Another week, another post pay per view Monday Night RAW; really hoping this doesn’t become a thing. Despite being called Payback, only the Hurt Business doled some out as Bobby Lashley captured the United States title from Apollo Crews. In fact, that was the only RAW title up for grabs. Granted the Women’s Tag Team titles are now held by a team from RAW, but those belts are not show specific. It’s time to end the THUNDERDOME!
Randy Orton enters the ring, looking for payback, since he didn’t get any last night. He lost to Keith Lee after losing to Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam. Tom Phillips informs us that Orton broke McIntyre’s jaw and won’t be on the show, but he should be ready for Clash of Champions. Tonight we get three singles matches, with the winners entering a Triple Threat match. The winner of that match will face McIntyre at Clash.
Orton explains that he felt disrespected by McIntyre, who offered him a rematch out of pity. He deserves the fractured jaw. Orton doesn’t believe he has to compete tonight; he feels entitled to be in the WWE championship match at Clash of Champions.
Keith Lee interrupts the Viper. It seems Lee wants to remind Orton that he beat him last night. In fact, Orton had no choice but to bask in his glory. Out of nowhere, Dolph Ziggler attacks Lee from behind. Orton avoids any attack, as Ziggler drop Lee with a DDT.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Keith Lee – Winner moves on to Triple Threat Match
Despite the sneak attack before the match, Lee just overpowers Ziggler early in the match, tossing him into the turnbuckle. Ziggler splashes Lee in the corner, but has the neck breaker countered. Lee shoots Ziggler of the ropes and sends him flying across the ring with a shoulder tackle. Ziggler hits the famouser after clawing at Lee’s face. Dolph locks in the sleeper, but Lee is able to shrug him off. He lands a series of strikes and slams Dolph to the mat. After smashing Lee into the top turnbuckle, Ziggler hits the Zig Zag, but Lee kicks out. Lee blocks a super kick and hits the Spirit Bomb. Lee covers to get the win and move onto the Triple Threat match.
Winner via pinfall: Keith Lee
Sarah Schreiber is with the new Women’s Tag Team champions. Nia Jax and Shayna Bazler may be the champs, but they certainly aren’t on the same page. Asuka walks by and Sarah pivots to her. She hasn’t found her next opponent. The tag champs tag offense to her butting in. Asuka just screams right in Nia’s face.
Adam Pearce rallies the security guards, tasking them with keeping the ThunderDome safe from Retribution.
Charly Caruso welcomes RAW Women’s champ Asuka to the ring. She is looking for a for a new challenger, but she doesn’t think anyone is ready for her. Mickie James walks out on stage, calling Asuka one of the greatest champions of all time. Mickie puts her on notice, just as Natalya and Lana interrupt. Nattie calls Mickie selfish.
Asuka interrupts, telling all three that she is ready for them. Lana and Nattie jump Mickie and Asuka, but the champ is able to clear the ring.
Cedric Alexander is hanging out backstage with the Viking Raiders. Ivar’s new friend, Demi Burnett, expresses her support before planting a kiss on Ivar. Angel Garza looks on, but is not concerned. Dude, take a hint.
Mickie James vs. Lana w/Natalya
Asuka joins the commentary table for the match. Today also happens to be Mickie’s birthday, so nothing embarrassing will happen, right? Lana escapes the Mick-DT, but can’t avoid the Mick Kick. James covers and gets the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Mickie James
Charly Caruso is confused as Randy Orton emerges from Aleister Black’s locker room.
Sarah Schreiber is with the IIconics backstage, who will put their tag team on the live against the Riott Squad. If they lose, they have to break out. They want to help Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan self destruct.
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Winner moves onto Triple Threat Match
Kevin Owens is jumped on the ramp by Aleister Black. Owens is slammed into the ring apron and then takes the Black Mass kick. Black rolls Owens into the ring. The referee tries to get Owens to not fight, but KO insists. Orton hits an RKO right away and gets the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Randy Orton
Charly Caruso asks Rey Mysterio about Dominik filling in for him and possibly winning a shot at the WWE title. The entire Mysterio family is in the building and Rey couldn’t be prouder. Dominik is riding high after their win last night. He has a 619 for the Monday Night Messiah.
