Raw this week focuses on two big events: the return of Brock Lesnar and a Raw Tag Team Championship rematch. Sheamus and Cesaro defend their titles against the Hardy Boyz in the main event and the rest of the Great Balls of Fire card starts to come together.
Opening Segment
Monday Night Raw kicks off in a big way with the return of the Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar. Last week, Samoa Joe choked out Paul Heyman with the Coquina Clutch, and Heyman called in Lesnar to “unleash the Beast” on Joe. Heyman starts yelling insults at Joe, calling him a “dog” and “not man enough” to lock the Coquina Clutch on Brock Lesnar. Of course, Joe interrupts.
Lesnar and Joe start brawling in the center of the ring when Kurt Angle sends security to break them apart. When Lesnar knocks out the security guards, Angle sends out the “entire Raw locker room” (not even close to the entire locker room) to tear them apart.
Dean Ambrose vs. Elias Samson
Elias Samson starts singing his usual song, mentioning Dean Ambrose in the lyrics. Before he could finish the song, Ambrose interrupts the Drifter. Ambrose and Samson faced each other a few weeks ago and Samson won because The Miz interfered and forced Ambrose to get disqualified. They were scheduled to square off again a couple weeks ago, but an angered Ambrose attacked Samson before the match even began, but thanks to the Miz, Samson got the better of the Lunatic Fringe.
The Miz distracts Ambrose long enough for Samson to roll him up, but Ambrose kicks out. Ambrose then leaves the ring to attack the Miz, not paying attention to the referee’s ten count. He barely beats the count, but Samson immediately takes advantage to hit his inverted swinging neckbreaker to score another victory over the Lunatic Fringe. Winner: Elias Samson
Backstage Segment
Kurt Angle angrily approaches the Miz backstage and yells at him for interfering in Dean Ambrose’s match. Miz yells back at Angle and suggests that the General Manager fires Ambrose. Angle says he is going to do nothing and that The Miz should take matters into his own hands.
Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar
Noam Dar is FaceTiming Alicia Fox while walking down the entrance ramp to his match. Dar faced Cedric Alexander last week on 205 Live, and Alexander tried to make it clear that he was done with their petty grudge. Alexander approached Dar backstage before this match and tried to make it perfectly clear that he is tired of them.
Once Dar puts down his phone (without hanging up), the match starts. He turns around, only to immediately get put away with the Lumbar Check. Winner: Cedric Alexander
Announcement
Next week, Roman Reigns is going to make a huge announcement regarding his plans for the “biggest party of the summer,” SummerSlam.
In-ring Segment
Bray Wyatt comes down to the ring to cut a usual cryptic promo. This time, it is about The Architect, Seth Rollins. Rollins interrupts the Eater of Worlds and realizes that Wyatt cost him his match last week because he was called a couple of names.
Kalisto vs. Apollo Crews (w/Titus O’Neil)
After Kalisto refused to join the Titus Brand, Titus O’Neil has pursued a member of the Cruiserweight Division: Akira Tozawa. O’Neil even got Tozawa a front row seat for this match to convince the Stamina Machine to join his brand.
Crews hits Kalisto with his signature spinning sit-out powerbomb to finally pick up the victory over Kalisto. This gets reluctant applause from Tozawa, who is unwillingly dragged into the post-match celebration with the Titus Brand. Winner: Apollo Crews
Backstage Segment
Since The Miz thinks Kurt Angle is being unfair towards him, so he approaches Heath Slater to try and get the former 3MB member to join his “entourage.” The only way Slater will join, however, is if he is guaranteed a future Intercontinental Championship opportunity. Rhyno chimes in, saying that Slater already has a partner and that he is going to try to get a tag team match between them and Miz, with Miz finding a partner of his choosing.
In-ring Segment
Alexa Bliss comes down to the ring to complain about how she was forced to defend her Raw Women’s Championship last week against Nia Jax. Bliss retained the title, but only because Mickie James and Dana Brooke and attacked her to end the match by disqualification. Nia JAx, who has every right to complain, storms down to the ring. Bliss tries to get on Jax’s side against Brooke and James, and the latter two women interrupt.
