We return live and the Raw Women’s Championship is on a pedestal in the middle of the ring. All of the Raw women are surrounding the ring and out comes Stephanie McMahon.
Stephanie says she is so proud of where the women’s division is at. She says all of the women work very hard and we have the Evolution PPV coming soon. She then turns the focus to Ronda Rousey and shows a video of how she won the title from Alexa last night. Stephanie is back on the horn and reiterates her pride. She says she is especially proud of Ronda Rousey because, were it not for her (Stephanie), Ronda wouldn’t be here. She says she saw the raw talent Ronda has and she shone a light on it. Stephanie introduces Ronda.
Rousey comes to the ring and refuses to shake Stephanie’s hand. The fans chant “Ronda Rousey” and Stephanie says she hears “Steph! Steph!”, adding “you’re welcome” to Ronda. Rousey calls her out on her BS, then asks why all the other women are standing around the ring, and not inside it. She asks them all to stand on the apron, and they do. Ronda points to Natalya and says she is the cornerstone of the entire division. Then she points to Sasha Banks and Bayley and says were it not for their match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, a few years ago, this division might not be a thing. Ronda says she is not Brock Lesnar; she will be a fighting Champion. She can’t wait to get in the ring with all of these women.
Stephanie tells her to stop the BS. She says Ronda is playing a character, in reality she just wants to break peoples arms. She says she knows that first hand, and last night Ronda did the same thing to Alexa, and they show footage of Ronda contorting Alexa’s double-jointed arm. Stephanie points to Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Dana Brooke and says she will break all of their arms. Ronda says she won’t break their arms. She says she only does that to people who deserve it. Ronda then Judo throws Stephanie and applies the armbar and Stephanie taps wildly. McMahon rolls from the ring and the heel ladies run to her aid, while Nattie, Sasha, Bayley, Dana, and The Bella Twins step into the ring and hand Ronda her title. They celebrate to end the segment.
We see a replay of earlier tonight when Roman Reigns challenged Finn Balor to a match for his Universal Championship. That’s our main event!
*Commercial Break*
The B-Team make their way to the ring. The Champs grab microphones and Bo says not long ago they couldn’t buy a win. He says once they changed their name to B-Team, everything changed. Now they’re undefeated and the Tag Team Champions. Axel says tonight they’re dedicating their singles matches to all the fans in the arena because B stands for Brooklyn.
Bo Dallas Vs. Scott Dawson
They lock-up and Dawson forces Bo to the corner. Bo responds with a big right hand and Dawson rolls from the ring. Dawson uses the ropes to knock Bo away, then he catapults him into the bottom turnbuckle. Dawson takes off his elbow pad and rubs it on Bo’s forehead. Dawson they applies a headlock in the middle of the ring.
Dallas reverses a neckbreaker into a backslide pin for a near-fall. Dallas lands two running forearms, followed by a diving crossbody. Dallas sets Bo on the top rope, looking for a spinning neckbreaker but Dawson escapes and slams Bo into the corner. Dawson hits Bo with a cradle DDT for the win.
Winner: Scott Dawson
Dawson rolls from the ring and Dash readies for his match with Axel. Weirdly, Axel grabs the microphone and challenged Dash to a match but he already did that earlier. The commentators poke fun at Axel. That match is next.
*Commercial Break*
Curtis Axel Vs. Dash Wilder
Back from commercial and Wilder is in control of the Axel. He delivers a back breaker and goes for the cover but Axel kicks out. Axel fights back and a snap mare take down onto Wilder. He goes for a neck breaker but Wilder pushes him off. He runs towards Axel but Axel kicks him down. Axel climbs the top rope and looks for a dicing elbow but Wilder moves out of the way. Wilder lifts Axel up and hits a Gory Bomb for the win.
Winner: Dash Wilder
That’s 2-0 for The Revival After the match. Bo Dallas gets on the microphone and says that they may have defeated them individually but they are still the Raw tag team champions.
Renee Young interviews Roman Reigns backstage. She asks if he has nay reservations about putting his title on the line tonight. He says no, he didn’t chase this thing for years to sit backstage and hide. He says the fact is, Finn Balor has waited a very long time for this opportunity and tonight he gets it. He says he will beat Finn and he’ll go to the back of the line and he isn’t concerned about Braun Strowman either. That match is next!
