WWE RAW Opener:
Tonight’s WWE RAW opens up with the usual intro. We’re live from Greensboro, North Carolina as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined by Byron Saxton and JBL. They hype The Usos vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson for tonight.
– We go to the ring and out comes AJ Styles for a pop. We get a look back at Styles and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns from last week. Fans chant his name as Styles takes the mic. He wants to set the record straight because he’s tired of Reigns calling him a liar. But it’s not just Reigns, he’s heard it at the restaurant, the airport, on social media. He says people think his friendship with Gallows and Anderson is some kind of master plan to get him the title. AJ shows some tweets on the big screen with fans commenting on The Club.
Styles asks if this is a new era because this isn’t new to him… he’s headlined the Tokyo Dome, he’s been a champion around the world. For those in the WWE Universe who don’t know him, he’s not called Phenomenal for nothing and he’s worked hard to get where he is. AJ is interrupted by the music and out comes Reigns to a big mixed reaction.
Reigns is met with the “what?!” treatment as he starts speaking. Reigns says what Styles has done around the world doesn’t really matter unless he’s winning “THE” championship. Fans chant for Seth Rollins. Reigns says they’re not going to get Rollins, they have Reigns vs. Styles in the main event of WWE Extreme Rules. Reigns says he’s going to be in The Usos’ corner tonight and asks Styles if he will be in The Club’s corner. AJ says he will be there and he will be wherever Reigns is until he gets the title on his waist. Styles mocks Reigns’ “good guy, bad guy, THE guy” promo and says Reigns is the guy he’s going to beat on Sunday. Reigns says Styles is in the big fight now, this is not a wrestling match, it’s not Extreme Rules. Reigns talks about what he might do to Styles on Sunday. Reigns says he can and he will beat AJ’s ass at Extreme Rules. Reigns says AJ can’t beat him one-on-one, so he knows The Club will be there, but The Usos will be there waiting for them. Reigns says we will all find out that The Bloodline is better than The Club. AJ says he plans on wrapping the chair around Reigns’ stinking head all night long. The music hits and out comes Gallows and Anderson. The Usos join Reigns in the ring. AJ charges and Reigns drops him with a right hand. Fans boo. AJ retreats to Gallows and Anderson on the floor. Reigns raises the title as AJ runs his mouth. The two teams stare each other down and have words as Reigns’ music hits and we go to replays.
– Still to come, Dean Ambrose will call out Chris Jericho. Also, an Extreme Rules Contract Signing with Natalya and Charlotte, plus Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn.
Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro
The red carpet rolls out as WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz makes his way down with Maryse. Lilian Garcia introduces them. They join the announcers on commentary as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Kevin Owens is also on commentary. Sami Zayn makes his way out first, followed by Cesaro. They lock up as Owens and Miz argue on commentary. Cesaro with an early powerslam for a 2 count.
Sami ends up sending Cesaro to the floor and going for a dive but backing off as Cesaro goes to sit on the barrier and show off. Fans do the “ole!” chants now. Owens has no interest in this match and gets up to leave commentary. He attacks The Miz instead, throwing him into the apron. Owens goes to leave with the title but Miz stops him. They brawl at ringside as Cesaro and Sami watch. Owens rolls Miz into the ring. Cesaro and Miz brawl while Owens and Sami go at it. The referee calls for the bell as Sami and Cesaro clear the ring. Shane McMahon’s music hits and out he comes to the stage for a big pop.
Shane says everyone has had it with the four of them. He gets a cheap pop from Greensboro and makes a tag match for tonight. Stephanie McMahon’s music hits and out she comes to join Shane on the stage. Stephanie says that was really good but she wants Shane to consider what happened on SmackDown. She mixes up the teams, suggesting it be Owens and Sami vs. Cesaro and Miz. Shane agrees and so do the fans. Stephanie says if Owens even thinks about walking out on Sami, don’t bother showing up on Sunday. Shane says the match starts now.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. The Miz and Cesaro
Owens isn’t happy about tagging with Sami as we go to commercial.
