Welcome to Ringside News’ coverage of Monday Night Raw!
We’re less than 24 hours removed from WWE TLC, but tonight’s Raw promises to be a big one! Most importantly, Vince McMahon will be on tonight’s show and he’s likely to open it. What does Vince have in store for Raw? Well, for one he has to appoint a new General Manager in the wake of Baron Corbin’s epic loss to Braun Strowman at last night’s TLC. Truth be told, Vince is coming to Raw because the ratings have hit an all-time low, and he’s promising to shake things up. What that means, we can only guess.
At last night’s PPV, Seth Rollins lost his Intercontinental Championship clean as a whistle to Dean Ambrose. One can assume the two will continue their battle at the Royal Rumble, and the build towards that match should start tonight. Dean Ambrose is liable to be a smarmy git tonight, so it will make Seth’s revenge all the more tantalising.
One of the biggest stories coming out of TLC last night, is that Ronda Rousey bested Nia Jax in a great match, before screwing both Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair out of the SmackDown Women’s Championship! Ronda made waves all over TLC and it seems she is now on a collision course with both Lynch and Flair, although how this works in regards to belts and brand division is anyone’s guess. Also, this seems like a WrestleMania match, although we could see Lynch or Flair win the women’s Rumble and challenge Ronda. There are quite a few options here, and they’re all exciting.
Also at TLC, Finn Balor bested Drew McIntyre in a surprise win, Braun Strowman earned his chance to face Lesnar, and Elias beat Bobby Lashley. There’s sure to be lots of fallout on tonight’s Raw and the return of Vinnie Mac is all we could ask for. Remember to download the Ringside News app, follow us on Instagram, and enjoy the show!
Monday Night Raw
Raw opens with the man himself, the Chairman, Vince McMahon coming out. The stage is decorated with Christmas trees and presents, and McMahon conducts the audience in singing along to his music.
He gets into the ring and says he doesn’t want to hear any boos, so, of course, the fans boo. He says we may have been asking what is happening with Monday Night Raw, and that’s something he has asked himself. He goes on to say that Raw has been on the air for 25 years and that’s no small feat. However, the reason Raw has been on the air so long, is that they aren’t afraid to change with the times. And, despite his vision and his brilliance, he can’t do it by himself anymore, so he introduces Stephanie McMahon to the ring.
Stephanie hugs her father in the ring before taking a microphone. Vince tells the fans to be nice but they boo Steph regardless. She then motions towards the stage and Vince follows suit, and here comes The Game! The WWE COO, the brain behind NXT, the 14X World Champion, Triple H makes his way to the ring as well. As if that wasn’t enough, next up is Shane McMahon! Shane comes to the ring to the delight of the crowd.
The whole McMahon clan, minus Linda, is in the ring and they’re chanting for Shane. Stephanie says they’re out here because they haven’t been doing a good job lately. They haven’t been doing what her father said he would do; entertain. She says that they haven’t been listening to the fans, they’ve been letting middle-management get in the way, and they’ve been suffocating their Superstars. She says that all changes tonight.
Triple H says that they are taking back Monday Night Raw. They will be in charge but they will be giving the fans what they want. We will see new faces, new match-up’s, new directions, and we’ll see big changes in the coming weeks and months. Shane says the same goes for SmackDown Live. Triple H says, as of tonight, we, the fans, are the authority. Vince finishes off by saying that as long as the fans are happy and see what they want to see, WWE will always be Then, Now, and Forever.
The previous General Manager, Baron Corbin makes his way out before the McMahon family leave the ring. He walks towards the ring and Stephanie lets him know that the fans are booing him loudly. He says he liked everything the McMahon’s said tonight, however they want to talk about what’s fair, well what happened him last night was not fair. He says he needs to have a talk with them and we go to commercial!
*Commercial Break*
We return and the fans are booing Corbin very loudly. He says to the McMahon’s that this crowd does not represent the entirety of the WWE Universe. The fans continue to boo him. Stephanie, Shane, and HHH spur the booing. Corbin stands across the ring from them and asks the fans if they have no respect for him. He says he comes out here every night and does his absolute best, but the fans boo him quiet. He carries on by saying it isn’t his fault is Superstars are not living up to his challenges. He then says he was not prepared for what happened last night, he didn’t expect Strowman to show-up, nor did he expect to be ganged-up on. The fans cheer.
Triple H says Corbin is predictable; they know he’s out here to say everything that has happened has been unjust, and he wants his job back. Corbin agrees, saying he would never have lost his job if it weren’t for the Superstars who helped Strowman. He asks them to make him the Permanent General Manager. The McMahon’s form a huddle to discuss it, then each say no way.
