Monday Night Raw opens with a look back at The Greatest Royal Rumble. We go live to the arena in Montreal, and out comes Roman Reigns!
Reigns makes his way to the rings to a cacophony of boos from the Canucks. Coach has rejoined the commentary team, who discuss that Reigns actually won the cage match because his feet touched the floor first, while Brock’s back hit the floor. The commentators say it was the referee’s fault but that Kurt Angle stands by the decision. Reigns is booed incessantly and the commentators play it off like the Canadians are crazy and this is a weird crowd.
Reigns says there is no need for excuses, we’ve seen the footage and know what happened, we’re looking at the real Universal Champion. “Roman Sucks” kicks-up from the fans. He says he should be the Champion but he’s not…yet. He says a lot of people doubted him and lost faith in him but he beat Brock Lesnar in that cage and that’s why he will never lose faith in himself. He’d like to tell Lesnar this himself but he’s not here tonight. So he turns his attention to another man.
Samoa Joe appears on the screen and gets a massive reaction. Joe says nobody had faith in Reigns to begin with. He says at Backlash he will put Reigns downward spiralling career to sleep. With that Joe disappears and out comes Jinder Mahal – who btw is really over in Canada for some bizarre reason. Mahal says he cannot stand it when people make excuses for their shortcomings. He reminds Reigns that he lost fair and square to Lesnar and he will lose fair and square to Samoa Joe on Sunday, but tonight he will lose to the Modern Day Maharajah. Mahal says Joe is right, Reigns’ career is in the tubes and tonight marks his rise to the Universal Championship on Raw.
Next out is the hometown boy, Sami Zayn and the roof almost blows-off the joint! Zayn drinks-in the adoration as the fans sing his music. Zayn speaks in French and gets a pop. He says the two of the guys in the ring are complaining about the Rumble, however he received vertigo from Bobby Lashley and he wasn’t even able to go to Saudi Arabia. He says he feels like making everything better here in his hometown, and he wants to take-on Roman Reigns.
Next out is hometown boy number two: Kevin Owens! KO stands on the ramp and soaks in the applause from the fans. He too speaks French-Canadian and gets a big reaction – the fans chant “Oui!” Owens makes his way to the ring and says he knows Zayn can beat Roman Reigns but he thinks the people want to see him face Reigns. Owens says we have a situation here because he, Zayn and Mahal want to face Roman Reigns, so he suggests a popularity contest. He asks the fans if they want to see Zayn face Reigns, then Mahal, then himself, and he definitely got the best reaction. Reigns then strikes Owens, which earns him a beating from Zayn, Mahal, Singh, and Owens. Bobby Lashley comes running down to the ring and beats on the heels, followed by Braun Strowman. The three babyfaces clear the ring and throw Sunil Singh onto Mahal, Owens and Zayn at ringside.
Later tonight, Mickie James will face Natalya, with Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey in their corners. Elias is shown backstage, he will be in concert next!
*Commercial Break*
Back from commercial, the announcers confirm the six-man tag main event.
Elias is in the ring to play a show. He talks about eliminating Kurt Angle, Randy Orton, and more, at The Greatest Royal Rumble and how he’s getting incomprehensibly famous. He goes to launch into his song, demands the crowd be quiet, and starts singing about how Bobby Roode isn’t very glorious and he’s pathetic like the people of Montreal. Mahal starts to perform but Bobby Roode cuts him off, we head to the break as he takes to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
bobby Roode vs. Elias
The match is in progress and Roode is fighting out of a headlock, but Elias backs him to the corner for some stiff shots to the head and body. Roode takes him down with a dropkick to regain control. Elias kicks out of a blockbuster at two and gets the upper hand by making Roode chase him in and out of the ring. The Drifter uses his power to keep Roode off balance. Off to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We see Roode still on defense after the commercial. Elias continues to wear him down with a chinlock before he breaks the hold. Bobby fires off a few clotheslines and a spinebuster for a near fall. He fights off Elias on the top rope and hits a diving clothesline to take him down.
Elias escapes the Glorious DDT and they trade two counts during an inside cradle. Roode gets sent into the ring post and he starts struggling for air. The ref calls for a medic as Bobby grabs his throat and coughs. They check on Bobby and it seems he can’t continue. Elias grabs a mic and declares himself the winner of the match.
Winner: Elias
Elias walks off, looking very proud of himself. Still to come, Natalya Vs. Mickie James.
*Commercial Break*
We return from commercial and see officials helping Bobby to the back.
Out come the Author’s Of Pain for a match. We see their opponents backstage with Charly Caruso, two hometown jobbers, who speak in French-Canadian and claim they will beat the AOP!
Author’s Of Pain VS. JEAN-PAUL & FRANCOIS
The bell rings and Rezar takes Francois down with a massive boot as Jean-Paul tags himself in. Rezar takes Jean-Paul down and tags Akam in. They hit the Super Collider before hitting Jean-Paul with the Last Chapter to pick up the win.
Winners: Author’s Of Pain
Still to come, Natalya Vs. Mickie James with Ronda Rousey and Alexa Bliss.
*Commercial Break*
