WWE Monday Night RAW took place from the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom and the Barclays Center last night. Here’s all the action that went down on the 25th anniversary of the longest running episodic TV series of all time.
Stone Cold Steve Austin attacked Mr. McMahon
The RAW attitude era undoubtedly begun many years ago with one beer-drinking and hell-raising renegade who would regularly make life a living hell for his boss. Last night’s episode of RAW began on that note, as the legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin returned to the ring to offer his “congratulations” to Mr. Vince McMahon himself.
Just kidding. It wasn’t long before the Texas rattlesnake dropped a sacrificial Shane McMahon with a Stone Cold stunner, before turning his attentions to Mr McMahon and returning the favour. While Shane may have been able to shake off the effects of a Stunner, he wasn’t able to do so a second time as Austin proceeded to run riot in the ring, drinking beer and getting a hell yeah from the audience in attendance.
Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James def. Nia Jax, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Alicia Fox
In a preview of things to come at the Royal Rumble this Sunday, some of RAW’s hottest talent squared off in the ring. In a frenzied match, Asuka, Sasha Banks and Mickie James triumphed over Nia Jax, Sonya Deville and Alicia Fox as the Boss forced Fox to tap out from a Banks Statement submission. With the bell rung, it was Asuka who struck last and decisively, tossing her teammates out of the ring as the Empress of Tomorrow looks to add the Rumble match to her undefeated streak.
The Undertaker returned to Raw
When the bell was heard and the arena went dark, it was a clear sign that the Undertaker himself had returned to RAW after his historic loss to Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania. While the legendadary streak of Heebie McJeebies may have ended with Brock Lesnar and was further broken by Reigns at consecutive showcases of the immortals, the deadman was still adamant that his career had resulted in a great many superstars having answered to the reaper, as the Undertaker declared that it truly was time for him to rest in peace.
The Miz def. Roman Reigns to become the new Intercontinental Champion
Roman Reigns may have been Intercontinental Champion, but The Miz has always been THE Intercontinental Champion who truly defined the title. In a match for the championship, The Miz finally reclaimed the legendary white strap, as the A-Lister survived a brutal bout with Reigns to secure an eighth reign.
Thanks to the Miztourage proving tob a ringside thorn in the side of Reigns, the Miz was able to hit the Skull-Crushing Finale on the big dog after he had secretely loosened a turnbuckle in the ring and manipulated Reigns into Spearing the exposed metal. With the damage done and in full view of several prevous RAW general managers such as John Laurinaitis, Eric Bischoff and William Regal, the Miz was champion again.
Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan appeared on The Peep Show
In another blast from the past, Christian returned to RAW as the Peep Show once again rolled out the carpet. Captain Charisma decided to have RAW tag team champions Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan on his show, as Christian wanted to offer some advice for how the team could function as a more cohesive unit.
That’s when The Bar decided to gate-crash the night, taunting Jordan with “You Suck” chants and earning an attack from the young co-champion in the process. With Rollins joining the brouhaha, the Bar retreated at the right moment and left Jordan to suffer an ill-fated springboard knee from his teammate. Hopefully the damage isn’t done before the Royal Rumble.
Bray Wyatt def. “Woken” Matt Hardy
The Eater of Worlds versus the deleter of men. The war between Woken Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt finally reached a new point as the two went head to head after weeks of psychological warfare. It was Bray Wyatt who proved to be triumphant over his multi-dimensional opponent, tying the Woken Warrior up in the ring ropes and locking Sister Abigail’s gaze upon him.
A less than wonderful end to Hardy’s night, but the Great War is far from over.
John Cena confronted Elias
Despite having made Chris Jericho’s list of stupid idiots when he was backstage, an undaunted Elias decided to hit the ring and claim that after 25 years, RAW had finally found the right man to lead the show. John Cena, who had already picked up a Xmas victory against Elias in 2017, decided to dampen his ring appearance and the two eventually came to blows.
Elias proved to be a little too much for the former World Champion to handle that night however, smashing a guitar across the back of Cena and adding his Drift Away finisher to the Cenation leader for good measure.
Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. Titus Worldwide ended in a No Contest
If there’s one thing that you should never ever do, it’s try to swindle a few extra bucks out of your opponents in a poker game. Especially if the APA and the Dudley Boyz are in attendance. Learning that lesson the hard way, Heath Slater felt the full force of Titus Worldwide in the ring, with the match eventually descending into chaos as the ref was thrown out and the Dudley Boyz entered the fray.
Someone was going through a table that night, and that someone was Heath Slater as the One-Man Band tasted wooden splinters in his trip down to Dudleyville.
Gallows and Anderson def. The Revival
There’s a new team of challengers in the WWE RAW tag team division, and they go by the name of Dash and Dawson of The Revival. In a match that featured none other than Scott “Razor Ramon” Hall and Degeneration X at ringside, The Revival looked set to make a name for themselves in the ring. Victory would sadly not be theirs that night however, as the well-oiled team of Gallows and Anderson outsmarted their opponents and led them into a Magic Killer that resulted in Dash being pinned.
Deciding to have some fun, the Degeneration X crew of Hall, X Pac, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, Shawn Michaels and Triple H all dropped Dawson with a selection of finishers, leaving the man utterly wrecked in the ring. And also in a prime position for Finn Balor to sneak in a Coup De Grace. Suck it.
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman and Kane brawled
RAW may have been dominated by legends last night, but the night ended with monsters in the ring as Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman and Kane all shared the same ring. Surrounded by an army of superstars and security to prevent any fights from breaking out, the assembled army decided to scatter when the ring erupted with fists.
Despite a massive clothesline from Lesnar, the Monster Amongst Men still had plenty of fuel in his tank, pouncing on Lesnar after he dropped Kane with an F5. With a Running Powerslam that sent Lesnar crashing through the announce table, Strowman was the last man standing in the RAW ring ahead of this Sunday’s Royal Rumble championship match.
Last Updated: January 23, 2018
