Raw opens with a recap of Kurt Angle’s big secret, and we’re told that he will reveal it later tonight.
Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring, chair in hand, and we see replays of last week when he attacked The Miz with a steel chair. Ambrose introduces us to “Steely Dan”, the chair in his hand, and he says Dan is damaged because of The Miz.
Well, THIS is one way to kick off #RAW! @TheDeanAmbrose pic.twitter.com/MyaLFOipAs
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2017
Ambrose invites The Miz and his Miztourage to the ring, saying they can pick things right back up. Ambrose unfolds the chair and takes a seat. Miz doesn’t appear, so Ambrose taunts him and tells him to bring all his cronies with him because he’s in Nashville! Ambrose says he will bursts Miz’s Hollywood bubble so fast that he’ll be back on The Real World before he wakes up!
Seth Rollins comes to the ring and asks Dean why he helped him, considering earlier that night he told him to leave him alone. Seth tells Ambrose to calm down and come up with a better plan. Miz says he isn’t The Architect, he just goes where his mind takes him and he wanted to beat The Miz with a chair a gazillion times. He tells Rollins to go and leave this to him. Rollins says that he isn’t here for him, he’s here to fight The Miz but he wants to know that when he does, will Ambrose stand in his way, or stand at his side?
Ambrose points out that Rollins called him “brother”, to which Ambrose says his brothers were in The Shield, they fought beside him. Dean says he used to know someone who looked like Rollins and that guy stabbed him in the back with a chair just like the one he’s holding. Rollins shouts that it was 3 years ago and he’s sorry. He calms down and says he hasn’t said that before, so he’ll say he’s sorry again. He regrets that every day.
“DO IT! HIT ME!” – @WWERollins to @TheDeanAmbrose #RAW pic.twitter.com/y81ZjyYXft
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2017
Rollins says he also remembers he and Ambrose tearing each other apart inside Hell In A Cell, and Ambrose cashing in Money In The Bank and taking his title. He’s over all that and he asks what it will take for Dean to get over it. The fans chant “hug it out”! Ambrose says he can’t trust Seth, so Rollins turns his back on Dean and tells him to hit him with a chair if that’s what it will take. He stands with his arms out and waits for the shot. Ambrose throws the chair from the ring and they talk without mics until…
The #Miztourage is on the scene… #RAW @mikethemiz @TheBoDallas @RealCurtisAxel pic.twitter.com/d1QhuQrL1w
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
The Miztourage stand on the stage, and Miz makes fun of their “touching” segment that could be a country song. Miz says that Dean is never going to forgive Seth, because people never forgive burnt bridges. Miz says that Ambrose doesn’t give up, hence why he has beaten him twice in a row and Dean won’t leave him alone. Miz says Ambrose does not have the wrestling ability to beat him. The Miz says he gets two for the price of one tonight and he instructs Dallas and Axel to get chairs from under the ring.
The Miz also grabs a chair and they climb the apron. We get a chant for “Roman” before the fight breaks out. Miz beats Ambrose down and throws him into the steel steps, meanwhile Dallas and Axel pound Rollins with a chair. Miz grabs Rollins and hits Skull Crushing Finale into a chair! They leave the ring and Miz hits Ambrose on the back with a chair again before leaving. It did feel like Roman should appear there, that would have been cool.
Later tonight, Kurt Angle comes clean and Samoa Joe faces Roman Reigns in a number one contender match! Up next, Alexa Bliss takes on Bayley!
*Commercial Break*
It’s all about @itsBayleyWWE vs. #RAW #WomensChampion @AlexaBliss_WWE RIGHT NOW on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/e63kpy2mut
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2017
Alexa Bliss Vs. Bayley
The bell rings, and Bliss slaps her right in the face. Bayley quickly picks her up and slams her into the corner before stomping her. Bliss turns her around and stomps her. Bayley quickly boots her down and tackles her before punching away at her.
Bliss quickly escapes the ring. Nia Jax’s music hits, and she heads down to ringside to be Bliss’ backup as we head to a break!
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Bliss keeping Bayley grounded with a submission. She keeps control until Bayley hits a neckbreaker over the second rope. Jax cheers on Alexa while Bayley fires off some forearms. She follows up with a flying elbow from the second rope and a suplex.
Bayley hits an elbow drop, but Bliss rolls out of the ring before she can make the cover. Bliss hits a cheap shot while Bayley s distracted by Nia. Sasha Banks comes out and attacks Jax by sending her into the apron. Bayley rolls up Bliss, but only gets two. She hits the Bayley to Belly for the win!
1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣‼️ @itsBayleyWWE nails @AlexaBliss_WWE with the #BayleyToBelly to DEFEAT the #RAW #WomensChampion! pic.twitter.com/0Bh5g90OUm
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
Winner: Bayley
Sasha and Bayley celebrate after the match.
Once again we’re at the announce table and Corey Graves up and leaves to go speak to Kurt Angle. We see highlights from this past week’s ESPY Awards, in which John Cena, Nikki Bella, The Miz, Maryse, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H were in attendance.
*Commercial Break*
We get a hype video for Roman Reigns, to get us excited for tonight’s main event!
We see Kurt Angle backstage with Corey Graves. Angle says he’s having second thoughts and he doesn’t know if he should reveal this information. Graves says that he understands the concerns but we live in the age of information and this will get out sooner rather that later. He convinces Angle that everything will be OK. Angle thanks him and says his friendship means a lot to “both of us”.
.@RealKurtAngle seems to be having second thoughts about revealing his private situation tonight on #RAW… @WWEGraves pic.twitter.com/hwymEA8anA
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
The announcers talk about Neville and Akira Tozawa, and show highlights of Neville beating him down. We see Tozawa, Apollo Crews, and Titus O’Neil backstage. The three talk about Tozawa getting another title shot at Neville and start doing his chant. Ariya Daivari comes in and says these guys have no honour. He says that he wants to dedicate his match tonight to an Olympian whose name I didn’t catch, same guy as last week.
The Brian Kendrick comes to the ring with Drew Gulak for some tag team action!
*Commercial Break*
The Brian Kendrick & Drew Gulak Vs. Jack Gallagher & Mustafa Ali
Drew Gulak starts against Jack Gallagher. Gallagher takes him down and stomps on his knees. Galalgher then scares Kendrick off the apron. Gulak takes Gallagher down before knocking Mustafa Ali off the apron.
Two of #205Live‘s most HEATED rivalries are front and center as @GentlemanJackG & @MustafaAliWWE take on @mrbriankendrick & @DrewGulak! #RAW pic.twitter.com/MNpqP9SdWI
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2017
Gulak takes Gallagher down again and chops the chest. Gallagher takes him down with his legs and gives him a back body drop over the top rope. Kendrick blind tagged in, but Gallagher viciously head-butts him. Ali tags in and goes to the top rope for an Inverted 450 Splash to pick up the win.