Mr. McMahon then pauses and says there might be a way. They huddle again, then Triple H says with Vince being the genius, he brings up a good point. Maybe they’re wrong. Maybe Corbin does deserve a chance to be named permanent General Manager of Monday Night RAW. The crowd boos. Corbin says he only needs a chance. Triple H thinks they should give Baron Corbin that chance… if he can win his match tonight. Right now, Corbin can become the permanent General Manager of Monday Night RAW. All he has to do is beat this man…
Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring in his wrestling gear. The crowd loudly chants, “You suck” to the melody of his music. Before the match gets underway, Stephanie says there is also a special guest referee, and out comes Heath Slater! Poetic justice.
Baron Corbin vs. Kurt Angle
The bell rings, and Corbin looks nervous. Angle takes the fight to him right away with some right hands before whipping him into the buckles. Angle then stomps Baron in the corner. Angle attempts to whip him into the corner but Corbin reverses it. Angle responds with a German Suplex and Corbin rolls out of the ring to recover.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Corbin standing over Angle. Triple H then comes out and says he forgot to mention this is a handicap match. Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, and Apollo Crews come out and join the match! The fans are eating this up!
They beat on Corbin and put him in the ring. Angle hits a trio of German Suplexes. Gable tags in and connects with a German Suplex. Bobby Roode tags in, and he hits a corner clothesline on Corbin. Apollo Crews tags in and hits a step-up enzuigiri. Corbin gets out of the ring and goes to leave through the crowd, but the faces catch up to him. They bring him back to the ring, and Angle is waiting. All four men attack Corbin, while Slater pretends to fix the turnbuckle.
Now, Shane McMahon makes his way out and says he’s pumped to be in Sacramento. Shane says this is now a No Disqualifications match!
All four faces go outside and grab chairs while Slater stomps away at Corbin. Angle hits Corbin with a chair, and Roode smacks him on the back with it. Crews and Gable do the same. A loud “We want tables” chant picks up. Roode and Gable hit a neckbreaker/moonsault combo. Crews then hits a frog splash. They then hold Corbin up for Angle to deliver an Angle Slam. Angle covers for the win.
Winners: Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, & Apollo Crews
Roode, Gable, and Crews go out and get a table. They set it up in the ring, and Angle gives Corbin an Angle Slam through the table.
Later tonight, Ronda Rousey will talk TLC, as well as the new WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose. Coming up next though, we’ll have Dolph Ziggler versus Finn Balor.
*Commercial Break*
We come back and the announcers talks about John Cena winning the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, and they show a video package for it.
Finn Balor makes his entrance, and they show a replay of him getting attacked by Dolph Ziggler last night.
Finn Balor Vs. Dolph Ziggler
The match gets underway and Dolph pushes Finn to the ropes, then takes him down with a headlock takeover. Balor fights up and whips him off before hitting an arm drag, followed by another. Ziggler kips up, and they go face-to-face with the fans cheering. Balor whips Dolph to the ropes and connects with a big dropkick and we take a commercial break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Ziggler catch Finn with a sunset flip but Finn rolls through and hits a basement dropkick. We see that during commercial Ziggler hit a dropkick to knock Balor from the apron. Balor reverses Ziggler, then flips him onto his back and hits a double stomp. He gets fired-up and roars at the crowd.
Ziggler dodges the Slingblade and rolls Finn up, before connecting with a stiff European uppercut. Balor manages to create some distance and hit a Slingblade. He looks for the corner dropkick but Dolph reverses it into a snap DDT for a two count. Ziggler waits for Finn to get up, then looks to hit the Zig Zag but Balor shrugs him off and hits a Pele kick. Balor goes up top for the Coup De Grace but Dolph hits the ropes to crotch him. Ziggler then hits the Zig Zag but Finn kicks out!
Dolph can’t believe it! He starts tuning up the band but out comes Drew McIntyre to distract him. Dolph knocks him from the apron and goes outside to brawl. McIntyre shoves Dolph into the barricade, but then Balor comes flying over the top rope and wipes out McIntyre. Dolph hits Balor and gets him back in the ring for the Fameasser but Balor kicks out again. Finn fires back with the Slingblade again. He looks for the corner dropkick but McIntyre comes into the ring and attacks him, forcing the disqualification.
No Contest
McIntyre throws Finn from the ring, then beats the life out of Dolph with ground and pound. Drew then slides out of the ring and hits Balor with the Claymore. He leaves up the ramp with both men in his wake.
We see the Intercontinental Championship sitting on a table, Dean Ambrose then picks it up and begins walking towards the ring. He’ll be out after the break!
