WWE Raw results & Recap: Welcome to the aftermath of Stomping Grounds with this week’s Raw recap!
Seth Rollins started it off, fresh off having Becky Lynch save his championship.
He wasted little time in mentioning how Baron Corbin thought he’d take his title, and Becky Lynch came out in response. The chants for Lynch were just a little louder than the ones for Rollins, and he pointed out she interrupted him and the two shared a short laugh.
He praised Baron Corbin for being smart enough to realize “he couldn’t outwrestle me, couldn’t out fight me, but he wasn’t smart enough to realize I’ve got the best backup on the planet.”
Her response? “You might say, it pays to be the Man’s man.” She then went on to criticize Lacey Evans.
Baron Corbin’s music started, and when they were facing the ramp, Evans attacked Lynch. Lynch gave Rollins a shove after he pulled her off of Evans, then she went after Evans and Corbin came out to ambush Rollins.
Once they were forced out, Corbin pointed out how Rollins needed to hand his belt to Lynch and go make her a sandwich for her saving his title.
Corbin and Evans challenged Rollins and Lynch to a mixed tag match at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, with the stipulation that Corbin and Evans never challenge them again. After a brief discussion, Corbin agreed on an added stipulation, to which Rollins accepted sight unseen. Corbin’s stipulation? Both belts are on the line. Winners take all.
Near the end of the first hour, we saw Evans and Corbin making plans to remove Lynch from the equation.
AJ Styles beat Ricochet by pinfall
Earlier, Ricochet was interviewed backstage, and when he was asked how it felt to win his first WWE championship, he said he’s still trying to digest it, and he doesn’t want it to end.
He made a point of saying he “I intend to prove I’m worthy to hold this championship.”
Once the match started, Gallows and Anderson came out to ringside, but Styles made them head back to the locker room so nothing would taint his match.
As has become the norm lately, Ricochet was involved in the best match of the night, once again showing his heart and frustrating his opponent by refusing to be pinned.
After avoiding a 630, AJ Styles hit Ricochet with a Phenomenal Forearm for the pin.
After the match, Styles helped Ricochet up and handed him the United States belt out of respect. The babyface push continues
2 on 1 Handicap Match: Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon ended in no contest
This match was going pretty much as expected with McIntyre hitting Reigns with two Claymores sandwiched around a spear by Shane.
But when Shane went to hit with a Coast to Coast, the bell tolled and the Undertaker appeared. He caught Shane and chokeslammed him, then hit McIntyre with a Big Boot before clothslining both men over the top rope.
The Undertaker ended it by taking his customary knee to signal the start of his music.
While this wasn’t expected, adding the Undertaker can only help keep things in line as he’s long been considered “the Principal” and those lagging were often sent to “the Principal’s Office” to be set straight.
The Rest of Raw
Eight Man Tag Team Elimination: The Usos beat The Revival (pinfall), Daniel Bryan and Rowen, and the New Day
First Elimination: Wood pinned Bryant
Disharmony was abundant as Bryan was tagged out by Dawson to start, then his Dawson by accident with a suicide dive when Woods avoided it. After Woods kicked out of a rollup, Dawson hit Bryan in retaliation, and Bryan was pinned.
Second Elimination: Wilder pinned Woods
A quick exchange following the first elimination saw Woods facing both of the Revival, jumping into a double team for the pin.
Deciding Elimination: Jey Uso pinned Wilder
Wilder prepared to superplex Jimmy, but Jey tagged in without his knowledge, then knocked Dawson down as he climbed another rope, then hit Wilder with a splash after the superplex for the pin.
Miz TV Carmella and 24/7 Champion R-Truth
Truth came out a little paranoid and checked under the ring before the Miz informed him the 24/7 Championship rules were suspended during the interview. The Miz then recapped Truth’s winning the title back from Drake Maverick at Maverick’s wedding. The Miz was a little upset at Truth doing that at a wedding, and got into it with the fans briefly, asking if they condoned it. The overwhelming answer was, “Yes!”
Truth thanked them, then said, “Miz, this 48/7 European Championship ain’t no joke. I ain’t been able to eat, drink, or be merry. If you know what I mean. “I even have WWE Superstars showing up at my crib… my house, dressed like the police.”
Carmella defended him by pointing out interrupting a wedding may be extreme, but everyone’s after him.
Drake Maverick came out, claiming his wife won’t talk to him, won’t go on a honeymoon with him, and after a few “Whats” admitted their marriage wasn’t consummated.
By mixing up the words “consummated” and “Constipated” when offering Maverick some advice on saving his marriage, R-Truth continued displaying the quirkiness that’s helped him make the 24/7 title the most entertaining one.
Maverick asked for a rematch, just the two of them so he could win back the love of his wife — the 24/7 title, not his wife, in Maverick’s own words
R-Truth agreed, especially since no other superstars would be allowed at ringside during the match.
24/7 Championship: R-Truth (c) beat Drake Maverick by pinfall
After a brief exchange, Truth hit Maverick, with a What’s Up for the pin.
Without wasting any time, the locker room emptied and Cedric Alexander nearly got the pin, but No Way Jose broke it up, and Truth and Carmella took off through the audience.
