WWE Draft Night is in the top five of Monday Night Raw broadcasts for me. The rules don’t always make sense, but it’s fun. Unless most of the draft picks end up on the same show. This year the picks don’t take effect right away. Drafted superstars will have to wait until after Crown Jewel to switch shows. That’ll be in a little less then three weeks. Onto the show.
It’s only fitting that the Smackdown Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch, kicks off RAW, since the RAW Women’s Champ was drafted to Smackdown. It’s good that Becky is back and she is going to jump the gun by announcing RAW’s first pick tonight. Big surprise, it’s her. Becky Lynch to Monday RAW with the number one pick. She points out she never technically lost the RAW Women’s title and now Charlotte Flair can’t stand that Lynch is the best. In fact, she likes the idea of becoming Becky Two Belts again.
Flair makes her way to the ring to confront Lynch. Flair tells Lynch that she was nothing until Flair made her and talks about unfinished business. Bianca Belair wants to talk about unfinished business. She sees it that neither of them are ready for her. Flair shushes her; the champions are talking. Becky tries to goad Bianca into fighting Flair. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville step in before anything can happen. They book the Main Event with Bianca Belair taking on Charlotte Flair.
WWE Draft Round 1, Night 2
Damien Priest (champion) vs. Jeff Hardy (challenger) – United States Championship Match
Priest has Hardy scouted well early in this match, avoiding an attack. Hardy spills to the floor, where Priest takes him out by launching himself off the ring steps. In the ring, Hardy with a clothesline into a Twist of Fate. He goes up top and delivers the swanton bomb. Priest reverses the pin and gets the three count.
Winner and still United States Champion via pinfall: Damien Priest
Hardy tells the WWE Universe he loves them as he is heading to Smackdown after being drafted on Friday. He calls this the perfect opportunity to see a different side of him. Austin Theory, who was drafted to RAW on Friday, crashes the interview. He means no disrespect as he is standing in the ring with the legendary Jeff Hardy. Austin was inspired by him. Austin marks out and wants a selfie. He gets the pic and then clotheslines Hardy and leaves him laying in the ring, but not before getting another selfie.
Kevin Patrick welcomes RK-Bro to the interview area, asking them about having to defend their titles at Crown Jewel. Riddle goes on his wandering monologue. Orton appreciates the useless facts, but wants him to listen up. They can shut up AJ and Omos at Crown Jewel. Tonight is special because he has a proposition for Omos. He wants a one on one match with him.
WWE Draft Round 2, Night 2
Dana Brooke vs. Shayna Baszler
Not only did I not know Dana Brooke was on RAW; I didn’t realize she was still with the company. Brooke puts up an early fight, choking Baszler in the corner with a boot. Shana slams Dana to the mat and this match is over. Brooke is whipped hard into the corner and Baszler looks for the elbow stomp. Brooke counters with a roll up, but Baszler counters into an arm bar and then into the Kirifuda Clutch. Brooke taps out.
Winner via submission: Shayna Baszler
After the bell, Baszler attacks Dana on the floor. She sets her up on the ring steps for the elbow stomp, but Doudrop sashays down to ringside. Baszler sizes her up and delivers a shot to the back as Doudrop helps Brooke. Doudrop shrugs it off.
The Usos are in the building. Kevin Patrick asks Paul Heyman about his influence in getting the Usos drafted to Smackdown. He then asks about Brock Lesnar’s free agent status. Paul clams up and the Usos walk off.
Mustafa Ali and Mansoor vs. Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza
Garza tears away his pants, tossing them in Ali’s face. Carrillo breaks up a pin, but gets dumped to the floor by Mansoor. On the floor, Carrillo gets his revenge, taking out Mansoor. Ali goes for a cover, but gets knocked face first into the turnbuckle. Garza covers, but Mansoor can’t make the save. Garza gets the pin.
Winners via pinfall: Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo
WWE Draft Round 3, Night 2
The WWE Champion, Big E, heads to the ring. And once again this year, his stable mates, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, were drafted to a show he will not be on. He still made sure Bobby Lashley fell to his knees and he is the rightful WWE Champion. In typical WWE fashion, though, the next challenger appeared. E wants Drew McIntyre to come to the ring to speak his mind.
Even though he has been drafted to Smackdown, he has unfinished business on RAW. He has been waiting someone to liberated that title so he can reclaim it. Drew tells Big E that he does indeed deserve to be champion. McIntyre wanted to congratulate Big E in person, but Big E did cash in on an injured Lashley. Lashley did attack Drew from behind to cash in on him, so he did the world a favor. McIntyre finally cuts to the chase and issues a challenge for the WWE title.
Dolph Ziggler and Roberto Roode interrupt, calling this story very inspirational. Dolph wants to know why Big E forgot to thank him. Ziggler brings up their history, when Big E served as his bodyguard back in 2013. Ziggler also calls Drew inspirational, since Dolph took him under his wing in 2018. All Dolph wants is a simple thank you. Big E says they owe him a whooping and proposes a tag team match.
