WWE RAW

This week’s WWE RAW opens with the Monday Night Messiah, Seth Rollins, coming to the ring for Rey Mysterio’s retirement ceremony, flanked by Murphy and Austin Theory.

A replay is shown from last week of Rollins threatening to ram Humberto Carrillo’s eye into the steps. Theory and Murphy sit at ringside and Rollins says tonight is a huge night for Raw with a lot going on. Rollins will have a match in a few moments with Aleister Black. Black is confused about things going on with Rey Mysterio, so he will enlighten him.

As for Rey Mysterio, he will be on the show later tonight to speak with everyone. It’ll be difficult for Mysterio, and he won’t announce his retirement. Rollins is taking it upon himself to do it or Mysterio because Rey is too humble and modest to come out and call himself a legend. Rollins, as a leader, will appreciate the fact that Mysterio was chosen as a sacrifice for the greater good of Monday Night Raw. Rollins says he wants to appreciate the life and career of Mysterio, so he shows a video package of the lucha’s iconic career.

Rollins says Mysterio is undoubtedly a first-ballot Hall of Famer and, when the time comes, Rollins wants to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame. Aleister Black runs down and kicks Rollins out of the ring. Their match will take place after the break.

*Commercial Break*

SETH ROLLINS W/MURPHY & AUSTIN THEORY VS. ALEISTER BLACK

Seth backs Aleister to the corner but gets kicked and rolls from the ring. Rollins stops to regroup with Murphy but Black comes out after him and sends him into the ring.

*Commercial Break*

Back live and Seth is stomping Aleister in the corner to the boos of the fans. Black fires back and hits a big knee, but Seth catches him with a slingblade. Rollins hits Black with a running forearm, then attempts a springboard but misses.

Black hits a series of kicks, followed by a springboard moonsault for a two-count. Black catches Seth with a wheelbarrow roll-up but he kicks out. Aleister with a head-kick and a snap German suplex for a near-fall. Rollins counters Black Mass and hits an enziguiri, followed by Avada Kadavra and a falcon arrow for a near-fall.

Rollins takes to the top rope and jumps for a frog splash but lands flush on two knees. Both men roll to the apron and trade shots until Black kicks him into the ring post, then hits a moonsault off the ring post. Both men are down on the outside as we head to a break.

*Commercial Break*

Both men are brawling on the top rope as we return, and Seth knocks Black before hitting a frog splash. Seth looks for The Stomp but Black catches him with an armbar. Seth kicks his way out, the hits a powerbomb and rolls to regroup with his lackies.

Seth hits a springboard but Black connects with a switch knee in mid-air. Black lifts Seth with his foot but Murphy and Theory get on the apron. Humberto attacks them, meanwhile Seth rolls-up Black, who turns the tables and gets the three count!

WINNER: ALEISTER BLACK

Murphy and Theory storm the ring and beat Black down, then Carrillo comes back and they beat on him too. The three-on-two beatdown continues, with the disciples holding Black and making him watch as Seth hits a Stomp to Carrillo. Seth trash talks Black and holds him by the beard, then hits him with a Stomp as well.

*Commercial Break*

Charly Caruso interviews Zelina Vega and Angel Garza backstage and she asks about last week when Garza attacked Kevin Owens before their match. Garza says that he did was what necessary, because all if fair in love and war. Vega says he was triumphant and took what he wanted. Garza gives Charly a rose, which Vega then rips up.

Shawn Michaels will give his thoughts on Edge Vs. Randy Orton after the break.

*Commercial Break*

Shawn Michaels appears on split-screen and he says he knows a thing or two about great matches, but if we wanted to talk about his great ones we’d be here all day. He jokes that he doesn’t envy Edge and Orton having to live up to the moniker of the greatest wrestling match ever, but that he thinks they can do it. And as for who he thinks will win, HBK says he thinks the passion, experience, and a smidge of faith will give Edge…the edge.

We see a lengthy recap of last week when McIntyre was on the V.I.P Lounge with MVP, then the end of the show when Drew attacked Lashley, resulting in a big pull-apart. McIntyre will face MVP later tonight. We see Lana backstage with MVP and she’s berating him. MVP says he has work to do, unlike her, so he needs to get ready. She says he’s a leech trying to revive his washed-up career. He says that isn’t true, but it would make two of them. Lana feigns slapping him and storms off.

*Commercial Break*

Apollo Crews comes to the ring and Kayla Braxton congratulates him. Apollo says his first week has felt great and the list of feelings goes on and on. Apollo chooses his opponent for tonight, and he chooses Kevin Owens. KO comes to the ring and congratulates the new Champ, then thanks him for the opportunity…but he feels it’s an offer of pity. Apollo says it’s all about respect. Owens says he feels bad because Apollo’s first title reign is going to be a short one.

