This Sunday is WWE Clash of Champions, Monday Night Raw’s first brand-specific Pay-Per-View since the draft in July. With SmackDown doing a great job with Backlash, Raw has to match or exceed the bar that the blue brand set. They have a good shot at it, especially with tonight’s huge feature: the addition of the cruiserweight division.
Opening Segment
Roman Reigns comes out to the ring to address being robbed of a WWE Universal Championship opportunity by the hands of Rusev last week. Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon come out to the ring to provide a solution. Not only will Seth Rollins and Rusev face each other tonight, but Roman Reigns will get a shot at the United States Championship against Rusev at Clash of Champions. But before that, Reigns has got a rematch against Kevin Owens tonight inside a steel cage.
Seth Rollins vs. Rusev (w/Lana)
Both Rollins and Rusev have big matches this Sunday. As mentioned earlier, Rusev defends his United States Championship against Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins faces Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship, which he failed to win against Finn Balor at SummerSlam.
Both men fight outside of the ring towards the stage, and the referee counts to 10. Result (via count-out) Draw
Backstage Segment
Charlotte and Dana Brooke (who is still with the Women’s Champion for some reason) approach Mick Foley about the #1 Contender’s match last week. Sasha Banks was considered the winner of the match, but as Dana Brooke points out, both Bayley’s and Sasha Banks’s shoulders were down during the pinfall. In response to this, Foley puts both of them in the championship match on Sunday. This means that Charlotte will face Sasha Banks and Bayley for the Raw Women’s Championship.
Braun Strowman vs. Sin Cara
The last time these two squared off, Braun Strowman won by count-out. Sin Cara actually requested their previous match because Strowman unmaked a local luchador, Americo, the week prior.
Strowman catches Sin Cara off of a springboard moonsault and hits a powerslam to pick up the victory. Winner: Braun Strowman
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Charlotte & Dana Brooke
Three out of the four women involved in this match will compete for the Raw Women’s Championship on Sunday. If it wasn’t for Dana Brooke pointing out that Banks’s shoulders were down last week, it would just be Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for the title.
Dana Brooke interferes to prevent Bayley from hitting the Bayley-to-Belly, and Charlotte takes advantage with a big boot to Bayley for the win. Winners: Charlotte & Dana Brooke
Bo Dallas vs. Gary Graham (local talent)
While Braun Strowman and Nia Jax have graduated to squashing WWE Superstars, Bo Dallas is still taking on local wrestlers.
After hitting the Cross Rhodes, Dallas picks up yet another quick victory. Winner: Bo Dallas
Cesaro vs. Sheamus – Best of Seven Series (Match Six)
To start the Best of Seven Series, Sheamus had an impressive 3-0 lead over the Swiss Superman. However, Cesaro would then start coming back with two consecutive victories. Sheamus only needs one win to win the series and a championship opportunity, but Cesaro needs to win tonight and Match Seven to do the same.
Sheamus tries to slingshot into Cesaro from the apron, but Cesaro counters with a European uppercut. Cesaro then follows up with the Neutralizer to pick up the win, and make it to Match Seven. Winner: Cesaro
Series Standings: Sheamus (3) | Cesaro (3)
In-ring Segment
Chris Jericho has made his way down to the ring to complain about Mick Foley’s job as the Raw General Manager. After reading a list that unfortunately is not 1,004 items long, Jericho is interrupted by Enzo Amore and Big Cass. Amore and Cass are interrupted themselves, by The Shining Stars, then The New Day, then Gallows and Anderson. Because this was originally Jericho’s time, he makes a new “Stupid Idiot” list, which features everybody in the ring and the stands.
After the weird sequence of tag teams coming to the ring, Sami Zayn comes out of nowhere and attacks Chris Jericho from behind, then everybody proceeds to brawl in the ring.
The New Day, Enzo Amore, Big Cass, & Sami Zayn (w/Xavier Woods) vs. Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Chris Jericho, & The Shining Stars
I think Teddy Long took over the General Manager responsibilities for this match. Since the cruiserweights are debuting tonight, all of these men need a match, so a 10-man tag team match was the way to go.
At Clash of Champions, Zayn is taking on Jericho, The New Day defend their Tag Team Championships against Gallows and Anderson, and it is safe to assume that Enzo and Big Cass will take on the Shining Stars.
Sami Zayn hits Primo with the Helluva Kick, then Enzo Amore follows it up with Badaboom Shakalaka to win the huge tag match. Winners: The New Day, Enzo Amore, Big Cass, & Sami Zayn
Rich Swann vs. Gran Metalik vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Brian Kendrick – #1 Contender’s Match (Cruiserweight Championship)
All four of these men have given amazing performances in the Cruiserweight Classic (something that everyone needs to watch), and they are here on Monday Nights to show the WWE Universe more of what they can do. Whoever wins this match will take on TJ Perkins for the Cruiserweight Championship at Clash of Champions.
To end a great first match for the division, Brian Kendrick locks in the Captain’s Hook submission hold on Cedric Alexander to pick up the victory. Winner, and NEW #1 Contender (via submission): Brian Kendrick
Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns – Steel Cage Match
Since Reigns got screwed over twice in matches against Owens last week, Mick Foley made sure that there could be no outside interference by placing a steel cage around the ring.
Reigns climbs out over the cage, and drops to the floor just before Owens can escape from the door to pick up the win. Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match, Rusev immediately assaults Reigns, and he works together with Owens while locking them inside the cage to continue the assault. After Reigns is seemingly put out to pasture, Rollins scales the cage and jumps off of the top to lay out Rusev and Owens, as well as saving Reigns.
