WWE Monday Night Raw opens with a graphic for the death of Bruno Sammartino. We go live to the arena and the entire roster is stood on the stage, with Vince McMahon front and centre, they ring the bell ten times with a moment of silence. The live feed fades to a video package highlighting the career of Bruno, with the likes of John Cena, Roman Reigns, Pat Patterson, and Bill Apter talking about the Hall of Famer. Rest in peace.
We return live to the arena and the fans applaud and chant “Bruno”. After a minute of atmosphere and recognition for a legend, Brock Lesnar’s music hits. The WWE Universal Champion makes his way to the ring for the first time since WrestleMania, with Paul Heyman by his side. Lesnar and Heyman will address his upcoming match with Roman Reigns, next!
*Commercial Break*
We return to Heyman and Lesnar standing in the ring. The fans boo as Heyman introduces himself and his client. Lesnar has goosebumps as Heyman calls him “still” and the fans boo. Heyman says he assumes the fans are booing because he’s out here to gloat, they think they’re here to say “we told you so”, just like they did when Brock Lesnar conquered The Undertaker’s undefeated streak, just like when Brock Lesnar took John Cena to Suplex City, just like everytime some wannabe comes down the ramp and doesn’t realise this is real for Brock Lesnar. Heyman reminds us that he doesn’t deliver predictions, he delivers spoilers. He says Brock Lesnar doesn’t gloat, he conquers. However he gloats, he gloats all night long about the fact that Brock Lesnar took Roman Reigns to Suplex City, and hit him with very non-PG elbows that left him scarred, and left him in a Samoan trash heap in the main event of the biggest WrestleMania of all-time.
Heyman continues, Lesnar doesn’t care about any of that. Lesnar doesn’t dwell on the past, even when that past if WrestleMania a mere two weeks ago. He says Lesnar wants to be in a UFC fight so badly that he’s willing to fly across the world, just to be locked inside a cage. A tiny pocket of fans start chanting “Roman”, and Heyman asks if they truly think that being locked in a cage with Lesnar was Roman’s idea. He then tells us that Lesnar signed a nice, big fat new contract, with a substantial pay raise, which he earned by defeating Roman Reigns. Heyman says WWE came to Lesnar and asked him to be at The Greatest Royal Rumble and Lesnar asked to take Roman because he’s still breathing. Heyman says on Friday Lesnar is going to shred Roman piece from piece and send him back to the U.S in multiple boxes. With that, Roman has heard enough and he makes his way to the ring.
Roman gets into the ring with Lesnar – Heyman has scampered away to the apron – and WWE keeps showing that tiny pocket of Roman fans who are so excited I seriously wonder if they’re plants. Roman and Lesnar come face-to-face and Reigns says “you’re right”, he doesn’t know how he’s going to get back but he’s coming with the title. He says “believe that” and drops the mic. Roman turns and leaves the ring.
Later tonight, we will bear witness to Raw’s new talk show: The Sami and Kevin Show, with Kurt Angle as the first guest. The main event tonight will be a ten-woman tag team match. However, up next, Elias takes on Bobby Roode!
*Commercial Break*
Elias is in the ring, but he’s interrupted by Bobby Roode before he can sing a note.
Elias vs. Bobby Roode
They lock up, and Elias hooks a side headlock. Roode whips him off, but Elias shoulder blocks him down. Roode comes back with a back elbow and chops him in the corner a few times. Elias chops back, but Roode kicks and chops him. Elias reverses a whip to the corner, but Roode boots him in the face.
Roode jumps over Elias and hits an inverted atomic drop followed by a dropkick for a two count. They’re pointing out that Roode may have tweaked his knee. Roode keeps him grounded with an arm bar. Elias fights up, but Roode wrenches the arm. Elias soon takes him down and chops the chest. Elias send him into the ropes, but Roode tries for a Glorious DDT. Elias gets out of it, and Roode clotheslines him over the top rope.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Elias make a comeback on Roode and send him shoulder-first into the ring post. Elias locks-in a trap hold while they cut the screen in half to promote The Greatest Royal Rumble. Roode fights up and punches out. Elias punches and stomps Roode down before the referee backs him up. Elias comes right back with a kick and slams the chest off the ring apron. Elias hits a running knee to the face for a near fall. Elias hooks a chin lock, but Roode eventually fights up and gets out with a back suplex. Elias is first to his feet. Roode blocks a right hand and punches away at him. Roode chops the chest. Roode has a whip reversed, but he comes back with a forearm and a clothesline.
Roode clotheslines him in the corner and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Roode goes to the top rope and hits a diving clothesline. Roode does his “GLORIOUS” taunt and Roode goes for a Glorious DDT, but Elias counters. Roode comes back with a roll-up for a two count. Roode boots him back and hits a blockbuster. Roode tries to follow up, but Elias immediately gets out of the ring. Roode goes outside and throws him back in. Elias snaps the arm off the ropes while he comes back in and rolls Roode up for the win.
Winner: Elias
Matt Hardy is backstage and he says that at the most humongous rumble of royalty, they will procure the Tag Team Championships. They will descend into the abominable wasteland. The lights go dim, and Bray Wyatt walks up. Wyatt says, “Without darkness, there can be no light. Together, we will cast a shadow that will engulf all living things.” They laugh together before saying, “RUN!”
*Commercial Break*
We return and the announcers congratulate Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on the birth of his third daughter today.
Matt and Bray make their respective entrances to face The Ascension. They are calling the tag team of Hardy and Wyatt, “The Deleters of Worlds” – seems to me like The Woken Warriors would have been a lot easier.
The Ascension vs. Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
Hardy starts against Viktor. They lock up, but eventually separate. Hardy gives him an ovation and shouts, “WONDERFUL.” Hardy takes Viktor down and tags in Wyatt. They hit a double-team back elbow followed by a leg drop/senton splash combo. Viktor gets out of a uranage and tags in Konnor. Wyatt soon takes him down with a vicious clothesline.
Hardy tags in and boots Konnor before Wyatt hits a shoulder tackle. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate, but Konnor powers him to the corner and tags in Viktor. They stomp Hardy down before Konnor tags back in. Konnor takes Hardy down before tagging Viktor back in. Hardy gets out of a chin lock and tags in Wyatt. Wyatt powers Viktor to the corner and knocks Konnor off the apron. Wyatt then hits Viktor with a flying body block.
Matt tags in, while Wyatt avalanches Viktor into the corner, and Hardy hits a Side Effect for a near fall. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate, but Konnor breaks it up. Wyatt then hits Konnor with Sister Abigail. Wyatt tags in, and he holds Viktor up for Hardy to hit a Twist of Fate. Wyatt covers for the win.
Winners: Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
The Kevin and Sami Show will have Kurt Angle as a special guest, next.
*Commercial Break*
