We return and Michael Cole introduces both Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar. Before Cole can talk any further, Samoa Joe cuts him off and says nobody wants to hear his questions. Since he became number one contender, all he has done is make statements and he wants to asks some questions.
Joe starts to address Paul Heyman but Brock Lesnar interrupts him. Lesnar says this is between them, not Joe and Heyman. Lesnar says Joe is a coward who attacks from behind, to which Joe says he isn’t a hard man to find. Joe reminds Lesnar that he has attacked him week after week, even attacked Paul Heyman, and still Brock has done nothing.
“Let’s go champ,” adds Joe. Joe points out they have Lesnar quarantined somewhere in the building to keep him away. Lesnar drops all the big names he’s defeated before. Joe brings up beating Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Lesnar and Heyman laugh asking if this is really happening. Joe asks why they are playing around and suggests they do this face to face.
Lesnar tells Joe to come find him. We see a shot of Joe backstage walking around looking for Lesnar and Heyman. WWE producers are trying to hold Joe back as he keeps yelling for Brock. Kurt Angle tells him he has six days. Angle looks over at a door and Joe opens it. Joe is being held back. Lesnar dares Joe to come at him. Joe is yelling loudly at Lesnar. “I’ll put you down. Let’s go champ!” Security takes Joe away.
*Commercial Break*
Neville Vs. Mustafa Ali
Ali with a shoulder block early, but Neville flips right back up. Ali with a kick to the face and follows it up with a dropkick that drops Neville. Ali with a head scissors takedown on Neville. Ali with a top rope cross body for a very close two count.
Ali goes up top and Neville cuts him off. Neville is standing up top with Ali. Neville launches Ali off the top rope. Neville lands on his neck and Ali lands on his feet. Ali with a spike DDT on Neville for another close two count. Ali is back up top and Neville knocks him off the top to the outside.
Neville brings Ali back in and hits repeated kicks to the face in the corner. Neville launches Ali in the air and Ali lands with a thud. Neville levels Ali with a big clothesline when Ali flipped back in. Neville applies the Rings of Saturn. Ali gives up. Neville keeps it locked in for a few more seconds.
Winner: Neville
Neville defends the WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Akira Tozawa during the Great Balls of Fire Kickoff Show this Sunday night! Shame this match is on the pre-show.
A video airs showing Bray Wyatt walking around in a desert. We hear from Wyatt next.
*Commercial Break*
We return once again to video of Bray Wyatt standing in a desert. He’s talked about his first 100 days on RAW including “The Beast” grasping for air from Samoa Joe. “I am Bray Wyatt and I am everywhere.” He asks Seth Rollins if he can hear him. “This Sunday you will look into the eyes of a God,” adds Wyatt as the video concludes.
Backstage, WWE RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss is asked if Sasha Banks winning tonight is any indication of what will happen this Sunday. Bliss isn’t worried. She says she let Sasha win to give her a false sense of security.
Finn Balor heads to the ring. He’s in action next.
*Commercial Break*
Finn Balor vs. Cesaro w/ Sheamus
Before the match begins, The Hardy Boyz walk out to a big reaction. They will join Michael Cole, Booker T and Corey Graves on commentary tonight.
Balor with a side headlock early on Cesaro. Balor kicks out the knees of Cesaro and throws kicks to the chest. Cesaro catches Balor and connects with a nasty backbreaker. Balor dropkicks Cesaro in the face off a counter. Balor throws chops at Cesaro in the corner. Balor with more chops.
Sheamus distracts Balor allowing Cesaro to toss Balor to the corner and get in some big stomps. Cesaro and Balor exchange chops. Cesaro dumps Balor out of the ring.
*Commercial Break*
Back live, Balor with a roll up, gets a two count and Cesaro drops him with a clothesline. Cesaro with a gutwrench powerbomb on Balor for another two count. Cesaro catches Balor and hits a quick vertical suplex! Balor counters Cesaro and connects with a jumping stomp to the chest. Balor with a dropkick to the side of Cesaro’s shoulder. Cesaro rolls out and Balor catches him with a dropkick through the ropes. Balor with a huge kick to the face of Cesaro off the ring apron.
