Welcome to Monday Night Raw for the last time in November 2017!

Tonight’s show is set to feature the new WWE Intercontinental Champion, Roman Reigns, issuing an open challenge to the Raw roster. Anyone could accept Reigns’ challenge, even a handful of Superstars on Twitter have accepted, including Jason Jordan and Finn Balor. Of those two, Jordan seems the far more likely candidate as he can lose and it won’t hurt him all that much. Hopefully this is the start of a Cena-esque weekly open challenge.

Elsewhere on tonight’s show, we’re set for 3-on-3 women’s action, as Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James will face the returning Paige, Sonya Deville, and Mandy Rose. The latter three ladies returned/debuted on Raw last week and set fire to the division, attacking everyone in sight, including the Champion, Alexa Bliss. SmackDown Live featured a similar invasion the next night but Raw will see them in action tonight. Will Paige and her minions prove dominance, or will they be upset in their first official match?

Braun Strowman and Kane are likely to continue their feud for biggest monstrosity on the Raw brand tonight, who will get the upper hand? We’re still a long ways away from Royal Rumble, and I can’t see this one lasting until then, so maybe Angle books a match between them to end the feud. Then there’s Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, who are seeking a rematch against Sheamus & Cesaro for the WWE Tag Team Championships. It seems The Shield boys will ask for that rematch tonight, but maybe they’ll be forced to wait until the Rumble to get it.

All that and more on tonight’s show. Let us know what you’re excited to see by downloading the free Ringside News and Ringside Talk apps, and enjoy the show!

Monday Night Raw opens with a look at the rivalry between Kane and Braun Strowman, going back to WWE TLC when The Big Red Machine attempted to murder Strowman.

We go live to the arena in Tennessee and the new Intercontinental Champion is introduced. The Big Dog, Roman Reigns, gets a mixed reception from the fans as he makes his way to the ring. We see highlights of last Monday when Reigns captured his first IC Title from The Miz.

Reigns stands in the ring and a decent “Roman” chant gets going. He says it’s no secret that last week was a big deal for him: The Shield officially reunited, they went to Survivor Series and “beat the brakes” off of those SmackDown boys, The New Day, and he won the Intercontinental Championship for the first time. “You deserve it” kick-up and Reigns says it’s been a very long time but “thank you for that”.

We see highlights of last week, after Raw went off the air, when The Shield hit the Triple Powerbomb on Miz through the announce table. Reigns says we won’t see The Miz for a while but we are going to see a lot of him with the IC Title. He says Miz talks a lot of stupid crap but one thing was true, this title is prestigious. He plans on keeping it that way, the most important title in WWE. So it’s simple, anyone who wants a shot knows where to find him.

Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel make their way to the stage. Dallas says it makes him sick to see Reigns with The Miz’s title. Axel says that they’re in no shape to get revenge on Reigns and The Shield but they know someone who can…

Elias says The Miz is a great guy, so he wants to help Dallas and Axel. He says that tonight he will take the Intercontinental Championship from Reigns. Roman says that “Elias wants to walk with the Big Dog”, but he should take a good look at Curtis Axel because after tonight Elias might need a neck brace too! The match is set for later!

Reigns walks up the ramp and once he reaches the top, Seth Rollins’ music hits and out comes The Architect. Rollins makes his way to the ring, after the break he will face Cesaro!

*Commercial Break*

Sheamus is not here tonight as he’s in Ireland, meanwhile Dean Ambrose is also missing due to being on his honeymoon with Renee Young.

Seth Rollins Vs. Cesaro

The bell rings and Rollins has to wait for Cesaro to take his kilt off. The fans cheer for Rollins as the two lock-up. Rollins takes Cesaro’s back but the Swiss Cyborg takes charge via some joint manipulation. Cesaro grounds Rollins with a wrist-lock but Seth rolls through and gets the wrist of Cesaro.

