Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE Raw for August 26th.

Tonight’s show will feature the continuation of the King of the Ring tournament, as Drew McIntyre faces Ricochet, and Baron Corbin faces The Miz in Round 1. Last week we saw Samoa Joe, Elias, Cedric Alexander, and Andrade progressed to Round 2. Who will join them? Find out tonight.

Sasha Banks will have her first in-ring match tonight since WrestleMania, and she will have it against Natalya. Banks returned two weeks ago and laid a serious beating to Natalya, before turning her attention to The Man. Tonight Natalya aims for retribution, but don’t be shocked if Becky shows her head.

And then there’s the new Raw Tag Team Champions: Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins. The unlikely duo bring their new titles to New Orleans but the questions remains; can they co-exist? Highly doubtful.

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And that’s the preview for tonight’s Raw. Let us know what you’re thinking by following us on Twitter and Instagram, as well as downloading the Ringside News app. Enjoy the show!

Monday Night Raw

WWE Raw from New Orleans opens with The Boss, Sasha Banks, coming to the ring.


After a replay of her return and he subsequent attack on Natalya, Banks says “so everybody wants to know why?”. She reiterates the question, and says that, for four months, she’s been gone, out of sight, minding her own business, and not talking to anyone. And yet all she’s heard is people saying her name. A light “Becky” chant picks up.

She says she heard that she was throwing a fit, and lying on the locker room floor crying, and that she took her ball and went home. “You’re damn right I did.” She says she was relegated to a WrestleMania pre-show tag team match, in a match she didn’t give a damn about. Meanwhile Becky Lycnh was main eventing the whole show against Ronda Rousey. So yes, she took four months off and took some vacations using her WrestleMania paycheque.

Now she’s back though, and she had a plan. She reminds us that she hugged Natalya and she lied to Nattie by saying, “your daddy would be so proud of you.” Then came Becky Lynch to the rescue but we saw what happened to her. And now she is the centre of attention, just like she deserves. Because she has been the centrepiece of the women’s division since day one and she deserves all this attention.

Natalya comes running down and Banks meets her on the ramp. They brawl on the outside, back and forth, with Nattie slamming Banks into the steps. Officials come down and separate them but they continue breaking free and brawling. We head to the break as they’re pulled apart again.

*Commercial Break*

We return to see the Street Profits backstage. They get excited about tonight’s Raw and mention that there will be a Tag Team Turmoil Match, which is essentially a gauntlet match. That match includes The Revival, Lucha House Party, Heavy Machinery, Ryder & Hawkins, The B-Team, The Viking Raiders, Gallows & Anderson, and Ziggler & Robert Roode. The winners will go on to face Rollins and Strowman at Clash of Champions.


Ricochet makes his entrance for another match in Round 1 of King of the Ring. Drew McIntyre is out second and he stops to hold the sceptre and sit on the throne. The winner of this match will face Samoa Joe next week.

King of the Ring

Round 1

Ricochet Vs. Drew McIntyre

The match gets underway and Ricochet looks to grab McIntyre but gets tossed off. Drew throws him into the turnbuckles, then chops Ricochet down as the high-flyer did some handstands. Drew hits Ricochet with a huge biel, then delivers another chop to the chest.

Ricochet throws Drew to the outside, then hits a springboard moonsault from the ringpost but McIntyre dodged it. Ricochet looked for a headscissors but Drew held him up, then hit a backbreaker into the barricade. Still holding Ricochet, McIntyre climbed the steps and hit another backbreaker, onto the apron this time.

*Commercial Break*

Back live and Drew has Ricochet in a modified surfboard stretch. Ricochet gets to his feet and catches McIntyre with an enziguiri. Ricochet hits McIntyre with a basement dropkick and he face-plants the turnbuckles. Ricochet hits a missile dropkick and Drew rolls from the ring.

Ricochet connects with a twisting tope to Drew on the outside. Both men get back inside and Ricochet looks for an inverted hurricanrana but Drew stands firm and hits an inverted Alabama Slam for a two count. McIntyre lifts Ricochet and slaps him in the face. Drew lifts Ricochet in a military press but Ricochet escapes.

McIntyre runs for a splash in the corner but Ricochet catches him in mid-air and hits a fisherman suplex. Ricochet looks for another suplex but Drew does one of his own and throws him off. Ricochet hits a springboard clothesline from the apron, followed by a standing shooting star press for a two count.


