WWE RAW took place on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee at the Bridgestone Arena. This marks the first-ever Monday Night RAW that takes place on a “Leap Day.”
– RAW opens up with Triple H coming down to the ring with his World Heavyweight Championship belt. The Game cuts a promo on Roman Reigns and says everyone needs to learn not to challenge authority. Dean Ambrose interrupts and says he is the last guy Triple H wanted to face at WrestleMania. Ambrose challenges Triple H to a match for the title. Triple H says he’ll think about it and give him an answer by the end of the night. Triple H tells Ambrose he’ll be facing Alberto Del Rio later tonight.
– Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks – Draw: Charlotte and Ric Flair are at ringside. This match is for the #1 contendership for the Divas title. Sasha hits a sunset flip off the top rope onto Becky, but she falls down during the pinfall and both women have their shoulders on the mat for the three count. The referee counts to three for both and declares the match a draw.
– Backstage, Bray Wyatt cuts a promo about how his mind is the key to saving the world.
– The Miz def. Dolph Ziggler: Ziggler reverses an early attempt at the Skull Crushing Finale and gets in lots of offense. The Miz rolls up Ziggler in a small package pin out of nowhere for the quick win.
– The Vincent J. McMahon Lifetime Achievement award is in the ring, and Stephanie McMahon makes her way out to formally accept her award. Stephanie says she has to finish her acceptance speech this week, since Shane ruined it last week. The fans chant for Shane to the point that Stephanie gives up on her acceptance speech and just cuts a promo on her brother. She says eventually, everyone will respect her and Triple H.
– Rusev and Sheamus def. Kalisto & Sin Cara: The other League of Nations members are at ringside. The crowd chants “We want Lana” as Rusev beats down Sin Cara early on in the match. Sin Cara hits a nice series of high-flying moves on Rusev for a 2, which leads to both him and Kalisto flying to the outside to lay out the other League of Nations members. Back in the ring, Rusev hits a big booty on Kalisto for the 1-2-3. After the match, Del Rio beats down Kalisto, and the League celebrates in the ring.
– Backstage, Renee asks Natalya how she always looks so good. There is a Subway sub on the locker behind her. Natalya says the rotisserie chicken sub from Subway is partly how she stays in shape.
– Ryback def. Adam Rose: The Social Outcasts are at ringside. Adam Rose gets a series of kicks in on Ryback and pins, but Ryback kicks out at 2 with authority. Ryback fights out of a sleeper hold and starts grounding and pounding Rose on the mat until the ref pulls him off. Ryback hits the Shellshocked for the 3 count.
– AJ Styles & Chris Jericho def. Kofi & Big E: Before the match, The New Day cuts a promo about why they’re the most successful group in WWE. Early on, Styles and Jericho hit a pair of springboard splashes to the outside, taking out all 3 New Day members. Back in the ring, Big E and Kofi exchange tags quickly to stay fresh and beat down AJ. AJ hits the Pele kick on Big E and tags in Jericho who cleans house. Jericho hits a Lionsault on Kofi, but Big E breaks up the pin. Styles sends Big E to the outside with a flying clothesline. Kofi goes for the Trouble In Paradise, but Jericho catches him and locks him in the Walls of Jericho for the win.
– After the match, AJ says him and Jericho should be #1 contenders for the Tag Team titles. Jericho says they want a title shot next week on RAW.
– WWE chairman Vince McMahon struts down to the ring and grabs the mic. He talks about the upcoming match between Shane McMahon and The Undertaker at WrestleMania and that if Shane wins, Triple H and Stephanie would likely quit the company. Vince introduces his “instrument of destruction,” The Undertaker. The Dead Man’s music hits as he makes his way down to the ring and comes face to face with Vince. Vince starts talking, but The Undertaker grabs him by the throat and says the blood of his son is going to be on Vince’s hands. Undertaker’s music hits and he makes his way to the back. After ‘Taker goes to the back, Vince continues cutting his promo on Shane, and says Shane will lose his inheritance to Stephanie. “Shane will no longer be my son in my heart, he will just be a son of a bitch,” Vince said to close out his segment.
– Bubba Ray Dudley def. Jey Uso: As Jey Uso starts getting control of the match after a superkick, D-Von pulls out a table and throws it at Jimmy at ringside. Jey rolls to the outside and hits a superkick on D-Von. Back in the ring, Bubba hits the Bubba Bomb for 3.
– Backstage, R-Truth shuts down Goldust and tells him he doesn’t need his help. Goldust looks sad and walks away, which appears to make R-Truth remorseful.
– Big Show def. Kevin Owens: The Big Show starts off quickly with punches and a big shoulder block. At ringside, Owens throws Big Show into the turnbuckle and hits a superkick. Owens gets on the apron and hits a tornado DDT on big show onto the floor at ringside. Back in the ring, Owens goes up top but Big Show catches him and crotches him on the top rope. Owens falls outside and the referee counts him out.
– Naomi def. Brie Bella: Tamina gets involved from the outside to give Naomi the advantage. Naomi hits a running bulldog on Brie into the middle turnbuckle. Brie comes back with a series of kicks and a running knee. Tamina distracts Brie and she walks into a near-fall pin and Naomi’s new submission hold, which she taps out to. After the match, Lana’s music cuts off Naomi’s music and she comes out to the stage to laugh at Brie.
– Backstage, Sasha and Becky talk about what their draw earlier in the night means. Charlotte tells them they’ll get a second chance on SmackDown this week.
– Dean Ambrose def. Alberto Del Rio: The other League of Nations members are at ringside. In the opening moments, Del Rio takes things to ringside and beats down Ambrose on the outside. Back in the ring, Del Rio hits a clothesline off the top for a 2 count. Del Rio hangs Ambrose by his legs on the turnbuckle and goes for the stomp, but Ambrose throws Del Rio down to the mat. On the outside, Del Rio sits Ambrose on the fan barricade and stomps him down. Back in the ring, Del Rio continues the beat down until Ambrose comes back with a clothesline. Ambrose hits a missile dropkick from the top for a 2 count. Del Rio goes to the outside, and Dean Ambrose goes flying off the top all the way down to the ringside floor ontop of all the League of Nations members. Triple H comes down to the ring, and the League of Nations jumps Ambrose for behind, giving Ambrose the victory via disqualification. The League beats down Ambrose in the ring as HHH looks on in approval. The League goes to the back, and Triple H gets on the mic to talk trash to Ambrose. Ambrose hits HHH with a right hand and the two start brawling until Triple H lays him out with the pedigree. The Game gets on the mic again and tells Ambrose he’ll get his title match, but doesn’t say when. As HHH is walking to the back, Ambrose gets the mic and thanks him for the title shot.
Triple H takes his coat off, rolls up his sleeves and heads back to the ring. He throws Ambrose to ringside and beats down Ambrose on top of the announcers’ table. The Game leaves Ambrose on the table as he walks to the back and RAW goes off the air.
