Tonight, Monday Night Raw follows up on a week that struggled because of the Presidential Debate. While we had two championship matches last week, WWE makes tonight a little sweeter. Tonight’s main event, for the second time ever on Raw, is for the Women’s Championship as Sasha Banks challenges Charlotte.
Opening Segment
Tonight is the second consecutive episode of Monday Night Raw that opens with the United States Champion, Roman Reigns. Rusev cashed in his rematch clause on Reigns last week, which resulted in a double count-out. Reigns starts talking about how he is representing his family, and he is almost immediately interrupted by Lana.
Lana issues a challenge on Rusev’s behalf for another United States Championship rematch, and Reigns doesn’t take her seriously the entire time. The Ravishing Russian tells Reigns to “go to hell,” the Rusev rushes the ring to start a fight. Rusev starts to leave with the United States Championship, then Reigns hits a Superman Punch out of nowhere. Reigns then accepts the rematch challenge, but in a Hell in a Cell match.
TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick
TJ Perkins successfully defended the Cruiserweight Championship against Brian Kendrick at Clash of Champions, but Kendrick is no where near done pursuing the title. If Kendrick could get a win over the champion tonight, he would be put back in the #1 Contender spot.
Kendrick rakes the eyes of Perkins, then follows it up with the Captain’s Hook submission hold to submit the Cruiserweight Champion. This is Perkins’s first loss on WWE television, since he won the entire Cruiserweight Classic. Winner (via submission): Brian Kendrick
Braun Strowman vs. Chase Silver (Local Talent)
Apparently last night, Chase Silver had a dream that he beat up Braun Strowman. Since this is Los Angeles, and Hollywood is where dreams come true, he thinks that he can make that dream become a reality tonight.
Strowman toys with Silver, then finishes him off with a powerslam. Winner: Braun Strowman
After the match, Strowman tells Byron Saxton that if Mick Foley doesn’t provide some competition for him next week, then “there won’t be a next week.”
In-ring Segment
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho come down to the ring to address Seth Rollins. Earlier tonight, Rollins was interviewed by Michael Cole and said that Owens didn’t work hard to get where he is today. They shift gears to their friendship, and Jericho suggests that they go after the Raw Tag Team Championships. Owens reluctantly agrees, and the Tag Team Champions come out confront them.
After some flim flam, The New Day accept the non-title match challenge for later in the night, as long as Mick Foley makes it official.
Sami Zayn vs. Titus O’Neil
Titus O’Neil is debuting his “Titus Brand” tonight, after a failed program with his former tag team partner, Darren Young. Sami Zayn is in a bit if directional limbo as well, after failing to have a match on Clash of Champions last week.
After hitting a surprising exploder suplex on O’Neil in the corner, Zayn finishes him off with the Helluva Kick. Winner: Sami Zayn
The Golden Truth vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Gallows and Anderson believe that the Monday Night Raw tag team division is a bit of a joke (it is). After failing to capture the Tag Team Championships on multiple occasions, a win over Golden Truth can help them climb back up the ladder.
After hitting the Magic Killer on R-Truth, Gallows and Anderson made the first step back to getting another shot at tag team gold. Winner: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Xavier Woods & Big E (w/Kofi Kingston) vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens
If JeriKO wins against The New Day tonight, Kevin Owens could be on his way to becoming a multiple champion. However, The New Day are no easy feat.
Jericho tries to lock in the Lion Tamer, but Seth Rollins rushes to the ring to force Jericho to let go. Big E takes advantage of the distraction to tag himself in and hit the Midnight Hour on Y2J to pick up the victory. Winners: Xavier Woods & Big E
After the match, Seth Rollins, through a rib injury, hits Jericho with a Pedigree and celebrates with The New Day.
Rich Swann vs. Tony Nese
This is sure to be high octane and high impact. Nese calls himself the perfect combination of strength, speed, and combat skills. Rich Swann is high energy and highly entertaining. Nese debuted last week and almost managed to put away TJ Perkins in an impressive showing. Swann has been a regular feature since his debut several weeks ago, and he will be competing in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic alongside No Way Jose.
Tony Nese slips through for a pumphandle driver on Rich Swann and picks up a huge victory. Winner: Tony Nese
Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Local Talent
Sheamus and Cesaro hate each other, so naturally, Mick Foley put them together as a tag team. Just like last week, they destroy local talent even though there is practically no chemistry between them at all. Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro
Charlotte (c) vs. Sasha Banks – Raw Women’s Championship
For the first time since Trish Stratus vs. Lita, a women’s match is being advertised as the main event of Monday Night Raw. Sometimes the “Women’s Evolution” has been more talk than action, but tonight, ending the flagship show with Sasha Banks and Charlotte is a huge milestone. Next step: main event a Pay-Per-View, then after that, WrestleMania.
Before the match, Dana Brooke and Bayley had a confrontation that ended with Bayley throwing Brooke into storage equipment backstage. Brooke was hurt enough from this that she will not be at ringside, and this will be a true one-on-one match.
Charlotte hits a corkscrew moonsault from the top turnbuckle to Banks on the outside, but Banks manages to kick out. She then locks on the Bank Statement out of nowhere and gives Charlotte no choice but to tap out. Winner, and NEW Raw Women’s Champion (via submission): Sasha Banks
