Welcome to Monday Night Raw as we take one last stop before Survivor Series.
The Big Dog is back! That’s the headline for tonight’s show because Roman Reigns returns from his injury to rejoin The Shield ahead of their upcoming match with New Day at Survivor Series. The New Day cost Rollins and Ambrose the WWE Tag Team Titles last week, but now Reigns is back to help his boys fight back. Bear in mind, The Shield have yet to wrestle a match as the original trio since reforming, so seeing Reigns back is actually exciting for the first time ever.
Brock Lesnar was scheduled to face Jinder Mahal at Survivor Series. The two traded promos back and forth to little fanfare, only for those plans to be thrown out the window this past Tuesday night when AJ Styles defeated Mahal to become the WWE Champion. Lesnar will now have to face Styles at Survivor Series on Sunday and this match has suddenly made the PPV a must-see event. Styles Vs. Lesnar has all the potential to be an instant-classic, even if it’s super-obvious Brock will win with a single F5 and Styles will retreat back to SmackDown Live. Lesnar and Heyman will talk about their new opponent on tonight’s show.
Also on tonight’s show, Kurt Angle and Team Raw will respond to the addition of John Cena to SmackDown’s team at Survivor Series. A Triple Threat match will determine the final member of Raw’s female team, and Kane is looking to attack Braun Strowman once again.
All that and more on tonight’s show, so let us know what you’re most excited to see and enjoy the show!
Monday Night Raw opens with one final look back at SmackDown Live invading Raw, then the following week when Bryan came to Raw and got attacked by Kane, and finally last week when The New Day appeared and cost The Shield the Tag Team Titles.
We go live to the arena and Stephanie McMahon’s music hits, the Commissioner makes her way to the ring.
Stephanie welcomes us to Monday Night Raw. She says as the Commissioner of Monday Night Raw she has to make massive decisions that affect the entire Raw brand, decisions so large that the fans couldn’t possibly understand. With that in mind, she needs great leaders to help, and that leads her to introducing the Raw General Manager and the leader of Team Raw at Survivor Series, Kurt Angle.
Angle comes to the ring and he says he knows she is disappointed but he was 100% prepared for SmackDown’s raid last week. She says she isn’t disappointed, she’s just confused as to how The New Day found their way into the building. Plus there was no raid, and thus Shane outplayed Kurt again. She says she could put together a compilation of him being outplayed. Stephanie asks Kurt who the fifth member of Team Raw is, the man who he sees as the valuable fifth member of Team Raw, to which Angle answers Jason Jordan.
She makes him say that Jordan is his son and explain why he is fit to be on Team Raw, to which Angle says he is more than capable. Stephanie then points out that John Cena was the fifth member of Team SmackDown, and that’s a lot more impressive. She says Cena either was snubbed in favour of Jordan, or he chose SmackDown Live because he was so embarrassed to be on Kurt’s team. Stephanie asks Kurt what his plan is for Survivor Series. Angle says he will start the match and break Shane’s ankle, if he has the balls to start the match with him. Stephanie says that this isn’t the 90’s and she doesn’t think Kurt is capable of breaking anybody’s ankle anymore. She says that he has gone soft. She and her family put faith in Angle and they want Shane’s head on a platter, but Kurt doesn’t seem capable. She makes it sound like she is about to fire Angle when…
Roman Reigns is back and the fans are excited for The Shield in full force! The trio are in the ring and Ambrose says to Steph that there is no better leader than Kurt Angle. Ambrose says that Angle proved himself at TLC, and the crowd reward him with a “You Still Got It” chant. She asks The Shield where the Tag Team Titles are, then says that they lost the belts because of Kurt Angle. She goes on to say The New Day made fools out of them, then she asks Roman Reigns where he has been for a month.
Reigns grabs the mic and flips the question on Stephanie, where has she been for the past six months. He says she got put through a table at WrestleMania and hasn’t been seen since, to which Seth Rollins takes a step back and looks shifty, Roman then corrects himself and says Triple H put her through a table. He says she clearly has forgotten how things run, because they don’t do what she wants. Roman says that it’s pretty simple, at Survivor Series, they will beat The New Day’s asses, then Angle will lead Team Raw to victory. He drops the mic and their music plays.
