We return from the break and Ronda Rousey and Natalya are talking backstage. Natalya says she doesn’t feel like herself. The Bella Twins walk in, and Natalya says she needs some time to herself. The Bella Twins put over Rousey. Nikki says Rousey inspired them to come back to WWE. If they need any training partners, they’re her girls. Rousey says Natalya has been a great training partner. Nikki says they can give her advice on business and fashion. Rousey says she’ll take them up if they need it. The teasing begins.
We’re back at the arena and out comes the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels!
Michaels starts off by saying it wouldn’t be like him if he didn’t hock some merchandise, so he tells us to go buy his new shirt, as well as the WWE Network, and that’s where we can see WWE Super Show-Down. Before he gets down to the predictions of his contemporaries and his own prediction, we’re talking about the last time ever. Undertaker vs. Triple H is going to be insane, so he decided to get off the couch, fly 98 hours or something like that, and be in person to see this. This will be something no one will ever forget, he can almost guarantee it.
Michaels was surprised to see how many of his contemporaries picked The Undertaker. He’d have understood that if the WrestleMania streak was intact, but it isn’t. Michaels was surprised that so many people still thought The Undertaker had the advantage. His Texas buddy Stone Cold Steve Austin is in agreement with him. Michaels thinks Triple H will win the match. People probably think he’s not being objective because they’re best friends, but this is purely professional. Undertaker needs to understand that Triple H is still The Game and the Cerebral Assassin and has a lot more in the tank than Undertaker does. At WWE Super Show-Down, the Cerebral Assassin will cerebrally assassinate The Undertaker. Suddenly the bell tolls and the crowd goes wild!
The Undertaker comes to the ring and the fans chant “holy shit”. The Deadman says this just became personal. He says Triple H and Michaels have been best friends for 20 years, and he took the best that both of them had and he put them both down. And in the process, he took part of their souls and their ego’s can’t accept it. Taker says Michaels chose Triple H as the winner, because he took the one thing that is most important to Michaels: their careers.
Michaels is incredulous that Undertaker thinks that is what this is about. He says he is a man of his word. He says someone had to restore the system. He says everyone else retires, then comes back a few months later. Expect for him, because he is a man of his word, a man of honour and integrity. He says he has stayed retired out of respect for the system, respect for the fans, and respect for Taker. The fans chant “One More Match”. He points to the fans and says he hears that chant everytime he gets into the ring, but Taker cuts him off and says this isn’t about respect. Michaels argues it is, he has turned down offers from every Superstar and the opportunity for millions of dollars, out of respect for The Undertaker.
Michaels turns away and Undertaker asks if it’s respect, or if it’s fear? Michaels stares at the Deadman. He continues, saying if Michaels had ever came out of retirement it would only be for one person: him. But make no mistake about it, he would put Michaels down again. He says everyone knows it, and in Melbourne Australia, he’s gonna put down Triple H once more. With that, Undertaker leaves, although he stops on the entrance for one last look at HBK.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back and see Finn Balor backstage. Baron Corbin walks in and says he has some bad news. He says with everything that’s been going on tonight, he has to cancel their match tonight. He says he had to rejiggle some things, so Finn will be facing Braun Strowman in the main event!
The announcers show a Tweet from Mike Rome, saying The Shield have appeared in front of a judge and been charged with inciting a riot. Ridiculous.
Sasha Banks and Bayley make their way to the ring, followed by her opponent.
Sasha Banks & Bayley Vs. Dana Brooke & Ember Moon W/Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews
Dana and Bayley start the match. Bayley whips her to the corner and tags Sasha. They perform a double team snapmare, followed by a elbow and dropkick. Brooke rolls from the ring as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Bayley grounding Ember with an armlock. Moon fights out and hits Bayley with a headscissor takedown. The Hugger fights back and tags in Sasha. They look for a double team move again but Ember reverses, and hits a springboard crossbody to take them both out. Dana Brooke then tags herself in.
Sasha kicks Dana into the corner, then misses the running knees. Brooke looks for her finish but Sasha escapes. Brooke with an enziguiri as Apollo and Titus are yelling at her from ringside. She shouts at them to stop, then looks to hit a handstand back elbow but nobody’s home. Banks then rolls-up Dana for the win!
Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley
After the match, Dana argues with Titus and Apollo, then leaves telling them she’s done.
Bobby Lashley is outside of Baron Corbin’s office. Charly Caruso asks what the meeting was about. Lashley hands her a piece of paper, which is a performance review. Lashley has been ordered to attend an anger management meditation with Jinder Mahal tonight. Lashley says this is the best thing for him. Lashley says he feels like he’s a little too tense, so he looks forward to meeting Jinder Mahal to find his inner peace.
