Monday Night Raw opens with a recap of Roman Reigns winning the Intercontinental Championship, being attacked by Samoa Joe, then last week when he battled Jason Jordan and again Joe attacked.
We go live to the arena and Samoa Joe is there. He says we’ve all heard of The Shield, the team that attacked everyone in their wake. Joe says he has seen The Shield up close and he isn’t impressed. He snapped Seth Rollins leg, he beat the cockroach Dean Ambrose, and he puts Roman to sleep over and over again. He isn’t impressed. Later tonight he faces Ambrose but right now he’s out to finish what he started, he wants Roman Reigns. And not the lap dogs, he wants Roman by himself.
We see Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose watching a monitor backstage and Rollins tells Ambrose to go get Roman. Back in the ring, Joe says that if it wasn’t for the “stupid bastard” Jason Jordan, he would have finished this last week. He says he has punked Roman out many times and he doesn’t care about The Shield, the matches Roman has been in, or anything else. So if Roman has any problems with that, he should come on down.
We see Roman backstage with Rollins and Ambrose, and he says he’s got this. Roman makes his way to the ring and Joe is ready for a fight. Roman slides into the ring and the two start brawling wildly! Roman gets the better of Joe but Cesaro and Sheamus appear, Roman knocks them from the apron but that allows Joe to apply the Coquina Clutch and take Roman out. Rollins and Ambrose come a-running and brawl all over ringside with Sheamus and Cesaro. Joe, Sheamus and Cesaro beat the entire Shield down in the ring. They stand tall over the bodies.
The commentators say it was all a ruse by Joe and that he doesn’t want Reigns one-on-one. We get a commercial for SmackDown Live and this Sunday’s Clash of Champions PPV.
*Commercial Break*
We return and get replays of what just went down with Samoa Joe, The Bar and The Shield.
Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James make their way to the ring and we see clips of Sasha and Alexa Bliss making history this past week for being the first women to wrestle in Abu Dhabi. Absolution are out next and Paige says she had her first match in a year and beat the Boss. Mandy Rose then makes fun of Mickie James and Bayley, while Sonya Deville says that Absolution is a symphony of carnage and the music is about to start. Terrible promo from all three.
Bayley & Mickie James W/Sasha Banks Vs. Paige & Mandy Rose W/Sonya Deville
We start with Mandy Rose and Bayley. Rose quickly tags out to Paige. Bayley backs Paige up to the corner and Mickie James gets the tag. They attempt a double suplex, but Rose jumps in and breaks it up. Bayley takes out Rose jumping off the ring apron, while James jumps off the ring apron taking out Paige as we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
Back live, Bayley throws an elbow to the back of Rose and follows it with an elbow drop. Rose throws a jumping knee to the face of Bayley for a two count. Rose with kicks to Bayley in the corner and tag to Paige. Paige with her knees to the chest of Bayley. Paige with a quick knee to the face of Bayley. Paige with a high running knee to Bayley in the corner. Bayley drops Paige face first off the ring apron.
Paige tags in Rose and Bayley gets the hot tag to James who drops Rose with repeated clotheslines. James with a spin kick and jumping elbow that drops Rose. James with a top rope takedown on Rose and Paige breaks it up. Bayley tackles and goes after Paige in the corner. Paige with a kick to the head of James with the referee distracted by Bayley. Rose pins James to pick up the pinfall.
Winners: Paige & Mandy Rose
After the match we get a rundown of the Clash of Champions PPV, then a nod to the main event tonight between Kane and Braun Strowman, with the winner facing Lesnar at Royal Rumble.
*Commercial Break*
Back live and Bray Wyatt appears on the screen. “This is nothing new. It has always been darkness versus light. The morning versus the night. Good versus evil.” Matt Hardy shows up on screen and how the battlefield will continue in the land of “WWEEEEEE yaaaaaaaaas.” He adds his Woken Wisdom and Broken Brilliance will illuminate the masses. Wyatt calls him a liar. “His words mean nothing,” adds Wyatt. Hardy cuts in talking about Sister Abigail and how she now has a vessel known as Bray Wyatt. Wyatt tells everyone to choose their side wisely. “Only one of us can survive,” adds Wyatt. Hardy says the Woken Warriors are prepared and are ready to DELETE. We get laughing between Wyatt and Hardy that goes on a while too long.
We see highlights of last week, when Nia Jax flirted with Enzo. We go backstage and see Enzo talking to the Cruiserweight Championship. Drew Gulak walks in, wearing a suit, and he says that WWE has revoked Rich Swann’s opportunity, so tonight there will be a second-chance Fatal 4-Way to determine who will face Gulak next week on Raw in a number one contender’s match. Enzo accidentally name-drops Nia Jax while talking and Gulak starts elbowing him and saying he gets it. Gulak thinks that Enzo said her name to keep him on his toes and Enzo agrees.
Finn Balor makes his way to the ring to a huge pop in Cleveland. He will face Curtis Axel next!
*Commercial Break*
Axel and Dallas make their way to the ring. Before the match, Curtis Axel removes his neckbrace and starts attacking Finn Balor with help from Bo Dallas. Dallas leaves the ring and Axel continues the attack. The referee checks on Finn in the corner and he says he is fine to continue.
Finn Balor Vs. Curtis Axel W/ Bo Dallas
The bell rings and Axel charges in with rights and kicks. Axel with a snapmare into a blockbuster for a two count. Axel with a headlock keeping Balor grounded. Balor with a chop and sling blade takedown. Balor launches Axel into the corner with a big dropkick. Axel is grabbing his neck. Balor off the top connecting with Coup de Grace for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
*Commercial Break*
Backstage, Kane talks about his match with Braun Strowman tonight. He says while they share a lot in common as monsters in WWE, he will be the one to walk out and compete with Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.
