In just six days, Monday Night Raw hosts TLC, the last brand-exclusive Pay-Per-View before Survivor Series. While most of the matches are set, tonight’s episode should get the WWE Universe more excited for the event with matches like The Bar vs. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose for the Raw Tag Team Championships and Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns in a steel cage.
Opening Segment
Monday Night Raw General Manager Kurt Angle (that’s a long title) comes to the ring to hype up tonight’s show and TLC, but he is interrupted by The Shield. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose are back in form with their riot gear and crowd entrance. They will battle The Miz, The Bar, and Braun Strowman in a TLC Match this Sunday, but they want to fight tonight. Kurt Angle prevents chaos from transpiring
Kurt Angle prevents chaos from transpiring by making official matches. Strowman will face Reigns in a Steel Cage match tonight (which was announced last week), while Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will defend their Raw Tag Team Championships against The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro). Strowman will also be a guest on MizTV tonight.
Titus O’Neil, Apollo Crews, & Jason Jordan vs. Elias Samson, Luke Gallows, & Karl Anderson
This match is a good way for WWE to combine two rivalries in one match. Elias Samson has formed a trio with the Good Brothers and they performed a couple tunes before the match. Samson has been feuding with Titus Worldwide over the past month, while Karl Anderson defeated Jason Jordan in singles action last week.
While Jason Jordan explodes all over the place (not literally), Apollo Crews tags himself in. Crews hits Anderson with his signature launching spin-out powerbomb for the win. This was much needed for the recently failing Titus Worldwide. Winners: Titus O’Neil, Apollo Crews, & Jason Jordan
Cedric Alexander (w/Rich Swann) vs. Jack Gallagher (w/The Brian Kendrick)
In a bit of a change of pace, Monday Night Raw is dedicating time to secondary 205 Live stories. There is an entire video package highlighting the feud between Cedric Alexander and Jack Gallagher/The Brian Kendrick, which started when Gallagher surprisingly aligned himself with his former enemy. Now that Swann is officially done with TJP, he is helping Alexander even things out. Both pairs will square off at TLC, but for now, it is singles competition.
Kendrick tries to prevent Alexander from setting up for the Lumbar Check, but Rich Swann lays Kendrick out with a tornado DDT. Alexander then successfully hits Gallagher with a beautiful Lumbar Check, picking up the victory. Winner: Cedric Alexander
MizTV feat. Braun Strowman
As mentioned earlier, The Miz, The Bar, and Braun Strowman will challenge the Shield in the main event of TLC this Sunday. Before both teams clash, The Bar will challenge for the Raw Tag Team Championships and Braun Strowman will face Roman Reigns in a steel cage tonight. But before even that, Strowman is the special guest on MizTV.
The Miz wants to use Dean Ambrose’s words against him to allows Curtis Axel to join their team, making the main event at TLC a 3-on-5 handicap match. Kurt Angle says that the only way this is allowed is if Braun Strowman defeats Roman Reigns tonight. If Strowman loses, however, he is kicked off of the team. Lastly, both matches involving the Shield tonight will have every Superstar outside of those in the match banned from ringside.
Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox
Last week, Sasha Banks and Alicia Fox competed in a Fatal Five-Way match to determine who will face Asuka at TLC. Banks eliminated Fox with the Bank Statement, but Emma eventually won the match. Fox claims that she wasn’t tapping, but she was instead itching her nose. If she gets locked in the submission hold again tonight, she will have to back up her claim. Banks shouldn’t take Fox lightly, considering that she has been in WWE for ten years and is a former champion.
Fox tries to hit Banks with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but the Legit Boss counters into a takedown. She then transitions into the Bank statement, forcing Fox to tap out again. Winner (via submission): Sasha Banks
Charly Caruso looks interview Banks backstage after her victory, but Fox assaults her from behind. She only stops throwing Banks around when several referees get in her way.
In-Ring Segment
Enzo Amore comes down to the ring to air his grievances about being “screwed” out of the Cruiserweight Championship last week when he is interrupted by the new champion, Kalisto. The two go back and forth for a few minutes before Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, Drew Gulak, and Noam Dar attack Kalisto from behind. Mustafa Ali tries to save Kalisto but the numbers game is too much for him.
The commentators speculate that the only reason that some of the division has done a 180 on Enzo Amore is that they are being paid a lot of money. If this alliance stands, Amore’s chances of reclaiming the Cruiserweight Championship are looking very good.
Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs. The Bar – Raw Tag Team Championships
This match could very well change the landscape of the TLC main event. The Miz is getting a free pass by not defending his Intercontinental Championship at the Pay-Per-View, but his team could be gaining two more titles if The Bar become three-time champions tonight.
The Bar tries to double-team Dean Ambrose, but Seth Rollins joins the fray and turns things around. Both members of the Shield hit their finishers on Cesaro, picking up the victory and retaining the Raw Tag Team Championships. Winners, and STILL Raw Tag Team Champions: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose
Emma & Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James & Bayley
Before Alexa Bliss defends her Raw Women’s Championship this Sunday against Mickie James, she proposed a tag team match alongside Emma so they can both build momentum to their respective matches. Emma has the toughest task of the entire roster when she takes on the undefeated Asuka.
After Bliss turns her attention to Bayley, she turns around to a superkick from Mickie James. If James does that this Sunday, she will become a seven-time Women’s Champion. Winners: Mickie James & Bayley
Announcements
On the TLC Kickoff Show, Alicia Fox will have her desired rematch against Sasha Banks. Tomorrow night, Rich Swann will take on Jack Gallagher. Lastly, Finn Balor’s Demon will take on Bray Wyatt’s “alter ego,” Sister Abigail.
Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns – Steel Cage Match
The feud that’s been going through all of 2017 between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman reignites tonight. In their incredible saga, this is the first time they are competing in a steel cage. Strowman successfully defeated the Big Show in a cage a couple months ago, so he has the experience edge going into this match. If Strowman wins, a fifth member will be added to the Miz’s TLC team (who isn’t Curtis Axel, according to Miz). If he loses, it will be just The Miz and The Bar against The Shield.
While Strowman and Reigns are fighting, Kane returns from underneath the ring and assaults Reigns. The Big Red Machine hits him with two chokeslams and a Tombstone Piledriver before Strowman finishes him off with the running powerslam. After Strowman successfully pins Reigns, The Miz announces that the fifth member of their team is Kane. Winner: Braun Strowman
