WWE is just two days removed from Night of Champions where Seth Rollins was crowned the new World Heavyweight Champion. This episode of Raw will be the first show with Rollins officially being the face of the brand. Tonight’s Raw will also feature the first few Money in the Bank ladder match qualifiers.
We now head to the action!
Raw was kicking off with the brand-new champion and Rollins looked fantastic with all that gold wrapped around his waist. The crowd was on fire for Rollins, singing his theme song louder than ever. He welcomed everyone to ‘Monday Night Rollins’, and the crowd broke out you deserve it chants. Rollins then said it’s been a long road, but standing there as World Heavyweight Champion just feels right.
He said Raw finally has a champion that wants to be there, is going to be there and is ready for a fight. No matter who steps to him he said every Monday will remain the same and he will always have the title around his waist. Rollins was then interrupted by the man he defeated on Saturday, AJ Styles, he said he could not resist coming to Raw to congratulate Rollins.
Styles said he left it all in the ring on Saturday and that Seth doesn’t deserve anything because Seth earned the right to be world champion. They both showed their respect and shook hands, but then out came Judgement Day. Finn Bálor said all that respect makes him want to puke, and Rhea Ripley then said J-Day runs Monday Night Raw. The entire faction then began gloating about all their “accomplishments” and Rhea said Seth can’t get comfortable with the title because a member of J-Day could beat him.
Dominik then made the decision to challenge Rollins and Styles in tonight’s main event, which Rollins happily accepted on behalf of Styles and himself.
Money in the Bank qualifier: Ricochet vs. The Miz
Ricochet was showcasing his high-flying early on with a perfect moonsault, but Miz used his experience to catch Ricochet when he least expected it. Miz then showed his own high-risk skills hitting Ricochet with a springboard crossbody, a move I don’t think anyone knew he could do. However, in the end, it was Ricochet hitting a roundhouse kick followed by a shooting star press to get the win.
Winner: Ricochet
Trish Stratus was next to make her way to the ring, and she is coming off her big victory over Becky Lynch with the help of Zoey Stark. She was out to tell the crowd I told you so because she told everyone prior to Night of Champions that she was going to beat Lynch. Trish said this is nothing new for her because she is the greatest of all time and she is number one. She is now hoping that Lynch will go home and make space for better superstars like Stark, who reminds Trish of herself.
Stark then made her way out to the ring, and she said she came into the WWE to make a statement. She said she could’ve taken the long road to success, but instead, she chose to become the mentee of the best in the world, Trish Stratus. Stark then told Trish exactly what she wanted to hear, “Thank you, Trish!”
Lynch then interrupted this duo to tell Stark she is going to ruin her life and that she wants to restart her match with Trish right now. Unfortunately for Lynch, the numbers game was not in her favor and she was now getting beaten down by Trish and Stark. They left Lynch out cold in the corner and draped a Thank You Trish shirt over the top of her.
Indus Sher w/Jinder Mahal vs. Local Competition
Veer and Sanga made quick work of their opponents and destroyed them in no time.
Winners: Indus Sher w/Jinder Mahal
The Undisputed Tag Team Champions, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens retained their titles this weekend and The Bloodline crumbled in front of them. So, tonight when Sami and KO were out to address the crowd KO wore an Uso shirt. Sami said they are feeling good after their victory and they won because they got to watch Roman Reign’s world fall apart.
Before Sami could say anymore, some new challengers stepped up as Imperium made their way out. Ludwig Kaiser said Sami and KO’s win was only the second most impressive win at Night of Champions, behind Gunther’s successful defence of the Intercontinental title. Sami said he doesn’t know why they were out here when the last time they faced each other, it was Imperium that lost. Kaiser said it is because they are embarrassments and that KO and Sami don’t deserve to represent Monday Night Raw.
As Kaiser tried to continue talking he was now interrupted by a very long SHOOOOOOOOSH from Chade Gable. Alpha Academy was scheduled to face Imperium and they want to get the match started right now!
Alpha Academy vs. Imperium
Gable was in full control to start this match, and he was taking out both Kaiser and Vinci of Imperium single-handedly. Imperium did eventually get control over Gable, but then Otis was tagged in and he quickly hit Kaiser with a caterpillar. Vinci was able to knock Otis out of the ring and then Imperium hit Gable with the uppercut-power bomb combo to get the victory.
Winners: Imperium
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Raquel Rodriguez & Shotzi vs. Bayley & Iyo Sky vs. Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler
The entire women’s tag division is honestly a joke, and this match was another example of that. We were sent into a commercial break after Shotzi took out all her opponents with a suicide dive. After the break, Rodriguez was facing off with Ronda Rousey and it was Rodriguez’s strength giving her the advantage. This match was ultimately come down to Shotzi and Rousey, Shotzi went for her top rope senton and was caught by Rousey in an arm bar with no choice but to submit.
Winners: NEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
Dolph Ziggler vs. JD McDonagh
McDonagh, the newcomer to Raw got on the bad side of Ziggler when he attacked him following a battle royal a few weeks ago. Tonight, McDonagh showed us all how vicious he can really be and he beat down Ziggler right from the jump. The match ended in a double count-out because he was driving Ziggler’s head into the steel steps and after the match, he continued the beatdown.
Winner: Double countout
Cody Rhodes lost this past Saturday to Brock Lesnar after he passed out due to being locked in a kimura lock for so long. Rhodes said he is aware that he lost, but he said he never tapped out and he lost due to referee stoppage. He then quoted John Cena by saying, “Never give up,” and he then had a question for Brock Lesnar. He asked Lesnar if he is satisfied with this result because they are now 1-1 and he is issuing one more challenge to the beast. He said it does not matter where he is or when it is, anytime he will be in a ring he will be ready to face Brock Lesnar. Rhodes then said Lesnar was beast enough to break his arm, but not man enough to make him tap out.
Money in the Bank qualifier: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bronson Reed
Reed was overpowering Nakamura from the jump, but it was Nakamura outsmarting Reed and dropping him with a knee on the apron. After a brief commercial break, Reed was turning Nakamura inside out with a lariat. Nakamura then got himself back into it and hit Reed with two Kinshasas, but Reed rolled to the outside. Reed beat the count just to be hit with another Kinshasa and Nakamura got the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
AJ Styles & Seth Rollins vs. Damian Priest & Finn Bálor
J-Day tricked out Rollins to start the main event, they made it seem as though Dom was in the match and Bálor attacked him from behind. Dom tried to interfere later in the match and while he was distracting Styles, Priest ran through Styles sending him over the announce table. At one point even Ripley tried to get involved, but Rollins got her caught and she was ejected from ringside, Dom was ejected too.
Styles was then able to hit Priest with a Pelé kick and tag in Rollins who came in on fire hitting Priest with a running knee and Bálor with a superkick. He could not stay in the driver’s seat for long, as J-Day was able to double-team Rollins. It seemed like Priest was closing in on a victory after hitting Styles with a Razor’s Edge, but Rollins broke up the count by hitting Priest with a Stomp. Styles then tagged Rollins back in and he hit a second Stomp on Priest for the victory.
