Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of WWE Monday Night Raw!
Tonight’s show features a pretty huge main event, the Monday Night Raw debut of Ronda Rousey. To date, Rousey has only had two matches, both of which took place on PPV. That all changes tonight however, as Ronda will face Alicia Fox on Raw. I think it’s fair to say this match will either be a 2-minute squash, or feature some shenanigans from Alexa Bliss. Regardless, it will be cool to see Ronda wrestle on Raw!
Also on tonight’s show, there will be fallout from Brock Lesnar’s action last week. Lesnar sauntered down to the ring and attacked by Kurt Angle and Paul Heyman. The attack further cemented Lesnar as the ultimate bad guy, who doesn’t even care about his advocate. We’re only two weeks away from SummerSlam, so you can expect Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns to say something about the attack tonight. With any luck, Angle might make the match a No DQ.
Elsewhere on tonight’s show, Bobby Roode faces Mojo Rawley, Seth Rollins seeks revenge on Ziggler and McIntyre, the Author’s of Pain will want to retaliate to Titus Worldwide, and Braun Strowman will continue to haunt Kevin Owens. All that and more to look forward to on tonight’s episode of Raw. Remember to follow us on Instagram, and download the Ringside News app. Enjoy the show!
Monday Night Raw opens with a lengthy look-back at last week’s drama with Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle and Paul Heyman.
We go live to the arena and out comes Kurt Angle and Baron Corbin. Angle welcomes us to Raw and says tonight’s show will be historic because it marks the in-ring debut of Ronda Rousey. He says unlike other former UFC Champions, Ronda has no issue with wrestling on Raw, she doesn’t complain. He says regardless of whether she wins or not, Ronda and every other Superstar who turns up every week is a Champion in his eyes. Unlike Brock Lesnar. Corbin tells him to watch it but Angle says he needs to get this out. Angle recounts last week’s actions and says Paul Heyman’s job on Raw is intact, and he will be interviewed later tonight by Renee Young.
Before Angle can say anything else, Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring. Roman gets into the ring and says he respects Angle but he should have known better. He asks, “if you kick the big dog out, who’s going to protect the yard?” He says that’s why Angle got rag-dolled last week. Corbin laughs and Roman looks at him, telling him he’s a coward for not helping Angle and then running away. Angle says the repercussions will come from the top down, but he made sure that Lesnar won’t be suspended and the Championship match will go ahead. Angle says he hopes Roman kicks Brock’s ass.
Corbin says that’s really unprofessional for a General Manager. Corbin says if Brock was here tonight, but Roman interrupts him and asks what would he do? Run away again? Corbin says he took the high road, something Roman would know something about. He then says he was tired last week from beating the tiny Finn Balor. He says he already does everything around here, so he couldn’t think of anything else he could have done last week. Angle says he could have been a man. Corbin gets mad and says Angle isn’t exactly a man; he comes down to the ring and makes matches, while Stephanie McMahon is actually in charge. Angle says Corbin is right, he does make the matches, and he sees one right here. He calls for a match between Reigns and Corbin right now. Angle motions for a referee to come down and Corbin sucker punches Roman. Weirdly though, they ring the bell before the referee even gets there.
The referee gets to the ring. Corbin is trash-talking Roman, who pulls himself up into the corner. Roman bursts out of the corner and floors Corbin with a Superman Punch! The Constable rolls from the ring to re-group and we go to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Reigns being grounded by a headlock. Reigns starts to fight out but he eats a clothesline from Corbin for a two count. Corbin gets Reigns in the corner and clobbers him with some right hands to the midsection. The Constable then whips him hard to the opposite corner, where Reigns collapses falls to the mat.
