Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw has been heavily advertised around Vince McMahon making his return. With the brand extension right around the corner and Smackdown going live next week, what big news does the Chairman have in store for the WWE Universe?
Battle Royal – #1 Contender’s Match (Intercontinental Championship)
Since the Miz has returned from filming Marine 5, he has not really done anything with the Intercontinental Championship. This is a great opportunity for The Miz to have an interesting feud, and for one of these men to boost their career. The most notable participant in this match is Darren Young, who has had vignettes during the past couple months of Monday Night Raw. His life coach, WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund, is at ringside.
Elimination order: Aiden English, Konnor, Curtis Axel, R-Truth, Viktor, D-Von Dudley, Simon Gotch, Jey Uso, Goldust, Bo Dallas, Jimmy Uso, Jack Swagger, Bubba Ray Dudley, Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews.
After Apollo Crews eliminates Baron Corbin and himself, Darren Young picks up the victory. Winner: Darren Young
Backstage Segment
Seth Rollins has a proposition for Stephanie and Shane McMahon, which they accept: Tonight, Rollins will host a talk show: The Rollins Report.
We switch gears to Zack Ryder confronting Rusev backstage. Ryder challenges Rusev to a United States Championship match, but he gets attacked from behind by Sheamus, It turns out that they have a match next.
Sheamus vs. Zack Ryder
On Smackdown last week, Ryder got a surprising victory over the Celtic Warrior after hitting the Elbro Drop. Also, Ryder eliminated Sheamus to win the Team USA vs. Team World Elimination Tag Match last week on Monday Night Raw. Sheamus is tired of losing to the Long Island Iced Z and hopes to destroy Ryder, and pick up the victory in the process.
Sheamus hits a vicious Brogue Kick on Ryder to pick up the victory. Winner: Sheamus
After the match, Rusev immediately comes down to the ring to attack Ryder. Rusev ends the assualt with the Accolade and accepts Ryder’s United States Championship match challenge.
Breezango vs. The Lucha Dragons
Both of these teams are in danger of splitting up in the live draft next Tuesday on the first edition of Smackdown Live. Tonight, both teams have to prove that they work well together so that they are practically a package deal.
Kalisto gets caught up on the turnbuckle, and Breeze takes advantage by hitting a vicious superkick for the victory. Winners: Breezango
The Rollins Report
Seth Rollins uses edited footage of him “interviewing” Roman Reigns, which twists Reigns’s own words in the perfect way to benefit Rollins and make for a great comedy segment.
Dean Ambrose comes down and tells Rollins (and the WWE Universe) about all of the hard work he has put in to become WWE Champion, and he is tired of hearing from Seth Rollins. Ambrose challenges Rollins to a title match, any time and any place, but Rollins wants to do it on his time. After the commercial break, WWE confirms that next week on Raw, Ambrose will defend the WWE Championship against Seth Rollins.
Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro
Sami Zayn was originally on commentary for this match, but Owens refuses to compete with Sami Zayn at ringside. Because of Kevin Owens’s need of a Zayn-free work environment, referees come down to the announce table to escort Zayn to the backstage area. Before Cesaro enters, Vince McMahon enters the backstage area in a limousine, with the match being postponed for a few minutes.
After a very competitive match, Kevin Owens hits a modified swinging neckbreaker on Cesaro for the win. Winner: Kevin Owens
After the match, Sami Zayn attacks Owens from out of nowhere, and Cesaro follows up with the Cesaro Swing. Zayn faces Owens at Battleground.
Heath Slater (w/Bo Dallas & Heath Slater) vs. Titus O’Neil
Last year, Titus O’Neil teamed up to form Slater Gator (along with Hornswoggle), which was a very short-lived tag team. In more recent history, Titus O’Neil failed to capture the United States Championship from Rusev last week on the Independence Day episode of Monday Night Raw.
After hitting a splash in the corner, O’Neil effortlessly hits Clash of the Titus to pick up the victory over his former Slater Gator teammate. Winner: Titus O’Neil
Backstage Segment
The New Day accepts the Wyatt Family’s challenge to fight them at the Wyatt compound, and the New Day survives by the skin of their teeth.
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (w/AJ Styles) vs. Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Last week, the Club was looking to beat up John Cena (which seems to be their current catchphrase), but Amore and Big Cass comes down to the ring to even the odds. After the skirmish last week, WWE scheduled a match for Battleground: Enzo Amore, Big Cass, & John Cena vs. The Club.
Big Cass and Enzo Amore go for Badaboom Shakalaka (former known as “Air Enzo”), and AJ Styles distracts Big Cass from the apron. Styles attacks Cass for the disqualification, and all sights are set on Enzo Amore. Winners (via disqualification): Enzo Amore & Big Cass
The Club looks to assault Amore, and Cena makes a surprise appearance to save Amore and send the Club packing.
Dana Brooke (w/Charlotte) vs. Sasha Banks
On Smackdown, Dana Brooke challenged Banks to a match tonight, and Banks was more than willing to accept. Banks has a mission: to shut Dana Brooke up. Tonight is Sasha Banks’s first singles match one Raw since April 4, and she looks to keep her singles winning streak alive.
Banks locks in the Bank Statement to put Dana Brooke away, and further her chances at a future Women’s Championship opportunity. Winner (via submission): Sasha Banks
In-ring Segment
The McMahon family comes down to the ring to address the situation with the brand extension and Smackdown needed a new head figure. Both Shane and Stephanie have to convince their father that they are the best fit person for the role as commissioner of Smackdown. Shane McMahon will control Smackdown, while Stephanie McMahon will control Raw.
Shane and Stephanie will need someone to control day-to-day aspects of the business, so on Raw next week, each commissioner will choose a General Manager.