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

(C) APOLLO CREWS VS. KEVIN OWENS

The match gets underway with a lock-up, then Apollo ducks and leap-frogs before hitting a dropkick. Owens hits a shoulder tackle and a dropkick, then clotheslines Crews to the outside. Owens runs for a dive over the ropes but Apollo moves, so KO goes after him. Owens hits a senton off the apron, then puts Apollo back inside for a swanton bomb and a near-fall.

Owens looks for a pop-up powerbomb but Crews holds the ropes. Owens kicks him for a Stunner but hit the gonads and Apollo falls. The referee makes Owens hold off until he’s ready, then the two of them brawl and spill out of the ring.

*Commercial Break*

Back from commercial and they’re trading blows in the ring. Apollo hits a powerslam for a two-count. Owens drops Crews and hits a moonsault for a two-count. Crews hits an enziguiri and a standing moonsault for a near-fall. Crews hit a splash, then another, and looks for a third but eats a superkick.

Owens looks for the swanton again but Crews gets his knees up. Andrade and Garza run down and attack both men.

NO CONTEST

*Commercial Break*

ANDRADE & ANGEL GARZA W/ZELINA VEGA VS. KEVIN OWENS & APOLLO CREWS

We return to find the match in progress and Crews is beat down by Andrade. Tag to Garza, who takes a headlock, gets shoved off, and hits a dropkick before ripping the prants off. Andrade and Garza make quick tags to keep Apollo isolated, but he finally makes a tag to Owens.

Angel sucker-punches KO and Andrade beats him down. Andrade stomps Owens down and drops him with a dropkick. Apollo tags in again and counters the Three Amigoes with an Angle Slam. Apollo hits an enziguiri and the spin powerbomb for the win!

WINNERS: KEVIN OWENS & APOLLO CREWS

Asuka is interviewed backstage and she says she is excited to face Charlotte because the Empress never bows to anyone.

*Commercial Break*

We join the Street Profits and The Viking Raiders for a round of bowling. So far in this competition, the Profits are up 2-1. The games begin and the Vikings are great while the Profits have no idea. The Vikings give them red cups with goats milk. Ford drops a ball on Angelo’s foot, and Ivar gets his hand stuck in the ball return, only to pull out a chicken leg. The girl who works in the alley thinks Ivar is cute but now Erik. The Profits get the lights out and smoke fills the room, and now they’re awesome. Erik gets mad and throws Ivar down the lane with the ball in his hand. The Vikings win, making it 2-2.

We see last week when The IIconics attacked Cross and Bliss. Their music hits but we see the four women screaming at each other backstage. Kay will face Cross after the break.

*Commercial Break*

BILLIE KAY W/PEYTON ROYCE VS. NIKKI CROSS W/ALEXA BLISS

We return and the bell rings. Corss attacks Kay and slams her into the turnbuckles. A headbuttt followed by a dropkick earns Cross a two-count. Kay comes back with a big boot for a two-count. Kay continues the attack and talks trash to Bliss, then drops Nikki with a forearm. Billie takes a rear chinlock.

Cross fights out but Kay hits a backbreaker and poses. Kay argues with the referee and Cross hits a running forearm. Cross hits a corner splash, then dives off the ropes but nobody’s home. Kay hits a sit-out urinage and gets the win!

WINNER: BILLIE KAY

Drew McIntyre is interviewed backstage and he says he has beaten seven Superstars since becoming Champion, so MVP can be number eight. And if anyone in the locker room or off the street wants to step up to him, he’ll be happy to take them to Claymore country.

*Commercial Break*

Rey Mysterio appears via live split-screen and he says he can’t give a return timeframe. He says it’s unreliable because if he were to get an infection it would be the end of his career. Samoa Joe asks if Rey is here to retire and he says he honestly doen’t know. But he’s been thinking about retirement for some time now. Joe asks about Rollins and the ceremony tonight, to which Rey says Rollins is deluded. Rey’s son, Dominic, sits down and he asys someone from the fmaily neeeds to do something. Rey tells him to cool and Dom says he can’t because Seth tried to blind him. Mysterio thanks the fans for their concerns. Rey damns Seth for what he has put his family through, for making them watch as he had his eye mangled. Rey says he is a man of forgiveness, but he can never forgive Seth for what he did. Rey leaves and Dominic looks at the camera. Dom says “an eye for an eye”.

