Monday Night Raw opens with a recap of TLC’s main event, in which The Shield and Kurt Angle defeated The Miz and his friends.
Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring to a great applause and the commentators talk-up his accomplishment.
Angle says that every story has a beginning, middle, and end. And last night he wrote a new chapter. He thought it couldn’t get any better when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but last night, competing in a WWE ring for the first time in 11 years was amazing. But that was last night, and this is tonight.
Kurt Angle announces that Survivor Series will be Raw Vs. SmackDown this year. Alexa Bliss will face Natalya, Baron Corbin will face The Miz, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will face The Uso’s, and Brock Lesnar will face Jinder Mahal. Those are the Champion Vs. Champion matches, however there will also be two elimination matches, one with the men and one with women from both brands. He says as the General Manager of Raw, he wants his brand to be the best. Angle turns to walk out but The Miz interrupts.
Miz says this is his show and Angle was selfish to step in for Roman Reigns last night at TLC. Miz tells Angle he should resign as General Manager but Angle refuses. Miz says he doesn’t want Angle to go anywhere tonight. Angle tries to excuse himself when all four surround the ring and get up on the apron.
Here comes Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose walking down through the crowd in Shield gear. They all bail and Miz accuses Rollins and Ambrose of sucking up to management. Angle books The Miz, Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and a superstar who attended TLC Last night and decided to stick around, and out comes SmackDown Live’s AJ Styles!
*Commercial Break*
Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose & AJ Styles Vs. The Miz, Sheamus & Cesaro
We start with Seth Rollins and Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior with a shoulder block early but Rollins returns with kicks to Sheamus in the corner before he tags in Dean Ambrose. Dean with a sliding down clothesline. Ambrose with elbows to Sheamus in the corner but then a tag to Cesaro who drops a leg over Ambrose. Cesaro plants Ambrose with a scoop slam. Tag to Rollins who dropkicks Cesaro coming off the ropes.
Tag to AJ Styles who throws chops at Cesaro to great effect. Styles with a series of roll ups on Cesaro. Styles catches Cesaro with a kick in the corner, but a distraction from Miz allows Cesaro to bounce Styles jaw first over the top rope. Tag to Miz who kicks the ribs of Styles. Sheamus and Cesaro knocks Ambrose and Rollins off the corner.
Sheamus, Cesaro and Miz all stomp over Styles. Rollins pulls Cesaro out and tosses him into the barricade. Miz and Sheamus are tossed over. Styles, Ambrose and Rollins all leap over the top rope taking out Sheamus, Cesaro and Miz. They pose as we head to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Cesaro grounding Ambrose with a chicken wing. The crowd, along with Rollins and Styles, try to will Ambrose to his feet but Sheamus gets the tag and double teams Ambrose in the corner with Cesaro. Sheamus with big knees and tags Cesaro back in.
Double clothesline by Sheamus and Cesaro on Ambrose. Ambrose with a suplex on Cesaro. Sheamus gets the tag, comes off the top, avoids Dirty Deeds, hits a high knee, but Ambrose fires back with his clothesline off the ropes. Tag to Miz. Hot tag to Rollins who springboards in and clears house on Miz, Sheamus and Cesaro.
Rollins with a blockbuster and Falcon Arrow on Miz. Styles is in with a Pele Kick to Sheamus. Cesaro takes out Styles. Ambrose takes out Cesaro. Miz with a kick to Ambrose. Rollins sends Sheamus over. Miz kicks the knee of Rollins and connects with a quick spike DDT for a close two count.
*Commercial Break*
We return live as Rollins rolls up Miz for a two count. Miz tosses Rollins out and distracts the referee allowing Sheamus and Cesaro to jump down. Ambrose gets involved to stop it and brawls with Sheamus into the crowd. Rollins levels Miz with a clothesline on the outside. Cesaro tosses Miz back in and gets the tag to cut off Rollins. Tag to Styles.
Styles levels Cesaro with a clothesline and a diving forearm. Styles splashes Cesaro in the corner and connects with his neckbreaker over his knee for a two count. Sheamus distracts Styles. This sets up a big uppercut by Cesaro. Rollins breaks up the pin. Sheamus hits the corner. Rollins and Ambrose send Miz over the top rope. Ambrose and Rollins both duck a clothesline from Sheamus and dive out. All alone in the ring, Styles catches Cesaro with his Phenomenal Forearm springboarding off the top rope for the win.
Winners: Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose & AJ Styles
After the match the winners are celebrating when Kane’s music explodes and interrupts them. He walks straight down to the ring and all three men are waiting for him. Rollins attacks Kane first but eats a big boot, then Ambrose gets knocked away and Styles gets thrown from the ring. The Miz and The Bar return and beat-down Ambrose and Rollins. Kane throws Ambrose from the ring and then leaves in rather anti-climatic fashion.
Later tonight, Asuka makes her Raw debut and Brock Lesnar responds to Jinder Mahal.
*Commercial Break*
We are back live as Kane remains in the ring. Highlights from last night’s main event at TLC is shown including Kane giving Braun Strowman a chokeslam through the stage and then putting Strowman inside a garbage truck with help from Miz, Sheamus and Cesaro.
In the ring, Kane has a mic and addresses Braun Strowman. He talks about how he was described as a Monster Among Men and how he took out Big Show and Roman Reigns. Kane liked what he heard, but he had to see it for himself. “What I saw was a pile of trash.” Kane says he put Strowman where he belonged last night: in a garbage truck. “I am and will always RAW’s only monster.” He says with Braun gone, he wants competition or else.
Well, someone answers Kane’s call and that man is Finn Balor!
*Commercial Break*
Finn Balor Vs. Kane
The bell rings and Kane quickly tosses Balor into the corner. Balor responds with leg kicks, but gets leveled with a quick shoulder block by Kane. Kane with uppercuts and kicks to Balor in the corner. Balor catches Kane with a kick to the face from the ring apron. Kane levels Balor with a big boot. Balor with a dropkick to Kane through the ropes and connects with his high knee off the ring apron.
Kane remains on his feet, Balor jumps down, charges and Kane catches him. Kane drives Balor spine first into the barricade and then the side of the ring. Kane with charges to Balor in different corners and connects with a side slam. Balor drops Kane over the steel steps on the outside. Balor with the Sling Blade. Balor is going up top. Kane pulls Balor down off the top rope and connects with a big chokeslam. Kane then lands a second and third chokeslam with on Balor and gets the pinfall!
Winner: Kane
That seems like a pointless way to bring Balor down after an amazing match last night.
