Raw is War

Boston, Massachusetts
July 9, 2018

The show immediately kicks off with a video showcasing Roman Reigns talking about how he’s the uncrowned WWE Universal Champion. Reigns says people may have lost faith in him, but he never has. Bobby Lashley begs to differ. They will fight at Extreme Rules to determine who is the best.

Roman Reigns is seen walking backstage looking focused. Bobby Lashley walks into the frame to block him. Lashley asks where he’s going. Reigns says he’s going out to his ring, so Lashley better get out of his way. Lashley suggests he call him out because he won’t be coming to talk. Lashley says he’ll tear Reigns apart. Lashley then smiles and lets Reigns pass by.

Roman Reigns kicks off Monday Night RAW

Roman Reigns makes his entrance before a hostile Boston crowd. Reigns takes his time before getting in the ring. Reigns paces around and listens to the reaction. Reigns looks focused and intense. Reigns says after this week there’s a whole lot that he can come out here and talk about, but he’s literally never had anyone stare him in the face and ask to be called out by him. Reigns says he’s curious what “Bob” can do. Reigns then calls out Bobby Lashley.

Bobby Lashley makes his entrance looking none too pleased about being called out. Lashley slowly climbs the ring steps and stares at Reigns from the apron. Reigns stares a hole through him. Lashley gets in the ring, and RAW General Manager Kurt Angle comes out to the stage with Constable Corbin. Angle says it’s not going to happen tonight and suggests they save it for Sunday. Reigns and Lashley then start trading punches. The RAW locker room runs out to separate them. They eventually pull away from them and trade blows before being pulled apart again. Lashley breaks out a second time and splashes Reigns in the corner before punching him down. Lashley then kicks Reigns out of the ring. Lashley goes outside and breaks free from the pack to punch Reigns again. Finally he’s pulled to the ramp. Lashley once again breaks free and floors Reigns with a strike. Lashley stands over Reigns and continues to beat on him. Lashley gets Reigns in the ring, but he’s pulled back by the entire roster. Reigns then gets to his feet and gets a head of steam before wiping out the entire RAW roster and Lashley with a diving plancha! Reigns then backs up the ramp as his music plays.

All of a sudden, Reigns sidesteps the superstars that were talking to him and runs down the ramp to attack Lashley once again. Reigns finally goes up the ramp and walks off. Lashley angrily paces at ringside.

Alexa Bliss and Mickie James are backstage watching the brawl on the monitor. Bliss says that was intense, but that is nothing compared to the pain and destruction they’re about to bring on Natalya and Nia Jax. This match is next.

-Commercial Break-

Replays are shown of the wild brawl between Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley, including the dive by Reigns over the top rope onto the RAW roster.

Alexa Bliss and Mickie James vs. Nia Jax and Natalya

Alexa Bliss will start against Mickie James. Just kidding, Bliss immediately tags in Mickie James. They lock up, and Jax throws her down. Jax powers James into the corner, and Natalya tags in. They hit the Hart Attack. Natalya goes for the Sharpshooter, but James gets out and tags in Bliss. Natalya quickly clotheslines Bliss down and goes for a Sharpshooter, but Bliss gets out of the ring to regroup. Natalya hits Bliss with a baseball slide and sends her into the barricade before clotheslining James at ringside. Natalya gets Bliss in the ring, but Bliss rolls out the other side.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see James working over Natalya. James kicks away at her in the corner and tags in Bliss. James whips Bliss into Natalya, but Bliss puts the brakes on and slaps Natalya in the face. Bliss chokes her with her boot before hitting a snapmare and applying a chin lock. While the chin lock is going on, they do a 30-second commercial for Extreme Rules. Natalya fights up and hits a snapmare, but Bliss quickly clotheslines her down and covers for a two count. Bliss punches away at her and picks up another two count. Bliss puts her in her corner and tags James back in. James whips Bliss into Natalya, but Natalya counters with a back elbow. Natalya then takes James down.