Nia Jax makes her way to the ring. Jax says she didn’t start this feud, that she has been attacked by two women. She says Asuka and Kairi are not what they say, don’t believe the hype. Nia says Asuka didn’t earn the title, she was gifted it by a hormonal woman. At Backlash she will make things right.

*Commercial Break*

We see a video from earlier today of Gronk out for a TikTok dance in his garden, when the gardener (R-Truth) rolls him up and the referee counts a pin. Truth runs off and Gronk pulls his hair. R-Truth is the WWE 24/7 Champion.

NIA JAX VS. KAIRI SANE

The bell rings and Jax shrugs Kairi off and pats her on the head. Asuka is shown watching backstage as Kairi jumps on Nia’s back with a sleeper. Jax falls to a knee and Sane hits a few axe kicks to the back, then a spinning backfist. Sane goes up top but Nia headbutts her.

Nia lifts Kairi up but Sane hits a DDT for a one-count. Kairi hits a sliding clotheslines in the corner, then climbs up top but Jax rolls out. Kairi attempts a baseball slide but Nia grabs her and slams her into the apron. Jax then throws Kairi face-first into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Jax hits a leg drop for the win.

WINNER: NIA JAX

Jax looks to continue the attack but Asuka runs down and stares her down.

We see a replay of Edge’s promo from last week, in which he shared his doubts.

*Commercial Break*

Randy Orton cus a promo backstage, and he says he’s also been watching The Last Ride documentary, as well as Ride Along, Chronicle, and much more. And the one things everyone agrees on is that Ric Flair is the greatest to ever do it. But then last week, Ric Flair said Randy Orton is the best. And Edge said that too. But he also said that Orton didn’t have passion, that he’s complacent. Well…he’s right. And Edge is furious that he’s been able to phone it in and get twice as much success. All he’s had to do is wake-up, lace his boots, and step in the ring to prove he’s the best. He set the bait and Edge bit, so now his fairyale will be rewritten by RKO.

*Commercial Break*

Charlotte cuts a promo in which she says she will defend her title this Sunday at NXT TakeOver, and that all the fans at RAW want to be just like her, and she’s rooting for them. She wants them to ascend to greatness, so that she make them all bow. And speaking of bowing, Asuka is fond of it. She rhymes off Asuka’s accolades and says none of it matters when Asuka can’t beat her.

CHARLOTTE FLAIR VS. ASUKA

The match begins with a lock-up and they trade holds until Asuka shoves Flair and dances. Flair talks trash and chops the chest of Asuka, then drills her with a right hand. Flair drops a knee on Asuka’s leg and starts targeting the knee as we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

We’re back and Charlotte is still assaulting the leg. The Queen talks trash and Asuka unloads some shots, but gets kicked in the knee. Charlotte is bleeding at the mouth and she runs into a head kick. Asuka hits a big German suplex, then a superkick. Asuka hits a shining wizard for a two-count.

Asuka countes Charlotte and locks-in an armbar. Charlotte tries to escape so Asuka transitions to a triangle. Flair counters into a Boston crab. Asuka counters with a kneebar but Charlotte hits a deadlift German suplex. Asuka catches Charlotte with a flying armbar, then into the triangle choke again. Flair lifts Asuka up for a powerbomb and a near-fall.

Asuka kicks Charlotte away and rolls the the apron. Flair kicks Asuka off and Asuka’s music starts playing. Nia Jax walks out in Asuka’s mask and face paint. As is customary in WWE these days, the referee calls for the bell for no reason, then Jax runs down and clotheslines Asuka.

NO CONTEST

Lana is interviewed backstage and she says she doesn’t know if MVP or Lashley is to blame, but it couldn’t be her Bobby. She then says she’ll be at ringside for MVP’s match.

*Commercial Break*

MVP W/BOBBY LASHLEY & LANA VS. DREW MCINTYRE

The bell rings and Drew forces MVP to the corner and beats on him. MVP fights back and attempts a hip toss, but Drew blocks it and hits a Glasgow kiss. MVP rolls outside and Drew goes after him but Lashley shoves him into the ring post when the referee isn’t looking.

Back inside, Drew gets kicked in the corner but kicks out at one and MVP is shocked. McIntyre slams MVP, kips up, then takes to the corner and readies for a Claymore. Lashley pulls MVP from the ring but McIntyre dives over the ropes onto them both. McIntyre puts MVP back inside and hits a Claymore for the win!

WINNER: DREW MCINTYRE

Lashley runs in and grabs McIntyre in the full nelson. Drew fights it but RAW goes off the air with him in the move.