Tonight, Monday Night Raw focuses on two big events: The Great Balls of Fire Pay-Per-View and SummerSlam. The show kicks off with Roman Reigns’ big SummerSlam announcement, multiple segments from the Titus Brand, a shocking return, and an astonishing betrayal.
In-ring Segment
Earlier today on Twitter, WWE announced that Roman Reigns would be kicking off the show with his big SummerSlam announcement. Reigns claims that whether Brock Lesnar or Samoa Joe walks out of the Great Balls of Fire event with the Universal Championship, he will be the #1 Contender at SummerSlam.
Samoa Joe felt disrespected by comments made by Reigns, and he comes out to confront the Big Dog. The two get into a brawl and Joe tries to lock Reigns in the Coquina Clutch. Reigns escapes and Joe walks to the back. This brawl leads to an announcement that both men will face each other later on tonight.
The Hardy Boyz vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
These teams had very different nights on last week’s episode of Raw. The Hardy Boyz were challenging Sheamus and Cesaro for the Raw Tag Team Championships, but the match ended in a draw because of a double count-out. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson defeated Enzo Amore and Big Cass last week thanks to Cass competing while hurt.
Gallows doesn’t see Jeff Hardy making the blind tag and Matt Hardy uses the confusion to hit Gallows with the Twist of Fate. Jeff Hardy capitalizes with the Swanton Bomb to pick up the victory. Winners: The Hardy Boyz
In-ring Segment
Elias Samson is in the ring to play the fans a song, but his guitar is out of tune. He starts tuning one of his strings when he is interrupted by Finn Balor, who is getting ready for his match.
Finn Balor vs. Bo Dallas
The last time Finn Balor was on WWE television was at the Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View. If Balor wants to get back in the Universal Championship title picture, he needs a win over the former NXT Champion.
Bo Dallas attacks Finn Balor before the match starts, but this advantage only lasts for some of the match. Once Balor is able to gain control, his momentum keeps building until he hit Dallas with the Coup de Grace. Winner: Finn Balor
In-ring Segment
Earlier today, it was announced that Seth Rollins is the cover athlete for WWE 2K18, the latest edition in WWE’s yearly video game franchise. He embraces the slogan “Be like no one,” saying that the WWE Universe owns this cover just as much as he does. Shortly thereafter, he is interrupted by Bray Wyatt. Wyatt insults Rollins for a bit before making his way down to the ring, where Rollins hit him with an over-the-top-rope plancha. After Rollins’ strike, he walks tall towards the back.
Backstage Segment
After his victory, Finn Balor is interviewed by Charly Caruso to answer one question: What’s next for Finn Balor? As he’s answering the question, Elias Samson attacks him from behind. Samson threatens Balor to never upstage him before leaving.
Akira Tozawa vs. TJP
Before this rematch from 205 Live gets underway, Titus O’Neil enters the ring to give this match the “proper hype.” O’Neil bills Akira Tozawa as the “future Cruiserweight Champion,” which causes Neville to join the commentary team during the match.
Tozawa defeats TJP yet again with a Senton Bomb from the top rope and Titus O’Neil raises his hand in victory. Neville warns Tozawa again to tread carefully when O’Neil fires back. O’Neil claims that the Neville Level will be annihilated by The “Powa of Tozawa.” Winner: Akira Tozawa
Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns
This match could be a preview of what could come if Samoa Joe captures the Universal Championship from Brock Lesnar. Joe and Reigns met one-on-one in Joe’s Monday Night Raw debut a few months ago and Joe came out on top.
Reigns has Joe in his sights when a video appears on the Titantron showing Braun Strowman appearing from out of an ambulance (Strowman was supposed to be out of action for six months). Joe takes advantage of this distraction to lock him in the Coquina Clutch. After Reigns passes out, Braun Strowman enters the ring to pick up the pieces. Strowman slams Reigns into the mat and challenges Reigns to an Ambulance Match at Great Balls of Fire. Winner (via submission): Samoa Joe
MizTV feat. Maryse
Recently, The Miz has been paranoid that Dean Ambrose will attack him at any moment. HIs paranoia ruined his Intercontinental Championship celebration and he accidentally ruined a gift that Maryse worked for a year to make. Last week, The Miz accidentally ran into Maryse on the ring apron, but Mrs. Mizanin was not injured. Tonight, The Miz has his own wife as the guest for MizTV to apologize.
Dean Ambrose shows up and he causes Maryse to spill champagne on herself with The Miz accidentally destroys another grandfather clock. Maryse leaves in anger and Ambrose looks to attack Miz. Two men in bear suits start attacking Ambrose and reveal themselves to be Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas after Miz asked them to be in his entourage earlier tonight.
Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil
If Apollo Crews and Titus O’Neil can defeat Sheamus and Cesaro, it would be a huge night for the Titus Brand. Apollo Crews is a phenomenal athlete and Titus O’Neil is a former Tag Team Champion in his own right, so this shouldn’t be a complete shutdown.
The Titus Brand has control for a good portion of the match, but some underhanded tactics behind the referee’s back help out the Raw Tag Team Champions. Sheamus and Cesaro hit the double team version of the White Noise, picking up the victory. Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
Both of these women had been feuding earlier this year, and their rivalry is slightly renewed in hopes of building momentum towards a Raw Women’s Championship opportunity. Last week, Sasha Banks, alongside Mickie James and Dana Brooke, defeated Nia Jax, Emma, and Alexa Bliss.
Emma approaches Alexa Bliss on commentary and chases her down to the ring because Bliss walked out on their tag match last week. Emma accidentally kicks Nia Jax forcing the disqualification. The brawl starts getting out of hand and the whole Women’s Division starts fighting. The faces gang up on Nia Jax and stand tall to end the segment. Winner (via disqualification): Nia Jax
In-ring Segment
Enzo Amore and Big Cass have been getting attacked from behind for weeks, and Kurt Angle is here to finally figure out who attacked them. Kurt Angle brings The Revival and Big Show as suspects, but none of those men attack Enzo or Cass. Corey Graves grabs a microphone and reveals security footage of Big Cass making it look like he got attacked without actually getting attacked. Graves has all the facts and it leads to Cass revealing himself as Amore’s attacker.
When Cass reveals himself, he said that he was tired of everything he put up with starting with their run in NXT. He had enough of their partnership and their team was through. Cass finished the promo, and closed the show, with a big boot to his former partner.