The V*I*P Lounge
MVP shouts out the Mad Max franchise, “WHO RUNS BARTER TOWN!”, but they don’t need Master Blaster; the Hurt Business has Bobby Lashley. MVP calls out Apollo Crews for disrespecting him and tells him there are they guarantees in his life; death, taxes and Bobby Lashley, who promises to get Apollo back for what he did after their match. Shelton Benjamin calls out Apollo for RAW Underground.
Cedric Alexander walks down to the lounge. MVP tells Benjamin and Lashley to chill. Alexander has not had a change of heart. He was just the distraction as the Viking Raider attack from behind.
The Hurt Business vs. Cedric Alexander and the Viking Raiders
Once MVP gets his hands on Alexander, he drags him to the corner, allowing the Hurt Business to go to work. Quick tags keep Cedric cut off from his corner. Benjamin tosses him across the ring and makes a pin with a forearm across the face. MVP follows with a running boot in the corner and makes pin off of a suplex. Cedric kicks out. MVP pummels him across the back of the head.
Lashley and Benjamin pull the Raiders off the apron, not allowing Cedric to make a tag. MVP misses a running kick. Alexander rolls him up and gets the pin, while grabbing the tights.
Winner via pinfall: Cedric Alexander and the Viking Raiders
After the pin, MVP doesn’t allow Lashley and Benjamin to attack. MVP gives Cedric a round of applause.
Titus O’Neal is ready for RAW Underground.
Well, that didn’t last long. The Hurt Business is putting the boots to Alexander in the back. Ricochet and Apollo Crews runs them off.
The IIConics vs. the Riott Squad – Number One Contender Match; Losing Team must Disband
Billie Kay with a single leg take down of Ruby to start the match. Peyton tags in, locking in a sleeper. Ruby takes a shot at Kay on the apron and rolls under Royce, getting the tag to Liv Morgan. Liv connects with a drop kick, but can’t get the pin. Liv gets double teamed, but recovers with an enziguri to Kay. Riott and Kay trade pinfalls, until Ruby is able to roll her up and get the pin.
Winners via pinfall: The Riott Squad
After the bell, the IIConics beg the official to change to call. They breakdown crying in the ring.
Shane McMahon says RAW Underground is going to be intense.
Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio – Winner moves on to Triple Threat Match
Rollins dresses down Murphy for costing them their match last night. He can’t have Murphy screwing anything up tonight and orders him to get out of his sight. Murphy needs to figure out what kind of man he is. Murphy leaves, only to have Dominik knock him out at the top of the ramp.
Mysterio runs to the ring, only to have Rollins take him out with a clothesline. Mysterio connects with a drop kick, that sends Seth to the floor. Rollins slams Dom into the announce table. He then stomps away at him in the middle of the ring. Rollins is sent into the ropes, but he dodges the 619. Dominik slam Seth into the announce desk and hits a senton off the table.
Rollins with the sling blade, but it’s not enough to get the cover. Seth slaps Dom about the head, while locking him in a body scissors. Mysterio lands on his feet on a back suplex and is able to land punches. Rollins looks for the buckle bomb, but Dom counter with a head scissors, sending Seth into the turnbuckle. Dom with a DDT, but can’t get the pin.
Dominik goes high risk, taking out Rollins on the floor from the top turnbuckle. Rollins is tripped into the ropes and Dom hit the 619. He goes up top, but crashes and burns as Rollins dodges the frog splash. Rollins hits the stomp, covering to get the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Seth Rollins
After the bell, Rollins delivers another stomp as the Mysterio family watches from the back.
Titus O’Neal is in the underground. He pummels some poor dude until the ref pulls him off. Riddick Moss steps up next and takes down Titus. O’Neal reverses and tosses Moss off the mat. The fight continues on the floor. Titus punks someone on the outside. Moss kicks O’Neal in the stomach and then knocks him out with one punch.
