Tonight on Monday Night Raw, WWE will crown it’s second Universal Champion. Since Finn Balor had to relinquish the title last week due to injury, Big Cass, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins have all been put in a fatal four-way match to determine who will carry the title into Clash of Champions.
Opening Segment
To start off the show, Corey Graves is in the ring with the four participants in tonight’s WWE Universal Championship fatal four-way match. Rollins “donates his speaking time” to the other three, and Owens just destroys everyone else on the mic. As expected, things end in a brawl, with Roman Reigns standing tall. Whether that’s the case in the main event is to be seen.
Neville vs. Chris Jericho
Both of these men lost their WWE Universe Championship qualifying match, but Neville didn’t lose his match cleanly. Neville took on Kevin Owens, and he seemed to have the match under wraps, but Chris Jericho intervened to allow Owens to pick up the victory.
Jericho dodges the Red Arrow, but Neville tries to follow it up with a hurricanrana. Jericho stops it in its tracks, and locks in the Lion Tamer to submit the Man That Gravity Forgot. Winner (via submission): Chris Jericho
Nia Jax vs. Hyan (local talent)
Ever since Nia Jax debuted on Raw, she has destroyed local talent for weeks. This match is no different. After a fireman’s carry side slam to Hyan, she gets another quick victory. Winner: Nia Jax
Jinder Mahal vs. Sami Zayn
Both men in this match need the win to gain some momentum. Sami Zayn lost his WWE Universal Championship qualifying match against Seth Rollins, which leaves him just as directionless as he was by SummerSlam. Jinder Mahal won a Raw contract several weeks ago by defeating Heath Slater, but it seems like it has been more of a Superstars contract (the show, not the name of WWE wrestlers).
Mahal keeps trying to work on the ankle of Zayn, but Zayn manages to escape time after time. Zayn lines up Mahal in the corner and hits the Helluva Kick for the win. Winner: Sami Zayn
Big E, Kofi Kingston, & Bayley (w/Xavier Woods) vs. Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, & Dana Brooke
In the backstage area, Bayley was hanging out with the New Day when they were interrupted by Dana Brooke. Brooke lost to Bayley last week in Bayley’s Monday Night Raw debut, so she wants to get back at her. Brooke got Gallows and Anderson and made this mixed tag match.
In Bayley’s debut last week, she issued a challenge to Charlotte for the WWE Women’s Championship. While nothing is official, Charlotte did join the commentary team for this match.
The New Day take care of Gallows and Anderson outside the ring, and Bayley hits the Bayley-to-Belly to pick up the victory. Winners: Big E, Kofi Kingston, & Bayley
Cesaro vs. Sheamus – Best of Seven Series (Match Two)
At the SummerSlam Kickoff Show, Sheamus managed to get the best of the Swiss Superman and win the first match in the series. Going into this match, Sheamus is leading the series 1-0. If Cesaro takes another loss, it will be really tough for him to come back and win the series.
Cesaro gets his back slammed into the ring post, and Sheamus takes advantage of the back injury to lock in the Cloverleaf and pick up the second consecutive victory. Winner (via submission): Sheamus
Series Standings: Sheamus (2) | Cesaro (0)
Braun Strowman vs. Americo
Americo (a local talent like Hyan), is a small luchador who has no chance at beating Braun Strowman. After (literally) throwing Americo around, Strowman picks up a victory faster than Jax won her match. To make the assault worse, Strowman added insult to injury by unmasking the luchador. Winner: Braun Strowman
Video Package
Another video package promotes the cruiserweight coming to Raw in 3 weeks, and three new competitors are highlighted: Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Cedric Alexander.
In-ring Segment
Stephanie McMahon wanted an apology out of Paul Heyman for Brock Lesnar’s actions at SummerSlam, and she gets one. Heyman says he is sincere, but that is never certain with him, and McMahon tentatively accepts the apology.
Titus O’Neil vs. Darren Young (w/Bob Backlund)
Last week, Titus O’Neil tried his very best to insult Darren Young and Bob Backlund in a rough promo, and Backlund tried to attack O’Neil. Both Backlund and Darren Young would then get laid out in the center of the ring, and Young tries to get revenge tonight.
Titus O’Neil complains to the referee when Young kicks out at 2, then Young sneaks a crucifix pinfall for the win. After the match, O’Neil yet again decimates Bob Backlund and his apprentice. Winner: Darren Young
Seth Rollins vs. Big Cass vs. Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns – WWE Universal Championship (Elimination Match)
Originally set to be a standard fatal four-way match, this was changed to an elimination style match. This means that the only competitor that doesn’t take a fall will become the Universal Champion.
After Big Cass gets hit with a Superkick by Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens hits a frog splash to put the 7-footer away. Eliminated: Big Cass
Roman Reigns spears Seth Rollins outside the ring, and Triple H appears from out of nowhere and hits Reigns with a Pedigree. He then drags Rollins onto Reigns for the elimination. Eliminated: Roman Reigns
He then turns on Rollins and hits him with a Pedigree, leaving it wide open for Kevin Owens. Winner, and NEW WWE Universal Champion: Kevin Owens
