WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome in Tampa, Florida. Riddle, AJ Styles, and Drew McIntyre battled in a Last Chance Money in the Bank Qualifying Match in this week’s main event. Orton was originally scheduled to be in the match but was ruled out. Jaxson Ryker also faced Elias in a Strap Match tonight.
RAW Results (6/28)
- Riddle won the Battle Royal and will replace Randy Orton tonight in the Qualifying Match
- Nikki Cross def. Shayna Baszler
- Eva Marie & Doudrop def. Asuka & Naomi
- Ricochet vs. John Morrison ended in a double count out
- Charlotte, Natalya, Tamina def. Dana Brooke, Mandy Rose, Rhea Ripley
- Jaxson Ryker def. Elias in a Strap Match
- Drew McIntyre def. Riddle & AJ Styles to qualify for the MITB Ladder Match
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Riddle Will Replace Randy Orton In The Last Chance MITB Qualifying Match
Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville kicked off the show from backstage. They announced that Randy Orton is unable to compete tonight due to circumstances out of their control. There will be a Battle Royal tonight to determine who will take Orton’s place in the original scheduled last chance Qualifying Match (Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. Drew McIntyre). Riddle showed up with a letter he claimed was written by Orton. The letter said to give Riddle the spot in the qualifying match. Sonya and Pearce don’t believe Riddle and he then said he wants to be in the Battle Royal before riding off.
Shelton eliminated Gulak early but then got eliminated by Jinder Mahal. Mustafa Ali eliminated Garza and then threw Mansoor over the top rope after arguing with him. Jinder eliminated Tozawa and R-Truth and then Gulak pinned Tozawa to become the new 24/7 Champion. R-Truth then won the title only to lose it back to Tozawa. Omos made his way to the ring and eliminated the Viking Raiders as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, it was down to Damian Priest, Jeff Hardy, Cedric Alexander, Jinder Mahal, and Riddle. Priest quickly eliminated Mahal and traded punches with Hardy. Jeff hit Riddle and Priest with a Twist of Fate but Cedric eliminated him. Damian connected with Hit the Lights on Cedric and sent him over the top rope.
Riddle hit Priest with a German Suplex and applied a Sleeper Hold. Damian escaped and leveled Riddle with a Clothesline. They then battled to the apron and Riddle got back in the ring. Riddle hit a knee to the face to eliminate Priest. Riddle will now battle AJ Styles and Drew McIntyre later tonight in the Last Chance Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. Riddle posed like Orton after the victory.
Nikki Cross def. Shayna Baszler
Nikki Cross was interviewed backstage after Lucha House Party complimented her on the new superhero gimmick. Cross said she now has the courage to show up and delivered some inspiring words about how everyone has it inside of them. Nikki referred to herself as Nikki A.S.H. (Nikki Almost a Superhero)
Cross then squared off with Shayna Baszler. Nia Jax and Reginald were ringside. Baszler started off the match in control and connected with a shoulder tackle. Shayna followed it up with a Powerslam and bounced Nikki’s face off the turnbuckle. Nikki battled back with a Dropkick that knocked Baszler to the floor in front of Nia & Reginald. Alexa Bliss interrupted and came down to the entrance ramp with Lilly shown on the Jumbotron. Nikki capitalized on the distraction with a Crossbody onto Reginald, Nia, and Shayna as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Cross connected with a Tornado DDT. Alexa then kicked Reginald and Nia Jax before leaving. Nikki battled back and rolled up Baszler (La Casita) for the pinfall victory.
Kofi Kingston Attacked MVP
Kofi Kingston came down to the ring and said that he hated he couldn’t do anything to help Xavier Woods last week as he was trapped inside the Hell in a Cell with Lashley and MVP. Kofi added that Woods showed what kind of competitor he is and it is time for everyone to put respond on Woods’ name. Kingston said Lashley won fair and square last week but what he did to Woods after the match was not okay.
Kingston vowed to take everything away from Lashley and win the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank. MVP and the models interrupted and MVP laughed at the idea of Kingston defeating Lashley at the PPV. MVP said Lashley was on vacation but wanted him to say that he enjoyed what he did to Woods last week and Woods deserved it.
MVP claimed that what Lesnar did to Kingston will be nothing compared to what Lashley does to him at Money in the Bank. Kingston poked fun at MVP for milking a knee injury for six months and MVP said that he hasn’t been cleared yet, and if he was he would come down to the ring and kick Kofi’s ass. Kingston rushed up the entrance ramp and leveled MVP with Trouble in Paradise. Kofi stood over MVP as the and yelled at him to end the segment.
Eva Marie & Doudrop Picked Up A Win
Asuka & Naomi faced Eva Marie & Doudrop tonight on RAW. Naomi connected with a kick on Doudrop and tagged in Asuka. Asuka hit a Dropkick off the top rope that knocked Doudrop to the canvas. Asuka hit a Hip Attack and followed it up with a kick to the head. Asuka got the Asuka Lock applied but Doudrop broke out of it. Doudrop went for the tag but Eva Marie hopped off the apron. Doudrop hit Asuka with a Senton, knocked Naomi off the apron and hit a Crossbody on Asuka for the pinfall victory.
