“Ladies and gentlemen, Elias.” The Drifter is sitting in the centre of the ring. He introduces himself and plays a nice little sombre piece of his guitar – it’s funny to see how much he has improved as a guitar player in the past year. Elias reminds us that he has an album available on Spotify and iTunes. He also says there was a documentary released on him last week on the Walk With Elias Network, but it wasn’t right. He says that’s why he has the cameraman and boom mic with him, to get his story right. He tells the guys to move and get a close-up on his fingers, because that’s where the magic happens. He starts to play but then stops and tells them to circle him as he plays like he is the centre of the universe. He stops again and says the audience is the problem. Elias asks his crew to digitally edit the crowd and make them more attractive. He gets booed and the fans chant something inaudible. He criticises Bobby Lashley, saying he ruined his performance last week but that won’t happen this week. He starts to play and the crew circle him but, of course…
Lashley makes his way to the ring, hugging a disabled fan en route. Lashley says he doesn’t know what Elias is complaining about, the documentary is a perfect representation of what he is. Elias said it had its moments but it portrayed him as vain and egotistical. Lashley says, “as opposed to what?”. Elias says he’s funny, then tells the cameraman to only focus on him. Elias says Lashley tries to steal his spotlight because he knows his comeback has been a joke. Lashley says Elias’ scarf is a joke, his guitar is a joke, his boots a joke, everything about him is a joke. And if he says his name again, what he does to Elias won’t be a joke. Elias starts to shimmy his crew out of the ring and says they can film backstage. Elias turns and hits Lashley with a cheap shot. He puts the boots to Lashley. Elias hits the ropes but Lashley catches him with a spinebuster. Lashley instructs the crew to get back into the ring, and he makes them film as he hits a stalling suplex on Elias.
Later tonight, we’ll get a sit-down interview with Paul Heyman. We see Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler backstage, warming-up for their match with Seth Rollins and his mystery partner. Michael Cole says Rollins’ partner will not be Dean Ambrose because he is still injured. The Author’s of Pain make their way to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We see Seth Rollins sitting backstage. Tyler Breeze walks-in and says he is ready. Breeze says he’s gorgeous and Rollins is passable, if you’re into the cross-fit Jesus thing. Breeze starts to daydream, then tells Rollins to do it before he changes his mind. He puts his fist out and Rollins stares before Roman Reigns walks in. Reigns tells Rollins he has his back and gets a decent cheer from the fans. Rollins puts Breeze’s hand down.
Rezar W/Akam Vs. Titus O’Neil W/Apollo Crews & Dana Brooke
The bell rings and Rezar forces him to the corner, before slamming him to the mat. Rezar clubs him down and talks some trash. O’Neil fights back, but Rezar quickly knees him in the midsection. Rezar talks more trash to the crowd, who don’t really care.
Rezar chokes him in the corner and taunts Apollo & Dana Brooke at ringside. O’Neil fights back with some kicks and punches. O’Neil is trying to direct Rezar where to go, but he’s quite awkward. O’Neil splashes him in the corner and backs up. Rezar then big boots him down. Rezar hits a Ron Simmons spinebuster for the win.
Winner: Rezar
Kevin Owens is going over some notes with Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh. The Kevin Owens Show makes its triumphant return, next.
*Commercial Break*
The Kevin Owens Show is set-up near the entrance, with a few chairs. Those host, Kevin Owens, makes his way out and takes his seat. He welcomes us to the show before introducing the man who has been his personal guru as of late, Jinder Mahal.
Mahal and Sunil Singh make their way to the stage and take their seats. Owens says at first he thought Jinder’s breathing crap was just that. He thought that, after Braun Strowman threw him off of the ladder at Money In The Bank he would never be the same. He thought he’d never be without pain after being tossed off of the cage through the announce table, but now he can pick-up his daughter and it’s because of Jinder. He doesn’t let Jinder speak and reminds the fans he beat Braun Stowman, as they cheer for the monster. He says he did the impossible and beat Braun, and so did Jinder. He clarifies that Jinder’s win was a mere count-oout victory, while he fought a gruelling match. He starts yelling that he will beat Strowman at SummerSlam and take the Money In The Bank briefcase, then win the Universal Championship. He says he’s never been the same since losing that title. He says the path he is on is because of Jinder Mahal. He then decides that they should do the match again right now, because Jinder can just beat him again. He calls for Strowman to come out but he’s nowhere to be seen. Suddenly the platform they’re sitting on starts to move. Owens, Mahal and Singh jump up and start looking around, and suddenly the whole platform is flipped onto its side and all three men fall off. Braun Strowman was the reason of course, and he makes his way to the ring for the match with Jinder.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Jinder and co. near the ring, not wanting to enter.