Rollins is kicked to the mat, then shot into the ropes where he counters with a crossbody. Rollins puts Cesaro in the corner and kicks him down before chopping him in the chest. Cesaro hangs through the ropes, forcing the referee to make the break, then takes a cheap shot and hits Rollins with a suplex onto the top rope. Rollins hits the mat hard, then rolls from the ring as we take a break.

*Commercial Break*

We come back from the break to see Cesaro applying an abdominal stretch. Rollins fights out and goes for a hip toss, but Cesaro doesn’t budge. Cesaro knees him in the midsection for a two count. Cesaro drives his knees into Rollins and waits for him to get up in the corner. Cesaro hits a shoulder thrust and puts him on the top rope. Cesaro goes for a gutwrench superplex, but Rollins holds the ropes and elbows him in the quadricep. Cesaro is knocked to the canvas. Rollins dives for a cross-body block, but Cesaro catches him and counters into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall!

Cesaro isn’t happy, so he slams him down for another two count. Cesaro applies a bear hug, but Rollins quickly fights up and elbows him before going for a suplex. Rollins can’t get him up with the bad back, so Cesaro takes him down for a two count. Cesaro is frustrated with the referee’s count. Cesaro drops an elbow before head-butting him in the ribs. Cesaro sends him into the ropes for an abdominal stretch, but Rollins fights it and applies an abdominal stretch of his own. Cesaro quickly hip tosses out, but Rollins makes a comeback by booting him in the face. Rollins then hits a blockbuster, and both men are down.

Rollins punches and chops him before kicking him in the midsection. Cesaro quickly gives him a back body drop to the apron. Rollins sidesteps a shoulder and hits a slingshot leg drop to knock him out of the ring. Rollins then connects with a suicide dive and takes out Cesaro as we take another break. A nice long match here.

*Commercial Break*

We return and see Rollins connect with a falcon’s arrow for a near fall. During the commercial break, Cesaro picked up Rollins and sent him ribs-first into the ring post. Rollins goes for a roll-up, but Cesaro holds the ropes. Cesaro tries to send him to the corner, but Rollins stops himself when the referee gets in the way. Cesaro quickly pokes the eyes and executes an inside cradle for a near fall.

Cesaro takes him down for a Cesaro Swing before transitioning into a Sharpshooter, a move in tribute to Cesaro’s former partner Tyson Kidd. Cesaro drags him to the center of the ring, but Rollins claws his way to the bottom rope to break the hold. Cesaro wildly punches away at Rollins before going for a Gotch Neutralizer. Rollins fights out with a back body drop and rolls through to superkick him for a near fall. Cesaro uppercuts him until Rollins counters into a backslide pin for a two count. Cesaro goes for a springboard, but Rollins superkicks him and hits a Ripcord Knee for the win.

Winner: Seth Rollins

After the match, Charly Caruso enters the ring and talks to Rollins. She mentions how Reigns is the IC Champion and Ambrose is gone, so maybe The Shield are going in different directions. Rollins says hell no, that Ambrose is just on honeymoon, which reminds him he should call Dean and see if he’s alive, but regardless he’ll be back next week. Rollins then says Roman being Champion is a great thing and it makes him and Ambrose want to invoke their rematch clause and win back their tag titles. Rollins says next week Ambrose will be back, and Sheamus should be back from “whatever weird Irish mohawk convetion” he’s currently at in Dublin, so they will take the titles back next week!

We see highlights of 205 Live last Tuesday night, when The Zo Train beat-down the babyfaces of the Cruiserweight division. Kurt Angle is backstage being berated by Rich Swann, Cedric Alexander, Akira Tozawa and Mustafa Ali. He asks what’s wrong and Swann says The Zo Train has gone off the rails, to which Angle asks what the hell a Zo Train is. They say they just want a chance to beat Enzo. He says he may have let the division get a little out of hand, so they shall find a new challenger to Enzo. Tonight we will have a Fatal 4-Way match, and another one next week. The winners of those matches will face each other to determine who will face Enzo Amore for the Cruiserweight Championship at Royal Rumble.

