Another Monday, another edition of WWE Raw. Previews have been published for the AJ/Carrilo, Charlotte/Asuka matches and the Rusev situation. Jordan Huie of the Overtimer here, to give you a live play-by-play of the show as it goes down. Watch this space!
We open the show to see the entire locker room surrounding the ring. Seth Rollins steps inside the ring, as the losing record last night for Raw is being brought up. “CM Punk” chant here, unsurprising, still in Chicago and here’s Seth. He says he tried to get him here, but he didn’t show up. He wants to sit behind a desk in LA and talk about a change that he’s too afraid to try and make himself. But this isn’t about him, it’s about us in this locker room. “NXT” chant starts up. Agrees with them, saying last night NXT mopped the floor with Raw. Pop. Seth says he hates that because he’s been a fan of Monday Night Raw his entire life. Mentions many past greats. But to see what it has become, it breaks his heart. This show is better than that.
Seth addresses the roster around him and says this will be harsh, but last night, they all sucked. Unsurprisingly they’re not too happy about that. Chant of “You Suck”, “So Do You”. Rollins says he’s trying to do the right thing and right the ship here, we all dropped the ball. Went from being the A-Show to the C-Show. We need to take that Raw flag and plant it into the ground and make this place great again. Boos intensify. Seth says he believes in Monday Night Raw. If anyone wants to speak up, now would be the time.
He singles out Randy Orton, who gets a decent reception. Seth says he was the weak link on the squad last night. Asks if he has anything to say. Randy opts to just turn and leave. Seth tells him to go ahead and leave, he’s been here long enough, go ahead and leave. Seth turns to Charlotte, calls her a leader, meant to lead the ladies into the Survivor Series match last night but wasn’t even the last standing for Team Raw. “And you call yourself a Flair!” Jeers for that. She, too, turns and leaves. Seth turns to AOP who weren’t on the show last night, how they’ve been talking for weeks about violence for the sake of violence, could’ve used them. AOP make their leave quickly. Seth says Rey Mysterio, more than anybody, let all of them down! Big boos. Seth says he took down Lesnar and took the title back to Raw twice, Rey couldn’t do it with a lead pipe and his dumb kid helping him out! Huge heat, Rey leaves as the crowd chants “Asshole”.
Seth is outraged at the response. Says these are the things they’re all thinking. The entire roster has drifted away, except for Kevin Owens who comes up onto the apron. Crowd chants his name. Seth says in case you didn’t know, his new name is Mr. NXT. But says this is a Town Hall Meeting, this is an open forum, come in and say what you gotta say. Owens enters the ring. Seth says this is coming from his heart, he loves this place, these ropes, this canvas, every single guy and girl in the back, he sleeps, he eats, he breathes Monday Night Raw because he wants it to be the best show on the planet. It’s not about him. But what does Kevin do? Says he just shows up, he’s a lazy piece of crap. You want his spot, you want to be Seth Rollins? Tells him he’ll never be Seth Rollins. Starts to reel himself back, says he’s coming from a good place. This is the right thing to do. Owens hesitates… then plants Rollins with a Stunner!
Welp. Rollins is officially a heel now. That was a pretty cool promo, solid opening segment.
Backstage after commercial, Seth is disgusted. Interviewer Girl #1 asks if he failed at what he hoped. Rollins is mad, saying Owens will have to learn things the hard way. So tonight, him and Kev, in the ring – that’s a challenge Kev, see you out there.
Lashley and Lana emerge as we see Rusev being thrown out of the arena due to the restraining order. Titus is in the ring to get beaten up.
Bobby Lashley vs. Titus O’Neil
Bobby takes Titus into the corner, no clean break but Titus reverses for a big chop. Lashley with an arm wringer, knee to the gut, elbow to the back. Hits the ropes but eats a chop. Titus charges, but Lashley with a huuuuge one armed Spinebuster! But then Rusev jumps from the crowd to attack him!
