WWE Monday Night Raw continues. Big Show comes up to Christian backstage. Says it’s no coincidence that Orton’s asking for an Unsanctioned match, it’s not just because it’s the only way to get him in the ring, it’s to be able to do anything he wants to him. Christian asks if he thinks he shouldn’t take the match. Show tells him that it’s not his place to tell him what to do and if it were up to him, he’d want to smash that smirk off his face. Christian thanks him and tells him he knows exactly what to do. Backstage, Natalya berates Liv Morgan and says she knows now why Ruby Riott left her. Morgan storms off of course. Nattie whines about how no one respects her even though she built the division. Lana overhears this and laments how she was supposed to be the wife of the WWE Champion tonight but instead she got humiliated. Nattie says she knows exactly how she feels.
Then, out comes Christian to the stage to finally address Orton’s challenge. He says if it’s One More Match that Orton wants… then it’s One More Match that he’s gonna get, and he rips off his dress shirt to a big applause and his music hits. Then, MVP backstage confronts Apollo Crews. MVP points out that he’s one of the longest reigning US Champions ever and if Apollo wants to stay champ, he’ll drop the fighting champ shtick before he burns out. Crews says the way he sees it, if he’s not a fighting champion, he’s not really a champion at all. MVP rephrases: if you want to keep the US title, you’ll have MVP in your corner.
Now Ric Flair is talking to his daughter Charlotte backstage and asks if there’s anyone getting under her skin. Charlotte says of course there is, you know her, she does what she wants. She gives him a woo. I have no idea what the point of this segment was. Now Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring as we see a replay of the US title finish from last night once again. He will be facing off with Shelton Benjamin who in an inset promo tells Apollo if he loses to him tonight, he better hope MVP’s offer still stands because it’ll take everything he has to fend off his challenge.
United States Champion Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin (Non-title)
Shelton immediately takes Crews to the corner, sends him flying with a German Suplex! Charging double knees in the corner, cover for a 2 count! Shelton with an arm scissor. Apollo fights his way up, exchange of forearms! Crews wins out but a knee to the gut stops that, Shelton hits the ropes but a back elbow catches him, Apollo ducks the Dragon Whip and there’s an enziguri! Standing Moonsault for a 2 count! Apollo looks for a Military Press but Benjamin slips behind him for a roll up, legs on the ropes but the ref spots it. So Crews returns the favor, grabs the ropes on a roll up and there’s the win!
Winner: Apollo Crews
Apollo is cackling as he makes his leave.
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