MVP is in the ring for the V.I.P Lounge. MVP introduces Bobby Lashley but out comes WWE Champion Drew McIntyre instead.
McIntyre says Lashley grabbed him from behind last week and he’s still feeling it. MVP doesn’t know what that feels like but he does know what a Claymore feels like. Drew says he doesn’t understand why Lashley would listen to MVP when he’s never won a title. But this is going on too long, he wants to talk less and Claymore. So he’s going to count down and hit him with the kick, but Lashley appears. Drew stares at him and says he’ll have to take the title from his cold dead hands. MVP tries to sucker-punch Drew but gets a headbutt, then out come The Viking Raiders and the Street Profits to stand with the Champ. We have tag team action, next!
*Commercial Break*
MVP & Bobby Lashley vs. The Viking Raiders W/Drew McIntyre & Street Profits
MVP starts against Ivar, but he immediately tags Lashley in. Lashley beats on Ivar and hits a flatliner. MVP tags in and punches away at Ivar in the corner. Lashley tags back in and elbows Ivar. The Viking starts a comeback and Erik tags in, and the Viking Raiders double-team Lashley. Lana is seen watching backstage.
MVP tags in, but Erik takes him down and punches him. Ivar tags in and shoulders MVP. Ivar applies an armbar to MVP before tagging Erik back in. Ivar scoop slams MVP, then Erik scoop slams Ivar onto him. Lashley tags in, but Erik forearms him. Erik then hits the ropes but Lashley hits a big one-armed spinebuster for a near-fall.
MVP tags back in before hitting a snapmare and kicking him in the back. MVP covers for a two-count. MVP tries to cover a few more times for the same result. Lashley tags in and chokes Erik with his boot. MVP tags back in and they hit a double-team suplex on Erik for a near-fall. Lashley tags in and kicks away at Erik, but the Viking stuns Lashley with a punch and both men crawl to their corners.
Ivar and MVP tag in, with Ivar landing lariats before slamming him down. Ivar hits a low cross-body and roars. MVP punches back at him and tags Lashley, but Ivar hits MVP with a seated senton, cartwheels around Lashley, then knocks him out of the ring. Lashley pulls Ivar out of the ring and bounces him off commentary. Lashley and MVP get in the Street Proftis’ faces. Ivar then hits Lashley and MVP with a suicide dive as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Erik applying an armbar to Lashley. Ivar tags in and attacks Lashley, but the Almighty quickly clotheslines him down. MVP tags in as Lashley shoulders Ivar, then MVP follows up with a running big boot for a near-fall. MVP covers Ivar for a two count.
Charly Caruso appears beside Lana backstage and asks if it bothers her that Lashley asked her to stay backstage. Lana says it does bother her that this leech attached itself to her husband, but they’re going to be champion. It also let her focused on her own career.
In the ring, Lashley is attacking Ivar, but the big man punches him back before hitting the ropes an running into a scoop powerslam. MVP tags in but Ivar fights him off and makes a tag to Erik, who runs wild over MVP. Erik clocks MVP with a right hand before knocking Lashley off the apron., then slingshots over MVP before hitting an exploder.
Ivar tags back in, and Erik hits double knees on MVP. Erik tags in and slams Ivar into MVP but Lashley breaks up the pin. Lashley is sent out of the ring and lands in front of McIntyre. Lashley stares at Drew then runs past him and spears Ivar who climbs out after him. Lashley blind tags in as Erik knees MVP in the face. Lashley applies the full nelson to Erik for the win!
Winners: MVP & Bobby Lashley
Ivar hits MVP after the match, which results in Lashley locking-in the full nelson on Ivar. The Profits and McIntyre storm the ring and rip Lashley off, and the Champion hits a Claymore that sends him reeling.
*Commercial Break*
The commentary team run down the card for WWE Backlash this weekend. Asuka and Charlotte make their entrances for the main event, then Sasha Banks and Bayley come out and join commentary.
Asuka Vs. Charlotte Flair
The bell rings and Flair attacks Asuka, forcing her to the corner until the referee pulls her off. Asuka kicks her away and takes the back but Flair elbows her and hits a big boot. Flair pulls Asuka out of the ring, and throws her over the announce table as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
Back live and Flair slams Asuka into the apron, but the Champion fires back with a head kick. Back in the ring, Asuka applies a Black Widow but Charlotte slams her. Flair rams Asuka’s face into the mat over and over, then drives a knee into her back and pulls her arms.
Asuka breaks free and rolls outside where she hits a hip attack into the barricade. Flair turns the tables and slams her into the barricade a few times, then back into the ring. Flair removes her knee pad, lands some knees, then takes a headlock. Asuka fights up and hits a small package for a two-count, then Flair hits a big boot for a near-fall.
Charlotte throws Asuka to the floor, then hits a baseball slide. Asuka fights back and they get back inside, meanwhile The IIconics run down and attacks Banks and Bayley. Banks is slammed into the barricade, and Bayley gets dropped on the announce table.
*Commercial Break*
We return in time to see Asuka hit a hip attack. Asuka lands some kicks, then counters a roll-up to apply an armbar. Flair fights out with repeated elbows. Flair hits a sidewalk slam for a two-count. Charlotte applies a sleeper and holds Asuka down for a while. Charlotte knees Asuka, and attempts a one-footed pin.
Flair kicks Asuka and some right hands, but the Champion hits a dropkick to create some distance. Asuka counters a big boot with a German suplex, then hits a hip attack that knocks Flair to the floor. Asuka hits a running knee from the apron. Both women struggle for control on the apron, and Charlotte hits a big boot.
Flair gets on the barricade and hits a moonsault to Asuka on the floor. Flair then slams Asuka’s leg into the ring post. Flair hits another big boot for a near-fall. Charlotte runs for a Spear but Asuka gets a knee up! Asuka applies an inverted octopus stretch but Flair escapes and hits a spear for a near-fall. Asuka rallies but Nia Jax appears and the Champ attacks her, allowing Flair to hit a big boot for the win.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match Nia comes into the ring and lays out Asuka with a Samoan drop. She’ll face Asuka on Sunday at Backlash for the RAW Women’s Championship.
And that’s it for this week’s RAW. Let us know what you thought of the show, and I’ll see you here tomorrow. Until then, safe travels!
