- We kick off the show with the new top babyface on RAW, Braun Strowman! He says he's proud that he broke Roman Reigns in half and that he left in an ambulance. He says Roman Reigns will not be here tonight, earning "YES" chants. He says he's going to tear through the RAW roster before Kurt Angle interrupts him. Angle says Strowman has done enough damage and has nothing to prove, but Strowman says there's more to come. Angle says Strowman will face Reigns at Payback, which Strowman says will be Reigns' funeral. Tonight, however, Strowman has the night off according to Angle. Strowman doesn't want that. He wants more competition or else. He sizes up Angle before leaving the ring.
- Samoa Joe vs Chris Jericho-Seth Rollins is sitting in on commentary for this match. Joe takes the fight right to Jericho, beating him down in the corner. Jericho comes back with a dropkick and a diving crossbody for one. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Joe powers out, only for Jericho to send him onto the apron and hit a triangle dropkick before the commercial break. We come back to Joe chopping Jericho in the back. Joe follows up with a kick and an elbow drop for a near fall. Joe controls the match until Jericho hits a double axe handle. However, Joe regains control with a powerslam for a near fall. Jericho dodges an elbow drop and hits the Lionsault for a near fall, which Joe responds to with the STJoe. Joe goes for a second rope senton, but Jericho dodges it and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Joe is able to power out of the hold and locks in the Coquina Clutch. Jericho tries to walk up the corner and cover Joe, but Joe kicks out and locks his legs around Jericho, forcing Jericho to tap out. Pretty good match. After the match, Joe calls out Rollins, saying that he remembers the sound of Rollins' ligaments popping and his screams for mercy. He says Rollins was nothing but a target at first, but because of what he did to Triple H & Stephanie McMahon, what happens at Payback will be personal. Rollins grabs a mic and says Joe almost cost him his career and in two weeks, payback will be a bitch.
- Backstage, Braun Strowman attacks the Golden Truth, beating them up until Finlay, Jamie Noble and (I think) Adam Pearce tell him to leave. Also, Finlay keeps calling Goldust "Goldie." I just thought that was funny.
- After a commercial break, we see Strowman in the locker room. A referee reminds he has the night off, but Strowman says he'll leave when he wants to.
- Gallows & Anderson are in the ring. They say because the Golden Truth got the "United Airlines treatment" and now they have no opponents. They tell Angle to round up some nerds for them to beat up. This brings out their new opponents tonight.
- Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs Enzo Amore & Big Cass-Cass & Anderson start off with Cass beating Anderson around the ring. Enzo & Cass control the match before Cass clotheslines Anderson out of the ring. Gallows checks on Anderson, allowing Cass to throw Enzo at him before the commercial break. We come back to Gallows & Anderson beating up Enzo. The Club controls the match until Enzo hits the DDG on Gallows. However, Anderson is able to dive and stop Enzo from making the tag. Enzo is able to dodge a corner kick and makes the tag to Cass. Cass runs wild, hitting a Stinger Splash, a sidewalk slam, an Empire Elbow, and a big boot on Anderson before tagging in Enzo for the Bada Boom Shakalaka. However, Gallows gets in the way to save his partner, only to get booted out of the ring by Cass. Cass goes out with him as Anderson blocks the DDG and throws Enzo into the top turnbuckle. Anderson makes the cover and gets the win.
- It's time for MizTV. Miz says he & Maryse shocked the world when they moved from SmackDown to RAW before being interrupted by Dean Ambrose. Ambrose jokes around with how their both from Ohio and about Miz's outfit. Miz says he dresses & acts like a superstar because he is a superstar, unlike Ambrose. He says it annoys him that the fans love Ambrose despite not acting like a superstar and he's given more opportunities because of it. He also rags on Ambrose for going from holding the WWE Championship at SummerSlam to wrestling on the preshow at WrestleMania and calls him lazy & complacent. Ambrose says that he doesn't care about image or branding because he loves wrestling and loves things like black eyes & bleeding. Maryse takes the title and says Ambrose isn't a real champion, so Ambrose asks her to hold his microphone. The Miz starts to rant about how he made the Intercontinental Championship prestigious while Ambrose slowly empties his pockets and carefully folds his jacket so he can toss it to Maryse and attack the Miz. Ambrose tries to hit Dirty Deeds, but the Miz escapes and runs up the ramp.
- Backstage, Braun Strowman is literally dragging Kalisto across the floor, saying he's leaving and taking him with him. It's legit the funniest thing I've ever seen. He then throws Kalisto in the garbage, which is also hilarious. Strowman walks away before Big Show shoves him into the wall and tells him to pick on someone his own size.
