Monday Night Raw opens with a look back at last week’s Raw with Roman Reigns defeating Samoa Joe to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
We go live to the arena in Memphis Tennessee, and out comes The Big Dog, Roman Reigns! The Champion gets a mixed reception on his way to the ring while the commentators talk about his impressive reign thus far.
Roman doesn’t speak fr a minute, letting the crowd build some noise. “After all the attacks, after all the talk, after all the hype, you’d think Samoa Joe would be ready for me. But he wasn’t.” Roman goes on to say that he beat Joe and not because he’s better, but because he had a purpose: to avenge Dean Ambrose. Reigns sends a message to the locker room: if you mess with one member of The Shield, you mess with all of them. He tries to turn his attention forward but he’s interrupted by a familiar face.
The fans don’t really like Jordan. He says he got goosebumps watching Reigns Vs. Joe last week. He says it was the first time in his life he felt like he was part of something meaningful. It’s like Roman said, if you mess with one of them, you mess with all of them. Jordan says that on behalf of he and Seth, he wants to say thank you and he puts his fist forward for The Shield pose. Seth Rollins interrupts and makes his way to the ring. Rollins says Jordan has a lot to learn. Last week, he taught Jordan a lesson on teamwork, which worked. This week they have to work on his timing. Rollins knows Jordan means well, but he’s stepping on Reigns’ moment. Jordan says they’ve all had problems with Joe, and Reigns took care of it, just like they took care of The Bar. Now they run the show. Reigns says he’s had enough of this “we” stuff. Jordan is on a team with Seth, but he’s THE guy. Jordan says they’re all champions and can take everyone out. They’re not The Shield, but they’re pretty good. They might be the most dominant three-man group in all of WWE.
Finn Balor’s music hits, and he makes his way to the stage alongside Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. The Balor Club is back. Balor says he knows Jordan is excited to be a part of something big, but he’s not really a part of the most dominant three-man group in WWE. Balor says he’s run with Gallows and Anderson for ten years before Jordan knew Kurt Angle was his dad. Another “Who’s your daddy” chant starts up. Anderson says they’re been running with “good brother” Finn for a long time. If you go to the WWE Network, there is a special all about it. Gallows says when Balor came to WWE, they knew it was time to stand alone. They won the RAW Tag Team Championships, and Balor made history by becoming the first ever WWE Universal Champion. Balor and Gallows do the “too sweet” hand signal. Anderson says they did their own things, but they eventually knew they’d come together and take this place over. The group talk as they walk down the ramp.
The Balor Club get in the ring. Balor says that day was last Monday on RAW. Just like Jordan, they’re excited because 2018 is the year of the Balor Club. Jordan laughs at the name. Jordan says he’s happy to be a part of the champion’s club. Reigns and Rollins shake their heads in sadness. Balor says that must be a cute name for The Shield, but The Lunatic Fringe isn’t here. They see The Architect and The Big Dog, and now they see the… NERD! Jordan slaps Gallows in the face. Their respective teams hold them each back.
RAW General Manager Kurt Angle comes out to the stage. They have a great show planned with Brock Lesnar and The Miz’ return, but he just found his main event. Angle says he’d love to see who would win this match. It’ll be Reigns, Rollins, and Jordan taking on The Balor Club in tonight’s main event. Oh it’s true! It’s damn true!
Later tonight, Brock Lesnar will respond to the situation with Kane last week, and we’ll have an edition of Miz TV with the returning Miz. However, Bayley and Sasha Banks will be in action, with Mickie James in their corner, next.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and The Boss, Sasha Banks comes to the ring first, followed by Bayley and Mickie James. Their opponents, Absolution, are out second. The worst way to build a feud is to have the match repeatedly on TV, and that’s why nobody cares about this one.
Sasha Banks & Bayley W/Mickie James Vs. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville W/Paige
Mandy Rose starts against Bayley, first time I’ve seen Sonya Deville without her MMA-inspired cornrows. They lock up, and Bayley hooks a side headlock. Rose whips her off and shoulder blocks her down. Rose hits the ropes and catches Bayley trying a leapfrog before throwing her to the corner. Bayley turns her around and stomps her. Rose then turns her and forearms away at her chest. Bayley kicks her back, but Rose fights back with a nice scoop slam for a two count.
Rose applies a neck vice and keeps Bayley grounded for a minute. Bayley fights up, but Rose takes her down by the hair. Bayley then comes back with a clothesline. Rose quickly gets up and knees her in the midsection. Bayley then takes her down with a back suplex and a knee to the head. Absolution pulls Rose out of the ring to regroup as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Rose slam Banks down by the hair. Banks sends her into the ropes and hits a hip toss. Banks then hits a double knee for a two count. Rose chops the chest and forearms her back. Rose shoves her a few times, so Banks slaps her in the face. Banks lands some forearms and knocks Deville off the apron. Rose then takes her down with a Triple H-esque running knee for a near fall.
Sonya Deville is tagged in, and she punches Banks to the corner before stomping her. Deville applies a body scissor and hooks the head for good measure. Banks gets out with an elbow, but Deville quickly stops her with a punch to the midsection. Deville punches away at her. Rose tags in, but Banks fights back. Rose quickly stops the momentum and chokes her on the ropes. Rose attacks the back a few times before tagging Deville in, who picks up a two count. Banks tries to make a comeback, but Deville stops her with some punches. Deville sends her into the ropes, but she lowers her head and eats a kick. They then wipe each other out with a double clothesline.
Rose is tagged in, and she stops Banks from making a tag. Rose then punches Bayley off the apron. The referee holds Bayley back while the illegal Deville snaps Banks off the top rope. Banks retaliates by catching Rose with an inside cradle, but Deville breaks it up. Bayley knocks Deville out of the ring. Inside the ring, Banks catches Mandy with the Bank Statement and Rose taps out!
Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley W/Mickie James
The babyfaces celebrate the win after the match. As much as I couldn’t stand her back on Tough Enough, Mandy Rose impresses the heck out of me when she’s in the ring.
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Jason Jordan will face The Balor Club in tonight’s main event.
*Commercial Break*
We return to a 25 Years of Raw moment, and this one is the time Mankind visited Vince McMahon in the hospital, only for Doctor Steve Austin to appear and beat on McMahon with a bed pan. The 25th anniversary show is in two weeks!
We take a look back at last week’s Raw when Kane and Brock Lesnar went toe-to-toe. The Beast will be here later tonight to talk.
The commentators talk about tonight’s Cruiserweight Championship match, and also take a look back at last week when Goldust teamed with Cedric Alexander. Backstage, Alexander is warming-up when Goldust appears and imitates Mickey from ‘Rocky’. Alexander says he doesn’t need help because he’s dreamt of this since he was a kid. Goldust says there’s nothing that can stop Alexander from taking what is his. Goldust tries to impersonate Mickey again but it hurts his throat. Back to the announce table, Michael Cole talks about the Facebook Mixed Match Challenge. We see a Facebook video from earlier today with Goldust applying his make-up, only for his Mixed Match partner Alicia Fox to surprise him. The commentators talk some more about the new show and the different teams. The show will start one week from tomorrow, right after SmackDown Live on Facebook Watch.
WOKEN Matt Hardy makes his way to the ring and he has the weirdest theme music I think I’ve ever heard. Hardy will be in action after the break.
*Commercial Break*
