We return from the break and Elias is on the stage again. Before he can even speak, he is interrupted by Finn Balor.
Finn Balor Vs. Drew McIntyre W/Dolph Ziggler
McIntyre is on a knee looking at Balor as the bell rings. They come toe-to-toe and the Scot is way bigger. Balor takes the fight to McIntyre. McIntyre then clubs him down and chops the chest. McIntyre chops the chest a second time. McIntyre hits the ropes, but Finn dropkicks him out of the ring. Balor then hits the ropes and floors McIntyre with a summersault senton.
We come back from the break to see McIntyre whip Balor hard into the corner. McIntyre kicks him and hits a suplex for a two count. McIntyre then applies an arm bar. Balor fights up, but McIntyre sends him to the corner. Balor boots him back and hits a pair of running forearms, but McIntyre doesn’t go down. Balor then takes him down with a tilt-a-whirl DDT for a two count. Balor chops him and goes for a slingshot, but McIntyre catches him. Balor slides off on the apron and hits a slingshot kick.
Balor goes to the top rope, but McIntyre moves. Balor hits a Sling Blade and waits for him to get up. Balor hits a hard dropkick into the corner and goes to the top rope for a Coup de Grace. Ziggler then crotches him on the top rope for a disqualification.
Winner Via Disqualification: Finn Balor
Ziggler gets in the ring and stomps away at Balor. McIntyre joins in for the double-team. Seth Rollins runs down to a big pop to make the save. Rollins gets McIntyre out of the ring and attacks Ziggler, but Ziggler quickly gets out of the ring.
Kurt Angle comes out and says Ziggler and McIntyre are to go nowhere. This match will be restarted as a tag team match right now!
After the announcement, Rollins and Balor attack Ziggler and Drew from behind on the ramp,before getting them in the ring. McIntyre turns Rollins and punches away at him. Rollins fights back. Rollins and Balor then double clothesline McIntyre out.
Finn Balor & Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler
Rollins starts against Ziggler. They circle the ring before Rollins hits Ziggler with a hip toss for a two count. Ziggler takes his time before punching away at Rollins in the corner. Rollins chops away at the chest before throwing him out of the ring. Rollins then hits a plancha.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Ziggler working on Balor, but Balor soon comes back with a low dropkick. Balor then attacks McIntyre. Ziggler quickly tackles Balor to the corner, and McIntyre tags in. McIntyre takes Balor down and applies an arm bar. Balor fights up and tries to tag Rollins, but he’s stopped. McIntyre then whips him hard into the corner. McIntyre gets him out of the ring and drops him on the barricade. McIntyre puts him in the ring and tags in Ziggler.
Balor punches back at Ziggler, but he’s stopped from tagging in Rollins. Balor then floors him with an overhead kick. McIntyre tags in and quickly stops Finn from tagging in Rollins. Rollins eventually is tagged in after a sidestep. Rollins clotheslines McIntyre out of the ring. Rollins hits Ziggler and McIntyre with a suicide dive. Rollins puts McIntyre in the ring before sending Ziggler to the barricade.
Rollins hits a springboard clothesline to Drew and forearms him in the corner. McIntyre charges, but Rollins boots him back and hits a blockbuster for a two count. Rollins gets the crowd fired up by stomping his foot on the mat. Ziggler distracts him, but Rollins isn’t affected. Rollins superkicks McIntyre and covers, but Dolph breaks it up. Balor hits a Sling Blade on McIntyre. Ziggler then superkicks Balor. Rollins takes out Ziggler before McIntyre hits him with an inverted Alabama Slam for a near fall. The crowd chants, “This is awesome.” Ziggler tags in, and McIntyre puts Rollins on his shoulders. Seth fights Ziggler off on the top rope and punches away at McIntyre. Rollins gets McIntyre out of the ring before hitting Ziggler with The Stomp for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor & Seth Rollins
The babyfaces celebrate their win after the match before heading to the back.
Charly Caruso is backstage to interview Bobby Lashley. She asks what is going through his mind trying to beat Roman Reigns again. Lashley says this is why he came back. Lashley loves big matches and performs well with the lights shining brightest. Reigns has lost to Lesnar time and time again. Lashley will be ready to greet Lesnar next week. Lashley hopes he’s ready because there’s no sleep til Brooklyn.
Replays are shown of Stephanie McMahon announcing the all-women’s PPV “Evolution” earlier tonight. Ember Moon makes her entrance, she’ll face Liv Morgan, next.
*Commercial Break*
Ember Moon makes her way to the ring, while we get a promo from her saying Liv must be eclipsed. Liv Morgan is out second. WWE has a terrible happen of giving us the same matches every week and expecting us to care about who wins; wins and losses mean nothing and nobody cares to see a match for the 10th time, in NXT you’ll never see the Champion face the challenger three times before a PPV, then have the title match. It just doesn’t make sense but it’s why Rollins Vs. Corbin/McIntyre, Moon Vs. Morgan, and Rawley Vs. Breeze means nothing.
Liv Morgan Vs. Ember Moon
Moon quickly dropkicks her and hits a fall-away slam. Moon then hits a handspring attack in the corner. Morgan gets out of the ring to recover. Moon chases her out, but Morgan gets in the ring.