We are back and the match is joined in progress and Owens with a side head lock and shoudler tackle. Cesaro wtih a clothesline and then he sets for the giant swing but Owens gets to the ropes. Zayn applauds Owens’ performance and Owens tags Zayn in and tells him to do better. Zayn with a wrist lock and Cesaro with a kip up reversal and arm drag into an arm bar. Zayn floats over on an Irish whip and Zayn with an arm drag into an arm bar. Cesaro with a slam to escape. Cesaro with a running European uppercut into the corner. Miz tags in and he kicks Zayn and suplexes him for a near fall. Owens makes the tag and Zayn with a slam but Owens with a back senton when Zayn does not realize it. Owens says he is legal and he tells Zayn what to do. Miz with a rollup for a near fall.
Owens punches Miz and then Owens tags Zayn back in. Zayn with a chop. Zayn is sent to the apron and Miz knocks Zayn off the apron to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Miz with an Awesome Clothesline to Zayn and then he goes up top for a double sledge. Miz kicks Zayn but Cesaro tags himself in and Cesaro with an Irish whip and splash into the corner and he goes up top for a double sledge and he gets a near fall. Miz tags himself back in and he kicks Zayn in the face. Miz with a punch to Owens and Zayn counters a Skul Crushing Finale with a victory roll for a near fall. Zayn knocks Cesaro off the apron.
Owens tags in and he knocks Cesaro off the apron and then he hits a missile drop kick followed by a running clothesline into the corner and a cannonball for a near fall. Miz with an elbow and Cesaro tags in and hits a lot of European uppercuts. Cesaro with five Irishi whips and European uppercuts followed by a drop kick. Zayn tags in and he goes up top and hits a cross body but Cesaro rolls through. Miz makes the tag before Cesaro hits a back breaker. Miz throws Cesaro to the floor and Miz goes his own giant swing set up. Cesaro wtih a Skull Crushing Finale on Miz. Owens sends Cesaro into the ringside barrier while Zayn hits the Helluva Kick to pin Miz.
Winners: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
After the match, Owens attacks Zayn and he tells Sami that he won too and he has the referee raise his hand.
Backstage:
Renee Young knocks on Chris Jericho’s door and she asks Chris if he knows what Dean is going to say to him tonight. Chris says Dean will apologize for destroying his $15,000 jacket. A jacket that is more iconic than Andre the Giant. He says he could get Dean arrested tonight. He will give Dean one chance to apologize. If he does not, he will make him very very sorry. We go to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and Primo tells Epico there it is… paradise. Epico says it is la isla bonita. This ring is their island. Every time they step between those ropes, that ring turns into their beloved Puerto Rico. Primo says they want everyone around the world, including you tourists from North Carolina. Tonight, they want to reward you and everyone else by sharing a little piece of their Puerto Rican paradise.
The Shining Stars (Primo and Epico) vs. John Skyler and Corey Hollis
Primo and Skyler start things off and he connects with a knee. Epico tags in and kicks Skyler and follows with a series of suplexes. Hollis tags in and Epico punches him. Epico wtih a butterfly gutbuster. Primo tags in and he hits a splash to the back and goes through the ropes to the floor. Epico tags in and they hit the Shining Star for the three count.
Winners: Epico and Primo
After the match, Primo and Epico invite everyone to come to Puerto Rico
– We see Shane McMahon backstage talking to Dean Ambrose. Back to commercial.
In the Arena:
Back from the break and out comes Dean Ambrose.
Dean says from the moment he got here, people have questioned him about his decisionmaking and stability. Last week on Smackdown, when Chris put that straitjacket on him and he could not defend himself, he felt like he was in a jail or an asylum and he did not like it. Something snapped a little. There is something he has to do. Dean says he has to talk to Chris Jericho so he wants Chris to get out here.