Winner: Bobby Lashley (By DQ)
Superkick takes Lashley to the floor where Rusev just keeps on a-pounding him. Throws Lashley into the steps! And again into the barricade. Lashley fights back, they brawl up the ramp. Short-arm clothesline from Rusev! He rips off his jacket. Throws Lashley into a very shakey LED board. Slams his face into the broadcast table. Throws away one of the commentator’s chairs, knocks him onto the table. Rusev pursues onto the table, until the police come in to grab Rusev. He’s handcuffed as boos pour down, pulled away from Lashley as Lana hollers at him. Lana helps Lashley off the table, until Rusev breaks free from the cops and dashes forward for a shoulder block that takes Lashley off the stage! Big chant of “Rusev Day”. Cops struggle with Rusev… he kicks at a steel framing and it falls onto Lashley! Huge pop! Rusev looks wild-eyed as he’s pulled away, shouting, “I’m mad!” Lana is stunned!
After commercial, we see that Lashley has been stretchered off during the break.
Now, AOP finally out for their debut.
AOP vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
Hawkins and Akam start out, Hawkins quickly gets taken down and pummeled. Razar tags in, Last Chapter nailed already. Razar with driving knees to the face of Ryder after pulling him in. Tag to Akam, stereo running DVDs into the corner. They’re a little out of sync, probably because they’re out of practice! Super Collider follows! Tag to Tazar, Neckbreaker/Powerbomb finishes off Hawkins.
Winners: AOP
Quick win. S’about time.
Andrade vs. Akira Tozawa
Tozawa shoves Andrade. Andrade answers with a quick powerbomb. Stomps him into the corner. Forearms. Pulls him up, big chop. Driving knee to the gut. Stomps, knee drop. Arm wringer, Tozawa fights to his feet but gets cut off. Big suplex, Andrade with the roll for the three amigos but Tozawa counters the second with an inside cradle. Quick kickout, Akira with an enziguri, Snap German Suplex! Tozawa to the top rope, but Andrade crotches him and sends him to the mat. Stomps ensue. Andrade smacks at the legs, hits the opposite corner, charging meteora. Pulls Tozawa up to his feet. Hooks him, Hammerlock DDT, that’s that.
Winner: Andrade
Easy victory, decent action in a short match, more momentum for Andrade.
Aleister Black backstage warns Buddy Murphy that he’ll wish he hadn’t picked a fight with him.
And now, with the old Hardyz theme, a sudden Matt Hardy appearance! He’s got the broken hair but throwback 90s gear. Interesting. He’ll be competing next.
Buddy Murphy vs. Matt Hardy
Hardy and Buddy trade shots, Hardy goes for the Corner Ten Punches but Murphy slips between his legs and gets him with the Cheeky Nandos Kick. Posts Hardy and he falls to the floor. Murphy rams Matt into the apron, throws him into the ring. Goes up top, Matt forces him off, hits the Side Effect! But he’s too damaged to take full advantage. Matt with the boots up off a charge, Elbow Drop off the second rope to the back of the head. The Hardyz will ALWAYS be over. Matt goes for the Twist of Fate, Murphy shoves him away, pumping knee to the face! Running knee to the head follows, Omega style. Kamigoye for the win!
Winner: Buddy Murphy
Murphy bleeding from the nose, but earning another solid win. Nice to see Matt back, unexpected.
Still bleeding, Murphy gets on the mic and calls out Aleister Black, mockingly saying he will pick a fight with him. Black makes his dramatic entrance, and beelines into the ring! Standing toe to toe with him! Murphy charges, but takes a leg kick. Spinning back elbow nails him in the ear! Push kick, pump knee to the face! This takes him to the outside and Murphy is now struggling to stand! He stumbles around ringside as Aleister stands his ground, crowd chanting “Aleister”. Murphy jumps to the apron, Black does not flinch. Buddy opts to back off back up the ramp as Black’s music plays.
