Monday Night Raw opens with Elias sitting in the middle of the ring and the fans boo loudly as he is introduced.
Elias goes through his introductory schtick and plays a few licks for the fans, for which he receives some applause. He says it should be no surprise that he is the first face they see tonight because he is the company’s most valuable asset, and he will become even more valuable at Money In The Bank, when he takes the Intercontinental Championship. He reminds us of what WWE stands for and that last week he smashed Seth Rollins with one of his favourite guitars last week. He says he turned the pain of losing that guitar into a song that he will sing right now.
As Elias plays we see replays of the attack last week. His song says Rollins has fallen, just like the Houston Rockets. It isn’t long before Seth Rollins interrupts Elias and is walking gingerly to the ring. Elias tosses his stool and velvet coat aside, grabs his guitar like a weapon and waits. Rollins walks around the ring and bides his time as the fans chant his name. Rollins lifts the apron up and pulls out a chair, an equaliser! Elias looks scared and starts to back-off as Seth climbs onto the apron. Rollins gets into the ring and they have a stand-off until they swing at the same time and Elias’ guitar flies out of his hands. Seth backs him into the corner but out of nowhere, Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh attack Rollins from behind.
Rollins is beaten down until Roman Reigns returns and sprints to the ring to make the save. Reigns helps Seth to his feet and out comes Kurt Angle. Worth mentioning that Corey Graves referred to them as “former-Shield brothers”, so I guess that reunion is over before it ever really began. Angle tells Mahal and Elias not to go anywhere because they have to face Rollins and Reigns, right now! I swear the “right now” match gimmick has been used so much recently.
*Commercial Break*
Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns Vs. Jinder Mahal & Elias W/Sunil Singh
Rollins starts the match with Elias but he tags in Jinder, who then tags out again. Rollins and Reigns eventually attack both in frustration. Rollins hits Mahal with a plancha while Reigns sends Elias into the barricade. Rollins gets Mahal in the ring and dropkicks him and the match properly begins.
Reigns tags in and gets booed loudly. Reigns whips Rollins into Mahal, who hits a running forearm. Rollins then sends Mahal into Reigns, who hits him with a back elbow. Rollins tags in, and they slam Mahal down. Elias tags in and attacks Rollins from behind. Elias hits a snapshot off the top rope. Elias sends him into the ropes for a clothesline. Elias then applies a neck vice. Rollins tries to fight out, so Elias applies a chin lock to keep him grounded. Rollins tries to fight up, but Elias quickly takes him down and cinches in the chin lock. Rollins fights out and goes for a suplex, but his neck is too hurt. Elias goes for a knee drop, but Rollins moves. Mahal tags in and tries to stop Rollins, but he’s sent over the top rope.
Reigns is tagged in, and he hits a pair of clotheslines followed by a leaping clothesline. Reigns punches Elias off the apron and clubs away at Mahal in the corner. Reigns hits the ropes, but Mahal boots him. Reigns hits the ropes and boots Mahal, who makes the tag to Elias, who also and eats a big boot from Reigns. Reigns gets set up for a Superman, but Mahal distracts him, so Reigns punches him instead. Elias gets out of the ring to recover. Reigns leaves the ring and goes to hit Mahal with a Drive By Dropkick, but Elias comes out of nowhere to clothesline him. And the heels regain control as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Reigns trapped in a chin lock applied by Elias. Reigns eventually fights out, but Elias clobbers him with right hands. Mahal tags in and snaps Reigns off the top rope for a two count. Elias tags in and punches away at Reigns before knocking Rollins off the apron. Reigns makes a comeback, but Elias quickly drops him with a back elbow. Mahal tags back in and kicks Reigns in the ribs. Mahal applies a chin lock, but Reigns fights up. Mahal knees him in the ribs, but Reigns quickly comes back with a Samoan Drop.
Rollins and Elias are tagged in. Rollins hits a Lou Thesz Press and punches away at him before hitting a Sling Blade. Mahal is knocked off the apron. Rollins goes to the second rope for a blockbuster on Elias for a two count. Rollins gets up holding his neck. Elias drops him on the apron. Rollins springboards off the ropes and rolls when Elias moves. Rollins avoids a kick and hits the falcon arrow. Mahal breaks up the pin. Mahal goes for the Khallas, but Reigns comes in and levels him with a Superman Punch. Reigns then hits Elias with a Drive By Dropkick. Rollins superkicks Elias and sets up for the Stomp. Sunil Singh gets on the apron and leaps off before Rollins attacks, but he leaps right into Reigns.
