Monday Night Raw opens backstage with Acting General Manager Baron Corbin backstage, standing by a limo. Stephanie McMahon steps-out of the car and Corbin wishes her a happy birthday, then begins to sing, but out of the limo comes Triple H and he stops. Corbin then tells Triple H and Stephanie that he has their office set-up the way they asked. Stephanie tells him she can talk to him right here. Triple H then excuses himself in a funny manner. McMahon says Corbin hasn’t been doing a very good job. He says he’s been doing the best he could but The Shield has been running a muck. Stephanie says that just sounds like he isn’t a leader and can’t keep a lid on things. Corbin again uses Roman Reigns as his excuse but Stephanie cuts him off and tells him he needs to find himself two tag partners, because he’ll be facing The Shield tonight. And if he doesn’t step-up, Kurt Angle will be back from his vacation very soon.
We go live to the arena and out come The Shield! They get into the ring and grab microphones. Dean Ambrose says we’re looking at the three workhorses in WWE. They may have lost a few battles here and there, but they have never lost a war and they’re still standing. Roman Reigns says you can read off their resumes, but it would take all day. Reigns gets booed immediately upon talking. Reigns says all they have to do is this: Reigns and Seth Rollins raise up their championships while Ambrose lurks behind. Reigns says the championships are the keys to the kingdom, and everyone wants these. That’s why Brock Lesnar came back and Baron Corbin booked himself in a championship match. These titles change your life, but the fact is the only men that deserve the championships are the ones in the ring. Rollins says this is and always will be about being the best. They are the best. Braun Strowman wanted that power so much that he recruited two jackasses to try to take The Shield down at Super Show-Down. As for tonight, Baron Corbin, the world’s largest substitute teacher, thinks The Shield is a problem. Stephanie McMahon wants him to find two partners and show The Shield who the boss is. Well, they’re out here and want to show him how big a problem they can be. They call out Corbin “right now” – which is officially the most overused saying in WWE these days.
Baron Corbin’s music hits, and he comes out. Corbin says Stephanie McMahon is here, and it’s her birthday. Corbin won’t let RAW turn into madness. He’s putting his foot down. Then he’ll throw them around with his partners like rag dolls, and he’ll impress his boss. Corbin says they’re selfish individuals. There isn’t a guy in the locker room that likes them, including these guys…
Braun Strowman’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage with the RAW Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. A “Get these hands” chant picks up. Strowman tells Reigns to shine the championship belt up nicely because he won’t be wearing it long. As far as The Shield is concerned, he can see the cracks forming. They’re going to implode, falling apart from the inside. At WWE Super Show(-Down), it’ll be the two of them taking on the two of them. Rollins immediately capitalizes on the botch and tells him to check his math. Strowman tells him to check on Dean Ambrose. Ziggler says Ambrose doesn’t need The Shield. Two years ago, he was WWE Champion all on his own. Now he has nothing. McIntyre says he’s a brutally honest individual. Last week, Ambrose pushed him to the limit, and he was lucky to come away with the victory. McIntyre says Reigns and Rollins do not appreciate him. Ambrose deserves more. Ziggler calls him “Disposable Dean.” When Rollins couldn’t beat him at SummerSlam, he brought Ambrose back. What did he get for that? Nothing. The next night, Strowman tried to cash in, so Ambrose sacrificed himself for nothing. Rollins says this is ridiculous. Ziggler says they won’t even let him talk. How long after Ambrose’s injury did Rollins replace him? A week later, Rollins was teaming with Jason Jordan. They are the Tag Team Champions. At Crown Jewel, Braun Strowman will beat Roman for the Universal Championship. If Ambrose hangs with them, the Intercontinental Championship is all his. Ambrose just stares up the ramp, impossible to know what he’s thinking.
Reigns tells them to shut up. These people didn’t pay money to watch them bump their gums. They paid their money to watch them whoop their asses, so let’s do it. They throw down the microphones, but Corbin stops them. This is not happening right now. A “YES” chant fires up. They can chant all they want, but it’s not happening. Ziggler and McIntyre have to defend their RAW Tag Team Championships tonight. He’ll find two partners and deal with The Shield.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre will defend the RAW Tag Team Championships against The Revival later tonight. Bobby Lashley will take on Elias. Finn Balor is warming up backstage when Bayley walks up to him and hugs him. They’re partners in the Mixed Match Challenge and she will be in his corner tonight. Balor will face Jinder Mahal, whose MMC partner is Alicia Fox, next!
