Out comes Captain Charisma, Bobby Lashley. The former Champion gets into the ring and says that where he comes from, men settle their differences face-to-face, so he invites Sami Zayn out to the ring and talk to his face. Zayn’s music hits but he’s nowhere to be seen.
We hear Sami talk and the camera finds him standing in the crowd. Bobby rhetorically asks if Bobby wants him in the ring, to which Zayn then says last time he was in a ring with Lashley, he almost got his hand broken. He says that he’s so intelligent and Instagram has helped him get some insight into Bobby Roode. Zayn makes fun of Lashley posting inspirational quotes on Instagram, showing them on the titantron and laughing at them.
Zayn continues making fun and says simple folk, like the Texans in the arena, would see the quotes and think it’s great, that Bobby is a nice guy. However a smart man like him digs a little deeper. He says he created a fake Instagram account and commented on the post, expecting a response from Lashley, but instead, he got a link to Bobby’s fan club, where he could buy expensive merchandise. Zayn walks up the steps in the crowd to leave. Lashley asks him where he’s going and what the point of that was. He asks him to come back and talk to him face-to-face. Zayn replies that he doesn’t do that with liars. Lashley says he understands that Zayn is trying to hype the match but why at the stake of his reputation? Zayn baulks at the idea of Lashley’s reputation. He says Lashley is a liar, and questions if he has sisters or if he ever even served in the army. That ticked Lashley off, and he removes his jacket. Zayn and Lashley have a big staredown from across the arena before Lashley’s music plays. Michael Cole points out that Lashley definitely did serve in the army and questions Sami’s sanity.
We see replays of tonight’s opening tag team match. The commentators discuss Money In The Bank. Charly Caruso is backstage with Jinder Mahal. She asks him about the rivalry with Roman Reigns, to which Jinder says Reigns is a jealous man who envies his power. He says Reigns has been given opportunity after opportunity, which should have been given to him. He says the winds are shifting and Roman will find that a storm of change is coming. She sends us over to Renee Young, who is with Roman. He laughs at the idea that he is bitter and jealous of Jinder Mahal. He tells Jinder to check his resume, but if you look at Mahal’s, he hasn’t done anything of late and he expects everything. Mahal cuts-in and can’t believe that Roman said that. Roman then tells him to shut-up, or better, he’ll come find him. Roman stomps off in search of Jinder and we follow him through the arena. Roman finds Jinder, who throws Sunil at him but Roman tosses him aside. Roman and Sunil start brawling backstage and Roman throws him into a garage door before they’re separated by officials.
Alexa Bliss makes her way to the ring, for a six-woman tag team match.
*Commercial Break*
Alexa’s teammates are out next, Sasha Banks and Ember Moon – I find it hard to buy that Alexa is just a babyface all of a sudden.
Alexa Bliss, SASHA BANKS & EMBER MOON VS. RUBY RIOTT, SARAH LOGAN & LIV MORGAN
We start things off with Ruby and Ember. They lock-up and Ruby flips Ember over with a monkey toss. After a quick exchange of reversals, Ember then flips out of a takedown by Ruby.
They exchange more reversals and holds until Ember lands a nice leaping plancha from the apron. Ember takes charge and tags-in Alexa. Bliss grabs Ruby with an wrist-lock, then throws her to the corner. Alexa jumps over Ruby in the corner but lands and immedaitely falls, grabbing her knee. She crawls from the ring and leaves up the ramp, limping. Sasha Banks climbs into the ring as we go to the break. Guess I don’t have to buy Alexa as a babyface.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Liv Morgan on top of Moon. Sarah Logan tags in and head-butts Moon for a two count. Riott tags in and rag dolls Moon. Moon then runs her face-first into the ropes. Moon goes for a tag, but Riott takes her down. Moon gets away and makes the tag.
Banks and Morgan tag in. Banks cleans house before Morgan drops her on the apron. Morgan flapjacks her and slams her down for a two count. The Riott Squad makes frequent tags to stomp Banks. Morgan applies a full nelson to Banks. Banks gets out and kicks Morgan in the face before hitting a neckbreaker. Logan pulls Moon off the apron, but Moon fights her off, along with Riott. Moon gets on the apron, but Morgan knocks her off. Banks rolls her up for a two count. Morgan attacks and tags Riott in. Banks fights Morgan off and hits Riott and Logan with a Meteora off the ropes.
Bayley’s music hits, and she runs down and climbs on the apron. Bayley tags in and cleans house against Morgan before hitting Bayley-To-Belly for the win.
WinnerS: Bayley, Sasha Banks & Ember Moon
Apparently anyone can run down and join a match now. Seriously, how the heck does she just enter a match, win it, and get her hand raised, that was so dumb.