Chris makes his way to the stage and he tells Dean to shut his mouth and listen to him, even though Dean is not saying anything. Chris tells Dean what he is going to say and do as he gives him an apology. He says Dean will apologize for destroying his $15,000 piece of property. Chris says he is a millionaire but $15,000 is a lot of money. Dean destroyed a piece of history. Not only does Dean owe him the money, he owes him an apology and he owes it now.
Dean says an apology is not happening. Dean says he called Dean out to challenge him to a match at Extreme Rules.
Chris says just as he expected, no apology from Dean Ambrose. Chris tells Dean if he wants a match, he will take $15,000 out of his ass.
Dean wants to make sure that Chris is sure. We don’t know how extreme this will get.
Chris says unlike all of these sloberring sycophants, he can see right through Dean. They call you a lunatic, but Chris says he is a lunatic. It is not a catchphrase because there is no one crazier than him. He has faced everyone WWE has put in front of him and he has beaten them all. Chris says he is not scared of Ambrose, but scared for him. He will show Dean what a lunatic does and what a lunatic looks like while he beats up Dean with a smile on his face and not a tear in his eye. He will give Dean what he craves. He will give Dean the Gift of Jericho and he tells Dean to drink it in.
Dean says he has a gift for Chris too and a steel cage comes down. Dean says you put him in a house so he will put Chris in an Asylum. He talked to Shane and Shane said he could have any type of match he wanted so welcome to the first ever Asylum Match. Dean says they will be locked inside the cage and it is decorated with some of his favorite things. There might be more on Sunday. Dean says we do not know what will happen on Sunday because it is uncharted waters. You may be thinking that there is some way out. Maybe you can climb over the cage or go out the door. There is no escape in this asylum. You may be the best in the world at what you do, but when you enter his world, what you do will be scream and cry and beg for mercy. When that door closes, and you enter this asylum, he promises that Jericho will never ever be the same again.
– Still to come, The Usos vs. Gallows and Anderson. We see Dana Brooke walking backstage. She stops to diss a random guy before heading to the ring for her match with Becky Lynch.
Becky Lynch vs. Dana Brooke
Back from the break and Becky Lynch is in the ring as we see Emma and Dana Brooke attacking her last week. Dana’s music hits and out she comes by herself. Cole acknowledges Emma’s back injury.
They lock up and go to the corner. Fans chant for Becky. Dana gets knocked down with a forearm after missing a clothesline. Becky mocks Dana and nails a pair of arm drags and a dropkick. Dana goes to the floor for a breather. Dana threatens to walk out but Becky jumps off the apron. Dana sidesteps and sends Becky into the barrier. She brings it back in the ring and mounts Becky with right hands.
Dana with a 2 count and then a submission as fans chant for Sasha Banks. Becky gets out and fights back. Dana catches her with a big slam. Dana mounts Becky again and works her over for another 2 count. Dana runs into an elbow but blocks a roll up. Becky with a pair of clotheslines and a knee to the face. Becky gets a pop and nails a big forearm in the corner. Becky with the exploder for a 2 count. Becky goes back to the top but Dana cuts her off. Becky counters Dana’s finisher but Dana counters a roll up with a pin of her own for the win.
Winner: Dana Brooke
After the match, Becky is frustrated as Dana backs up the ramp talking trash.
– We get a look back at the Chicago Screwjob at Payback. Still to come, Natalya and Charlotte will have a Contract Signing for Extreme Rules. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and it is time for Life Lessons with Darren Young and his life coach Bob Backlund.
Bob says he has a few questions for Darren. He wants to know what time his watch says. Darren pulls out his phone and Bob wants to know what he is doing. Darren says he is pulling out his phone. Bob says that he is asking Darren what time it is and Darren is on the phone? Darren says he is looking on the phone for the time. Bob tells Darren that he should not waste the operator’s time by asking for the time. He tells Darren to look at his watch. Darren says no one wears watches any more. Bob says that being on time is his core principle. Darren says he is always on time. He sets alerts on his phone. Bob says they need to organize his desktop. Bob talks about Darren’s mailbox and calendar. He says you put the desktop on top of the desk.