We see Samoa Joe making his way to the ring, looking to cause some new destruction.

*Commercial Break*

We return and Titus O’Neil is in the ring with Apollo Crews. Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring, he does not look happy but I guess Joe never does.

Samoe Joe Vs. Titus O’Neil W/Apollo Crews

The bell rings, and O’Neil charges him. Joe quickly covers up while O’Neil throws some punches. Joe quickly head-butts him and goes for a Coquina Clutch, but O’Neil backs him to the corner. O’Neil knees him down, but Joe turns him in the corner, hits a running elbow, and connects with a snap back kick. Joe jabs away at him and chops the chest.

They trade chops before Joe forearms him and slaps him in the throat. O’Neil tackles him to the corner and punches away at him. O’Neil then slaps him in the face, but that just angers Joe. O’Neil quickly big boots him down for a two count. O’Neil talks trash to him in the corner and punches before the official backs him up. Joe punches him while the referee backs O’Neil up and applies the Coquina Clutch for the submission victory.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Apollo Crews gets in the ring and gets in Joe’s face. Crews ducks a right hand, but Joe ducks a step-up enzuigiri. Joe then applies the Coquina Clutch. Joe leaves the ring after Crews passes out.

Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Mickie James will face Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville next.

*Commercial Break*

Footage is shown of Paige’s return last week. She came down to the ring and partnered up with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, who jumped in through the crowd. They laid out Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Mickie James. After that, they laid out Alexa Bliss backstage.

Sasha Banks makes her entrance. Mickie James was supposed to follow, but she didn’t make her entrance. Bayley’s music then played, but she was nowhere to be seen. Paige’s music then hits, and Banks looks disgusted. Paige says considering what they did to Banks, she looks surprisingly good. Paige asks where her friends are. Paige asks Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville what happened to Mickie and Bayley. Paige then suddenly remembers. We go backstage to see James holding her knee. A referee checks on her. Then we go elsewhere backstage to see Bayley holding her neck. Paige says neither of them look good and that makes this a handicap match.

Paige says before they do, she has to get something off her mind. She’s been hounded on social media and airports with people asking her about her actions. A year ago, she was THE woman to stick the flag into the ground and single-handedly erase the word “Diva” from the WWE dictionary. She was the matriarch of the WWE evolution. Last week, she was making a statement as to who she is. Guess what? Paige says, “I’m baaack!”

The get on the apron, and Paige calls her group, “Absolution.” You have Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. Rose says others may have forgotten, but before there was a Boss and the Four Horsewomen and a Goddess and an Empress, there was Paige. They didn’t forget however. Deville says every woman has pushed the competition and the envelope. They’ve raised the game. The fact is that nothing would have been elevated if it wasn’t for Paige. That’s why they’ve pledged their allegiance to Paige. Together, Absolution is going to turn into a whole new Women’s Revolution. Paige asks if Banks is going to have the same fate as Bayley and Mickie James or will she pledge their allegiance to them. Paige says she’s either with them or against them. Banks thinks about it before knocking Paige off the apron. Rose and Deville double-team Banks and hold her up. Banks fights out, but she’s quickly taken down. Paige screams this is her house. Deville lays Banks out with a big kick. Rose then lays her out with an impressive sit-out pedigree. Paige then connects with the Ram-Paige. Absolution stands tall in the ring.

Roman Reigns will defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Elias later tonight. Bray Wyatt’s video flashes on the screen. Wyatt appears on the screen and says, “I’m here.”

*Commercial Break*

Bray Wyatt comes to the ring to a good reception from the Tennessee crowd. He says he never had a Thanksgiving, never got to carve the turkey, but the fans definitely have. He says that’s what they want you to do, and they tell you who to love and who to be. He calls them pathetic and says he tried but they never listened to him. He says their ignorance and suffering bring him joy because now his eyes are open and he can finally see them for who they are. None of them are alive, they’re all dead. Bray laughs and screams that they’re all dead. He keeps repeating it and laughing until Matt Hardy comes out to interrupt him.