Backstage, Baron Corbin is not happy with what just happened in this match. Kurt Angle says it’s none of his business. Corbin says it is his business. Nowhere does it state that a WWE superstar can enter a match that has already started… or does Kurt want to ask Stephanie? Corbin tells Angle to tell Bayley, Banks, and Moon that their win doesn’t count. Angle walks off. Thank God they rectified that finish.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Bayley, Banks, and Moon walking backstage. Sasha says Alexa pretended to be injured as always. Ember says they won because of Bayley, and Sasha agrees. Sasha attempts to apologise but Bayley tells her not to. Ember tells them they need to hug-it-out but before they can do that, Kurt Angle walks-up and tells them the Riott Squad won by DQ. Ember storms off. We also see Baron Corbin backstage with the referee and he’s giving him crap for the call.
We return to the arena to see The Big Show on stage with Team Texas, part of the USA Special Olympics Games. He welcomes the team as they will compete in the 2018 Games in Seattle. He says he has the privilege of getting to know these people and they inspire him to be a better person. He says he is proud to stand by their side and together they can make a difference. He asks the WWE Universe to stand-up and support Team Texas. The fans give a standing ovation.
Finn Balor comes out on stage and performs his entrance, along with Team Texas, who then give him the “Too Sweet” hand gesture. Balor makes his way to the ring as the commentators remind us of his recent run-in’s with Kevin Owens. They will go one-on-one next!
*Commercial Break*
Kevin Owens is out next and he is in the zone.
Kevin Owens Vs. Finn Balor
They lock up, and Owens powers Balor into the corner. Balor ducks a right hand and chops him. Owens quickly puts himself through the ropes to keep Balor back. Owens applies a waistlock and takes him down before slapping him in the back of the head. Balor gets to his feet and kicks away at Owens’ legs. Owens quickly rolls out of the ring to recover.
Owens takes his time getting back into the ring as Balor awaits frustrated. Balor stalks him around the ring. Owens quickly kicks and clubs him down before applying a chin lock. Balor tries to whip him off, but Owens hangs on. Owens connects with a headlock takeover and cinches in the side headlock. Balor fights up and whips him off, but Owens shoulder blocks him down for a two count. Owens immediately goes back to a chin lock and grounds Balor again. Balor fights up and gives Owens an arm drag. Owens fights up and backs Balor to the corner before punching him in the midsection and stomping him. Owens shouts that this is his show.
Owens goes for a sunset flip, but Balor rolls through and catches him with a dropkick. Balor applies an armbar and backs him to the corner. Owens elbows Balor in the face and stomps him. Owens Irish whips him hard into the corner, and Balor collapses. Owens picks up a two count. Balor sidesteps an avalanche, goes to the apron, and hits a slingshot kick. Balor goes to the top rope, but Owens rolls out of the ring to recover as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Owens taking Balor down with another chin lock. Balor fights up and takes him down with a diving forearm. Owens fights back and goes to the top rope, but Balor comes right back with a step-up enzuigiri. Balor goes to the top rope, so Owens leaves the ring. Balor then hits a summersault dive over the top rope. Balor gets him in the ring, but Owens rolls right back out. Balor pulls him up to the apron, so Owens snaps his arm off the top rope. Owens attacks the arm and stomps it. Owens works on Finn’s arm, slamming it on the mat before applying an arm bar. Owens keeps him grounded with a hammerlock. The crowd is turning on this match with the overuse of rest holds. Balor fights up, but Owens slams him down. Owens goes for a senton splash, but Balor moves. Balor shakes his arm and gets to his feet, but Owens soon kicks him and takes him down. Owens tries for a powerbomb, but Balor takes him down and hits a double stomp to the midsection.
Both men are down and the referee counts. They slowly get up and Balor takes him down with a Sling Blade for a two count. Balor goes for another Sling Blade, but Owens counters into a roll-up for a two count. Owens superkicks him in the face for another two count. Balor soon gets to his feet and hits a Sling Blade. Owens struggles to get to his feet, and Balor dropkicks him hard into the corner. Balor goes to the top rope, but Owens crotches him up there. Owens ties him up in the tree of woe and stomps away at him. Owens continues stomping at him as the ref counts, so it’s called off!
Winner VIA Disqualification: Finn Balor
Owens rolls him to the center of the ring and hits a frog splash. Owens goes under the ring and grabs a ladder. Owens sets it up under the Money in the Bank briefcase hanging over the ring. Owens climbs the ladder and looks at the briefcase, but then he turns and looks at Balor as it to jump. Owens signals for a frog splash, but he’s afraid of heights. Owens goes down a few rungs, but he’s still too nervous to jump. Balor quickly gets to his feet and pulls Owens off before dropkicking him into the corner. Balor climbs to the top of the ladder and hits a Coup de Grace off the ladder! Balor then climbs back up the ladder and grabs the briefcase. Balor holds the Money in the Bank briefcase to close the show.
That’s it for this week’s Raw. This Sunday is Money In The Bank but before that we have SmackDown Live tomorrow night. You can find all your coverage right here and on the Ringside News app! Until next time, safe travels!
