This week’s RAW was taped and was the final show of the ThunderDome Era. Sheamus returned from suffering a broken nose to defend the US Title against Humberto Carrillo. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley battled Xavier Woods in a non-title match. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE Money in the Bank this Sunday.
RAW Results (7/12)
- Xavier Woods def. Lashley
- Nikki Ash def. Asuka, Naomi, Alexa Bliss
- Ivar def. AJ Styles
- Omos def. Erik
- Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo to retain the United States Championship
- Ricochet def. John Morrison in a Falls Count Anywhere match
- Rhea Ripley def. Natalya
Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode of WWE RAW:
Xavier Woods def. Bobby Lashley
Xavier Woods faced WWE Champion Bobby Lashley in the first match of the night. Kofi Kingston and MVP were ringside for the match. Woods got in some offense early but Lashley showed off his power and threw him over the top rope. Lashley followed Woods to the outside and stared at Kingston before bouncing Woods’ face off the steel steps as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Xavier connected with a Superkick and followed it up with a Tornado DDT. Woods hit a Dropkick and went for the cover but Lashley powered out at two. Woods applied Crossface but Lashley broke free with a slam. Lashley planted Woods with a Chokeslam and then sent him into the ring post.
Woods fell to the floor outside the ring but Lashley dragged him back inside to break up the referee’s count. Lashley connected with a Spear and stood over him. Woods then rolled up Lashley for the pinfall victory. After the match, Lashley stormed up the ramp as New Day poked fun at MVP ringside. Lashley left the ThunderDome but MVP claimed that the WWE Champion will be in the VIP Lounge later tonight.
Eva Marie & Doudrop Were Guests On Alexa’s Playground
Alexa Bliss was in her playground and talked about how much fun it would be to win the Money in the Bank contract. Eva Marie joined with Doudrop and asked Alexa to introduce her. Bliss said she liked Doudrop’s name and the two chuckled as Eva Marie stared at them.
Bliss asked Doudrop to describe her time on RAW in one word but Eva Marie interrupted. Eva claimed she was the reason they were victorious last week and insulted the playground by calling it dingy. Eva demanded that Doudrop leave with her and she waved to Alexa while walking away.
McIntyre Got Revenge On Mahal
Jinder Mahal came to the ring with Shanky, Veer, and Drew McIntyre’s stoled sword. Mahal said he took things too far with McIntyre and wanted to give the sword back and apologize. McIntyre showed up on the tron and told Jinder to cut through the BS because he knows he is lying. Mahal revealed that sword had been broken and apologized.McIntyre revealed that he still has the real sword and that the one in the ring is a replica. Drew then started stomping on Jinder’s motorcycle and booted it over to end the segment.
Nikki ASH Picked Up A Win
Nikki Ash, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka battled in a Fatal 4 Way match tonight. Naomi hit Bliss with a Dropkick that sent her to the corner. Bliss battled back with an elbow to the face and a Crossbody for a one count. Asuka and Naomi teamed up and beat down Nikki in the corner.
Asuka and Naomi traded kicks and wound up connecting at the same time and fell to the mat. Alexa went for Sister Abigail but Nikki blocked it. Eva Marie and Doudrop started making their way down the ramp as Bliss & Nikki stared at them. Asuka sent Naomi out of the ring but turned around into a DDT from Alexa for a two count.
Bliss then waved at Doudrop and Eva got angry. Alexa started walking towards Eva and she retreated up the ramp. Alexa shouted at Eva and Doudrop attacked Bliss from behind. Doudrop sent Bliss over the barricade but she disappeared as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Asuka planted Naomi with a Running Bulldog for a two count. Naomi battled back and planted Asuka with a Suplex and then a Dropkick for a two count. Nikki connected with a Tornado DDT and went for the cover but Asuka broke it up at two. Nikki then hit Asuka with a Crossbody and went for the cover but Naomi broke it up this time.
Nikki connected with a kick that knocked Naomi to the ring apron. Asuka hit Naomi with a running knee to the face that sent her to the floor. Asuka went for the Asuka Lock but Nikki reversed it into a roll-up for the pinfall victory.
Ivar def. AJ Styles
RAW Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Omos came to the ring as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Styles blamed the Viking Raiders for costing him a spot in the MITB Ladder match this Sunday. Styles then faced Ivar in a singles match and Omos & Erik were ringside.
