United States Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs Rusev
Rusev didn’t even get an entrance. The show kicked off with Roman Reigns’ entrance and Rusev already standing in the ring. Rusev dominated the match early. All of his offense was focused on Reigns’ back. Reigns did finally get in some offense of his own, but when he tried to lift Rusev his back gave out. Rusev once again took control of the match as Raw went to commercial.
When Raw returned, Rusev was still dominating Reigns. Roman tried to battle back but Rusev hit him with a gigantic Dropkick. Rusev spent the next several minutes beating down Reigns. Eventually, Reigns hit several Clotheslines to stop Rusev’s momentum. Reigns went for the Superman Punch but Rusev caught him. Rusev then rammed Reigns into the turnbuckle and both men went tumbling out of the ring. Raw once again went to commercial.
When Raw returned from the break, Rusev was once again in control. Rusev set Reigns up on the top turnbuckle and went for a Superplex but Roman blocked it. Reigns then hit Rusev with a Clothesline off the top rope. Reigns followed it up with a Samoan Drop but Rusev kicked out at two. Rusev then went to the top rope but Reigns got up and punched Rusev in the face. Rusev hit Reigns with several kicks but Roman kicked out again.
Rusev went for the Accolade but Reigns blocked it. Reigns then hit a Superman Punch but Rusev kicked out at two. Reigns went for the Spear but Lana got up on the apron to distract him. The action spilled outside the ring and Reigns slammed Rusev’s head into the steps. Reigns and Rusev then fought in the crowd and the referee counted both men out.
After the match, Rusev and Reigns continued to fight. Rusev threw Reigns into the barricade and the ring apron. Reigns then whipped Rusev into the barricade. Reigns went for a Superman Punch but Rusev hit him in the stomach with a chair. Rusev then rolled Reigns into the ring and brought the chair with him. Rusev went to hit Reigns with a chair but Roman hit him with a Spear. Reigns then grabbed the chair and the crowd broke out in a “yes!” chant. Reigns then put down the chair and the crowd booed.Reigns sat in the chair and raised the US title. Roman then got up and hit Rusev in the back with the chair.
Reaction: The match was very slow but physical. It appears that the feud between Reigns and Rusev is far from over. Raw usually opens with an overly long promo so an actual match to kick off the show was refreshing.
Raw GM Mick Foley came down to the ring to address the WWE Universe. Foley discussed the ending of the Cesaro and Sheamus match last night at Clash of Champions. Foley then called Sheamus and Cesaro down to the ring. Both Sheamus and Cesaro were selling their injuries from last night’s match that ended in a draw.
Sheamus was heated because Foley stated that the most physically dominant Superstar would be awarded a shot a title. Cesaro then interrupted and claimed that he was tougher than Sheamus. Foley then granted both Sheamus and Cesaro a Championship oppurtunity. Foley then stated that Cesaro and Sheamus would be contending together for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Both Cesaro and Sheamus seemed disappointed in Foley’s decision.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: New Day (c) vs The Club
Kofi Kingston and Big E started out dominant. That didn’t last long as Gallows laid both of them out. Raw went to commercial with The Club in control. When Raw returned, Gallows and Anderson had Kofi trapped in their corner. Anderson hit Kingston with a massive Powerbomb but Kofi kicked out at two.
Kingston finally was able to tag in Big E and he immediately hit Anderson with a couple of Belly to Belly Suplexes. Big E then Clotheslined Gallows out of the ring. Big E went to hit Anderson in the corner but Anderson got out of the way and Big E went flying into the ring post. Big E then Speared Anderson through the second rope and out of the ring.
Kingston then was tagged and they hit the Midnight Hour on Anderson. Gallows broke up the pinfall before the referee could count to three. Big E was tagged in and Gallows threw Kofi into the steps outside the ring. Gallows and Anderson then hit the Magic Killer on Big E but Kingston broke up the pinfall. Kingston was busted open but he continued fighting. Kingston hit the Trouble in Paradise on Karl Anderson for the victory.