Corbin saunters around the ring while Reigns gets back to his feet. Reigns connects with some right hands and hits the ropes, but Corbin knocks him down with a back elbow for another two count. Corbin quickly goes to a head and arm lock. Reigns starts to escape but Corbin quickly slams him back down. Corbin hits some elbows to the head and reapplies the head and arm lock. Reigns eventually punches his way out and hits the ropes, Corbin lowers his head and eats a kick. They botch a clothesline before Reigns lands two for good measure. Corbin ducks a leaping clothesline, but Reigns clotheslines him out of the ring. Reigns hits a Drive By Dropkick and puts him back in the ring. Corbin immediately rolls back out again. Reigns goes out to grab him, but Corbin punches him in the face and sends him head-first into the ring post. Corbin is back in charge as we head to another break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Reigns again grounded in a submission. Reigns fights up, but Corbin forces him into the ropes. Reigns elbows him and hits a leaping clothesline. Reigns stumbles to the corner, where Corbin charges him, but Reigns kicks him away and hits a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Reigns clubs away at Baron in the corner ten times before hitting the ropes and connecting with a big boot. Reigns takes to the corner and sets up for a Superman Punch, but Corbin counters with a Chokeslam attempt. Reigns gets out, but Corbin connects with Deep Six for a near fall.
Corbin clubs Reigns a few times, but The Big Dog retaliates with some forearms. Reigns sends him into the corner, but Corbin slides out and hits a cameraman. Corbin goes for a rebound clothesline, but Reigns floors him with a Superman Punch for a near fall. Reigns gets to his feet and gets cheered, for once! Corbin slides out of the ring and starts walking up the ramp like he’s forfeiting the match. Finn Balor’s music hits, and he blocks Corbin from leaving. Corbin angrily backs up and turns into Reigns leaping off the steps with a Superman Punch. Reigns gets him in the ring and hits a Spear for the 123.
Reigns celebrates after the match before walking past Finn Balor on the ramp and giving him a fist bump. Balor gets in the ring and slowly takes off his jacket while Corbin struggles to his feet. Balor dropkicks him into the corner and connects with the Coup de Grace as the fans cheer.
We see Ronda Rousey talking with Natalya backstage. She will face Alicia Fox later tonight. Bobby Roode is also seen backstage putting on his robe. He’ll be taking on Mojo Rawley, next.
*Commercial Break*
We return from the break and get a replay of last week’s match between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, followed by him and Ziggler attacking Rollins backstage. We’re live in Kurt Angle’s office and in walks Seth Rollins. He says Angle knows his attention is getting back his Intercontinental Championship back. He says he focuses on Dolph and Drew attacks him, and vice versa. He says he needs to solve both of them at once, so Angle tells him to find a partner and they can square-off tonight.
Bobby Roode makes his way to the ring and we see a replay of his backstage altercation with Mojo Rawley last week. Rawley is out second.
The bell rings and Roode ducks Rawley to take the back. Rawley shrugs him off and knocks Roode down. Rawley slams Roode’s head into the turnbuckle. Roode makes a comeback with some right hands. His Irish whip is reversed into the corner, but Roode responds with a clothesline.
Rawley takes the back of Roode, who runs to the ropes sending Mojo to the outside. Rawley jumps on the apron to get back inside but Roode hits a dropkick to knock him to the floor.
*Commercial Break*
Rawley has Roode grounded with a waistlock as we return. Roode struggles to his feet but Rawley hits him with an overhead slam for a two-count. Rawley attacks the back of Roode as the fans dwell in apathy. Rawley goes back to the waistlock. Eventually, Roode elbows his way out and hits the ropes, only to be caught with a sidewalk slam.
Mojo talks some trash before picking Roode up, who rolls Mojo up for a two count. Roode lands some right hands and a flying forearm, followed by a clothesline. Roode hits a corner clothesline and a neckbreaker, before taking to the corner and connecting with a blockbuster. Roode looks for the Glorious DDT but Mojo runs him into the corner. Roode looks for the Blockbuster again but Mojo catches him, throws him up onto his shoulders, but Roode slips off and hits the Glorious DDT. 123.
We see Elias backstage. He has a cameraman, a boom mic, and a lackey standing around him. The guy starts telling him the schedule but he stops him and plays some guitar. Elias will be live, next!
