Becky Lynch may have left last week, but when one superstar leaves another makes a return. Kevin Owens is back. We haven’t seen him since WrestleMania. He’s only slated for the KO Show, but we all know talk shows usually lead to matches.
If you are a wrestling fan there’s absolutely no way you could have missed the news that Becky Lynch is stepping away from WWE to become a mother. WWE opens the show with that news, but they do produce one impactful video package, though.
Charly Caruso introduces Randy Orton to the ring, who last week issued a challenge to Edge for a straight wrestling match at Backlash. Orton scoffs at having to explain what he means by a “straight up wrestling” match. Orton reiterates that Edge was the better man at WrestleMania, but Orton is the better wrestler. All he needs in the ring and a referee. Orton sees doubt in Edge, now that the grit and passion has washed away.
Edge has heard enough, heading to the ring to answer Randy. Edge knows Orton is playing chess here, but that’s all it is to him, just a game. Edge knows this life was Orton’s back up plan, because he doesn’t care about the business. Edge talks of his passion and his accomplishments. Orton doesn’t love the sport like Edge does. Orton cuts him off and wants to know if he accepts the challenge. Edge accepts.
Last week, Seth Rollins snapped and tried to gauge out one of Rey Mysterio’s eyes.
Seth is in the back with Murphy, telling him he has had a revelation he wants to tell the world.
Rollins and Murphy make their way to the ring. Seth says sometimes you have to lose to find yourself. When he lost to Drew McIntyre he fell into a dark place, but he has now seen the light thanks to Rey Mysterio. Seth sees what happened to Rey was unfortunate but necessary. He was a sacrifice for the greater good. Rollins speaks directly to Rey; soon enough you will see this as a blessing in disguise and you’re welcome.
Humberto Carrillo interrupts, speaking up for Rey. He calls Rollins a coward and I think we have out next sacrifice. Rollins isn’t dressed to fight, but Murphy is, even though he has a match later with Aleister Black.
Match #1 – Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy w/Seth Rollins
Carrillo fights Murphy off the top turnbuckle, only to get yanked to the mat. Murphy with a kick to the back. Humberto with a jawbreaker and catches him with a kick. Murphy is kicked to the floor and Carrillo flies over the top rope to take him out of the floor. Carrillo keeps an eye on Rollins. He takes too much time and Murphy catches him in mid-air with a kick. Murphy follows with Murphy’s Law. He makes the cover and gets the pin.
Winner by pinfall: Murphy
After the match, Murphy punishes Carrillo with a knee shot. Aleister Black runs down to make the save. Murphy escapes the Black Mass kick as Seth Rollins walks away.
The King, Baron Corbin, is upset he doesn’t have a private locker room. He then addresses the ref. He wants to know why he isn’t being waited on hand and foot. Corbin wants things made right and tells the ref what he wants done in his match.
Liv Morgan tells us that her mom is her hero, because she never quit. She isn’t about to let a loss to Charlotte Flair get her down. She is determined that one day she will be RAW Women’s champion.
Speaking of Flair, the NEXT Women’s champion, makes her way to the ring. She doesn’t want to bore us how she is the hardest worker and the face of RAW and NXT. On Friday, Smackdown Women’s champion challenged her to a champion versus champion match. Then she calls out Ruby Riott, who is dying to say something.
Match #2 – Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riott – Non-Title Match
Nothing like joining a match in progress. Riott with a coffin drop out of the corner and gets a near fall. Ruby plants Flair into the mat and looks for the double wrist lock. Flair powers up and out. Riott looks for a sunset flip, but Flair blocks. Ruby dodges a kick and Flair gets caught in the ropes. Ruby looks for the Riott kick, but Flair blocks and locks in the figure four. Charlotte bridges into the Figure Eight and Ruby is forced to tap out.
Winner via submission: Charlotte Flair
Charly Caruso welcomes Bobby Lashley to the interview area. MVP interrupts to announce that he will not be doing business with Bobby, because of his wife, Lana. MVP points out that it has been 13 years since Lashley has competed for the WWE title. MVP just wants Lashley to think.
