WWE RAW is live tonight from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI, with the follow from Sunday’s Money in the Bank Pay-Per-View show in Chicago. Here’s the latest from WWE to get you ready for the show:
WWE Money in the Bank 2018 saw Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss emerge victorious in their Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, with Five Feet of Fury ruining Ronda Rousey’s singles match debut and cashing in on Raw Women’s Champion Nia Jax to steal her fifth Women’s Title. What will the fallout from the explosive event mean for Monday Night Raw? S
RAW Opening Segment
We start the show with Raw General Manager, Kurt Angle standing in the center of the ring, with a red carpet, and the Women’s Money In The Bank Briefcase in addition to the Raw Women’s Championship on a table. Kurt Angle introduces the new Raw Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss.
Bliss makes her way down to the ring, all smiles. Kurt hands Alexa the championship and Alexa holds it above her head celebrating. Kurt Angle says that Nia Jax is rehabbing her arm in Birmingham, Alabama, but next month she demands her rematch at Extreme Rules.
Alexa asks Kurt if he is just going to move on to next month before he lets her talk about last night? She says that she wants to talk about her opportunity…to RUB IT IN EVERYONE’S FACES. She says that she defeated two bullies last night, Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey. And now she is not only the goddess, but the 3-Time Raw Women’s Champion!
Out comes Ronda Rousey! Rousey makes a beeline to the ring, and Kurt Angle holds her back. Alexa tells her to calm down, and asks her if she can still feel the bruises on her body that Alexa left when she smashed the briefcase all over Ronda. She says that Ronda was just fingertips away from making Nia Jax tap, but now we will never know. Bliss says that Ronda is just mad that the headlines were about Alexa Bliss, and not Ronda Rousey.
Ronda has had enough! She charges at Alexa Bliss and takes her down by the legs. She starts hitting Alexa with lefts and rights, but Kurt Angle grabs her off of Alexa. Rousey turns it up a notch and she hits a judo throw on Kurt Angle, sending him crashing to the mat. Alexa quickly gets up and grabs the Money In the Bank briefcase and goes to hit Ronda, but Ronda strikes first with a shot to the midsection. Ronda grabs the briefcase herself and clobbers Alexa Bliss with it, over, and over. Again, Angle pulls Ronda off, but Ronda attacks Kurt now with the briefcase. Ronda has gone berserk! Officials make their way to the ring to stop the chaos, but Ronda attacks them as well!
Finally, Ronda makes her way back to a downed Raw Women’s Champion, and picks up Alexa in powerbomb position, and proceeds to slam her right through the table in the ring! Ronda makes her way to the back, leaving Alexa lying. Kurt runs after her to the back.
Backstage, Ronda and Kurt are talking and Ronda says that she doesn’t need people to be condescending to her anymore, but Kurt says he doesn’t know what to do. He says he is sorry, but he has no choice, Ronda is suspended for 30 days, effective immediately. Ronda frustratingly leaves. Wow!!!
Ronda is walking backstage and shrugs off an interview attempt from Renee Young at first before stopping and giving in. She’s gonna come back after these 30 days and whether Alexa is champion or not she’s gonna kick her pink-haired ass.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance and gets on the mic.
He says it’s heating up here tonight, saying there’s a buzz in the locker room and he wants to keep it going. Last night Elias took him to his limit and he loved every second of it, but he’s still standing and he’s still Intercontinental Champion. He’s a fighting champion and he’s all heart, so what do you say to an open challenge for the title?
The crowd is for it and Dolph Ziggler comes out… followed shortly by Drew McIntyre.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins
Ziggler with a boot to the gut at the bell, Zig Zag denied, Blackout dodged and Dolph rolls to the floor to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Rollins is in control and throwing Ziggler back in the ring. Springboard cut off with a kick, but Seth is able to recover quickly enough to trade punches once the get things back in the middle of the ring. Neckbreaker from Dolph gets two, elbow drop gets another and Ziggler grabs kind of a grounded abdominal stretch. Rollins to his feet, dropped again with a mat slam and Dolph wastes time posing for the crowd before wrenching the Architect’s neck over the ropes.
Rollins fighting back, right hands, whip reversed, Flair Flip but he ends up back in the ring and Ziggler gets a nearfall before locking the sleeper hold in! Bodyscissors applied, Seth flagging but not failing, reaching for the ropes, posting to his feet, and finally escaping with a jawbreaker. Falcon Arrow attempt, float over and Rollins catapults him into the post face-first!
