Pre-Show:
We’re live from Pittsburgh, PA for the Kickoff Show. Your hosts tonight are Renee Young, Booker T, and guest co-host, wrestling radio and podcast host Sam Roberts. He makes sure to get in his trademark “what’s the happs?” They send it to the Social Media Lounge to the incomparable Tom Phillips. Sami Zayn will be his guest tonight ahead of his 10-minute time limit match against Braun Strowman. You can get involved by sending in questions using the hashtag #AskSami.
– The panel takes a look at tonight’s tag team title match pitting the record breaking New Day against the newly well-oiled machine of Sheamus and Cesaro. Roberts cites the bar room brawl as the turning point for the challengers. Roberts and Booker both pick Sheamus and Cesaro for the match.
– A reminder that Big Cass vs. Rusev will take place later on in the Kickoff Show. We’ll take a look at the 30-minute Iron Man Match with Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair up next.
– Video package highlighting Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair 30-minute Iron Man match for the RAW Women’s Championship. Bayley joins the kickoff panel as the only current iron woman in the WWE. They talk about her iron man match at NXT Takeover: Respect. Booker asks Bayley what it will take for her to get in that spot. She says she’s ready for 2017. Bayley picks Sasha for the win. Roberts goes with Bayley as well and Booker picks Charlotte. Give me Charlotte to continue her PPV win-streak.
– A look back at the Seth Rollins/Triple H saga that lead to Kevin Owens becoming Universal Champion. The panel talks about the Rollins/Jericho match for tonight and suggest the winner of this match would be the new #1 Contender. Booker goes with Rollins, Roberts with Jericho. I’m going with Rollins for a momentum win heading into an encounter with Triple H.
– A look back at Sami Zayn’s journey to his 10-minute time limit match against Braun Strowman tonight. This included a mock trade to SmackDown Live for Eva Marie. This led to a fiery Zayn promo and RAW GM Mick Foley giving him the match. We head back to the Social Media Lounge with Tom Phillips and Sami Zayn. He’s asked if there’s any fear of stepping in the ring with Braun. Zayn says there’s no fear. Zayn says he’s different than anyone that’s faced Braun, and that Strowman should be strategizing for him. Zayn says he won’t stay down in this match. He thanks Phillips and heads out to prepare for his match.
– We get our first look at the press conference from across the pond as WWE introduced the United Kingdom Championship. This will be a two-night special event on the WWE Network. Nigel McGuinness was announced as a new commentator for this event. Triple H says he hopes for this to be a launching pad for a weekly WWE program based in the UK.
– TJ Perkins joins the Kickoff panel ahead of the triple threat Cruiserweight Title match alongside current champ Rich Swann and Brian Kendrick. Perkins says he beat two opponents to become the first Cruiserweight Champion, and he will do it again tonight.
– It is time to take a look at the kickoff show match between Rusev and Big Cass with a video package.
Renee asks how would Booker react if he walked in on this situation. Booker says that Enzo has to respect Rusev and his wife. Booker says he would have done the same thing as Rusev, but he also would have called the police. Sam says he would have done what Enzo did. Sam says it was entrapment.
Rusev vs. Big Cass
Enzo Amore and Big Cass come out for their introduction before the match.
Enzo says he needs to give it to Lana and he calls her a femme fatale. You have the Russian accent and a great physique. If he wanted to see the Ravishing Russian and what is beneath, he would check out her WikiLeaks. He says Lana has a lot of nerve. You invite him over and ask him to come to her hotel room and then invite Rusev to the room. Enzo says he should have asked for the money first. Enzo says that Rusev has made some dumb decisions. He married Lana. The biggest mistake he made was that he left him laying in the hallway. Enzo points out that he got up and he ain’t shuttin’ up. Big Cass says that Enzo is like Rudolph and he is like Santa Claus. Colin runs through the reindeer and then he has a word to describe Rusev.
Big Cass punches Rusev in the corner and he Irish whips Rusev and connects with a boot to the head. Rusev goes to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Colin punches Rusev while Rusev is on his knees. Rusev tries to get out of the ring but Colin stops him. Colin with elbows and chops followed by punches. Colin puts Rusev in the ropes and he punches Rusev in the back of the head. Colin with a forearm to the back. Rusev with an elbow and boot followed by punches. Rusev goes for a jumping thrust kick but Colin blocks it and he slams Rusev. Enzo with a leaping elbow drop followed by a Stinger Splash. Rusev goes to the apron. Colin goes for a running boot but Rusev goes to the floor. Colin follows and Rusev goes over into the crowd. Colin with punches and he follows Rusev.
