Tonight is the last episode of Monday Night Raw before the second biggest Pay-Per-View of the year, SummerSlam. With four titles on the line and the interpromotional match between Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton, Raw has a lot it needs to focus on tonight.
Opening Segment
Rusev and Lana are in the ring to vent about how Roman Reigns ruined their wedding celebration last week. Because of that, Rusev cancels Raw, or at least until Roman Reigns apologizes. Since Rusev has no actual authority, the General Manager of Raw, Mick Foley, comes down to the ring. Since Foley scheduled Rusev’s United States Championship match against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam, the champion calls out Stephanie McMahon. McMahon surprisingly defends Foley, and Roman Reigns comes down to the ring with some words of his own.
Even though Reigns fights Rusev in six days, the two will collide tonight, but not for the United States Championship. Instead, Rusev will defend Lana’s honor.
Sheamus vs. Sami Zayn
Over the past couple of weeks, Sheamus has been battling with Cesaro and the Celtic Warrior even helped Cesaro lose a United States Championship match in last week’s main event.
In a little bit of payback, Cesaro (the guest commentator for the match) distracts Sheamus enough to allow Sami Zayn to hit the Helluva Kick for the victory. Winner: Sami Zayn
Backstage Segment
We come back from commercial and referees and officials have to keep Sheamus and Cesaro from tearing each other apart. Mick Foley calms them down by letting them know when they can let out their frustrations. Starting at SummerSlam, Cesaro and Sheamus will compete in a “Best of 7” series.
Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston vs. The Dudley Boyz
A couple of weeks ago, The Club assaulted Big E and slammed his groin into the ring post. Big E is suffering from “ringpostitis,” and The Club is looking for Woods and Kingston to suffer from the same condition.
For the second week in a row, miscommunication between the Dudley Boyz costs them the match as Kofi Kingston hits D-Von Dudley with Trouble in Paradise. Winners: Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston
Nia Jax vs. Enhancement Talent
Jax has been dominating several local talent over the past couple weeks, and tonight’s no different. Jax makes quick work of her opponent and finishes her off with a modified side slam. Winner: Nia Jax
In-ring Segment
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman enter the ring, and as soon as Heyman starts to talk, he is interrupted by the hottest free agent in sports entertainment, Heath Slater. Heath Slater will get a Raw contract as long as he defeats Brock Lesnar in a match tonight. Slater doesn’t even get a chance because he is too busy taking a trip to Suplex City.
Big Cass (w/Enzo Amore) vs. Kevin Owens (w/Chris Jericho)
After some weird feuding over the past few weeks, Cass and Amore officially have a match at SummerSlam against Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens (a.k.a. Jeri-KO). We get a little taste of what’s to come tonight when the man filling in for Jimmin Marvinleuder faces Big Cass.
Chris Jericho attacks Amore at ringside, and it doesn’t phase Cass from focusing on his main goal. Since Jericho’s plan failed, Y2J attacks Cass instead and Jeri-KO leaves him laid out in the middle of the ring.
Backstage Segment
Tom Philips goes to interview Roman Reigns, and Rusev attacks him from behind and throws him over a table in the backstage area. Officials separate the two before it gets serious, and things will be even more intense tonight and at SummerSlam.
Primetime Players w/Bob Backlund vs. The Shining Stars
For one night only, Titus O’Neil and Darren Young team up to hopefully put aside their rough past couple of weeks.
Young accidentally runs into O’Neil, knocking him off of the apron, and O’Neil hits his partner with Clash of the Titus. Primo takes advantage and rolls Young over for the pinfall. Winners: The Shining Stars
Jinder Mahal vs. Neville
Jinder Mahal earned a Monday Night Raw contract a couple of weeks ago by rolling up an unexpected Heath Slater in an impromptu match made by Mick Foley. In his first match back, the former 3MB member faces The Man That Gravity Forgot.
Unfortunately, Mahal does not find success in his Raw debut. Neville hits the Red Arrow for the win, possibly positioning himself as the potential top of the future Cruiserweight Division. Winner: Neville
In-ring Segment
Seth Rollins goes down to the ring to call out the “Demon King,” and we actually get that side of Finn Balor tonight. Although I assumed that would be saved for SummerSlam, it gives the casual audience a taste of what to see on Sunday. Balor attacks Rollins and sends “The Man” packing.
Golden Truth vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Gallows and Anderson take a break from being doctors for their match tonight, and R-Truth hopefully has taken a break from Pokémon Go. Gallows and Anderson challenge The New Day to the Tag Team Championships at SummerSlam and could use win tonight to help build some momentum before the big match.
Goldust gets hit with the Magic Killer, giving The Club the win. Winners: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
After the match, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods look to give Anderson a similar injury to Big E, but Gallows saves his partner.
Backstage Segment
Dana Brooke lost to Sasha Banks last week, which means that she will be banned from ringside when Charlotte faces Banks for the Women’s Championship on Sunday. Charlotte has had enough of Brooke failing to help her, and dumps her as a protege.
Charlotte vs. Alicia Fox
The Women’s Champion, Sasha Banks, joins the commentary team to scout her SummerSlam opponent during this match.
The match comes and goes in a blink of an eye, and Charlotte hits Fox with Natural Selection for the win. Then Charlotte calls Banks down to the ring. Winner: Charlotte
Even though Charlotte abandoned her protege, Dana Brooke storms the ring and attacks Charlotte from behind, giving Charlotte the ability to lock in the Figure Four Leg Lock on Banks. This could give Charlotte the advantage on Sunday, depending on whether or not Banks fully heals by then.
Rusev w/Lana vs. Roman Reigns
Because of the backstage attack earlier, Reigns storms the ring and starts attacking Rusev. They brawl in and out of the ring, and the match doesn’t officially start until after the commercial break. With Rusev in two consecutive main events, it is clear that WWE trusts the United States Champion and we can see Rusev as a top heel sooner instead of later.
Rusev nearly puts Roman Reigns away with the Accolade, but Reigns manages to get to the ropes. Reigns sidesteps Rusev and hits a spear to put the Bulgarian Brute away, but can he do that again at SummerSlam? Winner: Roman Reigns