Dolph staggered, Seth punching, lariats and a back elbow, whip reversed, Sling Blade! Lariat sends Ziggler to the floor, the Architect is pumped up… SUICIDE DIVE! Back in, springboard lariat gets two and we go back to break.
Back from commercial, both men are staggering to their feet. Ziggler with a corner body avalanche, going for a neckbreaker, countered to a backslide for two! Up for the powerbomb, Dolph reverses to a sunset flip for two of his own! Seth with the ripcord knee strike… NOPE! Tuning up the band, kick to the midsection, Blackout misses, Fameasser… NOT ENOUGH!
Now it’s Ziggler tuning up the band, but Seth cuts him off with a superkick! Avada Kedavra… NO GOOD! Rollins hobbles his way up top and perches… NOBODY HOME ON THE FROG SPLASH! Now Dolph heads up top but Seth meets him and cuts him off with a haymaker. Headbutt, climbing up after him, jockeying for position and Ziggler knocks him back to the mat. The Architect charges back in but gets cut off and knocked down again!
Diving crossbody, Seth catches him, rolls through, pops him up for the powerbomb… BUCKLE BOMB! Kick to the midsection, taking time to run Drew off, Ziggler with an O’Connor roll, nope, Rollins with one of his own, Dolph reverses and gets the pin with a rollup and a handful of tights.
Winner: New Intercontinental Champ Dolph Ziggler
McIntyre attacks Rollins from behind! Mounted punches, drawing him up, they position him… Claymore / Zig Zag combination!
Commentary hypes up Braun Strowman making an appearance later tonight and we go to break.
Backstage With The New Champ
Renee Young is backstage with Dolph Ziggler, who says that Money Night Rollins is officially cancelled. Drew says that this is the first title of many, and they won’t allow something like this to make them soft. Dolph says that the other superstars are backstage with their catch phrases, saying they’re going to “burn it down” or that it’s “their yard”…..however the difference is, when they say something…they mean it.
Bobby Roode vs. Curt Hawkins
Exactly what you think happened. Bobby Roode hits Hawkins with a glorious DDT for the quick victory.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Braun Strowman Segment
Back from commercial, we get a recap of the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
(RRROOOAAARRR!)
He talks about his great feats of strength and mighty accomplishments, including playing the cello, but as great as all those are, Money in the Bank is the greatest. He got in the ring with seven other superstars and stomped, smashed, and snatched the contract, and now all Brock Lesnar has to do is show his face and he’ll cash in and become Universal Champion.
Enter Kevin Owens. Braun’s surprised to see him after knocking him off a 20-foot ladder last night. Owens says he probably shouldn’t be here– it hurts to breathe– but he had to come out here. Not for retribution, but because he wants to be the first guy from the locker room to be man enough to congratulate Braun. He deserves it, and KO says he knew he’d win, and that’s why he kept trying to talk guys into alliances, but nobody would listen.
But right now he hopes Strowman will listen to him, and now he has this incredible opportunity but he needs to be smart about it, to have a strategy, and that’s where he comes in. He and Braun have more in common than people think. Everybody think’s they’re angry and hot-tempered, but they’re good guys at heart, and who’s watching their back? Braun hasn’t needed anybody so far, but last night that changed when he won the briefcase.
Who can Braun count on around here? At WrestleMania when he needed a tag partner he had to go into the crowd and grab a ten-year-old. Last night Sami Zayn got injured and he doesn’t know when he’s getting back, so they’re both here alone and in need of a friend. Strowman looks contemplative and Kev says maybe friend is too strong, but maybe they can help each other, or to be honest to use each other.
And maybe after Braun wins and is Universal Champion they can have a match for it. And they can start it tonight, monster and man. He doesn’t want to get These Hands, he’s too hurt, all he wants is to shake his hand. Owens extends a hand, and Strowman shakes it… but he doesn’t let go when KO turns away! Up for the powerslam… Owens slips away!
Backstage With Bayley & The Boss
Commentary recaps the Riott Squad drawing on Bayley and we go into the locker room with her and Sasha Banks.
Bayley apologizes about last night and says she was rooting for Sasha. Banks says she’s okay and Bayley tells her to stop. Sasha plays dumb and Bayley says she knows how she is, and she’s replaying the match over and over in her mind. The Boss admits to it and says she just wants to be the best, and the Hugger tells her it won’t do any good to sit and sulk.
