This week, Monday Night Raw continues to build the momentum that it started last week. Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville are scheduled for six-woman tag team action after causing destruction last week. Other highlights include “Woken” Matt Hardy’s first appearance, a Cruiserweight Fatal Four-Way match, and Roman Reigns defending the Intercontinental Championship against Elias.
Opening Segment
To kick off the show, Roman Reigns celebrates his Intercontinental Championship victory last week. He brags about how he put The Miz out to pasture, with the A-Lister being away for a “long time.” Reigns says that he is a fighting champion, so he issues an open challenge. Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel appear and announce that while Miz might be gone, they found a replacement: Elias. The Drifter answers the open challenge and both men will collide later tonight.
Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro
In a bit of coincidence, both Dean Ambrose and Sheamus are not at Raw tonight. Sheamus is taking his “yearly sabbatical to Ireland,” while Ambrose is celebrating his honeymoon with Renee Young. Last week, Ambrose defeated Sheamus to build momentum toward a Raw Tag Team Championship rematch. Tonight, Seth Rollins looks to do the same against Cesaro.
Cesaro attempts the springboard uppercut, but Rollins catches him with a superkick. Rollins then finishes him off with the short arm knee strike (which doesn’t have a name) to score the win. Winner: Seth Rollins
After the match, Rollins says that he wants to invoke the Raw Tag Team Championship rematch clause for next week.
Titus O’Neil (w/Apollo Crews) vs. Samoa Joe
A few weeks ago, Samoa Joe defeated Apollo Crews in his surprise return. He would then attack Crews and his partner Titus O’Neil on his way to fighting Finn Balor. Joe battled Balor last week, so he faces the CEO of Titus Worldwide.
As the referee backs O’Neil out of the corner, Joe sucker punches him. After a couple clubbing blows, Joe then locks in the Coquina Clutch to secure the victory. Crews tries to defend O’Neil after the match, but Joe lays him out as well. Winner (via submission): Samoa Joe
Sasha Banks, Mickie James, & Bayley vs. Paige, Mandy Rose, & Sonya Deville
Last week, Sasha Banks, Mickie James, Bayley, and Alicia Fox were competing in a Fatal Four Way match to determine the new #1 Contender for Alexa Bliss’ Raw Women’s Championship. During the match, Paige made her return alongside the debuting Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Paige’s group attacked the entire Raw women’s division and ruined the match.
Banks makes her way to the ring, but neither of her partners does. Paige reveals that Bayley and James are attacked backstage before all three women, collectively called Absolution, surround the Boss. Banks has the opportunity to join them, but she instead tries to fight her way out of the situation.
Bray Wyatt vs. Matt Hardy
Before this match, Bray Wyatt comes to the ring and spews his usual nonsense before Matt Hardy enters for the contest.
After dodging a moonsault, Wyatt hits Hardt with Sister Abigail to pick up one of the few victories he sees. While recovering from the loss, Hardy screams “Delete!” in the corner, hinting at the long-awaited turn to his “Broken” persona. Winner: Bray Wyatt
Ariya Daivari vs. Noam Dar vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Rich Swann
With Enzo Amore successfully defending the Cruiserweight Championship against Kalisto at Survivor Series, there is a new spot for the #1 Contender. Kurt Angle has set up two Fatal Four-Way matches, one for tonight and one next week, with the winner of each battling to determine who will challenge Muscles Marinara next.
While Ariya Daivari and Akira Tozawa are laid out at ringside, Rich Swann hits Noam Dar with a Phoenix Splash to get one step closer to the Cruiserweight Championship. Winner: Rich Swann
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Elias (w/The Miztourage) – Intercontinental Championship
Thanks to Roman Reigns’ Intercontinental Championship Open Challenge, Elias has his first-ever title match in his WWE career. Win or lose, as long as Elias puts up a good fight against one of the most successful WWE Superstars in recent memory, he will add a feather in his cap.
Elias blocks one spear attempt from Reigns, but the IC Champ immediately connects on the second try to retain his title. Winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Roman Reigns
On his way to the back, Reigns turns around to raise the title in front of the WWE Universe. As soon as he turns around, Samoa Joe comes from out of nowhere to lock in the Coquina Clutch, possibly making himself the new #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship.
Asuka vs. Dana Brooke
After losing to Asuka last week, Dana Brooke asked for a rematch. Unfortunately for Brooke, she doesn’t realize who she is up against. Before the ring bell finishes echoing throughout the arena, Asuka gets Brooke into an armbar and forces her to tap in the quickest win in WWE history. Winner (vis submission): Asuka
Following the match, Absolution (Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville) surround the ring. The Empress of Tomorrow slowly backs away while smiling at the three women, knowing that the numbers game is against her.
Announcement
Next week, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will get their obligated rematch for the Raw Tag Team Championships against Sheamus and Cesaro.
Jason Jordan vs. Kane
Jason Jordan wanted to be a part of the men’s Survivor Series team, but a knee injury forced General Manager Kurt Angle to replace him with Triple H. After trying to convince Angle (and himself) that he is 100%, Jordan unsuccessfully faced Braun Strowman after his knee buckled. Tonight, he wants to prove himself against Strowman’s current adversary, Kane.
Jordan is thrown over the ring and lands right on his injured knee. He tries to get back in the ring but fails to before the count of ten. Even though the match is over, Kane continues to assault the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion. Winner (via count-out): Kane
Kane vs. Finn Balor
After the assault of Jason Jordan, there is a second main event with Kane facing the first-ever Universal Champion, Finn Balor. When Kane returned to WWE a few weeks ago, Balor was his first victim. The leader of the Balor Club has been treading water as of late and he could use a victory over Kane.
Shortly into the match, Kane grabs a chair and attacks Balor, forcing the disqualification. Right before the Big Red Machine can injure Balor’s throat with the chair, Braun Strowman returns to completely annihilate him and send him retreating. Winner (via disqualification): Finn Balor