Ricochet vs. John Morrison Ended In A Double Count Out
John Morrison faced Ricochet tonight on RAW. Ricochet sprayed them both with a dripstick before the match.
Ricochet controlled the action early and connected with a Body Slam. Ricochet followed it up with a Dropkick that knocked Morrison out of the ring. The Miz rolled in the way but Ricochet leaped off him and hit a Frankensteiner. Ricochet grabbed the dripstick from Miz and sprayed him again as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Ricochet hit an elbow to the face and then a Clothesline for a near fall. Morrison hit a knee to the face and went for Starship Pain but Ricochet got out of the way. The action spilled out of the ring and Ricochet hit an insane Crossbody on Morrison over the barricade. Both superstars couldn’t make it back to the ring and the match ended in a double count out.
Charlotte, Tamina, Natalya Picked Up A Win
Charlotte Flair, Tamina, Natalya faced Rhea Ripley, Dana Brooke, Mandy Rose tonight on RAW. Before the match, Charlotte praised Natalya and Tamina backstage. The Women’s Tag Team Champions said it was time to give Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke their receipts.
Natalya went for the Sharpshooter early but Mandy Rose was able to escape. Dana tagged in and connected with a Clothesline for a near fall. Tamina tagged in and Dana hit her with a Dropkick. Charlotte tagged in and continued to beat Brooke down. Charlotte taunted Ripley until eventually the RAW Women’s Champion was able to tag in.
Ripley attacked Flair and leveled her with a Clothesline. Natalya tagged in and rolled up Rhea for a two count. Mandy and Dana beat Natalya down until Tamina broke it up. Ripley attacked Tamina but Charlotte caught Rhea with a chop block to the knee. Charlotte tagged in and Mandy didn’t see it. Mandy hit Natalya with a knee to the head but turned around into a big boot from Charlotte for the pinfall victory. After the match, Ripley got some revenge and hit Flair with a chop block and taunted her.
Jaxson Ryker def. Elias In A Strap Match
Jaxson Ryker battled Elias in a Strap Match this week. Elias went right after Ryker and beat him down in the corner. The action spilled to the outside and Elias whipped Jaxson with the strap before launching him into the steel steps. Ryker battled back and sent Elias into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Ryker whipped Elias with the strap several times. Elias hit a knee to the face and went for the cover but Ryker powered out at two. Jaxson beat Elias down some more and then connected with a Side Slam for the pinfall victory.
Drew McIntyre Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
AJ Styles, Riddle, and Drew McIntyre battled in a Last Chance MITB Qualifying Match. McIntyre leveled Riddle with a boot to the face and sent Styles to the corner. McIntyre hit a couple Belly to Belly Suplexes and leveled Styles with a Clothesline. Riddle planted Styles with a Suplex on the floor outside the ring but then was on the receiving end of a Suplex from McIntyre. AJ caught Drew with an Enziguri and then teamed up with Riddle to slam McIntyre through the announce table as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Styles and Riddle were battling in the ring. Styles connected with an Enziguri and went to work on Riddle’s leg. Styles locked in a submission hold and Riddle reached the ropes but there are no rope breaks in a Triple Threat. Styles kept the hold locked in and then hit a Brainbuster for a two count.
Styles stomped on McIntyre outside the ring but got caught with a Draping DDT from Riddle as he tried to get back in the ring. Riddle set up for an RKO but Styles countered for another two count. AJ went for the Styles Clash but Riddle was able to break free.
McIntyre dragged AJ outside and threw him into the barricade and then the apron. McIntyre beat the hell out of Riddle in the ring and bounced his head off the turnbuckle several times. Drew connected with an inverted Alabama Slam and went for the Claymore but Riddle got out of the way. McIntyre wound up tumbling over the top rope and to the floor. Styles leveled Drew with a forearm to the face but Riddle hit him with a knee to the face. Riddle then hit a Moonsault onto both superstars.
Riddle set up Styles against the steel steps and went for a kick but AJ got out of the way and Riddle booted the steps with his bare foot. Riddle yelled that his foot was broken and the referee called for the medical staff. Riddle claimed that he was fine and could continue but the medical staff helped him to the back as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Styles connected with an Ushigoroshi and went for the cover but McIntyre kicked out. Riddle made his way back down to the ring with a taped ankle and got Styles in a Sleeper Hold. Styles broke free and went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Riddle countered with a knee to the face. Riddle hit the RKO but couldn’t go for the cover because Omos dragged AJ to the outside. McIntyre then hit Riddle with the Claymore for the pinfall victory to earn a spot in the men’s MITB Ladder Match. McIntyre posed on the turnbuckle to end the show.