*Commercial Break*
“Ladies and gentlemen, Elias.” The Drifter is sitting in the centre of the ring. He introduces himself and plays a nice little sombre piece of his guitar – it’s funny to see how much he has improved as a guitar player in the past year. Elias reminds us that he has an album available on Spotify and iTunes. He also says there was a documentary released on him last week on the Walk With Elias Network, but it wasn’t right. He says that’s why he has the cameraman and boom mic with him, to get his story right. He tells the guys to move and get a close-up on his fingers, because that’s where the magic happens. He starts to play but then stops and tells them to circle him as he plays like he is the centre of the universe. He stops again and says the audience is the problem. Elias asks his crew to digitally edit the crowd and make them more attractive. He gets booed and the fans chant something inaudible. He criticises Bobby Lashley, saying he ruined his performance last week but that won’t happen this week. He starts to play and the crew circle him but, of course…
Lashley makes his way to the ring, hugging a disabled fan en route. Lashley says he doesn’t know what Elias is complaining about, the documentary is a perfect representation of what he is. Elias said it had its moments but it portrayed him as vain and egotistical. Lashley says, “as opposed to what?”. Elias says he’s funny, then tells the cameraman to only focus on him. Elias says Lashley tries to steal his spotlight because he knows his comeback has been a joke. Lashley says Elias’ scarf is a joke, his guitar is a joke, his boots a joke, everything about him is a joke. And if he says his name again, what he does to Elias won’t be a joke. Elias starts to shimmy his crew out of the ring and says they can film backstage. Elias turns and hits Lashley with a cheap shot. He puts the boots to Lashley. Elias hits the ropes but Lashley catches him with a spinebuster. Lashley instructs the crew to get back into the ring, and he makes them film as he hits a stalling suplex on Elias.
Later tonight, we’ll get a sit-down interview with Paul Heyman. We see Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler backstage, warming-up for their match with Seth Rollins and his mystery partner. Michael Cole says Rollins’ partner will not be Dean Ambrose because he is still injured. The Author’s of Pain make their way to the ring.
*Commercial Break*
We see Seth Rollins sitting backstage. Tyler Breeze walks-in and says he is ready. Breeze says he’s gorgeous and Rollins is passable, if you’re into the cross-fit Jesus thing. Breeze starts to daydream, then tells Rollins to do it before he changes his mind. He puts his fist out and Rollins stares before Roman Reigns walks in. Reigns tells Rollins he has his back and gets a decent cheer from the fans. Rollins puts Breeze’s hand down.
The bell rings and Rezar forces him to the corner, before slamming him to the mat. Rezar clubs him down and talks some trash. O’Neil fights back, but Rezar quickly knees him in the midsection. Rezar talks more trash to the crowd, who don’t really care.
Rezar chokes him in the corner and taunts Apollo & Dana Brooke at ringside. O’Neil fights back with some kicks and punches. O’Neil is trying to direct Rezar where to go, but he’s quite awkward. O’Neil splashes him in the corner and backs up. Rezar then big boots him down. Rezar hits a Ron Simmons spinebuster for the win.
Kevin Owens is going over some notes with Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh. The Kevin Owens Show makes its triumphant return, next.
*Commercial Break*
The Kevin Owens Show is set-up near the entrance, with a few chairs. Those host, Kevin Owens, makes his way out and takes his seat. He welcomes us to the show before introducing the man who has been his personal guru as of late, Jinder Mahal.
Mahal and Sunil Singh make their way to the stage and take their seats. Owens says at first he thought Jinder’s breathing crap was just that. He thought that, after Braun Strowman threw him off of the ladder at Money In The Bank he would never be the same. He thought he’d never be without pain after being tossed off of the cage through the announce table, but now he can pick-up his daughter and it’s because of Jinder. He doesn’t let Jinder speak and reminds the fans he beat Braun Stowman, as they cheer for the monster. He says he did the impossible and beat Braun, and so did Jinder. He clarifies that Jinder’s win was a mere count-oout victory, while he fought a gruelling match. He starts yelling that he will beat Strowman at SummerSlam and take the Money In The Bank briefcase, then win the Universal Championship. He says he’s never been the same since losing that title. He says the path he is on is because of Jinder Mahal. He then decides that they should do the match again right now, because Jinder can just beat him again. He calls for Strowman to come out but he’s nowhere to be seen. Suddenly the platform they’re sitting on starts to move. Owens, Mahal and Singh jump up and start looking around, and suddenly the whole platform is flipped onto its side and all three men fall off. Braun Strowman was the reason of course, and he makes his way to the ring for the match with Jinder.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Jinder and co. near the ring, not wanting to enter.