Darren says they call all of that a smartphone. Bob says he does not care if they call it Einstein. He tells Darren to do 100 squats. Darren says something and Bob tells him to do 200. Bob says they are going to make Darren Young great again.
Backstage:
Stephanie wants to know why Shane did not run the Asylum match by him. Shane says Stephanie did not run the idea for the tag match by him. They appear to be on the same page until there is a knock on the door.
The Dudleys enter and Bubba says that Stephanie cannot help them, but they can help them. People talk about the New Era but they want to show what the Attitude Era can do. They ask for some North Carolina talent to show what the Attitude Era is about.
Stephanie says they are not going to give them a couple of little North Carolina guys. Shane says they will have to choose. It is not a little guy. It will be a guy who might be seven feet tall. One of you will face Big Cass so figure out which one of you will do it.
– We have a video package for R Truth and Goldust because FINALLY… they are going to be a tag team.
Goldust and R-Truth vs. Fandango and Tyler Breeze
We go to the ring and out comes Goldust first. R-Truth joins him and they head to the ring together while Truth raps.
Truth takes Breeze to the mat and punches him. Truth with more punches and then Goldust tags in and punches Breeze. Truth tags in and punches Breeze from the turnbuckles. Fandnago distracts Truth and Breeze with a clothesline. Fandango tags in and punches Truth. Fandango with chops. Both men go for a clothesline and both men go down. Breeze and Goldust tag in and Goldust with clotheslines followed by a reverse atomic drop. Goldust with a reverse atomic drop to Fandango. Goldust wtih a drop down uppercut to Breeze and a power slam to Fandango. Truth accidentally hits Goldust and Breeze gets the three count.
Winners: Tyler Breeze and Fandango
– After the match, Fandango and Breeze leave together as we go to replays. Truth and Goldust have words as Truth tries to explain what happened.
– Still to come, the Extreme Rules Women’s Title Contract Signing. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
Back from the break and Truth is backstage begging Goldust. Goldust says he told Truth he didn’t want to team up. Truth says those pretty boys got one over on them but they have to work out the kinks and try again. Truth says the WWE Universe wants Golden Truth, Truth wants the Golden Truth. Truth knows Goldust wants it deep down. Breeze and Fandango walk up, calling them idiots and welcoming them to the New Era. They walk off laughing. Goldust agrees with Truth and they hug, finally on the same page.
In the Arena:
We see something large and covered in the ring. Cole has no idea what it is. WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day are out next.
Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods cut promos on The Vaudevillains, who they will face on Sunday. Woods reveals a time machine that’s being hidden. They jump in it and go back in time. Kofi jumps out with his old accent and theme music. They time travel again and go back to a time where everything is black and white apparently. This leads to Simon Gotch and Aiden English attacking them. They destroy The New Day and the time machine structure. Fans boo as Gotch and English leave The New Day laying.
– Still to come, Gallows and Anderson vs. The Usos. Back to commercial.
The Usos vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Back from the break and out comes AJ Styles with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. The Usos are out next. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns makes his way out to a loud mixed reaction. The two sides face off in the middle of the ring before the bell. Anderson starts off with Jimmy Uso and Anderson takes it to the mat.
Jimmy catches Anderson and takes him to the corner. Jey Uso tags in for a bit of double teaming. Uso takes Anderson to the corner for more offense. Uso with big chops in Flair Country as AJ looks on. Uso blocks a counter and sends Anderson over the top. Uso knocks Gallows off the apron on the other side. The Usos stand tall as Styles talks to Gallows and Anderson on the floor to regroup. Gallows comes in with Jimmy now. Gallows misses a clothesline and gets rocked. Gallows catches Uso in a big slam, and another. Gallows drops elbow drops and covers for a 2 count. Gallows beats Uso into the corner and tags Anderson in. Anderson stomps away. Gallows gets in a cheap shot as the referee is distracted.