Back inside, Balor connects with the sling blade on Cesaro. Balor is waiting for Cesaro to get up. Elias Samson with a distraction on the outside playing his guitar. Cesaro lifts Balor up and connects with an uppercut. Balor kicks out. Cesaro with a running uppercut to Balor. Cesaro with another uppercut. Balor with a kick to Cesaro up on the top turnbuckle. Sheamus is distracting the referee. Samson trips up Balor.
The Hardy Boyz leave the commentary table and attack Samson and Sheamus. Cesaro is launched over the top rope. Balor with a dive to the outside taking out everyone! Cesaro bounces Balor knee first off the ring apron.
Matt Hardy with a Twist of Fate on Samson. Brogue Kick by Sheamus on Matt. Jeff Hardy dives and takes out Sheamus. Cesaro with a huge uppercut to Jeff. Balor dropkicks Cesaro into the barricade. Balor tosses Cesaro back inside the ring, Balor goes up top and connects with his Coup De Grace for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Finn and The Hardy’s stand tall in the ring while Cesaro, Sheamus and Samson retreat up the ramp.
Braun Strowman is shown making his way ringside as we head to a break!
*Commercial Break*
We return and see an ambulance make it’s way into the arena. We see footage of last week’s brawl by Braun and Roman.
Braun makes his way to the ring. He says there are few things he likes more in this world than hurting Roman Reigns. He says he likes that Roman is too stubborn to stay down, so he gets to keep doing it. He says last week he put Roman in the ambulance and he still thinks he can step to him. Braun says if Roman shows-up on Sunday he will leave the same way he did last week.
As for tonight, he still wants competition. He tells Angle to send out whoever he found to face him. Braun awaits his opponent. Titus O’Neil’s music hits and out comes the man with the brand.
Titus says that Braun is a big man with a big plan but you know what they say: everyone has a plan until they get punched. He says he would have no problem coming down and slapping the taste out of Braun’s mouth but tonight is special. He introduces Apollo Crews with a fiery promo.
Apollo Crews Vs. Braun Strowman
Crews takes the fight to Braun right away, attacking him and putting him in the corner. Crews takes the back of Strowman before being thrown into the ropes and booted. Strowman roars at Apollo before lifting him and throwing him from the ring.
Apollo returns to the ring and Strowman puts him down with a neck wrench. Strowman again tosses Apollo from the ring and Titus shouts at him to get back up. Titus runs back in and finds a second wind. He chops at the beast until he falls to one knee. Apollo dropkicks Strowman and then looks for a standing moonsault but Strowman kicks him in mid-air, sending him flying across the ring!
Strowman lifts Apollo and hits him with the running powerslam but stops the referee’s pin attempt. Strowman hits another powerslam, then another before taking the win.
Winner: Braun Strowman
After the match Strowman lifts Apollo and looks for another running powerslam but Titus pulls Apollo off of his shoulder and climbs into the ring. Strowman and Titus stare-off.
Titus throws a punch but gets bulldozed by Strowman, who then lifts him and hits a running powerslam. Strowman leaves the ring and drags Apollo outside and throws him over the barricade. Strowman climbs into the crowd with Apollo and drags him through the arena up to the ambulance. Strowman throws Apollo into the ambulance, closes the doors and slaps the back of it. The ambulance doesn’t drive off, so he slaps it again and the sirens start. Again he slaps it but nothing happens, so Braun goes to the driver’s door and opens it to find Roman Reigns!
Roman punches Stroman and they brawl around the ambulance until Braun throws him into the vehicle. Reigns is thrown into the barricade, then onto the stage. The two brawl on the stage, then Reigns shoves Strowman into the LED screen on the stage and it almost breaks. Roman runs and Spears Strowman off of the stage through a table! Roman slowly climbs to his feet and the commentators point out that even if Reigns can do this on Sunday he still has to drag Braun to the ambulance. The camera turns to see Braun walking over by the ambulance. Strange ending to the show with both guys just walking off.
That’s it for this week’s Raw! What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments and join us tomorrow night for SmackDown Live and then again on Sunday for Great Balls of Fire!
