Tonight, Monday Night Raw hosts the most unexpectedly big Pay-Per-View of the year, TLC. AJ Styles makes a special Raw event appearance to take on Finn Balor, Asuka makes her main roster debut against Emma, and Kurt Angle returns to a WWE ring to team up with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.
Announcement
Due to time constraints, Drew Gulak’s 277-slide Powerpoint Presentation is being cut from the TLC Kickoff Show. This completely angered Gulak, who cut a great promo instead.
Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks
Over the past few weeks, a little feud has been brewing between Alicia Fox and Sasha Banks. In a Fatal Five-Way Elimination match, Banks made Fox tap out to the Banks Statement, but Fox refused to admit it. Banks would do the same the following week, but instead of just denying the loss, Fox assaulted Banks backstage. Fox has a chance to prove herself tonight in her third consecutive match against the former four-time Raw Women’s Champion.
Fox attempts the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker one too many times and Banks counters the last attempt into the Banks Statement, forcing Fox to tap out for the third week in a row. Winner (via submission): Sasha Banks
Predicted Winner: Alicia Fox (0/1)
Asuka vs. Emma
Over the past two years, Asuka has become the most dominant competitor in all of WWE. She has never lost and her success has led to her 500+ day NXT Women’s Championship reign, only to forfeit the title to be called up to Monday Night Raw. She makes her main roster debut tonight against Emma.
Both women put on an incredible performance, but one slight misstep is all Asuka needed to sinch in the Asuka Lock, forcing Emma to tap out. Winner (via submission): Asuka
Predicted Winner: Asuka (1/2)
In-ring Segment
On the Kickoff Show, Jason Jordan was interrupted by Elias. Tonight, Elias starts playing a song when Jordan throws produce at him to get him to stop.
Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann vs. Jack Gallagher & The Brian Kendrick
About a month ago, The Brian Kendrick and Jack Gallagher unexpectedly joined forces at the expense of Cedric Alexander. Now that Rich Swann is done battling TJP, Alexander is able to recruit some backup to take on the dastardly duo.
Swann hits Kendrick with a Phoenix Splash to break the Captain’s Hook submission, then Alexander takes advantage to finish off the Man with a Plan with the Lumbar Check. Winners: Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann
Predicted Winners: Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann (2/3)
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Mickie James – Raw Women’s Championship
A few weeks ago, Mickie James put on a surprisingly offensive performance against Nia Jax, where she won by disqualification. Kurt Angle was so impressed that he gave her a title opportunity, and Bliss has made it a point to insult James for being older than the rest of the women’s division.
Bliss hides in the corner to force a rope break, then she pulls James into the turnbuckle to sucker her in. Bliss then capitalizes with a DDT to continue holding her Raw Women’s Championship. Winner, and STILL Raw Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss
Predicted Winner: Alexa Bliss (3/4)
Kalisto (c) vs. Enzo Amore – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
After Enzo Amore essentially held the WWE Cruiserweight Championship hostage, Kalisto was 205 Live’s saving grace when he defeated Amore for the title in a Lumberjack match on Raw a few weeks ago. This is Amore’s contractually obligated rematch and with a new posse of allies he seems to have bought, Amore’s chances could be pretty good.
While the referee fixes the ring apron from being inside the ring, Enzo Amore pokes Kalisto in the eye. With the champion’s vision impaired, Amore hits the Jaw-done-zo (no one really knows the name) and become one of the few two-time Cruiserweight Champions. Winner, and NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion: Enzo Amore
Predicted Winner: Enzo Amore (4/5)
Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles
Originally, Finn Balor as the Demon was supposed to be facing Bray Wyatt as Sister Abigail, but a virus has kept Wyatt out of the Pay-Per-View. It is almost a blessing in disguise for Balor and the WWE Universe because now it is a first time ever match between two former leaders of the Bullet Club. AJ Styles, who is a member of the SmackDown Live roster, has made a special appearance on a Raw event to replace Wyatt.
Balor dodges a springboard 450 Splash and it is full steam ahead for the Demon. Balor hits a shotgun dropkick on Styles into the turnbuckle, then he finishes off the Phenomenal One with the Coup de Grace. After the match, both men “Too Sweet” each other as a sign of respect. Winner: Finn Balor
Predicted Winner: AJ Styles (4/6)
Elias Samson vs. Jason Jordan
After Elias Samson’s first attempt at performing a song, he came out to try it again and got interrupted for the second time by Jason Jordan, who continued to throw produce at him. This has led to this match, but Samson tries to finally get his song out before the match starts. This third interruption does not involve produce but is by Jordan’s entrance.
Jordan counters a suplex into a roll-up but the referee is out of position and instead of seeing that Samson kicks out, he counts to three. All commentators agree that Samson got his shoulder up. Winner (via referee blindness): Jason Jordan
Predicted Winner: N/A
Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Kurt Angle vs. The Miz, Sheamus, Cesaro, Braun Strowman, & Kane – TLC Match
At the Pay-Per-View named TLC, this is the only TLC match of the night. Originally, this was supposed to be a 5-on-3 handicap match with the three-man team being The Shield. However, the virus that kept Bray Wyatt out of action has done the same for Roman Reigns. This emergency led to the WWE in-ring return of Raw General Manager Kurt Angle, who hasn’t competed for WWE in 11 years.
The fight gets out of control and there is tension between Braun Strowman and Kane. While everybody is fighting on the entrance stage, Kane chokeslams Strowman through the stage. On top of that, he pulls an arsenal of chairs straight down onto the Monster Among Men. Strowman returns to attack Kane and the rest of his team, but the other four men turn on him and send him away by trapping him in a garbage truck.
After The Miz’s team implodes, Kurt Angle and The Shield finish off Miz with the Triple Powerbomb. Angle covers the Intercontinental Champion and after a ton of chaos, he picks up the victory in his return. Winners: Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Kurt Angle
Predicted Winners: Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Kurt Angle (5/7)