Rusev with punches and knees. Lana pushes Enzo from behind and Lana fakes an injury so Rusev hits Enzo from behind. Colin focuses on Enzo and that allows Rusev to get back into the ring before the ten count while Colin is counted out.
Winner by Countout: Rusev
Sam says that Enzo was not in the wrong. He got tricked.
– The Kickoff panel talks about the Universal Championship match. Sam says we cannot take Chris and Kevin being done as friends. He says it is the WWE Universe’s version of Ross and Rachel. He says they need to be back together by the end of the night. Booker says he is sick of the bromance. Kevin Owens is good and he can hold his own on any given night. He wants to see the prize fighter who would do whatever it took to win the match. He did it in the ring and within the confines of the rules. If Roman runs into this match overlooking Kevin Owens because of Chris Jericho, he will be in trouble.
That’s all for the pre-show.
WWE Roadblock Opener:
The show opens with a video package highlighting the main feuds heading into tonight. A good bit of time is spent on Owens vs. Reigns, Rollins vs. Jericho, and Sasha vs. Charlotte. There’s footage of speeding police cars and caution tape inter-cut with Raw footage while we hear the competitors talk about why they’ll win tonight.
The pyro goes off and Michael Cole welcomes us to the show. It’s not long before Big E is saying hello to Pittsburgh, and asking them to feel the power. New Day come out to a great reaction from the fans in attendance. Big E says welcome to Roadblock. We’ve all been Roadblock before, either from your girlfriend’s friend, or someone coming into the room. Kofi clarifies that it’s ‘road’block. Big E says well this still isn’t the end of their historic reign. Woods presents the longest reigning Tag Team Champions of all time. Kofi says it feels good to say that. Kofi asks who stands in their way tonight, then says it’s Cesaro and Sheamus, a.k.a. the Shameful Swingers, the Fellowship of the Swing, Swing Low Swiss Chariot. Woods sings Swing Low Swiss Chariot, never gonna take our titles home. Kofi says call them what you want, you’ll never call them the WWE World Tag Team Champions, because New Day Rocks.
Cesaro and Sheamus are out next to a good pop with Cesaro making his way out first, then walking down the aisle with Sheamus.
Raw Tag Team Championship Match
New Day vs. Cesaro and Sheamus
The bell rings and Cesaro wipes Kofi out with a dropkick before hitting him with an uppercut in the corner, then a second. Cesaro runs into a big boot from Kofi, but when Kofi leaps off the top rope, Cesaro catches him. Both men counter and Cesaro is the next, countering a monkey flip and landing on his feet. Kofi does the same, but then he’s caught with a cheap shot from Sheamus who tags in and goes to work with an immediate suplex. Sheamus drags Kofi into the corner and tags in Cesaro who hits a rolling senton for a two count. Sheamus tags in once more and hits a slingshot battering ram that puts Kofi down for another near fall. Sheamus slams Kofi to the mat and clamps on a rear chin lock, grinding Kofi down. Kofi is able to work his way up to his feet and fights out of the hold with a chinbreaker. Sheamus knocks Big E off the apron and tags in Cesaro. Cesaro hits a running uppercut in the corner, Sheamus sets up Kofi for a pop up European uppercut, and somehow Kofi is still able to kick out at two. Cesaro charges Kofi in the corner, but misses and he crashes shoulder first into the ring post.
Sheamus tags in and ends up backdropped out of the ring by Kofi. Sheamus makes it up to the apron and goes for ten beats of the bowery, but Big E tags in, Kofi fights out of it, and Big E spears Sheamus through the ropes and to the outside, bringing things back into the ring for an immediate pin. Sheamus rolls out to the apron and Big E attempts to suplex him back into the ring. Sheamus blocks it and hangs up Big E on the top rope, from the front, and also from behind. Big E catches Sheamus and drops him with a gigantic running powerbomb, but Sheamus kicks out at two.