Backstage, Charlotte Flair addresses last night’s Survivor Series match. Says that she never claimed to be a team player, she was just the only one qualified to Team Raw. Says she’s obviously still bitter about losing the SmackDown Women’s title to her this year, and no one can forget her ending the undefeated streak and destroying her mystique. Tonight she’s going to remind her that she is the 10-time Women’s Champion and the Queen. Woo!
AJ Styles is in the ring for his title defense, Humberto Carrillo makes his way out – but the OC jump him before he makes it into the ring! He fights back as best he can, but eats a Magic Killer onto the steps!
OC converge into the ring as Ricochet comes to check on Humberto. AJ with a mic says it doesn’t sound good for Humberto, he does seem medically cleared for tonight’s match. Says that’s unfortunate, it really is. And speaking of unfortunate, he thought Ricochet was a superhero! But he didn’t make it out in time to save his little buddy here. OC mock him for not bringing his cape. Ricochet with a mic, asks if this is what the great AJ Styles has become, taking out anyone who might take the US title off of him. Ricochet says how about he challenge him for the United States Championship! AJ turns him down, says he signed for a match with Humberto and Humberto alone and he just got carried to the back.
Randy Orton interrupts! Says he thinks the people of Chicago would love nothing more than to see him RKO AJ Styles’ ass right through the canvas. Demands that he put his title up for grabs against him tonight. Chant of “RKO”, loud one. AJ says maybe he forgot but the last time the two of them were competing against each other it was in a bigger and better city. Orton doesn’t disagree. AJ brings up that he beat him at WrestleMania, has nothing to prove to two guys that he’s already beaten. And now Drew McIntyre’s theme hits. Drew talks himself up for having a sexy accent, beating the Monster Among Men and defeating the UK Champ Walter. Says Chicago doesn’t deserve the match but challenges AJ Styles anyhow. AJ tells him after stealing the show last night, he’s a little sore…
Rey Mysterio emerges now, says last night he stepped in and out of a fight against Brock Lesnar and you don’t hear him complaining. All you’re doing is making up excuses because you don’t want to defend that US title. But he doesn’t wanna let him cheat these people from Chi-Town out of a title match. Big pop! Demands it be the two of them for the US title. AJ chides everyone, says they haven’t earned anything and on principle alone, he declines! Ricochet suggests that the four of them have a four way and the winner goes on to challenge AJ Styles for the US title tonight! AJ says that sounds ridiculous, but Gallows likes the idea. So he asks Karl instead, Anderson says it’s pretty cool. AJ then tells them they’re on – they can beat the crap out of each other and he’ll pick the bones!
That four way is next!!!
Ricochet vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Drew McIntyre
Bell rings, brawl kicks off, Ricochet with a thrust kick to Orton, Rey with a crucifix gets slammed into Randy. Rey popped up, into a headscissor to Drew taking him to the floor, Ricochet with a tope to Randy! Ricochet and Rey in the ring. Shake of the hands, Orton into the ring, gets a double dropkick. Ricochet with a baseball slide to Drew, taken to the apron, WWE Headkick to Rey. Ricochet runs off the apron for a crossbody to McIntyre but gets caught! Bodyslam onto the floor! In the ring, Orton throws Rey out, he does his usual lawndart bump onto the floor, into a splash to Ricochet!