Mahal quickly attacks Reigns from behind and sends him into the steel steps. Mahal then sends him into the crowd. Elias rolls Rollins up for a two count. Rollins hits a step-up enzuigiri on Elias before hitting Mahal with a suicide dive. Rollins grabs his neck in pain at ringside. Singh grabs a steel chair, but Rollins turns and he doesn’t want any. Singh runs into the ring and drops the chair and runs out the other side. Rollins slides back in and Elias takes advantage: hitting a DDT on the chair in front of the referee. Elias then hits the Drift Away for the win.
Winners: Elias & Jinder Mahal
Well I think it’s fair to say neither Mahal or Elias will win on Sunday, hence why they won here. We see replays of the match as they celebrate on the ramp.
Later tonight, Nia Jax faces Natalya, Braun Strowman faces Bobby Roode, and we have a seven team battle royale!
*Commercial Break*
We return and see Bruce Prichard in the front row, with a ad for his Network podcast show.
There are a table of taco’s outside of the ring and Curt Hawkins stands within. He says tonight is a big deal because he is currently at 0-199, but tonight will not be his 200th loss. Hawkins says when he wins, everyone gets a free taco. He introduces his opponent, a local jobber by the name of James Harden.
James Harden Vs. Curt Hawkins
They lock up, and Hawkins powers Harden to the corner before punching him. Hawkins whips him hard into the corner before hitting a body slam. Harden avoids a splash in the corner, but he soon eats a kick and is turned inside out with a clothesline.
A “We want tacos” chant fires up. Baron Corbin’s music then hits, and he comes out smiling and clapping. Corbin gets in the ring and hits Harden with the End of Days to cost Hawkins the match.
Winner By Disqualification: James Harden
Hawkins isn’t happy about losing his 200th match in a row. Corbin hits him in the face with the taco and bounces him off the table. Corbin then dumps the table of tacos onto Hawkins before walking off.
Natalya is warming up with “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey – funnily, Ronda is showing her how to punch properly; with your elbow tucked at hour side to minimise telegraphing. Natalya faces Nia Jax, next.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Baron Corbin walk into Kurt Angle’s office and says he sees what’s going on here. He reckons he is being overshadowed and not given any opportunities. Corbin spoke directly to Stephanie McMahon, who wanted him to give Angle a message. Corbin pulls out a letter and reads; McMahon says she is establishing a checks and balances system. Corbin is appointed as the new Constable of Monday Night RAW. Corbin is her personal representative. Angle reads the letter for himself and doesn’t seem pleased.
Ronda Rousey makes her way to the arena and receives a hero’s welcome. Rousey joins the commentary team for the upcoming match. The Women’s Champion, Nia Jax, is out next.
Natalya Vs. Nia Jax
Collar-and-elbow tie-up starts the match and Nia quickly slams Nattie to the mat face-first. They take a second and Natalya grabs her for a headlock. Nattie looks to flip Nia to the mat but can’t get her over and Jax throws her off. Natalya runs into Nia over and over before rolling from the ring to regroup.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Natalya trapped in a chin lock. Natalya fights up and hits a jawbreaker. Natalya kicks her and goes for a body slam, but she can’t gets Jax off her feet. Jax head-butts her down. Natalya fights back and counters a wheelbarrow slam into a botched bulldog.
Natalya then dropkicks her back. Rousey is doing well on commentary right now, they’ve given her way more to talk about than usual. Natalya fights back, but she can’t whip Jax. Natalya avoids an avalanche from Jax and hits a discus clothesline for a two count. Natalya tries to get the quiet crowd fired up. Natalya hits the ropes, but he knee twists and I think she may be legit hurt. Jax then hits a Samoan Drop for the win.
Winner: Nia Jax
Natalya is struggling to get up, and Jax looks kinda worried. Rousey tells the commentary team to hold her headphones, and she heads down to the ring. Rousey checks on her friend. Rousey keeps Jax away from her. Jax bumps her, so Rousey gets in her face. Rousey tells her to leave the ring. Jax continues to pace around in the background as Ronda tends to Nattie, who slaps the mat in frustration. Rousey and the referee help Natalya to the back.
