– Tonight’s WWE RAW opens with a look back at last week. We cut to the RAW opening video.
– We’re live from Memphis as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined by Byron Saxton and Corey Graves.
– We go right to the ring and out comes Roman Reigns to a very mixed reaction. Reigns takes the mic but is immediately interrupted by RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie says she understands why Reigns is out but she has a show to run. She and Mick Foley came up with a solution and… She’s quickly interrupted by RAW General Manager Mick Foley.
Foley says they did come up with a solution and it was his doing. Foley admits he let last week’s show get away from him while Stephanie was in Singapore on business. Foley says he’s made Rollins vs. WWE United States Champion Rusev for tonight because of their actions in last week’s main event. Reigns wonders what that does for him. Foley says Reigns will get his shot at Rusev on Sunday for the title at Clash of Champions. Foley talks about how they’re all on the same team when it comes down to it and in a battle for their jobs against SmackDown. He makes Reigns vs. Owens for the Universal Title as tonight’s main event. This brings out Owens, who says he beat Reigns twice last week and should be preparing for Sunday’s match. Foley ends up making tonight’s main event a steel cage match.
Seth Rollins vs. Rusev
Rollins’ music hits and he comes out as Owens looks on from the stage. Rollins stops and looks at Owens before heading to the ring as everyone else is leaving. Reigns and Rollins also exchange looks. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Stephanie is talking to Foley about the main event. Rusev and Lana walk up. Rusev isn’t happy about Reigns getting a title shot but he manages to plug WWE Studios’ “Interrogation” with Lana and Edge, which comes out tomorrow. Lana is holding a copy of the DVD. Foley sends Rusev to the ring and congratulates Lana on the movie. Foley answers his phone and it’s Chris Jericho. We go back to the ring and Rusev makes his way out while Rollins waits.
Rusev retreats early on as Rollins gets the upperhand. Rollins follows but gets driven into the ring post as Rusev catches him. Rusev brings it back in the ring and works Rollins over. Rusev drops an elbow for a 1 count. Rusev keeps control and stands tall as fans boo him and Lana looks on from ringside. Rollins tries to fight back but Rusev drops him. Rusev misses a diving headbutt and Rollins fights back again. Rollins goes to the top but Rusev brings him to the mat. We go to commercial with Rusev in control.
Back from the break and Rusev is still in control. Rollins nails an enziguri. Rusev comes at him but gets dropped into the turnbuckles. Rollins ducks a clothesline and nails a Slingblade. More back and forth. Rollins with a Falcon Arrow for a 2 count. Rusev turns it back around with kicks for a 2 count. Rollins ends up hitting the knee from the top to the face. Rollins goes back to the top but Rusev rolls to the floor. Rollins nails a dive, sending Rusev into the barrier. Rusev comes right back in but Rollins does it again and nails a dive. The referee counts as they brawl up the ramp to the stage. They are both counted out.
Double Count Out
– After the bell, Rusev keeps pounding on Rollins and takes him to the edge of the stage. Rollins counters a move right beside the announce table and knocks Rusev off the stage. Rollins takes the top off the announce table and climbs up. He nails a big crossbody from the announce table and the stage, down to Rusev. Cole calls it a first. We go to replays as Rusev looks up dazed.
– Dana Brooke is backstage with WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte and Mick Foley. They’re showing footage from last week where there was a double pin in the #1 contenders match. Charlotte says Sasha is not the #1 contender. Dana suggests Foley cancel tonight’s tag match and make a new match to decide the #1 contender. Foley just adds Bayley to Sunday’s match, making it a Triple Threat and credits Dana for the idea. He walks off and Charlotte gets upset, then shoves Dana to the floor. We go to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see the steel cage hanging high. The announcers hype the cruiserweight division. They lead us to a video package on Cedric Alexander and Brian Kendrick.
– Chris Jericho is backstage with WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens complaining about Foley. Jericho is going to make a list of everything that’s wrong with Foley and give it to him and Foley’s not going to like it. Jericho storms off.
Braun Strowman vs. Sin Cara
We go to the ring and Sin Cara waits as Braun Strowman makes his way out.