Big E tries for the Big Ending, but Sheamus fights out of it. Cesaro makes the tag and goes to the second rope to help Sheamus with an assisted White Noise. Big E is able to fight out of the Neutralizer, but Cesaro comes right back with a huge spinning uppercut. Cesaro goes for the Big Swing, but Sheamus miscalculates and hits Cesaro when he’s aiming for Kofi. Kofi sends Sheamus from the ring and sets up Cesaro for a Big Ending, but Cesaro will not stay down for three. Kofi tags back in and New Day try for the Midnight Hour, but Cesaro avoids it. Cesaro hits a top rope hurricanrana on Kofi. Sheamus hits the brogue kick on Big E on the outside. Cesaro catches Kofi in the Big Swing and transitions into the Sharpshooter. Woods leaps up on the apron and toots his trombone to distract the ref from Kofi tapping. Cesaro muscles Kofi up into suplex position, then works him over into a Neutralizer in an amazing display of power. Big E is able to break up the pin, but he’s dumped to the outside by Cesaro. Sheamus tags in and Cesaro leaps to the outside to wipe out Big E. Sheamus goes for the Brogue kick, but Woods pushes him out of the way and eats it instead. Kofi connects with the SOS, but Sheamus still kicks out!
Cesaro goes for the tag but misses it, seemingly on purpose. Cesaro eats a Trouble in Paradise, but he’s not legal. Sheamus rolls up Kofi and gets the three count.
Winners and NEW Raw Tag Team Champions: Cesaro and Sheamus
Following the match, Cesaro shows some sportsmanship, hugging the three members of the New Day. Sheamus grabs the belts and climbs on the turnbuckles, posing with both titles. Cesaro heads right out into the crowd, celebrating with the Cesaro section.
Backstage:
Backstage Kevin Owens is interviewed. He’s asked whether or not he’s worried about suffering the same fate as New Day in his defense. Owens asks if she’s actively trying to insult him, or just bad at her job. Owens is better than New Day. Who’d they lose to? He’s better than Cesaro, Sheamus, and he’s damn sure better than Roman Reigns. That’s why he’s the longest reigning Universal Champion, that’s a fact. The interviewer asks about Jericho, and Owens asks who she thinks she is. He doesn’t know her name, and doesn’t care, but does she think she’s earned the right to ask questions like that. Chris and Owens are best friends unconditionally. Owens sends the interviewer away as Jericho walks in. Owens says he’d like to apologize even though this isn’t his fault. They should be Tag Team Champs, but Rollins pushed him on top of Jericho. Owens wanted to make this up to Jericho, so he got him a present. Owens gives Jericho a green and red striped holiday scarf. Owens asks Jericho if he likes it, but Jericho simply tosses it on the ground and walks off.
10 Minute Time Limit Singles Match
Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman
Back in the arena, Sami Zayn makes his way out to a nice pop from the crowd on his way down for a test of endurance.
Braun Strowman is out next, and the big man doesn’t get too much of a reaction at all on his way down the aisle.
The bell rings and the clock begins ticking. Braun backs Sami into the corner and ducks a clothesline. Braun continues to work Sami around the ring, Sami ducks a big right and connects with a chop. Sami ducks another clothesline and sends Strowman into the ropes with a hurricanrana. Sami hits a dropkick that sends Strowman into the corner, but when he goes in after him, Strowman tosses him across the ring with a giant Beale toss. Sami rolls to the outside and Braun follows, hitting him with a giant clubbing blow to the chest. Strowman rolls Sami back into the ring and kicks him in the ribs before choking him against the middle rope.
Sami kicks at Strowman, but Braun picks him up and hits a big right hand to the chest before grinding his knee into Sami’s chest. Strowman charges Sami and Sami low bridges Strowman, sending him to the outside. Sami leaps over the top rope with a tope suicide, but he’s caught by Strowman, who dumps Sami down on the apron hard. Braun brings things back into the ring and hits a running splash and a short arm clothesline, but Strowman won’t keep Sami down, pulling him up and punching him in the face. The ref checks on Sami, but Strowman continues to taunt Sami, refusing to pin him.
Braun levels Sami with a brutal clothesline, then connects with a nasty forearm to the jaw. Braun holds Sami up and hits him with a clubbing blow to the chest. Braun yells at Sami to stay down, then he picks him up and slams him to the mat. Braun wipes out Sami with another clothesline, and it looks like Sami is bleeding from the mouth. Mick Foley is out from backstage walking with a white towel in hand. Strowman tosses Zayn out of the ring to the feet of the GM and Braun heads out to tell Foley to save him and throw in the towel.