Winners & Still Tag Team Champions: The New Day
Reaction: The Club once again showed the aggression they put on display last night at Clash of Champions. However, they still came up short and lost their rematch for the tag titles. The New Day will be defending their titles against Cesaro and Sheamus in the near future. Cesaro and Sheamus can certainly be a dominant tag team but I would have preferred to see them vying for either the United States Championship or the Universal Championship.
Sheamus and Cesaro were shown arguing backstage and Foley interrupted. Foley claimed that Cesaro and Sheamus were amazing Superstars and together they could change the face of tag team wrestling. Foley begged Cesaro and Sheamus to give it a try and apparently they will have a match later tonight on Raw.
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Bayley vs Anna Fields
This was a squash match. Bayley got the quick victory with the Bayley to Belly. After the match, Bayley stated that the WWE Universe on this journey with her and that she is chasing the Women’s Championship.
Winner: Bayley
Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley had a discussion backstage. Foley stated that he stepped away for a couple of minutes to check on Cesaro and that the whole main-event went to hell. Foley questioned Stephanie’s motives for bringing out another referee just in time for Kevin Owens to pick up the pinfall. Foley also questioned Stephanie McMahon about leaving the arena with Triple H.
Stephanie then went off on Foley. She stated that it was Foley’s job as Raw GM to bring out another referee. Stephanie claimed that Foley was out of line for questioning her and that Foley needs to do his job better. Stephanie stated that Seth Rollins is not medically cleared to compete tonight and that it is Foley’s job to make sure he doesn’t go after Owens and Jericho. Stephanie then told Foley to think like a businessman and to never forget who he works for. Foley apologized and walked away.
Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann vs Drew Gulak & Lince Dorado
The match started off back and forth. Dorado hit a moonsault onto everyone outside the ring and Raw went to a commercial. When Raw returned, Alexander was in control. Alexander hit Dorado with an incredible looking Lumbar-Check. Swann tagged himself in because Gulak slammed Alexander to the mat near his corner. Rich Swann then hit Gulak with a massive kick and pinned him for the victory.
Winners: Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann
Reaction: The Cruiserweight match was very entertaining. Stephanie McMahon berating Foley was also quite amusing. I’m still holding out hope that Stephanie is not working with Triple H to keep Kevin Owens the Universal Champion. That would be way too obvious and I don’t anyone wants to see The Authority return. Unfortunately, it seems like that will happen and Raw will revert to 30 minute promos to open every show. Another complain I have about this week’s Raw so far is that Foley is constantly on the screen. Foley is entertaining but I don’t need to see him every five minutes.
Sheamus & Cesaro vs Nick Cutler & Willis Williams
Cesaro and Sheamus were constantly trying to one-up each other during this match. Cesaro is now sporting a ridiculous amount of tape on his back and shoulders. Cesaro and Sheamus won this match easily.
Winners: Cesaro & Sheamus
Reaction: Time will tell if this works out but right now it is pretty lame.
Charlotte and Dana Brooke came down to the ring. Charlotte claimed that she was the face of the division and bragged about her victory last night of Clash of Champions. Sasha Banks interrupted and demanded a rematch for the Women’s Championship. The crowd broke out in a “yes!” chant and Charlotte called the crowd peasants and instructed them to be quiet.
Charlotte then accepted Sasha’s challenge but stated that the match will take place next week on Raw in Los Angeles.. Sasha then slapped Charlotte in the face and locked in the Bank Statement on Dana Brooke. Charlotte got back up but Banks tossed her out of the ring.
Seth Rollins was shown backstage arguing with Foley. Rollins claimed that he saw Stephanie McMahon get in the limo with Triple H and that nothing will prevent him from interfering during the Highlight Reel segment with Jericho and Owens. Foley tried to talk Rollins out of it but Seth said that he could see Foley’s lips moving but all he could hear was Stephanie’s words coming out.
Tony Nese vs T.J. Perkins
The match started off back and forth. Tony Nese hit a very impressive flip on Perkins outside the ring.
When Raw returned from a commercial break, Perkins had a submission hold locked in but Nese battled out of it. Perkins hit a Hurricanra on Nese. The crowd decided to chant “CM Punk!” instead of giving the match a chance.