The bell rings and Cara goes to work but Strowman overpowers him. Strowman runs over Cara in the middle of the ring. Braun beats on Cara while he’s down and applies a vice grip. Cara tries to break it but gets tossed to the floor.
Braun follows but Cara goes back in and dropkicks him through the ropes. Cara tries to make a comeback but Braun catches a moonsault and finishes him for the win.
Winner: Braun Strowman
– After the match, we get replays as Braun stands tall. Cara is down on the floor.
– Sasha Banks is backstage warming up when Bayley appears. She’s excited to be in the ring with Sasha again this Sunday, saying it’ll be like old times. Sasha says they did make history together but that was then and this is the new era. Sasha says she had Bayley beat last week but Bayley disagrees. She says the good news is one of them will be the new champion on Sunday but they disagree on who. They agree to show everyone how it’s done in the tag match tonight and Bayley walks off. Back to commercial.
Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Dana Brooke and Charlotte
Back from the break and out first comes Sasha Banks. Partner Bayley is out next. Dana Brooke is out next with WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte leading the way.
Sasha starts with Dana and takes control. Bayley tags in but Dana turns it around. Dana talks trash and tags in Charlotte for some double teaming in the corner. Bayley counters Charlotte in the corner and slams her head into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Bayley sends Charlotte into Dana, then Dana through the ropes to the floor. Charlotte is the legal woman and comes in to face Bayley as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Charlotte is in control of Bayley. Dana tags in and keeps control for a 2 count. Charlotte comes back in and puts a knee to Bayley’s back in the middle of the ring. Charlotte stops a tag and drops Bayley with a forearm to the face for a 2 count. Charlotte with another big blow before Bayley fights back out of the corner. Bayley with a clothesline for a 2 count. Sasha tags in for a double suplex. Sasha covers Charlotte for 2.
Charlotte turns it around on Sasha and drops knees to the back. Charlotte with a 2 count. Dana comes back in with more offense and pin attempt. She wails away on Sasha’s back. Dana shows off and gets booed before tagging Charlotte back in. Another tag as Dana works Sasha over while talking trash. Charlotte tags back in and focuses on Sasha’s back. Sasha ends up blocking the Figure Four and tagging in Bayley. Bayley unloads on Charlotte for a pop. Dana stops the Bayley-to-Belly on Charlotte by pulling her leg. Sasha takes out Dana on the floor. Charlotte takes advantage of the distraction and pins Bayley for the win.
Winners: Charlotte and Dana Brooke
– We see Seth Rollins walking into Stephanie McMahon’s locker room before going to commercial.
– Back from the break and Seth is with Stephanie in her office. He says this brings back memories and wonders why she threw it all away for Kevin Owens. She insists she had nothing to do with what Triple H did. They end up having words and Stephanie warns him not to threaten her. She says Owens is the right person to lead RAW and he’s the new face. Rollins says she used to be a shrewd businesswoman but she’s started to crack since Shane returned.
– Back from the break and we see some of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies at ringside.
Bo Dallas vs. Gary Graham
We go to the ring and out comes Bo Dallas as his opponent Gary Graham waits, apparently the grandson of Michael “PS” Hayes. Bo cuts a promo about how only he can believe in Bo. The bell rings and Bo unloads on his opponent. Bo goes crazy but gets rolled up for a close 2 count. Bo comes right back and keeps up the attack. A “let’s go jobber” chant breaks out and keeps going. Bo brings his opponent back in the ring and nails a clothesline before hitting his finisher for the win.
Winner: Bo Dallas
– We see Cesaro walking backstage. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get a video package on Cruiserweight Champion TJ Perkins.
Best of 7 Series, Match #6: Sheamus vs. Cesaro
We go to the ring and out first comes Cesaro. Sheamus is out next as we get video from earlier in the day with Sheamus talking to Andrea D’Marco. The bell rings and Sheamus goes right to work on Cesaro’s back. Sheamus with an early 2 count and another.
