Monday Night Raw opens with a strange recap of last week’s show, equipped with voice-over.
We go live to the arena and out comes Roman Reigns to boos. Roman gets to the ring and says they’re talented but he never thought he would say he lost to The Revival. And he doesn’t want to make excuses…but he did have the worst tag partner ever. He says Bob was a terrible partner, and he doesn’t want to team with Bob, he wants to fight him. Roman says Bob has a massive ego. He says 10 years ago Bob thought he was the guy but he couldn’t handle the road, well it’s no different now because he is the guy. He says Angle doens’t want them to fight at Extreme Rules, well that’s fine because he thinks they should do it right now.
Dolph Ziggler, flanked by Drew McIntyre comes out and talks on the way to the ring. Ziggler laughs at Roman calling Bobby an egomaniac. He says Roman calls the ring his yard, and acts like everything has to go through him. McIntyre says Roman has to stick his nose everywhere, places it doesn’t belong, like playing the hero against Seth Rollins last week. They get into the ring and Ziggler says if Roman wants everything to go through him, that’s fine by them. McIntyre starts talking but Roman cuts to the point and uppercuts him. Roman and Drew brawl and Ziggler joins in. They beat Roman down until Seth Rollins comes out to make the save. Rollins helps Reigns clear the ring as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
Backstage we see Reigns and Rollins walking and they find GM Kurt Angle. They tell him they want Dolph and Drew in a match, to which Angle says he will schedule the match for next week. Roman says not next week, tonight. Angle says if they want the match tonight, they got it…but Roman still has to face The Revival with Bobby Lashley.
Matt Hardy makes his way to the ring for a match – Bray Wyatt isn’t with Hardy tonight because he was in a car crash earlier this weekend. Curtis Axel is shown on the giant screen acting like Matt Hardy again. The lights go out and Bo Dallas dressed up as Bray Wyatt joins him, he tells Matt he must face the ferocious B team all by himself. Dallas starts singing he’s got the whole world in his hands as Curtis Axel brings up a globe of the world.
Matt Hardy Vs. Curtis Axel W/ Bo Dallas
The bell rings and both men lock up. Hardy applies a headlock but Axel reverses it into an arm bar. Hardy sends Axel to the ropes and lands an elbow to the face, which earns a two count already.
A right hand by Hardy, then he sends Axel to the ropes but gets knocks down with a shoulder tackle. Axel throws hardy into the turnbuckle as he slowly stomps on him. Axel sends him to the ropes, Matt goes for the Twist of Fate but Axel pushes him off and rolls to the outside of the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Axel in charge as he stomps on Matt. Curtis hits a nice backbreaker but Hardy kicks-out, so Axel hits a rolling neck snap for another near fall. The action tumbles to the apron, where Hardy hits a Side Effect. Axels gets back into the ring and Hardy takes control.
Hardy slams Axel’s head into all three turnbuckles as he build up a head of steam. Hardy gets a few near falls with different moves before signaling for his finisher. Dallas gets on the apron to provide a distraction so Axel can drop Hardy’s face across the top turnbuckle. He hits a neckbreaker and gets the 123!
Winners: Curtis Axel
Dallas joins Axel in the ring for their standard over-the-top celebration – which continues all the way up the ramp.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Rollins and Reigns backstage, with Rollins announcing that he will be in a 30-minute Iron Man match with Ziggler at Extreme Rules. Bobby Lashley walks in and Seth asks Roman if he’s got it and Roman says yes as Seth walks away. Lashley tells Roman he’s a heat magnet. A trouble starter. And that aside from his “brother” Seth, no one likes him. And he doesn’t like him. He tells him to check his huge ego at the door and focus on tonight. Roman tells him to shut up. He will start the match and finish the match. All he has to do is stand on the apron and flash that fake smile. Lashley says he has to focus or he will hold him responsible. Roman asks if that’s a threat. Lashley says it is and walks away.
We get highlights of last week’s Raw from when Bayley attacked Sasha Banks airs and when Kurt Angle told her she has to go to counselling or she’s fired. We see her first therapy session. Bayley is seen sitting down at the counselor’s office while Sasha walks in and they realise they have an appointment at the same time with the same doctor. They start arguing. Their doctor turns out to be none other than Dr. Shelby! Shelby, who helped Kane and Daniel Bryan become besties, comes out and says he will help them with their counselling together and to follow him into what he likes to call The Friend Zone (his office).
Back live on Raw, Titus O’Neil and Apollo Crews with Dana Brooke come out, they will have match with the Author’s of Pain next!
*Commercial Break*
Titus Worldwide W/ Dana Brooke Vs. Author’s Of Pain
Titus starts off with Rezar. They lock-up, shoot off, and a shoulder tackle by Titus sends Rezar into the corner. Crews tags himself in, a split occurring?, and hits a big splash on Rezar. The big man then pushes Crews to the opposite corner and Akam tags himself in. He beats on Crews but eventually Apollo fights back and a hits a dropkick to take Akam down. He tags Rezar in, who goes after Crews right away. He throws Apollo from one corner to the other.
Rezar slams Crews and goes for the cover but Apollo grabs the bottom rope. He throws Crews into the corner and tags Akam back in. They double team Crews until Titus comes in. They throw Titus shoulder first into the ring post. Crews goes to the outside and gets a big side slam by Akam. They hit The Last Chapter on Crews for the easy win.
Winners: Author’s of Pain
Backstage, Seth asks Roman if he’s ready for tonight and Roman says yes. Up next is Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. Whoo, we’re getting a lot of Roman Reigns tonight aren’t we?
*Commercial Break*
We come back and see a clip of Kevin Owens arriving at the arena, late. Owens parks his car by the garage door and a valet tells him he can’t park there. Owens ignores him, then the guy asks for his keys, and Owens says “no chance”. Owens then walks inside, tentatively, and puts his hood up. Terrified of a repeat of last week.
