Tonight, Monday Night Raw is in the fast lane to, well, Fastlane. Before Braun Strowman faces Roman Reigns in a couple weeks, he takes on the Big Show. Also, we have a #1 Contender’s Match for the Raw Tag Team Championships, and Charlotte demanding her Women’s Championship back.
Opening Segment
Last week, Chris Jericho put together the Festival of Friendship to show how much Kevin Owens means to him. After Jericho showered his best friend with gifts, Owens turned on him. He attacked Y2J all over the ring, and ended the friendship that has kept Owens the Universal Champion for months. Tonight, Kevin Owens moves on to his Universal Championship defense at Fastlane when he takes on Goldberg.
Owens isn’t worried that Goldberg destroyed Brock Lesnar in 86 seconds at Survivor Series. His strategy against the former WCW Champion is to outlast him, because the longer a Goldberg match gets, the less of a chance he has.
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Sheamus & Cesaro – #1 Contender’s Match (Raw Tag Team Championships)
Sheamus and Cesaro cashed in their Raw Tag Team Championship rematch two weeks ago, and Enzo and Cass decided to watch at ringside. Big Cass would interfere in the match after Luke Gallows kicked Enzo Amore, costing Sheamus and Cesaro their titles. Now both teams get a chance for a title match, with the winner of this match going on to face Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson at Fastlane for the gold.
Enzo Amore jumps on Cesaro to prevent the Swiss Superman from doing the Cesaro Swing, and Cass hits the swinging side slam to pick up the win. Winners, and NEW #1 Contenders: Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Amore celebrates the victory with a post-match promo, which Sheamus interrupts with a Brogue Kick.
Brian Kendrick vs. Akira Tozawa
Akira Tozawa made his debut in the Cruiserweight Division, and Brian Kendrick was trying to become Tozawa’s mentor. Kendrick finally approached the new addition to the roster last week, and was rejected. The two men try to shake hands before the match, but Kendrick attacks Tozawa before the match even starts. The former Cruiserweight Champion leaves Akira Tozawa laid out in the middle of the ring after the Captain’s Hook.
Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
This handicap match took place last week, but ended in a no-contest when Gallows and Anderson assaulted Reigns in the ring. Somehow, Reigns was able to fight back and send the tag champs retreating, and he looks to find more success in another 2-on-1 match.
Gallows and Anderson bring in a chair to assault Reigns, but Reigns uses it against them. The “Big Dog” then takes care of both of them and sends them packing for the second week in a row. Winners (via disqualification): Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Rusev & Jinder Mahal (w/Lana) vs. The New Day
Handsome Rusev and “Hard Body” Jinder Mahal have been in purgatory as of late, but on the positive side, they are done feuding with Enzo Amore and Big Cass. They have a huge chance to gain momentum tonight as they take on the hosts of WrestleMania 33, The New Day.
After Xavier Woods retrieves stolen ice cream plans from Lana, Big E and Kofi Kingston hit Jinder Mahal with the Midnight Hour for the win. Winners: The New Day
Contract Signing (WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
Jack Gallagher won an Elimination Fatal Five-Way match on 205 Live a couple weeks ago to become the #1 Contender to Neville’s Cruiserweight Championship, with the match taking place at Fastlane. Both men sign the contract, and just as Neville is about to leave, Gallagher invites him to stay in the ring for tea and biscuits.
Neville tries to start a fight with the Extraordinary Gentleman (because it’s a contract signing, of course), and the #1 Contender fights back until his signature headbutt knocks Neville out of the ring.
Nia Jax vs. Sarah Pierce
Raw barely has a Women’s Division, so Nia Jax has to destroy some local wrestler. Winner: Nia Jax
In-ring Segment
Bayley won the Raw Women’s Championship from Charlotte last week with a little help from Sasha Banks. On Twitter, Charlotte demanded that Bayley should relinquish her title since her victory wasn’t clean. Stephanie McMahon interrupts Bayley’s celebration to try to convince her to give up the belt, since The Authority clearly prefers Flair. Bayley seems like she is about to give Stephanie McMahon the title, when Sasha Banks comes down to the ring. The champ convinces the audiences like she is going to vacate the belt, but she decides to keep it.
Charlotte then makes her way to the ring to cash in her rematch clause for Fastlane, and to accept Sasha Banks’ challenge to a match right now.
Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks
If the last year is any indication, Sasha Banks should win this match. Banks defeated Charlotte for the Raw Women’s Championship on three different episodes of Monday Night Raw. While Charlotte may be the self-professed “Queen of Pay-Per-View,” she should know by now that Sunday nights are the only times she wins matches.
Dana Brooke tries to interfere in Charlotte’s match for the second consecutive week, but Bayley prevents Brook from interfering. This grabs Charlotte’s attention for a quick second, giving Banks the chance to hit the Bank Statement and forcing The Queen to tap. Winner (via submission): Sasha Banks
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Before the match gets underway, after Samoa Joe attacks Sami Zayn from behind. Joe attacked Zayn last week as well, and it seems like he will continue to do so as long as Zayn talks about him. Kevin Owens has no problem in taking advantage of the sneak attack, finishing the match with the Pop-up Powerbomb. Winner: Kevin Owens
Big Show vs. Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman takes on Roman Reigns at Fastlane, but he faces the World’s Largest Athlete in tonight’s main event.
The match has no right being as good as it is, and after kicking out of both the chokeslam and the WMD, Braun Strowman hits two powerslams on Big Show to pick up the impressive victory. Roman Reigns tries to attack Strowman after the match, but Reigns also gets laid out by a powerslam. Winner: Braun Strowman
