RAW: Newly drafted superstars shine on the season premiere

Tonight’s Monday Night RAW is the season premiere, for whatever that’s worth. The draft is in the rear view and there’s not a whole lot to get excited about. The Fiend coming over to the red brand is about it. Hell in the Cell is also this Sunday, and there is still work to do for that card. Time to head into the ThunderDome.

The ThunderDomei is bathed in a red light and the Fiend’s music hits. Alexa Bliss in the ring to announce he is here. The ThunderDome goes dark before the Fiend finally arrives. Retribution interrupts the pageantry of the Fiend, surrounding the ring. The Fiend and Bliss stand frozen in the ring, never acknowledging Retribution. Ali cuts the lights and orders an attack. When the lights come up, the Fiend and Bliss are no where to be seen.

The Hurt Business sees this as an opportunity, making their way to the ring and starting an all out brawl. The Hurt Business clears the ring and Cedric Alexander takes flight to take out Retribution on the floor.

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Retribution vs. The Hurt Business

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Ali tries to talk his way out of a beating from Lashley. It does give T Bar even time to come in and make the save. No one can save T Bar though, as Lashley applies the Hurt Lock. T Bar taps out.

Winners via submission: The Hurt Business

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After the match, the lights go out again and the Fiend appears. He single handedly destroys Retribution.

AJ Styles is back on RAW, and he has back up. He is joined by Jordan Omogbehin from RAW Underground. Styles is happy that RAW finally drafted a true leader. The real redemption of RAW was J’s return. This never was Monday Night Rollins; after defeating Matt Riddle, Styles will usher in a new era.

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AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle

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The referee has to ask Jordan to leave the ring and starts the five count. Jordan grabs the ref, stopping the count. The ref pleads with him to leave the ring. Jordan finally does.

Riddle with a gut wrench suplex and launches him across the ring. He kicks Styles to the floor, but has to pull up on the apron when Jordan moves toward him. We go to commercial.

After the break, Styles is stomping away at Riddle in the corner. Riddle lands a desperation kick to the face of Styles. He follows with an over head suplex. Styles counters the Bro-ton with a well placed kick. Riddle and Styles trade strikes. AJ with a Pele kick, but Riddle counters with a German suplex. Styles knees Riddle in the neck, but can’t get the pin. AJ looks for the Styles Clash, but Riddle counters with a fisherman’s suplex. It’s not enough to get the pin and Riddle goes to the top. Styles catches him on the top turnbuckle. Both men crash and burn, with Riddle hitting the floor and Styles landing in the ring. Jordan distracts Riddle, allowing Styles to catch him coming into the ring. AJ delivers the Styles Clash and covers to get the win.

Winner via pinfall: AJ Styles

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Charly Caruso welcomes WWE Champion Drew McIntyre to the interview area. She asks Drew about the experience gap with Randy Orton. The champ addresses Orton directly; he sees the bigger picture. McIntyre isn’t any other superstar, though, and will not give Orton any respect. He will do what he has to do to defend his title.

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Asuka (champion) vs. Lana (challenger) – RAW Women’s Championship Match

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Lana ducks Asuka’s kicks and nearly gets a rollup. Lana stomps Asuka into the corner, but catches an elbow on a splash. Lana counters a suplex, but can’t fight off the Asuka lock. Lana taps out.

Winner…and still RAW Women’s Champion…via submission: Asuka

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After the match, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler attack both Lana and Asuka. Nia pulls Lana to the floor and I think you know where this is gonna go. Lana is put through the announce table with a Samoan Drop. Inside the ring, Asuka is able to fight of Baszler and escape up the ramp.

Nia wants all the women in the back to see their teamwork. Shayna calls it dominance. Every week they dominate, on RAW and Smackdown. Jax dares someone to do something about it. Mandy Rose an Dana Brooke answer the call. They are followed by Lacey Evans. Peyton Royce joins the party, upstaging Evans. Who then upstages Royce. But wait, the Riott Squad wants some too.

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Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke vs. Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans vs. The Riott Squad – Fatal Four-way Tag Team Non-title Match

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A kicks from Liv Morgan sends the champs to the floor. Mandy and Dana follow. Royce flies over the top rope to take them all out and Lacey has to one up her, following her move. Liv and Ruby then take out everyone by flying off the top turnbuckle.

Following a quick break, Nia suplexes Rose and Brooke together. She misses on a charge in the corner though, crashing into the turnbuckle. Brooke with a senton to Jax, but Shayna breaks the pin. Blind tags abound in this match. Liv and Ruby double team Evans, with Ruby hitting the Riott kick. She covers, but Shayna pulls her out of the ring and puts her to sleep with the Kirifuda Clutch. Jax tags herself in, hits Evans wit the Samoan drop and covers to get the win.

Winners via pinfall: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler

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Elias is back and he has a song for Jeff Hardy. He plugs his new album and asks for his guitar. Too bad, Jeff Hardy has it. Elias avoids getting hit with it as Hardy yells he didn’t hit him with a car.

