While nothing was previously advertised for Raw this week outside of a couple social media posts, this week’s episode is a big one. Jason Jordan has another huge opportunity when he faces Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman battles John Cena for the first time ever, and the main event is a huge eight-man tag team match featuring (almost) the whole division.
Roman Reigns vs. Jason Jordan
This match was announced on social media just hours before Raw began, but it is sure to be a good one. Last week, John Cena (Roman Reigns’ No Mercy opponent) defeated Jason Jordan in a surprisingly good match and now, it is Reigns’ turn. This could give Reigns the chance to one-up Cena, kind of like what Rich Swann and TJP are doing on 205 Live. However, Reigns and Cena are nowhere close to being friends.
Jordan puts on another great performance, showing how versatile he can be without being in a tag team. He couldn’t pick up the victory since Reigns hit him with a spear, but if Raw continues with great matches opening the show every week, it is a step in the right direction. Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match, John Cena comes to the ring and the two cut promos on each other again to continue the build for their match in a couple weeks.
Sasha Banks vs. Emma
Last week, the unlikely duo of Emma and Nia Jax defeated Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss (an unusual team in its own right) to enter themselves in the Raw Women’s Championship match at No Mercy, making it a Fatal Four-Way between Bliss, Banks, Jax, and Emma. Banks and Emma battle to gain some momentum before their big title match.
Emma has control for most of the match, but Banks is able to counter off of the ground to pull Emma into the Bank Statement, picking up the victory. Winner (via submission): Sasha Banks
In-ring Segment
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman come down to the ring to hype Lesnar’s Universal Championship defense against Braun Strowman at No Mercy. Heyman wants to give the WWE Universe a little preview, so he challenges Strowman to fight Lesnar right here, right now.
Strowman accepts and comes down to the ring. Both men immediately brawl, and Lesnar even hits Strowman with a German suplex. However, Strowman pops right to his feet, shocking the Beast Incarnate. The Monster of Men then picks Lesnar up for a chokeslam and a powerslam, “embarrassing” (to quote Michael Cole) the Universal Champion.
Goldust vs. Bray Wyatt
After losing to The Demon version of Finn Balor at SummerSlam, Bray Wyatt was not done with the leader of the Balor Club just yet. Wyatt believes that the Demon allows Balor to be more than what the man beneath the pain really is, but that will be proven (or disproven) when Wyatt faces a demon-less Balor at No Mercy.
After one cross body out of nowhere, the Eater of Worlds finishes Goldust off with Sister Abigail, finally defeating an opponent who is wearing face paint. After the match, Wyatt starts scrubbing the paint off of Goldust’s face to prove that he is “just a man.” Winner: Bray Wyatt
Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
This match never gets underway. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, the Raw Tag Team Champions, are at the commentary table and when Sheamus and Cesaro make their entrance, the two teams immediately fight. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson join the fight but referees and officials are able to break things up before they get too far.
Rollins and Ambrose go to General Manager Kurt Angle and demand a match against Sheamus, Cesaro, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson. Angle gives them what they want, but they have to find two tag team partners so they compete in an eight-man tag team match later on tonight.
Announcements
Somehow, Kurt Angle manages to get the “most sought after free agent” to sign to Monday Night Raw. “Coming soon,” the former NXT Women’s Champion Asuka will make her way to WWE’s flagship show.
In another announcement that is nowhere near as huge, Alexa Bliss will face Nia Jax in a one-on-one non-title match next week.
Kalisto vs. Elias Samson
As Elias Samson performs his newest song for the fans in Anaheim, California, he is interrupted by Kalisto. Tonight, Kalisto is wearing a special gold mask that will be put up for auction with the proceeds being donated to Connor’s Cure, WWE’s partner dedicated to eliminating childhood cancer.
Kalisto seems to get in a groove, but a hurricanrana attempt is countered into a vicious powerbomb. Samson then picks the Diminutive Dynamo up and hits Drift Away, his signature swinging neckbreaker to pick up the win. Winner: Elias Samson
Braun Strowman vs. John Cena
This seems like a match that should at least be saved for a Pay-Per-View. Between the beginning of the show and the start of this match, Strowman increased his odds at winning after assaulting Brock Lesnar with ease earlier tonight. However, his opponent is “Big Match John,” who has defeated almost every opponent he has faced, with the most recent exception being Shinsuke Nakamura.
Strowman brings steel steps into the ring and after the referee yells at Strowman not to use the stairs, the Monster Among Men powerslams John Cena right onto the steel. Of course, referee John Cone calls for the bell and even though Cena wins, Strowman stands tall. Winner (via disqualification): John Cena
MizTV feat. Enzo Amore
Before things get underway, The Miz and Maryse announce that they are having a baby. They decide to reveal the wonderful news on Raw because that is where they met several years ago. The Miz starts delivering a speech to celebrate fatherhood when Enzo Amore, the guest for MizTV tonight shows up early and interrupts the personal moment.
The Miz (w/Maryse & The Miztourage) vs. Enzo Amore
As usual, MizTV turns into The Miz and his guest insulting each other for a while, with Miz cutting deep into Amore and Smacktalker Skywalker calling the A-Lister “a paper champion.” This is a bit of a historic match in a way, considering that after joining 205 Live and the Cruiserweight Division, Enzo Amore is fighting someone outside of his new roster. The only other time this happened is when Jack Gallagher challenged Tyler Bate for the United Kingdom Championship on NXT.
Between bursts of offense, Miz and Amore take turns grabbing a mic and insulting each other. After one last insult from Amore, the Miztourage assaults him and a Skull Crushing Finale leaves Amore laid out in the middle of the ring. Winner (via disqualification): Enzo Amore
Sheamus, Cesaro, Luke Gallows, & Karl Anderson vs. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & The Hardy Boyz
Because of the fight earlier tonight, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose found Matt and Jeff Hardy to help them fight in an eight-man tag match. Their opponents have a disadvantage since The Bar and the Good Brothers were fighting each other in the brawl as well.
Sheamus and Cesaro decide to walk to the back and the Raw Tag Team Champions double team Karl Anderson to pick up a win in the main event. It is weird that this match is the main event, but it was decent enough. Winners: Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & The Hardy Boyz
