Jerry Lawler is in the ring, ready to oversee a contract signing between Becky Lynch and Asuka.
Lynch comes to the ring first, and Lawler asks if there’s anything she’d like to say but she just sits down. Asuka is out next, with Kairi Sane in tow. Sane pokes Lynch with her umbrella a few times, so Becky takes it from her and makes her leave the ring.
They get down to business and Asuka signs first. Becky pauses, but then puts pen to paper. Lynch says “may the best woman win” but Asuka jumps up and sprays the poison mist in her face. Asuka yells something in Japanese while Becky rolls around in agony. Asuka and Sane leave up the ramp and doctors tend to Becky.
Becky asks for the microphone but she can’t open her eyes. She says that when they give you money, praise, awards, everything, it’s all poison. And her veins are full of it. Becky says Asuka is hungry and agony, while she’s been happy. She says she’s tried to find an anger to face Asuka because she’s the most dangerous woman she’s ever faced. Becky looks in the camera and says she’s struggled to find that anger but when someone puts their hands on her it arises a badness. She says she doesn’t care that they’ve tried to erase Asuka, and she doesn’t care that she might lose at Royal Rumble again, because she’ll go down swinging.
*Commercial Break*
Next week, Rey Mysterio will face Andrade in a ladder match for the United States Championship. Zelina Vega and Andrade are interviewed backstage. Vega says that Andrade is more of a man than Rey Mysterio. He was more of a man when he beat him to win the United States Championship. He was more of a man when he retained it last week, and when he took the mask off Rey. Zelina says Rey is a disgrace to Latino’s everywhere, and a disgrace to his children. Andrade yells in Spanish.
Rey Mysterio joins Charly Caruso backstage to respond. Rey says he’s being accused of being a criminal and not being worthy of representing the Latino people. Rey speaks Spanish. He says ever since Andrade won the title, he’s felt that he can get away with anything. And Vega thinks he’s a joke to his kids. That’s not a joke. Nor was it a joke when Andrade injured Humberto Carrillo. Rey says he loves the ladder match and he’s willing to risk years of his career. And he accepts those risks. Next week he’s going to take the United States Championship.
We get a video highlighting Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy. Black makes his way to the ring, where they two will go to battle.
*Commercial Break*
Aleister Black Vs. Buddy Murphy
This match gets underway and they come face-to-face. Murphy talks trash but Black connects with a spinning back elbow. Murphy fires back with a kick. Buddy tries to throw Black over the ropes but he bounces back at him. Black kicks Murphy and swings for Black Mass but Murphy ducks and rolls from the ring.
Black hits a baseball slide, then kicks Murphy hard up against the barricade. Black chases Murphy into the ring but Buddy delivers a few stiff up-kicks, then rolls to the outside. Black goes out and kicks Murphy and he stumbles up the ramp. Murphy counters Black by slamming him head-first into the steel ramp. Murphy slams Black into the barricade, then slides in and out of the ring to break the referee’s count.
Murphy shoves Black into the barricade, then the timekeeper’s area. Murphy climbs on the barricade but Black kicks his leg out and he lands chest first on the joint of the barricade. Black gets him back in the ring for a one count, then tries to grind him down with an arm submission. Murphy fires back with an arm-drag that sends Black to the apron. Murphy tries to tackle him through the ropes but Black avoids it and kicks him.
Back in the ring, Black looks for a shoulder tackle in the corner but Murphy leaps through the ropes to the apron and kicks his head against the ring post. Murphy grabs Black’s handing body from the outside and suplexes him into the barricade.
*Commercial Break*
We return live to see Murphy try to powerbomb Black at ringside but fall over and get double stomped. Black dropkicks Murphy into the timekeeper’s area, then delivers a running knee – Black flew over the barricade and landed in a woman’s lap.
They get back in the ring and Black drops Murphy with a series of kicks, then flips up and hits a springboard moonsault for a two-count. “Fight forever” chant from the fans. Black lifts Murphy with his boot but Buddy grabs the boot and looks for Murphy’s Law but Black counters. Murphy rolls Black up and holds the tights but the referee catches him. Murphy sends Black from the ring and looks for a dive but Black slides in and hits a knee for a near-fall.