Foley looks conflicted, but Sami begs Mick not to throw in the towel. Sami grabs the towel out of Mick’s hands and throws it into the crowd, telling Mick ‘not like that’. Braun tells Mick that Sami’s blood is on his hands, and this is on Foley. Strowman charges Sami and Sami moves, causing Strowman to crash into the barricade. Braun recovers and charges again on the floor, but Sami moves and Braun crashes through the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. With less than a minute left, Sami avoids a charging Braun in the corner and Strowman connects shoulder first with the ring post. Sami goes to the top and hits a giant cross body, but it’s only good for two as Sami is tossed to the outside. Sami runs back into the ring and hits a Helluva kick, backing up and looking for a second. The time limit expires, and Zayn falls to the mat.
Winner: Sami Zayn
As Braun wasn’t able to defeat Sami within 10 minutes Sami Zayn is declared the winner, and Braun looks furious, pacing in the ring.
– We get a recap of the press conference where Triple H revealed there will be a two-night tournament to crown the WWE United Kingdom Champion. We even get a look at the newest member of the announcer’s team, Nigel McGuinness, as well as the roster for the tournament.
– The announcers throw things right to a video package highlighting Seth Rollins’ quest to face Triple H, and the journey he’s decided to take to get there, beginning with Chris Jericho.
Chris Jericho vs. Seth Rollins
Chris Jericho is the first man to make his way out for the next match, and Jericho looks very smug with a look of disgust walking past a huge group of fans holding up ‘stupid idiot’ signs.
Seth Rollins is out next, and the Architect gets a great reaction from the crowd on his way to the ring.
The bell rings and both men circle each other for a bit, testing the waters. Jericho clamps on a headlock, but Rollins pushes him off and Jericho responds with a shoulder block. We get a lockup and Jericho goes to work on the arm. Rollins flips over a couple of times and ends up tying up Jericho’s arm. Jericho fights up to his feet and Rollins snap mares Jericho before connecting with a kick to the chest. Rollins takes Jericho into the corner for a big chop before sending him to the opposite corner. Rollins runs at Jericho and runs right into a big boot. Jericho heads to the middle rope and connects with a dropkick, but Rollins won’t stay down for a three count. Jericho plants Rollins with a belly to back suplex, and he stomps away. Jericho punches and chops Rollins in the corner, slapping him and connecting with a stiff uppercut. Jericho sends Rollins across the ring and Rollins pops out with a quick clothesline. Jericho avoids a kick from Rollins by bailing to the outside. Rollins heads to the apron and connects with a flying knee to Jericho before throwing him into the barricade.
Rollins brings things back in the ring and Jericho gets the ref between he and Rollins. The distraction allows Jericho to poke Rollins’ eye and take him down to the mat. Jericho chops Rollins across the chest. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker, but Rollins counters by grabbing his legs and slingshotting Jericho to the corner. Rollins heads to the apron and tries for a springboard move, but he’s blocked by a springboard dropkick from Jericho that sends Rollins crashing to the floor. Rollins beats the ten count back into the ring, but Jericho is right there to blast him with repeated right hands and clamp on a rear chin lock.
Rollins is able to break the hold, but he hits the ropes and runs into a dropkick from Jericho that sets up a near fall. Jericho chokes Rollins against the ropes, utilizing the refs count multiple times. Jericho slaps Rollins across the side of the face. Rollins blocks a slap and retaliates with one of his own, kicking Jericho, but running right into a knee to the gut. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho but Rollins is able to crawl into the ropes. Rollins hits a quick enzugiri and both men are slow to recover.
Rollins runs into a big boot from Jericho, but he counters a bulldog by throwing Jericho into the corner where he crotches himself against the middle turnbuckle. Rollins ducks a couple of clotheslines and connects with a sling blade. Rollins hits a couple of running forearms in the corner before hitting a middle rope blockbuster that’s good for two.
Rollins tries for the Pedigree, but Jericho is able to fight it off. Jericho tries for the Walls, but Rollins avoids it. Jericho connects with an enzugiri, but when he goes for a lionsault, he’s sent to the floor instead. Rollins hits the ropes and does a suicide dive to take out Jericho. Rollins springboards off the top rope and Jericho catches him, transitioning him over into the Walls of Jericho.