Jax is tagged in, and she shoulder blocks James down before knocking Bliss off the apron. Jax avalanches James before throwing her down and hitting a second avalanche. James comes back with two kicks to the face, but Jax head-butts her down. Jax military presses James and throws her down on her face. Jax then drops a leg for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Nia Jax and Natalya

Bliss immediately cracks Jax in the back with a kendo stick as soon as the bell rings. Bliss kicks Natalya and hits her in the back with the kendo stick. Bliss then hits Jax on the back a few times with the stick before Jax blocks it and takes it away. Bliss immediately runs away with James. Jax breaks the kendo stick over her leg and chases them up the ramp.

Matt Hardy will take on Bo Dallas later tonight. Coming up next, we’ll take a look at Kevin Owens’ trip inside the port-a-potty from last week.

-Commercial Break-

Replays are shown of the kendo stick fight between Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss.

Charly Caruso stops Nia Jax to ask about Alexa Bliss’ attack. Nia Jax says Bliss can’t break her, but she can break Bliss. Jax will break Bliss like she did to that kendo stick. Jax hasn’t forgotten what Bliss has done to her. She’ll pay her back inch by crushing inch before taking back her RAW Women’s Championship.

Video Package: Kevin Owens takes a ride in a Port-A-Potty courtesy of Braun Strowman

Kurt Angle is texting in his office when Kevin Owens walks in. Angle asks what he’s doing. Owens says he’s here to work because he’s a professional. Despite Angle’s personal vendetta and Braun Strowman’s obsession with him, he’s here. Owens says he’s sure Angle would love to fire him, but he’s got connections. Instead of filing for unsafe working conditions, he’s got a doctor’s note saying he’s not medically cleared to compete… but he’s still here. Owens is going to hang out in the one place he knows is safe from Strowman: Angle’s office. Owens then sits down in a chair while Angle looks annoyed.

Mojo Rawley makes his entrance. He’ll face No Way Jose, next.

-Commercial Break-

The Hemenway Family is at ringside enjoying a Little Caesar’s seat upgrade.

Mojo Rawley vs. No Way Jose

The bell rings, and Rawley powers Jose into the ropes. Jose punches back at him, but Rawley no sells it. Rawley charges, but Jose contains him with a front facelock. Rawley counters out with a flapjack. Rawley sends him into the ropes and floors him with a shoulder tackle for a two count. Rawley covers again for a one count. Rawley forearms away at him. Jose manages to elbow him back, but Rawley quickly answers with a shoulder thrust. Rawley connects with a gutwrench suplex for a two count. Rawley applies a chin lock before slamming his head off the mat. Rawley then goes to a head and arm lock. Jose gets out and sends Rawley out of the ring. Rawley jumps up onto the apron and jumps over the top rope. Rawley quickly attacks him and takes him down for a two count. Rawley goes back to the head and arm choke. Jose gets up and elbows him before kneeing him in the face. Jose forearms and knees away at him before connecting with a clothesline for a two count. Jose goes for the ten punches in the corner, but Rawley counters with an Alabama Slam for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Mojo Rawley

Bayley and Sasha Banks are in therapy with a new therapist. Bayley says she’s tired of being taken advantage of. Banks only cares about herself. Banks never looks at her.

Seth Rollins is walking backstage when Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh stop him. Mahal says life is beautiful. Instead of burning it down, one must embrace it. You can find inner peace if you chant his mantra. Rollins says that’s really deep, but maybe when he’s burning it down he’s actually burning pieces of his soul. Rollins sarcastically asks for help. Mahal closes his eyes and does his mantra. Rollins just walks off.

Seth Rollins will take on Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental Championship in a 30-Minute Ironman Match at Extreme Rules. Rollins will be out next.

-Commercial Break-

Seth Rollins talks about becoming an Iron Man

Seth Rollins makes his way to a huge reception from the Boston crowd. Rollins gets in the ring and acknowledges the cheers. Rollins says Boston always knows how to party. Over the years, they’ve given him some sweet nicknames. Mr. Money in the Bank, which he won in Boston. The Kingslayer. The Architect. The Man. Monday Night Rollins. Right now, the only thing that matters is former Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins. The good news is he has the opportunity to change that. In one week at Extreme Rules, he goes one-on-one with Dolph Ziggler for 30-minutes. The man who scores the most victories in that time frame becomes the ironman and leaves Extreme Rules as the Intercontinental Champion. Ziggler is no joke. He’s fast, he’s a veteran, and he’s savvy. Rollins likes testing himself against the best, but the problem is he’ll bring Drew McIntyre. However he’s still Seth “Freakin'” Rollins.