Last week, the Street Profits smoked the Viking Raiders on the basketball court. Although, the Raiders let them win. This week, they face each other in an axe throwing competition. The Raiders give the Profits the gift of smoke. Ford wants to forfeit, but Dawkins says he got this.
Kairi Sane hypes up Asuka, who heads to the ring to celebrate her winning the RAW Women’s title. Asuka and Kairi embrace and she is so happy. Kairi lists all of Asuka’s accomplishments, and she has really done it all. She’s a Grand Slam Champion.
Nia Jax crashes the party, telling Asuka that she will take that title and then we will have a real party. The champ goes after Jax, sending her to the floor with a hip attack.
Charly Caruso asks Baron Corbin if he has any doubts over facing Drew McIntyre. Corbin knows he is dangerous, but he knows Drew and will beat him tonight. Then he will face him at WrestleMania and take the WWE title from him.
Match #3 – R Truth vs. Bobby Lashley
Before the match, Truth tells us what’s up. His cousin, Pretty Ricky, has told him that Bobby Lashley has been a bad, bad man. HE doesn’t want to be put in a full nelson, but his hero John Cena would never give up. He won’t give up getting his baby back either, he calls out Tom Brady, again. Truth is going to get his 24/7 title back.
Truth wants a minute and goes to the floor. Pretty Ricky is back. He wants to know what Bobby’s got. Truth with forearms on the floor. Lashley launches Truth into the barricade. He then slams him into the ring post. Back in the ring, Lashley with a clothesline. He locks in the Full Nelson and finishes with a slam. Lashley locks it in again, and Truth taps.
Winner via submission: Bobby Lashley
MVP applauds from the stage.
Backstage, Lana isn’t pleased with what she sees. She screams, tossing anything she can get her hands on.
The Kabuki Warriors are still in good spirits backstage as Nia Jax watches from the shadowns.
Match #4 – Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross (champions) vs. The IIconics (challengers) – WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match
Before the match, the IIconics rolls the clip of them beating Bliss and Cross last week. They want them to drop off the titles and be on their way.
Nikki Cross shoots Peyton Royce into the ropes, but Billie Kay makes a blind tag. She takes over by force, picking Cross up and slamming her to the mat. Kay misses on the big boot, allowing Cross to tag in Bliss. She slaps Kay and then drops the double knees into the mid-section. Bliss covers and Royce breaks the pin. Cross takes out Peyton. Billie with a big boot to Cross. Bliss with a massive right to Kay. Alexa goes up top and connects with Twisted Bliss. Royce breaks the pin again. She repeatedly slams Bliss into the corner, ignoring the referee’s instruction. The ref calls for the bell, disqualifying the IIconics.
Winners …and still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions … via disqualification: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
Nia Jax attacks Kairi Sane backstage, slamming her into one of the road crates.
Elsewhere backstage, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce are arguing about their loss. Kay slaps Peyton. She immediately apologizes and the two hug it out.
Asuka is not please that someone attacked Kairi. She tracks down Nia Jax, getting in her face. Jax walks away. Asuka kicks her in the head for her disrespect.
Match #5 – Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya – Submission Match
Natalya with a double leg takedown, but Baszler counters into a toe hold. Nattie breaks the hold. Baszler yanks Nattie by her hair and stomps on her mid-section. Shayna looks for a Sharp Shooter, but Natalya counters into one of her own. Baszler drags herself to the ropes, but there are no rope breaks. Shayna is able to fall to the floor to break the hold.
Natalya pounds on Shayna in the middle of the ring. Baszler is able to roll into the Kirifuda Clutch. Natalya taps.
Winner via submission: Shayna Baszler
After the match, Natalya is despondent in the ring, kicking at the ropes. The WWE crews starts to set up for the KO Show, and Natalya destroys the set.
Backstage, Zelina Vega has to break up another argument between her clients. She tells them they need to be a cohesive unit. Andrade, Angel Garza and Austin Theory all say they understand, but Theory has a little bit of attitude on his response.