Rollins is able to make it to the ropes to force a break. Jericho goes for a springboard dropkick, but Rollins connects with a kick to the face. Rollins misses with a frog splash and Jericho is able to connect with a lionsault, but Rollins still kicks out at two.
Jericho kicks Rollins in the ribs, but Rollins is quick to respond, standing and hitting a falcon arrow on Jericho. Jericho and Rollins fight it out on their knees, fighting up to their feet, trading right hands the whole time. Rollins tries for the Pedigree, but Jericho counters. Rollins tries to counter into a powerbomb, but Jericho counters once more, working right over into the Walls of Jericho. Rollins worms his way out and rolls Jericho up into a small package, but he only gets two. Rollins tosses Jericho to the apron, and Jericho runs right to the top rope. Rollins kicks Jericho on his way down, then hits a superkick to a kneeling Jericho. Rollins connects with the frog splash, and Kevin Owens is down to distract the ref. Jericho rolls up Rollins while the ref is distracted, and would have had three. Jericho screams at Owens, and while he’s distracted Rollins is able to catch Jericho with a big knee, avoid a Codebreaker, and connect with the Pedigree, scoring the three count.
Winner: Seth Rollins
After the match, Rollins walks right off to the back while Jericho recovers in the ring.
– We get a recap of Rusev vs. Big Cass on the kickoff show earlier tonight where a quick attack on Enzo was able to distract Cass long enough to be counted out, giving the victory to Rusev. Cole announces that tomorrow night on Raw there will be a rematch between the two men.
Triple Threat for the WWE Cruiserweight Title
TJ Perkins vs. The Brian Kendrick vs. Rich Swann
Back in the arena, The Brian Kendrick makes his way out to the ring while Cole and Grave reveal that Austin Aries will be joining them on commentary for this match.
TJ Perkins is out next to a lukewarm reaction.
Rich Swann is the next man to make his way out, and the Champion gets a little bit of a reaction, but the crowd doesn’t seem too invested in this one.
The bell rings and Perkins goes right after Kendrick. Swann goes after Kendrick as well, and Perkins rolls up Swann right away. There’s a nasty spot where Swann connects with the side of Kendrick’s face and he drops to the outside. Kendrick pops back up after a breather, pulling Swann to the outside and ending up eating a baseball slide from Perkins. Perkins brings things back into the ring for some top rope action and a knee bar. Swann is back in and hits a double hurricanrana on both men before using Perkins to launch himself into a senton on Kendrick for two. Swann avoids Perkins at every turn but eats a boot from Kendrick who then connects with a heel kick on Perkins. Swann hits a missile dropkick on Perkins, but he’s locked in the Captain’s hook by Kendrick.
Perkins locks in the knee bar on Kendrick to force him to break the hold on Swann. Swann breaks that up with a splash and all three men are down. Kendrick drives Swann’s face into the turnbuckle. Swann blocks Sliced Bread and TJ kicks Kendrick off the apron to the floor. TJ locks in a knee bar on Swann and Rich is screaming in pain in the middle of the ring. Swann is able to make it to the bottom rope, and even though it doesn’t force a break in a triple threat, Perkins does break. Swann fights back with a couple of right hands. Both men trade forearms before hitting a double superkick to send Kendrick away. Swann connects with a spinning kick to Perkins and he gets the three count.
Winner and STILL WWE Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann
After the match, Neville’s music hits, and Neville makes his way down applauding Swann. Neville blasts Swann with a huge forearm, then takes out Perkins. Neville continues the assault, screaming in Swann’s face and throwing him out of the ring. Neville throws Swann into the barricade, then does the same with Perkins. Neville throws Perkins and Swann back into the ring and he follows. Neville stands over both men before making his way out of the ring and up the aisle.
Backstage:
Kevin Owens is shown walking backstage and he tries to go into Jericho’s dressing room, but it’s locked. Owens pounds on the door, asking if Jericho won’t even talk to him anymore. Owens says he was trying to help, and make this better. Owens knows Jericho is mad, but their friendship has to be stronger than that. Owens can’t believe Jericho wants to hold this over his head. Owens tells Jericho to pull out the list and put the name Kevin Owens at the top of the list. Owens guesses that’s not enough when the door doesn’t open. Best friends forgive each other. Owens asks if they’re best friends or not. When the door doesn’t open, Owens says he guesses he has his answer. Owens says that hurts his feelings. It really hurts. Owens walks off sadly.
