Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of Monday Night Raw!

Tonight’s Raw comes to us by way of Madison Square Garden and WWE offers us something special. Last week, Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman attempted a contract signing but it quickly descended into chaos as these things usually do, and the contract didn’t get signed. Well tonight they will attempt to do that again but rather than having Michael Cole serve as moderator, we’re getting none other than the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Is this a lazy attempt to boost ratings and ticket sales? Yes. Do I care? Nope.

The marquee match for tonight’s Raw is the King of the Ring semi-final bout between Ricochet, Samoa Joe, and Baron Corbin. That’s right, a Triple Threat. It’s unclear why WWE made this decision, unless it was so that Corbin could escape the round without taking a pinfall, but the far more obvious option seems to have been for both Joe and Ricochet to get disqualified and Corbin get the ultimate heel pass to the finals. Alas, that isn’t the case but this match should be awesome.

For the first time ever on WWE’s main roster, the four horsewomen will be in a match together. Becky Lynch teams with Charlotte Flair to face Sasha Banks and Bayley. Fans have wanted a Fatal 4-Way between these ladies for years now and, while this isn’t it, this should be a fun scratch for that itch.

Also on tonight’s Raw, Rey Mysterio returns to face Gran Metalik, and Cedric Alexander faces AJ Styles. That’s all we know that’s going down, but it’s already shaping up to be a decent Raw. Let us know what you’re excited to see by following us on Twitter and Instagram, and by downloading the Ringside News app. Enjoy the show!

WWE Raw

Monday Night Rae begins and the glass shatters, causing the roof to blow off of Madison Square Garden!

Austin poses on all four corners to a huge, sustained pop. Stone Cold grabs some beers right off the bat and sinks them before getting on the mic. Austin says it’s good be back in MSG, and somebody told him had it been over twenty years since he’s back in the Garden. But before we get down to the contract signing, Austin wants to go down memory lane. He says he will never forget standing in the corner at Survivor Series, ready to face Bret Hart. He recounts leaning on the ropes and hearing Bret Hart’s music hit and the hair raising all over his body. He also remembers coming out here and Vince trying to serenade him over his neck, and he hit him with the first Stunner in this very building. And one last memory, around 1996, against The Undertaker at SummerSlam: Highway to Hell. He tells the story of The Undertaker accidentally knocking him up from a headbutt. He says it was the first time he ever got knocked out, and remembers asking Earl Hebner where he was, to which Earl replied “goddammit boy, you in the Garden!” Austin says he cleaned that up for TV.

Stone Cold gets to the matter at hand and says last week’s Raw saw the contract signing descend into chaos, so he’s here to play the intermediary. He asks the fans if they want to see this contract signed and they give a rapturous “Hell Yeah!” Austin introduces one half of the Raw Tag Team Champions, Braun Strowman. The Monster Among Men extends his hand for a shake and Austin stares at him, prompting the fans to chant “Austin!” He doesn’t shake Braun’s hand, instead introduces the other half of the Raw Tag Team Champions, and the Universal Champion, Seth Rollins.

Austin says we have business to take care of, then shakes both men’s hands. He says he is here to help get this contract signed, so let’s get to it. Seth says that’s great but, first of all he’s here in MSG, along with Steve Austin and that’s what he means when he says “Burn It Down”.  Seth says that Braun here thinks Austin might have it out for him, but it’s Seth himself who has it out for Braun. The fans start whatting Seth, but he leans into it and plays a joke with Austin. Seth says he is the best and he intends to retain both his titles on Sunday. Seth signs the contract.

Braun grabs the mic and says to Austin, that he has watched him his entire life and he has nothing but the utmost respect. However a rattlesnake is still a snake. He turns his attention to Seth and says that he loves being Tag Team Champion but he’ll love being Universal Champion even more. And to quote Austin, he can’t wait to open up a can of whoop ass on Sunday. Braun signs the contract and Austin starts to wrap things up.