*Commercial Break*

Matt Hardy Vs. Bray Wyatt

We join the match in progress. Wyatt head-butts Hardy and applies a neck vice. Hardy fights up, but Wyatt punches him. Wyatt hits the ropes and floors him with a flying body block. Hardy has a lost look in his eyes. The commentators are talking about his career being in a funk. Wyatt punches him and connects with an avalanche. Wyatt goes for a senton splash, but Hardy rolls out of the way.

Hardy punches away at him, but he has a whip to the corner reversed. Hardy sidesteps an avalanche before hitting a pair of corner clotheslines. Hardy follows up with a bulldog and goes to the second rope. Wyatt catches him and goes for a uranage, but Hardy elbows out and hits a Side Effect for a near fall. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate, but Wyatt shoves him off. Hardy elbows and boots him back before slamming him down by the hair. Hardy goes for a top rope moonsault, but Wyatt rolls out of the way. Wyatt does his crab walk before hitting Sister Abigail for the win.

Winner: Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt leaves the ring while Matt Hardy sits in the ring. Hardy screams and starts shouting, “DELETE” before leading a “DELETE” chant. Michael Cole asks if we’re witnessing the beginning of a Matt Hardy “breakdown.” YEEEEESSSS!

Roman Reigns will take on Elias with the Intercontinental Championship on the line later tonight.

*Commercial Break*

We return to Raw and it’s time for our cruiserweight 4-way match. The winner of this match goes on to face the winner of a Fatal 4-Way next week, for the opportunity to face Enzo Amore at Royal Rumble.

Fatal 4-Way

Noam Dar Vs. Ariya Daivari Vs. Rich Swann Vs. Akira Tozawa

Daivari and Dar attack Tozawa and Swann to start the match. Dar and Daivari team up to take them down. Dar and Daivari send Tozawa into the ropes, but he holds on. Swann then helps him clear the ring. Tozawa and Swann then engage in a series of highly choreographed simulated competition. Enzo Amore is watching backstage. Daivari pulls Tozawa out of the ring. Swann takes them all out with a nasty-looking summersault senton.

Swann chops Dar at ringside and puts him in the ring. Swann kicks and chops him. Outside the ring, Daivari sends Tozawa into the barricade. The crowd is starting to entertain themselves. Daivari wipes Swann out with a spinebuster for a near fall. Dar takes out Tozawa and double-teams him with Daivari. Daivari and Dar send Tozawa to the corner hard, and he collapses to the mat. They then knock Swann off the apron. Swann blocks a suplex from Daivari on the floor. Dar comes out, and they hit a double-team suplex on the floor.

*Commercial Break*

We come back from the break to see Tozawa make a comeback. Tozawa goes to the top rope, but Daivari and Dar try to stop him. Tozawa fights them off, but they eventually stop him. They go for a double-team superplex, but Swann takes advantage with a powerbomb on Dar and Daivari. Swann covers Tozawa for a near fall. The crowd is absolutely silent for this match. Swann goes to the top rope, but he’s taken out by Dar and Daivari. Tozawa takes Dar out wit ha suicide dive.

In the ring, Daivari hits Swann with a frog splash for a near fall. Tozawa quickly floors Daivari with a shining wizard. Tozawa goes to the top rope for a diving senton splash, and he connects. Dar comes in and sends Tozawa into the ring post before covering Daivari, but Swann breaks it up. Dar gets Swann out of the ring and rolls Tozawa up for a near fall. Dar kicks Tozawa, but Swann pulls Tozawa out of the ring. Swann kicks Dar down and hits a Phoenix Splash for the win.

Winner: Rich Swann

Swann will face the winner of next week’s Fatal 4-Way in order to determine the number one contender to Enzo Amore.

