Tonight is the last episode of Monday Night Raw (and WWE television in general) before the WWE Draft tomorrow night. Smackdown and Raw will each get their own unique rosters, and Commissioners Stephanie McMahon (Raw) and Shane McMahon (Smackdown) will choose their General Managers to kickoff the show tonight. Also, Dean Ambrose will defend the WWE Championship against Seth Rollins tonight before they face each other (and Roman Reigns) for the title on Sunday at Battleground. Tonight can truly change the landscape of WWE.
Opening Segment
To kick off the show, Shane and Stephanie McMahon come down to the ring to announce their General Managers for their respective shows. Before they name the GMs, Stephanie McMahon announces that Raw will get an exclusive Cruiserweight division, thanks to the success of the Cruiserweight Classic.
Stephanie announces a huge curveball, and names her General Manager: Mick Foley.
Foley looks to take the same competitiveness that he had in the Monday Night Wars and take it into his more authoritative role.
As incredible as Mick Foley as General Manager is, Shane McMahon arguably 1-upped Stephanie with his General Manager choice: Daniel Bryan.
Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn & Cesaro
Before Mick Foley takes over as General Manager, we start Raw by paying tribute to Teddy Long in the only way we can: a tag team match.
Chris Jericho will have a special edition of the Highlight Reel at Battleground with his guest, Randy Orton. This will be the first time we see Orton since his injury, and Orton is scheduled to compete at SummerSlam in August against Brock Lesnar.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will continue their endless rivalry at Battleground in their second Pay-Per-View match in a row. Cesaro is just there.
Jericho tries to roll up Zayn, but Zayn countered into a roll-up of his own to pick up possibly his last Raw victory. Winners: Sami Zayn & Cesaro
Alberto Del Rio vs. Darren Young (w/Bob Backlund)
Before the match starts, The Miz and Maryse join the commentary team to scout his opponent for Battleground. Darren Young won a #1 Contender’s Battle Royal last week on Monday Night Raw to earn an Intercontinental Championship match against the Miz at Battleground. Tonight is Darren Young’s first singles match since gaining Bob Backlund as his life coach.
The Miz tries to distract Young on the apron, but manages to distract the referee, which accidentally helps Darren Young roll up Del Rio for the win. Winner: Darren Young
John Cena, Enzo Amore, Big Cass, & The New Day vs. The Wyatt Family & The Club
This is one huge match to shoehorn in two plots and 12 Superstars into one match. The New Day is feuding with the Wyatt Family, Cena and The Realest Guys are feuding with The Club, and both feuds will result in 6-man tag team matches this Sunday.
The Wyatt Family and The New Day brawl towards the backstage area, and Muscles Marinara and AJ Styles are left as the legal men. Styles dodges a clothesline, and Amore accidentally hits John Cena. Styles takes advantage of a stunned Amore to hit him with the Styles Clash for the win. Winners: The Wyatt Family & The Club
Baron Corbin vs. Sin Cara
Earlier tonight, Sin Cara and Kalisto split up the Lucha Dragons to pursue their solo careers. This is good timing on their part, with the reintroduction of the cruiserweight division.
Sin Cara’s singles career is not off to a good start. Corbin ends the match quick with the End of Days to put Sin Cara away. After the match, Corbin continues the assault on Sin Cara, when Kalisto attempts to make the save. Corbin lays out Kalisto as well, and stands tall to end the segment. Winner: Baron Corbin
Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte & Dana Brooke
Tonight, we have a tag team match with Charlotte and Dana Brooke to make the fans excited for… a tag team match with Charlotte and Dana Brooke. At Battleground, Sasha Banks will have a partner of her choosing, which she has picked already, but is not willing to share.
While Banks is fighting off Dana Brooke and Charlotte, Natalya comes down to the ring to assault Becky Lynch (They will square off at Battleground). The referee sees this and calls for the disqualification. Winners (via disqualification): Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch
Rusev (w/Lana) & Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler & Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder is the current challenger for Rusev’s United States Championship, and the Long Island Iced Z helped Dolph Ziggler steal a singles win over Rusev on the last episode of Thursday Night Smackdown. Sheamus has defeated Ryder over the last week, and teams up with his former League of Nations stablemate to take down Ryder and Ziggler.
After a superkick to the back of the head, Rusev locks in the Accolade on Dolph Ziggler to pick up the victory. Winners: Rusev & Sheamus
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins – WWE Championship
At Battleground, Ambrose and Rollins will square off in a triple threat match along with Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship. Tonight determines who will walk into Battleground with the championship.
The commissioners and general managers for both shows sit at ringside for the match, which could affect their drafting plans for tomorrow.
Rollins superplexes Ambrose, but Ambrose gets enough leverage to attempt the pinfall. The referee counts to three, but both competitors had their shoulders down. Stephanie McMahon grabs a microphone and declares Rollins the winner and new WWE Champion. Rollins ends the show with the title held high, but it is uncertain whether or not he is the new champion. Winner, and new WWE Champion: Seth Rollins?
