WWE Monday Night Raw opens with the WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns making his way to the ring.
Reigns is all smiles as he stands with his shiny new belt. Roman says he is a man of his word. He said he was going to beat Brock Lesnar and he did just that. A loud “You still suck” chant starts up from the crowd. He reminds us that he also said that when he won it, he would defend it. And that’s what he plans on doing tonight – which gets a good reaction.
Reigns says he would normally challenge anyone but he has one man in mind. That man won the Universal title in Brooklyn and he got hurt and never got an opportunity again. And since he won it in Brooklyn, he will defend it tonight. And the man he will defend it against is Finn Balor.
Out comes Balor and he gets in the ring. He says he accepts Roman’s challenge and he will take back his title tonight. Baron Corbin’s music hits and tells everyone to hold on. He says the match won’t happen. Corbin tells Balor he was set to face Finn Balor the man but instead he got the demon. He says that was unprofessional, cowardly and in breach of contract. He says tonight, he is facing Finn Balor the man. Roman tells Corbin if he sucked as bad as he did, he would make excuses too. Corbin tells Roman the only reason he is champion is because Brock Lesnar was more concerned with Braun Strowman than himself.
Kurt Angle’s music hits and out comes the Raw general manager. Kurt says Corbin is letting his newfound power get to his head and on Raw, he makes the matches. Kurt says he cares what Brooklyn thinks and he asks the crowd if they want to see Finn Balor against Roman Reigns for the Universal title tonight. The crowd cheers and Kurt Angle says that will be the main event tonight. Kurt Angle tells Corbin he has a match tonight, which starts right now, and his opponent is…
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and see still images from last night’s SummerSlam.
Constable Corbin Vs. Bobby Lashley
The bell rings, Lashley shoots in, picks-up Corbin and slams him to the mat. Corbin tries to take the back of Lashley but the big man elbows him and takes him to the mat again. Lashley catches Corbin with a neckbreaker, then slams his head off of the turnbuckles a few times. Lashley whips Corbin to the ropes but the Constable slides out of the ring to regroup.
Bobby doesn’t give Baron the time though as he chases him out and slams his head on the apron. Lashley throws Corbin back inside and shoulder tackles him in the corner, before clotheslining him over the top rope. Lashley again goes out and grabs Corbin and tosses him back in. Lashley performs a box jump onto the apron but Corbin kicks his knee and Lashley crashes to the floor. Corbin then tosses Lashley into the barricade before bringing him back into the ring.
Corbin tries to ground Lashley with a chinlock but Bobby fights back and clotheslines him after a leapfrog. Lashley unloads some right hands on Corbin before lifting him up for the stalling superplex but Corbin reverses the move, running Lashley backwards until the crashes through the ropes and to the floor. Corbin then leaves the ring, runs around the corner and clotheslines Lashley. Corbin leans against the barricade and smiles as Lashley is laid out.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Corbin keeping Lashley on the mat with a chin lock. Bobby gets to his feet but Corbin doesn’t let him get back into the match as he tosses him shoulder first into the ring post. Corbin looks to throw Lashley into the opposite ring post but Bobby reverses it and Corbin goes into the post! They trade shots in the middle of the ring until Lashley lands a clothesline, back elbow, belly-to-belly and a corner clothesline in a nice sequence.
Lashley hits Corbin with a spinebuster for the first near-fall of the match. Corbin gets back into things by choking Bobby on the top rope. Corbin takes Lashley to the top rope but gets headbutted back down. Lashley leaps from the top rope but Corbin catches him and lands a chokeslam-backbreaker for a near-fall. Corbin runs out of the ring and back in but Lashley catches him with a knee, then lands a variation of The Dominator for the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
We see Kurt Angle watching the match on the monitor in his office when Paul Heyman walks-in. Heyman says he’s here with a specific mission: his client would like to invoke his contractually obligated rematch clause. Angle doesn’t want to give it to him, saying Lesnar’s contract doesn’t state a specific date for that rematch. Angle says he has a fighting Champion right now and he has no desire to give Lesnar that rematch. Heyman says that’s fine because he was thinking more along the lines of Hell In A Cell, to which Angle says “fuggedaboutit”.
Later tonight, Finn Balor Vs. Roman Reigns, as well as Ronda Rousey. Up next, we’re taking a look at the storied rivalry between The Undertaker and Triple H!
*Commercial Break*
Kurt Angle is backstage and in comes Corbin. He tells him he was preparing for Balor but gave him Lashley. He says he is tired of him not giving him what he wants. Angle says his job isn’t to do what he wants. As long as he is the general manager, his job is to do what is best for the WWE universe. Corbin says Stephanie McMahon is here tonight and he will go talk to her.
They show a video package hyping up The Undertaker against Triple H at the super show-down in Australia.
Sasha Banks, Bayley & Ember Moon vs. the Riott Squad
The bell rings and Sasha and Ruby start off the match as Sasha slaps Ruby and sends her to the corner. She tags Bayley in as both women double team Ruby. Bayley tags in Moon as she goes for a roll up but Riott kicks out. She tags in Logan but Ember goes right after her with forearms.
Moon hits her with an enzigiuri and a super kick. She goes for the cover but Logan kicks out. All six women get in the ring and the Squad is knocked to the oustide. Sasha hits her diving knees from the apron, followed by Bayley with a crossbody. Moon is the only person left in the ring as she does a suicide dive onto the outside as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back from the break and Bayley has Liv Morgan on the mat with an armlock. Liv fights out of it and a right hand knocks Bayley to the outside. Liv tags Ruby in and Ruby goes to the outside and as STO takes Bayley down. Riott sends Bayley into the ring and goes for the cover but she kicks out.
Logan is tagged in as she pounds on Bayley. She quickly tags Liv in who attacks Bayley. She goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Liv throws Bayley in the corner and tags in Logan. All three women triple team Bayley. Logan goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Logan with a head lock on Bayley but Bayley gets out of it with a jaw breaker. Bayley tries to go for the tag but Logan stops her. She tags Riott in and Riott goes for a kick on Bayley but Bayley ducks and makes the tag to Sasha.
The Boss comes in hot with clotheslines and then delivers a double knee to the midsection on Riott in the corner. She goes for the cover but Liv Morgan breaks it up. Moon throws Liv to the outside. Moon with a suplex onto Liv on the outside. Logan clothesline Bayley on the outside. Sasha climbs the top rope but Riott takes her out and hits her with the Riott kick and gets the win!
Winners: The Riott Squad
Another win for the Riott Squad. Morgan and Logan were lost without Riott but now she’s back and all is right with the world.
Still to come, Finn Balor Vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship! Up next however, Triple H!
*Commercial Break*