Ricochet heads to the top rope as the fans chant “this is awesome”. McIntyre pulls him from the top rope to the apron and punches him with a right hand to the floor. On the outside, Drew looked to toss Ricochet into the steel steps but Ricochet jumped right over them, then hit an enziguiri off the steps. Ricochet runs off the steps again but this time McIntyre catches him with a Glasgow Kiss.

Back inside the ring, Drew looks for the Claymore Kick but Ricochet lands a superkick, then kicks him down but Drew comes back with a clothesline. Drew lifts Ricochet off the mat and hits a sit-out powerbomb for a near-fall. McIntyre lifts Ricochet onto his shoulders and climbs the ropes but Ricochet drops down and pulls Drew off. McIntyre literally throws Ricochet onto the top rope but the one and only jumps off and hits the Recoil! Ricochet goes back up top and lands the 630 for the win!

Winner: Ricochet

Ricochet progresses to the second round of the King of the Ring tournament, where he will face Samoa Joe. Still to come tonight, The Miz faces Baron Corbin in Round 1 of the tournament.


*Commercial Break*

We see a replay of last week when Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins won the Raw Tag Team Championships.

Rollins and Strowman are interviewed backstage and she says that both of Seth’s titles will be on the line at Clash of Champions. He says whoever steps up to face him and Braun, they’ll be ready. Of course, Braun can’t take his eyes off the Universal Championship like a moron. Eventually Strowman says Seth is right, they’ll face anyone, but he wants to know who will face Seth at Clash of Champions. Rollins says there’s a long line of Superstars but then asks Braun if he wants a shot. Strowman laughs it off and says they’re partners, but then immediately says yes. Seth says it won’t be easy and he won’t like it but he never backs down. They shake hands and walk off. A literal second later Michael Cole says it has been made official, and we see a graphic for the match. This will mark the first time ever that the Tag Team Champions will then face each other for the Universal Championship in the same night.

*Commercial Break*

The Miz gets on the microphone and says he’s accomplished a lot in his career, and he proceeds to rhyme off those accolades. He says people asks him what is left, but it’s simple: he wants everything. He says we’re all on the quest with him to steps on the iron throne, and he will become King Awesome.

King of the Ring

Round 1

The Miz Vs. Baron Corbin

The match begins and Corbin attacks Miz before he can take his shirt off. Corbin talks to the crowd, which allows Miz to start attacking him again. Miz kicks Corbin several times, then clotheslines him to the outside.

Corbin hits Miz with a right hand on the outside, before slamming him into the barricade. Back inside the ring, Corbin whips Miz into the corner, then hits the out-and-in clothesline. Corbin in control as we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

We come back from the break to see Miz hit Corbin with a Reality Check. Miz punches Corbin back to the corner and starts delivering It Kicks. Miz backs up and hits a pair of running double knees, apparently known as the Must-See-Knees, followed by his corner clothesline. Miz heads up top  and hits Corbin with an axe handle for a near fall.


Cedric Alexander is seen watching backstage, he’ll face the winner of this match next week in the second round. Corbin comes back with a Deep Six for a near fall. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Corbin gets out and goes for a chokeslam, but Miz counters into a roll up for a near-fall. Corbin knees him and looks for End of Days, but Miz flips through and hits a snap DDT for a near fall.

Miz starts kicking away at Corbin’s chest, but Corbin ducks the final one and rolls him up for another two count. Corbin goes for another out-and-in clothesline, but Miz counters into a Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall!

Corbin rolls out of the ring but Miz goes right after him, and slams him into the barricade before putting him back in the ring. Miz looks for a springboard, but Corbin dodges it and hits the End of Days for the win!

Winner: Baron Corbin


After the match, Corbin walks up to the throne and sits down on it, and puts the crown on his head. He says he was asked about a poll, in which the fans wanted anybody but him to win King of the Ring. The good news is, he never cared what any of us think. And that’s because on our best day, we couldn’t accomplish anything he has. He’s where he is because of one person, himself. And after he’s coronated, he will tell us all to hail King Corbin.

We see Gallows and Anderson backstage. Kayla Braxton asks them what their mindset is. Anderson says last week Rollins and Strowman were handed a title opportunity out of thin air, yet they have to beat seven other teams to get a rematch. It doesn’t matter however, because tonight they prove that this is their turf.

*Commercial Break*

We see a replay of last week when Rey Mysterio was about to retire but his son stopped him. Rey will return next week.

