Last week, Monday Night Raw kicked off the New Era strong with Finn Balor headlining the show. Can Raw strike gold two weeks in a row?
Opening Segment
To kick off the show is the new WWE Women’s Champion, Sasha Banks. Last week she defeated Charlotte in the match of the night to a roaring ovation from the crowd. Banks is interrupted by Charlotte and they insult each other as usual, when Chris Jericho decides to help Charlotte out. Then Enzo Amore evens things out in Banks’s favor, and General Manager Mick Foley tries to settle things.
Foley does this Teddy Long style: Chris Jericho and Charlotte will take on Enzo Amore and Sasha Banks next.
Chris Jericho & Charlotte vs. Enzo Amore & Sasha Banks
For some reason, Kevin Owens joins Michael Cole, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves on commentary for this match.
Last week on WWE.com, it was announced that Charlotte will get her Women’s Championship rematch as SummerSlam, so this could be a preview of things to come.
Dana Brooke runs down to the ring to distract Sasha Banks, and Charlotte takes advantage to hit Natural Selection on Banks for the victory. Winners: Chris Jericho & Charlotte
Braun Strowman vs. Local Talent
Last week, Braun Strowman defeated a local wrestler in under a minute. With that in mind, Strowman’s opponent for tonight says he is only doing this for the money.
Strowman hits [insert local talent’s name here] with a reverse chokeslam for the win. Winner: Braun Strowman
Backstage Segment
Mark Henry approaches Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon about one final run for the Hall of Pain. The WWE Ambassador to the Summer Olympics gets his wish when Mick Foley puts him in a United States Championship match against Rusev tonight.
Golden Truth vs. Shining Stars
Last week, the Shining Stars lost a tag team match against Enzo Amore and Big Cass because R-Truth went in the ring to catch a Pokémon in Pokémon Go. Tonight, the Shining Stars try to get revenge on R-Truth and Goldust.
Goldust goes to tag R-Truth, but R-Truth is still playing Pokémon Go during the match. Epico takes advantage to pin Goldust for the win. Winners: The Shining Stars
Rusev (c) w/Lana vs. Mark Henry – United States Championship
Rusev has done a solid job tossing around his opponents and crushing them with the Accolade to keep the United States Championship. At over 400 pounds, The World Strongest Man Mark Henry is not a typical opponent for Rusev. The United States Champion will have to change his strategy to retain the title tonight.
Henry powers out of Rusev’s first attempt at the Accolade, but the champion manages to lock it in for a second time to submit Mark Henry. Winner, and STILL United States Champion (via submission): Rusev
After the match, Rusev goes on about how he is a “super athlete” and how no one can take away his United States Championship. Cue Roman Reigns. Reigns hits Rusev with a Superman Punch and send him fleeing.
Darren Young w/Bob Backlund vs. Titus O’Neil
The former members of the Prime Time Players square off against each other. Bob Backlund looks to “make Darren Young great again,” but O’Neil asks the question, “When was Darren Young ever great?”
Darren Young goes for a splash in the corner, and O’Neil moves out of the way. O’Neil rolls up Young while using the tights for leverage for the victory. Winner: Titus O’Neil
Nia Jax vs. Ariel Monroe
Jax dominates Monroe, and wins the match with a very unique powerslam. Winner: Nia Jax
Kofi Kingston & Big E vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Because of a complaint from Gallows and Anderson, one member of the New Day had to be banned from ringside to make this an even matchup.
Gallows and Anderson are too busy doing the “Too Sweet” hand gesture, and Big E rolls up Anderson for the victory. Winners: The New Day
After the quick victory for the New Day, Gallows and Anderson assault the Tag Team Champions and leave them laid out around the ring.
Cesaro vs. Sheamus
Before the match started, Cesaro and Sheamus both showed frustrations about their spot in the WWE Draft. Mick Foley made this match to give both of these men an opportunity to impress him and Stephanie McMahon for a future championship opportunity.
Cesaro flips out of a powerslam to set himself up for the Neutralizer, putting the Celtic Warrior away. Winner: Cesaro
When we come back from commercial, officials are pulling Cesaro and Sheamus apart from a brawl. All of a sudden Heath Slater and former 3MB member Jinder Mahal are in the ring. Slater demands a spot on the roster, and Mick Foley offers Slater and Mahal a proposition. Slater and Mahal have a match, and the winner joins the Raw roster.
Heath Slater vs. Jinder Mahal
Slater is still ranting to Foley, and Mahal gets the referee to ring the bell. Mahal blindsides Slater with a big boot and pins his former bandmate to join Monday Night Raw. Winner: Jinder Mahal
Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn
Seth Rollins is headlining SummerSlam, where he will face Finn Balor for a chance to become the first-ever WWE Universal Championship. Sami Zayn doesn’t have any current plans for the second largest Pay-Per-View of the year.
Rollins moves out of the way of the Helluva Kick and hits Sami Zayn with the Pedigree to win the match and build momentum towards SummerSlam. Winner: Seth Rollins
In-ring Segment
Paul Heyman talks for quite some time, then Randy Orton hits Brock Lesnar with an RKO out of nowhere.
