*Commercial Break*
WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar makes his way to the ring with his advocate, Paul Heyman. Heyman and Lesnar believe in old school, but they’re not building up this Universal Championship match in an old school way. This is a progressive industry, but they’ve gotten away from the way they used to build a star. He saysit used to be a sole challenger, one who earned his shot and thinks he can best represent the company. That’s not how it is now. Last week, Lesnar took Kane’s best shot and laughed. There is only one cliffhanger in mind: will Brock Lesnar pin Kane or Strowman or stack them on top of each other and pin them both? This is the most dominant champion in the history of WWE. Heyman has yet to see anyone out there that can beat and put down Lesnar. The Beast and his advocate leave the ring.
They reach the stage and Kane attacks Lesnar from behind and punches away at him. Lesnar tries to fight back, and they spill to the backstage area. Braun Strowman thenappears wipes them both out. Strowman throws Lesnar into some crates and through a table – Lesnar jumped like a madman. Strowman picks up a road case and hits Kane with it before slamming it on him. Strowman then gets a grappling hook, yes a grappling hook, and throws it onto a metal lighting rig (like 20 feet tall), and pulls it down onto Kane and Lesnar! Heyman screams in horror, while Strowman throws up his arms and roars before walking off.
*Commercial Break*
We return and see relays of the insanity we just witnessed. We see footage of Lesnar crawling from the metal lighting rig and onto a stretcher. Then Kane is shown crawling from under it as well. Lesnar is escorted to an ambulance, whereas Kane just gets up and walks off. We can hear Lesnar shouting from the ambulance that he doesn’t want to go to the hospital but Heyman joins him and they leave.
Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring to a good reception. His opponent, Rhyno is out next with Heath Slater by his side, this match takes place after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Samoa Joe Vs. Rhyno
The bell rings, and they circle the ring before locking up. Joe punches away at him before backing up. Rhyno comes back with some right hands before having a whip to the corner reversed on him. Joe hits a running elbow followed by a snap kick to the head. Joe chops the chest, but Rhyno comes back with some chops. Joe quickly takes him down and talks trash to Slater. Joe hits some crossfaces before chopping the chest and kicking him.
Joe chops Rhyno before headbutting him. Rhyno chops him back and sends him to the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Joe catches him with an STO for a near fall. Joe hits an inverted atomic drop followed by a big boot and a senton splash for another near fall. Joe continues to punch him before Rhyno goes for a slam. Joe slides off and applies the Coquina Clutch for the win.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Charly Caruso comes into the ring with Samoa Joe. She says this win can’t take the sting away from Roman Reigns’ victory. Joe says Reigns’ win was a pyrrhic victory. It’s a victory that comes at such a great cost it might as well be a loss. Joe has beaten years off Reigns’ career. The cracks are forming. When it comes tumbling down, he’ll be there to finish the job. Until that time, he’ll pursue more worthy things. Tonight, he announces his entrance and participation in the Royal Rumble match. She asks how he’ll match-up against 29 other superstars and legends like Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, and John Cena. Joe says when it comes to his career, John Cena is a name that he’ll never forget. In the Royal Rumble, he’ll be the first man he eliminates. Always love Joe’s promo’s because of his intensity, and I’ve been dying to see Joe Vs. Cena for years, so hopefully this is the path to that.
Alexa Bliss comes up to Nia Jax and is worried about Enzo Amore holding her back. She says Enzo isn’t holding her back. Nia says she’ll be in the Royal Rumble. Bliss says she’s the favorite. Maybe she can eliminate Asuka to ensure her victory. Jax says they’re on a collision course anyway. Bliss says Asuka was talking badly about Jax but won’t say what it was. Eventually Jax gets her to spill the proverbial beans. Jax then asks Alexa if she speaks Japanese, “because Asuka doesn’t speak English” and walks off.
*Commercial Break*
We return and out comes the Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka! She makes her away to the ring for a match but as she poses on the ropes, Nia Jax attacks! Jax first catches her with the electric chair drop, then a running senton. Jax smiles and the crowd cheer her name before she leaves.
Michael Col,e Corey Graves and Booker T run down the card for the Royal Rumble, which happens in three weeks. Cole says it’s “more Rumble than ever”.