Sasha tells her she doesn’t get it, but Bayley counters about being ready to take the fight to the Riott Squad, and nobody would be a better partner than Banks, a new start for both of them. Sasha offers a hand and they shake on it.
The Deleters of Worlds make their entrance and we go to break.
RAW Tag Team Champs Deleters Of Worlds vs. Rhyno & Heath Slater
Curtis Axel in a wig is cackling on the Titantron and talking about how they’re gonna delete them. Bo Dallas is dressed as his brother and talking about being destined to dance in the shadows and do all sorts of weird things they’re not gonna like, like, uh…
He yanks his fake beard off and says they’re coming for the tag team championships, and Axel declares it wonderful, still doing the gimmick.
Slater and Rhyno take advantage of the champs’ confusion and attack from behind! Rhyno lays Wyatt out with a short-arm lariat, gets a nearfall, charging in, boots up, tag to Hardy. In with forearms, smashing the Man-Beast’s head into the turnbuckles, Twist of Fate denied but Matt is able to clear the apron. Rhyno runs him over, tag to Heath, double whip into double back elbows, off the ropes with a knee drop for two.
Smashing Hardy’s face into the turnbuckles, right hand, tag back to Rhyno and Matt gets a jawbreaker for separation. Slater tags back in, takes a Side Effect, Hardy makes the tag! Bray in with a lariat, palm strike rush, big right hand in the corner, Stinger splash! Off the ropes, duck a lariat, freight train crossbody block connects and Wyatt’s spider-walking!
Sister Abigail clutch, Rhyno runs interference and gets the Twist of Fate for his trouble and it’s all the Deleters of Worlds. Heath with a boot up, a lariat takes his head off, and Matt tags back in for the finish with a Kiss of Deletion on Slater for the win.
Winners: RAW Tag Team Champs Deleters of Worlds
Backstage With Constable Baron Corbin
Backstage, Kurt Angle is on his phone when Constable Corbin rolls up to tell him Stephanie McMahon is very pleased with the way he’s done his job tonight. Kurt starts a tirade about how he doesn’t appreciate Steph being in his business and Baron hands him his phone with her on the line as we go to break.
Back from commercial we see the end of Angle’s phone call, with him saying he understands and this is big news he’ll announce later tonight and he’ll run all his ideas by Constable Corbin.
Jinder Mahal enters with Sunil Singh for a match, microphone in hand.
Jinder says as human beings we must be open to change, and last night he felt the winds of change. Although Roman Reigns won the match, he’s won the battle of self-improvement. Just like all of us, Roman is bitter and angry (actually I’m mostly just kinda sad and mopey these days, Jinder, the anger’s gone out), while the Maharaja has found tranquility. He runs Chad Gable down for trying to relive his past glories, to see the light and see… something in Punjabi that I’m not going to try and transcribe.
Jinder Mahal vs. Chad Gable
Forearm strikes from the jump, Gable’s able to stick to him and keep it from being a rout but Jinder gets a swinging neckbreaker and a running knee drop to the face before locking a standing armbar in. Chad gets him up… BACKDROP DRIVER! Following it up with the cross armbar in the ropes, springboard up and over, off the ropes, flying forearm connects and Gable’s fired up!
Trying an exploder, blocked by an elbow, a dropkick sends Mahal to the floor! Back in, up top, moonsault connects but can’t quite put Jinder away! Wrenching the Olympian’s arm through the ropes, following it with a big boot, cobra clutch and Khallas for the victory.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Riott Squad
Sasha comes out first and then is joined by Bayley. The two hug, which is so different than the relationship the two have had over the last several months. Bayley has quick control of Sarah Logan, but Sasha tags herself in and then Logan takes control of Sasha.
Bayley tags Sasha out, and Sasha takes exception, but Bayley regains control. Bayley throws Logan out of the ring and then hits a baseball slide into a headscissors, sending Logan into the mat.
Back in the ring, Sarah Logan hits a desperation spinebuster, before tagging in Liv Morgan and Bayley tags in Sasha Banks, who gets the hot tag and lays out Liv Morgan. Sasha Banks sets up Liv Morgan in the corner to hit the double knees, but she’s distracted by Logan on the ring apron. Bayley tries to take Logan down, but the referee pushes Bayley back into her corner. Liv Morgan takes advantage of the distraction and rolls up Sasha, grabbing the tights and picking up the three count.