AJ Styles and The O.C. come out and interrupt. Styles says that they don’t want none of Steve Austin, then proceeds to mock him and asks if anybody cares about him anymore. The fans chant yes, then start whatting Styles. AJ tells them to shut up but then tells Austin to focus his beady eyes on him and get out of the ring, because he doesn’t want to get hurt. Styles says this has nothing to do with Steve Austin, and the fans barely let him speak for chanting “What?” Styles says that is why nobody likes coming to New York, but Austin says “why don’t you put a little base in your voice?” To which AJ tells him to shut-up. Styles says Seth and Braun didn’t have the guts to grant Gallows and Anderson a rematch. The fans start chanting “asshole”, and Austin says he doesn’t know how good AJ’s hearing is, but the fans are calling him an asshole.

AJ and The O.C. get on the apron and Styles says Austin has become an asshole in his old age. Styles calls Austin an old fart and says Steve has go to know where he’s coming from. Austin begins moving the table from the middle of the ring and says he doesn’t know where AJ is coming from but he damn sure knows where he’s going. Seth and Braun attack The O.C. and toss Gallows and Anderson from the ring. Braun runs around the ring and tackles Gallows, then clotheslines Anderson. Inside the ring, Seth kicks AJ and looks for The Stomp but Styles dodges it and tosses Seth over the ropes. Leaving AJ in the ring…with Austin. Styles turns around into two birds and eats a Stone Cold Stunner! Austin talks trash into the face of AJ Styles before drinking some beers and posing on the ropes, then leaving.

*Commercial Break*

We’re back live and AJ Styles is still in the ring, recuperating from the Stunner. Cedric Alexander comes down to the ring for a match with the Phenomenal One.

AJ Styles Vs. Cedric Alexander

Alexander attacks AJ right away, beating him down in the corner. Alexander whips AJ chest-first into the turnbuckles and Styles rolls from the ring. Cedric whips AJ into the barricade, and chops his chest before sending him back into the ring.

Alexander delivers shoulder tackles in the corner, then catches him with a headscissors and two dropkicks for a one count. Styles counters Alexander and hits a chop to the throat, followed by a kick to the chest. AJ forearms Cedric in the corner but gets caught with a handspring kick. AJ rolls from the ring and Alexander hits a huge senton to the floor.

AJ gets on the apron and uses the ropes to target Cedric’s injured arm. AJ slides into the ring and hits an arm-targeted STO to really focus on that injured arm.

*Commercial Break*

We’re back live and AJ is continuing to hurt the arm. He eats a back elbow from Cedric, who follows up with chops and punches. Cedric catches a running Styles with a beautiful Michonoku Driver for a near-fall. Alexander reverses a back suplex and delivers a back elbow. Cedric hits an enziguiri from the apron but then he’s attacked by Anderson and Gallows.

Winner Via Disqualification: Cedric Alexander

Anderson and Gallows get Cedric in the ring and begin beating him down but out come The Viking Raiders, who lay a beating on The O.C. Alexander dropkicks AJ from the ring before Erik and Ivar hit a Viking Experience to Anderson.

Later tonight, we get a Triple Threat match in the semi-final in the King of the Ring tournament, as well as Becky Lynch teaming with Charlotte Flair to face Sasha Banks and Bayley.

Speaking of whom, we see Sasha and Bayley backstage. Sasha says she heard Becky and Flair were angry last week but they should be mad. Bayley says they’re back together and ain’t nobody taking their titles. Sasha reiterates it and they clap hands. We see Charlotte and Becky warming up.

We see a short clip of the Firefly Fun House, where Bray says he will be hosting a brand new episode later tonight.

