Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw has everyone talking about one thing: the Superstar Shake-up. Kurt Angle and Daniel Bryan have been in discussions all week to decide who switches shows. Whoever shows up on Raw tonight from SmackDown will stay on the Raw roster, while the SmackDown roster will get its new Superstars tomorrow night.
Opening Segment
The show kicks off with the first Superstar Shake-up of the night: The Miz and Maryse. They come down to the ring dressed like John Cena and Nikki Bella. They do their typical parody promo, and then they are interrupted by the Intercontinental Champion, Dean Ambrose, who is also moving to Monday nights. After messing with The Miz, Dean Ambrose hits the A-Lister with Dirty Deeds before heading to the back.
Big E & Xavier Woods vs. The Revival
Last week, The Revival got called up to Monday Night Raw and defeated The New Day in their first match. After the victory, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder injured the ankle of Kofi Kingston. Tonight, his teammates are here to get revenge.
Scott Dawson pushes Big E out of the ring, and Xavier Woods attempts a move from the middle turnbuckle. Dash and Dawson counter the attack into an incredible Shatter Machine, defeating one of the best-ever tag teams for the second consecutive week. Winners: The Revival
In-ring Segment
In one of the lesser exciting outcomes from this week, Curt Hawkins has made the jump to Monday Night Raw. Hawkins celebrates in the ring, saying that this is a “bigger get than the Louisiana Purchase.” Hawkins is interrupted by the Big Show, who knocks him out and leaves.
Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins
Last week on 205 Live, Austin Aries regained his #1 Contender spot for the Cruiserweight Championship by defeating TJ Perkins, Jack Gallagher, and Mustafa Ali. Before his championship match with Neville at Payback, Aries takes on the inaugural champion.
Aries has the upper hand, which motivates Neville to come to ringside and distract him. Aries barely beats the referee’s 10 count into the ring and TJ Perkins takes advantage, rolling him up for the win. After the quick victory, Perkins attacks Aries even further. Winner: TJ Perkins
In-ring Segment
Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring and thanks the fans or being by his side, and he wants to stay on Monday Night Raw. Rollins thinks that Stephanie McMahon is going to ship him to SmackDown Live, but General Manager Kurt Angle comes down to the ring and tells him that he has a home on Raw. It looks like the segment is over, but Samoa Joe attacks Rollins from behind. The Kingslayer manages to send Joe out of the ring and Joe retreats.
Charlotte vs. Nia Jax
Charlotte and Nia Jax teamed up with Emma last week to take on Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Dana Brooke. Charlotte was frustrated after her team lost and proceeded to yell at her teammates. Nia Jax would have none of it, attacking the former four-time Raw Women’s Champion. They settle their differences tonight in an official match.
Nia Jax counters the Figure Eight Leglock, sending Charlotte into the bottom turnbuckle. Jax then hits a Samoan Drop to pick up the win. Winner: Nia Jax
Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal
For the first time since his injury back at SummerSlam, Finn Balor is back in one-on-one action. The first-ever Universal Champion returned last week on Raw, where he teamed up with Seth Rollins to defeat the team of Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens. Jinder Mahal has been looking to find singles success of his own and winning this match would be huge for him.
Finn Balor dropkicks Jinder Mahal into the turnbuckle, then finishes him off with the Coup de Grace for the victory. Balor celebrates his win, but he is interrupted by the Eater of Worlds, Bray Wyatt. Wyatt is supposed to have a “House of Horrors” match with Randy Orton, so this move to Raw will apparently happen after he finishes with the Viper. Winner: Finn Balor
Announcements
Earlier today, Apollo Crews was announced as the first Superstar to move to Raw. In between segments, three more Superstars are announced: Kalisto, Heath Slater, and Rhyno.
The Miz (w/Maryse) vs. Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn was talking to Kurt Angle earlier tonight when he was interrupted by The Miz, who was furious about the actions of Dean Ambrose. Zayn didn’t like The Miz interrupting him, and he challenged the former Intercontinental Champion to a fight. Since Kurt Angle was right there, he turned that challenge into an official match.
Sami Zayn chases the Miz outside of the ring, and Maryse prevents Zayn from getting back into the ring. Miz attempts the Skull Crushing Finale, but Zayn counters into a roll-up. The Miz gets his shoulder up, but the referee doesn’t see and counts for the pinfall. Winner (via referee blindness): Sami Zayn
Interview
Michael Cole starts interviewing Roman Reigns about his WrestleMania win over the Undertaker when Braun Strowman attacks Reigns out of nowhere. Strowman throws him through a table, slams him into a garage door, and slams a big metal storage container into him. Medical staff starts to take Reigns away on a gurney, but Strowman sends the gurney off of a ledge, then end up pushing over the ambulance that Reigns is put in.
Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, & The Shining Stars vs. Cesaro, Sheamus, & The Hardy Boyz
At WrestleMania, Gallows and Anderson lost their Raw Tag Team Championships to the Hardy Boyz and failed to win their championship rematch one night later. Cesaro and Sheamus would end up winning a #1 Contender’s match later that night against Enzo Amore and Big Cass, but now they are teaming up with their eventual championship match opponents.
After taking out the entire enemy team outside the ring, Jeff Hardy hits a Swanton Bomb to pick up the win. The Hardy Boyz will square off with Cesaro and Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Championships at Payback. Winners: Cesaro, Sheamus, & The Hardy Boyz
In-ring Segment
Sasha Banks and Bayley come down to the ring to celebrate Bayley’s WrestleMania win, but they get interrupted fast. Alexa Bliss and Mickie James both get the move to Raw, but before they can challenge for the Raw Women’s Championship, Nia Jax runs right through every woman except Alexa Bliss. Jax makes it clear that she is coming for the Bayley and her title.
Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens
Last year, Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens had a great feud over the Intercontinental Championship, including a Last Man Standing match at the Royal Rumble. Since then, Ambrose has regained the Intercontinental Championship from The Miz and Kevin Owens won his first United States Championship from Chris Jericho.
Kevin Owens tries to beat Dean Ambrose with his own finishing move, but the Lunatic Fringe counters into Dirty Deeds of his own, getting a win for his Raw return. After the match, Chris Jericho rushes to the ring and hits Owens with the Codebreaker. Winner: Dean Ambrose