Later tonight, Brock Lesnar responds to his new Survivor Series opponent, and The Shield will be in action, but up next a women’s Triple Threat to determine the final member of Alicia Fox’s Team Raw.
*Commercial Break*
We return and find the other four members of Raw’s women’s team at Survivor Series standing at ringside, waiting to see who their final partner is.
Mickie James Vs. Dana Brooke Vs. Bayley
The bell rings and all of the women do a three-way test of strength. James kicks and takes them both down. James attacks Brooke, only for Bayley to return and attack James. Brooke makes a comeback and tries to take them both out, but it backfires. Bayley is knocked to ringside as we head to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Bayley hit Dana and Mickie with back body drops. She then throws Dana between the ropes and hits her with a spinning neck breaker onto the ropes. Mickie fights back against Bayley and goes to the top rope. After a quick struggle with Bayley, Mickie hits a seated senton and pins Bayley, only for Brooke to make the save.
Mickie and Dana go back and forth but Mickie gets the best of it, then Bayley returns and eats a neckbreaker. Dana Brooke takes out Mickie but gets thrown from the ring. Asuka tries to help her up but Dana pushes her away, then elbows Asuka, who chases her around ringside and hits a big spin kick to take out Brooke.
Inside the ring, Mickie and Bayley exchange a series of reversals until Bayley hits the Bayley-To-Bayley, and scores the win!
Winner: Bayley
Bayley is the official fifth member of Team Raw at Survivor Series, which now consists of Bayley, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, Asuka, and leader Alicia Fox.
The announcers talk-up the Survivor Series matches, as well as the new episode of WWE 24 on the WWE Network tonight. We see Drew Gulak and Enzo Amore making their way to the ring, next!
*Commercial Break*
Enzo Amore and Drew Gulak make their way to the ring. Enzo does his usual shtick, and Gulak says he’s doing fine. At Survivor Series, he’s defending his Cruiserweight Championship against Tostito Kalisto. He’s fighting for the future of 205 Live. Enzo then turns the microphone over to Gulak, who is then immediately interrupted by Kalisto’s music. He isn’t happy.
Kalisto & Akira Tozawa Vs. Drew Gulak & Enzo Amore
Drew Gulak starts the match against Kalisto. Akira Tozawa is immediately tagged in. Gulak apparently hates chanting in arenas. Gulak takes him down and applies a side headlock. Enzo blind tags in and blindsides Tozawa. They send Tozawa into the ropes, but he ducks an attack. Kalisto tags in and hits a springboard dropkick on them, sending them both from the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Gulak applying a neck vice to Tozawa. Tozawa fights up and punches out, but Gulak stops the tag. Tozawa viciously forearms and kicks away from him. Gulak still prevents the tag. Tozawa spikes him on his head with a swinging back suplex.
Enzo and Kalisto are tagged in. Kalisto hits a springboard seated senton and knocks Gulak off the apron. Kalisto goes to the apron and kicks Enzo before hitting a springboard cross-body block. Gulak runs in and accidentally elbows Enzo. Tozawa tags in and hits Gulak with a missile dropkick before being thrown out of the ring. Tozawa then kills Enzo with a suicide dive. Kalisto then hits Gulak with a springboard summersault senton.
Tozawa gets Enzo in the ring and kicks him in the head. Tozawa goes to the top rope, but Gulak pulls him out of the way. Kalisto hits Gulak with another summersault senton. Enzo capitalizes on all these distractions by sending Tozawa into Kalisto and hitting a JawdonZo for the win.
Winners: Enzo Amore & Drew Gulak
We see The Miz, Bo Dallas, and Curtis Axel on their way to the ring for Miz TV.
*Commercial Break*
We see a replay of earlier when Stephanie lambasted Kurt Angle, then The Shield interrupted. We see Angle and his team backstage, he gives them a quick pep talk. He says that he needs to know they can work together, so tonight Samoa Joe will team with Finn Balor. He looks at Jason Jordan and says he took a lot of crap for picking him to be on the team, so he needs to prove himself, tonight he will face the sadistic Bray Wyatt. Angle then looks at Braun Strowman who says he wants Kane. Angle tries to talk but Strowman just repeats that he wants Kane, so Angle makes that the main event and Strowman says “oh it’s true, it’s damn true”.
