Does anyone else feel that Monday Night RAW is in a holding pattern, even though Backlash is only two week away? Seth Rollins is relishing in his role of the Monday Night Messiah, but we have seen this before. As for the Universal Title, does anyone think that Bobby Lashley is actually going to take the belt from Drew McIntyre? The same can be said about Nia Jax and Asuka. At least there’s some crowd noise in the performance center.
The Monday Night Messiah makes his way to the ring with Austin Theory and Murphy in tow. The disciples take seats at ringside, ready for their leader to deliver his sermon. Rollins will enlighten Aleister Black, tonight. As for Rey Mysterio, he doesn’t think Rey will be able to announce his own retirement, so Seth will handle that for him. Seth repeats that Rey was sacrificed for the greater good of Monday Night RAW. Seth says he will honor the end of Rey’s career with a video package. Rollins calls Rey a first ballot Hall of Famer and when his time comes, Seth says it will be an honor to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Aleister Black vs. Seth Rollins w/Austin Theory and Murphy
Black storms the ring, attack Seth before the bell. The ref settles things down going into the commercial break. After the break, Rollins is knocked out of the ring. Murphy and Theory help Rollins collect himself. Black goes after him on the floor. Rollins retreats into the and is able to catch Black with a drop kick. Rollins with a knee strike that sends Black to the floor. Seth follows with a suicide dive, sending Black into the barricade. Back in the ring, Black and Rollins trade counters. Black is knocked out of the ring, again. Rollins distracts the ref as Theory and Murphy approach. Humberto Carrillo runs down with chair in hand. Rollins calls the disciples off as we go to commercial.
After the break, Rollins comes up empty on a drop kick. Black with a kick to the face and Rollins responds with a sling blade. Black dodges a knee strike and unloads on Rollins. Black sweeps the leg and follows with a low drop kick. Black gets a near fall after a moonsault off the ropes. Rollins runs into a kick and Black follows with a bridging German Suplex. Seth kicks out at two. Rollins hits the Falcon Arrow and Black kicks out. Rollins goes up top for the frog splash; Black gets his knees up to block. The two men fight on the ring apron, trading blows. Black kicks Seth into the post and Black follows with another moonsault. We go to another commercial.
After the break, Seth is able to connect with the frog splash, but it doesn’t get him a pin. Black evades the stomp and locks in an arm bar. Rollins fights his way out; hitting a power bomb. Rollins looks for his opportunity, but leaps right into a knee strike. Black lifts Rollins up, only to have Theory and Murphy jump to the apron. Carrillo goes after them, but loses the numbers game. Rollins with a roll up, but Black kicks out. Aleister with a cover of his own and he is able to get the three count.
Winner via pinfall: Aleister Black
After the bell, Rollins orchestrates him disciple’s destruction of Carrillo and Black. Rollins stomps Humberto into the mat, as Aleister is forced to watch. Rollins then stomps Black, as Murphy and Theory hold him down.
Tom Phillips announces the return of “RAW Talk” and the new free version of the WWE Network.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Angel Garza and Zelina Vega. First, they take a look and Garza attacking Kevin Owens before the match last week. Vega starts to tear into Charly, but Garza tells her he has this. Angel uses his charms on Charly and it works. He ends the interview by giving her a rose. Vega swipes it and rips it up in front of her.
Shawn Michaels predicts Edge will win in the Greatest Wrestling Match ever versus Randy Orton.
Backstage, Lana is reading MVP the riot act. He tells her that he has work to do, unlike her. He doesn’t have time for her drama. Lana calls him a leech; trying to revive his career. He insinuates that she is doing the same thing. Lana slaps him.
The new United States Champion, Apollo Crews, is in the ring with Kayla Braxton. He tells her that he is feeling good. Tonight, he will face a challenger of his choice. Apollo tells her that there is a long list of superstars that deserve a chance, but this star deserves it the most. That superstar is Kevin Owens, who makes his way to the ring. He thanks Apollo for the chance, but feels this is a pity choice. Crews calls it respect. Owens feels bad that Apollo’s first title reign is going to be a short one.
Apollo Crews (champion) vs. Kevin Owens (challenger) – United States Championship Match
So much for the rumor that this spot was going to an NXT call up. Crews catches Owens coming off the ropes with a drop kick. The two spill to the floor. Owens with a senton off the apron. He rolls Crews into the ring and goes up top. He connects with another senton. Owens with a kick, that accidentally catches Crews below the belt. The ref backs Owens off, who asks Crews if he is good. The right hands Apollo throws at him answers that question as we go to break.