Winners: The Riott Squad
After the match, Sasha gets in the face of Bayley, who tries to explain herself, but Sasha doesn’t want to hear it. She pushes Bayley, sending Bayley crashing onto her butt before leaving up the ramp.
Back from commercial, Bayley is chasing Sasha Banks down backstage.
The Boss tells her not to tell her what to do, and that she’s finished with her… WE’VE GOT A BRAWL! Sasha gets the upper hand and puts Bayley into the side of a trash can to make her point!
In-Ring Segment Addressing WWE Universal Title Contenders
Kurt Angle’s in the ring complaining that he can’t get this show under control before announcing that Stephanie McMahon was telling him when Brock Lesnar will defend the title next, but the question is who against?
Enter Roman Reigns. He tells Kurt that the answer to his question is standing right in front of him. He beat Brock Lesnar at Greatest Royal Rumble and everyone knows that, so he’s the uncrowned Universal Champion. It’s no secret, Angle’s had problems running Raw, and he thinks having a champion who’s here to defend every night would help him out a great deal.
Kurt says he appreciates the confidence, but since he’s out here he’s got another announcement–
Enter Bobby Lashley. He asks if Roman is the guy and says he watched him bang his head against the wall for three years trying to beat Brock, and he doesn’t have what it takes to finish the job. This may be his yard, but Bobby’s been trying to get his hands on Lesnar since he was a little pup, so step aside and let somebody that can beat Brock beat Brock.
He can also beat Roman if needs be. Kurt says they’re both deserving but so are others, so what he’s gonna do is make a multi-person #1 contender’s match at Extreme Rules with them as the first two.
Enter the Revival. They ask whatever happened to earning things the old-fashioned way and because of guys like them always standing in their way they haven’t got the opportunities they deserve, but that changes tonight. They might be WrestleMania level superstars, but right now they’re thinking about tearing each other apart, so they’re challenging them to a match right now, two of the best singles stars in the world against the very best tag team in the world.
They’ll even give away their strategy, waiting for them to splinter before using teamwork and continuity to win the day. Roman mocks them and tells them to shut up and he’d be happy to take them to school, and maybe Bob here will learn something too.
Kurt makes the match official but we go to break before it begins.
The Revival vs. Roman Reigns & Bobby Lashley
Roman starts first against Scott Dawson and he annihilates him. Roman tags in Lashley and Dawson and Lashley sends Dawson flying. Roman gets back in the ring and hits Superman punches on both members of the Revival. Roman gets ready for the spear but Lashley tags himself in and hits a spear on Dash Wilder to pick up the victory.
Winners: Roman Reigns & Bobby Lashley
Backstage with Finn Balor & KO
Finn Balor catches up with Baron Cobin and Kurt Angle, and he is smiling of course. He says that he is ready to do whatever it takes to be a part of the multi-man match at Extreme Rules. Corbin asks Balor what makes him think he even deserves to have an opportunity. Because he won the Universal Championship for a day?
Owens makes his voice heard, and says that Balor has had enough opportunities. Balor says that Corbin is short sighted, while Owens can’t even tell when there is danger right behind him. Right behind Owens is Mr. Monster In The Bank, Braun Strowman. Strowman says he is there to look over the back of his friend Finn Balor, and if Corbin and Owens want to step in the ring with those two, he is in.
Mojo Rawley vs. No Way Jose
Collar and elbow, Rawley rams Jose into the corner but he breaks and dances a little. Side headlock, shot off, Mojo with a shoulder block, off the ropes, drop down, leapfrog, shoulder block from No Way! Tossing Rawley to the floor, baseball slide, back in, Mojo cuts him off and mounts him for punches to the head. Three-quarter nelson applied, Jose out with a Stunner, elbow up in the corner, a forearm strike, duck a lariat and a big lariat of his own before finishing the sequence with a boot and a flapjack for two.
Big chop block from Rawley, off the ropes, running forearm in the corner and he hits a fireman’s carry drop for the pin.
Winner: Mojo Rawley
Mojo is interviewed after his victory. He says WWE is more competitive now than ever before, so to achieve anything greater than intermittent success, you gotta bring more to the table. He used to be known for staying hyped, but now he’s about staying focused.
Backstage Fight Continues For Hugger, Boss
Sasha Banks is walking backstage to the parking lot when Bayley rolls up and says she’s not done with her. Sasha tells her she’s done helping and she’s done being her friend and gets in her car. Bayley slaps the window and throws her water at the car but Banks drives off to send us to break.