– We get a video package highlighting the history between Charlotte and Sasha Banks, leading up to tonight’s 30 Minute Ironman Match.
RAW Women’s Championship
30 Minute Ironman Match
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte
Charlotte is the first woman to make her way out to the ring, and Cole notes the amazing 14-0 streak Charlotte’s got in singles matches, 17-2 all time. Cole notes that is the best career start in terms of those stats in WWE history.
Sasha Banks is out next, and the Boss gets a little bit of a pop, but a good deal of the crowd seem to be sitting on their hands.
After formal ring introductions, we’re ready to go.
The bell rings and Charlotte hits the ropes, wooing and gloating. We get a lockup and Charlotte takes Sasha to the mat, but Sasha hangs on and takes Charlotte over as well. Charlotte pushes Sasha away, and we get another lockup with Sasha working over Charlotte’s arm. Charlotte is able to turn things around, working on Sasha’s arm instead. Charlotte takes Sasha down with a drop toe hold before working over into a front face lock. Sasha fights up to her feet and out of the hold, going right back for Charlotte’s arm. Charlotte is able to clamp on a side headlock and takes Sasha over and down to the mat. Sasha clamps on a headlock of her own and she’s able to take Charlotte down to the mat, retaining her hold on the submission. Charlotte fights up and Sasha connects with knee strikes. Charlotte takes Sasha down with a shoulder tackle, but she can’t keep Sasha down for a three. Sasha rolls Charlotte up in a crazy display, but it’s only good for two.
After a bit of jockeying for a pin, and an attempted Banks statement, Charlotte pushes herself to the outside, avoiding the hold. On her way back in Charlotte buries her shoulder into Banks’ stomach before rolling her up in an impressive display. Sasha is able to roll up Charlotte, following it up with an immediate dropkick to the face. Sasha mocks Charlotte, but Charlotte ends up kicking her in the chest a couple of times. Charlotte hits the ropes and runs right into a sleeper hold from Sasha.
Charlotte is able to stand with Sasha on her back and break the hold with a backpack stunner. Charlotte pins Sasha for a two count. Charlotte bounces Sasha face off the turnbuckles before they work to the outside. Charlotte teases a powerbomb, but Sasha lands on her feet on the apron, Sasha leaps to the floor, wiping out Charlotte with double knees to the chest. Sasha brings things back into the ring and Sasha’s able to connect with a backstabber and a straight-jacket choke, bending Charlotte across her knees. Charlotte is able to fight up to her feet and toss Sasha away. Sasha connects with a couple of clotheslines, and she blocks a kick from Charlotte, connecting with one of her own, and a high elbow. Sasha sends Charlotte out of the ring and she hits a suicide dive to the outside to wipe out Charlotte on the floor. Sasha immediately brings things back into the ring, but she can’t get a three count.
Sasha heads out to the apron and Charlotte kicks out her leg. Sasha flies off the apron and lands face first on the ring steps. Charlotte struggles to bring Sasha back into the ring and when she does, Sasha is barely able to kick out. Charlotte mounts Sasha and hits her with clubbing forearms to the face.
Charlotte kicks Sasha in the chest repeatedly after the referee checks her out for a bit. Charlotte snap mares Sasha out of the corner and hits three knees to the face in quick succession, but Sasha still kicks out. Charlotte grabs Sasha’s head and cranks away on her neck. Sasha fights up to her feet and Charlotte throws her down to the mat. Charlotte goes for a knee drop but Sasha rolls out of the way. Sasha connects with a double boot in the corner, then leaps off the middle rope with a cross body. Charlotte hits a backbreaker/neckbreaker combination, then drops another knee on Sasha’s forehead.
Charlotte wraps her legs around Sasha’s head and slams her face into the canvas repeatedly before flipping Sasha around. Sasha counters into a roll up but Charlotte is quick to fight back. Sasha attempts to rally, but Charlotte tosses her into the corner and drives the back of her head into the mat for another near fall. Charlotte connects with a single leg dropkick, but Sasha connects with a couple of stiff kicks out of the corner before driving Charlotte face first into the middle turnbuckle. Sasha attacks with a barrage of chops to the chest before she hits running knees into the corner. Sasha climbs the ropes and misses a flying crossbody. Charlotte hits Natural Selection, but Sasha still won’t stay down for three.