The Miz and The Miztourage make their way to the ring for Miz TV. The Miz welcomes us to the show and says we are six days away from Survivor Series, the only time this year that Baron Corbin gets to step in the ring with him. Miz says that is, unless Corbin loses his US Championship reign to Sin Cara tomorrow night. Which is Corbin’s MO, he squanders all of his opportunities. He says Corbin isn’t even good enough to be the SmackDown Live toilet break, the two of them are on different levels, and the crowd cheer. Miz says he has a chance tonight to have one of the most monumental wins of his career, when he defeated The Shield tonight. However, he won’t be doing it alone, he will be doing it with his guests tonight, the only two men who didn’t get distracted last week. His personal friends and the new Tag Team Champions, Sheamus and Cesaro!
Miz congratulates them on their victory. Sheamus says they appreciate it, but it was no surprise because they did what they always do: kept their eyes on the prize. Cesaro says while Rollins and Ambrose cared about defending RAW, all they cared about was taking back what’s theirs. Now they’re three-time RAW Tag Team Champions. The crowd gives them a mixed reception. Sheamus says not only are they three-time Tag Team Champions, they’re the real Tag Team Champions of WWE, unlike The Usos. They won their titles on that cute little B-show, Smackdown. A “You look stupid” chant fires up. Miz puts his hand up and tells them while it’s up, their mouths will be shut. They’ll sit and listen to the RAW Tag Team Champions. Sheamus thanks The Miz for his help. They are the A-team Tag Team Champions. They’re the RAW Tag Team Champions. At Survivor Series, they’re going to jailbreak The Uso Penitentiary.
Miz says tonight they’ll break The Shield. For the first time in three years, they’ll take on the original Shield. There will be no glory hogging Kurt Angle doing a bait and switch. This time it’s Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns in the ring at the same time. They had to set aside their betrayals and years of fighting to make this reunion happen for the sole purpose of facing them. Miz says they are the champions. This isn’t The Shield’s moment. This is their moment. The happy reunion tour ends tonight! Cesaro says they don’t just set the bar; they ARE The Bar!
We see more replays of SmackDown Live invading Raw, then get confirmation that The New Day will fight The Sheild at Survivor Series.
*Commercial Break*
We return and Bray Wyatt makes his way to the ring as Michael Cole badgers Booker T to say that Jordan belongs on Team Raw.
Jason Jordan Vs. Bray Wyatt
The bell rings and Jordan looks to tackle Bray right away but Wyatt slips through the ropes to force the break. The two lock-up and Bray forces Jordan into the corner, Bray hangs upside down in the corner, then runs at Jordan who dropkicks him.
Bray responds by hitting a running headbutt to take Jordan down. Jordan comes back by scooping Bray up and running him into the corner, then running to the opposite corner, slamming Bray there too. Bray rolls from the ring and Jordan chases after and leaps at Bray, who sidesteps him and JJ hits the barricade hard. Bray laughs as we head to the break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Wyatt applying a chin lock. During the commercial break, Jordan hit Wyatt with a springboard clothesline, but he tweaked his knee. Wyatt flattens him with a running senton splash for a two count. Wyatt stomps the knee and punches him. Wyatt targets the injured knee and taunts the crowd by dragging Jordan around the ring.
Wyatt goes for a body slam, but Jordan slides out. Jordan’s knee immediately gives out. Wyatt kills him with a uranage before getting ready in the corner. Jordan punches him in the face and elbows him back. Wyatt quickly goes for Sister Abigail, but Jordan counters into a roll-up for the win.
Winner: Jason Jordan
After the match Kurt Angle happily claps alongside Stephanie McMahon, who looks impressed. Wyatt then suddenly attacks Jordan and the fans cheer. Jordan rolls from the ring and Bray hits him with a huge clothesline. Bray then attacks JJ, slamming his leg into the ring post, and the fans chant “Thank You Wyatt” as the referee helps Jordan to the back.
*Commercial Break*
Kurt Angle is with his son backstage and says he can’t have him compete on Sunday. Jordan begs him not to do this because this is his big break and he deserves this. Angle sighs and doesn’t say anything.
WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar makes his way to the ring with his advocate, Paul Heyman. A replay is shown of AJ Styles defeating Jinder Mahal last Tuesday to win the WWE Championship. An AJ Styles/Suplex City chant picks up. Heyman says, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman, and I am the advocate for the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar!” Heyman says Lesnar gave him permission to dogmatize the five reasons why you needs to be a subscriber to the WWE Network by this Sunday. This is the first time a Universal Champion is taking on a WWE Champion. It’s the first time in history Brock Lesnar will step into the ring against AJ Styles. To be perfectly candid, it may be the only time this happens. If they want to see Brock Lesnar versus AJ Styles, it’ll happen this Sunday on the WWE Network. That’s only the first selling point. He has four more.
Heyman wants to see Brock Lesnar take on AJ Styles. No one can tell the virtues of Lesnar better than his advocate. Lesnar has been in the ring against opponents that are bigger and stronger, but he’s never seen Lesnar in the ring against anyone that can claim to be better than him. Styles is elusive and abusive. Styles has mastered the technique of “speed kills.” Selling point three… they’re interrupted by a “She said ‘yes’” chant. Apparently someone in the crowd got engaged during this segment. Heyman says she only said “Yes” because she’s never been this up close to a beast like Brock Lesnar. Interrupting his promo is like stepping into the ring with Brock Lesnar – you ain’t got a chance! Heyman comes back to the centre of the ring and Brock audibly jokes “where were we?”
Selling point three is AJ Styles is the single most talented in-ring performer of this generation. Some people think that could be Finn Balor, but Styles is the ultimate opponent for Lesnar. Styles is on a roll, has momentum, and a respected and admired WWE Champion. The only thing is Styles has to be the ultimate underdog because this good ol’ boy from Georgia is going to step into the ring against the Georgia Bulldog Eating Carnivore who is the #1 Champion in WWE then, now, and forever. Styles has to overcome these odds, which leads him to selling point number four: if you want to see a “Rocky” movie come to life, he gives them AJ Styles.
A loud “AJ Styles” chant picks up. Heyman talks about how Styles has scored victories over John Cena, Shane McMahon, and Jinder Mahal this year. This is a “Rocky” movie come to life, if not for selling point F5: this isn’t a “Rocky” movie. Heyman says Styles can’t survive the F5. Heyman is looking forward to pontificating about Styles’ heroic effort when he gets beaten, victimized, and conquered by the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar. Great stuff.
The Shield is in action for the first time in three years against The Miz, Cesaro, and Sheamus, next.
*Commercial Break*
We return and out come The Miz and his partners, the Tag Team Champions. Out next is The Shield!
The Shield Vs. The Miz, Sheamus & Cesaro
Seth Rollins will start the match against Cesaro. They lock up and chain wrestle until Rollins takes him down with a headlock. Cesaro quickly pops up and kicks him in the midsection before uppercutting him. Cesaro applies a side headlock, but Rollins whips him off. Cesaro shoulder blocks him down and hits the ropes, but Rollins leapfrogs him and dropkicks him down.
Dean Ambrose is tagged in, and he hits Cesaro with a low dropkick before Rollins drops a knee for a two count. Ambrose chops Cesaro in the corner before Cesaro turns it around on him. Ambrose no sells it and walks to the opposite corner. Ambrose chops him a few times before slingshotting over him and hitting a drop-toe-hold. Ambrose applies a deathlock before giving him a crossface forearm. Rollins tags in and comes off the top rope with a punch to the midsection. Rollins chops the chest and tags Ambrose back in.
Ambrose elbows him in the back of the neck. Cesaro quickly fights him away and tags in Sheamus. They hit Ambrose with a double-team clothesline. Sheamus boots Ambrose and stomps him. Sheamus forearms him and punches away at him in the corner. Miz gets some cheap shots in. The Miz tags in and taunts The Shield. Sheamus and Cesaro enter the ring and hit a stereo kick on Ambrose. Sheamus tags in and punches Ambrose. Sheamus knees away at Ambrose and applies a chin lock before transitioning to an overhead wristlock. Ambrose fights up and punches out, but Sheamus knees him. Ambrose quickly knees him and tags in Rollins. Ambrose hits a dropkick on Ambrose, as does Rollins. Roman Reigns then clotheslines Sheamus over the top rope.
