The June 17th episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. It was the final episode of RAW before WWE Stomping Grounds this Sunday. Here are 8 takeaways from the show:
Elias Had A Rough Night
Elias kicked off this show by making fun of Anthony Davis for wanting to move to Los Angeles and play for the Lakers. He added that he would rather be anywhere else than LA but he was invited here tonight by Baron Corbin. Elias took off his jacket and revealed that he was wearing a referee shirt.
Elias announced that Corbin picked him to be the special referee at Stomping Grounds. Universal Champion snuck up behind Elias and struck him several times with a steel chair. The WWE Universe chanted “burn it down!” as Rollins grabbed a microphone.
Seth shouted that he was done playing games and said that this was a message for anyone considering to be the special referee at Stomping Grounds. Rollins held up the steel chair and said that this is what awaits them on the other side.
Seth warned whoever is the special referee to choose wisely, no matter what Baron Corbin promises them. The Miz then came down to the ring for a Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match and delivered a Skull Crushing to Elias. Lashley came down the ramp and hit Elias with a Spear. Cesaro then swung Elias around the ring several times. Ricochet then planted Elias with a Codebreaker and Strowman followed that up with a Running Powerslam.
Ricochet Will Face Samoa Joe For The US Title At Stomping Grounds
The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Cesaro, Ricochet, and Braun Strowman competed in a Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match tonight on RAW. The winner of the match will face Samoa Joe at Stomping Grounds for the United States Championship.
Strowman dominated early and sent Cesaro tumbling out of the ring. The Miz tried to lock in a Sleeper Hold but Braun launched him across the ring. Cesaro showed off his insane strength and slammed Strowman to the canvas. Strowman shrugged it off and planted Cesaro with a Powerslam. Braun then slammed Lashley on top of Cesaro for the pinfall. Cesaro was the first superstar eliminated.
Braun launched Ricochet across the ring and booted The Miz in the face. Lashley planted Braun with a Suplex and then knocked Ricochet off the apron. Strowman got up and hit Lashley with a Powerslam for the pinfall. Bobby Lashley was the second superstar eliminated from the match.
Strowman hit Miz and Ricochet with a couple of shoulder tackles outside the ring. Back in the ring, Lashley and Cesaro attacked Strowman even though they eliminated. Lashley hit Braun with a Spear and Cesaro followed it up with a Neutralizer. Ricochet climbed to the top rope and connected with the 630 Splash. Cesaro and Lashley helped Ricochet pin Strowman to eliminate him.
The match was now down to The Miz and Ricochet as Samoa Joe was shown laughing outside the ring. Strowman launched Ricochet over the top rope and onto Lashley. Strowman slammed Lashley into the barricade and then launched Cesaro into the jumbotron as RAW went to a break.
Ricochet flipped onto Miz outside the ring and then brought him back inside. Ricochet went for a Clothesline but Miz caught him. Ricochet countered into a roll-up for a two count. Miz planted Ricochet for another near fall and both superstars fell to the canvas.
The Miz unloaded a flurry of It Kicks but Ricochet ducked under the last one. Miz went for a Figure Four but Ricochet countered into another roll-up for a two count. The Miz then locked in the Figure Four in the center of the ring and Ricochet screamed in pain. Ricochet countered the hold but Miz was quickly able to reverse it once again.
Ricochet reached the bottom rope and the referee broke the hold. Miz leaped at Ricochet but Ricochet countered into a Codebreaker. Ricochet then climbed to the top rope and hit a 630 Splash for the pinfall victory. Ricochet will battle Samoa Joe for the United States Championship at Stomping Grounds. Samoa Joe tried to attack Ricochet from behind but it backfired. Ricochet sent Samoa Joe out of the ring and flipped onto him.
Ricochet versus Samoa Joe has the potential to be epic this Sunday at Stomping Grounds. It was bizarre to see Cesaro helping Ricochet cover Strowman since he just attacked him after a loss on a recent episode of RAW.