Sasha tries for a backbreaker, but Charlotte counters by slamming her into the corner. Charlotte slams Sasha to the mat by her hair before she heads up to the top rope. Sasha stops Charlotte and seats her on the top turnbuckle. Sasha heads up after Charlotte, but Charlotte fights her off. Charlotte hits Natural Selection from the top rope and gets the three count.
Charlotte: 1, Sasha: 0
Charlotte goes for another pin right away, but Sasha won’t stay down a second time. Charlotte slaps Sasha’s face, taunting her the whole time. Sasha tries to fight back, but Charlotte responds with a belly to back suplex that’s good for another two count. Charlotte picks up Sasha, but Sasha connects with repeated elbows to the back of the neck. Sasha is able to tie up Charlotte and roll her up for a three count.
Charlotte: 1, Sasha: 1
Sasha ducks a big boot, but she’s not as lucky the second time around, falling to a big boot to Charlotte for a two count. Charlotte drags Sasha toward the corner and stomps at her stomach before heading up for the moonsault. Charlotte misses when Sasha rolls out of the way, and Sasha locks in the Banks statement. Charlotte works to get to the ropes, but Sasha pulls her back to the center of the ring and Charlotte is forced to tap out.
Charlotte: 1, Sasha: 2
Charlotte pops up and begins connecting with nasty chops, taking Sasha into the corner. Sasha responds with chops of her own, but Charlotte ties Sasha’s knee up in the ropes and destroys it with a kick to drive it into the canvas. Charlotte continues the assault, trying for the figure four, but Sasha is able to fight it off. Charlotte wraps Sasha’s leg around the ring post, continuing by wrapper her other leg around the post for good measure. Charlotte heads back into the ring and drops her knee across Sasha’s. Charlotte wrenches Sasha’s leg until Sasha counters into a rollup. Charlotte continues to driver her knee into the side of Banks’ knee, and then she yanks back on Sasha’s ankle. Charlotte finally locks in the Figure Four in the middle of the ring.
Sasha is able to reverse the hold, but Charlotte turns it right back over. Sasha slaps away at Charlotte left and right, but Charlotte still has the hold locked in. With under a minute left the crowd is going nuts. Charlotte slaps at Sasha, but Sasha refuses to quit. Charlotte attempts to drag Banks back to the center and she bridges up into the Figure Eight, Banks taps in the very last seconds of the match.
Charlotte: 2, Sasha: 2
The announcers tease the it will be the ref’s decision, and this match will continue in sudden death overtime.
Banks takes her time getting up and Charlotte goes right to the leg with a low dropkick. Charlotte goes right for the Figure Four and Sasha works it over into a rollup. Charlotte picks up Sasha and launches her across the ring. Charlotte stalks Sasha and tries to launch her again, but Sasha counters into a rollup for another two count. Sasha kicks at Charlotte’s ankle and Charlotte falls to the mat. Sasha is bleeding from the nose. Sasha connects with a backstabber and grabs at her knee in pain. Sasha is able to lock in the Banks statement in the center of the ring. Charlotte goes for Sasha’s bad leg and she breaks the hold, transitioning right into a Figure Four. Sasha is fingertips away from the ropes, but Charlotte pulls her back and bridges up into the Figure Eight. Sasha is forced to tap out, and this one is over.
Winner and NEW Raw Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair
After the match Charlotte stands in the ring with her belt held high in the air. Charlotte flashes a quick 4 sign, and continues to gloat as doctors help Sasha make her way to the back.
– After a couple of commercials, and a quick shout-out for a post-PPV Raw Talk, we get a video package highlighting the recent history between Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns that led up to this match.
WWE Universal Championship
Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns
Back in the arena, Roman Reigns is the first man to make his way down to the ring, and he gets a good amount of heat from the Pittsburgh fans.
Kevin Owens makes his way out next, and the Champion doesn’t look completely focused with all the trouble he’s been having with his best friend throughout the night.
The bell rings and Owens bails to the outside immediately. Owens makes his way back up to the apron and asks for Reigns to be backed away before getting back into the ring. Owens immediately bails again, and Roman follows this time, blasting Owens with a couple of right hands before bouncing Owens’ head on the apron and bringing things back into the ring. Roman sends Owens into the ropes and Owens bails to the floor again. Roman follows and slams Owens’ head on the announcer’s table before bringing things back into the ring. Owens catches Roman with a right hand to the face before taking him to the mat with a headlock takeover.