*Commercial Break*

It’s September, and therefore cancer awareness month, so we get a look at a bunch of awesome kids who are struggling with the disease. Roman Reigns makes his way to the stage and he says that it’s been almost a year since he made his announcement that he had leukaemia. He says with the help and support of the fans, he was able to beat it. He says that love and strength helped change his perspective as well, and now he tries to raise awareness and pay that love forward to others. So in the past few months he’s been visiting paediatric hospitals across the country, including New York. So when they knew they were coming back to New York, he wanted to bring out some special kids. The first kid is called Julius and he’s wearing a crown. The next is Antonio an he’s donning a Sin Cara mask. Next up is Miguel, followed by Liam the Red Ninja, and Liana the terror. Roman stands with the kids on the stage and says they’re all warriors who have been through incredible fights. But the work isn’t done, because there’s a lot of people who are only beginning their fight. He asks fans to support Connor’s Cure at Connorthecrusher.com and that’s the end of the segment.

*Commercial Break*

We’re back live and the Raw Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring. Charlotte Flair, her partner, is out next for tag team action. We see a lengthy video hyping this feud.

Before the match can begin Becky and Charlotte leave the ring and attack Sasha and Bayley on the ramp. The four of them brawl at ringside, with Becky hitting Sasha with a Bexploder on the floor. Lynch gets Sasha in the ring and unloads on her but Bayley comes in and attacks Lynch. Finally Charlotte comes back with a chair and clears the ring. The match will begin after the break.

*Commercial Break*

Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch Vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley

We return to see the match get underway with Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks. Lynch puts the pressure on Sasha but the latter makes the tag to Bayley. Again Lynch puts the pressure on and beats her in the corner, then tries to force Bayley to tag Sasha, but Banks gets off the apron. Becky tosses Bayley from the ring and slams her into the barricade repeatedly, while Banks watches on.

Back inside the ring, and Flair tags into the fray. The Queen stomps on Bayley. Banks tags in and kicks Flair down in the corner before choking her with her boot. Bayley tags in again and Charlotte sends her into the corner where Becky tags in. Lynch stops Bayley before delivering a springboard kick. Becky looks for the Bexploder but Bayley elbows her. Becky is distracted by Sasha and gets kicked from the ring.

Flair tags in and floors Banks repeatedly with clotheslines and chops. She hits Sasha with a fallaway slam, then kips-up and kicks Bayley from the apron. Flair hits Sasha with a reverse STO into the turnbuckles, followed by a neckbreaker for a two count. Banks counters Flair and locks-in the Bank Statement. Charlotte is able to roll-out and apply the Figure Eight. Bayley runs into make the save but Lynch grabs her and tries to put on the Dis-Arm-Her but Bayley throws her into Flair and Banks. All four women are down. Charlotte rolls from the ring and Banks hits her with a Meteora from the apron.

*Commercial Break*

Back live and Charlotte fights Banks off but gets hit with double knees in the corner. Bayley tags in and delivers some chops but Flair fires back with a right hand. Tag is made to Lynch, who floors Bayley and knocks Sasha from the apron. Becky lands some kicks, followed by a shoulder tackle.

Banks comes in and gets hit by a Bexploder, followed by a baseball slide. Becky hits Banks with a right hand from the apron, then gets back in the ring. Bayley looks for her finish but Becky reverses into the Dis-Arm-Her. Banks comes in and hits Becky with the Bank Statement, prompting Charlotte to hit her with a big boot. Bayley then attacks Charlotte. She and Sasha look to his a double suplex to Flair but she lands on her feet, then ducks and Lynch comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick to both women.

Lynch drags Bayley to the corner, tags Flair, then hits a leg-drop from the middle rope. Flair takes to the top rope and hits a moonsault to Bayley but Sasha breaks the pin attempt. The action spills out of the ring, where Becky slams Sasha into the steps, then gets her in the Dis-Arm-Her on the floor. Bayley kicks Becky off, then hits Flair with a German suplex on the floor and all four women are down.

Bayley puts Flair in the ring but the Queen turns the tables. Banks reappears on the apron and grabs Flair by the hair but she gets kicked off. Bayley tries to roll-up Charlotte but Flair kicks out and hits Natural Selection for the win!