Dolph Ziggler’s music hits, and the WWE Intercontinental Champion makes his way to the ring with Drew McIntyre by his side. Ziggler sarcastically thanks Rollins for the compliments. Ziggler isn’t just bringing his quickness, agility, good looks, and the psychopathic Drew McIntyre with him. He’s also bringing the Intercontinental Championship. Don’t think for one second he won’t be walking out with this championship. McIntyre says it won’t be so bad because he’ll still have his nicknames and a painful look at the future of this place. Ziggler says Rollins is the man and one of the greatest wrestlers to ever step foot in the ring… but he’s no Dolph Ziggler. When it comes to the Ironman Match at Extreme Rules, he might win 5-0, 10-0… Rollins says he’s been bleaching his hair too long because the peroxide has gotten to his brain. Ziggler tries to rebut him, but he stumbles over his words. Everything Rollins poured into the title made it all the sweeter to pry it from his hands. You don’t win an Ironman match with whatever Rollins does in a Crossfit gym. You win an Ironman match by collecting victory after victory. Ziggler isn’t one to brag, but at Kent State University he earned so many victories he left as the winningest wrestler in history with 121 wins.

Rollins sarcastically asks if McIntyre helped him with all those wins. McIntyre says he’s going only up. Rollins says McIntyre goes wherever Ziggler tells him. Rollins says he doesn’t understand why McIntyre gets ordered around by the little Ziggler. Rollins says Ziggler must know his secrets. Rollins says he hopes there are no photographs because it gets lonely in Scotland and there are only so many sheep. McIntyre is furious. Ziggler says Rollins has jokes, but they have the title and will defeat him. McIntyre says he has a challenge: fight him tonight. Rollins accepts, but warns him that he’s a “BAAd man.” McIntyre charges, but Rollins gets out of the ring and smiles at him.

Later tonight, we’ll see Finn Balor and Bobby Roode take on Elias and Constable Corbin.

The B-Team is dressed like The Deleters of Worlds. Curtis Axel thinks Bo Dallas is really Bray Wyatt. Coming up next, Matt Hardy takes on Bo Dallas.

-Commercial Break-

The B-Team cuts a promo in character as Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt. Dallas nails his real life brother perfectly. The Deleters of Worlds appear on the screen and say the time for fun and games is over. Bray Wyatt says laughter is contagious, but so is fear. These two have been infected. They have the cure. At Extreme Rules, they will eat and delete them. Wyatt asks, “Why wait for Sunday when… we’re here?”

The lights go out, and when they come back on, The Deleters of Worlds are standing behind them in the ring. They quickly get out looking nervous.

Bo Dallas w/ Curtis Axel vs. Matt Hardy w/ Bray Wyatt

Bo Dallas gets in the ring, but Hardy quickly tackles him to the corner and shoulders away at him. Hardy bounces him off the turnbuckles a number of times. The Revival are seen watching backstage. Hardy wrenches the arm and applies a hammerlock. Dallas gets out, but Hardy quickly knocks him out of the ring. Hardy then gives Dallas a suplex on the floor.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Hardy beating down Dallas. They botch a snapmare and Hardy keeps a neck vice applied. They show a promo for Asuka vs. Carmella at Extreme Rules. Back to live action, Dallas fights up, but Hardy stops him. Hardy whips him under the bottom rope. Dallas’ head bounced off the bottom rope before he falls out of the ring. Hardy goes outside chomping his teeth. Hardy then viciously clotheslines Dallas at ringside. Hardy then gets him to his feet and turns him inside out with a hard whip into the barricade. Dallas soon boots him back, but Hardy comes back with a Side Effect attempt on the steel steps. They get in the ring, and Hardy hits the Side Effect. Hardy hits a second Side Effect and signals for the end. Hardy goes for a suplex out of the ring to the floor, but Dallas fights it. Curtis Axel distracts him, so Bray Wyatt takes him out. Dallas then hits a twisting neckbreaker off the top rope for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Bo Dallas

The B-Team celebrates wildly until the lights go out. The Deleters of Worlds are then shown at ringside. They attack The B-Team. Wyatt lays out Axel with a one-armed slam while Hardy hits Dallas with a Twist of Fate.

