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Here is the Fightful post-Raw podcast:
- Renee Young, David Otunga & Peter Rosenberg are the hosts of the Raw Pre-Show tonight. Rosenberg compares watching WWE Raw to holidays, Otunga talks about all of his memories of watching WWE Raw.
- Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler are then show in the Manhattan Center. Ross says tonight will be a special night and Lawler talks about some of his favorite moments in the Manhattan Center. Ross claims fans paid up to $800 for tickets to the Manhattan Center on the secondary market.
- Rosenberg says his favorite Raw moment was when Mike Tyson and Steve Austin met in the ring, Otunga says his favorite Raw moment is the same as Rosenberg’s and it is also when the Nexxus invaded Raw. Young says her favorite Raw moment was when Triple H and Stephanie McMahon got married.
- Charly Caruso interviews the APA, Bradshaw the 25th Anniversary of Raw is nothing without the APA, Bradshaw and Ron Simmons go over their favorite Raw moments. Bradshaw says the APA is back providing protection for one night.
- Highlights ares shown of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan dressing in drag in an attempt to get inside the Manhattan Center for WWE Raw.
- Sam Roberts is outside the Barclays Center with the WWE Universe, Roberts gives some of his favorite Raw moments.
- A Raw Classic Moments airs next, which is Steve Austin driving the Zamboni into the ringside area so he can attack Vince McMahon.
- Otunga says his favorite Stone Cold moment was when Austin jumped Vince McMahon in the hospital, Rosenberg says his favorite moment was the entire Austin vs. McMahon rivalry, while Young says Austin driving the beer truck was her favorite moment.
- A Roman Reigns interview from after last weeks Raw airs, Reigns says he is prepared for a rematch with The Miz and then he talks about how his cousin Yokozuna wrestled on WWE Raw.
- A video showing The Miz promising to beat Roman Reigns on WWE Raw tonight airs, followed by The Miz saying he is in the WWE Royal Rumble Match.
- Rosenberg and Otunga both agree that Roman Reigns is bring prestige to the WWE Intercontinental Title, plus they all agree that the winner has huge momentum heading into the WWE Royal Rumble Match.
- Another Raw Moment airs, this time it is when Mankind defeated The Rock to win the WWE Title.
- The next Raw Moment airs and this time we see Eric Bischoff announced as the Raw GM.
- Eric Bischoff has joined the Raw pre-show panel, who says it is amazing to be back on WWE Raw and he says that he is grateful to be here. Bischoff says that the announcement that he was the Raw GM was a surreal moment, says it was an amazing moment. Bischoff says that he felt at home real quick in the WWE, Bischoff admits that people backstage were really shocked he came to the WWE. Bischoff says the first thing he did when he arrived in the WWE was to speak with The Undertaker, says he knew he was excited to be in the WWE the first time he spoke to Vince McMahon.
- A video is shown featuring Bayley meeting Trish Stratus backstage at the Barclays Center.
- Another Raw Moment is shown, we see Lita defeating Trish Stratus to win the WWE Women’s Title.
- JR and Lawler are back, they introduce a video of The Undertaker making his WWE Raw debut and then his history on the show. JR and Lawler then announce that The Undertaker will appear at the Manhattan Center tonight.
- Rosenberg calls The Undertaker the spirit of WWE Raw, all three hosts talk about The Undertaker’s impact on WWE Raw.
- A video airs where The New Days talks about appearing on Raw 25 tonight.
- Young talks about the Smackdown Live stars appearing on Raw 25 tonight, Rosenberg and Otunga says that they are all here for a celebration tonight.
- The next Raw Moment airs and this time we see the WWE debut of Chris Jericho.
- Sam Roberts is shown in the WWE Universe again, Roberts talks about the WWE Intercontinental Title Match between Roman Reigns and The Miz.
- Another Raw Moment airs and this time we see Degeneration X invade WCW.
- Otunga says his favorite faction was Nexxus and the Nation Of Domination, Young says hers is The Shield and Legacy, while Rosenberg says Evolution was his favorite.
- Yet another Raw Moment airs, this time we see Seth Rollins turning on Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns.
