WWE Raw continues with some highlights of Apollo Crews’ US title victory. He’ll be defending his title later tonight against an opponent of his choosing. We then speak with Angel Garza on his assault of Kevin Owens last week which led to a major upset. After a recap, Zelina bickers about Kevin Owens accepting the match but Angel cuts her off. He says if people are upset with his actions, they clearly never wanted something as badly as he does. He stares directly at Charly Caruso as he does this and gives her a rose. He walks off and she’s pleased with this but then Zelina Vega takes the rose and rips it up. Shawn Michaels talks up the Edge/Orton Greatest Match Ever tagline. Shawn says talk about a high bar, lot of pressure. Talks up his own greatest hits lists before saying we’d be here all day talking about them. HBK says as far as who wins, he’s going with Edge. He thinks time, wisdom, knowledge and even a little faith gives Edge… the edge.
We see some highlights of McIntyre vs. Lashley. Lana is complaining to MVP about his relation with her husband. MVP stops her and tells her that unlike her, he has actual work to do in getting ready for his match. He says he has neither the time nor the desire to get sucked into her nonsense. Lana tells him he’s a leech just trying to latch onto her husband’s career. MVP says that’s not even remotely true but let’s just say it was; wouldn’t that make two of us? Lana stares him down for a moment, smirks and then slaps him across the face. After she walks away, MVP is smiling even as he holds his stinging cheek.
After a commercial break, amazingly we see a replay of what happened at the start of the show less than an hour ago, the opening promo and the match, complete with graphics and dramatic music set to it. It’s hilariously obvious that this was a pre-taped show as there’s no way this stuff would look like this a half hour later in a live show. It gets the grainy filter treatment when the heels get the upper hand and everything. Not to mention the big sound effects to go along with the various Stomps.
Apollo Crews comes to the ring. He’s asked if he’s decided who his first opponent will be. Crews says there’s a whole long list of superstars he’d love to defend against but this superstar is truly deserving… it’s Kevin Owens! Wow. Kev makes his way out and congratulates him. Says he appreciates the offer and he would hate to turn down title opportunities and it’s been too long since he’s had one but after what happened with Angel last week he almost feels like this is out of pity. Apollo says there’s no pity to it, this is out of respect. Kevin says he feels bad. Crews tells him he deserves it, Owens says he knows but he feels bad because after all these years, his first title reign is ending after a week!
WWE United States Championship: Apollo Crews (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Kevin with a waistlock, Apollo reverses, Kev reverses as well… shot off, duck under, dropkick! Crews with a headlock, Kev reverses. Crews shoots him off, Owens with a shoulder block! Apollo kips up but Owens surprises him with a dropkick! Clotheslines him to the floor, hits the ropes for a tope – Crews evades and Owens hits the breaks. He follows him outside, they slug it out, Kevin whips him to the apron but Crews leaps up to it for a moonsault press, Owens avoids it, Crews lands on his feet – Owens leaps to the apron and comes off with a big senton! He throws him into the ring, goes up top and nails a Senton Bomb for a nearfall!
Looks for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, Crews stops this with a Pump Kick but Owens with a kick – it appears to have gone low! Referee stops Owens and is checking on whether or not Crews can keep going. He comes up holding his groin. Owens asks if he’s okay… Crews surprises him with a rush of strikes! They fight to the outside and are trading punches as we go to break. We come back and hilariously they’re still trading but in the ring. Crews wins out until Owens nails a headbutt! Hits the ropes, Crews stops him with a pump kick, powerslam for a nearfall! Wants an Olympic Slam, Owens escapes, superkick for a nearfall! Owens up top for a lovely moonsault, nearfall!
Kevin whips him, wants a Pop-Up Powerbomb but Crews escapes it, enziguri nailed, Olympic Slam for a cloooose nearfall! But he quickly follows up with a Standing Moonsault for a narrow 2 count! Crews with a Stinger Splash! Backs up slow… hits a second one. Owens demands more, he goes for it but Owens evades him, superkick! Goes up top once again, Senton but this time Crews gets the knees up! As they’re both down though in comes Angel Garza and Andrade to attack them both for the double DQ!
Winner: N/A
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