Mahal reluctantly gets in the ring and tries to calm Strowman down with some breathing and chanting. A “Get these hands” chant picks up. Strowman hasn’t even done anything yet. Owens takes the briefcase, so Strowman chases him around the ring and retrieves it.
Strowman gets back in the ring before getting counted out. Strowman finally powers him to the corner and throws him across the ring. Owens returns and again steals the briefcase. Strowman chases and retrieves it. Strowman clubs him down. Mahal runs up and attacks him, so Strowman hits him with the briefcase by accident. The referee disqualifies him.
We’re reminded that if this happens at SummerSlam, Braun will lose the Money in the Bank briefcase – I guess that’s why they keep having him lose. Strowman chases Mahal and grabs him. Singh tries to help, but he’s knocked down. Mahal escapes Braun and leaves through the crowd. Braun looks pissed.
Backstage, Constable Baron Corbin hands a phone to Kurt Angle. Stephanie McMahon is on the phone. Angle takes it and agrees to whatever she’s saying. Angle says he’ll take care of it and looks concerned.
We’ll take a look at the rivalry between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, next. Toilet break!
*Commercial Break*
We get a lengthy video, recapping the feud between Reigns and Lesnar. Roman Reigns was interviewed by Corey Graves throughout the video. Reigns says he’s lost to Lesnar, but so have many men. Reigns believes he’s the uncrowned Universal Champion. Even though he’s been knocked down, he gets up and keeps trying. Reigns says he has to win at SummerSlam. Hopefully he cheats to win, that would be interesting.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre make their entrances. They’ll face Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, next.
*Commercial Break*
We see Roman and Seth walking backstage. Kurt Angle and Baron Corbin stop them and Corbin tells them that Roman cannot compete again tonight. He says Stephanie says Roman cannot wrestle tonight and jeopardise the main event of SummerSlam. Roman says he doesn’t care, to which Corbin says she figured he would say that, and so if he competes tonight he forfeits his title match. Reigns gets heated but Rollins tells him to think of the big picture, that he’ll figure something out. Rollins walks off, while Reigns turns to Corbin and asks how his ribs are feeling from earlier, then punches him in the gut and walks off laughing.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance and will face Drew and Dolph alone.
Rollins starts against McIntyre, and the fans are chanting for Ambrose. Rollins slaps him in the face and gets out of the ring. Drew chases, Rollins gets back in and then knocks McIntyre from the apron to the floor. Rollins then brings Dolph Ziggler into the ring by pulling him over the ropes, and stomps him. McIntyre runs back in and Rollins quickly takes him down and kicks him in the face. Rollins clotheslines Ziggler out of the ring. Rollins goes to the top rope, but Dolph distracts him. McIntyre tries to catch him, but he falls. McIntyre then picks him up and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ziggler is soon tagged in, and he works on Rollins, stomping him and slowing the pace.
Drew tags back in and applies a modified chin lock. McIntyre holds it for a while but Rollins eventually fights up and hits a jawbreaker. McIntyre quickly comes back with a body slam. Ziggler tags in and dances around Rollins, taunting him all the while. Rollins fights back, but Ziggler cuts off his momentum. Rollins then avoids a splash. Rollins gets out of the ring, pulls McIntyre off, and gets him into the ring post.
Rollins gets in the ring and hits Ziggler with a Sling Blade. Rollins then clotheslines him out of the ring. Rollins connects with a suicide dive and puts him in the ring. Rollins hits a springboard clothesline. Rollins goes for the Stomp, but Ziggler avoids it. Rollins counters a famouser by hitting a turnbuckle powerbomb. McIntyre blind tags in and turns him inside out with a clothesline. Ziggler comes in and they go for a double-team, but Rollins knees McIntyre, sending him from the ring. Rollins gets Ziggler up for a Buckle Bomb but Ziggler drops down and hits a Superkick for the win!