Becky Lynch Sent A Message To Lacey Evans
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch came down to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Lynch demanded that Lacey Evans get out here right now because she wanted to kick her ass all over LA.
Evans came down to the ramp and claimed that nobody cares what Becky has to say. Lacey stated that she just makes Becky mad because she doesn’t understand her. Lynch poked fun at how slow Lacey talks as Evans strutted down the ramp.
Lacey claimed that Hollywood should make a movie about her because her entire life is quite a story. Evans noted that she was a United States Marine and she did it all with dignity and grace.
Evans said that dignity is what the women’s division deserves. Becky blasted Evans for attacking people from behind and called her a pile of trash. Lacey got up on the apron and called Becky a “nasty”. Lacey bragged about costing Lynch one of her titles and slowly made her way into the ring.
Lynch then planted Evans with an Exploder Suplex and left the ring wearing Evans’ hat. Becky will defend the RAW Women’s Championship against Evans this Sunday night at Stomping Grounds.
EC3 Was Embarrassed Again
Baron Corbin was interviewed backstage and stated that Elias no longer wants to be the special guest referee at Stomping Grounds after the attack by Rollins. Corbin added that he will join Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in the ring later to announce his new selection for the special referee. Rollins then attacked Corbin from behind and hit him with a steel chair.
The Sami and Kevin Show made its return tonight and Owens flipped out that they didn’t have new graphics ready. Corbin joined the party and Sami told him that this is a safe work environment. Zayn complained about Rollins attacking him last week and then attacking Elias tonight on RAW.
Sami and Kevin withdrew their names from consideration for being the special guest referee at Stomping Grounds. Corbin announced EC3 as his choice for special referee. EC3 came down to the ramp and Rollins predictably attacked him from behind with a steel chair.
New Day interrupted and Zayn demanded that they leave because they aren’t wild cards tonight. Kofi stated that he is the WWE Champion and he can do whatever he wants. Owens shouted that if Ziggler doesn’t take the title from him Sunday, then he will do it the next chance he gets.
Kingston pointed out that Owens failed to beat him at Money in the Bank. Kofi added that he is going to war with Ziggler in a Steel Cage and will retain the title. Corbin suggested a 6-man tag match and New Day used EC3’s body as a puppet to accept the challenge.
New Day then faced Zayn, Owens, and Corbin in a 2 out of 3 Falls 6-man tag match. It was announced before the match that Big E & Woods will face Zayn and Owens at Stomping Grounds.
Woods was trapped in the ring for several minutes but wound up picking up the first pinfall after rolling up Sami Zayn. Corbin took control and went to Clothesline Kingston but Kofi ducked and Baron leveled Sami. Owens got pissed off and hit Corbin with a Superkick. Kingston then connected with Trouble in Paradise on Corbin for the victory.
This entire segment represented everything wrong with the current product in my opinion. EC3 is being treated as a joke and should have just stayed in NXT. The promo ultimately led to yet another 6-man tag match that I didn’t give a damn about. Corbin continues to be presented as a bumbling idiot, instead of as a viable heel that can take the title from Rollins on Sunday.
AJ Styles Confronted Gallows & Anderson
AJ Styles had a conversation with Gallows and Anderson backstage during tonight’s RAW. Styles said that Gallows and Anderson have become complacent and asked when is the last time they won a match. Gallows and Anderson got pissed off and vowed to defeat The Usos tonight.
Gallows and Anderson controlled the match early and connected with the Boot of Doom. AJ Styles was shown watching the match backstage as Anderson connected with a Clothesline. Karl Anderson applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring and then hit another Clothesline.
Anderson posed in the ring for a bit before tagging Gallows back into the match. Jimmy Uso tagged in and The Usos hit Gallows with a double Superkick for the pinfall victory. AJ Styles was pissed off backstage after the match was over.
Roman Reigns Got Revenge On Shane McMahon & McIntyre
Roman Reigns came down to the ring to start the third hour of this week’s RAW. Shane McMahon, Drew McIntyre, and RAW Tag Team Champions The Revival had spent the previous two hours partying backstage. Heath Slater interrupted and asked Shane McMahon for a raise. Shane declined and McIntyre promptly beat the hell out of Heath.
