The September 17th, 2018 edition of WWE RAW aired live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX, and was the first show after Sunday’s Hell In A Cell pay-per-view.
– WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns comes out to the ring to kick off tonight’s show, as we see some replays from Reign’s Hell In A Cell match last night. Reigns gets on the mic and talks about not getting the finish the match how he wanted to last night, because of Brock Lesnar’s interference. Reigns calls out Lesnar to come down to the ring right now, but instead, Braun Strowman comes out. Braun says Reigns should be glad Lesnar saved him from losing last night. Strowman is going to take care of Lesnar first, and then he wants Reigns again. Baron Corbin comes out and says from the stage that this isn’t going to happen here and now, and he tells them to calm down. Corbin says last night was his first PPV as acting RAW GM, and he was even more upset about last night’s finish than Braun and Roman. Corbin says he’s been on the phone with Stephanie McMahon all day trying to figure out a solution, and he thinks he has one that will make everyone happy. Corbin books Reigns vs. Strowman vs. Lesnar in a triple threat match for the Title at WWE’s next show in Saudi Arabia, called Crown Jewel. Braun says he thinks that sucks, he thinks Corbin sucks, and he definitely thinks Roman sucks. Braun says this whole situation sucks, and so does everyone else in this entire area. Braun storms out of the ring, and then we hear Paul Heyman’s voice.
Heyman walks out with a piece of the red cage from last night’s Hell In A Cell main event. Heyman talks about Lesnar kicking in the door last night in the main event. He talks about Lesnar wanting more power in WWE, because that in turn gives him more negotiating power in UFC, which then also gives him more negotiating power back in WWE. Heyman seems to credit Lesnar’s popularity for WWE’s financial success and stock market success. Heyman says Lesnar came back last night because Braun and Roman ganged up on him and it was unfair. He says Lesnar will in fact compete in Saudi Arabia and take the Universal Title. Heyman says Lesnar holding the Universal Title on RAW will make him WWE’s crown jewel, and will give Lesnar the business power he desires. Braun starts marching up the ramp and he chases Heyman off to the back.
Meanwhile in the ring, Roman steals the mic from Baron and Baron steals it back. Baron says he knows Reigns is banged up from last night, and he’s not the big dog tonight, he’s a whining hurting little puppy. Corbin says Reigns might not be Champion anymore by the time of the Triple Threat match in Saudi Arabia. Corbin announces that Reigns will defend his Title tonight against himself – Baron Corbin. Corbin walks off as Reigns stares him down.
– We see a shot of Dean Ambrose staring into the camera backstage. He takes on Drew McIntyre in singles action tonight.
– Dean Ambrose vs. Drew McIntyre: Ambrose starts things fired up off the opening bell and takes the fight to Drew. Ambrose starts working over Drew’s knee and he slams his leg around the ring post. Drew starts to try to kick Ambrose away, but Ambrose slams his leg against the ring apron now. Back in the ring, Drew turns things around with some big shots and he starts working over Dean’s shoulder now. Dean dodges a shot and rolls up Drew for a two count, then he nails Drew with a right hand to the face. Dean and Drew trade blows to the face now, and then Ambrose throws Drew down by the hair. They fight up to the top rope, where Ambrose punches Drew down until he’s hanging in the tree of woe. Drew sits up and throws Dean down, but Drew is still selling his knee. They scramble on the mat and Dean locks in a Texas Cloverleaf, but Drew is able to reach the ropes. Drew stuns Dean with a shot to the throat, but Dean comes back with a knee to the face that knocks McIntyre out to ringside. Dean follows up with a suicide dive and both men are down. Ambrose gets up and comes flying off the turnbuckle down towards Drew outside, but Drew dodges him and throws him into the fan barricade. Drew rolls back in the ring as the ref counts, and Dean gets back in the ring at the ref’s 9 count. Dean immediately walks into a big claymore kick from McIntyre, and McIntyre covers for the three count.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
– Drew takes his RAW Tag Title belt and heads to the back as Dean recovers in the ring.
– Coming up: Ronda Rousey is in the house.
– Dolph Ziggler approaches Drew McIntyre in the back and tells him he did a good job. Baron Corbin interrupts and says he has to beat up Reigns later, and Ziggler is going to have to compete too. Ziggler says he can’t go tonight, but Corbin insists, and says Ziggler should invoke his rematch clause because Rollins isn’t here tonight. Corbin says if Rollins doesn’t show up, he will be forced to declare Ziggler the winner and new IC Champion. Ziggler says to make the match.