Bayley Vs. Nikki Cross

The match starts and Cross shoves Bayley, who responds with a forearm. Bayley grabs her with a headlock, but Cross gets out and they dodge each other for a minute until Bayley his a back suplex. Cross rolls from the ring and Bayley looks for a dropkick through the ropes but Cross grabs her legs and pulls her from the ring, then slams her into the apron.

Back inside the ring, Nikki gets Bayley in body scissors. Bayley starts to fight out, so Cross lifts her onto the top rope and into the tree of woe, where she delivers multiple shoulder tackles. Bayley catches Nikki with a sunset flip pin attempt. Bayley connects with a suplex, followed by a stunner using the ropes for a two count. Bayley catches Cross with a backbreaker, then hits a Macho Man Elbow for the win.

Winner: Bayley

Kayla Braxton interviews Braun, and says that this has been a very busy week for him. Strowman says he will defeat AJ Styles tonight for the United States Championship, then defend it at Clash of Champions, defend the Tag Team Titles, then win the Universal Championship.

The Viking Raiders make their way to the ring for Tag Team Turmoil.

*Commercial Break*

Tag Team Turmoil

The Viking Raiders Vs. The B-Team

The match begins with Axel and Erik. The Viking floors Curtis right away and screams at him. Axel fires back and puts Erik in the corner and stomps him down. Bo Dallas tags in and he stomps Erik, then Axel tags in and does the same, then Dallas again.

Finally, Erik floors both men and tags Ivar. Erik knocks Axel from the apron, then he and Ivar hit The Viking Experience to Dallas for the win.

The B-Team Eliminated

The Viking Raiders Vs. Gallows & Anderson

The match begins with Gallows and Ivar but Luke immediately attacks Ivar and knocks him from the apron. Anderson joins and the two of them beat Ivar down in the corner, before leaving the ring and pounding Erik on the outside.

Ivar hits Erik and Anderson with a suicide dive. Ivar gets Anderson back in the ring, but Gallows runs in and joins the fight. All four men brawl in the ring until the referee calls for a double disqualification.

Gallows & Anderson Eliminated

The Viking Raiders Eliminated


Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler make their way to the ring, they will face a new team after the break.

*Commercial Break*

Ziggler & Roode Vs. Lucha House Party

We’re back live and Lince Dorado is attacking Robert Roode. Ziggler makes the tag, as does Gran Metalik. The latter dodges Ziggler with incredible agility, then hits a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Roode broke up the pinfall, but Lince Dorado then hits Roode with a hurricanrana.

Roode rolls from the ring and Dolph throws Dorado out. Metalik hits Dolph with a roll-up but the Show-Off kicks out. Metalik hits a springboard but Ziggler superkicks him in mid-air for the win.

Lucha House Party Eliminated

Ziggler & Roode Vs. The Revival

The fourth match begins with Ziggler and Scott Dawson. They exchange amateur wrestling holds and pinfalls. Ziggler takes a headlock and tags Roode, who puts Dawson in the corner and chops him. However Dawson turns the tables. Roode whips Dawson into the turnbuckles, then hits a back drop.

Ziggler tags in, as does Dash Wilder, who hits Dolph with a shoulder tackle over the ropes. Dash and Dawson hit Ziggler with a double-team backbreaker/leg drop for a near-fall. Dash and Dawson hit a double-team catapult to Dolph into the bottom rope. Dash applies a bear-hug on the mat before tagging Dawson.

Scott hangs Dolph over the middle rope and kicks him until the referee pulls him off, during which time Dash attacks Dolph. Dawson hits a rope-assisted suplex but Roode breaks it up. Ziggler reverses a back suplex before tagging Roode. Wilder comes in and grabs Dolph before he leaves the ring and kicks Roode from the apron. Ziggler hits Dash with a DDT. Dawson comes in but Roode hits him with a surprise Glorious DDT for the win!

The Revival Eliminated


*Commercial Break*

Ziggler & Roode Vs. Hawkins & Ryder

We’re back live and this match is undeway. Hawkins is taking out Ziggler and Roode with repeated dropkciks and a neckbreaker to Dolph. He tags Ryder, and they hit a double-team neckbreaker but Roode breaks it up.

Roode tosses Hawkis into the ring post. Ryder throws Roode from the ring but then Dolph Ziggler superkicks him for the win.

