On this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, we continue looking towards the next Pay-Per-View, Extreme Rules. We still don’t know the condition of Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman, so there should be an update on this episode. Also, there is Tag Team Turmoil to determine the new #1 Contenders for the Hardy Boyz’s Raw Tag Team Championships.
Opening Segment
We start off the show with Dean Ambrose on his cell phone with Kurt Angle. Apparently, this leads to Ambrose having an important announcement, so he makes his way down to the ring. The Intercontinental Champion announces that Angle made him the acting General Manager for the evening, which leads to him immediately being interrupted by The Miz. He reveals that Stephanie McMahon heard of Kurt Angle’s decision and so she made The Miz co-General Manager.
Braun Strowman, wearing a sling, enters the ring to get the attention of both General Managers. Strowman says that when his arm heals (he’s expected to be out action for 1-2 months), he will destroy Roman Reigns and then he is taking out Brock Lesnar. Kalisto, who was destroyed by Strowman a couple weeks ago, shows up and challenges Strowman to a match for tonight. Strowman unwisely says he could beat him with one arm, and since he only has one good arm, Dean Ambrose makes the match official.
Before the segment ends, Ambrose announces the first match of the night: The Miz vs. Finn Balor.
The Miz (w/Maryse) vs. Finn Balor
Last week, The Miz and Finn Balor competed in a triple threat match against Seth Rollins to become the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship. Bray Wyatt interfere and attacked Finn Balor, serving him up on a silver platter for the Miz to pin. Tonight, they compete for the first time ever one-on-one.
Maryse has the referee distracted and the Miz pushes Finn Balor into the referee. Since Miz is the co-General Manager, he orders the referee to call for the disqualification. Dean Ambrose is still in charge as well, so he decides to restart the match while banning Maryse from ringside.
Balor attacks Miz outside the ring, then throws him in to hit the Slingblade, followed by a dropkick in the corner and the Coup de Grace to pin The Miz. Winner: Finn Balor
Alexa Bliss (w/Nia Jax) vs. Mickie James (w/Bayley)
Before Alexa Bliss makes her way to the ring for her match against Mickie James, Nia Jax approaches her backstage. Bliss plays nice with Jax, and even though Jax wants the Raw Women’s Championship, she is apparently Bliss’ new “best friend.”
Nia Jax distracts Mickie James at the ring apron, but Bayley attacks Jax with a cross body. Bliss takes advantage of the slight distraction by knocking James off of the top turnbuckle with a forearm. After pinning James, Bliss looks to continue the assault, but Bayley chases the Raw Women’s Champion to the back. While James lays in the ring alone, Nia Jax assaults her before walking away. Winner: Alexa Bliss
Backstage Segment
Samoa Joe is being interviewed about his feud with Seth Rollins when Rollins attacked him from behind after Joe cost Rollins a win in the main event of last week’s episode of Monday Night Raw. The two brawl for a couple minutes before they are stopped by referees and officials.
Braun Strowman vs. Kalisto
Two weeks ago, Kalisto defeated Braun Strowman in a Dumpster Match. After his loss, Strowman would then lock Kalisto inside of the dumpster and throw him off the stage. Kalisto is back for revenge, even though he is less than half of the size of Strowman. Strowman refuses to accept the match because of his injury, but the referee calls for the bell anyway.
Strowman starts his one-armed assault on Kalisto when Roman Reigns makes his first Monday Night Raw appearance in about a month. Reigns immediately attacks Strowman’s injured arm, sending the big man to ringside. After grabbing a chair, further assault to Strowman’s arm sends the monster retreating. Earlier today, it was announced that Braun Strowman will be out of action for 1-2 months, so this was probably a way to write him off.