Jinder Mahal makes his entrance alongside Snil Singh. He’ll face Lashley next!
*Commercial Break*
Jinder Mahal is in the ring with Sunil Singh. There is a fancy Persian carpet in the ring. Bobby Lashley makes his entrance.
Mahal says he senses a great deal of anger from Lashley. He can help him harness the power of his rage and achieve inner peace. Mahal and Singh sit cross-legged in the ring, and Lashley does the same. Mahal says this is all about affirmations. Mahal says he’s like water, so Lashley says he’s also like water. Mahal does his “shandi” chant while Lashley slaps Singh on the shoulder. Lashley looks like he’s getting ready to stop acting and start brawling, when he’s attacked from behind by none other than…
Lashley tries to fight back, but Owens superkicks him down. Owens gets him outside the ring and hits Lashley with an apron powerbomb. Owens screams before walking off.
Coming up next, Finn Balor will take on Braun Strowman in our main event.
*Commercial Break*
We return and get a lengthy replay of Shawn Michaels promo, which was interrupted by The Undertaker. Triple H will be live on Raw next week, as well as Mick Foley. Also on next week’s show, Ronda Rousey and Natalya teaming against Alexa Bliss and Alicia Fox.
Corey Graves announces that The Shield has posted bail and is out of jail, so we can expect them back at some point.
Finn Balor makes his entrance for the main event match with Braun Strowman.
Finn Balor Vs. Braun Strowman W/Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre
The bell rings and Balor kicks and punches Strowman, but he’s knocked away. Balor avoids an avalanche in the corner before jumping on Braun’s back. Strowman simply backs him to the corner. Balor tries to fight back again, but Strowman hits him with a side slam. Strowman stands over Finn and looks around as the fans boo.
Strowman hits the ropes and connects with a big boot. Strowman puts him in the corner and charges, but Balor boots him back. Balor dives, but Strowman attacks him. Balor slides off and tries for a sleeper hold. Strowman slams him off and charges, but Balor pulls the top rope down to send the monster out of the ring. Balor hits a baseball slide and a double stomp to the back of the neck off the apron. Balor quickly gets in the ring before Ziggler and McIntyre get to him, and we’re off to the break,
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Strowman applying a nerve hold. Strowman holds it on for a bit. Balor fights up, but Strowman takes him down. Balor makes a mini-comeback, but Strowman throws him to the corner. Balor boots him back, but Strowman comes back with an avalanche. Balor tries to take him down, but Strowman lifts him up. Balor applies a sleeper hold before sending Strowman into the ring post shoulder-first.
The monster rolls to ringside and climbs to his feet with Ziggler and McIntyre. Balor runs and hits all of them with a summersault senton. Balor gets them back into the ring and kicks him Strowman with a dropkick, and goes to the top rope. Strowman quickly gets to his feet and grabs him by the throat and pulls him down. Balor manages to apply something of a triangle hold before Strowman slams him to the mat to force the break. Strowman connects with a Running Powerslam for the win.
Winner: Braun Strowman
Braun stands over Balor as the bell rings. Ziggler and McIntyre get in the ring and throw Balor into Strowman for another Running Powerslam. They throw Balor out of the ring, and McIntyre removes the top half of the steel steps. They go for The Shield’s Triple Powerbomb before stopping because when they hear sirens.
A police van drives into the arena. Roman Reigns is the driver, and he opens the back to reveal Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose – which makes no sense because they were said to have posted bail and left, so I guess they stole a police vehicle. The Shield’s music hits, and they stand on the stage. They begin walking down to the ring but get attacked from behind by Kevin Owens, Jinder Mahal, AOP, Drew Gulak, and Buddy Murphy!
The Shield are separated, with Reigns at ringside but Seth and Dean on the stage. Strowman hits Reigns in the head with the steel steps. Elias and The Ascension throw Rollins off the stage into the side of the police van, breaking the glass!
Strowman hits Reigns in the ribs with the steps before hitting him in the head. Rollins is bleeding from his arm due to the van glass. A group of Superstars beat on Ambrose as he lays on the commentary table. Strowman hits Reigns with a Running Powerslam at ringside. The other Superstars drag Rollins and Ambrose to ringside and lay all three hounds beside each other. The crowd loudly boos as we go off the air.
That’s it for this weeks Raw. Let us know your thoughts and be sure to come back tomorrow. Until then, safe travels!