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Jason Jordan are shown preparing backstage. They’ll face The Balor Club, next!
*Commercial Break*
We return and the commentators say that you can vote between Samoa Joe, Elias and Jason Jordan as Bayley’s partner for the Mixed Match Challenge.
The Club and Finn Balor are out first. Seth Rollins is out next, followed by Jason Jordan and Roman Reigns.
Seth Rollins, Jason Jordan & Roman Reigns Vs. The Balor Club
We’re starting the match with Finn Balor and Seth Rollins. They circle each other before locking-uop and Finn immediately takes Seth to the mat with a headlock. They exchange a series of reversals until Balor hits a dropkick after rolling out of a sunset flip. Balor tags in Karl Anderson, who hits Rollins with a backbreaker for a two-count. Anderson locks-in an armbar and holds it in the centre of the ring.
Gallows is tagged in and Seth reverses a double back body drop and tags Roman Reigns. Anderson and Gallows get knocked from the ring by Seth and Roman, who then hit Finn with shoulder tackles. Reigns hits a Drive-By Kick to Gallows and Anderson and Finn hits a suicide dive to Finn. The Shield boys celebrate in the ring and JJ comes in and cheers with them, it’s awkward.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Rollins punch out of an arm bar applied by Balor. Rollins gets out and knocks Anderson and Gallows off the apron. Reigns is tagged in, and he hits Balor with a trio of clotheslines. Reigns clubs him 10 times in the corner before giving him a nasty big boot. Reigns punches Anderson and Gallows off the apron before turning into a Sling Blade from Balor.
Anderson tags in, and he punches away at Reigns for a two count. Gallows tags back in and kicks Reigns down. Gallows stands him up and kicks him down for a near fall. Gallows applies a chin lock, but Reigns soon fights up. Gallows pulls him down by the hair. Anderson tags in and drops a knee for a two count. Anderson then applies a chin lock. Anderson holds it for a while before Reigns fights up. Reigns then gives him a tilt-a-whirl slam. Gallows tags in and stomps Reigns. Gallows hits a snap suplex for a two count. Gallows elbows away at the chest before applying yet another chin lock. Reigns fights up, but Gallows punches him back. Reigns then rebounds with a Superman Punch.
Rollins and Anderson are tagged in. Rollins hits a springboard clothesline before knocking Gallows and Balor off the apron. Rollins hits a blockbuster before hitting Balor and Gallows with a suicide dive. Rollins then hits Anderson with a Sling Blade. Rollins hits a running forearm on Anderson before hitting a suplex into a sit-out falcon’s arrow for a two count. Rollins grabs Anderson, but he holds the ropes. Gallows grabs Rollins, but Rollins fights out. Jason Jordan clotheslines Gallows out of the ring. Anderson hits a big spinebuster on Rollins for a near fall.
Gallows is tagged in, and he knocks Jordan off the apron. Rollins then hits an enzuigiri on Gallows. Balor tags in, and Rollins hits him with a back suplex. Jordan runs in and distracts the referee while Reigns is tagged in. The referee keeps Reigns out because he didn’t see the tag. Anderson and Gallows hit Rollins with a Magic Killer while the referee kicks Reigns out. Reigns takes out Gallows and Anderson and yells at Jordan. Reigns then spears Gallows at ringside. Balor dropkicks Rollins into the corner and knocks Jordan out of the ring. Balor then hits Rollins with the Coup de Grace for the win.
Winners: The Balor Club
After the match Reigns is sitting outside the ring and he’s shocked at what happened. We’re shown replays of the mistakes Jason Jordan made that cost them the match. The Balor Club goes up the ramp celebrating.
Reigns and Jordan argue in the ring before Jordan leaves the ring. Jordan checks on Seth Rollins, when suddenly The Miz and The Miztourage attack him from behind. Jordan is launched into the barricade and Reigns and Rollins are beaten down inside the ring. Miz hits Reigns with a Skull Crushing Finale. The trio turn to leave but the crowd want more, so the Miz re-enters the ring. The Miz and The Miztourage then give Reigns the Triple Powerbomb and stand tall to end the show.
That’s it for this week’s Raw. Let us know what you thought of the show and come back everyday for your wrestling news! Until next time, safe travels!