Ambrose and Rollins then double clothesline Cesaro over the top rope. Ambrose and Rollins then hit them with stereo planchas. Reigns turns and sees The Miz in the ring. Miz runs away and hides behind The Miztourage. Rollins takes Bo Dallas and throws him into the barricade. Ambrose then attacks Curtis Axel. Miz runs away through the crowd. The Shield stands tall in the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Miz pick up a two count on Rollins. Miz throws him out of the ring. Cesaro tries for a sneak attack, but Ambrose clotheslines him down. Sheamus then clotheslines Ambrose down. Miz puts Rollins in the ring, and Rollins clotheslines him down. Sheamus tags in, and he stops Rollins from making a tag. Rollins counters a suplex into an inside cradle for a two count. Rollins back body drops him to the apron and elbows him away. Sheamus snaps him off the top rope and goes to the top rope, but he jumps into a superkick.
Cesaro and Reigns are tagged in. Reigns clotheslines Cesaro twice and punches Miz off the apron. Reigns takes Cesaro down again and clubs away at him in the corner. Reigns hits the ropes, but Cesaro big boots him. Reigns answers back with a big boot and a Samoan Drop. Reigns sets up for a Spear, but Miz grabs his foot. Ambrose then takes Miz out with a suicide dive. Cesaro uppercuts Reigns, and Sheamus gets a cheap shot in. Cesaro hits a Very European Uppercut for a near fall.
Cesaro goes to tag Sheamus, but Ambrose pulls him off the apron. Rollins then hits Sheamus with a suicide dive. Reigns hits Cesaro with a Superman Punch and goes for a Spear, but Cesaro uppercuts him. Cesaro goes for a Gotch Neutralizer, but Reigns counters with a back body drop. Cesaro lands on his feet, and Miz blind tags in. Cesaro springboards off the ropes into a Superman Punch.
Miz then rolls Reigns up for a near fall. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Rollins hits him with a springboard knee. Sheamus grabs Rollins, but Ambrose pulls him off and hits Dirty Deeds. The Shield surrounds The Miz in the ring, and the crowd is really buzzing. The Miz gets to his feet and realizes he’s in trouble. A “YES” chant fires up. Miz tries to run away, but Reigns spears him down. The Shield hits the Triple Powerbomb, and Reigns pins him for the win.
Winners: The Shield
We see Kane backstage. Even someone as sick and depraved as him can smile. All he has to do is remember what he did to Braun Strowman. He can still hear the sound of the garbage truck crushing his body, a symphony of horror. There are some things worse than death, him.
*Commercial Break*
Kurt Angle is in the ring. Angle says Stephanie McMahon talked earlier tonight about tough decisions you have to make as a leader. This is a tough one for him. His son, Jason Jordan, was injured in his match against Bray Wyatt. As the RAW General Manager and the leader of his team at Survivor Series, he cannot allow his son to compete. The crowd cheers that. Angle has decided to name a replacement.
Boos pick up as Jason Jordan appears on the ramp. Jordan begs him not to do this. Jordan sounds like he’s going to cry. This was going to be the first time he could fight side by side with his father. Angle says Jordan is injured. Jordan says he’ll be fine by Sunday. Angle says he needs him at 100%. Jordan yells that he’s fine and gets in the ring. Jordan says Angle was injured and won a gold medal. He’s just like Angle. He can do this. Angle says it’s not worth it. Jordan insists that it is. Angle is his idol. Coming over to RAW and competing on his show has been a dream come true. To be honest, Angle didn’t pick him out of favoritism. Angle picked him because he was the best option, and he begs him not to take that away from him. Jordan won’t get another chance like this. It’s an honor to represent RAW. Jordan cries while begging Angle not to take this away from him.