Roman is able to make it to his feet and fight his way out of the hold, but he tries to pin Owens immediately and only gets two. Roman hits Owens with a series of clotheslines in the corner and Owens heads right back to the outside. Reigns follows and whips Owens into the barricade hard. Reigns takes apart the German announcer’s table, but Owens brings things back into the ring for a near fall. Owens stomps away at Roman and stomps down on his fingers. Owens kicks Roman in the chest, but Roman comes right back with a giant clothesline to take Owens out. Owens avoids Roman and bails to the outside again, hanging Roman up on the barricade this time when he follows. Owens throws Reigns into the ring steps, then he launches himself off the steps with a senton to Roman on the floor. Owens brings things back into the ring, but he only gets a two count.
Owens blasts Roman with a forearm to the back of the head, but when he goes for the pin he only gets two. Owens clamps on a side headlock and he talks trash to Roman, screaming at him the whole time. Reigns is able to fight his way up to his feet but Owens works right into a quick neckbreaker for another two count. Owens hits a front flip leg drop, but it’s still not enough for a three count. Owens clamps on another rear chin lock and the crowd seems to be getting restless. Roman fights up to his feet again, and Owens throws him to the mat. Owens misses with a senton when Roman rolls out of the way.
Both men trade right hands with Owens hitting a knee to the gut and Roman hitting a leaping clothesline. Roman hits Owens with a series of clotheslines in the corner. Both men trade forearms, and Roman is able to shoulder Owens. Owens fights out of it, and hits a German suplex to send Roman across the ring. Owens charges in, but runs right into a big boot and Samoan drop which is good for a two count.
Roman sets up for the Superman punch, but Owens avoids it and counters with a DDT. Owens mocks Reigns and hits a cannonball, but Reigns is up right away and connects with a Superman punch for a two count.
Reigns goes right after Owens in the corner, seating him on the top turnbuckle. Roman heads up after Owens, but Owens is able to fight him off, sending him back to the mat. Reigns pops up with a Superman punch, and Reigns heads up again. Owens counters a superplex with a side fisherman buster from the middle rope. Owens heads to the top rope and he tries for the swanton, but Roman gets his knees up to counter. Roman picks himself up in the corner and calls for the spear, but Owens rolls to the outside. Roman follows and connects with the drive by. Roman rolls Owens into the ring and Owens rolls right back out. Roman follows and eats a superkick. Owens brings things out of the ring and superkicks the challenger into the German announcer’s table. Owens hits a splash from the barricade to the table and it doesn’t break. Owens hits a second frog splash from barricade to table, and the table breaks.
Roman barely beats the count into the ring and Owens hits an immediate splash on Roman, but Roman is able to kick out. Owens picks up Roman and he tries for the pop up powerbomb, but Reigns hangs on to the ropes. Reigns blocks a superkick, and he hoists Owens up for a sitout powerbomb that’s good for two.
Owens counters a spear with a knee to the face and he’s able to connect with a pop up powerbomb, but Reigns is able to get his foot on the bottom rope to force the count to stop.
Owens heads back out to the floor and he grabs the Universal title, bringing it back into the ring. Owens goes to hit Reigns with the belt, but Reigns is able to connect with a spear instead. Roman is too tired to capitalize on it immediately. Christ Jericho runs down to the ring and he slides in looking back and forth between both men. Jericho stands over Reigns and turns around, hitting Owens with a Codebreaker. The ref calls for the bell, and this one is over.
Winner by DQ and STILL WWE Universal Champion: Kevin Owens
Jericho grabs Owens’ title, walks over toward him in the corner, and smiles widely before handing the belt over to Owens. Jericho holds up Owens’ arm and the two men embrace, smiling and laughing. Reigns notices and looks like he may do something about it, so Jericho and Owens bail. They’re stopped on the ramp by Seth Rollins, who makes his way down. Owens eats a spear and Rollins connects with a Pedigree on Jericho. Rollins tosses Jericho out of the ring, and it looks like they have business with Jericho and the Spanish announcer’s table. After it’s cleared off, Rollins assists Roman with a powerbomb through the table. Owens tries to sneak his way out of the building, but he’s stopped by Rollins and Reigns.
Rollins and Reigns fight Owens at the announcer’s table at the top of the entryway. They clear the table off, then do a double team powerbomb on Owens through the table. The show ends with Rollins and Reigns standing tall over Owens.