Winners: Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair

Still to come, the Triple Threat King of the Ring match, as well as the Firefly Fun House.

The O.C. are interviewed backstage and AJ says they run the place. Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler walk up and laugh at them, saying that they didn’t look like they run the place earlier tonight. Ziggler says if they had any brains they would join forces to thwart their common enemies. AJ smiles and fist bumps Dolph.

Rey Mysterio makes his way to the ring, he’ll be facing Gran Metalik after the break.

*Commercial Break*

Rey Mysterio Vs. Gran Metalik

The match gets underway and Rey takes a wristlock. Metalik flips out and they circle each other. Metalik hits Rey with a monkey flip, then Rey does the same to him while lying on his back. They do some flips and Rey looks to hit Metalik with a hurricanrana but the younger lucha lands on his feet. Rey hits Metalik with a headscissors onto the ropes but he can’t hit 619 and Metalik rolls him up for a near-fall.

Rey whips Metalik to the ropes and hurricanrana’s him over the ropes to the floor. Rey slides under the bottom rope, looking for a splash but Metalik isn’t there. He then connects with a superkick, before getting back into the ring and hitting a tope that seemed to land square on Rey’s head. They get back inside and Metalik hits a springboard senton for a near-fall.

Metalik takes a headlock but Rey fights out. Metalik chops Rey in the corner but Mysterio fires back with a tilt-a-whirl that sends Metalik into the turnbuckles. Rey takes to the top rope and hits a seated senton, followed by a springboard crossbody. Gran Metalik hits a kick and a dropkick after jumping on multiple ropes. Metalik sets Rey on the top rope and climbs up top himself, before hitting Rey with a super hurricanrana for another near-fall!

Metalik gets hit with an up-and-over sunset bomb for a two count. Rey then hits Metalik with a hurricanrana onto the ropes, followed by a 619! Rey heads up top and hits the frog splash for the win!

Winner: Rey Mysterio

After the match, Rey helps Gran Metalik to his feet and they share a moment.

We see Braun and Seth Rollins talking to Cedric Alexander backstage.

*Commercial Break*

We’re getting a 10-man tag team match tonight, with Braun and Seth teaming with Cedrix and The Viking Raiders, taking on The O.C. and Ziggler and Roode.

The Street Profits are backstage and they explain why this show is so amazing, giving their usual recap and what’s to come. Angelo Dawkins tries hitting on Sasha Banks through the camera. They send us to a video replay of the Daniel Bryan/Rowan/Roman Reigns feud.

Samoe Joe makes his way to the ring for the King of the Ring triple threat!

*Commercial Break*

King of the Ring

Semi Final

Samoa Joe Vs. Ricochet Vs. Baron Corbin

Corbin stays outside as Joe and Ricochet start the match. Ricochet connects with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors on Joe followed by a dropkick that knocks Joe from the ring. Ricochet looks for the dive but Corbin comes in and drops him with a shoulder block.

Corbin whips Ricochet into the corner and charges at him but Ricochet dodges and hits a springboard flying clothesline, followed by a standing shooting star press for a near-fall. Ricochet backflips off the chest of Corbin on the floor and then connects with an Enziguri. Ricochet then hits a Tope Suicida onto Joe on the floor followed by a Fosbury Flop onto Corbin on the other side of the floor as we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

Back from the break, Ricochet looks for a hurricanrana off the apron on Corbin but he blocks it and slams Ricochet into the ring post – Ricochet landed hard. Joe then comes through the ropes with a suicide dive through the ropes to Corbin!

Joe tosses Ricochet into the ring post again and then rolls Corbin into the ring. Corbin and Joe exchange forearms and punches, then Joe gets the upper hand with chops and slaps. Joe lands an Atomic Drop followed by a Mafia Kick, then the Backsplash Senton for a near-fall. Ricochet comes in to break it up.