McIntyre throws Ricochet into the ring. Orton with the arms hooked, Drew with a knife edge chop. McIntyre with a suplex toss. Ricochet and Rey now down in opposite corners, Randy and Drew work together to pummel. Orton with an uppercut, Drew with a chop to Ricochet. Ricochet tries and fails at fighting back, Drew with tons of stomps. Rey comes in but eats a european uppercut, Drew dispatches of him. Ricochet thrown to the corner, gets the boot up on Randy, enziguri to Drew, running dropkick! Ricochet with a springboard, Drew avoids him, Ricochet rebounds – into the Snap Powerslam from Orton! West Coast Pop from Rey takes out Randy, springboard crossbody to Drew! Rey and Ricochet fighting hard, Rey wins out, goes up top, pulls Ricochet up with him. Ricochet hooking Rey… throws him to the apron, McIntyre goes up top with him, Ricochet turns him upside down in the Tree of Woe. Mysterio still there clubbering Ricochet. Orton in now, shoves Ricochet to the floor! Takes Rey higher up top and he pursues now. Hooks for the superplex… but Drew crunches up for the Spider German Suplex taking both men to the mat!
Jeers as the OC emerges on the stage, commercial break. We come back with an exchange of punches with Ricochet and Drew, Orton blindsides, Draping DDT to Ricochet, McIntyre breaks up the pin. Drew with a wicked chop to Orton. Orton responds, no sold. Drew with a LOUD chop to Orton! Orton’s ear is ringing. Orton feigns responding, but gets a bunch of european uppercuts instead. Glasgow Kiss headbutt from Drew! Ricochet with a springboard clothesline! Standing Shooting Star! Springboard kick to Rey, hops up onto McIntyre’s shoulders, wants a Poison Rana but McIntyre holds fast, swings him for the Reverse Alabama Slam but Ricochet counters with a victory roll! McIntyre kicks out, lariato, Deadlift Sit-Out Powerbomb for a nearfall! Drew wants a Claymore, Orton cuts him off with an RKO! Cover, but the OC pulls Orton out to the floor and ram him into the barricade!
In the ring, Rey is on the apron looking for a springboard. Springs off for the Dragonrana, Ricochet stands his ground and whisks him off, Rey counters a powerslam with an inside cradle, and that’s that!
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Rey-Rey vs. AJ! Sounds like a good time to me.
WWE United States Championship: AJ Styles (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
AJ swiftly swarms in, pounding Rey in the corner, driving him into various turnbuckle pads. Rey elbows his way out, hits the ropes, pendulum backbreaker from AJ! Hoists Rey to his feet, hooks him, snap suplex! Rey rolls to the outside, AJ pursues, throws him into the barrier, chops him up. Throws him into the ring. Rey fighting back, goes up top but AJ clips his legs out from under him, tree of woe for Rey. AJ stomps him out, basement dropkick to the face of Rey. Cover, Rey grabs the rope to break it up. AJ grinds him with a side headlock. Rey with elbows, ’til AJ snaps him to the mat. AJ gets Rey into the ropes, he struggles mightily but the catapult slings him into the middle rope! AJ wants a suplex, Rey escapes, AJ with a whip, Rey wants a springboard but his knee gives out. He knocks AJ away, but goes for it again, AJ catches the springboard moonsault, but Rey escapes and shoves him shoulder first into the post!
Rey with an enziguri – AJ gets draped onto the middle rope! Rey hits the ropes – but Anderson clips his ankle to stop the 619! And now the OC are being ejected to a big ovation! AJ is furious with the ref as we go to commercial break. AJ with a power whip sending Rey bouncing out of the corner. AJ drives Rey headfirst into the turnbuckle pad. AJ hoists him onto the top rope. Pursues, but Rey knocks him to the mat. AJ forces him into the tree of woe, stomps the face. AJ tries for another basement dropkick, but Rey avoids it and AJ crotches the hell out of himself on the post! Rey goes up top! West Coast Pop! Hits the ropes, spinning headscissors takedown! Rey with the corner ten punches! Whips him, AJ reverses the whip into the corner, Rey with the boots up. Wheelbarrow Bulldog! Cover for a nearfall.
