One match for Battleground has been set: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the World Heavyweight Championship. With Roman Reigns suspended, the buildup for this match is sure to be interesting. Also, tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw will also help build the rest of the card for the last WWE Network Special before the brand split.
Opening Segment
To kick off the show, Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring. Immediately he starts by talking about the 30-day suspension of Roman Reigns. Reigns is supposed to compete in the triple threat match at Battleground for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship along with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. Rollins uses the suspension to fuel his rage and calls Reigns an “embarrassment.” After Rollins rants about “The Guy,” “The Dude,” Dean Ambrose, makes his way to the ring.
They are interrupted by AJ Styles and John Cena, who both want to put themselves in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match. To settle this whole mess, Stephanie McMahon sets up qualifying matches for Styles and Cena. Cena will face Rollins, and Styles will face Ambrose. If Cena and Styles win their respective matches, they will be in the title match at Battleground.
Paige & Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte & Dana Brooke
Last week on Monday Night Raw, Paige got her rightful shot at the WWE Women’s Championship. After Paige lost the match, Charlotte and Dana Brooke would continue the beatdown, only to be stopped by Sasha Banks. Tonight, Paige and Sasha Banks look to get some revenge on the champion on her protege in Banks’s first Monday Night Raw match since April.
After Paige hits a superkick on Charlotte outside of the ring, Sasha Banks hits the Bank Statement on Dana Brooke and makes her tap out for the victory. Winners (via submission): Paige & Sasha Banks
Rusev (w/Lana) vs. Titus O’Neil
At the Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View, Rusev successfully defended the United States Championship against O’Neil. After Rusev’s victory, the champion went to ringside and taunted Titus O’Neil’s family. Last week on Raw, these two were supposed to square off, but O’Neil’s rage overcame him and he assaulted Rusev all over ringside. Tonight, both very angry men face each other in a non-title match.
Titus O’Neil throws Rusev into the timekeeper’s area to get the count-out victory. Assumedly this would make Titus O’Neil the new #1 Contender to the United States Championship. Winner (via count-out): Titus O’Neil
Backstage Segment
Kane is trying to lobby for the Smackdown General Manager position again when he and Stephanie McMahon are interrupted by the returning Intercontinental Champion, The Miz. Kane reminds McMahon that the WWE Rulebook states that a champion should defend their title once every 30 days, and since the Miz has been shooting a movie, he will defend his title tonight. The Miz’s opponent will be a surprise.
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
Last year, Seth Rollins and John Cena had quite the rivalry. Rollins broke Cena’s nose, and won the United States Championship from “The Franchise” at the Night of Champions Pay-Per-View. If Cena wins tonight, he will advance to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Battleground.
Cena looks to put Rollins away with the STF, but the Club comes down to the ring. Rollins takes advantage of the distraction and hits Cena with the Pedigree to win the match and keep Cena out of the main event of Battleground. Winner: Seth Rollins
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Local Talent
Before the match starts, Enzo Amore tells the crowd to do the wave. The match barely starts and it ends with Bada Boom Shakalaka for the win. Winners: Enzo Amore & Big Cass
After the match, they are interrupted by the returning Social Outcasts. They try to convince Enzo and Cass that they are “hard,” but after failing to attack the Realest Guys in the Room, they are truly “SAWFT.”
Summer Rae vs. Becky Lynch
Before the match starts, we see that Natalya joins the commentary team at ringside. At the Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View, Natalya and Becky Lynch lost a tag team match to Charlotte and Dana Brooke. A frustrated Natalya attacked Lynch after the match and the following night on Monday Night Raw. As soon as Lynch gets to the ring, she attacks Natalya at ringside and sends Natalya retreating to the back. Result: No Contest
Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel feat. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
They hate each other and will fight forever, but Zayn looks to “end this” at Battleground. Owens accepts the challenge, and Jericho makes it about himself. Both Owens and Zayn superkick Jericho to end the gift of Jericho, and angrily stare at each other to end the segment.
The Miz vs. Kane – Intercontinental Championship
After thinking this was going to be Neville, Randy Orton, or an NXT call-up, it makes sense why they would go with Kane. Corporate Kane was in a segment with the Miz earlier tonight, so Demon Kane needs to fight his battles.
Maryse tries to distract Kane on the apron, but seems to have hurt herself instead. The Miz carries Maryse to the back and takes the count-out loss to Kane. Even though Kane wins the match, the Miz retains the Intercontinental title. Winner (via count-out): Kane
After The Miz takes Maryse to the back, Maryse reveals that she faked the injury the whole time, giving the Miz a free pass.
Cesaro & Apollo Crews vs. Sheamus & Alberto Del Rio
Two thirds of the League of Nations are back together to take on their “rivals” in this tag team match.
Sheamus and Del Rio argue the entire match, and Del Rio hits Sheamus with an Enziguri to tag himself out of the match. Crews takes advantage to hit the spinning powerbomb and pick up the win. Winners: Cesaro & Apollo Crews
In-ring Segment
The New Day comes down to the ring making fun of the Wyatt Family and roasts them. They are interrupted by the Wyatts, and Xavier Woods seems to still be very shaken up around the Wyatt Family.
Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles
Seth Rollins joins the commentary team to get a close look on this match. If Styles wins, The WWE World Heavyweight Championship match will be a fatal four-way match. If Ambrose wins, it will be the triple threat match that was originally planned.
The Club tries to help give Styles the win, but Cena attacks Gallows and Anderson at ringside. Ambrose hits a distracted Styles with Dirty Deeds for the victory. Winner: Dean Ambrose
After the match, Seth Rollins hits two Pedigrees on Ambrose. The Club then proceeds to hit Cena with a Magic Killer on the steel stage. The Club and Seth Rollins stand tall to end Monday Night Raw.