- A Raw Moment airs next, we see the return of Brock Lesnar to the WWE.
- Highlights are shown of when Braun Strowman went on a path of destruction after being fired last week on WWE Raw.
- The panel discusses whether or not Raw GM Kurt Angle can handle all of the craziness tonight.
- Highlights are then shown of The New Day battling Stephanie McMahon & Triple H in a Lip Sync Battle on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.
- The show starts with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler in the Manhattan Center, things are then sent over to the Barclays Center with Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Booker T.
- Stephanie & Shane McMahon are in the ring, Stephanie welcomes everybody to the 25th Anniversary of WWE Raw. Shane says that everybody from the McMahon Family and everybody in the WWE wants to thank the superstars, employees and the WWE Universe for making Raw the success that it is. A video package airs highlighting the best moments from Raw’s past. Stephanie again thanks everybody for supporting the WWE tonight, Vince McMahon is then introduced.
Vince comes in the ring and he hugs both of his children, Vince tells everybody to have a good night and Stephanie stops him from leaving because they have a surprise for him tonight. Shane and Stephanie present Vince with a plaque celebrating the 25th anniversary of Raw, Vince doesn’t like the gift and he takes shot at the WWE Universe for not funding a better gift. Vince says that the only person he should thank for the shows success is himself, that brings out Steve Austin.
Vince does his best to calm Austin and the crowd down, Vince then does his best to get Austin to attack Shane. Austin then hits Shane with a Stone Cold Stunner, Vince gets some beer to share with Austin and Austin eventually nails him with a Stunner. Shane gets back up and Austin nails him with another Stunner.
Mickie James, Bayley, Sasha Banks & Asuka vs. Nia Jax, Alicia Fox & Absolution (Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville) w/Paige
All eight women brawl before the bell sounds, the match finally begins with Asuka nailing Deville with a series of strikes. Asuka then clobbers Deville with a running hip attack, Deville gets to her knees and Asuka nails her with kicks as we go to a commercial break. We return from the break to see Rose nailing Asuka with a jaw breaker, Asuka gets angry and she attacks members of the opposing team. Asuka drops Rose before landing a sliding kick, Banks tags in and she works with Asuka to hit Rose with a double suplex. Jax tags in and Banks drops her with a series of strikes, Jax gets angry and she just plows through a charging Banks.
Rose tags in and she mauls Banks with kicks in the corner, Deville tags in and she attacks Banks with strikes. Fox tags in and she catches Banks with a northern lights suplex for a near fall, Fox slows things down by holding Banks in a chin lock. Fox briefly goes for a pin before reapplying the chin lock to Banks, Banks gets free and Fox kicks her in the face for a near fall. Fox again applies the chin lock to a downed Banks, Banks gets free again and Fox drops her with a strike to the back of the head as we go to a commercial break. We return from the break to see Fox attacking members of the opposing team, Banks drops Fox and Deville attacks her from behind.
A brawl breaks out on the arena floor, Banks catches Fox in the Bank Statement to force a tap out.
Winners: Mickie James, Bayley, Sasha Banks & Asuka
After the match, Asuka attacks all of her teammates and throws them over the top rope.
- WWE Raw GM Kurt Angle is talking to a referee in his office, Jonathan Coachman arrives and he embraces Angle. Harvey Whippleman and the Brooklyn Brawler arrive, Teddy Long follows suit and he dances with everybody. Brother Love shows up next and he says that he loves everybody, The Boogeyman comes in next and he gives some chewed up worms to Coach.
- We are in the Manhattan Center, a video package is shown highlighting The Undertaker’s history on WWE Raw.
- The Undertaker comes out next and he has a microphone in hand, ‘Taker says the carnage began in the Manhattan Center 25 years ago. ‘Taker says that he has been digging holes for any person who has stepped foot in the dark side, ‘Taker talks about destroying the WWE legends over the last 25 years. ‘Taker declares that all the fallen can now rest in peace.
- The APA are playing cards with Rhyno and Heath Slater, Bradshaw wins the hand of poker. The Million Dollar Man walks in and he wants in on the card game.