Perkins went for a Tornado DDT but Nese countered and laid Perkins out with a vicious knee. Perkins fought back and locked in the Knee Lock for the submission victory.
Winner: T.J. Perkins
Reaction: Fans want the WWE to build new stars but chant CM Punk and Randy Savage whenever someone new is presented on television. It is embarrassing. Perkins and Nese put on a solid match in the limited time they were given.
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Highlight Reel w/ Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens
Jericho started it off by telling the crowd to be quiet about 15 times. Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson will be on Raw next week and Jericho threatened to put them on the list. Jericho then yelled at the camera man for not shooting him at the correct angle and added him to the list. Jericho also added Seth Rollins to the list.
Kevin Owens joined Jericho in the ring and complimented the Highlight Reel set. Owens stated that he was going to wear a suite in Cincinnati because it is the city that spawned Dean Ambrose. Kevin Owens claimed that last night at Clash of Champions he proved that he is the man.
Seth Rollins interrupted but was prevented from getting in the ring by security. Owens then told Foley to get Rollins out of here. Rollins had no choice but to go to the back and Owens scolded him from afar. Enzo and Cass then interrupted and Jericho added them to the list.
Big Cass then called Jericho Santa Claus. Jericho responded that maybe he was Santa Claus and that maybe he will come down there and sit on his lap. Jericho then claimed that he never said that and that he stated that he would punch Big Cass in the face. This all eventually led to a tag team match.
Enzo & Cass vs Jericho & Owens
Jericho and Enzo started off the match. Jericho handed Owens his scarf and Owens tossed it away. Enzo hit Jericho with a Dropkick and went for a pinfall but Jericho kicked out. Owens got tagged in and demanded that Big Cass be tagged in. Cass trapped Owens in the corner and landed a few punches. Enzo then got tagged in and Cass launched Enzo onto both Owens and Jericho outside the ring.
Owens tagged in Jericho and Cass immediately hit him with a Sidewalk Slam. Cass then hit a Sidewalk Slam on Kevin Owens. Owens was in control of the match when Raw went to commercial. When Raw returned, Big Cass was in control. Big Cass tagged in Enzo and Owens tagged in Jericho.
Enzo had Jericho trapped in the corner and took a break to dance around the ring. Enzo laid out Jericho with a Clothesline and followed it up with a Crossbody off the top rope. Enzo became distracted with Kevin Owens and Jericho went for a roll-up but Enzo kicked out. Owens launched Enzo into the barricade outside the ring.
Owens mocked Enzo by dancing on the ring apron. Owens then stomped on Enzo’s hand in the ring. Owens and Jericho had Enzo trapped in their corner and they took turns beating him down. Jericho hit Enzo with a Suplex and managed to dish out a little trash talk at the same time.
Jericho went for a Superplex off of the top rope but Enzo blocked it. Enzo knocked Jericho to the mat and went to jump onto him but Jericho hit him with a Dropkick. Owens was tagged in and hit Enzo with a Body Slam and a Senton. Owens then tagged in Jericho and Enzo tried to fight back. His momentum was halted when Jericho hit him with an Elbow and sent him falling to the mat. Jericho went for the Lionsault but Enzo got his knees up.
Enzo finally tagged in Cass and Jericho tagged in Owens. Big Cass hit Owens with a slam and hit Jericho with a boot to the face. Cass hit Owens with the Empire Elbow. Cass went to jump on Owens in the corner but Owens moved out of the way and kicked Cass in the face. Cass responded with a kick to the face of Owens. Cass hit Jericho with a boot and both men fell to the outside of the ring. Owens hit Enzo with a massive Clothesline and followed it up with the Pop-up Powerbomb for the victory.
Winners: Kevin Owens & Chris Jericho
Reaction: This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw was a forgettable one. There weren’t any stand out matches and a lot of tonight’s show was story progression. The Foley and Stephanie McMahon story continued but nothing significant happened. There was also no appearances by Braun Strowman, Nia Jax or Bo Dallas but squash matches still took place. The main event felt insignificant and was most likely a result of Rollins not being able to perform on the show.
What did you think of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw? Let us know in the comments below.