Stephanie McMahon comes out and says, “Give me a break.” She orders Angle to make the announcement and do it now. A “YES” chant picks up but Angle continues to stall. Triple H’s music hits, and the WWE COO makes his first appearance on WWE television for the first time since WrestleMania! Triple H angrily gets in Angle’s face. The crowd loudly cheers. Triple H says if he won’t make the damn announcement, he will. The fifth member of Team RAW is Triple H! The crowd loudly cheers. Triple H stares at Angle. Angle looks furious. Triple H then looks at Jordan, who is very upset. A “Pedigree” chant fires up. Triple H looks back at Angle, and then turns to give Jordan a Pedigree! Angle runs over to his son. Triple H walks off. Angle is stunned.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and get replays of what just happened between Angle, Jordan and Triple H.
Finn Balor & Samoa Joe Vs. Anderson & Gallows
Balor and Joe argue over who should go first. Joe shoves him and goes to the apron. Karl Anderson quickly attacks Balor, but Balor gets the better of him. Joe tags in, and they stomp him down. Balor tags back in, and Balor rolls through a sunset flip and dropkicks him. Joe comes in and hits Luke Gallows with a clothesline.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Joe and Balor continuing to tag in and out, working as a functioning tag team. Balor kicks Anderson down and goes to the top rope. Gallows distracts him, and Anderson crotches him. Gallows tags in, and he punches Balor down. Gallows superkicks Balor down and taunts the crowd. Gallows drops a trio of elbows for a two count. Anderson tags in and puts Balor in the corner. Anderson applies a chin lock, but Balor fights up. Anderson elbows him down for a two count. Anderson goes back to the chin lock and holds it for a bit. Balor fights up, but Anderson hits him with a spinebuster for a near fall.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Gallows applying a chin lock to Balor. Balor fights up, but Gallows big boots him down. Gallows scares Joe off the apron and goes for an elbow drop, but Balor moves. Gallows uppercuts Balor, but Balor catches him with an overhead kick.
Joe and Anderson are tagged in. Joe hits a pair of running elbows, an inverted atomic drop, a big boot, a running senton splash, and knocks Gallows off the apron. Joe avalanches Anderson in the corner and hits a snap kick. Balor is tagged in. Joe sends Gallows out of the ring, and Balor hits a running kick. Joe slams Anderson down and hits Gallows with a suicide dive. Balor then hits Anderson with the Coup de Grace for the win.
Winners: Samoa Joe & Finn Balor
Immediately following the match, Balor celebrates while Joe stomps to the back. The commentators run down the entire card for Survivor Series again.
Charly Caruso is backstage with RAW Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss. Tomorrow night, Natalya will defend her title against Charlotte Flair. Whoever wins will face Alexa Bliss at Survivor Series. Bliss says she has no preference. Smackdown became the B-show after she left. Normally she DVRs Smackdown and forgets to watch it, but tomorrow is special. Maybe she’ll show up and watch it live. No matter what, the Goddess of WWE will reign supreme at Survivor Series.
Coming up next, Braun Strowman takes on Kane in our main event.
*Commercial Break*
The Big Red Machine makes his way to the ring, followed by his opponent, Braun Strowman.
Braun Strowman Vs. Kane
Kane smiles at Strowman and the two stare at each other. Kane uppercuts him, and Strowman takes him down before stomping away at him. Kane quickly rolls out of the ring. Strowman uppercuts him at ringside. Kane fights back, but Strowman takes him down. Strowman clubs him down, and Kane crawls away. The referee never started this match.
Strowman clubs away at him and goes for a whip, but Kane reverses the whip into the steps. Kane goes under the ring and pulls out a table. Kane sets the table up and punches Strowman. Kane then grabs a chair and smacks it across his back twice. Kane goes for a Chokeslam on the floor, but Strowman breaks the holds and clubs him down. Strowman then cracks the chair off Kane’s back twice. Strowman gets him on the apron and climbs the ropes. Strowman is attempting a superplex through the table at ringside. Kane stops him, but Strowman knocks him into the ring.
Strowman hits Kane with a double axe-handle, then lifts him up and hits a Running Powerslam…through the ring! Both men went right through the canvas and the fans went crazy. There’s a giant hole in the ring and that’s how Raw is going off the air. The match never even got started.
That’s it for this week’s Raw. Let us know what you thought in the comments or on the Ringside Talk app and I will see you back here tomorrow night for SmackDown Live and 205 Live, one last time before Survivor Series.
