WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome in Tampa. Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley signed the contract to make their WWE Championship match official at Hell in a Cell. The tag teams on the RAW roster competed in a Battle Royal to determine the #1 contenders for the RAW Tag Team Championships tonight as well.
RAW Results (6/7)
- Viking Raiders won the #1 contender’s Battle Royal and earned a shot at the RAW Tag Team Championships
- Jaxson Ryker def. Elias via count out
- Ricochet vs. Humberto Carillo ended in a double count out
- Jeff Hardy def. Cedric Alexander
- Asuka & Nikki Cross def. Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley
- Mansoor def. Drew Gulak
- Kofi Kingston def. Riddle
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Viking Raiders Earned A Title Shot
John Morrison, New Day, Viking Raiders, Lucha House Party, Mace & T-Bar, and Riddle & Orton competed in a Battle Royal to determine the #1 contenders for the RAW Tag Team Championships. Before the match, champs AJ Styles & Omos made their way to ring. Styles gave the New Day some props but noted that they defeated them at WrestleMania. Styles praised Lince Dorado being out there by himself as Gran Metalik is injured.
AJ brought up Riddle and Orton and claimed that their chemistry is phenomenal. An argument broke out before Riddle said he is wearing two of their new t-shirts because Randy won’t wear one. Orton hushed Riddle before Miz and Morrison made their way to the ring. Miz is in a wheelchair and said that Morrison will be competing on behalf of their team in the Battle Royal. Miz started rolling down the ramp and Morrison stopped him before he crashed. Orton dropped Woods and Dorado with an RKO to begin the action as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, WWE Champion Lashley and MVP were shown in a lounge with their models having a good time as the Battle Royal continued. Mace and T-Bar tried to eliminate Orton but Riddle stopped it. They then hit Riddle with High Justice in the middle of the ring. Orton recovered and eliminated T-Bar. Woods and Erik teamed up and sent Mace over the top rope as RAW went to a commercial.
Viking Raiders, RKBro, and New Day were the remaining teams in the Battle Royal. Viking Raiders eliminated Riddle and then battled with New Day. Kofi leveled Viking Raiders with a Crossbody and then turned his focus to Orton. Riddle slid into the ring and hopped into a Trouble in Paradise from Kingston. Orton capitalized and sent Kingston over the top rope. Viking Raiders then eliminated Orton to earn a future shot at the RAW Tag Team Championships.
Charlotte & Ripley Will Team Up Tonight
Charlotte Flair had a conversation with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville backstage. Charlotte claimed she was pressured into last week’s Beat the Clock Challenge against Nikki Cross and demanded that the match be removed from her record. Charlotte then wanted a rematch and Pearce & Deville agreed.
RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley interrupted and said that she actually respects Nikki Cross, unlike Charlotte Flair. Pearce and Deville then booked Ripley & Flair versus Nikki Cross and a partner of her choosing. Charlotte said that unlike Rhea Ripley, she can professional about this and walked away.
Jaxson Ryker def. Elias
Elias came to the ring and said that Jaxson Ryker was going crazy and they would have become RAW Tag Team Champions if Ryker followed his lead last week. Elias added that he saw “the ghosts of war” in Ryker’s eyes, but did not see a man who would go to war for him. Ryker showed up with a new look and attacked Elias from behind. Jaxson launched the guitar up the entrance ramp as RAW went to a break.
Ryker then battled Elias in a singles match. Ryker Clotheslined Elias out of the ring but Elias responded with a Spinebuster for a near fall. Elias controlled the action for a bit but Ryker battled back and connected with a massive Chokeslam. Elias rolled out of the ring and then cowered a way to end the match in a count out.
Lashley Will Face McIntyre Inside Hell In A Cell
Drew McIntyre came to the ring and took a seat and waited for WWE Champion Bobby Lashley to arrive for their contract singing. Lashley took his sweet time but eventually made his way to the ring with MVP and the models by his side.
MVP congratulated McIntyre on once again finding his way into the title scene and said that Drew will not get another title match if he loses. McIntyre said he accepts the terms and just wants MVP to stop talking. Drew said he will never challenge Lashley for the title again if he loses, but wants the match to be inside Hell in a Cell. They accepted the terms and signed the contract.
McIntyre noted that Hell in a Cell is brutal and will be a new experience for Lashley. Drew added that he will give Lashley mercy with a Claymore and take the WWE Championship back. Lashley posed with the title and McIntyre chopped the table in half with his sword to end the segment.
Ricochet vs. Carrillo Ended In A Double Count Out
Humberto Carillo squared off against Ricochet tonight on RAW. The winner of the match will earn a shot at the United States Championship. US Champion Sheamus made his way to the ring with a face protector on after breaking his nose in a match against Humberto last week. Sheamus complained about the match even happening in the first place and Ricochet & Carrillo made it seem like they were going to run at him and he backed away.
When RAW returned, Ricochet connected with a Crossbody and went for the cover but Humberto kicked out at two. Ricochet followed it up with a Powerbomb for another near fall. Carrillo sent Ricochet out of the ring and hit him with a Suicide Dive. The action spilled to the apron after Ricochet connected with a German Suplex. Ricochet hit a Spanish Fly and both superstars crashed to the floor to end the match in a count out.
MVP Tried To Talk Business With Kofi Kingston
MVP approached Kofi Kingston backstage tonight on RAW. MVP said he wanted to talk business and Kingston tried to avoid him. MVP stopped him and brought up Kingston winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. He added that KofiMania was everything and then it just went away.