Cole talks about how Drew was the legal man. They show a replay of the finish and he was indeed the legal man, meaning they either screwed-up the finish, or intentionally did that to protect Seth somewhat.
Later tonight we’ll hear from Paul Heyman after being attacked by Brock Lesnar last week. The main event will see Ronda Rousey take on Alicia Fox in Rousey’s RAW in-ring debut. The B-Team make their way to the ring, with terrible new music.
*Commercial Break*
We see Ronda Rousey warming-up backstage, with Natalya watching on.
The Revival make their way to the ring. We get a promo from them from earlier today, in which they say the tag division is filled with magicians; like the Deleters of Worlds, who just appear out of thin air. Well tonight they will magically make The B-Team’s win streak disappear.
Curtis Axel starts against Dash Wilder. Wilder quickly gets the better of him, but Axel soon takes him down. Bo Dallas tags in, and he takes Wilder down for a one count. Scott Dawson soon tags in and punches away at Dallas. Dawson drives Dallas head-first into the corner and punches him down. Dawson hits a short-arm clothesline for a two count. Dawson applies a chin lock, but Dallas soon fights out. They then clunk heads and both go down.
The Deleters of Worlds’ video flashes on the screen and the lights go out. When the lights come back on, Axel and Wilder are missing from the apron. Instead, Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt are on both sides of the ring. They attack Dawson and Dallas. Hardy hits Dawson with a Twist of Fate while Wyatt hits Dallas with Sister Abigail.
The Deleters pose after their attack. Wow the tag division is so flat right now.
Paul Heyman is seen sitting with Renee Young, getting his microphone adjusted. His interview is next!
*Commercial Break*
Paul Heyman is sitting with Renee Young, and he looks like he hasn’t slept or shaved. Renee thanks him for being here. She asks where he and Brock stand right now. Heyman says he doesn’t know. He says Lesnar has disconnected his phone and he can’t get in touch with him. Renee asks if he hasn’t been in touch with Lesnar since last week, to which Heyman says no, not that he hasn’t wanted to. Heyman says this might be a bad idea, this might just piss Lesnar off. Renee asks him a question and Heyman cuts her off, saying she’s loving this isn’t she? She says no, she just wants to hear the story. Heyman says so does he. She asks if he and Brock are friends. He says yes, he thought so. He says his children are friends with Brock’s, and neither of them let people close to their families. He says this isn’t how it was supposed to end. Heyman is crying. He says Brock was supposed to have the Universal Championship over one shoulder and the UFC Heavyweight Championship over the other. Renee asks if Brock Lesnar needs Paul Heyman at this point. To which Heyman isn’t sure. She then asks if there’s anyone else around here that he has his eye on. Heyman says last week that question would have been inconceivable, Lesnar is not replaceable, not interchangeable. Finally she asks who will win at SummerSlam. Paul says he has been with Brock for 16 years and he has never seen Brock Lesnar like this. He says he is more violent and determined than ever, and Roman Reigns doesn’t stand a chance.
We see a replay of Braun Strowman flipping The Kevin Owens Show on its head earlier tonight. The announcers rundown the entire SummerSlam card. The Riott Squad make their entrance, they’ll be in action next.
*Commercial Break*
Liv Morgan and Sasha Banks start the match. They lock-up and Banks forces Morgan to the corner. They separate and Sasha talks some trash. They lock-up again, then break and Liv punches Morgan. Sasha is forced to the corner but she punches Liv and climbs to the apron. Sasha flips over the top rope and grabs Morgan with her legs and slams her into the turnbuckles. Bayley tags in and attacks Morgan.
Sarah Logan is introduced but Bayley hits her with a snapmare and a running elbow. Bayley grounds her with an armlock. Michael Cole says Logan is a self-professed viking, and her family look to Odin for guidance. Bayley hits a crossbody frm the middle rope for a near-fall. Logan whips Bayley into the turnbuckles face-first. Morgan tags back in and knee’s Bayley in the back of the head. Bayley rolls from the ring and Sasha looks concerned.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Logan controlling Bayley with a rest hold. Bayley tries to fight up, but Logan stays in control. Bayley finally gets out, but can’t tag Banks as Morgan pulled her off the apron. Both Banks and Logan are tagged in.