– We see some replays of Ronda vs. Bliss last night at Hell In A Cell.
– Natalya is backstage when the Bella Twins when Ronda Rousey walks in. The Bella Twins give Rousey props for her win last night, and they ask about the rumor that Ronda wants to host an open challenge for her Title tonight. Ronda jokes around and walks off.
– Chad Gable vs. Viktor: Bobby Roode is at ringside in Gable’s corner, and Konnor is at ringside in Viktor’s corner. The opening bell sounds and Gable takes control with a butterfly suplex for a two count. Konnor causes a distraction which allows Viktor to get the upper hand on Gable. Viktor works on keeping Gable grounded now until Gable comes back with an arm bar out of nowhere. Gable hits a suplex as Roode cheers him on for another. Gable hits a cannonball from the apron and then a missile dropkick back in ther ing. Konnor tries to interfere but Roode stops him again. Gable hits a German Suplex and bridges for the pin to get the 1-2-3.
Winner: Chad Gable
– After the bell, Konnor attacks Roode and Gable out of nowhere. Konnor and Viktor make their escape as Roode and Gable recover.
– Still to come: Elias vs. Bobby Roode
– Seth Rollins is backstage arriving at the building. An interviewer approaches him and asks him what he thinks about Corbin forcing him to defend his IC Title tonight. Rollins says Corbin may be acting GM, but this is till Monday Night Rollins.
– The gong sounds and The Undertaker comes out to the ring to a huge ovation from the crowd. Taker steps in the ring as the crowd chants his name. Undertaker picks up the mic and addresses Triple H. He says he’s never seen a man with a more broken soul than Triple H. Taker says Triple H’s delusion will be his downfall, and he can’t see the fear in his own friends’ eyes for his demise. Taker says he will put Triple H 6 feet under, and then it’s game over. The crowd pops as Triple H says he cannot outrace The Reaper, and he says that even his friend the WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels can’t save him. Taker says if Shawn wants to be in Triple H’s corner, that’s fine, because his brother Kane will be in his corner. Taker says he took Shawn’s career, and Triple H’s career is next. Taker says at Super Show-Down, with his brother watching his back, Triple H will rest in peace. The gong tolls and Taker slowly makes his exit.
– Cole introduces some highlights from the Hell In A Cell main event and hypes the Lesnar vs. Reigns vs. Strowman for WWE Crown Jewel.
– We see footage of WWE stars doing charity work at the local hospital earlier today.
– Bayley vs. Dana Brooke: Sasha Banks is at ringside in Bayley’s corner for this one. The opening bell sounds and Dana gets some offense in early on. Dana hits a handspring back elbow in the corner. Bayley comes back with a backslide pin for a two count. Dana sends Bayley back into the corner and then covers for a 2 count of her own. Dana hits some knees to the body, and then keeps Bayley grounded with a scissor hold. Bayley starts firing up and hits some elbows and then a running knee strike. Bayley follows up with the belly to belly suplex for the three count.
Winner: Bayley
– After the math, Banks hits the ring and celebrates the win with Bayley.
– Still to come: Corbin vs. Reigns
– Drake Maverick is backstage walking with the Authors of Pain towards the Gorilla position. They briefly harass a backstage staffer but Drake calms them down and tells them to save it for the ring. They are facing some enhancement talent tonight.
– The Authors of Pain vs. Gregory James and Barrett Brown: Akam and Rezar destroy the enhancement talent with another quick squash match. They hit the Super Collider for the three count.
Winners: The Authors of Pain
– Maverick poses with the AoP in the ring after the bell.
– Dolph Ziggler is backstage complaining to Corbin that Seth Rollins did in fact show up tonight. Corbin says Rollins is in worse shape than Ziggler after last night, and there’s no way Rollins will win tonight. Corbin gives Ziggler a pep talk until Rollins walks by. Ziggler asks Rollins if he wants o back out, but Rollins is ready to fight. Rollins asks if Ziggler is ready, and then he walks off to come out for their match.