It’s official: Seth Rollins will take on Drew McIntyre later tonight.

Bobby Lashley is interviewed by Renee Young. Bobby Lashley says he respects everyone he gets in the ring with, but he has no respect for Roman Reigns. Lashley doesn’t like the way he walks or talks, but he does like that he wants to fight. Lashley says after Extreme Rules, Reigns won’t be walking. Believe that.

Tyler Breeze gives his t-shirts to Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan, but they tear them up. Liv Morgan will face Ember Moon, next.

-Commercial Break-

Bayley and Sasha Banks are shown talking in therapy. The commentators reiterated that their jobs are on the line if they can’t get along…

Ronda Rousey’s induction into the UFC Hall of Fame is covered.

Alexa Bliss is shown on a handheld video promo. She enjoyed the sound of the kendo stick hitting Nia Jax. After Sunday, she’ll be the Extreme RAW Women’s Champion.

Ember Moon vs. Liv Morgan w/ Sarah Logan

They start off trading waistlocks before Moon takes her down. Morgan takes a moment to talk strategy with Logan in the corner. Moon pulls Morgan into the ring, but Morgan quickly gets away. Moon goes for a plancha, but lands on her feet when Morgan and Logan move.

-Commercial Break-

Back from the break, we see Morgan bulldog Moon down on her face for a two count. Morgan applies a straightjacket stretch and holds it on for a bit. Moon fights up with Morgan on her back, and Moon falls back onto her. Moon sidesteps a big boot, but Morgan does a matrix-like bend under a clothesline to slam Moon down. Moon quickly comes back with a head-scissor into the turnbuckle. Moon hits a snapmare and sweeps the feet before kneeing her. Moon hits a fallaway slam, and Moon kips up. Moon then punches Logan off the apron. Morgan rolls Moon up, but Moon gets out and gets a jackknife cover for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Ember Moon

Finn Balor is interviewed by Renee Young. She asks about Constable Corbin questioning his size and confidence. Bobby Roode immediately interrupts and says he and his tag partner tonight are unstoppable in the ring. Constable Corbin can say what he wants, but no one is better than Balor in the ring. When it’s all said and done, they’ll be… victorious… and absolutely GLORIOUS. Balor says it’s funny that Constable Corbin criticizes him. Balor is twice as good as him. They’ll do their talking in the ring.

Finn Balor and Bobby Roode take on Constable Corbin and Elias, next.

-Commercial Break-

Kevin Owens is spraying cologne in Kurt Angle’s office. Owens says it smells in the office. Angle says it must be left over from the toilet incident last week. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre walk in. Angle says if McIntyre loses to Seth Rollins tonight, he’s banned from ringside at Extreme Rules. Ziggler is not happy. Owens says this is Angle playing favorites. McIntyre agrees to the stipulation, and they walk off.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Elias…”

Elias is seated on a stool in the center of the ring. Elias greets the crowd, plays a riff, and tells them it’s been two weeks since he’s performed. That can feel like a lifetime, but there’s a reason. Elias has been in a studio recording his debut album. This gets a nice reception. Elias says it is real and happening because of one universal truth that WWE stands for Walk With Elias! Elias sings about Bobby Roode and Finn Balor having the personality of a toilet seat. Elias says he can’t stand Boston and wants to punch the face of everyone with a Boston accent. A loud “You suck” chant fires up. Elias says he’s beginning to sense that they don’t appreciate him for all that he is. Elias says his friend Tom Brady warned him about this. Brady told him to pretend to like them. Elias cannot do it anymore. Fortunately someone appreciates him for all he is. Kurt Angle can learn a few things from this man: Constable Baron Corbin.