Black gets to his feet and grabs Buddy on the apron but gets elbowed. Black slams Murphy into the ring post, and climbs the ropes but Murphy delivers an enziguiri to knock him down. Murphy climbs the buckles but Black runs and jumps up to meet him. Murphy throws Black off with a front suplex, but Black runs right back at him with a leaping knee that sends Murphy flying off the top and into the barricade!
Both men get back in the ring and are staring at each other on their stomachs. They get to their feet and slug it out. Murphy delivers a few good kicks but Black delivers some of his own. Teep sends Murphy into the ropes and a knee drops him. Murphy counters a springboard moonsault with a kick, then hits Murphy’s Law…but Black got his foot on the rope!
Murphy can’t believe it. He tries to lift Black for a second Murphy’s Law but Black can’t stand. Instead, Murphy lifts him with his boot and swings for Black Mass but Black ducks it and hits his own. For some reason the referee didn’t count to three and it was clearly a mistake because Black got up and just hit another to win the match.
Winner: Aleister Black
*Commercial Break*
Erick Rowan comes to the ring with his bird cage and Buddy Murphy is still sitting at ringside. Caruso tries to interview Buddy at ringside but he isn’t interested.
Erick Rowan Vs. Unnamed talent
Rowan immediately throws the Heath Slater look-alike over the ropes to the floor. Rowan drags him over to the bird cage but the guy resists, so Rowan throws him into the barricade. Rowan shouts that he wanted to show him, then goes over and pull back the tarp to reveal a wooden box. Rowan opens a little door and reaches inside but quickly recoils and his hands is bloody. It bit him. Rowan gets mad, slides into the ring and hits a Facehugger Chokeslam for the win.
Winner: Erick Rowan
Seth Rollins, Akam, and Rezar are heading to the ring for the fist fight.
*Commercial Break*
Fist Fight
The Big show, kevin owens, & samoa joe vs. seth rollins & author’s of pain
The Big Show is attacked by Seth and AOP as he makes his entrance, however Owens and Joe quickly run down with Kendo sticks to even the odds. This match had no disqualifications, no count-outs, etc. Big Show beats Rollins in the ring and a table is sent inside, meanwhile Rezar brawls with Owens on the stage, and Joe fights Akam beside the stage.
Big Show tries to lawn-dart Rollins into the ring post but he slides off and shoves the big man into it. On the stage, Akam and Rezar look to double-team Joe, but Kevin Owens literally runs up the Titantron like a Showtime Kick in UFC and hits a senton onto everyone below!
Joe grabs Rezar and puts him on a table, then hits a senton off the stage through it! Meanwhile, Big Show is beating Rollins around the ring. Seth rolls outside and Buddy Murphy is still there. Seth begs him for help but Murphy ignores him. Show drags Rollins back into the ring and looks for the WMD but in comes Murphy and he low-blows Show! Murphy and Rollins then ram Show through the table propped in the corner.
The four men on the stage start fighting again but Akam and Rezar put Joe on the announce table. They then lift Owens and slam him onto Joe and through the table! In the ring, Rollins looks for The Stomp but Show avoids it and throws Buddy from the ring. Show splashes Rollins in the corner, then starts climbing the ropes but Akam and Rezar grabs him and powerbomb him. Murphy returns and helps lift Show so that Rollins can hit The Stomp. The referee calls for the bell.
Winners: Seth Rollins & Author’s of Pain
After the match, Seth hugs Akam and Rezar. He then turns his attention to Buddy Murphy and opens his arms. Murphy hugs Rollins and they’ve officially joined forces.
And that’s it for this week’s Raw. Next week we have a mixed tag match between Rusev, Liv Morgan, Bobby Lashley, and Lana, as well as a ladder match for the United States Championship between Rey Mysterio and Andrade. Let us know what you thought of the show and be sure to come back tomorrow for more news. I’ll see you on Wednesday for All Elite Wrestling results. Until then, safe travels!