– WWE Intercontinental Title match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler: Jojo does the official ring introductions for this Title match. Fans chant for Rollins as the opening bell sounds and both men jockey for position. Ziggler starts off strong and sends Rollins outside crashing against the barricade. Back in the ring, Rollins fights Ziggler off and comes back with a Blockbuster off the middle rope. Rollins appears to be selling a back injury. Ziggler locks in a sleeper, and as Rollins fights away Ziggler rakes the eyes. Ziggler looks for a Zig Zag and misses, and Rollins answers with a superkick for a two count. Rollins goes back up top and Ziggler follows. Rollins slides out between the legs and crotches Ziggler on the ropes, and then he goes back up and hits a superplex. Rollins follows up with the Falcon Arrow, but Ziggler evades the pin attempt and comes back with a pin of his own for a two count. Rollins fires back with the stomp and then he covers for the three count.
Winner & still IC Champion: Seth Rollins
– Roman Reigns is backstage watching Rollins celebrate his win on a monitor. Charly Caruso appears to interview him, and Reigns says he may be considered an underdog against Braun and Lesnar, but tonight against Corbin he’s the big dog in the ring. Reigns is confident he’s still going to be Champion after tonight.
– We see Ronda Rousey in her locker room warming up.
– The broadcast team sends us to a video package about Hispanic Heritage Month.
– RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey comes out to the ring and gets on the mic. She says she wants to congratulate Alexa Bliss, because last night was her best performance ever, and Ronda didn’t expect that from her. She thanks Alexa for pushing her to her limits. She says she wants to be remembered with other great champions like Bret Hart, Stone Cold, and Ric Flair. With that, Ronda issues an open challenge for her Title, and she dares any woman in the back to come out and challenge her. Natalya’s music hits, but Natalya doesn’t come out and the music stops. Instead, The Riott Squad comes out dragging Natalya across the stage. They blame Ronda for making them attack Natalya, and it’s Ronda’s fault. The Riott Squad heads down the ramp, and it looks like Ruby Riott is accepting the open challenge. The Riott Squad members hit the ring one by one, and Ronda lays them all out. They finally are able to gang up on Ronda and overpower her briefly. Ronda fights back but is selling a rib injury . Ruby comes out of nowhere with a spear on Ronda, and now all three women stomp on her. The Bella Twins come out for the save, and Ronda and The Bella Twins now beat down the Riott Squad. They clear the ring and the Riott Squad retreats up the ramp.
– We go to a replay of Baron Corbin booking himself in a Universal Title match against Roman Reigns later tonight.
– Corbin is shown backstage warming up in dress clothes. Braun Strowman walks in and questions why Corbin gave himself a Title match. Braun says he hopes Corbin wins, because Corbin sucks and Braun knows he can kill him. Braun walks off and Corbin continues warming up.
– Elias is in the ring for a song. Elias leads the crowd in a Walk With Elias chant, and then tells them to shut their mouths and hold their applause. Before he can start his song, Lio from 205 Live comes out and tries to give Elias some advice. Elias tells him to shut it and asks whose kid is this coming down the ramp. Lio says it’s okay if Elias doesn’t know who he is. Lio Rush introduces himself, and he’s about to talk about who he represents, but Elias cuts him off and tells him to go to lost and found until his parents retrieve him. Lio says the big man told him that Elias has jokes, or that he is a joke, and he has some unfinished business with Elias. With that, Lio introduces his client Bobby Lashley.
– Bobby Lashley vs. Elias: Elias starts off strong, but Lashley stops his momentum with a spinning powerslam. Lashley elbows Elias back down, and then Lashley goes up top. Lashley comes flying off the top, but Elias drops him mid-air with a knee to the body. Both men are down in the ring, and then Kevin OWens comes out. Lio is on commentary trashing Kevin Owens for his attack on Lashley a few weeks ago. Lio runs around and avoids Owens until Owens chases him down the ramp. Elias tries to grab Lio, but Lio dodges him and kicks him, which prompts the ref to call for the DQ. Lio runs in the ring, and Lashley gorilla press slams Lio on to Kevin and Elias at ringside. Lio gets back in the ring and celebrates with Lashley as Elias and Owens head backstage.
Winner via DQ: Elias
– We go to a pre-taped promo from Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and Mickie James. Alexa says she’s going to support her friends tonight in their tag match against Ember Moon and a partner of her choosing — if Ember can find a partner.