The segment turns into the entire division showing up to stake their claim for the next Raw Women’s Championship opportunity. Sasha Banks is the last women to arrive, who kicks off a brawl by clocking Bliss in the jaw.
Sasha Banks, Mickie James, & Dana Brooke vs. Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, & Emma
Since this is WWE, of course a brawl is going to turn into a tag team match. Other than Mickie James and Dana Brooke, none of these women are really friends. Whatever team wins, however, will build a good amount of momentum, climbing the ladder in the division.
Alexa Bliss walks away from her team, making it a 3-on-2 situation. When Nia Jax is taken out at ringside, Sasha Banks locks the Bank Statement on Emma to pick up the win for her team. Winners: Sasha Banks, Mickie James, & Dana Brooke
Video Package
After not appearing on Raw in any capacity last week, there is video package highlighting the first-ever Universal Champion, Finn Balor. There’s not much to it other than keeping him in fans’ minds.
Interview w/Bayley
Bayley was another member of the Raw roster that didn’t appear last week. We get some insight on her character, and Corey Graves asks the burning question: what’s next for Bayley? She has always wanted to be the best, and losing her championship match at Extreme Rules doesn’t change her focus at all. Before the interview ends, she hugs Graves.
Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. The Miz & A Bear (w/Maryse)
Last week during The Miz’s Intercontinental Championship celebration, there was someone dressed as a bear, but Miz beat him up. Tonight, someone dressed up in that same bear costume is the only person that wants to team up with the A-Lister. Heath Slater and Rhyno are former SmackDown Tag Team Champions in their own right, so this shouldn’t be too hard for them.
The Miz attacks his bear partner thinking it is Dean Ambrose, but of course, that isn’t the case. When Miz is recuperating in the ring, a different bear that turns out to be Ambrose. Ambrose scares Miz, who runs into Maryse on the apron before getting hit with Dirty Deeds. Heath Slater is dragged onto Miz and he gets the cover. Winners: Heath Slater & Rhyno
Neville vs. Rich Swann
Rich Swann makes his way to the ring, and while does his usual dance routine, Neville attacks him from behind. After putting Swann in the Rings of Saturn, the King of the Cruiserweights grabs a microphone to address a tweet Titus O’Neil posted earlier today, calling Akira Tozawa the “next Cruiserweight Champion.” Neville gives Tozawa some advice: tread carefully. Result: No Contest
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Big Cass is attacked backstage for the second consecutive week, but he is [barely] able to pull himself together for this match. With Cass in the condition he’s in, this is practically a handicap match.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows take advantage of the numbers game, finishing the match by hitting Enzo Amore with the Magic Killer. Gallows and Anderson go to hit Amore with a second Magic Killer, but Big Show (who helped Amore last week) scares them off. Big Cass sees ‘Zo celebrating with the Big Show and he has a look of jealousy on his face. Winners: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
For “peace of mind,” Amore asks Big Show if he has been the one attacking Big Cass, and Show is understandably offended. Show thinks that Big Cass is causing this doubt in Amore’s mind, then he proceeds to call Cass “sawft.”
Sheamus & Cesaro (c) vs. The Hardy Boyz – Raw Tag Team Championships (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)
The Hardy Boyz have returned from their Raw Tag Team Championship loss to cash in their rematch clause. Before tonight’s show started, it was announced that it would be a 2-out-of-3 Falls match. The first team to score two falls by pinfall, submission, disqualification, or count-out, walks away with the championship gold.
Sheamus hits an early Brogue Kick on Jeff Hardy to score the early lead. Winners (First Fall): Sheamus & Cesaro
Matt Hardy tags in and the fresher of the brothers is able to put Cesaro away with the Twist of Fate to tie things up. Winners (Second Fall): The Hardy Boyz
All four men brawl outside the ring, and the referee counts to 10. Instead of resetting for a decisive third fall, it ends in a tie. Result: Draw
