The July 18th edition of WWE RAW from the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI is the last episode before the 2016 roster draft and brand split.
– Stephanie McMahon comes out to open the show and she is interrupted by Shane before she can finish her first sentence. After some arguing between the siblings, Stephanie announces the new GM for RAW: Mick Foley! Foley comes out and cuts a promo about how this reminds him of the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars. Foley says he’s going to take RAW to the future and beyond, and Shane says that Foley is a good pick. Shane introduces his new SmackDown GM: Daniel Bryan! He comes out and says he’s missed the fans, and talks about how him and Shane are going to make SmackDown beat RAW every single week. Stephanie says Daniel Bryan is only a B+ wrestler, and makes fun of Shane for sweating. Shane says she had to marry a WWE Superstar to stay relevant, and Bryan says “Yes” they will make SmackDown bigger than RAW.
– Sami Zayn and Cesaro def. Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho: Jericho controls the match against Cesaro early on, but Cesaro comes back with uppercuts. Sami and Owens fight at ringside and Cesaro and Jericho trade offense in the ring. Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer but Jericho gets out, then Zayn and Owens get the hot tags. Zayn gets the upper hand on Owens then they tag in Jericho and Cesaro. Cesaro hits a splash off the top for a 2-count, then swings Jericho. Sami Zayn gets the tag and hits a superkick on Owens then rolls up Jericho for the win.
– Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Stephanie McMahon exchange words. Daniel Bryan says he’s back like “the new Ghostbusters movie.” Stephanie says he’s more like Chucky from Child’s Play. Bryan tells her good job on ruining Monday Night RAW and goodbye.
– Darren Young def. Alberto Del Rio: The Miz and Maryse are on commentary for this one. We get back and forth action until Darren Young hits a big right hand. The Miz gets on the apron to distract him while Del Rio goes to roll him up from behind. Young escapes the pin attempt and gets Del Rio in a pin of his own for the win.
– John Cena comes out and grabs the mic to talk about tomorrow night’s draft on SmackDown, and Battleground on Sunday. Cena introduces his partners for Battleground, Enzo and Cass. Enzo cuts his usual weekly promo then get in the ring with Cena. Enzo then disses The Club and says AJ Styles has a haircut like a soccer mom. The Club comes out to interrupt and they trash talk the babyfaces. They say tonight they’re going to beat up John Cena, Enzo, Cass, and all three members of The New Day. The New Day comes out to interrupt and they cut a promo on The Club. After a few minutes of banter, The Wyatt Family makes their way out.
– The Wyatt Family & The Club def. The New Day, John Cena, and Enzo & Cass: Lots of tags in the opening minutes. Enzo Amore tags himself in and faces off against the much larger Braun Strowman. Strowman drops him with a shoulder block and Big Cass tags himself in. Strowman knocks Cena off the apron and this causes everyone to hit the ring. The smoke clears and Cass hits Strowman with a big boot then tags in Kofi. Kofi comes off the top for a splash but Strowman catches him and hits a running powerslam. AJ Styles and Cena become the legal men and AJ gets the supper hand, but he gets distracted arguing with Bray Wyatt. AJ gets Cena in a fireman’s carry into a neckbreaker onto his knee for a 2 count. Gallows and Anderson work over Cena and keep him away from his team’s corner. Cass and AJ get the tags, but Braun Strowman quickly enters the ring and lays out the babyfaces. The New Day teams up to take out Strowman and Rowan. Xavier hits a suicide dive onto the Wyatt family on the floor. The Wyatts and The New Day brawl up the ramp. Enzo accidentally clotheslines Cena, then AJ hits Enzo with the Styles Clash for the win.
– We see footage shot earlier today of Seth Rollins in the empty arena talking about why he deserves to be World Heavyweight Champion.
– Backstage, Shane McMahon congratulations Mick Foley on becoming the RAW GM. Shane tells Foley that his sister is going to try to manipulate him, and Foley says he’s well aware of how Stephanie works. Foley tells Shane he’s got talent to scout and leaves.
– Baron Corbin def. Sin Cara: Sin Cara gets in some high-flying offense early on, but Corbin gets the win very quickly with the End of Days. Corbin beats down Sin Cara after the match until Kalisto comes out for the save, then Corbin beats him down too.
– Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch def. Charlotte & Dana Brooke via DQ: Becky starts the match off in control against Dana. Natalya comes out in the opening minutes and beats down Becky at ringside. The referee calls for the bell and Charlotte and Dana continue the beat down on Becky and Sasha.
– Shane and Daniel Bryan are talking to Demon Kane in the back.
– Dean Ambrose is backstage cutting a promo on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
– Rusev & Sheamus def. Dolph Ziggler & Zack Ryder: The heels start the match off in control. Dolph Ziggler gets the hot tag and hits the Fameasser on Rusev but Sheamus breaks up the pin. Rusev comes back with a superkick and The Accolade for the win.
– They air a video promoting Randy Orton’s return at Battleground.
– Daniel Bryan and Mick Foley are talking in the back. Daniel Bryan says they should have a good working relationships, and they trade some verbal jabs. Foley tells Daniel Bryan “let the games begin.”
– Seth Rollins def. Dean Ambrose for the World Heavyweight Title: The World Heavyweight Title is on the line in this one. Stephanie, Shane, Mick Foley and Daniel Bryan are all sitting at ringside to watch. After some back and forth action in the opening minutes, with Rollins rolling to the outside for a breather more than once. Ambrose hits a flying clothesline off the apron onto Rollins at ringside. Back in the ring, Rollins takes control and works on Ambrose in the corner. Ambrose mounts a comeback and hits a Fisherman’s suplex for a near-fall. Ambrose throws Rollins to the outside then hits a suicide dive. Rollins avoids a clothesline and hits Ambrose with a powerbomb into the fan barriace, then follows up with a frogsplash in the ring for another near-fall. Rollins attempts a Pedigree but Ambrose gets out. Rollins hits a flying knee and goes for another Frogsplash off the top, but Ambrose rolls out of the way. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Rollins powerbombs Ambrose into the turnbuckle, and Ambrose comes right back with a DDT. Rollins rolls outside and Ambrose follows. Ambrose starts messing up the commentary area then puts Rollins onto the Spanish announce table. Rollins rolls off and runs back into the ring where he hits a Pedigree on Ambrose for another 2-count. Rollins hits a Superplex off the top and hooks Ambrose’s leg, but Ambrose hooks Rollins’ leg too and the referee counts to three. There’s confusion over who the referee counted for. Stephanie says that Rollins won and that brings Shane, Foley and Bryan all in the ring with them. Stephanie grabs the Title belt and a mic and announces Rollins as the new champ.