The October 22, 2018 edition of WWE RAW took place at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI.
– Roman Reigns comes out to the ring in street clothes with his WWE Universal Title belt over his shoulder. Reigns says he’s come out here “as Roman Reigns” saying a lot of things, like saying he’s going to be here every night and be a fighting champion. He says he’s really a guy named Joe, and he had leukemia 11 years ago. Now, he says the luekemia is back, and he will no longer be able to fulfill his contractual obligations. He talks about the struggles in his past with the disease, and says WWE was the only team who accepted him and gave him a shot to live his dream. He says WWE gave him a great opportunity to perform in front of the fans, and he thanks them for it whether they cheered him or booed him. The crowd chants “thank you Roman.” Reigns says life isn’t always good, and the ebst thing he can do right now is go home to spend time with his family. Reigns says this is not a retirement speech, because he’s going to kick leukemia’s ass and come back home. Reigns says when he comes back, he’ll prove that when life throws him a curveball he’ll swing for the fences every time. Reigns thanks the fans again and says he loves them. Reigns sets his Universal Title down on the mat and heads up the ramp. Ambrose and Rollins comes out to the stage to embrace him. They pose on the stage and head to the back.
– After the break, we go to the broadcast table where Michael Cole says they’re real people and he wishes the best for Roman. Renee says her husband knows Reigns better than almost anyone, and Reigns will beat this. Graves says his kids play with Roman’s and this took him by surprise, but Reigns will get through this.
– Still to come: Triple H and Shawn Michaels are in the house.
– Lio Rush comes out and introduces “the heavyweight that is back to dominate,” Bobby Lashley.
– Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley: Lashley starts off strong in this one as Lio talks trash on the mic at ringside. Balor fires back with a dropkick and Lashley rolls outside. Balor chases Lio around ringside now, until they turn the corner and Lashley clotheslines Balor down on the floor. Back in the ring, Lashley continues beating down on Balor on the mat. Balor comes back and and looks for the Coup De Grace, but Lashley moves. Balor and Lashley scramble on the mat, and Balor ends up rolling up Lashley in a small package for the three count.
Winner: Finn Balor
– Balor heads up the ramp as Lio helps Lashley to his feet. We go to the broadcast table where they talk about how hard of a thing Reigns is going through, and he says they will update us on the future of the Universal Title later tonight.
– Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre are backstage discussing their relationship with Braun Strowman. Drew says Braun needed them more than they needed him, and he’s not afraid of Strowman. McIntyre tells Dolph that after tonight, he’s not going to have to worry about a thing, because he’s going monster hunting.
– Sasha Banks vs. Ruby Riott: The Riott Squad and Bayley and Natalya are all at ringside. After some distraction from ringside, Ruby kicks out Sasha’s leg and knocks her outside. Back in the ring, Ruby slams Sasha down for a two count. Ruby looks for a shot in the corner, but Banks blocks it with a boot to the face and then follows up with a backslide and a knee to the face. Banks follows up with more kicks and then looks for the Banks Statement, but Ruby resists it. Logan and Bayley run in and take each other out. The confusion leads to Ruby hitting the Riott Kick on Sasha for the three count.
Winners: Ruby Riott
– We see a pre-taped promo from The Brothers of Destruction cutting a promo on D-X.
– We see a pre-taped promo from Nia Jax for the Evolution pay-per-view, where she says not to let anyone limit you because of your gender.
– The D-X music hits and Triple H and Shawn Michaels head down to the ring. Triple H makes fun of Undertaker and Kane for their pre-taped promo. They seem to take jabs at Kane for “running for mayor,” and Shawn says “nostalgia” is just a polite way of saying “old.” Triple H says a movie from 40 years ago, Halloween, is #1 right now, and they just packed 70,000 people into a building in Australia to see them. Triple H says maybe “old” is just a way to say “better.” Triple H says maybe they’re “better than everyone else.” Triple H at Crown Jewel, D-X isn’t coming to make you laugh or for nostalgia, they’re coming to kick Taker & Kane’s asses. The lights go out and the gong sounds, and we see a pre-taped segment on the big screen in a graveyard. Taker and Kane are shown standing over a grave, and they talk about annihilating D-X at Crown Jewel. Kane says they can’t survive the brothers of destruction, and then they shove mock gravestones for Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
– We go to the broadcast team and they show a replay of Reign’s announcement earlier tonight. They announce that the tentative plan is for Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman to face off in a singles match for the now-vacant Universal Title.
