Charly Caruso approaches Drew McIntyre backstage and asks for a response to Zelina Vega’s comments. McIntyre points to a scar on his arm and says that was Andrade. He looks at that scar at least once a week and this about Andrade. He almost took everything from him. Well they had some strong words tonight but he promises he’s going to beat Andrade, Claymore Andrade, and if he loses six months because of it, so be it.
Money In The Bank Qualifying Match
Kairi Sane Vs. Nia Jax
The match begins and Sane runs at Jax but gets thrown up in the air. Sane grabs the back of Jax but gets shrugged off. Jax runs at Sane but hits the turnbuckles. Sane goes to the top rope, jumps over Jax, then taunts her. Jax swings for Sane but misses and gets dropkicked.
Sane gets thrown from the ring and we see Asuka watching on a monitor backstage. Sane gets back in the ring and Jax body slams her. Jax slaps Kairi in the face, then lifts her by the hair and hits a few short-arm clotheslines. Jax throws Sane around via the hair. Jax lifs Kairi in a military press, then drops into a Samoan drop, which is her new finisher, the Annhialator.
Winner: Nia Jax
*Commercial Break*
The WWE NXT Women’s Champion, Charlotte Flair, comes to the ring.
Flair says tonight is a history lesson with the Queen. Back at the 2020 Royal Rumble, the Queen won the Royal Rumble. Well she had two choices; Becky Lynch or Bayley, but she’d been there and done that a bunch of times. But neither of them made any challenges, instead you had the next big thing, Rhea Ripley making a challenge.
And that was ballsy. Yet here she stands as the two-time NXT Women’s Champion. She beat the next big thing, making her the biggest thing. Last year, Vince knew she was the biggest thing, which is why he chose her to save the main event of WrestleMania. And this year Rhea Ripley chose her because she wants to be her. But Rhea Ripley lacks humility and there are levels to this.
There is always going to be someone bigger, better, faster. And she’s going to remind the women of NXT that there are levels. And next up is Io Shirai. She had a really impressive performance to earn her shot, but lesson one is up next: everyone bows to the Queen.
We see a replay of last week when Aleister Black beat Bobby Lashley and they’re implying it was Lana’s fault. Lashley will be live, next.
*Commercial Break*
Bobby Lashley W/Lana Vs. No Way Jose
Lashley gets grabbed but immediately drills Jose with elbows. Lashley slams him into the buckles and punches him over and over. Lana keeps yelling advice, so Lashley goes out and tells her to shut the hell up. Lashley gets back into the ring and runs at Jose but gets punched. Lashley hits an overhead belly-to-belly and again Lana starts talking again. Jose rolls-up Lashley while he’s distracted but he kicks out. Lashley hits a one-handed spinebuster, followed by a Spear for the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Lashley and Lana stand on the stage and pose, exchanging some angry glances.
Seth Rollins is backstage, he says he will stamp out all the doubt tonight.
*Commercial Break*
The Viking Raiders Vs. Ricochet & Cedric Alexander
The match begins with Ricochet and Erik, and the former ducks the latter and lands some kicks. Ricochet taunts Erik before dodging him a few times, but Erik clobbers him with a forearm. Erik knocks Alexander from the apron and tags Ivar.
Ricochet counters a poweromb attempt and knocks Erik from the ring, then hits Ivar with a hurricanrana, while Alexander returns and hits a suicide dive on Erik. Ricochet hits a springboard moonsault for a two-count and tags Alexander.
Ricochet and Cedric look to double-team Ivar but he sends Ricochet from the ring. Cedric hits a springboard tornado DDT and takes a front facelock. Erik tags in but Alexander takes him down and tags Ricochet, who hits a falling tope from the top rope for a two-count. Alexander tags in and goes back to the facelock.
Erik fights up but Cedric knocks him back to the corner. Alexander knocks Erik from the ring and looks to dive onto him but Erik slides inside and tags Ivar. They toss Ricochet out and onto Cedric, then Ivar wipes them both out with a suicide dive.
*Commercial Break*
Back live and Erik is in control of Cedric. Alexander fights up but gets forced to the corner and Ivar tags in. Ivar drops Cedric with a knee, then hits a falling fist like Jerry Lawler. Erik tags back in and he drills Cedric with a shoulder in the corner. Ivar back in and he does the same before tagging Erik.
Alexander creates some space with a flatliner, and makes a tag to Ricochet. Erik gets dropped with a springboard crossbody, then Ivar gets a kick to the face. Ricochet flips off Erik and hits an enziguiri. Ricochet hits Ivar with a flipping kick, then hits a springboard to Erik. Ricochet with a standing shooting star press for a near-fall.
Ivar and Alexander get tags and the big man floors Cedric with a splash. Erik tags in and he throws Ivar into Cedric in the corner for a near-fall. Cedric kicks Erik, punches Ivar, then hits a springboard but gets caught by Erik and Ivar hits a springboard lariat/German suplex. Ricochet springboards in but gets dropped. The Viking Raiders screw-up their finish but get the win.
Winners: The Viking Raiders
*Commercial Break*
Charly Caruso interviews the Street Profits and they brought Bianca Belair with them. She congratulates Bianca and asks the guys about The Viking Raiders. Ford says they have a lot of respect for the Raiders, and Dawkins says all vikings. They were crazy navigators, long before compasses, and they had excellent hygiene. Ford yells “and that’s been the more you know!” then both give the thumbs up. Belair is disgusted and says they’ve never even beaten the Raiders. They need to get the smoke if they want to keep the titles.
Drew McIntyre Vs. Andrade W/Zelina Vega, Austin Theory & Angel Garza
The match begins and Andrade runs across the ring and slaps the chest of Drew but he no-sells it and hits a Glasgow Kiss. Drew forces Andrade to the corner and chops him hard. McIntyre beats Andrade into every corner, then whips him to the corner and Andrade tries to flip over but gets booted in the chest.
Andrade rolls to the outside, where Garza and Theory check on him but Drew goes after him and hits a military slam onto the barricade. McIntyre chops the chest of Andrade around ringside. Theory and Garza distract Drew, allowing Andrade to yank his arm through the ropes and into the ring post. Andrade beats Drew down and stomps his arm over and over, then shoves him into the barricade and cracks the Champion’s arm over his shoulder.
Back in the ring, Drew tosses Andrade over the ropes but he lands on the apron and catches McIntyre in a hanging armbar. Andrade gets back inside but Drew drops him, then hits a big boot. McIntyre goes to the top rope and hits a flying clothesline. The Champion kips-up and forearms the back of Andrade, then looks for the Future Shock DDT but Andrade avoids it and hits a back elbow. McIntyre flips Andrade over the ropes onto Theory and Garza.
McIntyre goes out and grabs Theory for a chest chop that literally knocks him off his feet. McIntyre puts Andrade inside and goes up top but Vega distracts him. Andrade attacks and looks to hit the draping Hammerlock DDT from the top rope but Drew jumps off. McIntyre hits an inverted Alabama Slam, followed by the Claymore Kick.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Seth Rollins’ music hits and Angel Garza hits McIntyre with a chop block. Seth runs down to the ring and superkicks McIntyre. Seth hits McIntyre with The Stomp, then stares at the WWE Championship. Seth hits a second Stomp and stands over McIntyre as the show ends.
And that’s it for WWE RAW. Let us know what you thought of the show and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday for AEW Dynamite, but there will be plenty of news between now and then. Until next time, good health.
