Monday Night Raw opens with a graphic highlighting the passing of Leon “Big Van Vader” White. Rest in peace.
After the intro package we go live to the arena where Raw’s General Manager Kurt Angle and the Constable Baron Corbin are standing in the ring. Jojo doesn’t introduce Corbin, so he forces her to give him a full intro. Kurt Angle says that because of a call from Stephanie McMahon, and because Paul Heyman started rumours over the weekend about Brock Lesnar’s status with WWE and his next title defence, he has to clear the air. Angle is about to guarantee something in regards to Lesnar but he’s interrupted by Roman Reigns.
Reigns comes to the ring and grabs a mic as the fans boo very loudly. He tells Angle not to mind him, that he just wants to hear this face-to-face. Angle is about to speak again when he’s interrupted, this time by Bobby Lashley. After getting to the ring, Lashley tells Reigns that he has earned the right to hear this as much as anyone. He says Reigns has had three years to beat Brock but he’s proven he can’t, and it’s time for Roman to move on. Reigns says Lashley moved on ten years ago. Reigns reminds the fans that ten years ago, Lashley was in the main event of WrestleMania, then he left. He left to start a big career in MMA and that didn’t work out, and now he’s back and he’s done nothing since returning. Reigns says that since Bobby left, he’s main-evented WrestleMania four times and he’s hungry to do it again. Roman tells him to check his resume before stepping in his yard. Lashley says that he’s the only person who has the skills to beat Lesnar, and he’ll beat however many people Angle puts in the match at Extreme Rules.
Angle then says there won’t be a multi-man match at Extreme Rules. He says there was a snag in the contract and Brock doesn’t want that match to take place. So it won’t be happening – I’m not sure how any snag in Brock’s contract could affect a match that he’s not in, but that’s what they’re going with. Reigns is unhappy and again says that Lesnar does whatever he pleases, because Brock doesn’t give a sh…Angle interrupts Roman and says they already know how he feels. Lashley says maybe Brock would care if he could stand across the ring from anyone other than Roman. He says Brock is tired of staring at Roman, as is everyone – the crowd cheered that. Reigns says neither of them have a match at Extreme Rules, so why don’t they go at it tonight. Before things can get out of hand, The Revival come out. Dash and Dawson come to the end of the ramp and say they’re tired of listening to the same crap every week. They don’t think Reigns and Lashley can hang with the best team on the planet, so challenge them to a match. Corbin grabs the mic and says “let’s get the party started”. The match will happen after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Roman Reigns & Bobby Lashley Vs. The Revival
We return from the break and the bell rings. The Revival try to attack Reigns and Lashley while they argue about who will start the match, but they quickly take them out with near stereo back body drops before clotheslining them both over the top rope.
Reigns goes outside and slams Dawson’s face off the apron before putting him in the ring. Reigns head-butts him into the corner and asks Lashley if he wants in. Lashley enters the fray and they hit a double-team back elbow. Dash Wilder attacks Reigns from behind, so Lashley clotheslines him. Dawson hits Lashley with a flapjack onto the top rope before punching him in the corner. Dawson hits Lashley with a clothesline before tagging Wilder in. Dawson drops Wilder onto Lashley with a leg drop. Wilder uppercuts him, but Lashley fights back. Dawson tags in and hits a snapmare before applying a chin lock. Wilder tags in, and they hit a double-team suplex. They keep him grounded but Lashley eventually comes back with a reverse STO and tags Roman.
Reigns hits Dawson with a pair of clotheslines and a leaping clothesline. Reigns clubs away at him in the corner ten times before hitting the ropes and hitting a big boot. Reigns then punches Wilder off the apron. Reigns sets up for a Superman Punch, but Wilder pulls Dawson out of the ring. Reigns slides out and connects on both a Drive By on the apron. Reigns is in charge as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Wilder applying a chin lock to Reigns. Roman escapes, but Dawson tags in and continues the beatdown on Reigns. Wilder gets a cheap shot in. Dawson puts Reigns in the corner, but Reigns kicks him in the face. Wilder quickly tags in and stomps Reigns down in the corner. Wilder applies a chin lock, but Reigns fights up. Wilder quickly takes him down by the hair. Dawson tags in and drops a knee before stomping the head. Dawson talks some trash before putting him in the corner. Reigns quickly head-butts him before reversing a whip to the corner – Dawson really attacked the turnbuckle there, reminded me of Bret Hart.