*Commercial Break*
Dean Amrbose’s music hits and out come his masked goons, before the man himself comes to the ring. Ambrose says Rollins dropped the ball and choked. Ambrose took this title from him, but he’s not done. When Ambrose is done, Rollins will have nothing left. Ambrose will drag him through the mud and throw him in the garbage where he belongs. Ambrose says Rollins has an obligation to go face-to-face with him and tell the world that Ambrose was right and Rollins was wrong.
Seth Rollins doesn’t come out. Ambrose says he’ll make an open challenge — not for the title, but maybe Rollins wants to punch him in the face. Ambrose invites him to take out his rage on him. Rollins still doesn’t come out. Ambrose says Rollins is just like the crowd: a selfish whiner. Ambrose says since Rollins doesn’t have the guts to come out here tonight, he’ll steal a page from Rollins’ playbook. Ambrose is going to have an open challenge match for the Intercontinental Championship for anyone other than Rollins. He waits for a moment but then his challenge is accepted….
WWE Intercontinental Championship
(c) Dean Ambrose vs. Tyler Breeze
The bell rings and they run into each other. Breeze reverses an Irish whip and knocks Ambrose down with a forearm. Breeze dropkicks Ambrose, then clotheslines him out of the ring. The fans are firmly behind Breeze as we take a break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back to see Ambrose grounding Breeze with a modified rear naked choke. He releases the hold and stomps on Tyler’s hand. Ambrose whips him into the ropes and hits a back elbow. He grabs Breeze and applies a sleeper.
Breeze begins to rally to his feet but Ambrose hits him with a forearm to the back. Ambrose looks for a body slam but Tyler lands on his feet and hits an enziguiri. Breeze catches Ambrose with a hurricanrana pin attempt. He throws Ambrose into the ring post for another roll-up. Breeze then hits a Beauty Shot, followed by a flying crossbody from the top rope for a near-fall.
Breeze grabs Ambrose for an Unprettier but Dean shrugs him off, pushes him into the ropes and hits Dirty Deeds for the win.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Ambrose says that was the performance of an Intercontinental Champion with character and integrity. Seth Rollins’ music hits and Ambrose starts to send his goons to the ramp to stop him from getting to the ring. However one of Ambrose’s goons slides into the ring and superkicks him! He takes the mask off and its Rollins! Seth starts beating on Dean and the goons come in and fight him off. Seth ends up clearing two of them from the ring before hitting the third with a superkick. Ambrose has retreated to the ramp and he looks on at Seth in the ring.
Charly Caruso is backstage with Shane McMahon. McMahon goes to talk about the changes, but Drake Maverick interrupts him. Maverick introduces him to the rightful RAW Tag Team Champions, AOP. McMahon says they’re not getting their mandatory rematch clause. That’s antiquated. Maverick cannot believe it. McMahon says they’ll get an opportunity against The B-Team, The Revival, and The Lucha House Party. The winners get a future RAW Tag Team Championship shot
We see a graphic of new Superstars coming to WWE and it shows Heavy Machinery, EC3, Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, and Lars Sullivan.
*Commercial Break*
We’re back and we see a lengthy hype video for all the new people coming to WWE.
We come back to the ring and Bobby Lashley is in the ring with Lio Rush, sitting on a stool with guitar. Lashley has a broken guitar in his hands. Lio Rush says Lashley fell in love with the guitar last night after hitting Elias with it. Rush says no one is here to hear Elias sing another bad song. Rush tells them to silence their cellphones, hold the applause, and shut their mouths. Rush has Lashley do a bunch of poses. Rush then has Lashley do his favorite pose. Lashley poses bent over, showing those glutes.
Suddenly, “Ladies and gentlemen… Elias.” Elias comes from out of nowhere and smashes a guitar on Lashley’s back. Lashley is stunned, but he’s quickly on his feet.
The Lucha House Party is shown backstage. They’re coming to the ring for action, next!
*Commercial Break*
We return and get a promo for the return of Sami Zayn!
We’re getting a Fatal 4-Way tag team match, with the winners getting a title shot at Roode and Gable.
Lucha House Party Vs. The Revival Vs. The B-Team vS. tHE Author’s of Pain W/Drake Maverick
It seems Lucha House Party are now playing by normal tag team rules. Curtis Axel starts against Lince Dorado. Dorado dropkicks him and Kalisto tags in to take Axel down as well. Scott Dawson tags in and slaps Kalisto in the face. Kalisto attempts to attack him but Dawson takes him down. Kalisto kicks Dawson away and tags Dorado, while AOP storm the ring and beat on the Lucha’s. AOP are in control as we take a break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Lince hit a handspring stunner on Axel. Kalisto and Bo Dallas are tagged in. Kalisto hits a springboard cross-body before hitting a corkscrew cross-body. Kalisto hits Curtis with a tornado DDT before kicking Dallas. Dawson blind tags in on Kalisto and sends him out of the ring.
