Monday Night Raw begins and Triple H’s music hits. The Game comes out, not in suit but in leather jacket. He makes his way to the ring but stops on the apron and turns to await his partner in crime, Shawn Michaels!
Michaels doesn’t dance to the ring or do his poses, he storms down to the ring and grabs a microphone. The fans cheer for both men. Triple H says 25 years is a long time to climb a mountain, but you do it because it’s the biggest, baddest, and most deadly in the world. You climb it inch-by-inch, year-by-year. And he and Shawn should be on top of the world right now because they reached the summit. But the avalanche that fell on them after they reached the top, makes them wonder if the mountain was just a lie the whole time.
We get a highlight reel of Triple H Vs. The Undertaker at Super Showdown in Australia, this past Saturday. Triple H says respect is a word that has lost its significance. He says Shawn and himself do not give respect out easily. He says respect is earned when someone sees something in you, takes you under their wing, and shows you you can be something more – referring to himself. Trips says respect is when you stick to your word, no matter how many offers are put in front of someone and they turn it down.
Shawn says respect is no longer a two-way street. He says it’s a long way from Melbourne back to America, and it’s a long time to sit and think about the beat-down they took. He says it’s a long time to think about the last 8 and a half years, that he has sat and honoured his word out of respect for The Undertaker. Respect that never actually existed. He says when the wheels touched down in Chicago, Triple H walked up to him and asked him three words he never thought he’d hear again, “are you ready?” Triple H turns and says the question isn’t for Michaels, because he knows he is. The question is for Undertaker and Kane, the Brothers of Destruction… Crown Jewel…are you ready? Michaels says D-Generation X is ready. If Kane and Undertaker aren’t ready and they aren’t down with it, he’s only got two words for them – the crowd chants “suck it!”. D-Generation X’s music hits and the two of them rip off their shirts to reveal D-X ones underneath. They pose on the ropes for the fans as the announcers talk over it. Considering that announcement, the fans in Chicago really didn’t seem to care all that much.
Later tonight, The Shield Vs. Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre, Ronda Rousey and the Bella’s face The Riott Squad, and Trish Stratus will be live. Up next though, Kevin Owens face Bobby Lashley.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back from the break and out comes Bobby Lashley, accompanied by Lio Rush.
Bobby Lashley W/Lio Rush Vs. Kevin Owens
The bell rings and they lock-up but Lashley immediately shoves Owens backwards. They lock-up and the same thing happens but this time KO rolls from the ring to regroup. On the outside, Lio Rush has a microphone and he is talking Lashley through the match.
Owens is back inside the Lashley connects with a shoulder tackle, before punching him repeatedly in the corner. Lashley whips Owens into the turnbuckles and runs but KO moves. Owens drapes the top rope to send Lashley flying over. Owens runs off the ropes, as though he’s going to flip over onto Bobby but instead he slides out and punches Bobby. Owens is distracted by Rush talking trash, allowing Lashley to connect with a lariat to KO. Lashley throws him back in the ring but Owens clotheslines Lashley right back out, then hits a huge flip over the top rope onto Bobby. The fans are going mad for Owens.
Rush won’t shut up. Lashley walks towards him like he’s pissed and Owens comes from behind to clotheslines Bobby again. Lashley grabs KO and tosses him into the barricade, then runs for a shoulder tackle by Owens sidesteps him and Bobby crashes. Little bit of role reversal going on here, in regards to heel and babyface. Owens is in control as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break to see Lashley holding KO down with a headlock – again, role reversal. Owens fights out and suckers Bobby into tackling the turnbuckles. Owens then leaves the ring and chases Lio Rush, who hasn’t stopped talking. Lashley gets out and grabs Owens before he can do anything, then throws Owens into the steps. Lashley then throws Owens into the barricade, as Rush tells him to “put the boots to him”.
Lashley gets KO back in the ring and punches him in the corner. Owens is whipped into the corner, then eats a lariat. Lashley follows-up with a shoulder tackle. He looks for the stalling suplex but Owens fights back and even Cole is portraying Owens as the babyface. Lashley stops Owens’ comeback in motion and hits him with the stalling suplex… but Owens kicks out!
Lashley lifts Owens and applies a full nelson. Owens stomps the foot of Bobby and escapes, then connects with a superkick and a Stunner for a two count! Owens climbs to the top rope but Rush distracts him and Lashley hits the ropes to crotch him. Lashley then knocks Owens from the top rope and attacks a leg KO is holding. Lashley lifts Owens and hits the modified Dominator for the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Rush gets in the ring chanting “Lashley” but nobody is chanting with him. That was interesting. As they’re walking up the ramp, Rush tells Lashley to go back, so he runs back down to the ring and attacks KO! He drags Owens around the ringpost and whacks his injured leg several times. Lashley chases off some referees, then attacks the other leg of Owens.
The commentators talk about Crown Jewel, and announce a “World Cup” tournament, in which four Superstars from Raw and four from SmackDown will compete to prove who is the best in the world. Cole announces that John Cena will be a part of the tournament and we get a video package for Cena. Tonight there will be a battle royale to determine the next person qualifying for the match!
*Commercial Break*
Finn Balor and Bayley are being interviewed backstage when Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley interrupt. Rush says the scoop is right here with what Lashley did to Owens. Lashley says we shouldn’t be talking about hugs. They should be talking about how he ripped Owens to shreds. Rush says with the Man of the Hour’s words and his man’s power, that is too sweet.
We go live to the arena, where Elias is sitting centre stage. Elias strums a chord, and the crowd is delighted to see him. Elias greets the crowd and plucks a riff out. When Triple H, Shawn Michaels or any other legend talks about WWE, they’re talking about him. One man who knows this is John Cena. John Cena knows deep in his heart what everyone here knows, and that is that WWE stands for Walk With Elias. Elias says they know him. He is always willing to admit when he’s wrong, but the circumstances that led to what happened in Australia is not his fault. Elias wrote a song about it and asks them to silence their cellphones, hold the applause, and shut their mouths.
He sings a song and pokes fun at John Cena’s hair, as well as Australia. That last line got loud boos. Somehow Elias’ act isn’t stale. Ronda Rousey’s music hits, and she comes out to a big pop. She’ll be teaming with the Bella twins next!
*Commercial Break*