We see Elias walking backstage, ready for his match with Roman Reigns.

*Commercial Break*

Elias is in the ring, and he wants to know who wants to walk with him. His next song is dedicated to The Miz, but the crowd needs to shut their mouths. The crowd boos, so Elias says he won’t do the song, which gets a nice reaction. Elias then says The Miz deserves this song. Elias then goes into the song singing about how The Miztourage hasn’t slept since Miz has been gone. The Miztourage then joins him in the ring. Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas take turns doing harmonica solos. They’re obviously not playing because Axel removed the harmonica before it was done playing. Elias thanks The Miztourage and commends them on their musical talents. Elias starts playing another song, but a loud “We want Roman” chant fires up. A small contingent in the crowd is trying to say, “Roman sucks.” Elias says no one wants Reigns more than him. The next song is about Roman’s Intercontinental Championship walking away with Elias but just then, The Big Dog saves us all.

Roman Reigns finally makes his entrance to a good reaction. Elias and The Miztourage clear from the ring. This Championship match is about to begin and we get ring introductions for both men.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

(C) Roman Reigns Vs. Elias

The bell rings and they lock up. Elias hooks a side headlock, but Reigns quickly pushes him off. They circle the ring and lock up again. Reigns hooks a side headlock before Elias whips him off. Reigns shoulder blocks him down for a one count. They lock up a third time, and Elias gets him in the corner. Elias shoulders him in the corner but Reigns comes back with three right hands. Elias reverses a whip and turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection for a one count. Elias then sends him shoulder-first into the ring post for a near fall.

Elias then applies a chin lock. Elias rips at the mouth and drives his knee into Reigns’ back. Reigns fights up and punches out. Reigns hits the ropes, but Elias follows him in and clotheslines him down for a two count. Elias then reapplies the chin lock and really cinches it in. Reigns eventually fights up and drives him hard into the corner twice. Reigns hits the ropes and connects with a pair of clotheslines. Elias reverses a whip, but Reigns comes back with a diving clothesline. Reigns clubs him in the corner before Bo Dallas gets on the apron to distract him. Reigns punches him off but Axel gets on the apron on the opposite side. Axel jumps off when Reigns comes a running. Regardless, Elias then floors Reigns with a flying high knee for a near fall as we take a break.

*Commercial Break*

We come back from the break to see Elias applying a chin lock to Reigns. Reigns fights up, but Elias sends him into the ropes. Reigns holds on and elbows him back. Elias still tries for a side headlock, but Reigns shoves him out of the ring. Reigns goes outside and hits him with a Drive By Dropkick before putting him in the ring. Dallas charges, but Reigns floors him with a Superman Punch. Axel then backs up and points at his neck brace. Reigns pretends to walk away before turning around to Spear him on the floor!

Elias quickly sends Reigns into the ring post, the barricade, and puts him in the ring. Elias goes to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop for a near fall! Elias gets him to his feet, but Reigns tries to counter with a Samoan Drop. Elias slides off and sends him to the corner. Elias gets him up in position for an electric chair before spinning him around and hitting a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall! They get a “This is awesome” chant.

Elias tries to pull him up, but Reigns is dead weight. Elias goes for a suplex, but Reigns counters into an inside cradle. Elias quickly punches him and hits the ropes, but Reigns hits a Superman Punch for a near fall. Reigns can’t believe he kicked out. Reigns sets up for a Spear, but Elias kicks him in the face. Elias hits the ropes, but Reigns changes directions and floors him with a Spear for the win!

Winner: Roman Reigns

We see replays after the match and Roman walks off with his IC Champion
ship. Reigns reaches the top of the ramp and turns to celebrate when Samoa Joe runs out and wraps himself around Roman with the Coquina Clutch! Joe chokes the Champion out until referee’s and Fit Finlay come out and drag him off. Joe makes another run and attacks Reigns as he is laid out until Finlay escorts him to the back.