Ricochet and Joe climb to their feet and chop each other until Joe floors him with a particularly stiff chop. Ricochet comes back with a flying back elbow but then gets caught with a snap power slam from Joe for another near-fall! Joe lifts Ricochet up to the top rope and climbs up with him. Joe goes for a superplex but Ricochet blocks it and then Corbin comes in and goes for a Super Bomb. Joe cuts him off and Ricochet shoves Joe off. Ricochet then dives off the top only to eat a clothesline from Corbin!

Joe hits a Running Back Elbow and then the Leaping Enziguri on Corbin in the corner! Ricochet takes Joe out with a Superkick! Joe rolls out to the floor and Ricochet connects with a series of chops and elbows on Corbin, but Corbin drops him with a big boot off the ropes after Ricochet connected with a dropkick!

Corbin looks for a Chokeslam but Ricochet counters into a Sunset Flip for a near-fall. Corbin hits Ricochet with a Powerbomb, followed by Deep Six and looks for the cover, but Joe pulls Corbin out to the floor and locks in the Coquina Clutch! Corbin tries to slam Joe into the ring apron and then the barricade to break the hold but Joe won’t release it. Eventually Joe drops down to the floor and gets his hooks in! Ricochet then comes from out of nowhere with a Shooting Star Press off the apron onto Corbin and Joe!

Ricochet rolls Joe into the ring and then goes up top for the 630 Splash, but Joe moves out of the way and then locks him in the Coquina Clutch! Ricochet uses the turnbuckles to back flip out of the hold and then connects with the Recoil! Ricochet goes up top and hits the 630 Splash! Corbin pulls Ricochet out of the ring and tosses him over the barricade, then slides into the ring and pins Joe for the win!

Winner: Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin has progressed to the final of the King of the Ring tournament. He will face the winner of Elias Vs. Chad Gable, tomorrow night.

Lacey Evans makes her way to the ring.

*Commercial Break*

We see a replay of last week, when Natalya attacked Lacey Evans, but then got beat. Tonight they have a rematch.

Lacey Evans Vs. Natalya

As soon as the match begins Natalya slaps Lacey and then powers her into the corner and lands some right hands. Nattie hits a Snap Suplex and then goes to work on Lacey’s leg.

Nattie locks in a submission hold but Lacey grabbed the ropes to break it. Natalya hits a discus clothesline and gets a near-fall. Nattie looks for the Sharpshooter but Lacey grabs the bottom rope and pulls herself out to the floor.

As Nattie climbs out to the floor, Evans connects with a spinning neckbreaker. Lacey then slams Natalya into the ring apron and kicks her in the face repeatedly. The fans are not there for this one. Lacey uses the ring apron to choke Nattie and then rolls back into the ring and hits a Slingshot Elbow Drop for a near-fall.

Lacey continues to beat Nattie down in the corner and then connects with a Headstand into a Seated Senton in the corner for another near-fall. Lacey applies a reverse chin-lock but Nattie fights out with a snapmare only to eat a running clothesline from Evans. Lacey takes to the top rope and attempts a diving moonsault but Natalya rolls out of the way only to run right into a spinning back kick.

Lacey slams Nattie’s face into the mat repeatedly and then slams her head into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Lacey goes for another headstand senton but Nattie gets her foot up. Natalya locks-in the Sharpshooter and Lacey taps out.

Winner: Natalya

Still to come, the Firefly Fun House and a ten man tag match.

*Commercial Break*

We see a replay from before Raw tonight, where basketball player Enes Kanter won the 24/7 Championship from R-Truth, only for Truth to win it back moments later and become a 15 time Champion.

The announcers run-down the entire card for Clash of Champions, this Sunday, from North Carolina.