The Miz and Morrison are backstage, discussing how they saved Mandy by getting her sent to RAW. They are interrupted by Tucker, who chews them out for their actions. Tucker is going to find a partner and ruin them. Miz and Morrison just laugh at him.

Elsewhere, backstage, Charly gets a words with Elias, who is still hot over Jeff Hardy crashing his concert. He challenges Hardy to a match at Hell in the Cell this Sunday.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods hit the ring and are the RAW Tag Team champions for the first time in four years. Woods recaps his pretty bad year. Kofi calms him down as Sheamus makes his entrance. Sheamus points out the Big E isn’t with them anymore. The New Day isn’t finished though. They are now holding it down on both shows.  Woods offers for Sheamus to come down and take a beating from Kofi.

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Kofi Kingston w/Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus

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Sheamus absolutely brutalizes Kofi early in the match, slamming him into the apron. Big E is watching on the ThunderDome screens as Kofi stomps Sheamus into the mat. Kofi follows with the Boom Drop. Sheamus dodges Kofi in the corner, but he launches himself off the top rope to catch Sheamus with a cross body. Sheamus catches Kofi coming off the top rope and slams him to the mat. Kofi kicks out of the pin. Sheamus locks in a cloverleaf. Kofi stretches for the ropes, but then counters with a roll up. Sheamus kicks out. Kofi looks for Trouble in Paradise, but Sheamus counters with an Alabama Slam. Kofi kicks out.

Sheamus pulls Kofi up to his shoulders and goes up top for White Noise. Kofi fights out and sweeps Sheamus to the mat off the top turnbuckle. Sheamus counters the SOS into a pin but Kofi kicks out. Kingston counters the Irish Curse back breaker into a pin, but Sheamus kicks out. Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise and covers to get the win.

Winner via pinfall: Kofi Kingston

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From their lair, Ali addresses the Fiend and the Hurt Business. He says his power comes from chaos, not from numbers. Ali uses technology to brings the world crashing down. Ali knows everyone’s secrets. He admits to being the Smackdown hacker. He wants to know that WWE is infecting everyone with greed and corruption, while good people are being abandoned. Ali united them and their truth will be heard.

MVP is proud of his company for their win earlier. Titus O’Neal congratulates them and pitches why he should be part of the Hurt Business. He can take them worldwide. MVP wants to confer with his associates. A second later, they have a decision and Titus catches a beating.

Tucker has found a partner after scouring the globe. He’s the premiere luchadore, El Gran Gordo. Miz calls out Gordo for being Otis; he is holding the Money in the Bank lunch pail. Miz isn’t amused, calling Otis a joke. He is sick of the underdog stories with Otis, people just feel sorry for him. Miz knows the system and he will win the money in the bank contract in court.

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The Miz and Morrison vs. Tucker and El Gran Gordo

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Miz and Morrison corner Tucker, keeping him cut off from Gordo. Morrison with a standing moonsault and cover. Tucker kicks out. Miz makes a blind tag, but can’t stop Gordo from getting the hot tag. Gordo arm drags Miz across the ring and power slams him. Morrison breaks the pin. Tucker slams Morrison and Miz kicks him out of the ring. Miz looks for the Skull Crushing Finale, but is interrupted by R Truth and the chase for the 24/7 title. Gordo splashes a distracted Miz in the corner and follows with the Caterpillar. Gordo climbs to the middle turnbuckle and delvers a splash. He covers Miz to get the pin.

Winners via pinfall: El Gran Gordo and Tucker

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Backstage, Tucker and Gordo celebrate with the New Day. Mandy presents El Gran Gordo with a ham. It really is true love.

With the Fiend, comes Bray Wyatt and the FireFly Funhouse. He’s unpacking from the big move. He’s looking forward to making some new friends. Ramblin’ Rabbit wants a fresh start and is promptly eaten by Mercy the Buzzard. The big surprise is a knock at the door. It’s Alexa Bliss.

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Brawn Strowman vs. Keith Lee

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Strowman forces Lee into the corner as the announcers remind us of the beating Strowman took on Friday night. Lee strikes at the ribs and Strowman is hurt. Lee with a splash, but it’s not enough to get the pin. Lee pounds on Brawn in the corner. Strowman strikes back, but misses a splash in the corner. A shoulder block sends Strowman off his feet. Brawn with a low blow and he follows with a kick to Lee’s face. Strowman covers to get the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Brawn Strowman

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Lee gets to his feet and punts Strowman in the crotch.

The Hell in the Cell is being lowered in a preview of Sunday. Orton enters the cell and locks himself in. Orton explains that he had the cell lowered so he could reflect and remember. He has had seven matches in the cell and has never left anything behind. He has come away with a better understanding of himself, though. Orton talks about all his Hell in the Cell matches. The most important thing that he remembers is standing in the cell and looking the Undertaker in the eye and earning his respect.

Drew McIntyre has heard enough. Orton taunts him through the cage. Orton tells him to come get him, so Drew produces a set of bolt cutters. The champ cuts the chain as Orton grabs a chair. The show goes off the air at a stalemate. See you in a week in the ThunderDome.