*Commercial Break*

Replays are shown of Samoa Joe’s attack on Roman Reigns.

Asuka makes her way to the ring to defend her unbeaten streak! Dana Brooke is taking the challenge again. On her way to the ring, we see a video in which Dana Brooke says she watched their match over and over and realised Asuka is a slow starter and will be coming hard to start their match.

Asuka Vs. Dana Brooke

The bell rings, and Dana runs at Asuka, only to be caught with a flying armbar and she taps immediately!

Winner: Asuka

Paige’s music hits, and she makes her way to the ring with Absolution. Absolution surrounds the ring, and Asuka prepares for a fight. Asuka smiles as Paige backs away from the ring. Asuka then leaves the ring and walks backwards up the ramp. Asuka goes up the ramp smiling at them. Paige waves at her.

Jason Jordan will face Kane, next.

*Commercial Break*

Jason Jordan Vs. Kane

The bell rings and Jordan circles Kane, looking for an opening. He shoots for a leg but Kane throws him off. Jason next takes Kane’s back but eats an elbow. Kane tosses him to the corner but Jordan hits a springboard elbow, then picks Kane up and rams him into the turnbuckles. Jordan then runs Kane to the opposite corner.

Jason looks to hit a belly-to-belly but Kane checks it and throws Jason over the top rope. Jordan immediately grabs his knee and holds it while crying in agony. The fans boo as it becomes apparent that he has the bad knee. Jordan can’t make it back to the ring in time and it’s a count-out!

Winner Via Count-Out: Kane

Jordan slides back into the ring, where Kane attacks him. Kane throws him over the top rope again, then beats him around ringside. Back inside the ring, Kane hits a chop-block, then slams his knee into the mat. Kane continues the attack until Finn Balor comes out. Finn makes his way to the ring, staring at Kane, but we head to one last break.

*Commercial Break*

Kane vs. Finn Balor

The bell rings, and Kane quickly goes for a Chokeslam, but Balor fights out. Balor dropkicks him in the knee and hits the ropes, but Kane punches him down. Kane sends him hard into the corner and kicks the back. Kane sends him to the corner and clotheslines him before hitting a sidewalk slam. Kane applies a chin lock and slows the action down.

Balor fights up and boots him back twice. Balor jumps over the top rope and uses the ropes to kick him in the head. Balor then dropkicks him out of the ring, but Kane lands on his feet. Balor hits a plancha, but Kane doesn’t go down. Balor charges and hits a running dropkick, but Kane is still standing. Kane then hits Balor in the midsection with a chair and big boots him down on the floor.

Winner by Disqualification: Finn Balor

Kane hits Balor again with the chair and gets him in the ring to crack him in the back with the chair. A “One more time” chant lightly picks up. Kane obliges and smacks him in the back once more with the chair. Kane waits for him to get up and hits him once more with the chair. Kane puts the chair around Balor’s head and goes to the second rope.

Braun Strowman’s music hits, and he comes down to the ring holding his throat. Strowman gets in the ring and hits him with the chair, but it doesn’t hurt him. Kane begs Strowman off. Strowman big boots him and head-butts away at him. Strowman avalanches him in the corner before body blocking him out of the ring. Strowman goes outside, picks up the steel steps, and hits Kane with them. Strowman takes the larger, lower half of the steel steps and puts it in the ring. Strowman smashes Kane’s face off the other steel steps and gets him in the ring. Strowman hits Kane in the back with the steel chair before trying to crawl away. Strowman grabs him and hits a Running Powerslam onto the steel steps! The crowd chants, “One more time.” Strowman puts the point of the chair on his throat and slams it down. Kane grabs his throat and is having trouble breathing. Strowman grabs him and does it again! Kane rolls to the apron clutching his throat and falls to the floor. Kane falls into the crowd and stumbles off.

That’s it for this week’s Raw. Let us know what you thought of the show and come back tomorrow night for SmackDown Live and 205 Live. Until then, safe travels.