Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for tonight's episode of WWE Raw.
We'll be bringing you full, match by match coverage of every bout on the card and you can watch along with us, sending in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
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We begin this week's show with Alexa Bliss, making her way to center ring and grabbing a microphone as well. She welcomed us to "a very special Moment of Bliss," next looking ahead to Money in the Bank right away. Bliss then announced RAW's male representatives, with Braun Strowman being named first. Ricochet, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin followed. Alexa didn't read all of the latter's accolades though, encouraging Corbin to promote himself until Ricochet intervened. Ricochet reminded Baron that he's already thrown the briefcase away once and McIntyre agreed, claiming that Corbin "blew it" last week too.
Drew then said that at Money in the Bank, he'll take matters into his own hand before dismissing Ricochet, telling him to shut up with a threat as well. That transitioned into a heated exchanged between Corbin and McIntyre but Strowman then broke his silence, claiming that no one can stop him before suggesting a tag match for right now!
Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs. Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin
After jumping Braun at the bell, Corbin was quickly dispatched to the floor, allowing Ricochet to hit a moonsault off the ring-post right away. A springboard clothesline came next and in response, McIntyre tagged himself in. He was greeted by Ricochet's usual speed but soon chopped his foe to the mat nonetheless. A back elbow followed and Corbin then re-entered, going to work with strikes and cornering Ricochet as well. After being grounded for an extended period, Ricochet soon fought to his feet and flurried, using a headscissors and dropkick to turn the tide.
However, Baron then tackled him out of the air, resetting things once more. Still isolated, Ricochet was grounded yet again, eventually using a kick to create space only for his dropkick to be swatted out of the air. Corbin then looked to cheap-shot Strowman, only inciting the monster and finding himself chased around the ring for his troubles. That led Braun directly into a Claymore on the outside as Ricochet continued to be worked over in center ring. This included a sharp tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Ricochet stayed alive, kicking out 2.
At long last, Ricochet's dropkick then floored Corbin and in the meantime, Strowman had just returned to the apron. He entered with the hot tag, running wild on McIntyre until Drew avoided his foe and forced Ricochet to tag himself back in. That swiftly resulted in Glasgow Kiss but as McIntyre thought Claymore, Corbin tagged himself in. Ricochet avoided his plans anyway, tagging in Strowman who seized after Drew unleashed an irritated right hand on Baron. The end soon arrived, with Ricochet's Shooting Star Press following Braun's Running Powerslam.
Winners: Braun Strowman and Ricochet
The Usos were here next, hyping the crowd up and making their way to the ring.
The Usos vs. Gallows and Anderson
RAW has another new tag team and the division's former champions say they are here to put everyone on notice. After all, they are "bulletproof".
Jey and Karl got this one underway, with the former taking control early before quickly bringing in Jimmy as well. Anderson swiftly cut him off, cornering Uso and tagging in Gallows. He went to work with strikes right away but soon walked into a big uppercut before being sent to the floor too. Gallows halted Jimmy's big dive nonetheless, next launching him into the bottom rope for good measure. Uso fired back though, fighting out of the corner until a big boot stopped him in his tracks. Their onslaught then spilled to the floor, throwing Jimmy into the barricade as well.
Back from the break and The Good Brothers remain in control, using some tandem offense for a near-fall before Karl slowed things with a hold. Gallows then re-entered, allowing for another double-team maneuver until Jimmy used a sharp kick to create space. That allowed the hot tag to Jey, running wild on Karl and immediately gaining control. Anderson swiftly responded though, evading his foe and hitting the AA Spinebuster for 2. Magic Killer was his next thought but Jimmy prevented it, removing Anderson and then combining with Jey to drop Gallows via Double Superkick.
Jimmy then closed the show, hitting a splash off the top while Jey used a dive to wipe out Karl.
Winners: The Usos
Post-match, The Usos credited The Good Brothers before shifting their attention to The Revival. They pointed to a video at this point, with footage of Wilder shaving Dawson's back. That brought out the 'Top Guys' themselves, with Scott clearing things up by citing his manliness as the reason for requiring Dash's assistance. This was simply best friends assisting each other but after some more mockery from The Usos, The Revival said that after tonight, they are more than happy to shift their attention to the former SmackDown Live champions.
Following that, we got a recap of Samoa Joe's WrestleMania win over Rey Mysterio. They'll rematch tonight.
