Jinder is a decorated champion, but also a liar. Jinder says he wanted to do this in person but so be it. Jinder has a table with a red cover in the middle of the ring. He says he sent Veer and Shanky to have Drew’s sword re-finished. The cloth is removed and the sword has been broken. Jinder apologizes and says something must have happened.
Drew says you can’t expect to show up to RAW with something and not expect to have your stuff destroyed. Drew pulls his real sword out and reveals the sword in the ring is a replica. He then reveals that he has Jinder’s motorcycle with him. Drew starts destroying the bike as Jinder, Veer and Shanky look on from the ring. Drew mocks Jinder and says it’s nothing a little elbow grease can’t fix. Drew kicks the bike over and walks off as his music plays in the arena. Jinder seethes in the ring.
Nikki A.S.H. (Nikki Cross) is backstage when Riddle walks up and gives her props for hew superhero gear. He wonders why she can’t use her powers and fly up to snatch the Money In the Bank briefcase. Nikki says she loves superheroes as much as the next person, but she’s just… almost a superhero, and there’s no flying, just yet. They do some more comedy and Nikki runs away for her match, saying it’s time to fly. Riddle says he thought she said she couldn’t fly.
Nikki A.S.H vs. Naomi vs. Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss
Nikki A.S.H picks up the win after pinning Asuka after a series of counters.
Winner: Nikki A.S.H
We see how Riddle pinned RAW Tag Team Champion AJ Styles last week, due to interference by The Viking Raiders at ringside. Erik and Ivar are backstage with Sarah Schreiber now. She asks about tonight’s singles matches and next week’s title shot. Ivar rips AJ and dismisses his idea of how Vikings are. He says AJ will learn to respect the Vikings tonight. Erik talks about finding a crack in the mighty armor of RAW Tag Team Champion Omos tonight as this will be his first solo battle. They go on and look forward to once again winning the RAW Tag Team Titles. Erik and Ivar walk off chanting “Raid!” together.
AJ Styles vs. Ivar
AJ nails a pele kick to stun Ivar in the corner. Ivar comes right back out of the corner with the big seated splash for the pin to win.
Winner: Ivar
Omos vs. Erik
AJ yells at Omos to finish Erik. Omos laughs and then picks Erik up with ease for the big two-handed chokeslam bomb in the middle of the ring. Omos covers for the pin to win.
Winner: Omos
After the match, AJ’s music hits as he enters the ring to stand with Omos. We go to replays. The title match between the two teams is announced for Money In the Bank instead of next week’s RAW.
– The announcers talk about how Humberto Carrillo broke Sheamus’ nose weeks back. Sheamus is backstage with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville now. Apparently they left him a voicemail, telling him to show up and defend the WWE United States Title or else. Sheamus is seething now but he’s here to defend. Deville asks if they’re all on the same page now, and Sheamus agrees. He walks off and the announcers hype the Humberto vs. Sheamus match. Back to commercial.
Sheamus (C) vs. Humberto Carrillo – United States Championship
Sheamus retains with the Brogue Kick as soon as the match started. Humberto had trouble making it to the ring and couldn’t stand on his two feet during the match which lasted a few seconds.
Winner: Sheamus
After the match, Sheamus jumps Humberto continuously before Damian Priest makes a save and Sheamus retreats.
We get a recap of the Ricochet/Morrison matches the last few weeks.
Matt Riddle hits up Ricochet backstage and he says he’s coming with Ricochet. Ricochet tells Riddle he’s excited for Money In The Bank.
Riddle says he’s going to make his famous spaghetti burrito and something about a cowboy movie and how it reminds him of a Orton. Matt says when he wins, he’s going to cash in with Orton to win the tag titles, and he’ll invite Orton for spaghetti after. Ricochet says he has some surprises for Morrison too.
Morrison and Miz arrive and they douse Ricochet with a water gun before heading to the ring.