After the commercials, Owens chops away at the champ. Crews with a big boot, following with a power slam. Owens escapes an Olympic slams and nails a super kick. KO follows with a moonsault, but can’t get the pin. Crews with an enziguiri and hits the Olympic slam. He keeps up the pressure with a standing moonsault, but can’t get the pin. Apollo with a splash in the corner. Owens sidesteps another splash and takes the champ down with a super kick. Crews blocks a moonsault by getting his knees up. Angel Garza and Andrade hit the ring, attacking Crews and Owens. They deliver a beat down and knock both men to the floor.
No Contest
I smell a tag team match brewing.
Apollo Crews and Kevin Owens vs. Andrade and Angel Garza w/Zelina Vega
The match is in progress coming out of the commercial break. Garza drop kicks Crews out of mid-air. Andrade tags in and connecting with a low drop kick. Crews escapes the Wing Clipper and gets the tag to Owens. Garza can’t tag out fast enough. He does hit Owens with a cheap shot, though. Andrade locks in a single leg crab. KO is able to break free, but can’t get to his corner. Owens with an inverted atomic drop and then a senton. Garza distracts Owens, allowing Andrade to hit a drop kick. Owens is able to tag in Crews. Andrade hits him with a snap suplex, but Apollo counters a second one with the Olympic Slam. Garza takes out Owens on the apron. Crews kicks Garza into the announce table. Andrade goes for a roll up, but can’t get the pin even with his feet on the ropes. Crews hits Andrade with the toss power bomb and covers to get the win.
Winners via pinfall: Apollo Crews and Kevin Owens
Kayla Braxton welcomes RAW Women’s Champion Asuka to the interview area. Asuka says she will take care of the bully, Nia Jax, at Backlash. As for Charlotte, the empress never bows down to anyone.
We’ve seen them shoot hoops, throw axes, play some putt-putt, but tonight the Street Profits and Viking Raiders take to the lanes. According to WWE, the Profits are up 2 to 1. After tonight, the Raiders say it will be all tied up. And they might be right as Ford and Dawkins throw nothing but gutter balls. Erik and Ivar order a round of drinks. Dawkins is disgusted to find out that it’s goats milk. Ivar finds a turkey leg in the ball return. The Viking Raiders start showing off with trick shots. Ivar decides to hit the snack bar, well, more like raid the kitchen. They don’t get kicked out, because Ivar is cute. Erik, not so much.
The Street Profits turn things around with some good old fashioned Rock and Bowl. It not enough though, as Ivar gets a strike to win 131-130.
The IIConics are at the throats of Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss backstage.
Billie Kay w/Peyton Royce vs. Nikki Cross w/Alexa Bliss
Cross gives Billie a tour of the ring by slamming her into each turnbuckle. After a quick meeting with Peyton, Billie connect with the big boot, Shades of Kay. She covers, but Nikki kicks out at two. Kay with a suplex. Nikki runs into a discuss clothesline. Kay still can’t get a pin. She follows with a back breaker and then drops an elbow. Cross kicks out of another pin. Billie screams at the ref for an inconsistent count. Nikki connects with forearm shots. Cross with a splash in the corner, followed by a bulldog. She goes up top, but crashes and burns on the cross body block. Kay with a sit out spinebuster off the miss. She covers and is able to finally get the three count.
Winner via pinfall: Billie Kay
Charly Caruso gets a word with Universal Drew McIntyre, who has been expecting her. Drew is ready to dish out some Claymores to MVP and even Lashley. He will take anyone who wants a shot to Claymore country.
Rey Mysterio joins us via satellite. He tells the announce team that doesn’t know when he will be back. Joe asks him if this is a retirement announcement. Rey doesn’t know, because he doesn’t know if he will be medically cleared. He does know that Seth carries a lot of negativity, which his a burden. Seth made a clear decision. Dominic Mysterio joins his father and wants to do something. Rey thanks everyone for reaching out to him. Rey’s calls out Rollins for what he has put his family through. Rey leaves, but Dominic sticks around with a message for Rollins. An eye for an eye.