Elias Performance
Elias is in the ring to sing us a song.
He launches right into it today, putting himself over and telling us to ask what he’d do in hard times. He brings up Seth Rollins cheating and says he got what he deserved when he lost the title tonight. He’s actually singing a complete song tonight without interruption, which is kinda neat.
Backstage with Seth Rollins
We go backstage with Renee Young, who’s going to interview Seth Rollins after a recap of his loss tonight. He says “former” stings a little and doesn’t want to make excuses. He laid down a challenge, Dolph answered, and he beat him. Drew McIntyre’s a problem, but he’s a problem that Seth has one week to solve, because next week he’s invoking his rematch clause and taking the championship back.
Finn Balor makes his entrance for our main event and we go to break.
Constable Baron Corbin & Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor & Mr. Monster in the Bank Braun Strowman
Corbin will be wrestling in his vest and dress shirt. Corbin will start against Finn Balor. They lock up, and Corbin powers him to the corner before getting a cheap shot in. Corbin punches him before whipping him hard into the opposite corner. Corbin connects with a straight right hand before Kevin Owens reluctantly tags in. Owens punches, but he quickly grabs his back. Owens sends Balor to the ropes and hits a back elbow. Owens quickly tags in Corbin. Corbin knees Balor in the midsection and stomps him down in the corner. Balor quickly escapes and tags in Strowman. Corbin looks reluctant about facing him before removing his vest and circling the ring. They lock up, and Strowman shoves him to the corner before posing. Strowman attacks and scares Owens off the apron. Corbin punches away at Strowman and taunts the crowd. Strowman then boots him and clotheslines him over the top rope. Strowman then knocks Owens off the apron. Balor tags in, and Strowman press slams him out of the ring onto Owens and Corbin.
We come back from the break to see Corbin applying a chin lock to Balor. Balor fights up and punches out, but Corbin quickly knees him. Corbin hits the ropes, but Balor dropkicks him. Owens blind tags in, sweeps the feet, pulls him out of the ring, and sends him into the barricade. Owens gets him in the ring for a senton splash. That move hurt Owens, and he covers for a two count. Owens stomps Balor before punching him in the spine. Owens then applies a chin lock. Balor fights up, but Owens quickly grounds him. Balor fights up a second time, but Owens stops him with a backbreaker. Corbin tags in and punches Balor in the ribs. Corbin sends Balor out of the ring and taunts Strowman. Corbin then exits the ring and sends Balor into the barricade twice. Corbin is looking for a count-out, but Balor gets on the apron at eight. Corbin punches Balor down for a two count. Corbin then applies a chin lock. Balor fights up, but Corbin whips him to the corner. Corbin runs into a boot from Balor, but he quickly comes back with the Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin screams in frustration. Owens tags back in and goes for a senton splash, but Balor moves. Owens writhes in agony on the mat. Corbin tags in and stops Balor from tagging in Strowman. Corbin sends him to his corner and clotheslines him before stomping him down. Owens tags back in and stomps away at Balor. Owens taunts Strowman and tags Corbin in again. Corbin stomps Balor a few times before Strowman runs in and attacks him with a forearm. Strowman then throws Balor across the ring, goes to the apron, and tags himself in.
Strowman hits Corbin with a pair of shoulder blocks followed by a corner clothesline. Strowman clubs Corbin down and covers, but releases when Owens runs in. Owens puts the brakes on and begs Strowman off. Strowman starts to chase him around the ring, but Corbin takes him out with a diving clothesline off the apron. Corbin gets Strowman in the ring and barely picks up a two count. Corbin punches Strowman, but Strowman quickly takes him down. The crowd is chanting, “Get these hands.” Strowman charges, but he hits the ring post shoulder-first when Corbin moves. Balor tags in and kicks Corbin in the head. Balor punches Corbin down before attacking Owens. Balor sweeps Corbin’s feet and hits a double stomp, but Owens breaks up the pin. Strowman runs Owens over with a shoulder block. Strowman then goes outside and puts Owens through the barricade with a shoulder block. In the ring, Corbin grabs Balor by the throat. Balor counters a chokeslam into a DDT. Balor dropkicks Corbin in the corner and goes to the top rope. Corbin crotches him up there and hits the End of Days for the win.
Winners: Constable Baron Corbin & Kevin Owens
