WWE Monday Night Raw from Toronto, Canada, opens with the Universal Champion coming to the ring.
Reigns is mercilessly booed as he walks down the aisle, which prompts Michael Cole to say he’s “polarising”. We see a replay of Braun Strowman attempting to cash-in last week, only to be thwarted by The Shield.
Reigns waits around for a while before speaking, causing the fans to boo like crazy. Roman says he told Braun Strowman he’d meet him out here at 8:00pm, and it’s at least 8:05pm now. And he’s here to be a fighting Champion. So if Strowman isn’t here soon, this will turn into a “Shield workhorse” open challenge, and anyone can come get some. Reigns waits a moment and then Braun Strowman answers the call.
Strowman comes to the ring to a great reception. He stands face-to-face with Reigns, and questions Reigns calling himself a “workhorse”. He says it didn’t seem that way last week, when he called his boys out to help him. Reigns says Strowman doesn’t get it, he doesn’t tell Rollins or Ambrose what to do, they’re a brotherhood. He says they’ve been in his position and they know how hard it is. Reigns mocks Strowman’s “Get These Hands” catchphrase, and says the only thing his hands are used for is lifting cards, ambulances, stages, and whatever else. Meanwhile, his hands have lifted every piece of gold their is to life in WWE. He says if Strowman wants to step-up and be the man, he should cash-in right now and face him. Strowman says he isn’t cashing-in here tonight, because if he did The Shield would interfere. Strowman says he’ll make a deal: he’ll cash-in on September 16th at Hell In A Cell. Roman says Strowman is finally starting to sound like a monster and he offers a handshake, which Strowman obliges to.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre then interrupt to a big pop. Ziggler says he wants to talk about SummerSlam, or as he likes to call it, the crime of the century. He says Seth Rollins stole his Intercontinental Championship, then Seth and Dean helped him retain last week. Reigns looks at Dolph and says losing to a Curb Stomp in the middle of the ring is not a crime. Ziggler says he has proven himself more times than enough, and he will win his title back for the 7th time. Ziggler says he and McIntyre need a new challenge, and they’ve chosen Strowman and Reigns. McIntyre says Reigns and Braun sit atop the Monday Night Raw mountain, and the only place for them to go is down. Ziggler says they’d be more than happy to knock them off tonight. Reigns says they sound like tough guys, all the way up on the stage. He tells them to come down and fight if they want to. Baron Corbin then comes out and tells everyone to slow down.
Corbin says that Strowman’s cash-in has been approved and made official. He then books Reigns and Strowman against Ziggler and McIntyre for later tonight. Strowman turns to Reigns and tells him at Hell In A Cell he will get the Universal Championship, but tonight, Ziggler and McIntyre will “Get These Hands!”
Music plays and we head to the announce table but then Baron Corbin starts talking from the ring. He asks the fans if they think he’s doing a great. He already knows he’s doing better than Kurt Angle. Corbin says he has one more match to announce. He says he himself will be facing Finn Balor, the man, not The Demon. And that match will start right now.
*Commercial Break*
Finn Balor Vs. Baron Corbin
We return just in time for the bell to ring. Corbin and Finn lock-up, Corbin whips him into the ropes and lands a back elbow. Baron whips Finn to the corner but it’s reversed, Corbin slides out under the rope, runs around the ring, slides back in, and clotheslines Finn.
Corbin does the Too Sweet hand gesture to the fans to boos. He then grounds Finn with a rear chin lock. Balor fights to his feet but gets hit with a knee to the gut. Corbin looks for a sunset flip but Balor rolls through and hits a dropkick. Corbin uses his strength to ram Finn into the corner. He runs at Balor, who jumps over the ropes, but Corbin then clobbers him with a forearm and Finn falls to the floor.
Corbin goes out after Finn, lifts him up, and slams him into the barricade. Corbin then squishes Balor’s face against the barricade with his knee. He gets Finn back into the ring for a two-count. Corbin maintains control with some right hands, then goes back to the rear chin lock. Once again Finn fights to his feet, and again is caught with a knee. Corbin floors him with a big right hand, then kicks him from the ring to the floor. Corbin leaves the ring and runs at Balor but gets caught with a slingblade.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back from the break and Corbin has Finn on the mat with a rear chin lock. Balor climbs to his feet but Corbin tosses him to the corner. Balor connects with a running clothesline, then another, and as he looks for the third Finn moves. Corbin slides from the ring and runs around again, slides back in, but this time Finn catches him with the slingblade.
Balor tips Corbin onto his back, then hits a double foot stomp. Balor dodges a dive from Corbin, hits another sling blade, then runs for the corner dropkick but is caught with the Deep Six for a near-fall. Balor uses a Paul Smackage and scores a near-fall, then knocks Corbin from the ring. He follows-up with a top rope tope and wipes Corbin out. Corbin goes to the timekeeper’s area and grabs a chair. Finn hits him and knocks him back into the ring. Balor stops to look at the chair but decides against it. He looks for Coup De Grace but Corbin moves, grabs the chair, and whacks Finn in the gut!
Corbin then rolls from the ring and says he forgot to say this was a no disqualification match. He slides back in, hits Finn in the back with the chair, then hits The End of Days and wins!
Winner: Baron Corbin
Still to come, Natalya Vs. Alicia Fox, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns battle Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, but up next, we take a look at Triple H Vs. The Undertaker.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back from the break and we get a replay of Triple H’s promo from last week. The announcers hype-up the Australia Super-Show. We get a video for the match, with WWE Hall of Famer’s talking about the rivalry and making their predictions for who will win. Shawn Michaels will be on RAW next week to address The Undertaker taking on Triple H.
Apollo Crews and Dana Brooke are talking backstage. Brooke is talking about winning a match tonight to prove that she can be on the Evolution PPV. Titus O’Neil comes in and says Brooke has a match against Sasha Banks next. Brooke looks unsure, but Titus gets her fired-up, and she storms off. Crews asks what O’Neil is thinking, Brooke hasn’t had a singles match in nine months. O’Neil says he believes in him and Dana and Titus Worldwide. Then he too walks off excitedly and Apollo shakes his head.
Sasha Banks makes her way to the ring, alongside Bayley. Her match is up next!
*Commercial Break*
Sasha Banks W/ Bayley Vs. Dana Brooke W/ Titus Worldwide
The bell rings, they circle the ring, and Brooke rolls Banks up for a quick one count. Brooke rolls her up again for another one count. Brooke then hits a jackknife cover for a one count. Banks goes for the Bank Statement, but Brooke gets out of the ring and talks strategy with Titus Worldwide.
Dana gets back in the ring and applies a waistlock, but The Boss elbows out. Brooke slingshots over her and taunts Banks. Brooke punches Sasha and taunts the crowd. Brooke puts her in the corner and hits a springboard back elbow. She goes for a second one, but Banks moves out of the way. Banks follows-up with a top rope meteora for a near fall. Brooke forearms her in the face and lifts her up, but Banks slides off and applies the Bank Statement and Dana taps.
Winner: Sasha Banks
Bayley and Sasha celebrate after the match, while Apollo and Titus argue about Dana afterwards.
Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are seen talking backstage. They bump fists and Rollins walks off. The Kingslayer will be out, next.