Reigns said that he was not going to make excuses for losing at Super ShowDown because excuses do not entertain the fans. Roman challenged Shane McMahon to come down here and prove that he is a man and face him in a match. Shane appeared on the jumbotron and demanded a proper introduction from Mike Rome.
Shane told Roman that he shouldn’t be ashamed of losing to the best in the world. McMahon declined to face Reigns tonight and told him that he should be concerned with McIntyre. Drew claimed that the reason is not out there right now is because Shane told him not to. McIntyre vowed to physically assault Reigns at Stomping Grounds until it becomes very uncomfortable. McIntyre said that Reigns will go home to his children and they will scream at the sight of their disfigured father.
Roman Reigns got out of the ring and made his way backstage. The Revival tried to attack Reigns but Roman fought them off. Reigns then attacked McIntyre and slammed him through a table. Shane escaped out of the room and Reigns chased him through the crowd.
Reigns hit McMahon with a Clothesline and then slammed Shane into the barricade. Roman hit Shane with a Superman Punch in the ring and then geared up in the corner of the ring. Roman leveled Shane with a Spear and asked for a microphone. Roman told Shane to crawl to the back and inform McIntyre that he is going to beat his ass Sunday.
The IIconics Retained
The IIconics defended their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross on tonight’s show.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was ringside for the match. Bayley will defend her title against Alexa Bliss this Sunday at Stomping Grounds. Billie Kay and Bliss started the match off. Bliss sent Billie to the corner and stomped on her a few times.
Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross then tagged in. Nikki connected with an Arm Drag for a two count and then followed it up with a Jawbreaker. Cross climbed to the top rope and missed with a Crossbody. Billie tagged in and went for the cover but Nikki kicked out at two. Billie Kay rolled up Nikki for the victory as Bayley ripped Bliss off the ring apron.
Baron Corbin Attacked Seth Rollins
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan and Rowan came down to the ramp to a chorus of boos. Bryan stated that he understood why the McMahons needed to bring him to RAW as a wild card because RAW and Los Angeles sucks. Daniel claimed that LA was filled with ignorant people and that they were here to educate and excite them. Bryan vowed to destroy Universal Champion Seth Rollins later tonight.
Rollins faced Daniel Bryan in the main event of this week’s RAW. Seth sent Bryan to the outside and hit him with a Suicide Dive. Rollins then went for a Suicide Dive on Rowan but he caught him. Rowan then hit Rollins with the Iron Claw on the apron and the match ended in a DQ. Bryan hit Rollins with the Running Knee before the WWE locker room rushed the ring and a brawl broke out.
Big E Clotheslined Rowan to the outside as New Day and The Usos celebrated in the ring. The Usos then leaped onto The Revival as WWE officials came down to the ring to break things up. It was then announced that the match will restart with nobody allowed ringside.
Rollins connected with a Clothesline and both superstars fell to the canvas. Seth followed it up with a Slingblade for a two count. Seth went for an Enziguri but Bryan countered into an Ankle Lock. Bryan transitioned into a German Suplex and Rollins fell out of the ring.
Bryan connected with the Running Knee off the apron and then posed for the crowd. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a Superplex and went for the Falcon Arrow but Daniel countered into the LeBell Lock in the middle of the ring. Rollins battled through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Seth battled back with a Buckle Bomb and then a Superkick for a two count. Rollins went for a Frog Splash but Bryan countered into the LeBell Lock once again. Seth escaped and connected with an Enziguri. Rollins followed it up with The Stomp for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Baron Corbin attacked Rollins with a steel chair on the entrance ramp. Baron rolled Rollins into the ring and hit him with End of Days and raised the Universal Championship to close the show.
RAW started off on a good note this week but the show quickly went downhill. WWE Stomping Grounds is a show of rematches and it is hard to care about the event at all. The main selling point for the show is that we still don’t know who the special referee will be in the Universal Championship match.
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