Braun Strowman Vs. Jinder Mahal W/ Sunil Singh & Kevin Owens
Mahal reluctantly gets in the ring and tries to calm Strowman down with some breathing and chanting. A “Get these hands” chant picks up. Strowman hasn’t even done anything yet. Owens takes the briefcase, so Strowman chases him around the ring and retrieves it.
Strowman gets back in the ring before getting counted out. Strowman finally powers him to the corner and throws him across the ring. Owens returns and again steals the briefcase. Strowman chases and retrieves it. Strowman clubs him down. Mahal runs up and attacks him, so Strowman hits him with the briefcase by accident. The referee disqualifies him.
Winner VIA disqualification: Jinder Mahal
We’re reminded that if this happens at SummerSlam, Braun will lose the Money in the Bank briefcase – I guess that’s why they keep having him lose. Strowman chases Mahal and grabs him. Singh tries to help, but he’s knocked down. Mahal escapes Braun and leaves through the crowd. Braun looks pissed.
Backstage, Constable Baron Corbin hands a phone to Kurt Angle. Stephanie McMahon is on the phone. Angle takes it and agrees to whatever she’s saying. Angle says he’ll take care of it and looks concerned.
We’ll take a look at the rivalry between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, next. Toilet break!
*Commercial Break*
We get a lengthy video, recapping the feud between Reigns and Lesnar. Roman Reigns was interviewed by Corey Graves throughout the video. Reigns says he’s lost to Lesnar, but so have many men. Reigns believes he’s the uncrowned Universal Champion. Even though he’s been knocked down, he gets up and keeps trying. Reigns says he has to win at SummerSlam. Hopefully he cheats to win, that would be interesting.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre make their entrances. They’ll face Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, next.
*Commercial Break*
We see Roman and Seth walking backstage. Kurt Angle and Baron Corbin stop them and Corbin tells them that Roman cannot compete again tonight. He says Stephanie says Roman cannot wrestle tonight and jeopardise the main event of SummerSlam. Roman says he doesn’t care, to which Corbin says she figured he would say that, and so if he competes tonight he forfeits his title match. Reigns gets heated but Rollins tells him to think of the big picture, that he’ll figure something out. Rollins walks off, while Reigns turns to Corbin and asks how his ribs are feeling from earlier, then punches him in the gut and walks off laughing.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance and will face Drew and Dolph alone.
2-On-1 Handicap Match
Seth Rollins Vs. Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler
Rollins starts against McIntyre, and the fans are chanting for Ambrose. Rollins slaps him in the face and gets out of the ring. Drew chases, Rollins gets back in and then knocks McIntyre from the apron to the floor. Rollins then brings Dolph Ziggler into the ring by pulling him over the ropes, and stomps him. McIntyre runs back in and Rollins quickly takes him down and kicks him in the face. Rollins clotheslines Ziggler out of the ring. Rollins goes to the top rope, but Dolph distracts him. McIntyre tries to catch him, but he falls. McIntyre then picks him up and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ziggler is soon tagged in, and he works on Rollins, stomping him and slowing the pace.
Drew tags back in and applies a modified chin lock. McIntyre holds it for a while but Rollins eventually fights up and hits a jawbreaker. McIntyre quickly comes back with a body slam. Ziggler tags in and dances around Rollins, taunting him all the while. Rollins fights back, but Ziggler cuts off his momentum. Rollins then avoids a splash. Rollins gets out of the ring, pulls McIntyre off, and gets him into the ring post.
Rollins gets in the ring and hits Ziggler with a Sling Blade. Rollins then clotheslines him out of the ring. Rollins connects with a suicide dive and puts him in the ring. Rollins hits a springboard clothesline. Rollins goes for the Stomp, but Ziggler avoids it. Rollins counters a famouser by hitting a turnbuckle powerbomb. McIntyre blind tags in and turns him inside out with a clothesline. Ziggler comes in and they go for a double-team, but Rollins knees McIntyre, sending him from the ring. Rollins gets Ziggler up for a Buckle Bomb but Ziggler drops down and hits a Superkick for the win!
Winners: Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler
Cole talks about how Drew was the legal man. They show a replay of the finish and he was indeed the legal man, meaning they either screwed-up the finish, or intentionally did that to protect Seth somewhat.
Later tonight we’ll hear from Paul Heyman after being attacked by Brock Lesnar last week. The main event will see Ronda Rousey take on Alicia Fox in Rousey’s RAW in-ring debut. The B-Team make their way to the ring, with terrible new music.
*Commercial Break*