24/7 Title
Last week, R Truth called out 24/7 Champion Rob Gronkowski. Early today, in Foxboro, Massachusetts Gronk was filming a Tik Tok. R Truth posed as a gardener and was able to roll up Gronk and get the pin. Truth runs off, as Gronk now has better things to do, like play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Winner…and new 24/7 Champion…via pinfall: R Truth
Nia Jax vs. Kairi Sane
Before the match, Nia claims that she didn’t start this. She has been repeatedly attacked by Asuka and Kairi. It’s all smoke and mirrors, just like Asuka’s title. At Backlash she is going to expose Asuka for what she is.
Backstage, Asuka cheers on her friend. Kairi slaps on a sleeper hold and holds on for dear life. Jax starts to fade. Kairi follows with axe kicks and a spinning back fist. She climbs the turnbuckle, but get caught with a head butt. Kairi counters with a DDT, but Nia powers out of the pinfall. Kairi with the sliding elbow in the corner. Jax rolls to the floor and catches Kairi attempting a baseball slide. She slams Sane head first into the ring steps. She rolls Kairi back into the ring and drops the leg. She covers and gets the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Nia Jax
After the match, Asuka runs down and faces off with Jax, who decides to just back out of the ring.
Randy Orton has a response for Edge. He’s been watching the WWE Network; the one thing that every WWE Superstar has in common is that they think Ric Flair is the greatest. Last week, though, he saw Ric Flair say that Randy Orton is the greatest ever to lace up a pair of boots. Edge has also said the same. He also said that Randy didn’t have a passion. Orton tells Edge that he is right. Orton admits to phoning it in and he has accomplished more than anyone. Edge had to scratch and claw to get where he is. All Orton did was show up. Orton will prove he is better at Backlash. Orton is going to rewrite Edge’s story and it will end with three letters; R.K.O.
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka – Champion versus Champion Match
Before the match, Flair grabs a microphone. She wants one of the NXT women in the crowd to step up like Io Shairi or Rhe Ripley, just so she can make them bow down. Flair then talks about Asuka; listing her accomplishments. Flair thinks the Empress wants to be like the Queen.
The two swap holds to start the match. Flair fights off the Asuka lock. She slams Asuka in the corner. Flair is whipped in the corner, but is able to dodge the hip attack. Flair works over the knee, softening Asuka up for the figure four. The RAW champion fires off with an elbow, but Charlotte fires right back. Asuka starts blocking punches and fires off with strikes of her own. Flair with a shot to the knee to slow Asuka down. Asuka catches Flair with a high kick and both women are down. Asuka with a German suplex and follows with a shining wizard. Flair kicks out of the pin.
Asuka misses on a flying cross body, but is able to lock in an arm bar. Flair tries to break free and Asuka transitions into the triangle. Flair turns the tables, countering into a Boston crab. Asuka breaks free and locks in a knee bar. Flair gets to her feet and hits a German suplex. Asuka with a flying arm bar and has it locked in. She transitions into a triangle. Flair breaks the hold with a power bomb. Asuka gets the ropes to fight off the figure four. A big boot sends Asuka to the floor and her music hits. Nia Jax walks out wearing Asuka’s mask and face paint. Asuka is distracted long enough to get counted out. When the bell rings, Jax blows up the distracted Asuka.
Winner via count out: Charlotte Flair
Charly Caruso welcomes Lana to the interview area, wanting to know about her contentious relationship with MVP. Lashley doesn’t want her at ringside, because her beauty is too distracting. Caruso floats the idea that maybe MVP is behind it. Lana finds a loophole, and will be going to ringside for MVP’s match.
Drew McIntyre vs. MVP w/Lashley – Non-Title Match
Well, there’s less then five minutes left in the show, so I don’t think this is going to be a five star classic. Before the bell rings, Lana makes her entrance. She sashays to the ring and joins her husband. Lashley looks confused. McIntyre pounds MVP into the corner and then chops away at him. A clothesline sends MVP to the mat. He follows up with the Glasgow kiss. Lashley distracts Drew, allowing MVP to blast him into the ring post. MVP hits a big boot in the ring. McIntyre with a big boot of his own. He climbs the turnbuckle and drops MVP with a fist. Lashley pulls MVP out of the ring. McIntyre flies over the top rope, taking out both men. The champ counts down and connects with the Claymore kick. He covers and gets the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Drew McIntyre
After the bell, Lashley storms the ring. He locks McIntyre in the full nelson as the show goes off the air.