- John Laurinaitis, William Regal, Daniel Bryan and Eric Bischoff are all introduced to the live crowd, The Miz and The Miztourage come out to interrupt the ceremony.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Roman Reigns (Champion) vs. The Miz w/The Miztourage
The match begins with Reigns shoving Miz across the ring, Miz rolls out of the ring before punching Reigns in the face. Miz then leaps off the top rope and Reigns nails him with a punch, Bo Dallas tries interfering and Reigns takes him out. Curtis Axel distracts Reigns and Miz knocks him back to the arena floor, Miz throws Reigns into the ring steps as we go to the commercial break. We return from the break to see Reigns nailing Miz with a series of clotheslines, Reigns traps Miz in the corner while landing clothesline strikes.
Reigns then clobbers a dazed Miz with a running boot to the face, Reigns looks for the superman punch and Miz rolls out of the ring. Reigns then hits a dazed Miz with the Drive By, Reigns gets Miz in the ring and he nails the ring post on a spear attempt. Miz rolls up a hurt Reigns for a near fall, Miz then nails a kneeling Reigns with a plethora of It Kicks. Reigns catches a kicking Miz with a sit out power bomb for a near fall, Miz rolls back out of the ring to regroup with The Miztourage. Reigns takes out The Miztourage with a double Drive By, Miz then jumps a distracted Reigns from behind.
Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale and Reigns counters with a superman punch for a near fall, Reigns sets up for the spear and Dallas distracts him so Miz can land a clothesline. The referee gets angry and he throws The Miztourage out of the ringside area, Reigns rolls up a distracted Miz for a near fall. Miz then hits a distracted Reigns with a Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall, Miz goes for another Skull Crushing Finale and Reigns breaks free. Miz sends a charging Reigns into an exposed corner before landing the Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.
Winner: The Miz w/The Miztourage, your new WWE Intercontinental Champion
- Jeff Hardy, MVP and The Usos have joined the APA poker game, which Slater continues losing in.
- The Peep Show is next with Christian as the host, Christian goes through his history as a tag team wrestler. Christian then brings out Raw Tag Team Champions Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins, Rollins is excited to be on the show and Jordan interrupts him. The fans jeer Jordan everytime he attempts to speak, The Bar interrupt and they make their way to the ring. Sheamus says all the WWE legends have been trying to get The Bar’s autographs all day, Sheamus says the WWE legends are picking The Bar to win at the WWE Royal Rumble.
Cesaro says that Jordan sucks and his father doesn’t, The Bar leads the “you suck” chants until Rollins and Jordan attack them. Rollins goes after Cesaro with a springboard knee strike and he accidentally nails Jordan.
- Charly Caruso interviews WWE Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, who claims that Caruso is trying to insult her with the questions. WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte appears and she doubts Bliss will be the champion at WWE Wrestlemania 34, Ric Flair appears and he says his daughter will be champion as long as she wants.
- Titus Worldwide & Natalya have joined the APA poker game, Heath Slater continues his losing streak.
Bray Wyatt vs. Matt Hardy
The match begins with Hardy nailing Wyatt with some forearm strikes, Hardy then hits Wyatt witha clothesline in the corner followed by more strikes. Hardy then hits Wyatt with a Russian leg sweep before going to the middle rope, Hardy then hits Wyatt with a middle rope elbow strike. Wyatt recovers and he nails a charging Hardy with a running cross body block as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Hardy hitting Wyatt with a jaw breaker. Hardy gets Wyatt in the corner to smash his face on the turnbuckles, Hardy follows that up with a running clothesline in the corner.
Hardy then catches a charging Wyatt with a Side Effect for a near fall, Hardy goes for a Twist Of Fate and Wyatt sends him into the ropes. Wyatt nails Hardy with Sister Abigail for the three count.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
- The Bella Twins, Maryse, Kelly Kelly, Lilian Garcia, Jacqueline, Torrie Wilson, Michelle McCool, Terri Runnels, Maria Kanellis & Trish Stratus are all introduced.
- Elias is walking backstage when he runs into Chris Jericho, Y2J comments on the scarfs that Elias is wearing. Y2J grabs a guitar and he sings a song mocking Elias, Y2J then puts Elias on The List Of Jericho.