Cesaro eventually blocks the Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus blocks the Neutralizer but runs into an uppercut for a 2 count. More back and forth. Sheamus dumps Cesaro over the top rope and he sells the back injury. Foley looks on from backstage as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Cesaro knocks Sheamus off the top to the floor. Cesaro runs and uppercuts him over the barrier. Cesaro sends Sheamus into the ring post and brings it back in. He hits the corkscrew uppercut for a 2 count. Sheamus blocks the suplex from the apron and drops Cesaro on the apron with a nasty White Noise. Sheamus with a close 2 count.
Cesaro ducks a Brogue Kick and rolls Sheamus up for 2. Sheamus blocks the Sharpshooter and hits Irish Curse for a close 2 count. Sheamus with a Celtic Cross into a backbreaker over the knee for another 2 count. Sheamus applies the Cloverleaf now. Cesaro gets out. More back and forth until Cesaro gets the win with the Neutralizer to tie it at 3-3.
Winner: Cesaro
– After the match, Cesaro runs wild and goes outside of the ring to celebrate as we go to replays.
– We go backstage to Foley on the phone. He says the final match between Sheamus and Cesaro should take place at Clash of Champions on Sunday. Jericho walks in with his list of grievances on Foley. They have words and Foley calls him a stupid idiot. Foley is apparently going to talk about the cruiserweights but Jericho is going to tell the world about his list on Foley. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Chris Jericho is in the ring. He says Mick Foley has been doing a terrible job as General Manager so he’s come up with a list of grievances. Number one is Foley trying to drive a wedge between he and best friend Kevin Owens. Number two is a terrible fashion sense. Fans give Jericho the “what?!” treatment and he adds someone in row 12 to the list. Jericho goes on about his list and knocks Sami Zayn, saying he will cross Sami off the list for good at Clash of Champions. The music interrupts and out comes Enzo Amore with Big Cass to a big pop.
This leads to The Shining Stars coming to the ring next. They’re interrupted by WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day. Xavier Woods plugs his “UpUpDownDown” YouTube channel and out next are Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Jericho has had enough. Originally the list was about Foley but now he has a new list about stupid idiots and everyone in the ring is on it. Jericho backs up the ramp adding names to his list when Sami Zayn’s music hits. Sami runs down the ramp and they go at it. Sami sends Jericho into the barriers and keeps up the attack. We go to commercial.
Sami Zayn, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Chris Jericho, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Primo and Epico
Back from the break and we have a ten-man match ordered by Mick Foley. Xavier Woods looks on from ringside with Francesca 2. The heels take control early on and keep Kofi isolated.
Cass finally gets a hot tag and unloads on Primo. Epico breaks up a close 2 count. Enzo attacks Epico but gets sent to the floor. Cass takes out Epico. Gallows nails Cass. Everyone else gets involved now. Sami and Jericho go at it. Sami with a DDT. He goes for a Helluva Kick but Jericho moves and Sami kicks Primo. Enzo comes in and Cass launches him onto Primo for the win.
Winners: Enzo Amore, Big Cass, Sami Zayn, Big E and Kofi Kingston
– After the match, we go to replays. The heels stand on the stage as the two teams talk trash to each other.
– We get a look back at tonight’s opening segment and see the steel cage hanging high.
– Cole leads us to a video package on cruiserweights Gran Metalik and Rich Swann. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Foley is in the ring. He talks about the WWE Cruiserweight Classic and puts over the cruiserweight competitors. He says that kind of action will take place here each week, only on RAW. He’s brought four of those stars to RAW tonight for the inaugural cruiserweight RAW match.
#1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: Rich Swann vs. Gran Metalik vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Brian Kendrick
Foley introduces Rich Swann first and out he comes. His partner Gran Metalik is out next. Foley introduces Cedric Alexander next and we get video comments from him recorded earlier in the day. Foley welcomes Brian Kendrick back to RAW and out he comes. A promo airs from earlier in the day with Kendrick saying it’s been several hundred days since he was wished the best in his future endeavors. They thought he was through and so did he. Foley announces that this is a Fatal 4 Way with the winner getting a title shot at TJ Perkins on Sunday. He shakes their hands and we go to commercial.