Constable Baron Corbin makes his entrance and asks for a tune. Corbin wants to play a lullaby for Finn Balor. Corbin trips over the word “lullaby.” Corbin “sings” a derogatory song about the “Itsy Bitsy Balor.” Terrible.

Elias and Constable Baron Corbin vs. Finn Balor and Bobby Roode

-Commercial Break-

We join this match in progress to see Corbin punching away at Roode in the corner. Roode turns him around and chops the chest before wrenching the arm. Corbin quickly knees him and tags in Elias. Roode takes him down with a drop-toe-hold and applies a chin lock. Elias tries to roll out, but Roode keeps the head hooked. Elias fights up and whips him off, but Roode shoulder blocks him down. They hit the ropes, and Elias tries to leapfrog him, but Roode counters with an inverted atomic drop. Roode chops him, but has a whip to the corner reversed. Roode slingshots over him and goes for a Glorious DDT, but stops when Corbin distracts him. Elias then knees him in the face. Corbin tags in and strikes away at Roode before applying a chin lock. A promo is shown for Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley while the convenient rest hold is applied. Roode fights up, but Corbin grounds him. Roode fights up, but Corbin cuts him off and sends him to the corner. Roode sidesteps a corner clothesline, so Corbin slides out of the ring. They take each other out with a double clothesline.

Balor and Elias are tagged in. Balor takes him down and attacks Corbin. Balor then double stomps Elias, hits Corbin, and clotheslines Elias out of the ring. Balor picks up a head of steam, but Corbin sweeps the feet. Elias then sends Balor throat-first into the ropes.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Corbin applying a chin lock to Balor. Balor fights up, but Corbin takes him down with an uppercut for a two count. Elias tags in and applies a chin lock. Balor fights up and tries to make a tag, but Elias stops him. Balor boots him and knocks him out of the ring, but Corbin is tagged in and stops Balor from making the tag. Corbin then mocks Roode and Balor before taking a Sling Blade.

Roode is tagged in, and he knocks Elias off the apron before elbowing Corbin. Roode attacks Corbin and takes him down. Corbin catches Roode coming off the top rope with a chokeslam onto the knee, but Balor breaks it up. Balor attacks Elias before Corbin wipes him out. Roode rolls Corbin up for a near fall. Roode boots him and hits a blockbuster, but Elias breaks it up. Corbin looks for a tag, but Balor pulls Elias off the apron. Balor challenges Corbin, and they have a hockey fight outside the ring. Balor kicks him in the face and gets him in the ring, but Corbin crotches him on the top rope. Corbin then charges Roode, who sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Roode gets the crowd going with a “GLORIOUS” taunt. Roode hits Elias with a spinebuster. Corbin then hits Roode with the End of Days for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Elias and Constable Baron Corbin

Kurt Angle is in his office with Kevin Owens when Braun Strowman walks in. Owens is terrified, but says he won’t be fighting him tonight. Angle says he invited Strowman here because Owens has been running away from him. They’ll fight on Sunday in a Steel Cage Match. Owens is stunned. Strowman says OWens reeks of fear and sprays him with body spray. Owens coughs uncontrollably.

Seth Rollins will take on Drew McIntyre in the main event. If McIntyre loses, he’s banned from ringside.

-Commercial Break-

Footage is shown of the brawl between Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley at the start of the show.

Renee Young is backstage with Roman Reigns. She asks if it was reckless to provoke Bobby Lashley a week before Extreme Rules? Reigns says Lashley will need more than he brought tonight. Reigns will beat Bobby Lashley and move onto bigger and better things. Bob can be the guy somewhere else.

The commentators run down the card for Extreme Rules this Sunday.

Seth Rollins makes his entrance. The RAW main event is next.

-Commercial Break-

Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre w/ Dolph Ziggler

If Seth Rollins wins this match, Drew McIntyre will be banned from ringside for the 30-minute Ironman Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler this Sunday at Extreme Rules.