- TJ Perkins vs Gentleman Jack Gallagher-Before the match, Neville makes a "special appearance", taking a seat at ringside. This prompts Austin Aries to come out with a microphone, saying he's making an even more special appearance, taking a seat right next to Neville. Neville stares down Aries as he calmly eats a banana. Perkins & Gallagher start off with Gallagher doing an elevated snapmare takedown. Gallagher holds Perkins in a headlock, which Perkins breaks and locks in a wristlock. Gallagher reverses it and cradles Perkins for a near fall. The two trade headscissors before Gallagher does a body scissors takedown and dabs to mock Perkins, who responds by throwing William the Umbrella down to the floor. The two go back and forth until Perkins causes Gallagher to fall through the ropes and land hard on the outside before the commercial break. We come back to Perkins working over Gallagher with a wristlock. Gallagher fights back and lands on his feet off a suplex before uppercutting and suplexing Perkins. Gallagher hits a tilt-a-whirl slam for a near fall before Perkins hits a springboard forearm. Gallagher responds with a headbutt, which sends Perkins out of the ring. Gallagher grabs William, opens it up and hits a seated senton off the top rope to the outside. Gallagher tries to pick up Perkins, but Perkins shoves Gallagher into Aries at ringside. Aries hops up on the apron, but Neville yanks him down. Perkins takes the opportunity to hit the Detonation Kick on Gallagher for the win. Fairly good match.
- Backstage, Akira Tozawa says he's excited that Apollo Crews is on RAW before Titus O'Neal shows up. Ah, a nice little Dragon Gate reference, I like it. He congratulates Crews on becoming a father before telling him he needs to link up with the Titus Brand to make an impact. He makes jokes so bad that Apollo Crews STOPS SMILING. That is not an easy feat.
- Mike Rome interviews the Hardy Boyz. Matt says the new roster is TREMENDOUS! Jeff says they are ready to be part of the new era before Cesaro & Sheamus show up. They welcome them back to WWE but tell them that they're ready to win back the RAW Tag Team Championships, no ladders needed.
- Sasha Banks vs Alexa Bliss vs Mickie James vs Nia Jax-Alexa tries to leave the ring at first, but Sasha & Mickie throw her right at Nia. Nia out-muscles and runs through Sasha & Mickie before Alexa breaks up Nia's pin on Mickie. Alexa slaps Nia and tries to leave the ring, but Nia catches her, only for Sasha & Mickie to dropkick Nia out of the ring. Sasha & Mickie trade roll ups before Mickie hits a dropkick, which Sasha responds to with tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Mickie comes back with a corner hurricanrana and a neckbreaker, but Nia pulls her out of the ring before she can make a cover. Sasha takes out both of them with a suicide dive before the commercial break. We come back to Alexa getting a near fall on Mickie. Nia enters the ring and bodyslams Alexa before catching Sasha off a diving crossbody and bodyslamming her onto Alexa. Nia then blocks a wheelbarrow by Mickie and throws her onto Alexa & Sasha. Nia works over Mickie with a Cobra Clutch before splashing her in the corner. Nia dominates the match until Sasha reverses a bearhug into a guillotine, but Nia quickly turns it into a suplex. Nia makes a cover, but Mickie breaks it up. Nia chokes Mickie, but she is able to turn it into an armbar. Nia is able to power out and toss Mickie into Sasha in the corner. Alexa goes to the top rope but drops down when Nia turns around. That's great. Sasha & Mickie send Nia into the ring post through the turnbuckle and out of the ring, allowing Alexa to toss Sasha out of the ring and roll up Mickie, who rolls through clotheslines Alexa. Mickie runs through Alexa and goes for the Mickie-DT, but Sasha stops her. Sasha, Mickie, and Alexa trade blows before Sasha hits the double knee drop in the corner on Alexa, but Nia pulls her out of the ring. Alexa sends Mickie into Nia on the outside, leaving her & Sasha. Sasha locks in the Bank Statement, but Mickie breaks it up in time before hitting a flapjack on Sasha. Mickie goes to the top rope, but Sasha meets her there. Nia runs up and knocks Mickie off the top rope before hitting the Samoan Drop on Sasha. However, Alexa runs in and dropkicks Nia, allowing her to steal the win. Really good match.
- Charly Caruso interviews Big Show. He says Strowman needs to learn what it's like to be intimidated and he's going to get a taste of his own medicine tonight.
- Curt Hawkins is out for a promo. He says Big Show getting a main event match tonight is because he stepped in the ring with him last week. That's pretty funny. He asks who wants to join Curt Hawkins' Star Factory next. His challenge is accepted.
