WWE Monday Night RAW kicked off last night in Brooklyn, right in the state of New York. Here’s all the action that went down.
Braun Strowman confronted Universal Champion Brock Lesnar
After a hellacious Summerslam main event, Brock Lesnar still managed to somehow end the night with his championship intact. Despite a flurry of Superman Punches and being slammed through two tables, the Beast Incarnate wasn’t ready to give up his title as the top dog in the WWE just yet. Something that Braun Strowman wanted to rectify as the Gift of Destruction interrupted Lesnar’s victory speech with a simple statement: A running powerslam that dropped the beast in the RAW opening segment.
The gift of destruction got he wanted however: He’ll be main eventing No Mercy as he tangles with Lesnar for the Universal championship.
Enzo Amore def. Big Cass in a Brooklyn Street Fight
NO SLEEP TILL BROOKLYN! While Enzo Amore has been regularly outclassed by his former tag team partner Big Cass, Muscles Marinara hasn’t exactly been ready to throw in the towel on their feud. Deciding to take on Big Cass with no holds barred in a Brooklyn Street Fight, the underdog actually managed to set up the giant with a knee injury that left Cass unable to compete as the ref called off the match and gave the win to Amore.
Nia Jax def. Emma
Maybe if you’re going to complain about Nia Jax stealing your opportunities, you should do so when she’s not around, as Emma learnt the hardy way that Jax doesn’t like being spoken about behind her back. One Samoan Drop later, and Emma’s lesson was driven home and then some on RAW.
Elias def. R-Truth
Y’know, I don’t think I get this wandering balladeer gimmick of Elias at all. Anyway, alight match as R-Truth interrupted his segment and found himself on the receiving end of the Drift Away in this quick bout.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz and Samoa Joe confronted John Cena and Roman Reigns
The champ…is back on RAW. The Cenation leader has shifted brands, jumping from Smackdown LIVE to RAW and The Miz was none too happy. While Cena was looking for a challenge with a one on one bout against Romain Reigns, the Miz and his Miztourage decided that he had enough of Cena and Reigns stealing the spotlight every week.
The Miz wanted his own main event moment, and he wanted it against Cena. Great idea on Cena’s part: He offered a tag team bout against himself and Reigns against The Miz and a partner of his choosing. A partner who just so happened to be Samoa Joe, who ignited a brouhaha in the ring that sent the awesome one and his posse packing.
Cedric Alexander, Rich Swann, Mustafa Ali and Gran Metalik def. Noam Dar, Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese and Drew Gulak
Neville may be back on his throne as the Cruiserweight king, but there’s plenty of challengers waiting in the wings as a huge tag team match in the lighter division saw a huge clash between its highest flyers in the ring. Eight man brawled, but only one team could go home with the victory as Cedric Alexander stole a win last night on RAW.
Raw Tag Team Champions Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins def. The Hardy Boyz
Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are back in action, and the partnership has already resulted in the former Shield brothers capturing a tag team championship off of Cesaro and Sheamus. While the former champs were hungry for a rematch, it was the Hardy Boyz who clashed with Ambrose and Rollins. Coming devastatingly close to unseating the new champs, a setup for a Swanton Bomb from Jeff Hardy ended with Matt Hardy eating a superkick from Rollins and Ambrose blocking the Swanton with his knees.
A Ripcord Knee later and some Dirty Deeds on Matt, and the champs were going home with their new titles secure.
Alexa Bliss confronted Raw Women’s Champion Sasha Banks
They’ll have a rematch next week on RAW. And I’m looking forward to it. NEXT!
Finn Bálor def. Jason Jordan
If Jason Jordan wanted competition, then he certainly got that and then some when Finn Balor answered his challenge. In a high energy match that saw both men pull out every move in the arsenal against each other, it was Balor who got the ultimate victory with a Coup De Grace at the very last minute.
John Cena and Roman Reigns def. Intercontinental Champion The Miz and Samoa Joe
Back on RAW, Cena wanted to make a statement. That he did, as the main event tag team clash saw the Cenation leader team up with Roman Reigns in a battle where both tag teams weren’t exactly gelling well. Samoa Joe was a wrecking ball in the ring though, locking in holds and slams as he brushed off any damage. It was The Miz who proved to be the weakest link though, squandering an opportunity that saw Cena accidentally Superman-punched by Reigns and falling for an Attitude Adjustment that gave Cena the win.
A match that ended with Cena being none too happy with Reigns, as their alliance is starting to look temporary at best.
Last Updated: August 22, 2017