– Alicia Fox & Mickie James vs. Ember Moon & Nia Jax: Nia Jax comes out as a surprise to be Ember’s partner. Alicia and Ember start off, and Alicia starts off with a shoulder block. Ember kicks up to her feet and fires back with some elbows to the face. Mickie tags in but Ember sends her outside quickly and Ember hits a dive on her outside. They get back in the ring and Mickie comes back with a big kick on Ember, and then Fox tags back in and applies a chin lock. Mickie comes back in now and puts the boots to Ember. Ember tries to tag in Nia, but Mickie stops her and keeps beating her down. Fox comes back in with a big boot and Ember is down again. Ember finally gets the tag to Nia, and Nia comes in the ring and cleans house. Nia knocks Mickie off the apron and then throws Fox around on the mat. Mickie runs in but Ember comes off the top and takes her out. Nia follows up with a Samoan Drop on Alicia for the three count.
Winners: Ember Moon & Nia Jax
– Nia and Ember celebrate in the ring while Alexa checks on her friends at ringside.
– Corbin is backstage with the referee for his match with Reigns tonight. Corbin tells the referee to ignore the fact that he controls his job, and he wants the referee to call it down the middle. Corbin insists that the ref refers to him as the acting GM of Monday Night RAW, and then he dismisses the ref.
– WWE Universal Title: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Baron Corbin: Jojo does the official ring introductions and the crowd is in Reign’s favor for this one. The opening bell sounds and they lock up. Reigns goes behind Corbin but Corbin elbows him down. Corbin lays into Reigns with strikes and goes for several quick pin attempts early on. Reigns finally fights him off and knocks Corbin to the outside. Reigns runs around the ring and hits the drive-by kick on Corbin at ringside. Back in the ring, Reigns misses a spear in the corner and Corbin answers with a lariat. Corbin works over Reigns on the mat and applies a rear chin lock to try to keep the Big Dog grounded. Reigns fights back up to his feet and runs the ropes, but Corbin shuts him down with a chokeslam backbreaker for a two count. Reigns finally fights up and hits some punches and a leaping clothesline. Corbin stumbles into the corner, where Reigns hits a series of 10 clotheslines against the turnbuckle. Reigns runs the ropes and hits a big boot. Corbin tries to fight back, but Reigns shuts him down with a side walk slam for a two count. Corbin rolls outside, so Reigns follows and he leaps off the ring steps with a Superman punch on Corbin on the floor. Reigns takes him back in the ring, but Corbin rolls out the other side again for another breather. Reigns runs around the ring for another shot, but Corbin throws a steel chair in his face. The referee seems to hesitate to call for the bell, but he finally calls for it, and Corbin is disqualified.
Winner via DQ: Roman Reigns
– Corbin freaks out at the ref. Corbin then seems to remember that he’s acting GM, so he orders the match to be restarted as a No DQ match.
– Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin 2: The bell sounds again and Corbin throws Reigns back in the ring. Corbin has a chair with him, but before he can use it, Reigns hits a Superman punch on Corbin out of nowhere. Reigns covers but only gets a two count. Reigns picks up the steel chair, but before he can use it, Braun Strowman’s music hits. Strowman walks down the ramp, but before he gets to the ring, Corbin attacks Reigns from behind and lays him out. Strowman steps in to the ring, and he appears to have his sights set on Reigns. Braun headbutts Reigns into the corner and then hits a series of splashes in the corner. Braun goes for a running powerslam, but Reigns escapes, and then Braun misses a spear in the corner and hits the ring post. Corbin goes after Reigns now and hits the Deep Six for a two count. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre run down next and check on Braun. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins run out now too, and they brawl with Ziggler and McIntyre at ringside. Braun gets on the ring apron, but Reigns Superman punches him down. Rollins and Ambrose hop in the ring now to check on Reigns. Ambrose and Rollins hits suicide dives in tandem on Ziggler, McIntyre and Strowman at ringside. Braun is back to his feet first, and Reigns looks for a suicide dive, but Corbin leaps up on the apron and hits a right hand on Reigns to stop it. Corbin steps in the ring, and Reigns immediately hits a spear for the three count.
Winner & still Universal Champion: Roman Reigns
– Ambrose and Rollins hop back in the ring after the bell and celebrate with Reigns. Ziggler, Braun and McIntyre are shown heading back up the ramp, and they don’t look happy. The Shield stares them down from the ring as RAW goes off the air.