Anderson keeps control and tags Gallows back in. Lots more back and forth. Uso ends up hitting a corkscrew off the top but Gallows kicks out. They go to the floor and Uso takes Gallows down off the steel steps. Uso rolls Gallows back in as AJ approaches. AJ and Uso argue, allowing Gallows to drop Uso with a right hand. Reigns walks over and has words with AJ and The Club as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Jimmy goes at it with Anderson. Anderson with a big clothesline for a 2 count. Gallows comes in and unloads with rights and lefts in the corner. Jimmy ducks a big boot and Gallows gets hung up. Anderson tags in but Uso dumps him over the top. Uso turns it around on the floor and sends Anderson into the barrier. He brings it back in for a crossbody for a 2 count. We see Styles and Reigns argue at ringside. Uso hits a Samoan Drop and the Rikishi splash on Uso for a 2 count. Uso goes back to the top but Anderson jumps up and kicks him in the face.
Anderson with shots in the corner. He goes for a superplex but Uso sends him to the mat. Uso jumps but rolls through. Anderson with a big spinebuster for a 2 count. Everything unfolds at the end. The pin comes when Uso hits a big splash for the win.
Winners: The Usos
After the match, AJ and Reigns have a staredown in the ring. Gallows attacks Reigns from behind. Uso makes the save but gets taken out on the floor. AJ brings a chair back in the ring where Reigns is. He goes to swing it but Reigns nails a big right hand as fans boo. Reigns hits AJ with the chair. Gallows nails Reigns. Reigns hits a Superman punch on Gallows and then Anderson. Reigns turns around to a chair shot to the gut from Styles. AJ with chair shots over the back of Reigns now. Styles hits the Styles Clash on top of a chair and receives some boos as he stands over Reigns. Styles’ music hits as Reigns tries to recover and he looks on. AJ talks trash to Reigns before leaving the ring. We go to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see what just happened between The Club and The Bloodline.
Big Cass vs. D-Von Dudley
Back from the break and out comes Big Cass to a pop. Cass takes the mic and says if The Dudleyz have a problem with the New Era, he has a problem with them. He calls D-Von the Steve Urkel of the squared circle. He mocks Bubba Ray’s stuttering and calls him a Fred Flinstone-looking goon. The Dudley Boyz are out next.
D-Von rolls to the floor and stalls. Bubba, on the other side of the ring, pulls a table from under the ring. This distracts Cass, allowing D-Von to run back in the ring and attack from behind. D-Von beats Cass around now. Bubba gets on the apron and D-Von almost runs into him. Cass follows back up with a big boot, knocking Bubba off the apron. Cass hits the East River Crossing on D-Von for the win.
Winner: Big Cass
After the match, Cass stands tall and leaves as we go to replays. Cass speaks from the stage and says there’s only one word for The Dudleyz… S-A-W-F-T.
– Back from the break and we get a video package for John Cena’s return.
Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio
We go to the ring and out comes WWE United States Champion Kalisto for this non-title match. Alberto Del Rio is out next.
They lock up and Del Rio with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Kalisto with kicks but Del Rio with kicks of his own. Del Rio puts Kalisto on the turnbuckles and he thinks he is facing Original Sin Cara and he tries to remove the mask. Del Rio with a kick and punch while in the tree of woe. We see Sin Cara watching from the back on the official monitor as Del Rio applies a reverse chin lock. Del Rio with a punch and kick to Kalisto. Kalisto with a head scissors. Del Rio goes to the floor and Kalisto goes for a head scissors off the apron but Del Rio catches him and swings Kalisto into the ringside barrier as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and Del Rio is still in control. Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio goes to the second rope and waits for Kalisto get up, nailing him with a right hand for a 2 count. Del Rio sends Kalisto into the ring post. We see Cara watching backstage again. Rusev suddenly attacks from behind and beats Cara down. Rusev launches Cara into production cases as Del Rio holds Kalisto and makes him watch it on the big screen. Rusev drags Cara away as Lana follows.