It’s time for the Firefly Fun House. Bray speaks in an Italian accent and says it’s a today episode but then Ramblin’ Rabbit appears and says he saw a stranger with Seth and Braun. Bray asks if he means Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the other puppets say yes. Abbey The Witch says her clock has been stuck at 3:16 ever since Steve Austin appeared. All the puppets yell “stranger danger” until Bray screams at them to stop and holds his ears. He begins laughing and offers to fix Abbey’s clock, which he smashes with a hammer until it says 11:19. Bray says Seth and Braun invoked The Fiend, but Steve is just a rattlesnake, and you can’t blame a snake for being a snake. And a stranger is just a friend you don’t know you. He says just look at Braun and Seth, who made new friends tonight. But friends won’t help them where they’re going, because friends forgive but The Fiend never forgets. “See you in hell!” and that’s it for the gang.

Our 10-man tag team main event is up next.

*Commercial Break*

Everyone makes their entrances and takes their sweet time getting to the ring.

Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Cedric Alexander, & The Viking Raiders Vs. The O.C., & Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode

The match begins with Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler. They lock-up and fight for control. Seth takes the wrist, then whips Dolph and hits a hip toss. Seth tags Ivar who immediately tags Erik, who scoop slams his partner onto Dolph. Erik goes for the pin but it’s broken up, prompting literally everyone to run into the ring and brawl. Dolph jumps off the top but gets caught with a chokeslam by Braun and we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

We’re back live and Anderson is beating on Cedrix Alexander in the corner. AJ Styles tags in and stomps Cedric down in the corner, then distracts the referee while his corner beat on Alexander. Alexander heads to the apron and hits AJ with a rope-assisted spinning STO. AJ attacks the arm of Alexander again, then tags Luke Gallows.

Gallows clubs Alexander down in the corner, and again the heels attack Cedric while the referee isn’t looking. Roode comes in and continues to focus the attack on the arm. Roode slows everything down and keeps a submission on Alexander. Eventually he fights out and drops Roode with a huge back elbow.

Tags are made to Karl Anderson and Seth Rollins. The Champ knocks a few people off the apron and drops Anderson with a sling blade. Seth hits a springboard knee to Anderson, followed by a Falcon Arrow for a near-fall. Alexander comes off the ropes with a clotheslines to Roode, then Erik and Ivar attack Ziggler and Gallows. AJ hits a Phenomenal Forearm to Ivar, but then Seth takes him out.

Seth hits Gallows then Anderson with suicide dives, meanwhile Braun runs around hitting shoulder tackles as they get back up. Braun and Seth get Anderson back in the ring and Braun hits a Running Powerslam. He looks for the pin but Seth is shoved into him to break the fall. Seth and Braun argue as we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

Back from the final break of the night and Ziggler is choking Rollins in the corner. Anderson tags in and continues the assault. Anderson applies a sleeper but Seth hits a jawbreaker to escape. Seth looks to leap to make the tag but Karl catches him with a spinebuster.

Anderson puts Seth on the top rope and climbs up, but gets knocked down and Roode comes in. Roode gets caught with a Blockbuster and a tag is made to Ziggler. Rollins hits Dolph with a buckle bomb, then makes the tag to Braun as AJ comes in for his team.

Strowman floors AJ with repeated shoulder tackles, a big boot, then looks for the Running Powerslam but AJ gets off. AJ dodges Braun and the monster hits the ring post. Erik tags in and hits Dolph with a T-Bone suplex, followed by a knee to Bobby Roode. Styles attacks Erik, but Ivar comes in and drops AJ. Ivar heads up top as Cedric tags in, then Ivar dives off onto all the heels at ringside. Meanwhile, Alexander dodges the Phenomenal Forearm and hits the Lumbar Check for the win!

Winners: Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Cedrix Alexander, & The Viking Riaders

As soon as the match ends, Stone Cold Steve Austin’s music hits and the rattlesnake comes down to the ring. He grabs beers and joins the babyfaces in the ring for a beer bash. The babyfaces are loving life as they glug Broken Skull I.P.A’s, and that’s the end of Raw!

Let us know what you thought of tonight’s Raw and be sure to come back tomorrow for more news and SmackDown Live results.