MVP noted that Kingston shook McIntyre’s hand last week after losing to him and suggested that is why KofiMania ended, because Kingston is comfortable with being a loser. Kingston brought up the little kids watching RAW and learning to believe in themselves because of him. Kofi wondered why Lashley fights and said it was because of money. MVP claimed Lashley fights for honor and the perks that come along with being the champ.
Jeff Hardy def. Cedric Alexander
Cedric Alexander faced Jeff Hardy tonight on RAW. Before the match, Jeff Hardy cut a promo about how the locker room veterans do not get respect like they used to. Hardy said Cedric Alexander expects everything handed to him and is going to teach him a lesson in respect tonight.
Jeff controlled the action early and beat Cedric down in the corner of the ring. Hardy connected with a Dropkick but Cedric responded with one of his own for a near fall. Hardy went for the Twist of Fate but Cedric blocked it. Alexander climbed to the second rope and started taunting Hardy. Jeff caught him with a boot to the face and then the Twist of Fate. Hardy followed it up with the Swanton Bomb for the pinfall victory.
Asuka & Nikki Cross def. Flair & Ripley
Nikki Cross teamed up with Asuka to face RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley & Charlotte Flair tonight. Ripley will defend the title against Charlotte at WWE Hell in a Cell. Before the match, Charlotte approached Rhea backstage and told her to follow her lead since she is the more experienced superstar. Ripley said she will be glad to follow Flair straight to hell in two weeks. Rhea added that being champ makes up for inexperience and told Charlotte to follow her lead tonight.
Charlotte shoved Nikki Cross to the mat to start off the action. Flair demanded that Rhea tag in and the RAW Women’s Champion made the tag. Ripley taunted Charlotte and Nikki Cross capitalized with a roll-up for a near fall. Asuka tagged in and Rhea greeted her with a headbutt.
Rhea got knocked out of the ring and gave Charlotte a shove on her way back. Flair responded with a forearm to Rhea’s face and the two started arguing as RAW went to a commercial break. When RAW returned, Nikki had a Headlock applied but Ripley broke free. Asuka tagged in and hit Flair with a Hip Attack.
Asuka hit a Codebreaker on Ripley but Charlotte got into the ring to prevent a cover. Rhea connected with a Northern Lights Suplex and bridged into a cover but Asuka kicked out at two. Charlotte and Ripley started arguing again and Flair planted the champ with Natural Selection. Nikki Cross capitalized with a cover on Ripley for the win.
Mansoor def. Drew Gulak
Mansoor faced Drew Gulak tonight on RAW. Before the match, Mustafi Ali had a conversation with Mansoor backstage. Ali told Mansoor that he is ready for a fair and square match but wondered what is going to happen once Gulak starts cutting corners. Mustafa told Mansoor that not everyone plays by the rules and walked away.
Gulak controlled the match early and kept Mansoor grounded. Gulak applied an Ankle Lock and started stepping on Mansoor’s neck. Mansoor escaped and ducked under a Clothesline attempt from Gulak. Drew went for a roll-up while using the tights for leverage but Mansoor reversed it for the pinfall victory.
Kofi Kingston def. Riddle
Kofi Kingston faced Riddle tonight on RAW. Xavier Woods was ringside for the match. Kingston hit a Splash and then an Enziguri for a two count. Kingston quickly followed it up with another Splash and went for the cover but Riddle was able to kick out at two. Riddle battled back with a Senton as Randy Orton made his way to the ring. Kofi sent Riddle to the outside and then hit a Baseball Slide onto Orton.
Woods stood over Riddle and started playing Francesca the trombone. Orton slammed Woods onto the announce table as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Riddle connected with an Exploder Suplex and but Kingston responded with a Stomp for a near fall.
Riddle took back control and connected with the draping DDT as Orton cheered him on. Orton told Riddle to finish it and Riddle set up for the RKO. Kingston blocked it and hit Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory.
Lilly Trapped Shayna Baszler
Nia Jax told Shayna Baszler that she was out of line for what she did to Reginald last week and that “Reggie” is at home recovering. Jax added that she has known Alexa Bliss for a while and this is the most dangerous she has ever been. Nia said that Alexa definitely has something planned tonight and Shayna shrugged it off.
Baszler claimed she wasn’t afraid of a little girl with a doll and suggested that Nia Jax help Bliss after she finds out what happens when you cross the Queen of Spades. When RAW returned from a break, Bliss welcomed everyone to Alexa’s Playground in the ring. Shayna marched down the entrance ramp and knocked over a toy horse before taking a seat on a swing.
Alexa wanted Baszler to apologize to Lilly but Shayna refused to say sorry to a doll. Shayna blamed Alexa for Reginald getting injured and added that they would be Women’s Tag Team Champions if it were not for her. Shayna grabbed Lilly and said “sorry Lilly is just a stupid doll” instead of apologizing.
Bliss and Shayna then traded strikes. Shayna knocked Alexa out of the ring and then stomped on Lilly. The ThunderDome screens and lights flickered and then pyro went off. Shayna retreated up the entrance ramp as Alexa smiled from her swing. Shayna made her way backstage as pieces of the ThunderDome fell around her. Baszler locked herself in a room but realized Lilly was also there in the mirror reflection. Shayna broke the mirror but Lilly was still visible in the broken glass and RAW went off the air with Shayna Baszler screaming.