Lashley and Wilder are tagged in at the same time. Lashley smashes Dash and Dawson, and hits them both with belly-to-belly suplexes. Lashley avalanches them both in the corner. Lashley then floors Dawson with a big spinebuster. Lashley delivers a delayed vertical suplex to Wilder before setting up in the corner. Reigns tags himself in and hits Wilder with a Superman Punch. Lashley doesn’t look happy. Reigns sets up in the corner and avoids a blind tag from Lashley. Dawson forearms Lashley off the apron. Reigns spears Dawson and Wilder, the legal man, rolls Reigns up and holds the tights for the 123!!
Winners: The Revival
Great to see those two get a win. Dash and Dawson leave the ring and celebrate as they retreat up the ramp. Inside the ring, Lashley blames Roman for their loss before leaving.
Later tonight, the Intecontinental Championship is on the line, as well as Alexa Bliss talking about her beating at the hands of Ronda Rousey.
Matt Hardy appears on screen and says last week was wonderful. He says the last time he witnessed something that great was in a previous vessel, when he sat in the theatre with his dead friend Bill Shakespeare. Bray Wyatt appears and he says The B-Team have become fixated on their titles, they don’t even realise that they’ve wandered right into the lions den. They blow out Bray’s lantern and make their way to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We return and Hardy and Wyatt are waiting in the ring. Curtis Axel appears on the screen laughing like Matt Hardy and wearing a wig like him – much like last week’s impression. Bo Dallas walks into the screen imitating Bray Wyatt. Dallas says they may be in the lion’s den, but they’re entering… a B-Hive! Dallas coughs on the fog in the room. Dallas says, “San Diego, we are The B-Team. We’re here.” They fade out of the frame coughing on the smoke.
Axel and Dallas make their entrance, while the Deleters look amused.
Matt Hardy w/Bray Wyatt vs. Curtis Axel w/Bo Dallas
The bell rings, and Hardy quickly slams Axel off the turnbuckles a few times. Axel blocks a kick and punches him. Hardy reverses a whip to the corner and puts him on the top rope. Hardy goes for a superplex, but Axel blocks it. Axel and Hardy fall off the ropes, and Axel lands on top of him for the 123.
Winner: Curtis Axel
The B-Team celebrates, but stops when they see The Deleters of Worlds staring at them. Hardy says that resilience they used to attain that fluke victory was… WONDERFUL! Hardy and Wyatt clap for them and smile. The B-Team then walks off celebrating and confused. The tag team division isn’t exactly on fire right now is it?
Still photos are shown of the latest Sasha Banks and Bayley breakup. Kurt Angle is seen talking with Sasha Banks backstage and she looks angry.
Also backstage, The Authors of Pain are walking backstage and they shove a stagehand. Titus Worldwide walks up to them and tells them to show respect to the stagehands. They say thanks for the advice, but no thanks. Great to see these two back. They’ll be in action, next!
*Commercial Break*
We return and Bayley is talking to Alicia Fox. Kurt Angle approaches Bayley and says they need to talk. He says her Sasha and Ember Moon will take on the Riott Squad tonight, and this is their last chance to get along. Bayley argues with the decision but he walks off.
The Author’s of Pain make their way to the ring to face two ridiculously dressed jobbers.
The Author’s of Pain Vs. The Gibson Brothers
Rezar starts against one of the Gibson brothers. Rezar big boots him in the face before lifting him up and slamming him over the top rope onto the apron and to the floor!
The other Gibson brother is brought into the ring – not by choice mind you – and tossed over the top rope as well. Akam tags in and nearly crushes him with a fireman’s carry slam into the corner. They hit him with The Last Chapter for the mercy kill.
Winners: The Author’s Of Pain
AOP continues to beat on the Gibson brothers before Titus Worldwide runs down to make the save. AOP leaves without things getting physical. I guess we have a match for next week or Extreme Rules.
Kurt Angle is backstage talking with Baron Corbin about the tag teams imploding, meaning Lashley/Reigns and Banks/Bayley. Finn Balor walks in and wants to know why Brock Lesnar had the multi-man match canceled. Balor says he wanted a crack at that match. Corbin says Balor would have come up short like he did last week. Balor asks if the manager at TGI Friday’s knew Corbin stole his uniform. Braun Strowman walks up to them and says he feels kind of bad for destroying Kevin Owens recently after he tried to be his friend. Strowman says he wants to be Owens’ partner. Angle asks which opponents he had in mind. Strowman suggests Corbin and Balor. Balor looks surprised. Angle agrees to the match.
*Commercial Break*