Ricochet vs. John Morrison – Falls Count Anywhere
Ricochet then knocks Morrison over the top rope, to the ladder bridge from the apron to the announce table. Ricochet goes to the top turnbuckle and flies, putting Morrison through the ladder as Riddle pops for him. Ricochet crawls over and covers Morrison for the pin to win.
Winner: Ricochet
After the match, Ricochet recovers and stands tall as his music hits. We go to replays. Riddle looks on and applauds from the stage as Miz is still left in his chair, on his back. Ricochet looks up at the Money In the Bank briefcases and celebrates the win.
– Sarah Schreiber interviews WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya and Tamina Snuka backstage. Natalya plans to make history by beating RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley for her title, winning the Money In the Bank briefcase, then cashing in to win the SmackDown Women’s Title. There is a small bit of tension teased as Tamina hears Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke in the next room, and she wants to deal with that instead. The champs confront Dana and Mandy and the two teams have words with the challengers looking forward to winning the straps. Tamina quickly gets physical with Dana but they walk off and Mandy holds Dana back. Still to come, Ripley vs. Natalya. Back to commercial.
Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya
Rhea wins with Riptide.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
After the match, Charlotte Flair attacks Rhea from behind and gets a rope assisted Figure 8 before leaving.
We see what happened earlier with Bobby Lashley losing to Xavier Woods in a non-title match. MVP is backstage with Lashley’s Ladies now. He hypes them up to take care of Lashley, do whatever he needs or wants, cater to his needs. MVP says they are all on the same page as they walk out for tonight’s main event segment. Back to commercial.
MVP is in the ring with Lashley’s Ladies now. He welcomes us to a very special edition of The VIP Lounge, adding that this is somewhat bittersweet because it’s the final RAW of the ThunderDome. He goes on about how they have dominated in the ThunderDome, so much that he’s called it The Lashley Dome. MVP also plugs the return to touring and then introduces WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. The girls are still dancing around and fans are booing the pending entrance, but there’s no sign of Lashley.
MVP tries to introduce Lashley again but he’s not coming out. MVP tries again and this time Lashley’s Ladies help him with the introduction. The music hits and out comes WWE Champion Bobby Lashley but he’s in no happy mood, his tie is loose, and he’s not wearing his jacket. MVP asks if he’s alright. MVP tells the ladies to give him a back rub and get him a drink. Lashley interrupts and says MVP has said enough. Lashley excuses the women and says he needs to talk to MVP alone. Lashley says he doesn’t even want the women here.
Lashley says he’s been thinking of what Kofi Kingston said. He wasn’t jut getting in Lashley’s head, he was right about MVP making him soft and causing him to lose his edge. Lashley goes on about how he lost to Xavier Woods when he should’ve left Kofi and Woods in a pile of bones. He says he’s furious and MVP is trying to cheer him up with women and champagne. Lashley appreciates what MVP has done in his career but this has to stop, it’s back to business. The only enjoyment Lashley wants from now on is destroying anyone who tries to take his WWE Title. Lashley starts destroying The VIP Lounge set. MVP puts a hand on his shoulder to calm him but Lashley stops him and tells him to get back. Lashley proceeds with destroying the set as MVP looks on.
Lashley seethes, looks at MVP and then picks the mic back up. Lashley looks straight ahead and tells Kofi he’s going to do what he should’ve done weeks ago – tear him in half. Lashley says he’s going into Money In the Bank as the All Mighty WWE Champion, and leave the same way. He hopes Kofi brings his friends, family and the whole WWE Universe to have his back because Lashley is going to dismantle him and do everything he said he will. He hopes Kofi is read to fight for the title and his life. Lashley is going to break his skull and wring his neck, put what’s left of his body in a box and send it to the circus with the rest of the little clowns. Lashley says the circus is dead and after Sunday, so is Kofi’s career.
Lashley’s music starts back up as he grabs the WWE Title and makes his exit from the ring. Fans continue to boo him. MVP watches, still a bit shocked looking, as Lashley exits the ring. The Money In the Bank go-home edition of RAW and the final show of the WWE ThunderDome era goes off the air with Lashley turning and looking back.
