WWE started their build to Battleground and SummerSlam with a fairly decent Monday Night RAW to follow up Money in the Bank. Here is a breakdown of how the show went, along with the results from last night’s matches.
Raw started with Seth Rollins cutting another awesome heel promo. Rollins has become so good as a heel that it has become weekly “can’t miss” television for me. During his promo, Rollins insulted the city of Cleveland, Ohio as well as Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel who was in attendance. After Rollins masterfully drew the heat from the crowd, Dean Ambrose comes out and the two start to brawl. Rollins tried to retreat but Ambrose stayed in pursuit until Rollins finally escaped. Ambrose returned to the ring and cut a promo about how much he enjoys making Rollins’ life a living hell and is going to sit in the ring until he comes back out. Rollins is then seen backstage trying to whine to Triple H and Stephanie but the “Power Couple” isn’t happy with Rollins and will be revealing his Battleground opponent later tonight.
Back in the ring, Ambrose was still out there and out came Money in the Bank winner, Sheamus. Sheamus and Ambrose is the first match of the show.
MATCH BY MATCH RESULTS:
Dean Ambrose defeats Sheamus by pinfall
Sheamus and Dean Ambrose go back and forth until Sheamus gains the advantage on Ambrose’s still injured knee. Ambrose gets worked over until making a comeback. He goes for Dirty Deeds but Sheamus blocks it and grabs his briefcase to leave but Randy Orton’s music hits. Sheamus is distracted and Ambrose rolls him up for the pinfall. After the match Sheamus tries to retreat from Orton but he’s caught and brought back to the ring, Orton goes for an RKO but Sheamus avoids it and escapes.
R-Truth defeated King Barrett by pinfall
R-Truth enters with his own royal robe. Truth makes his way to commentary and can’t wait to see who the King Barrett’s opponent is. Barrett makes his way out and JBL tells Truth he’s in the match. Truth goes in the ring and we get the bell. Barrett nails a big boot and mounts Truth with strikes to start. Barrett stands up and readies the Bullhammer but Truth counters and rolls him up for a quick win. After the bell, a furious Barrett hits a Bullhammer and assaults Truth. Barrett cuts a promo on how he earned the right to be called King.
Kevin Owens comes out for a promo. Owens says when Cena shook his hand after the match, Cena said the most disrespectful thing he’s heard in his career – “you belong here, you belong in front of these people.” Owens says he’s known that since the second he stepped foot in a ring. Owens says he doesn’t need Cena to tell him where he belongs and doesn’t need his endorsement or support. Owens says he wants a rematch but this time for the U.S. Title. Owens adds this is usually when Cena’s music would hit, he’d come out and issue an open challenge but that’s not happening tonight. Owens then issues an open challenge for the NXT Title instead. Dolph Ziggler comes out and accepts.
Kevin Owens defeated Dolph Ziggler via pinfall
Owens and Ziggler had a solid back and forth match…But let’s be honest, Owens has never had a bad match in the WWE or NXT. After Ziggler hit a Zig-Zag for a two count, Owens was able to recover and nail a super kick and a pop up powerbomb for the win.
They did a Divas segment where Paige was trying to get the rest of the Divas back on her side in a fight against the Bellas. The locker room shuns Paige, so she’s all alone in a handicap match against the Bellas tonight.
Kane vs Randy Orton
Kane and Orton have a very basic match until Sheamus’ music hits. Sheamus comes out and distracts Orton, Kane grabs a mic and changes this match to No Holds Barred. Sheamus comes down to the ring and nails a Brogue Kick to Orton and Kane scores the pinfall.
Backstage…Kane runs into Seth Rollins and Rollins insults Kane and tells him he’s not the “monster” he used to be and nobody fears him anymore. Rollins mentions Paul Bearer and the Undertaker which causes Kane to get pissed and warn Rollins to keep his family out of his mouth.
Miz defeated Big Show by count out
Miz gets worked over by the Big Show and tries to hang in there with the giant. Ryback interrupts while Big Show and Miz are on the outside and Big Show throws Miz into Ryback. Miz gets back in the ring as the count was at 9 and got the count out victory over Show.
Roman Reigns is out and he’s PISSED…He calls out Bray Wyatt and says he doesn’t want to wait until Battleground and wants Bray Wyatt tonight. Wyatt appears on the Tron and antagonizes Reigns in yet another glorious Wyatt promo. The build up to this feud is only 2 days in, but it has been very very good to start.
The Bellas defeated Paige via pinfall
This match was your usual RAW Divas match…Just kill some time, look pretty, and let the Bellas win. I feel so sorry for the Divas division and I really hope that they can fix it at this point.
Machine Gun Kelly performed and Mr. Wrestling wasn’t happy about it……..Kevin Owens, in the highlight of the night, powerbombed Machine Gun Kelly off of the stage!!! Kelly eventually gets up and is helped to the back.
The Primetime Players and Neville defeated The New Day
Another fantastic tag match by the WWE and I really love how they’ve brought back this division. The ending came with Darren Young hitting the Gut Check and tagging in Neville who hit the Red Arrow for the win.
In the closing of RAW we see Triple H and Stephanie make their way out. They address the Kevin Owens’ actions and say he’ll be dealt with. And then they get to the list of Superstars they considered to face Seth Rollins for the title at Battleground. Rollins comes out and continues to be confident and smug until the music of “the Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar hits! Lesnar returns to WWE with Paul Heyman and they come to the ring. Lesnar and Rollins have a silent staredown for a few moments before Rollins exits the ring and RAW goes off the air. It will be Rollins vs Lesnar at Battleground for the WWE championship.