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and Stephanie McMahon is having her arm iced, with Alexa Bliss and Constable Corbin by her side. Kurt Angle walks in and apologises to Stephanie. She asks where he was tonight. She says Angle let her get put in an armbar again. Corbin kicks Angle when he’s down, saying he can’t do everything for him. Stephanie says Corbin is right, it’s time for Kurt to take some time off. As of now, Baron Corbin is the acting General Manager!
Finn Balor makes his entrance for the Universal Championship Match! The Champion is out second to loud boos.
WWE Universal Championship Match
(C) Roman Reigns Vs. Finn Balor
The bell rings and both men circle each other before locking-up. Roman forces Balor to the corner, then throws him across the ring. Roman elbows Finn and applies a headlock. Finn shoots Roman off, ducks a clothesline but then is caught with a shoulder tackle. Roman throws Finn into the ropes and Balor catches Roman with a sunset flip pin attempt. Finn is whipped to the corner and he jumps over, looks for an enziguiri but Roman clocks him with an uppercut. Finn is conked out on the apron as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and both men are down. They get to their feet, Roman runs at Finn but is tossed through the ropes. Finn runs and dropkicks Roman through the ropes. Finn then runs along the apron, looking for a soccer kick but Roman catches the foot and slams Balor face-first on the apron. Roman slides him back inside for a two-count.
Roman punches Finn in the corner, before whipping him hard into the opposite corner. Reigns walks around Finn, talking some trash. Roman runs at Finn in the corner but eats a boot. Balor follows-up with a flying forearm, then a double stomp to the chest. Balor chops Reigns in the corner, then again but The Big Dog shrugs it off. Reigns unloads lariats to Balor in the corner. Reigns hits the ropes but Finn meets him there and dropkicks him out of the ring. Balor runs and hits a beautiful senton over the top to Reigns on the outside. Balor throws Reigns back inside and is less than a second away from being Champion.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Finn Balor laid out in the middle of the ring, with Roman standing over him. Something is happening in the crowd because the fans are all looking away from the ring. Balor blocks Roman’s right hands and unloads one of his own. Roman responds with a punch, Finn hits a Pele kick and both men are down.
Finn unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks on Roman and gets aggressive. The fans get fired-up as he does. Balor looks for a slingblade but Roman grabs hold of him and hits a sit-out powerbomb for a near-fall. Roman takes to the corner and cocks his hand. Roman looks for the Superman punch but Balor kicks him and hits an elbow drop. Roman runs at Balor in the corner and gets kicked to the mat. Balor takes to the top rope for Coup De Grace but Roman moves out of the way. Finn then jumps down and hits a slingblade. Finn runs for the front dropkick but Roman lands a Superman punch for a near-fall!
Reigns goes to the corner and looks for the spear but Balor kicks him, rolls him up and scores a near-fall. They both get to their feet and Roman hits another Superman punch. Roman goes to the corner but Braun Strowman’s music hits. Roman gets distracted, so Balor hits another slingblade. Balor then hits the front dropkick and looks for Coup De Grace but Roman rolls out of the way. Roman hits the Spear and that’s all she rote!
Winner: Roman Reigns
Braun Strowman climbs into the ring and waits for Roman to get to his feet, then kicks him in the chest. Braun then hands his briefcase to the referee and asks to cash-in. Jojo announces that Braun is cashing-in but all of a sudden, The Shield’s music hits!
Rollins and Ambrose come down to the ring, in full Shield gear, and climb on the apron. Roman gets to his feet and Braun is surrounded by The Shield. The fans chant “Holy Shit” as all four men stare each other down. Braun then attacks Roman in the corner and Seth and Dean join the brawl. They knock Braun to one knee, then Roman hits a Superman punch and clotheslines Braun over the top rope. Ambrose clears the announce table at ringside, the he, Seth and Dean ready for the Triple Powerbomb. Braun kicks Roman away, elbows Seth, and Dean, but then Roman hits a Spear! The Shield the get Braun up and hit the Triple Powerbomb through the announce table!
What an ending to Raw! The Shield is back and they’re after Braun. Roman has some serious back-up now. Let us know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to come back tomorrow night for SmackDown Live! Until then, safe travels!