Big E and Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode
Big E splashes Ziggler on the ring apron. Roode tags in, running into a back elbow. Big E rolls away from a knee drop from Roode. McIntyre tags in, tossing Roode around the ring. Roode dodge Drew, who crashes into the ring post. Ziggler then nails him with a cheap shot on the floor. In the ring, McIntyre with a Glasgow kiss to Roode. Big E and Ziggler tag in, but E with a trio of suplex. He follows with a splash and looks for the Big Ending. Ziggler rakes the eyes. E plants him with a spine buster. Roode breaks the pin. Ziggler hits a Zig Zag and Drew makes the save. On the floor, McIntyre suplexes Roode on the floor. Big E with a clothesline to Ziggler. The champ looks for the Big Ending, but Drew makes the blind tag. McIntyre with the Claymore Kick to Ziggler and covers to get the win.
Winners via pinfall: Drew McIntyre and Big E
After the match, Big E hits Roode with the Big Ending and tells McIntyre he will see him at Crown Jewel.
Reggie asks Adam Pearce why he wanted to talk. Pearce has no idea what he is talking about. Reggie turns around to find the Viking Raiders and R Truth grabs him from behind. Reggie uses his parkour skills to escape, but almost lands on Apollo Crews. Crews is happy to see him and lets Reggie run off.
Newest RAW draftee Kevin Owens makes his way to the ring. Before KO can say anything, he is interrupted by Akira Tozawa. He welcomes KO back to RAW. He doesn’t want to fight Owens; he wants to fight Reggie for the 24/7 title. Owens gives Tozawa a stunner.
WWE Draft Round 4, Night 2
Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. (champions) vs. Natalya and Tamina (challengers) – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Nikki locks in a sleeper on Tamina. Ripley desperately tries to tag in, but can’t quite reach. Tamina slams Nikki to the mat and Rhea has to run in to make the save. Ripley and Natalya tag in. She hits the ripcord headbutt and follows with a drop kick. Nattie with a spine jammer. Tamina tags in, only to get kicked off the apron. Nikki flies off the top turnbuckle to take out both women. Rhea grabs Tamina, pulls her into the ring and nails the Riptide. Nikki tags in, climbs on Rhea’s shoulders and splashes Tamina. Nikki covers to get the win.
Winners and still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions via pinfall: Nikki A.S.H. and Rhea Ripley
WWE Draft Round 5, Night 2
Goldberg makes his way to the ring and it’s time I check in on Monday Night football and my fantasy football team. The Saudi’s do know that this guy is really old and can’t really wrestle. Goldberg calls out Lashley for calling attacking his son a misunderstanding. Goldberg wants Lashley to come to the ring so he can break his neck.
Lashley walks out on stage, but won’t come to the ring. He sticks to his story that is was an accident and doesn’t want to damage his suit. Lashley wants an apology. Lashley is going to give Goldberg a match, as long as it is No Holds Barred. Goldberg thanks him for giving him a license to kill. Goldberg tells Lashley he’s next and he’s dead. Lashley tells Goldberg he knows he can’t kill the All Mighty. Lashley keeps Goldberg focused on him, allowing Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander to strike. Goldberg dispatches of both of them.
Seth Rollins is happy to be coming back to RAW. Break out those Monday Night Messiah shirts! He doesn’t want to talk about Edge. He will take care of that on Smackdown.
The New Day vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin
Woods walks the top rope to deliver a flying elbow to Cedric Alexander. Woods covers to get the win.
Winners via pinfall: The New Day
The Street Profits come out to congratulate Kofi and Woods on their new movie with the Undertaker. NO SPOILERS! The Profits are back on RAW and they want the smoke!
Randy Orton makes his way to the ring with Riddle, awaiting Omos’s answer to Orton’s challenge. Orton calls him out. AJ Styles and Omos walk out on stage. Styles is in no mood. He issues a response, calling Orton insignificant and Omos would destroy him. Styles still hasn’t given an answer. Styles wants to end RK-Bro. Omos starts to talk, so Orton attacks Styles. He then drops Styles with an RKO.
WWE Draft Round 6, Night 2
WWE cuts to Gabel Stevenson’s home like this is the NFL draft.
Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair
Becky Lynch joins the announce team. She talks about how she will beat both these women at Crown Jewel. Flair drops Bianca on the apron and then tosses her over the barricade on the floor. Back in the ring after the commercial, Belair holds Flair up with a delayed vertical suplex. It’s not enough to get the pin though. Bianca runs into a clothesline. Flair follows with Natural Selection, but Bianca is able to duck it. She picks up Flair for the Kiss of Death but Charlotte lands on her feet. Flair with a spear, but it’s not enough to take out Belair. Bianca goes up top, but get cut down by Flair. Charlotte climbs the turnbuckle. Bianca rolls away from the moonsault, but Flair lands on her feet and connects with the standing moonsault. Bianca kicks out of the pin and then counters the figure four. She gets Flair up and hits the Kiss of Death. Bianca covers, but Lynch yanks her out of the ring and slams her into the ring steps. The ref calls for the bell.
Winner via disqualification: Bianca Belair
Lynch rolls Belair back into the ring. Sasha Banks runs in, attacking Becky and then hitting Belair with the meteora. She hits Lynch with the Backstabber and stands victorious as the show goes off the air. See you next week.
Monday Night RAW 10/4/2021
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
WWE draft nights are always fun, even if it doesn’t always make sense. Bianca and Flair put on a good match, unfortunately we don’t get a clean finish. The show would get a higher rating, but none of the other matches stood out.