Maverick left the ring heartbroken and crying.
Tug of War: Braun Strowman beat Bobby Lashley by pulling Lashley over the line
Earlier in the day, Braun Strowman pulled a 17,000 pound tractor trailer to warm up for his tug-of-war match with Bobby Lashley.
Bobby Lashley attempted to pull a telephone pole out of the ground, but his rope broke.
Lashley appeared to have it won as Strowman was on the line, but Strowman had only been playing and pulled Lashley over with a couple of pulls.
Lashley then attacked Strowman, using the rope to blind him.
The Viking Raiders beat Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows by pinfall
After interrupting an AJ Styles interview with their party, Gallows and Anderson swore they had everything under control and headed for the ring. Styles didn’t look like he believed them.
Erik survived a Boot of Doom, and Ivar cleared the ring, and suicide dove through the ropes to take out Gallows. A Viking Experience on Anderson ended it with a pin.
24/7 Championship: Heath Slater beat R-Truth by pinfall
This time, R-Truth interrupted a match between Mojo Whiley and Heath Slater as ran into the ring in his quest to remain 24/7 champion. After backdropping Kalisto over the top rope, Truth held the rope down do Whiley went over, then Slater hit him with a reverse neckbreaker for the pin.
24/7 Championship: R-Truth beat Heath Slater by pinfall
In his effort to escape, Slater ducked back in the ring, and once he fought off a couple of Superstars chasing him, Truth hit him with a What’s up for the pin. Eight time champion, now.
24/7 Championship: Cedric Alexander beat R-Truth by pinfall
As Truth celebrated, Alexander entered the ring behind him, hit him with a fireman’s carry for the pin.
24/7 Championship: EC3 beat Cedric Alexander by pinfall
During his escape, Alexander is caught from behind by EC3, who reverse DDT’d Alexander into the belt for the pin.
24/7 Championship” R-Truth beat EC3 by pinfall
Once again (Sense a trend yet? Lol), celebrating cost someone. As EC3 celebrated, holding the belt high and walking backwards up the ramp, Carmella came out and took the belt from him. When he turned to go after her, R-Truth rolled him up for the pin.
Truth then took off once again.
He’s now the nine-time champion. How long with this one last? Any bets?
Kofi Kingston beat Sami Zayn by pinfall
In an impromptu Kevin and Sami show, Sami inquired why Kingston was a paper champion, and why did he need everyone else’s help?
Kingston then threw his MITB match with Owens and Stomping Grounds where he beat Ziggler all by himself.
In one of the better matches of the night, Zayn nearly had the pin after he hit with a Blue Thunder Powerbomb, the counted a springboard with a boot to Kingston’s face for another near fall.
Kingston countered a Blue Thunder Bomb into a rollup pin.
As Kingston was leaving, Owens challenged him to a match there and then.
Kofi Kingston beat Kevin Owens by countout
After a couple of Owens’ superkicks, the match went outside the ring, where Kingston hit with an SOS, then slid into the ring to beat the countout.
Samoa Joe attacked Kingston from behind on the ramp and slapped a Coquina Clutch on Kingston, knocking him out.
Guess we know what he hasn’t been too vocal after losing the United States Championship, huh?
Alexa Bliss beat Naomi by pinfall
Earlier in the night, Nikki Cross apologized to Alexa Bliss, and Bliss responded by saying to “learn from it.” Cross then left her alone so Bliss could come up with a plan to get a rematch with Bayley.
While off by herself, Cross was approached by Natalya and Naomi, who tried to tell her about what Bliss was really like, and when Cross started to defend her, Bliss stepped in, interrupting them and accusing Cross of backstabbing her.
While Cross was in Bliss’ corner, Natalya wasn’t in Naomi’s, kinda throwing the idea of a tag match out the window. For the moment.
After exchanging pin attempts, Bliss was outside the ring with Cross when Naomi baseball slid into Cross (Bliss ducked out of the way again). Bliss grabbed Naomi when she climbed into the ring and hit her with a DDT for the pin.
After the match, Bliss continued assaulting Naomi and had Cross come into the ring to hit Naomi while she held her. Cross shoved her down instead, and Natalya came out to stop them from doing any more damage, setting up a tag match.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross beat Naomi and Natalya by pinfall
This was another quick match as Cross hit her finisher, and Bliss blind tagged herself in to steal the pin. Cross then celebrated the win with her, seemingly oblivious to how she’s being used. This is going to end so badly for Bliss when Cross wakes up.
Final thoughts
An overall good show, the WWE appears to have turned the corner, and bringing the Undertaker back is a definite plus. While some of the storylines are being overextended (Shane McMahon, anyone?), using Owens and Zayne to bring Samoa Joe in as a new rival for Kofi Kingston works, especially if they’re allowed to move on to other rivalries themselves.
One thing that was missing was Firefly Funhouse. The lack of the skit showed that Bray Wyatt’s Fiend may be about to come out to play. Maybe at Extreme Rules? It should be noted that Abby the Witch was in the background when the Miz made his entra