Hawkins & Ryder Eliminated

Ziggler & Roode Vs. Heavy Machinery

The final match in this tag team turmoil, with the winners facing Braun and Seth at Clash of Champions for the Raw Tag Team Championships. Ziggler and Roode leave the ring and ask for a time-out but Tucker goes out after them and attacks them. Tucker gets Ziggler back in the ring and hits a springboard crossbody for a two count.

Knight lifts Ziggler up in a suplex, then tags Otis, who comes in and takes Ziggler off Tucker into a suplex of his own. Knight tags in and hits a senton from the apron to the ring. Tucker hits the ropes but Roode pulls the top rope down and Knight flies to the outside. Roode slams him into the barricade, then the steel steps, before putting him back inside.

Ziggler hits a neckbreaker for a two count, then applies a sleeper. Knight fights to his feet but Ziggler slams him down. Dolph looks for a dropkick but Tucker catches him and catapults Ziggler into the ring post. Both Roode and Otis are tagged, and the big man floors Dolph and Roode with shoulder tackles. Otis lifts Roode and spins around in circles before throwing him.

Otis splashes Roode in the corner, then hits Dolph with a flapjack and throws him into Roode. Otis splashes both men, then hits Dolph with the caterpillar. Roode runs-in and rolls-up Otis for a near-fall. Otis slams Roode, then tags Tucker and they look for The Compactor on Roode but Dolph comes in and superkicks Knight, then hits Otis with the Zig-Zag, landing on Knight. Roode lifts Knight and hits the Glorious DDT for the win!

Winners: Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler

Roode and Ziggler will face Strowman and Rollins at Clash of Champions in three weeks.


We see a video package of the Roman Reigns/mystery attacker storyline.

*Commercial Break*

Sasha Banks Vs. Natalya

The referee has to get in between them before the bell. As soon as the match begins, Nattie tackles Sasha and pounds her. Banks kicks Nattie from the ring, then looks for a baseball slide but Nattie avoids it and slams her into the barricade. Natalya hits Banks with two suplexes on the floor, before putting her back in the ring.

Natalya beats on Banks in the corner before hitting her with a huge, Brock Lesnar-style German suplex. Banks rolls from the ring, where she manages to slam Natalya’s injured arm into the ring post. Banks drags Natalya from the ring and throws her nose-over-tail into the timekeeper’s area. Banks shoves Natalya into the ring post, then back into the ring.

Banks puts Natalya in the corner and kicks her before wrapping her arm around the rope and pulling it. Banks looks for double knees in the corner but nobody’s home. Natalya looks for a roll-up but she stops and tries to put on the Sharpshooter to no avail. Banks hits Natalya with the Bank Statement, and Nattie tries to get to the ropes but Sasha wraps her injured arm across her face and Natalya taps.

Winner: Sasha Banks

After the match, Banks leaves the ring but turns and gets back into apply the Bank Statement again. The referee pulls her off and Banks leaves with a grin on her face.

Kayla Braxton is backstage with AJ Styles. She asks him about the match against Braun tonight, but he calls it “a bunch of bull”. He says Gallows and Anderson were screwed last week and nobody thinks he can beat Braun by himself, but clearly they’ve forgotten how phenomenal he is. He says Braun thinks he can walk out of Clash of Champions with all the gold, but he can’t do that because he won’t get his hands on his U.S Championship.

After the break, Cesaro will face Cedric Alexander.

*Commercial Break*

Cesaro Vs. Cedric Alexander

The match gets underway and both men lock-up. Cesaro powers Alexander, forcing him to the corner. Alexander shoves him, so Cesaro knocks him down. Alexander fires back with some stiff chops, followed by a head-scissor takeover before dropkicking him out of the ring.

Alexander goes for a suicide dive, but Cesaro counters him with a European uppercut. Cesaro gets him back in the ring and hits a deadlift gutwrench suplex for a two count. Cesaro then applies a chin lock. Cesaro sends him to the apron, but Alexander boots him away. Alexander then hits a slingshot reverse STO.

Cesaro rolls out of the ring but Alexander hits him with a somersault senton. Alexander puts Cesaro back in the ring and hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Cesaro comes back with an uppercut, so Alexander hits him with a running cross-body block that sends them both over the top rope as we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

We come back from the break to see Cesaro attacking Alexander’s leg. During the break, Cesaro shoves Alexander leg-first into the LED boards before dropping it on the apron. Alexander catches Cesaro with a kick to the head, then he hit a Michinoku Driver after almost collapsing. Baron Corbin, Alexander’s opponent next week, is seen watching backstage.