Moon wrenches the arm, but Morgan pushes her off. Moon goes for a springboard cross-body, but Morgan moves. Morgan slams her off the mat a few times. Moon eventually makes a comeback and goes to the top rope, but Morgan cuts her off. Moon blocks a superplex and knocks her to the mat. Moon hits the Eclipse for the win.
Winner: Ember Moon
We see Seth Rollins backstage with Mike Rome. Rollins says he is proud of the women. Rollins also talked to Kurt Angle and has a match at SummerSlam. Rollins will be taking on Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
It’ll be Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley with the winner facing Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam for the WWE Universal Championship, next.
*Commercial Break*
We got a super-long promo for the Reigns/Lashley match.
And we’re back with the one and only Drifter. Elias strums a chord and waits to be interrupted. Elias is satisfied that no-one came out.and starts to play. Kurt Angle’s music hits, and Elias is furious. Angle says it’s not what Elias is thinking. Angle says he’s not here to interrupt Elias. Angle wants to let him know the floor is his and wants to hear a song from his new album. Elias says his album is going to change everyone’s life. He says they should buy two copies – one for themselves and one for the person they’ll become after listening. Elias gives a shoutout to O.A.R. in the front row. Elias says everyone wanted to be involved in the Elias album, but he’s been too busy to return their calls. O.A.R. knows what everyone else knows. WWE stands for Walk With Elias. Elias starts to play and sings, but soon stops to say that he’s not feeling the vibe. Elias doesn’t know where he is and then realizes that he’s in Cincinnati. Saying the city’s name makes him nauseous. Elias is not a vain man, but this is the grossest collection of human’s he’s ever seen.
Finally, Elias is interrupted as Bobby Lashley’s music hits, and he makes his entrance. Elias leaves angrily and Bobby comes to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
Roman Reigns makes his entrances to the usual negative reaction. He talks inaudible trash as he stomps to the ring. This one is for some of the marbles.
Bobby Lashley Vs. Roman Reigns
The two behemoths lock-up, and Reigns powers him to the corner. Reigns punches him before being sent into the ropes. Reigns hits a jumping clothesline and covers for a two count. Roman then clotheslines Bobby out of the ring.
Reigns follows after and slams Lashley off the barricade and puts him in the ring. Lashley kicks him getting back into the ring and takes him down before clotheslining him out of the ring. Reigns punches him coming out of the ring. Reigns charges him, but Lashley counters with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex on the floor. Lashley is in control as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Reigns punch Lashley, then hit the ropes and get caught with a huge one-handed spinebuster. Lashley grounds Reigns with a knee in the back and wrenching his arms back. Reigns fights to his feet and punches Bobby. Reigns hits the ropes and they both take each other out with clotheslines. They take their time getting to their feet before trading punches. Reigns uppercuts him and hits the ropes, but Lashley leapfrogs him and connects with a clothesline. Lashley follows up with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex before clotheslining him in the corner and hitting a running shoulder. Reigns tries for a Samoan Drop, but Lashley grabs the ropes. Reigns drops him on the apron and punches him. Reigns hits the ropes, but Bobby clotheslines him from the apron.
Lashley gets in the ring, and Reigns quickly sends him out of the ring. As Lashley gets in, Roman hits him with a leg drop to the back of the head for a near fall. Reigns sets up for a Superman Punch, but Lashley counters into a full nelson. Reigns looks like he’s fading, but he backs Lashley to the corner and elbows him in the head to get out. Lashley surprises him with a reverse STO before turning over into a modified head and arm triangle. The crowd is getting into this match now. Reigns powers him over and pins his shoulders for two to get Lashley to break the hold. Lashley charges into the ring post after Reigns sidesteps him. Reigns starts hitting him with clotheslines in the corner ten times.
Reigns hits the ropes, and Lashley drops him with a scoop powerslam. Lashley sets up for his spear and waits for Reigns to get up. Lashley charges for a spear, but Reigns counters with a botched Superman Punch. Reigns picks up a near fall. Reigns is feeling it now. Lashley punches him back, but Reigns comes right back with a Superman Punch for a near fall. Reigns gets to his feet and tries to get the crowd into it. Lashley then rolls out of the ring to recover. Lashley looks exhausted at ringside. Reigns goes outside and leaps for a punch, but Lashley counters into a belly-to-belly attempt. Lashley throws him into the ring, and Reigns basically lands on his head. Lashley then hits a spear for a near fall! Lashley goes back to the corner and looks for another spear but, you guessed it, Superman punch. Reigns then runs for a spear of his own but Lashley kicks him away. Reigns hits the ropes, as does Bobby, and Reigns hits the spear for the win.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Oh boy. I guess we’re going with this one again and I for one couldn’t care less. Reigns celebrates his win after the match, then Lashley shakes his hand in a sign of respect. Reigns poses atop the turnbuckles. He will face Lesnar at SummerSlam for the Universal Championship.
That’s it for this week’s Raw. Let us know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to come back tomorrow for SmackDown Live. Until then, safe travels!