Kalisto finally drops Del Rio as fans chant for Lana. Kalisto charges but Del Rio moves and Kalisto collides with the ring post again. Del Rio with more offense before going back to the top while Kalisto is hung up in the ropes. Del Rio wastes too much time and Kalisto crotches him. Kalisto with an enziguri. Kalisto brings Del Rio to the mat but they’re both slow to get up. We see Rusev beating Cara down the ramp. Kalisto springboards in with a senton and unloads on Del Rio. Kalisto with a corkscrew. Kalisto slams Del Rio on his face for a 2 count. Rusev holds a helpless Cara at ringside and runs him into the ring post. Kalisto sees what’s going on and is distracted, allowing Del Rio to hit a Backstabber for the non-title win.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
After the match, Del Rios stands tall and poses before leaving. Rusev enters the ring and nails a huge kick to the back of the head as Kalisto stands up. Rusev stomps on Kalisto’s back a few times and puts him in The Accolade as Lana looks on from ringside. The referee calls for help as Rusev tightens the hold. Referees try to get Rusev to break the hold and he finally does. Rusev rolls to the floor and grabs the title. He brings it back in taunts Kalisto with it, then throws it at him. Rusev’s music hits as we go to replays.
– Still to come, the Contract Signing for Extreme Rules. Back to commercial.
– We are back and Dolph Ziggler gets his revenge on Baron Corbin on Sunday in a No Disqualification Match on the Kickoff Show.
In the Arena:
Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon are in the ring for the contract signing and Stephanie does not appreciate the boos.
Shane says that things get Extreme on Sunday. Shane mentions some of the matches at the pay per view, but it is time to focus on the Submission Match for the Women’s Title. It is time for the contract signing.
Stephanie is interrupted by Ric Flair who comes out to the stage. Ric says if you are going to introduce a Flair, you do it the right way. Ric wants everyone to stand up and show respect to the apple of her eye, Charlotte.
Charlotte thanks her daddy for that introduction. Charlotte wants to know where does she sign.
Shane says someone is missing so he brings out the challenger, Natalya.
Natalya says she has something to get off her chest. She wants to know what happened to Charlotte. You used to be a person she respected. Someone who had humility. You beat me at NXT and you didn’t have your creepy father there. That is the Charlotte that she wishes she could beat but that Charlotte does not exist.
Shane has Natalya sign first.
Charlotte says the people are not here to cheer for Natalya. These are her people. They are not going to cheer for Natalya. Charlotte says that she could punch everyone’s best friend and you will still cheer for her because you worship the ground she walks on. She is your goddess. Charlotte says you don’t boo a Flair and she says the people love her because her last name is Flair. Your name is just Nattie.
Charlotte and Ric wooo but Charlotte tells him to stop. You are a Hart who likes to whine and complain. You are the same person who she beat at Payback and the same person she will make tap out at Extreme Rules.
Charlotte is about to sign the contract but there is something she did not agree to.
Shane says he added a stipulation that says if Flair comes to the ring and Charlotte will forfeit the Women’s Championship. Shane wants Ric to calm down and then he tells security to make their way to the ring.
Stephanie tells Charlotte if she does not sign the contract, she forfeits the Women’s Title.
Charlotte signs the contract.
Ric says it ain’t official. He says he tried to like Stephanie because of her husband but he says she is the worst businessperson.
Flair is ready for a fight. Ric takes off his jacket but Shane keeps his Fonzie jacket on.
Shane tries to stop Flair from doing anything while Charlotte tries to gesture behind Ric.
Stephanie says that Shane might have too much respect for Ric, but she does not. Stephanie slaps Ric.
Charlotte goes after Stephanie but Natalya takes Charlotte down and Natalya applies the Sharpshooter and Charlotte taps out because it is not a match.
We go to credits.