After that, The Miz was here. His MizTV guest tonight is Bobby Lashley but first, Miz welcomed the audience in signature fashion and called this "a whole new era" for him. He then introduced Lashley and greeted his guest with some solo applause. Lashley quickly cut Miz off, making it clear that he'll only answer the questions he wants to and then warning Miz to watch his tone as well. MIz reset, calling Bobby one of the most athletically gifted talents in WWE history. However, Miz suggests that some feel Lashley has yet to reach his full potential. Bobby cited his Intercontinental Title wins and asked Miz what he's done.
MIz responded by listing off his accolades and then pointed to Maryse as evidence that he's "an overachiever." Lashley responded by mentioning Miz's WrestleMania loss and claiming that it's the reason why his father thinks he's worthless. Miz responded with a right hand, running Lashley out of the ring and throwing the set chairs his way too.
The Miz vs. Bobby Lashley
This impromptu match is now underway and Lashley is in control, hitting a delayed vertical suplex for an early near-fall. Miz then fired back, evading his foe and unleashing some strikes in the corner. Shane McMahon's music then hit, with Miz avoiding the distraction as he maintained control of Lashley anyway. After initially taunting his rival on the ramp-way, Shane then teased an attack, running for a moment before smugly stopping too. Miz continued to flurry regardless, hitting his signature DDT for 2.
A salvo of kicks came next but Shane distracted Miz again, pointing to a picture of his father only for Miz to turn into a sudden spear. That made Lashley the victor and McMahon proudly raised his arm as a result.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
After initially leaving Shane to go to work, Lashley then halted Miz's comeback and slammed him hard to the mat. McMahon then seized, unleashing right hands as Bobby walked off, satisfied with his handy-work. Shane even applied a triangle on Miz, asking him to look at the aforementioned photo as he went to sleep. That allowed McMahon to restate himself as 'The Best in the World' one last time before exiting.
The Viking Raiders vs. The Lucha House Party
In a pre-taped pre-match promo, Ivar and Erik said that "the raid has begun" but their entrance was cut short. The Lucha House Party jumped them from behind, next following up with simultaneous dives and taunting them with "lucha" chants as well.
After the bell officially rung, Kalisto and Metalik flurried, using their speed on Ivar until a cartwheel allowed him to land a brutal clothesline. That brought Erik in, grabbing a hold and grounding Metalik until he fought free and tagged in Kalisto. His flurry was short-lived, being swiftly thrown and isolated after Metalik had been emphatically taken out. The Viking Experience followed and that was all she wrote.
Winners: The Viking Experience
Post-match, the tandem brought Dorado into proceedings and after he briefly fired back, they flattened Lince with a German Suplex/springboard clothesline combination.
A Moment of Bliss is back now, with Alexa now announcing RAW's female Money in the Bank participants. Up first is Natalya, taking a seat on Bliss' set and promising to become RAW Women's Champion. Alexa cut her off, introducing Dana Brooke who called this her chance to jump in front of the line. This resulted in a confrontation with Natalya but Bliss again halted this, announcing Naomi as the 3rd representative. She cited her achievements on SmackDown and stated her new focus: the RAW Women's Title. More bickering emerged in response and this angered Alexa, demanding that they respect the 4th participant's moment as well.
At this point, Bliss announced herself for the Money in the Bank, asking the others to leave out of respect. Naomi challenged Alexa instead but Bliss refused, citing her lack of preparation before more trash talk changed her mind.
Off to the Firefly Fun House next as Bray expressed himself with painting until the 'rambling rabbit' asked him about his work. Wyatt had in fact painted a burning house but the resident witch admonished him for this as well as his actions last week. Bray apologised, then naming 'sociopath' our word of the day and ominously bid farewell.
Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi
Even though Alexa isn't dressed for competition, this impromptu match is indeed taking place. Naomi attempted a quick roll-up early and then flurried with some signature offense too. This included a leg drop for 2 but Naomi was then cut off by Bliss as well. Alexa took this opportunity to retie her laces, next going to work and eventually grounding Naomi too. Eventually, Naomi fought to her feet though, unleashing some kicks but then being cut off again.
Bliss continued to struggle with her laces, retying them while controlling things along the way. She even dispatched Naomi to the outside, dominating proceedings until Naomi landed a sudden jawbreaker to turn the tide. Bliss' shoes then came off and the distracted Alexa turned into Rear View. Naomi then closed the show via Split Legged Moonsault.
Winner: Naomi
Backstage, Rey Mysterio is with Dominic. He concedes that at WrestleMania, he felt as though he'd let people down. However, he knows that he's the better man and tonight, he's gonna prove it.
Becky Lynch is here next, being interviewed by Charly in center ring. She explained that she only knows how to fight, dismissing the odds and citing how she's proved people wrong before. That included her victory over Ronda Rousey and after claiming that Flair had held divisions hostage, Lynch has no choice but to be different. After all, she made history by beating everybody. Lynch then focused on Money in the Bank, promising a beating for both of her foes until Caruso pointed to Evans' attack from last week. This fired Becky up, taking the microphone and asking Lacey to come out here now.