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Golden Truth vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Sheamus & Cesaro – #1 Contender’s Tag Team Turmoil Match (Raw Tag Team Championships)
Since The Hardy Boyz retained the Raw Tag Team Championships against Sheamus and Cesaro at Payback, the #1 Contender spot is wide open. Kurt Angle decided that the best way to fill that spot would be to have a match involving every team in the division. in Tag Team Turmoil, two teams start the match and every time a team loses, they are eliminated and a new team takes their place. Once it is down to two teams, the winning team becomes the new #1 Contenders.
Starting this match are Enzo Amore and Big Cass, and Sheamus and Cesaro. Sheamus knocks Big Cass off of the apron, preventing Enzo Amore from tagging out. Cesaro takes advantage to lock in the Sharpshooter for the elimination. The next team to enter is Rhyno and Heath Slater. Eliminated (via submission): Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Sheamus and Cesaro attack Slater and Rhyno before the match, essentially knocking Rhyno out of the match entirely. This makes it an easy elimination for the former Raw Tag Team Champions, destroying Slater. Taking their place is the team of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Eliminated: Heath Slater & Rhyno
After Cesaro interrupts the Magic Killer and clotheslines Karl Anderson out of the ring, Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick on Sheamus for the elimination. The next, and last, team to enter this match is the Golden Truth. Eliminated: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
R-Truth and Goldust have a good start, but one missed splash in the corner for R-Truth was all Cesaro needed to get in a roll-up and pick up the win. Winners, and NEW #1 Contenders: Sheamus & Cesaro
Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe
Because of their brawl earlier tonight, Dean Ambrose scheduled this match so they can assault each other in a more organized manner. Rollins defeated Joe at Payback, but Joe made it clear that he is far from finished with the former WWE Champion.
While Samoa Joe pulls Seth Rollins off of the top turnbuckle, the padding gets ripped off. Later in the match, Joe pulls Rollins onto the exposed steel. The referee tries to get the padding back on, but Joe throws it out of the ring. After throwing Rollins into the turnbuckle for the second time, he is disqualified. Joe then does it one last time and finishes the job with the Coquina Clutch. Winner (via disqualification): Seth Rollins
TJP vs. Jack Gallagher
Other than his t-shirt, TJP is no longer called “TJ Perkins.” Assumedly this is for copyright and trademark reasons, but it sounds forced. Perkins has a good week last week, seemingly injuring Austin Aries on Raw then defeating Lince Dorado the following night on 205 Live. Gallagher has been one of the hardest workers in the Cruiserweight Division, competing on Raw, 205 Live, and NXT two weeks ago.
Gallagher rolls up TJP, but it gets countered into a roll-up for TJP, but the former Cruiserweight Champion uses Gallagher’s tights for leverage to score an underhanded win. He tries to attack Gallagher further after the match, but Austin Aries (wearing a knee brace) interferes and sends TJP packing. Winner: TJP
Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox
Even though Alicia Fox is back together with Noam Dar, she continues competing in matches. Fox was against Sasha Banks in an eight-woman tag team match last week, and while the match was going on, Fox and Banks were brawling throughout the ringside area.
Alicia Fox attempts a superplex from the top turnbuckle, but Sasha Banks knocks her off. After hitting the double knees from the top rope, Banks pins Fox for the three count. As Corey Graves mentions, Fox’s right shoulder got up during the pin, but the referee didn’t see it. Winner: Sasha Banks
Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt
Since Dean Ambrose put The Miz in a match against Finn Balor, The Miz decided to put Ambrose in a match against Bray Wyatt. Ambrose and Wyatt have a storied history, but it has been quite some time since they have competed against each other. Ambrose needs this win to build momentum before he defends the Intercontinental Championship against The Miz next week.
The Miz comes down to the ring during the match and takes the Intercontinental Championship. Dean Ambrose decides to focus on the Miz instead of Bray Wyatt, which turns against him. While the referee checks on Wyatt in the ring, Miz hits Ambrose in the back with his own title. Wyatt takes advantage and lays Ambrose out with Sister Abigail. Winner: Bray Wyatt