Back from the break and everyone is going at it. Swann and Metalik go at it for a minute with Swann dancing after getting the upperhand. Kendrick takes Swann down and sends him to the floor. Kendrick charges in the corner on Metalik but gets dropped by Cedric. Cedric goes at it with Kendrick now. Kendrick goes to the floor for a breather but Alexander dropkicks him through the ropes. Metalik goes at it with Cedric now. Metalik with a springboard back elbow on Cedric. Cedric comes back and gets the crowd behind him some until Swann cuts him off. Swann with a big kick to the back. Kendrick runs in but Swann throws him to the floor and goes back to work on Cedric with a dragon sleeper.
Cedric breaks it. They end up trading big chops in the middle of the ring. More back and forth. Cedric gets dropped with a big right hand. Cedric sends Swann flying to the floor as Metalik comes back in. Cedric ends up diving out onto Kendrick and landing on his feet. Cedric also decks Swann on the floor. Metalik springboards out and takes everyone else down.
More action outside of the ring. Kendrick launches Swann into the barrier and then the steel steps. Kendrick kicks Swann’s leg into the steps and takes him out. Another “this is awesome” chant as Kendrick returns to the ring and we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Kendrick is in control of Cedric in the ring. Metalik elbows from the top and covers for a 2 count. Swann and Metalik go at it now. Metalik with a standing Shooting Star Press for a 2 count. Metalik goes up for a moonsault but Swann gets his boots up. Swann with a double underhook into a pin for a 2 count as Cedric breaks it up. Lots more back and forth action all over the place, more chants from the crowd. Kendrick stops Swann from pinning Cedric and throws him to the floor. Kendrick with a submission on Cedric as Metalik breaks it up. More back and forth. The finish sees Kendrick make Cedric tap out for the win.
Winner and New #1 Contender: Brian Kendrick
– After the bell, Kendrick has his arm raised as we go to replays.
– We get a look back at recent happenings with Alicia Fox and Nia Jax. They will face off on Sunday’s Clash Kickoff pre-show.
– We see the steel cage lowering before going back to commercial.
Steel Cage Match: Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens
We go to the ring and out first comes Roman Reigns to the cage as JoJo does the introduction. WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens is out next.
Owens with some trash talking before they lock up but he quickly goes for the cage door. Reigns stops him. Owens goes for the door again but Reigns stop him. Owens tries to climb the cage but he’s stopped. Back and forth. Reigns hits a big forearm for a mixed reaction. We go back to commercial after more action.
More back and forth and escape attempts after the break. Reigns drops Owens for another 2 count. Reigns talks trash and unloads in the corner as fans count along. Owens blocks a boot and hits a German suplex. Owens with the corner cannonball. Reigns stops Owens from going for the door. Owens goes for the senton but lands on knees. Reigns goes for the door but Owens grabs his leg. They trade shots as they get to their feet now.
Owens with a knee to the gut. Reigns avoids a pop-up powerbomb. More back and forth in the middle of the ring now. They unload with strikes. Owens with a superkick. Reigns blocks the pop-up powerbomb with a Superman punch for a 2 count. Reigns readies for a spear but runs into a kick. Owens with the pop-up powerbomb for a close 2 count. Owens climbs the cage and gets to the top but Reigns grabs a leg. They fight on the top rope now. Owens talks trash and slams Reigns’ head into the steel repeatedly. Reigns nails a Superman punch from the top and they both fall to the mat. Owens calls for the door to be opened. Owens climbs out of the door while Reigns climbs the cage wall. Reigns makes it to the floor just a second before Owens makes it out. Reigns gets the non-title win.
Winner: Roman Reigns
– After the match, Rusev runs down but Reigns gets the upperhand as they brawl outside of the cage. Reigns goes down as Owens kicks the cage door into him from the inside. They bring Reigns in the ring and work him over. Rusev brings a chain in the ring and locks the door shut with he, Owens and Reigns inside. They double team Reigns now. Rusev applies The Accolade as Owens talks trash in Reigns’ face. Seth Rollins’ music hits and out he comes. Rollins climbs the cage as Owens tries to stop him. Rollins knocks him to the mat. Rusev also gets knocked off. Rollins leaps off the top of the cage and takes both men down. RAW goes off the air with everyone trying to get back to their feet inside the cage.
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