Evans answered the call, restating her comments from last week and meeting Lynch for a brawl. Referees soon split them up but the fight waged on, with both attacking each other over and over again regardless.
Ryder and Hawkins vs. The Revival
Wilder and Hawkins got this one underway, with the latter taking control early before bringing in Ryder for a tandem sequence as well. A cheap-shot from Dawson halted that momentum though, allowing The Revival to take control as a result. With Ryder now isolated, Dash and Dawson went to work with some of their signature offense, battering their foe as the crowd chanted "shave their back." Wilder eventually slowed things with a hold, grounding Ryder until a neckbreaker turned the tide.
However, Dawson prevented Hawkins from entering, instead colliding with Ryder and finding himself rolled up for the sudden finish.
Winners: Ryder and Hawkins
Backstage, The Miz stopped for an interview, challenging Shane to a Steel Cage match at Money in the Bank.
Sami Zayn is here next, recalling his statement from last week and reiterating what he learned in his absence. Zayn then specifically mentioned "psychological entitlement," asking fans if it sounds familiar. He says that this is the fan's fault, accepting the lie that "the customer is always right." Sami dismissed this notion, claiming that fans throw a tantrum if they don't get exactly what they want. He even recounted a tale about a father sending his son to get an autograph from Zayn. Sami refused, making the boy cry even though he's not owed a damn thing. After the surgeries and matches, Zayn feels he's been pretty fair, only giving the fans what he wants to moving forward.
Sami then transitioned to the fans asking him to quit, admitting that it'd be amazing but he'd rather lecture fans, becoming "critic of the critics." It's time for him to take the power back.
We are then shown a tweet, with Shane McMahon accepting Miz's challenge and promising a "'Best in the World' beating."
Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio
Pre-match, Joe grabbed a microphone and said that while Dominic claims to love Rey, his actions suggest that he's actually ashamed. In fact, Rey should've got his son a mask to hide that shame. Last week, Rey cost Joe a Universal Title shot and tonight, he'll make the WrestleMania beating pale in comparison.
To the action now and Joe immediately jumped Rey at the bell, unleashing some strikes and dispatching Mysterio to the floor. Rey avoided Joe's dive to the floor though, flying off the apron to take out the US Champion himself. Joe responded swiftly, getting his knees up on Rey's bottom rope splash. Back from the break and Joe remains on top, hitting his signature powerslam for 2 but then missing a follow-up senton. Mysterio rallied, landing his springboard seated senton and unleashing some kicks as well as a crisp DDT for 2.
Unable to immediately floor his foe, Rey then hit a 619 to Joe's stomach, next attempting the real thing only for Joe to block it. The US Champion then planted Mysterio but Rey responded, catching a quick roll-up for the win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Post-match, Dominic arrived and put Rey on his shoulders in celebration.
Contract Signing time now and Michael Cole is our host. He introduces our challenger and champion, with the former calling The Universal Title his only reason for coming to RAW. AJ said that SmackDown was great to him for two years but this is RAW now and while he likes Seth, he also has something he wants. As Rollins knows, that'll make a man do some unexpected things and AJ concedes that Seth is a winner, meaning he'll do whatever it takes to win. Styles then mentioned the comparisons between them, making it clear that Rollins will never be AJ Styles.
Seth agreed, saying that he never wanted to be the next AJ Styles or anyone for that matter. Instead, he wanted to be the first Seth Rollins and things are different on RAW, this is Monday Night Rollins after all. At Money in the Bank, Rollins believes that AJ needs to be better than phenomenal but Styles questions what Seth's ascension took out of him. He asks Rollins how he's holding up after climbing the mountain, especially without The Shield there to hold him up. AJ feels that after WrestleMania, Seth doesn't have much left and at Money in the Bank, Styles won't let go until he's the new Universal Champion.
Rollins responded by saying that while they have many things in common, they also have some differences. While AJ likes to build things up, Rollins likes to burn things down. Moreover, he did something Styles couldn't: beat Brock Lesnar. Seth promises to be at his best at Money in the Bank, signing the contract while AJ took a closer look at the title. AJ handed it back before long, offering a handshake only for Rollins to raise the belt high instead. That angered Styles, unleashing a right hand as a brawl commenced. Seth cleared the ring, following AJ with a dive and then reclaiming the higher ground.
Styles was undeterred though, landing a right hand and then hitting Phenomenal Forearm through the table.
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