Dallas comes back with a forearm and takes Dawson down. Dallas hits a hanging neckbreaker, but Dash Wilder breaks it up. Dawson and Dallas team up to get AOP out of the ring. They then give Lucha House Party dual back body drops over the top rope onto AOP. Dawson rolls Dallas up, but Dallas rolls through. They trade roll-ups. Dawson makes the tag to Dash and they hit Bo with the Shatter Machine for the win!
Winners: The Revival
Maverick holds back Rezar and Akam from storming the ring as Dash and Dawson’s hands are raised. The Revival are next in line for a title shot!
Seth Rollins is backstage with Charly Caruso. Rollins says last night was a disaster. Rollins let Ambrose get in his head. Rollins will have to move forward. This isn’t about his performance in the ring or losing championships. This is his life. Seth says this is everything he’s been dedicated to his whole life. Rollins says he’ll right the ship and end Dean Ambrose. Baron Corbin walks up to him. Corbin says everyone thought he was doing a good job as General Manager until Rollins said something. Corbin blames Rollins for all his misfortune. Corbin says Ambrose was right about what he said. Rollins feigns a laugh before clocking him with a right hand.
Replays are shown of The McMahon family kicking off Monday Night RAW and promising change, although we haven’t seen much of that so far.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from commercial and out comes Rowdy Ronda Rousey, the Raw Women’s Champion.
Ronda comes to the ring and we see a replay of her costing Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Rousey said she told Nia Jax she could kiss her right hand goodbye. She told Charlotte Flair she’d write the next chapter of their story. She also told Becky Lynch that she’s the last woman she should provoke. A “Becky” chant fires up. Rousey isn’t here to justify her actions. She’s here to define what a real champion is; a real champion is so much more than a title you hold in your hands; a real champion is more than the winner of a match or the decision of a referee; a real champion represents the limit of human potential – the best of the best physically, mentally, and morally. A real champion is the best the human race has to offer. That’s why she’s here tonight. Rousey says she wants to start a new tradition. After a PPV, a champion should defend their championship whether they’re in good or bad condition. Rousey issues an open challenge.
We go into the gorilla position to see a bunch of female superstars arguing over who gets the shot. Stephanie McMahon screams and tells them to follow her. Stephanie McMahon comes out on stage and says all these women want a championship match against her. They’re all deserving, but she’s not playing favourites anymore. They’ll give them each an opportunity to earn it. Rousey will defend the title against the winner of tonight’s 8-woman gauntlet match. They’ll kick it off with Alicia Fox, who makes her way to the ring, she’ll be facing Bayley!
8-Woman Gauntlet
Bayley Vs. Alicia Fox
Bayley starts off by rushing Fox to the corner and attacking her, but Fox soon takes her down. Fox bounces her off the top turnbuckle. Bayley dodges a scissor kick and hits a swinging back suplex for a near fall. Bayley is in control as we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
We return to see Fox in charge of Bayley, stomping on her. Fox begins choking her against the middle rope. Bayley starts to make a comeback and goes for a slingshot, but she tweaks her knee. Fox follows up with a big boot and covers, but Bayley rolls her over to eliminate her.
Bayley Advances
Dana Brooke Enters
Brooke runs down and attacks Bayley. Brooke punches away at her and applies a body scissor. Brooke pins her for a near fall before hitting a chop block. The referee checks on Bayley, and she agrees to continue. Brooke stomps Bayley and takes her down for a two count. Brooke applies a chin lock. Bayley fights out, but Brooke continues to take her down. Bayley hits a desperation Bayley-To-Belly out of nowhere to eliminate Brooke.
Bayley Advances
*Commercial Break*
Mickie James Enters
We join this match in progress. Bayley fights up from a chin lock, but James soon takes her down with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Ronda Rousey is seen watching backstage. Bayley fights back, but James soon takes her down. James does a kip-up and goes to the top rope. James hits a flying Thesz Press and beats on Bayley.
The hugger starts to make a comeback and takes her down with a swinging back suplex. James musters some strength to kick her out of the ring. Bayley blocks a baseball slide and punches James. Bayley’s knee gives out, but she still manages to hit a cross-body. Bayley hits James with a running kick before going to the top rope. Bayley comes off with a diving elbow drop, but James grabs the bottom rope. James blocks the Bayley-To-Belly and punches her down. James connects with a big DDT to eliminate Bayley.