The bell rings, and they just stare at each other for a few moments. They soon lock up, and McIntyre powers him to the corner before shoving him. Rollins sidesteps him and locks up with him again, but McIntyre powers him down. McIntyre smirks at Rollins, who looks surprised by the strength of his opponent. Rollins lays in a quick jab and applies a side headlock. McIntyre tries to whip him off, but Rollins holds onto the side headlock. Rollins goes for a headlock takeover, but McIntyre blocks it, throws him off, and shoulder blocks him down. McIntyre then hits a headlock takeover. Rollins fights up and whips him off. Rollins leapfrogs him and connects with a dropkick, but McIntyre immediately comes back with a clothesline. McIntyre strikes away at him before hitting a suplex for a one count. McIntyre chops the chest, pulls him to his feet by the hair, and chops him back down. McIntyre then applies an arm bar. Rollins fights up and chops him. Rollins hits the ropes, but McIntyre floors him with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. McIntyre then applies a seated abdominal stretch. Rollins fights up, but McIntyre quickly stops his momentum with a short-arm clothesline. McIntyre stomps the face. This is a slow, methodical beating of Rollins. McIntyre chops the chest and reapplies an arm bar. Rollins soon fights up and chops out, but McIntyre clubs the back. Rollins flips through a back suplex and pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Rollins then hits a slingshot baseball slide. Rollins goes for a suicide dive, but McIntyre catches him and hits a tilt-a-whirl slam onto the apron!

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Rollins chop and forearm McIntyre. McIntyre reverses a whip to the corner, and he gets turned inside out a la Shawn Michaels. McIntyre hits another belly-to-belly throw for a near fall. McIntyre mounts and punches away at him. McIntyre chops the chest in the corner and kicks him in the head. McIntyre stands over Rollins and taunts him. McIntyre stomps the hand and applies another arm bar. McIntyre really cinches it in. Rollins counters out with a jawbreaker. McIntyre tries to pull him up for a suplex from Rollins’ knees, but Rollins knees him in the head. Rollins then sends him headfirst into the turnbuckle.

Rollins comes back with some chops and forearms before trying for a clothesline. McIntyre doesn’t go down. Rollins tries for the same thing, but it’s the same result. Rollins then follows him into the ropes and clotheslines him down. Rollins gets him out of the ring and hits a suicide dive before getting into the ring, hitting the ropes, and hitting a second suicide dive. Rollins gets him in the ring and hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Rollins tries for a turnbuckle powerbomb, but he can’t get him lifted. Rollins boots him and hits a blockbuster for a near fall. Rollins gets to his feet and the crowd is cheering him on. Rollins kicks McIntyre in the midsection and goes for The Stomp, but McIntyre moves. McIntyre soon connects with a crazy inverted Alabama Slam for a near fall.

Dolph Ziggler looks frustrated at ringside. McIntyre is none too pleased either. Rollins rolls him up for a two count. McIntyre soon avoids a step-up enzuigiri and hits a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. McIntyre bounces him off the turnbuckle before trying for a superplex, but Rollins slides through and crotches him. Rollins then hits a step-up enzuigiri to the face, putting McIntyre in the tree of woe. Rollins gets on the top rope, so McIntyre sits up and throws him off the top rope. McIntyre gets ready for a Claymore, but Rollins superkicks him and hits a falcon arrow for a near fall.

A light “This is awesome” chant picks up. Rollins applies a waistlock, but McIntyre kills him with a Glasgow Kiss for a near fall. McIntyre is frustrated and gets Rollins on his shoulders before climbing the ropes. Rollins slides off and hits a turnbuckle powerbomb. Rollins superkicks him and goes to the top rope. Ziggler gets on the apron, so Rollins kicks him off. Rollins then hits a diving cross-body block for a near fall. Rollins hits a step-up enzuigiri on McIntyre before getting Ziggler with The Stomp. McIntyre then floors him with a Claymore Kick for the win!

Winner by Pinfall: Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre is allowed at ringside at Extreme Rules. McIntyre gets the barely conscious Ziggler on his shoulders and walks with him up the ramp.