Last week, Goldberg make a historic return to accept Brock Lesnar’s challenge to a fight. Tonight, Lesnar returns to Raw to… well they didn’t really say why. Whatever Lesnar is here for doesn’t matter, since Hell in a Cell is this Sunday.
Opening Segment
Chris Jericho starts off the show with “terrible news.” He was scheduled to compete against Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens in a triple threat match tonight, but the match is now cancelled due to something that could change lives. Somebody managed to steal the List of Jericho, so he will not leave the ring until somebody gives it back.
Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring, but he didn’t steal the list. He tries to get Jericho focused on the triple threat match, but it is not possible. Stephanie McMahon joins the two and tries to get Y2J focused on his match, but they are all interrupted by the man who stole it: Seth Rollins. Rollins plays mind games with Jericho and takes his list to the back.
Enzo Amore (w/Big Cass) vs. Karl Anderson (w/Luke Gallows)
Gallows and Anderson have gotten sick and tired of the Monday Night Raw tag team division, and are focusing on destruction over entertainment. In the start of this crusade, they took out Enzo and Big Cass, which rubbed the Realest Guys in the Room the wrong way. Amore takes on Anderson in singles action six days before these two teams square off at (not “in”) Hell in a Cell.
Big Cass manages to get the referee to pay attention to Luke Gallows at ringside, and Cass hits Karl Anderson with a big boot. Enzo Amore takes advantage by covering Anderson for the pinfall. Winner (via Big Cass’s foot): Enzo Amore
Kofi Kingston & Big E (w/Xavier Woods) vs. Sheamus & Cesaro
This match should not be happening. This match will be happening this Sunday, but it will be for the Raw Tag Team Championships. There aren’t enough teams on the Raw roster for Sheamus and Cesaro to face in preparation, so the only option is to have a Pay-Per-View match twice in six days. Also, it is becoming more apparent that this is just to lengthen the New Day’s title reign for 51 more days so that they can be the longest-reigning tag team champions of any kind in WWE history, beating Demolition’s title reign.
Big E launches Kofi Kingston over the ropes onto Cesaro, but the Swiss Superman counters with a huge European uppercut. Sheamus takes advantage of the counter, hitting Big E with the Brogue Kick to get a victory over the Tag Team Champions. Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke – Arm Wrestling Match
Both of these women faced off last week, and Dana Brooke picked up a surprising victory over the former NXT Women’s Champion. Since a lot of people called the win an “upset,” Brooke got a rematch approved, but specifically an arm wrestling match. After several “this is stupid” chants, Brooke picks up the quick victory. Winner: Dana Brooke
After they switch arms, Bayley seems to gain the advantage before Brooke hits her with a forearm. A brawl ensues, but it ends after a Bayley-to-Belly on Charlotte’s (former?) protege. “This is stupid,” indeed.
Backstage Segment
Stephanie McMahon has had it with Chris Jericho and his hunt for the List of Jericho, so she gives him an ultimatum: if he doesn’t compete in the triple threat match tonight, he is suspended.
Curtis Axel vs. Bo Dallas
Last week, Curtis Axel set up a match for Bo Dallas against Neville, which Dallas would actually win. Dallas attacked Axel in the post-match celebration because he “Bo-lieved” that his spotlight was getting stolen. After Dallas turned on him, Axel gets revenge in a rematch tonight.
Axel hits repeated knees on Dallas on the ropes, and Dallas counters the last attempt into a roll-up to steal the victory. Winner: Bo Dallas
Backstage Segment
Chris Jericho finally gets back his list after finding it in the least likely hands: Braun Strowman. Unsurprisingly, Strowman then made the List.
The Golden Truth (w/Mark Henry) vs. The Shining Stars (w/Titus O’Neil)
The Shining Stars (Primo and Epico) and very good in the ring. Just like Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas, they come from a wrestling family and
Titus O’Neil interferes behind the referee’s back, but Mark Henry dispels of O’Neil. The Golden Truth then hits a double flapjack for another victory over the Shining Stars. Winners: The Golden Truth
Contract Signing (Raw Women’s Championship)
Charlotte and Sasha Banks are making history this Sunday by being the first two women ever to compete inside Hell in a Cell. To commemorate this huge match and make it official, we have a traditional WWE contract signing.
Rich Swann vs. Brian Kendrick
At Hell in a Cell, Brian Kendrick will have his second opportunity at the Cruiserweight Championship when he faces TJ Perkins. Meanwhile, Rich Swann has had his hands full on Raw and NXT. While competing in the Raw Cruiserweight Division, Rich Swann has teamed up with No Way Jose for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Swann slips out of Kendrick’s attempt at the Captain’s Hook and rolls up the #1 Contender to steal the win. Winner: Rich Swann
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman
Strowman has been destroying his opponents for weeks, so he asked for some real competition. Sure enough, he got some in Sami Zayn. In what seems like a bad decision, Zayn picked a fight with Strowman because “nobody else will.”
Strowman throws Zayn into the barricade then walks off to the back. Zayn is standing in the ring to end the match, but apparently the referee doesn’t care enough to count to 10. Result: No Contest
Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho vs. Seth Rollins
This might as well be a handicap match, since Owens and Jericho are going to be working together throughout the entire match. Rollins has beaten Jericho, but has not yet beaten Owens. Once they’re in the cell, however, Jericho won’t be able to help out his best friend.
Jericho and Owens go for a double superplex, but Rollins slips out and rolls up both of them for the win. Winner: Seth Rollins