*Commercial Break*
Bayley makes her way to the ring, followed by her Mixed Match Challenge partner, Finn Balor! Jinder Mahal is already in the ring, which shows just how far his star has fallen.
Finn Balor W/Bayley Vs. Jinder Mahal W/Sunil Singh & Alicia Fox
The bell rings and Mahal backs Finn into the corner before kicking him down. Mahal grabs Balor and slams him with a simple body slam. Mahal then applies a headlock to keep Finn grounded. The fans do the “Too Sweet” chant.
Balor fights to his feet and shoots Mahal into the ropes but Jinder knocks him down with a block tackle. He goes to the headlock again, and again Finn fights to his feet. This time, Balor catches Jinder with a dropkick, then clotheslines him over the top rope. Finn then comes off of the ropes and hits a huge senton onto Jinder as we head to the break!
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Mahal once again holding Finn by the back, Finn elbows him and hits the ropes but Jinder clocks him with a back elbow. Mahal drapes Finn over the middle rope and chokes him with his knee. Mahal then hits Finn with a rope-assisted knee drop. Mahal holds Finn in the middle of the ring with an abdominal stretch.
Balor escapes, rollws through a sunset flip, and hits a dropkick. Balor ducks a clothesline, hits a flying forearm, then connects with a standing double stomp. Balor chops Mahal in the corner but is then caught with a boot to the head. Jinder takes to the top rope but Balor connects with an enziguiri. Balor hits a slingblade, then looks for the corner dropkick but Sunil Singh pulls his foot. Jinder takes advantage of the distraction and rolls-up Balor for a two count. Mahal hits the ropes but this time Bayley pulls his foot and the fans pop.
Foxy then rounds the ring to start sumthin’ with Bayley but the hugger clocks her! Sunil Singh then comes over and Bayley hits him with a Bayley-To-Belly on the floor! Inside the ring, Balor rolls up the distracted Mahal for the win!
Winner: Finn Balor
After the match Finn and Bayley celebrate. Then Mahal leaves the ring and throws Sunil Singh! He picks him up and tosses him into the ring, and performs his breathing exercises as Alicia joins him.
We’re shown a replay of last Monday night when Ronda Rousey’s open challenge was accepted by Ruby Riott, but Ronda attacked them before it could start. The Riott Squad beat the Champion down until the Bella Twins came out to help.
Natalya makes her way to the ring, followed by The Bella Twins, for six-woman action – this was supposed to be Brie Vs. Ruby but it’s been changed.
*Commercial Break*
Natalya & The Bella Twins Vs. The Riott Squad
Nikki Bella starts against Liv Morgan. They lock-up and Nikki throws Liv down. Morgan returns the favour before kicking her in the ribs. Morgan talks some trash to her and hits the ropes, but Nikki follows her and shoulder blocks her to the mat. Nikki hits a hammerlock backbreaker for a two count. Nikki pulls her to her corner by the hair, and Brie Bella tags in. They hits a double-team rolling slam for a two count. Brie starts hitting the YES Kicks and seemed to kick Moran right in the head, twice. Morgan might legit be knocked out cold right now.
Morgan groggily tags Ruby Riott in, who applies a side headlock to Brie. Brie fights up and elbows her back. Brie hits a missile dropkick and a Brie Mode knee to the face for a two count. The Riott Squad all run into the ring, including Liv Morgan, and Natalya and The Bella’s hit a triple suplex on them. The heels roll from the ring to regroup.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and Liv Morgan is not on the apron. Cole says she has been taken to the back because of the kicks. Meanwhile Sarah Logan is in charge of Brie Bella. Logan tags Ruby, then catapults her into Ruby’s forearm. Riott comes in and kicks Brie in the face before applying a neck vice. Eventually, Brie escapes and knocks Ruby down.
Natalya and Logan tag in, and Nattie hits a pair of clotheslines before knocking Riott off of the apron. Natalya hits a German Suplex and a discus clothesline, but Riott breaks it up. Nikki and Brie run in, but they’re cleared from the ring. Natalya sends Logan into the ropes, but Riott blind tags in. Natalya applies a Sharpshooter to Logan, but Riott attacks from behind. Riott then hits the Riott Kick for the win.
Winners: The Riott Squad
Later tonight, The Shield are in action against Baron Corbin and two mates of his choosing.
The stage fills up with every Superstar for a Connor’s Cure presentation – bit weird seeing The Shield stand beside Braun Strowman.
*Commercial Break*