Styles went for a chop but Ivar shrugged it off. Ivar sent Styles to the turnbuckle and connected with a Cannonball for a near fall. Omos tried to get involved but the referee caught him. AJ capitalized on the distraction anyway with a boot to Ivar’s head.
AJ hit a DDT and went for the cover but Ivar powered out at two. Ivar battled back with a Back Body Drop and followed it up with a Splash. Styles hit a Pele Kick but Ivar hit another Splash for the pinfall victory.
Omos Dominated
Omos faced Erik tonight on RAW. Erik went on the attack early but Omos knocked him to the canvas with a lariat. Omos locked in a Bear Hug before launching Erik across the ring. Erik connected with a knee to the head but Omos bounced off the ropes and leveled him with a Clothesline. Omos hit the Chokeslam Bomb for the pinfall victory.
Sheamus Retained The US Title
Sheamus showed up in a mask and was annoyed about having to defend his United States Championship against Humberto Carrillo. Sheamus attacked Humberto during a commercial break backstage and left him laying. Damian Priest and Sheamus had a brief stare down before RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Humberto made his way to the ring and had the match. Sheamus won with a Brogue Kick right away. After the match, Sheamus attacked Humberto but retreated when Damian Priest made his way to the ring.
Ricochet def. John Morrison In A Falls Count Anywhere Match
Morrison connected with a Back Body Drop and followed it up with a Neckbreaker on the ring apron. Ricochet battled back with a German Suplex for a two count. The action spilled out of the ring and Ricochet sent Morrison over the barricade and onto the ThunderDome screens. Back in the ring, Ricochet connected with a Shooting Star Press after spring boarding off the ring post.
Ricochet slammed Morrison to the floor and hit a 450 Splash off the barricade but Morrison kicked out. Ricochet then hit a big 450 Splash off the top rope onto Morrison outside the ring as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, there was a ladder set up from the apron and the announce table. The Miz tried to get in Ricochet’s way but he leaped over him and hit a Crossbody for a two count. Ricochet hit a Hurricanrana on the stage and went for the cover but Morrison kicked out at two.
Ricochet and Morrison battled backstage and John hit a Superkick and a running knee before they returned ringside. Ricochet shoved The Miz’s wheelchair down the ramp but he did not crash. The Miz squirted Ricochet with the drip stick but then Riddle made his way to the ring on his scooter.
Riddle turned the wheelchair on it’s back and The Miz had his legs in the air. Riddle laughed at Miz as Ricochet connected with the Recoil but could not go for the cover. Ricochet slammed Morrison on the ladder and put him through it with a Splash off the top rope for the pinfall victory.
Charlotte Sent A Message To Rhea Ripley
Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya and Tamina were interviewed backstage. Natalya said she has a plan to hold all three main roster women’s titles at once. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke were laughing in a different room and Tamina was distracted by it. Mandy joked that she doesn’t like Natalya’s odds of beating Ripley tonight or winning the Money in the Bank contract. Dana Brooke added that she doesn’t like the odds of Natalya & Tamina retaining their titles. Tamina shoved Dana and told her she loves the idea of kicking their teeth down their throat.
Rhea Ripley then faced Natalya in a singles match. Ripley picked up the pinfall victory with the Riptide and posed over Natalya in the ring. Charlotte attacked Ripley from behind and got her in a Figure Four in the ropes. Flair vowed to take the RAW Women’s Championship from Ripley this Sunday at the PPV.
Lashley Vowed To Dismantle Kofi Kingston At Money In The Bank
MVP came down to the ring with the models for an episode of the VIP Lounge. MVP called Lashley to the ring and he took a long time. Lashley’s music finally hit and he made his way to the ring with a pissed off look on his face. Lashley told the models to leave and said Kofi Kingston was right.
Lashley stated that Kofi was right that MVP caused him to lose his edge. Bobby told MVP that this bullshit needs to stop now and it is back to business. Lashley added that the only thing he wants to do now is destroy every soul that tries to take the WWE Championship from him. Lashley then destroyed the VIP Lounge set and stared at MVP.
Lashley said he was going to rip Kofi Kingston in half and leave Money in the Bank as the WWE Champion. Bobby told Kofi to bring his family, friends, and the WWE Universe with him because he is going to dismantle Kingston. Lashley stated that he hopes Kofi is right to fight for his life on Sunday.