Banks takes out Logan and sets her up. Bayley tags in, and Banks quickly tags out. Bayley hits a top rope hurricanrana, and Banks follows up with a meteora. Morgan breaks it up. A mystery person helps Morgan at ringside, and it’s revealed to be Ruby Riott, who is back from injury! Logan soon rolls Banks up with a handful of tights and scores the cheap win!
Great to see Ruby back from injury, she’s one of the shining lights in the women’s division right now. I will eat a coconut whole if I’m wrong that Banks and Bayley were only reunited so that they could be the first Women’s Tag Champions at Evolution.
We see a video package highlighting Ronda’s entire WWE career up until now. She emerges from her locker room, Natalya by her side, and walks towards the ring. She’ll face Alicia Fox next!
*Commercial Break*
Alicia Fox makes her entrance, alongside Alexa Bliss. Charly Caruso is in the ring and she starts to ask about Ronda Rousey, but Bliss cuts her off. Charly has had one night to ask one question and the best she came up with was one about Ronda Rousey. She’s in the presence of a trailblazer and a pioneer of the Women’s Division, Alicia Fox. The crowd boos. Charly asks how Fox is prepared to take on the baddest woman on the planet. Fox says Rousey is still banged up from last week. Replays are shown of Fox attacking Rousey. Rousey is a UFC Hall of Famer, an Olympian, and a woman on the cover of Sports Illustrated. However, was she the captain of the RAW Survivor Series team. Bliss takes the microphone and dismisses Charly. Bliss says Alicia Fox paved the road for a woman like her. Bliss thanks Fox for her contribution to the women’s revolution. That comes from every woman except Ronda Rousey. Rousey doesn’t deserve to face her at SummerSlam. She’ll deal with whatever is left in Brooklyn. Has Fox spent the last decade on the road for an overrated rookie to take her spotlight? Fox says absolutely not.
Ronda Rousey finally interrupts, accompanied by Natalya.
The bell rings, and Alicia Fox talks a some trash – not a good idea. Rousey stares at her with an incredulous look on her face. Foxy goes for a right hand, but Rousey blocks it and shoves her down. Fox quickly rolls out of the ring to recover. A “Let’s go Rousey” chant starts up.
Alexa tries to climb on the apron and cause a distraction but Rousey quickly scares her off. Fox does some weird yelling and whatnot at ringside. Alexa Bliss gets on the apron again, but this time Nattie pulls her off. Bliss then kicks Natalya into the ring post. Meanwhile in the ring, the referee holds Fox back from attacking Ronda from behind. Bliss then sweeps Rousey’s feet. Fox punches away at Rousey and gloats. Rousey puts on her game face, and Fox looks scared. Ronda wildly punches away at her with rights and lefts. Rousey hits three judo throws in a row, forcing Foxy out of the ring, and the crowd starts to get very into it.
Rousey goes outside and throws Fox into the barricade. Ronda gets Foxy in the ring but Bliss gets on the apron,. Rousey scares her off. Foxy looks to capitalise on the distraction but Ronda grabs her and hits a judo throw. Rousey then methodically applies the arm bar right in front of Bliss and stares at her. Fox quickly taps.
That was a great showcase for Ronda, showing her as a killer. Charly Caruso interviews Ronda after the match. Rousey says it feels great to focus solely on SummerSlam. Alexa Bliss tries to attack her from behind, but Rousey gives her a judo hip toss. Rousey says it doesn’t matter how hard she holds onto the title. At SummerSlam, the title is hers. Rousey slams the microphone down and hugs Natalya. Natalya raises her arm up as Bliss stares on from the ramp, terrified and clutching her belt.
That’s it for this week’s show! Let us know your thoughts in the comments and we’ll see you back here tomorrow! Until then, safe travels!