The KO Show
Welcome back Kevin Owens, Natalya trashed your set. He thanks her for that. Owens says the reason he hasn’t been around is because he got pretty banged up making his WrestleMania moment, but he’s back now. He brings out his guests, Zelina Vega, Andrade, Angel Garza and Austin Theory. Vega knows why they are here. Owens want a “Jerry Springer” episode. Vega says her empire isn’t crumbling. She hypes up each member of her faction. She wants to know why Owen’s in on the apron. One could argue that he is giving them more respect by giving them the ring. The main reason is because of overcrowding. Owens brings out Apollo Crews. He hits the ring fast and hard and takes out Andrade. Owens joins in as we go to break.
Match #6 – Kevin Owens and Apollo Crews vs. Andrade and Angel Garza w/Zelina Vega and Austin Theory
Owens puts the boots to Garza and follows with a senton. Andrade tags in and hangs KO up on the top rope. Andrade pummels KO in the corner. Owens answers with a clothesline. Crews gets the tag and Andrade runs to make the tag. Crews kicks Andrade off the apron and then plants Garza. Vega jumps to the apron. Austin Theory looks for the cheap shot, but accidently drills Garza instead. Apollo with the toss power bomb to Garza and covers to get the win.
Winners via pinfall: Apollo Crews and Kevin Owens
After the match, Andrade and Garza attack Theory. Vega lets it happen. They slam Theory into the barrier. Vega calls Theory useless and slaps him across the face. Andrade throws a chair at him and Theory is left lying in the time keepers area.
Drew McIntyre joins Charly Caruso, who asks about his focus. Drew knows he is having fun and every Monday night is a good time for a Claymore party. Tonight, Drew’s dream match has fallen in his lap. He calls King Corbin a terrible human being, but he is a dangerous individual. Drew has a Claymore fit for a king.
The axe throwing competition officially gets under way. The Street Profits aren’t good. The Vikings Raiders are very encouraging, though. Montez Ford hits the bullseyes on his last throw. The police roll up, looks like an errant axe hit their patrol car.
Apollo Crews tells Charly Caruso that he has spent the last three weeks wondering what could have been. Next week he is going to take on Andrade for the United States Championship. Vega tells Crews he has a choice, stay healthy or take on Andrade and never walk again.
Match #7 – Aleister Black vs. Murphy w/Seth Rollins
These two can’t wait to get their hands on each other. Murphy is sent to the floor and Black kicks him into barricade. Austin Theory is still at ringside and Rollins as taken interest. Black misses a kick and catches the ring post. Murphy with a kick to the face, but leaps into a boot from Black. Black with a knee strike and looks for Black Mass. Rollins inspires Theory to attack Black and the ref calls for the bell.
Winner via disqualification: Aleister Black
Murphy and Theory keep up the attack, kneeing Black in the face. Theory hits him with the ATL. Rollins embrace Theory.
Back at the axe throwing field, the police read everyone the riot act, but they are let go because the female officer thinks Ivar is cute. Eric, not so much.
Match #7 – Drew McIntyre vs. King Baron Corbin – Non-Title Match
Before the bell, MVP and Bobby Lashley walk out on stage. MVP says they both have an interest in this match up. Lashley puts Drew on notice; he’s coming after that WWE championship, even if he has to pry it from Drew’s cold dead hands.
Lashley and MVP look on from the ramp as McIntyre and Corbin lock up in the middle of the ring. McIntyre with a chop. Corbin with a shoulder block. A clothesline sends the King to the floor. Drew follows and sends Baron over the barricade. Back in the ring, Drew looks for a Claymore. Corbin rolls out of the ring and baits McIntyre. Corbin blasts McIntyre off the apron and into the barrier. McIntyre is smashed into the ring post and Corbin lifts him to the top turnbuckle. Corbin hits a superplex. McIntyre kicks out at one. Drew with an overhead belly to belly suplex. The WWE Champion goes up top and connects with a strike and then a spinebuster. Corbin sends McIntyre into the ring post, but still can’t get the pin. Corbin gets caught coming off the top and McIntyre hits the Future Shock DDT. The champ looks for the Claymore kick, but Corbin counters with a Deep 6. McIntyre kicks out. He hits the Glasgow kiss head butt and follows with a Claymore kick. McIntyre covers and gets the win.
Winner via pinfall: Drew McIntyre
After the bell, McIntyre yells for Lashley.