Alexander heads to the apron and looks for a springboard, but he can’t jump on his leg. Alexander knocks Cesaro back and starts to climb the ropes, but Cesaro joins him. Cesaro hits a big superplex for a two count. Cesaro transitions from pin into a single leg crab, but Alexander grabs the bottom rope. Cesaro hits the ropes, but Alexander catches him with a Spanish Fly out of nowhere for a two count!

Alexander punches Cesaro and looks for a slam, but his knee gives out again. Cesaro applies a cloverleaf, then transitions into a single leg crab again. Alexander fights up and hits a victory roll for a two count. Alexander connects with a back elbow and looks for a handspring kick, but Cesaro counters into an ankle lock. Alexander twists out to send Cesaro out of the ring. Cesaro quickly gets back in, and Alexander hits him with a Lumbar Check for the win.

Winner: Cedric Alexander

*Commercial Break*

We see a video of R-Truth taking the 24/7 Championship from Elias this past weekend at a Fox Sports event. Truth then appeared on Fox TV, where host Rob Stone tripped Truth and pinned him. Elias then appeared and pinned Stone to regain his title.

Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode are interviewed backstage, and they’re asked how they came together. Ziggler says he doesn’t trust anybody but every now and again you find a Superstar with the same twinkle in their eye as you. Ziggler says that Braun and Seth will be exhausted at Clash of Champions, and they will capitalise. Roode says they both know that neither of them could team with anyone better. They say they didn’t come together on a whim, and they’re the most talented and best looking team on the roster. He says that, at Clash of Champions, they will become the next Raw Tag Team Champions and it will be glorious.

Montez Ford is backstage and he says tonight’s Raw has been lit. He says Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler have put themselves on the map, and asks if it’s possible for Seth and Braun to overcome everything at Clash of Champion’s. Dawkins isn’t paying attention though because he’s wearing Mardi Gras clothing and says he’s heading to Bourbon Street to party. Ford asks him who will win the United States Championship tonight but before they speak, the camera turns to see Strowman standing two feet away, and he starts walking towards the ring.

*Commercial Break*

We see a video recapping many of the Firefly Fun House segments.

United States Championship Match
(C) AJ Styles Vs. Braun Strowman

The match begins and Braun immediately throws AJ over the rope to the outside. Braun runs around the ring and shoulder tackles AJ, then does the same again. Strowman puts AJ back in the ring and runs at him but eats a kick in the face.

Styles looks for a Phenomenal Forearm but gets caught with a huge chokeslam. Braun pins but AJ gets his foot on the bottom rope. AJ goes to the apron but Braun boots him off.

*Commercial Break*

Back live and Styles is on Braun’s back with a sleeper hold. Strowman fights out and looks for a big boot but misses and gets his foot caught on the top rope. Styles hits a chop block to the standing leg, then chops him down with kicks.

Styles hits a moonsault from the second rope for a two count. AJ hits a flying forearm to the back of the head, then applies the Calf Crusher. Braun scream and thinks about tapping but then the big man just sits up on his knees and headbutts AJ.

Strowman delivers two shoulder tackles, then looks for the running powerslam but AJ escapes. Strowman runs and spears the ring post, forcing the referee onto the apron. AJ shoves Braun into the referee, who crashes into the barricade. Braun grabs AJ for the Chokeslam but AJ rakes his eyes, then kicks him in the groin.

Styles leaves the ring and grabs a chair but Braun hits him with a running powerslam when he gets back inside but there’s no referee. Anderson and Gallows come down and attack Braun but he shrugs them off and hits them with chairs. The referee gets up and Styles pulls an Eddie Guerrero, pretending he was hit. The referee calls for the bell.

Winner Via Disqualification: AJ Styles

Braun doesn’t like the referee’s decision, so he batters AJ and Gallows with the chair. Strowman then hits Anderson and Gallows with powerslams, before lifting AJ and hitting him with a running powerslam. Strowman lifts the United States Championship and stares at it before tossing it onto AJ and posing.

And that’s it for Monday Night Raw. Let us know what you thought and we’ll see you here tomorrow for SmackDown Live. Until then, safe travels!

Curtis Dillion

Curtis does our weekly live match-by-match coverage of WWE RAW and SmackDown for Ringside News. In addition to SmackDown, Curtis also does WWE & NXT special event coverage as well. He has been helping out at for Ringside News for many years.

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