The Street Profits are ready for their tornado tag match and they have a scouting report on Andrade, Angel Garza and Zelina Vega.
Earlier today, Akira Tozawa tried to roll up to the arena with his ninjas in the ninja van, but he wasn’t on the approved list. He made the fatal mistake of getting out of the car. Turns out the parking attendant was really a WWE ref. R Truth snuck up from behind to roll him up and with the 24/7 title.
Winner … and new 24/7 champion … via pinfall: R Truth
The Street Profits vs. Andrade and Angel Garza w/Zelina Vega – Tornado Tag Team Match
Demi Burnett takes a set at ringside. Angelo Dawkins gets dumped from the ring, allowing Andrade and Garza to team up on Montez Ford. Demi is impressed by what she sees. Ford fires himself up and shakes the ropes. The lights start to flicker. Garza grabs Demi and runs off. Ford goes for the pin, when Retribution strikes. The beat down Ford, Dawkins and Andrade in the ring. Vega isn’t even safe, getting cornered by three thugs. She goes down swinging. Retribution runs off as the show goes to commercial.
No Contest
Adam Pearce chews out the security staff in the back.
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are in RAW Underground. They don’t belong there. This will end badly. Jeesamyn Duke wins her first fight quickly. Marina Shafir then destroys her opponent with a knee bar. Peyton volunteers Billie to fight. Kay wants none of that smoke, but Jessamyn knocks her out with one kick.
Charly Caruso gets a word with Apollo Crews, Ricochet and Cedric Alexander. She asks Apollo if its a good decision to take on Shelton in the RAW Underground. Crews says he is going to bounce back and will keep going after Lashley to get back that United States title.
Apollo and Benjamin face off in the Underground. The fight spills to the floor. MVP, Lashley, Ricochet and Alexander get involved and it turns into a brawl. The Hurt Business stands victorious.
Angel Garza and Demi and running in the back. Demi points out that Garza totally abandoned his teammates. Garza tells Demi he only cares about her safety. Retribution busts down a door, pummeling the security guard. Garza takes off, leaving Demi to fend for herself.
Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee vs. Seth Rollins – Number One Contender Triple Threat Match
Rollins tries to plan with Orton, but Randy bails on him, saying Seth can take this guy. Rollins rolls out and confronts Orton on the floor. Lee brings Seth back into the ring by the hair. Lee squashes Rollins in the corner. Orton slips into the ring, locking in a head lock on Lee. Rollins and Orton dump Lee over the top rope, but he lands on the apron. Lee sling shots himself over the ropes, taking out Orton and Rollins.
After the break, Orton drives Lee into the announce desk. Rollins and Orton team up to slam Lee into the ring steps. It takes both men to roll Lee into the ring. Orton strikes, hitting Seth with the draping DDT. Seth kicks out of the pin. Rollins with a falcon arrow; Orton kicks out of the pin.
Lee rises on the apron, clubbing Rollins. He slams Seth into Orton and they retreat. Lee gives chase, hitting a shoulder tackle that sends Orton flying. He slams Seth across the announce table. In the ring, Rollins stuns Lee with an enziguri and takes him down with a super kick. Rollins looks for the stomp, but Lee gets to his feet and counters with a Spirit Bomb. Orton runs in, hitting Lee with an RKO. Orton covers Rollins and gets the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Randy Orton
See you next week in the THUNDERDOME!!!!
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Monday Night RAW 8/31/2020
The ThunderDome, Orlando, Florida
Another run of the mill Monday Night RAW. The problem tonight was the predictability. Orton, Lee and Rollins all winning their matches to advance was not surprising. Orton winning the Triple Threat match was also a gimme. The IIconics losing was some what surprising. The IIconics showing up on RAW Underground was a surprise. Billie Kay getting knocked out, not so much. RAW Underground is starting to grow on me. Take the ten minutes and watch all the clips online.