Mickie James Advances
Ember Moon Enters
As soon as Moon enters the fray, James immediately dropkicks her. James chokes her with a boot. Moon gets to her feet and Mickie goes for an arm drag, but Moon lands on her feet. Moon takes her down, but James avoids a dropkick for a two count. Moon comes back with a springboard cross-body block for a near fall. James rolls out of the ring to recover.
Moon comes running and James avoids a baseball slide, then kicks her. James goes to powerbomb her on the floor, but Moon holds the ropes. James then lets go and swipes Moon’s feet to send her crashing to the floor as we take a break.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from the break to see Moon and James ducking strikes. Moon finally connects with a kick for a near fall. Ronda Rousey is still watching the television sideways from backstage. James flattens her with a flapjack and kips up. James goes to the top rope, but Moon counters into a Codebreaker. Moon goes to the top rope and hits the Eclipse for the pin and the elimination!
Ember Moon Advances
Natalya Enters
Nattie comes running down to the ring and Moon quickly rolls her up for a two count. Moon avoids a discus clothesline for a two count. Moon applies a chin lock, but Natalya fights out. Moon quickly boots her and hits a swinging suplex for a two count.
Natalya dodges Moon coming off the top rope, and follows up with a discus clothesline for a near-fall. Natalya then attempts to apply the Sharpshooter but Moon counters into a roll-up for a two count. Natalya rolls-up Ember with a small package for the elimination!
Natalya Advances
Natalya awaits her opponent but out comes the entire Riott Squad. They stand on the ramp, and we don’t know who will be facing Nattie.
*Commercial Break*
Ruby Riott Enters
We come back from the break to see Riott applying a chin lock. During the break, Liv Morgan got a cheap shot in. Natalya fights out and hits a slam. Natalya rolls her up, but Riott kicks out and immediately clotheslines her down. Riott goes back to a chin lock to keep Nattie grounded.
Natalya eventually fights out and dropkicks her down. Natalya hits a pair of snap suplexes and slaps her. Riott quickly takes her down and goes for a reverse senton, but Natalya moves. Natalya covers for the elimination.
Natalya Advances
Sasha Banks Enters
Banks comes running down and gets on the apron, where Nattie tries to stop her, but Banks knee’s her in the head! Sasha gets in and ducks a clothesline to takes Natalya down. She follows-up by giving her double knees in the corner. Natalya fights back, but Banks takes her down with a DDT for a near fall. Banks looks to steal the win as we head to a break.
*Commercial Break*
Sasha pulls herself to her feet using the ropes. She attempts to kick Natalya but gets slammed to the mat. Nattie then runs up Sasha’s back, and dropkicks her for a two count. Nattie gets frustrated and looks for the Sharpshooter bus Sasha kicks her away. Sasha tries to roll her up but Natalya kicks out, then almost kills Banks with a discus clothesline for a two count.
Natalya applies the Sharpshooter and drags Sasha to the middle of the ring. Sasha struggles and crawls to the bottom rope… but Natalya drags her right back into the middle before she can grab it. Again Sasha crawls but this time she flips forward to send Nattie face-first into the turnbuckles. Both women are down.
Natalya grabs the legs but banks counters and applies a single leg Boston crab. Natalya fights it but as she reaches the bottom rope Sasha wraps her up in a pin attempt for a near-fall. As Natalya kicks out Sasha gets her in the Bank Statement! Natalya considers tapping before rolling backwards and standing with Sasha on her shoulders. Sasha climbs down but Natalya catches her with a release German suplex.
Both women slowly get back to their feet. Banks elbows Nattie from the corner, then hits a meteora for a two count. Banks looks for the backstabber but Natalya shrugs her off. Banks runs and Natalya lifts her up, throws her off for a facebuster. She then applies the Sharpshooter to Sasha and The Boss is forced to tap!
Winner: Natalya
After the match Natalya bends down and kisses Sasha’s head and thanks her, before Banks rolls from the ring. Ronda Rousey then makes her way down to the ring and she holds Natalya’s hand high. They then share a staredown before Ronda extends a hand and they shake. Nattie then poses for the fans again and both of them leave. They will go one on one for the Raw Women’s Championship, next Monday night!
That’s it for this week’s Raw! Next week there will be a triple threat match with Balor, McIntyre, and Ziggler, Seth Rollins Vs. Baron Corbin, as well as a Miracle on 34th Street Fight between Lashley and Elias, and Paul Heyman will be celebrating Christmas!
Let us know what you thought of the show and the new direction. Until next time, safe travels.
