We’re back from the commercial break and Triple H is in the ring to address Batista’s actions last week.
We see a video of Batista from earlier today, in which he says he’s not at Raw tonight because he hates Philly. Maybe he’ll come to Pittsburgh next week. But they will be playing by his rules until the game is over.
Triple H says “as if I didn’t have reason to be mad enough”. He says a week ago he had the honour of bringing out the greatest of all-time to celebrate his birthday. Triple H then addressed Flair by his real name and talks about how much he means to him. He says he’s been with Flair for the best times, and the worst times, like burying his son. And last year Flair was on his deathbed, and everytime the phone rang he panicked because he thought that might be it. HHH gets choked up. He says he was here last week to walk Flair to the ring and let him be the Nature Boy one last time, as he deserved. But it didn’t happen, because of Batista. He says if Batista wanted his attention…well we all know he did because he’s been whining about it on Twitter for two years. He says when Batista didn’t get the respect he thought he’d earned last time around, he quit. Now he’s trying to get attention by attacking a 70 year old man who is just happy to be alive.
Triple H says now he’s back and playing the heel 101 game, by criticising the town he’s in. Triple H says it doesn’t matter where they are, he’ll go to his house, he can come to his, he’ll go to a movie set, just name the place and have some balls. He says he hopes Batista knows that for all their years together, when they step in the ring together, it won’t be The Game he’s in the ring with. It won’t be something they’re selling, this isn’t a marquee match at a show. He’ll be looking into the eyes of the man, not the character. He asks Batista to look him in the eyes and ask him what he wants. If he wants his attention, he’s got it. Triple H tosses the microphone and leaves.
We see a replay of last week when Becky Lynch attacked Natalya and Ronda with crutches, then got arrested. Charly Caruso is backstage with Stephanie and asks for a statement on what’s going on. Stephanie says Charlotte is too presumptuous, because tonight will not be a coronation. As for Ronda, what she did last week was blasphemy. And that’s why WWE is doing what’s best for business… and lifting Becky’s suspension effectively immediately. So Becky will come to Raw tonight to sign an agreement that she won’t hold WWE responsible if she gets injured… when she faces Charlotte at Fastlane for the vacant Raw Women’s Championship! Wow!
*Commercial Break*
Dean Ambrose is backstage, angry and preparing to face Elias. Roman walks up and says he thought they were past hanging out in boiler rooms. He tells Ambrose that he always has a seat in the locker room at any time. Ambrose says he has to stay focused and walks off.
Heavy Machinery will now have a gauntlet match with all the tag teams that insulted them earlier.
Gauntlet Match
Heavy Machinery Vs. The B-Team
The bell rings and Otis floors Curtis Axel. He splashes him in the corner before tagging Tucker Knight, who tosses Axel to the corner. Axel stomps away at Knight before tagging Dallas. The B-Team look to do a double team move but Knight ducks and tosses Dallas into Axel. Otis comes back and hits a body slam for the win.
The B-Team Eliminated
The Ascension Enter
The Ascension storm the ring right away and beat down Knight. They toss him to the corner and make use of quick tags to keep him away from Otis. Konor beats on Tucker in the corner before whipping him to the opposite corner. Konor lines up a corner splash but nobody’s home.
Both men make tags and Otis knocks him down with a corner splash on Viktor. Otis scales the ropes and hits a splash to Viktor and that’s that.
The Ascension Eliminated
Hawkins & Ryder Enter
Hawkins and Ryder come in hot and hit Otis with an STO/Russian leg sweep combo. Knight comes in and clotheslines Ryder over the ropes to the outside. Otis then hits Hawkins with a pop-up powerslam, followed by the worm for the win.
Winners: Heavy Machinery
Heavy Machinery celebrate their three wins after the fact, and there goes the division.
*Commercial Break*
We see the two SNL guys backstage again and they interact with a few different low-card Superstars.
Torrie Wilson will be inducted in the Hall of Fame, and we see her announcement video. She joins D-X and the Honkey-Tonk Man in the 2019 class.
Charly Caruso interviews Charlotte backstage and asks how she feels about facing Becky at Fastlane. She says it will be an ass-kicking contest and she will take the title and move on to the WrestleMania main event.
Dean Ambrose is sitting backstage when Seth Rollins walks up to him. Rollins says they haven’t always gotten along, but brothers fight. Even through everything, he likes to think there’s been some mutual respect. Whether they’re on the same team or against each other, Ambrose is his wrestling soulmate. Ambrose asks if he wants to get The Shield back together one last time, it’s a “no can do.” Ambrose is preoccupied and has to handle his business on his own. Ambrose sits down, and Rollins walks off. Elias is in the ring, and he’ll face Ambrose after the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back and Elias sings a little ditty about how much he dislikes Philly, but then he’s interrupted by Dean Ambrose.
Dean Ambrose Vs. Elias
The bell rings and Ambrose ducks a clothesline and punches away at Elias. Elias knees and chops him, but Ambrose ducks a clothesline. Ambrose quickly takes him down and punches away at him. Ambrose stomps him down before the referee backs him up. Elias boots him in the face, but Ambrose takes him down before clotheslining him over the top rope.
Ambrose goes outside and kicks Elias before tossing him off the barricade. Ambrose gets him back into the ring before the 10 count. Ambrose then immediately clotheslines him back out of the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Elias climbing the ropes and walking on them like The Undertaker. Elias runs and clubs Ambrose with a forearm in the face. Elias knocks Ambrose to the apron and dropkicks him to the floor. Ambrose quickly takes him down exiting the ring and hits Elias with a suicide dive.
Ambrose gets Elias back in the ring and hits a pair of clotheslines. Ambrose clotheslines him in the corner and goes for a bulldog, but Elias shoves him off. Elias clubs him down and catches his breath. Elias drops a knee for a two count. Elias punches Ambrose down and goes for Drift Away, but Ambrose counters into a roll-up for a two count. Ambrose then catches him with a neckbreaker.
Ambrose goes outside and tries to climb the ropes, but his back is too hurt. Ambrose eventually makes it to the top rope then jumps but Elias catches him flush with a knee in mid-air. Elias then hits Drift Away for the win.
Winner: Elias
We see replays after the fact, then Elias leaves. Rollins and Reigns walk out onto the stage and look at Dean as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