– Still to come: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre for the Tag Titles.
– Paul Heyman is shown in the back walking through the hallways.
– We see a pre-taped promo from Dana Brooke talking about the opportunity for women at Evolution.
– Paul Heyman is in the ring with a microphone and a somber look on his face. Heyman gives his thoughts and prayers to Roman Reigns. Heyman puts over Reigns, and then puts over the importance of the Universal Title. Heyman talks about how Reigns knows that the Universal Title represents the best, and fans deserve to point to the champion and know that he’s the best one. Heyman says Reigns doesn’t want the Universal Title to stop because he can’t defend it, and Reigns knows the show must go on. Heyman says at Crown Royal, his client Brock Lesnar will prove he’s worthy of being the Champion. Heyman gets fired up and says Braun Strowman isn’t in Brock Lesnar’s world. Braun’s music hits and he comes out to the ramp with a mic. Braun says the only words that need to come out of Heyman’s mouth right now are to tell Lesnar he’s going to get his ass kicked all over Crown Jewel. Braun says that Lesnar is going to get these hands, and then Drew runs down out of nowhere and boots Braun in the face. Drew leaves Braun laying and heads to the back before he gets up.
– Backstage, Drew is talking to Dolph Ziggler when he gets approached by an interviewer. Drew says he doesn’t believe in monsters, and when Braun comes to and clears the cobwebs in his head, he’ll realize he needed them more than they needed him.
– Elias is in the ring for a song. Elias says we’re all blessed because we’re here tonight, and he leads the crowd in a Walk With Elias chant. Elias tries to start his song, but Apollo Crews makes his entrance and interrupts.
– Apollo Crews vs. Elias: Crews leaps and dodges some shots from Elias, then he levels Elias with a dropkick. Elias turns things around with a kick and a side headlock takedown. Crews fires up and dropkicks Elias down, then follows up with a standing shooting star press for a two count. Apollo follows up with a side walk slam for another two count. Crews misses a shot near the ropes and Elias comes back with the Drift Away for the three count.
Winner: Elias
– We see a pre-taped promo from Kurt Angle talking about how people used to debate if he was the best ever — and now he’s got a chance to prove he’s still the best.
– Elias is set up on the stage with his guitar to try doing his song again. Baron Corbin comes out to interrupt and tells Elias they have a lot of things to do tonight, and they just don’t have enough time on RAW to accommodate Elias’ performance. Elias protests and says the crowd wants to walk with Elias. Corbin says he’s the GM, and what he wants is more important than Elias’ little guitar performance. Corbin says Elias is fired if he doesn’t do what Corbin says. Elias protests and starts singing, but Corbin yells and tells him to cut it. Corbin starts talking, but Elias comes up behind him and smashes his guitar over Corbin’s back.
– Ronda Rousey walks out of her locker room with the Women’s Title over her shoulder. She’s heading towards the Gorilla position.
– Michael Cole is in the ring to host a contract signing for the Women’s Championship at Evolution. He introduces Nikki Bella, who is with Brie. Cole introduces the Champion Ronda Rousey next. Ronda slides in the ring and the Bellas roll outside. They talk some trash on the microphones, and Ronda says she didn’t come here to beat them up tonight, she just wants to watch Nikki sign the contract so she knows she’ll be in the ring on Sunday. Nikki and Brie get in the ring, and Nikki trashes Ronda for losses in her judo and MMA career. Nikki signs the contract and then slaps Ronda across the face. Ronda laughs and signs the contract. Ronda says on Sunday, she will end Nikki, and she gives her her word on that. Ronda grabs her belt and walks out of the ring, as the Bell twins look on.
– Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are shown backstage. They are asked about the emotion of tonight after Reigns’ announcement tonight. Ambrose says there are no words, and they’re going to do the only thing they know how to do and what they always did – win.
– Nia Jax vs. Ember Moon vs. Dana Brooke vs. Tamina: The opening bell sounds and Nia and Tamina are the last two women early on. Dana comes back in and dropkicks them. Ember gets in the mix, but Nia fires up and drops everyone. Tamina comes back and dumps Nia outside, but then Ember comes flying off the top with the Eclipse on Tamina for the three count.
Winner: Ember Moon
– We go to another promo for the Evolution pay-per-view.
– Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre are backstage getting pumped up for their match tonight.
– Titus is on the stage with some women from the Susan G Komen foundation. He says while we’re just days away from the Evolution pay-per-view, there’s a different kind of fight they’re always having – the fight against cancer. He introduces a video package from the foundation showing their work with WWE. Titus introduces the women with him who beat breast cancer.
– Trish Stratus and Lita are in the back for an interview. They say they bring out the best in each other, and Mickie and Alexa don’t stand a chance. Alicia Fox interrupts and talks trash to them. They say since Alicia wants to be a messenger, they have a message to send back to Alexa and Mickie. Just then, Mickie attacks from behind and beats them down with Alicia. They brawl all over some production equipment as referees try to pull them apart. Trish and Lita end up getting the upper hand and they drop Alicia and Mickie. Lita and Trish tell them that’s show they do it in the Attitue Era.
– Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose make their way down to the ring next through the crowd.
– Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler vs. Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins: Rollins and Ambrose start off hot in this one and they clear the ring. Ambrose and Ziggler go at it on the mat now until Rollins tags in and launches Ziggler outside. Rollins knocks Drew outside too and hits a suicide dive on them. Back in the ring, Rollins goes up top, but Drew knocks him down to the mat. Ziggler works over Rollins on the mat now and applies a sleeper. Drew comes in and trades kicks with Rollins, and both men are down. Ziggler runs in but Rollins throws him out. Rollins superkicks Drew and Drew falls outside. Ambrose goes outside but Drew drops him. Back in the ring, Drew misses a shot off the top on Ambrose, and Ambrose answers with a neckbreaker. Rollins tags in and comes flying in off the top with a frogsplash on Drew, and Ambrose hits a suicide dive on Ziggler to the outside. Rollins and McIntyre fight up in the turnbuckle, and McIntyre suplexes Rollins off the top. Ambrose comes in and kicks Drew in the corner, then rolls outside. Ziggler tags in and Rollins kicks him down. Rollins looks for the curb stomp but Ziggler dodges it. They grapple on the mat until Rollins gets Ziggler in the powerbomb position, but Drew interrupts it. Drew drops Rollins and then kicks Ambrose. Rollins throws Drew to the outside, then Ziggler runs up behind Rollins and his the Zig Zag for a two count. Braun Strowman’s music hits and he comes down the ramp, which distracts everyone. Rollins accidentally knocks the ref down in the commotion, and then Braun hits the ring and goes after Drew. Braun clotheslines Drew to the outside and then follows him down to the floor. Braun brawls with Drew into the fans and pummels on him. Braun chases Drew out of the arena area and back into the loading dock. Ziggler grabs his title belt and goes to hit Rollins with it, but Ambrose takes the belt form him. Rollins superkicks Dolph and then hits the curb stomp on him. Ambrose throws the ref back in the ring and tells him to count, and the ref counts to three. Rollins and Ambrose win and are the new Tag Team Champions.
Winners & new RAW Tag Tem Champions: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose
– Seth and Dean hug after the match and celebrate with their Tag Title belts. Out of nowhere, Dean kicks Rollins in the midsection and hits the Dirty Deeds on him. As Rollins comes to, Ambrose gets on him and starts pummeling on him and yelling at him. Ambrose throws Dean out of the ring and beats him down over by the timekeeper’s area. Ambrose pulls back the protective padding on the concrete floor by the ring, and then DDTs Rollins on to the concrete. Ambrose hops the guard rail exits through the crowd as Rollins is left laying by the ring.