Chant of “619” as Rey goes up top, AJ cuts him off but Rey bites the hand! AJ rips him off anyway, Ushigoroshi for a nearfall! Rey counters the Styles Clash, CODE RED FOR A NEARFALL! Rey with a Springboard Headscissors takes him to the middle rope! 619! But AJ flies right into the ref! Rey slips in to pin but the ref is out. OC swarm onto the ring and attack Rey! Randy Orton shockingly out for the save, takes out Gallows and Anderson. Into the ring, AJ clips him with a shot, wants the Phenomenal Forearm but Orton evades! Mysterio nails the 619 on AJ again! Orton with the RKO to AJ!!!! Mysterio with the springboard frog splash and he gets the win!
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Wow! I did not see that one coming. Awesome match and cool to see Rey getting some gold again.
Backstage Owens takes up the mic and says he knows Seth is doing everything he can to make this company better and make this show better. He says Seth looks at him and says he’s not everything he could be and should strive to be more. But Owens says the difference between the two of them is that Kevin has known who he is for the last 20 years, ever since he first laced up the boots. He knows who he is. He will always be Kevin Owens and he is perfectly fine with that. But Rollins has tried his hardest to be what he thinks the company needs him to be, but it’s only turned him into a miserable, whiny piece of crap. He says Mr. Crossfit can call him Mr. NXT if he wants to, because he will turn Monday Night Rollins into the Kevin Owens Show.
Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair
Battle takes them outside and back into the ring, Charlotte with back elbows, Asuka with an arm wringer. Charlotte rolls through, single leg, she wants the Figure Eight but Asuka kicks her away. Charge, Asuka with a boot up. Kairi messes with Charlotte’s ankles, distracting her as Asuka gets her with a hip attack! Cover for 2. Asuka again working over Charlotte’s arm. Charlotte escapes but takes a kick to the face. Roundhouse kicks to the chest, Charlotte fights her way back up and catches a kick. Misses a clothesline though, Asuka with a combination of strikes, spinning backfist. Asuka hits the ropes but eats a big boot! Cover gets 2. Asuka rolls to the floor. Charlotte stares Kairi down as she pursues… and she bolts after her, chasing her out of the ringside area! Commercial break as Charlotte turns and walks back to Asuka.
We come back from commercial to see Charlotte dump Asuka to the floor, baseball slide wipes her out. Takes her into the ring, Asuka rolls her into a triangle choke, Charlotte turns that into a pin for a 1 count, punches her way out of the hold. Asuka reverses a whip into the corner, Charlotte escapes to the apron but eats a boot to the face. Asuka wants the hip attack but Charlotte stops it with a kick. Charlotte into the ring with a running big boot, but Asuka avoids it and nails a Release German Suplex! Kawada Kicks! Hits the ropes, PK but Charlotte turns this into a roll-up for a 2 count! Asukalock outta nowhere, Charlotte barely escapes, ducks a roundhouse kick and hits a forearm. Asuka charges but gets taken into an STO Backbreaker. Charging clothesline. Stalking, chops to the chest. Throws her to the ropes, Fallaway Slam, kip up! Charlotte steps over Asuka as she goes up top. Moonsault, Asuka avoids her, Charlotte lands on her feet but flips right into the senton for a nearfall!
Charlotte back suplexes her way out of a side headlock. Asuka wants the feet up, Charlotte whips them away, pulls her to the center, charges for the spear but Asuka turns this into a sort-of Codebreaker for the nearfall! Charlotte with a takedown, Natural Selection gets turned into a Triangle Choke! Charlotte stacks her up, hooks the legs, turns this into a Boston Crab! Asuka squirming. Makes it to the bottom rope. Charlotte pulls her to the center, stomp to the face. Asuka with a roundhouse, Charlotte responds with a back elbow. Knee drop to the singled out leg of Asuka! Roundhouse kick nailed, but Charlotte bounces off for the big spear! Nearfall.
Kairi Sane emerges from the crowd, Charlotte pursues and chases, grabs her off the barrier and posts her! Asuka thrown into the ring. Charlotte pursues, Kairi distracts the ref as Asuka spits the mist into the face of Charlotte! Asuka rolls her up and stacks her up to hide the paint, that is that!