- A video is shown of WWE stars taking part in a Make A Wish event.
- Elias is in the ring and he wants to know “who will walk with Elias?” Elias then introduces Jimmy Fallon, who is sitting in the crowd, Elias then performs a song for the WWE universe that mocks the WWE legends. John Cena interrupts and he makes his way to the ring, Cena gets a microphone and he takes a few shots at Elias. Elias interrupts Cena and tells him to shut his mouth, Elias says everybody came to hear what he has to say. Cena gets angry and he challenges Elias to a fight, Elias says no and he also doesn’t take orders from anybody.
Elias tries attacking Cena and Cena winds up getting the upper hand, Cena then hits Elias with a 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Cena goes for the Attitude Adjustment and Elias nails him with a low blow, Elias grabs a guitar and he nails Cena with it. Elias then hits Cena with Drift Away before exiting the ring.
- The New Day have joined the APA poker game and a brawl nearly breaks out, Bradshaw stops the brawl from happening, but then the Million Dollar Man wins the hand.
- Mark Henry is walking backstage when he bumps into The Godfather and one of his ladies, who turns out to be his wife.
Titus Worldwide (Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews) w/Dana Brooke vs. Rhyno & Heath Slater
The match begins with Rhyno attacking O’Neil with a few chops, O’Neil traps Rhyno in the corner before landing a few strikes of his own. Crews tags in and Rhyno quickly tags Slater, Slater goes to work by wrenching away on the arm of Crews. Crews recovers and he levels a charging Slater with a drop kick, Crews follows that up with a delayed verticle suplex on Slater as we go to a commercial break. We return from the break to see a brawl breaking out between both teams until the referee calls for the bell.
Match Result: No Contest
After the match, the Dudley Boyz hits the ring as everybody else leaves, Heath Slater is tossed in the ring to get hit with a headbutt to the balls. The Dudley Boyz then hit Slater with a 3-D through a table.
- Charly Caruso interviews WWE Champion AJ Styles, who says that he has brought “Mean” Gene Okerlund out to interview him. Styles does a Hulk Hogan impersonation while talking about his title match at the WWE Royal Rumble event, Styles says he will retain the title on Sunday Night.
- Shawn Michaels and Triple H of Degeneration X make their way out to the ring, HBK grabs the microphone to say he cannot remember all the great moments he had on WWE Raw. HBK tries to tell some naughty stories and Triple H stops him each time, Triple H talks about how Raw started in the Manhattan Center. Triple H goes over the history of DX on WWE Raw, Triple H says DX will continue being at the forefront of Raw.
The Road Dog and Billy Gunn make their way to the ring while doing their usual introduction, X-Pac is then brought to the ring. X-Pac then brings out Scott Hall. Hall says that there can be no party for Raw without him, The Balor Club interrupts and makes their way to the ring. Everybody in the ring does the too sweet and that brings out The Revival to interrupt the party.
The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) vs. The Balor Club (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows)
The match begins with The Revival jumping Anderson and mauling him with strikes in the corner, Dawson drops Anderson with a back elbow strike before landing a leg drop. Wilder tags in and he nails Anderson with a European uppercut before applying a headlock, Anderson breaks free and Dawson tags into the match. Anderson then hits Dawson with a leg lariat before tagging gallows in, Wilder tags in as well and Gallows nails him with an avalanche. The Balor Club hits Wilder with a Magic Killer for a three count.
Winners: The Balor Club
After the match, Scott Dawson confronts the legends and everybody takes him out.
- WWE Raw GM Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring with WWE Legends and current WWE stars, brings out Braun Strowman first. Kane is then brought to the ring next and the wrestlers at ringside get between the two competitors, Paul Heyman comes out next and he introduces Brock Lesnar. Lesnar quickly hits the ring and he drops Strowman with a clothesline, Lesnar then hits Kane with an F-5. Strowman hits the ring and he knocks Lesnar out of it, Strowman then tosses Lesnar into the barricade. Strowman then hits Lesnar with a power slam through the announce table.