- Finn Balor vs Curt Hawkins-I guess Balor's concussion wasn't that serious after all. Balor takes the fight right to Hawkins before hitting the Sling Blade and dropkicking Hawkins into the corner. Balor quickly hits the Coup de Grace for the win.
- Mike Rome interviews Chris Jericho. He says part of the reason he lost tonight was because he's distracted with Kevin Owens, saying he should be the face of America. He says it doesn't matter where he goes, the Friends of Jericho will go with him. He then calls Rome "Tom" and goes back and forth with him before attempting to put him on the list before the Drifter drifts through. He then puts the Drifter on the List of Jericho after some fantastic alliteration.
- Bray Wyatt appears on the screen. He asks what we're afraid of before saying fear is what brings us together. He says he's not like us and has no fear, he harnesses it, and it lives in his house of horrors. He says Randy Orton is in for a ride and he will drag him to Hell. He says it will be his ecstasy to see him in pain and asks Orton to join him in the fire where it all began.
- Backstage, Alica Fox & Dana Brooke watch the clip of the powder box blowing up in her face on 205 Live before Emma walks up and says Dana thought it was hilarious a few days ago. Fox says she doesn't want to be Dana's friend anymore before Emma tells her if she wants to stand on her own two feet, then she'll see how good her balance is.
- Jeff Hardy with Matt Hardy vs Cesaro with Sheamus-The two lock up and go back and forth before Hardy dropkicks Cesaro out of the ring before hitting a wrecking ball dropkick and a dive off the apron. Back in the ring, Hardy gets a near fall before Cesaro hits a scoop slam for a near fall. Hardy leaves the ring, only for Cesaro to catch him with a running uppercut. Back in the ring, Cesaro gets a near fall before Hardy hits a jawbreaker. Hardy goes to the top rope, but Cesaro rolls out of the ring before the commercial break. We come back to Cesaro throwing Hardy under the bottom rope and out of the ring. Back in the ring, Cesaro gets a near fall before working him over until Hardy clotheslines him. However, Cesaro keeps control and uppercuts Hardy in the corner for a near fall. Hardy fights back, hitting an inverted atomic drop, a double leg drop, and a basement dropkick for a near fall. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, but Cesaro counters it and hits a huge uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro goes for the swing, but Hardy blocks it, only for Cesaro to hit the springboard spinning uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro goes for the swing again, but Hardy fights out of it and floors Cesaro with a kick. Hardy goes for the Swanton Bomb, but Cesaro stops him and goes for the superplex. However, Hardy counters and drops him across the ropes before dropkicking him down to the outside. Back in the ring, Hardy connects with the Whisper in the Wind for a near fall before Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer. Hardy blocks it and hits the Twist of Fate before connecting with the Swanton Bomb for the win. Pretty good match. Afterward, the Hardyz shake hands with Cesaro & Sheamus.
- Mike Rome tries to provide an update on the Golden Truth & Kalisto before Heath Slater & Rhyno show up. Slater talks about not getting drafted before being scarred by Braun Strowman.
- Braun Strowman vs Big Show-These two had a surprisingly great match last time they faced off, so hopefully, they do it again. Strowman goes right after Show during his entrance and the two throw eachother around ringside. Show throws Strowman back in the ring and the match starts. Show calls for the chokeslam, but Strowman blocks it, only to get hip tossed out of the ring. Show follows up with a baseball slide before throwing Strowman into the steps. Back in the ring, Strowman dropkicks Big Show for a near fall before the two trade wristlocks, during which Strowman kips up. I know he's done that already, but it still amazes me he can do it. Strowman follows up with two arm drags before going for the powerslam. Show blocks it and bodyslams Strowman before going for the chokeslam. Strowman blocks it and suplexes Show and beats down Show. Strowman goes for the powerslam, but Show rolls out and splashes Strowman in the corner. Show sets up Strowman on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Strowman punches him down, only to jump into a chokeslam. Show covers, but only gets two. Show calls for the KO punch, but Strowman dodges it and powerslams Show, but only gets two. Strowman goes to the top rope, but Show meets him there and goes for a superplex. Strowman blocks it and knocks Show down, but jumps right into a KO punch. Maybe stop jumping at him? Just a thought. Show makes the cover, but Strowman kicks out! Show goes to the top rope, but Strowman meets him there and superplexes Show, breaking the ring. The referee took a hell of a bump too, he was standing right by the ropes and it looked like he hit the outside hard. Strowman manages to get to his feet and stands tall to close a solid episode of RAW.
Comments
Post a Comment