Winner: Asuka
Good stuff there, real good stuff!
Erick Rowan vs. Job-boy
Job-boy swiftly slips outside and peeks into Rowan’s cage, which infuriates him. Rowan plows right through him, Powerbombs him into a post! Throws him into the ring, shouts “What are you doing?!” Chokeslam. And then a second one. Puts a boot on his chest for the cover.
Winner: Erick Rowan
Squash.
OC backstage are despondent. Interviewer Girl #3 approaches for comment. AJ stammers, seemingly can’t respond. Keeps seething. Finally says “Randy Orton…” and they walk off.
Interviewer Girl #1 speaks to Lana. Lana says that her soon-to-be-ex husband Rusev is a danger to himself and all of society. So she’s had to petition multiple courts with multiple restraining orders. Claims that he is obsessed with her, and WWE should fire him and send that animal straight back to Bulgaria. She says that many are asking about her Bobby’s condition after that attack. But she’s handling it. After that very traumatic experience, she’s going to be okay. Thank you for asking.
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
Immediate brawl to the outside. Owens throws Seth into the barrier. Big forearm to the face. Chop. Throws him into the ring, Owens to the apron, Rollins with a forearm. Hits the ropes for a dive but Kevin cuts him off. Back in the ring, chops him into the corner. Owens whipped to the corner, boot up, dropkick off the second rope, senton for a 2 count. Charge, Inverted STO into the second turnbuckle. Rollins with a single leg boston crab. Owens kicks Seth away. Big chop. Hoists him onto his shoulders, Rollins escapes, slingblade. Running knee to the back takes Owens to the floor. Seth hits the ropes, suicide dive! And a second one! Throws Owens into the ring because heel Rollins only does TWO consecutive dives, springboard knee missed, superkick from Owens! Rollins bails… grabs a chair! Ref gets in his face, Rollins is losing it as we go to break.
Rollins hooks Owens on the top rope as we come back, Owens drops him to the mat! Swanton, but Rollins gets the knees up! Cover for a nearfall. Rollins with a stomp, knee drop. Mounts him and sends punch after punch. Chinlock. Fishhook. Big shot. Owens with a wicked chop, but Rollins brushes it off. Answers with several chops, a headbutt! Rollins throws him to the ropes, Owens plants him with a DDT outta nowhere! Owens evades an Idiot Charge, Cannonball in the corner! Owens up top, Rollins rolls from the ring. Owens off the apron with a brutal swanton! Throws Rollins into the ring. Frog splash! Nearfall! Shoots him to the ropes, Rollins leap frogs out of it. Back body drop takes him onto his feet, gets the boot up, Blockbuster, nearfall, but Rollins keeps him hooked for the Falcon Arrow for a nearfall! Rollins with a “Burn It Down” signal, wants the Stomp, Owens avoids it, shoots him to the ropes, Pop-Up Powerbomb for a nearfall!!!
Superkicks traded, Owens with a Stunner! But he’s too winded to capitalize. And now, AOP emerge! They waltz into the ring. Rollins and Owens in opposing corners… Owens throws hands, and as he gets stomped, the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Kevin Owens (By DQ)
Akam and Razar assault Owens and throw him into the post as the crowd chants “Bullshit”. And they post him again. A third time, and a fourth. They hold Owens’ head against the post, running big boot into the post! They hoist Owens up into the ring, toss into a GTS! They then turn towards Rollins who glances up at them. He looks intense as he struggles his way up with the ropes. He yells at them to come on, but instead they turn and walk out of the ring. He stares at them as they leave… Owens struggling his way up, Rollins plants him with the Stomp! Rollins shouts at Owens, nails another Stomp as we fade to black.
Not that this is saying a ton, but probably in the Top 5 Monday Night Raws of 2019.
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