– Tonight’s WWE RAW episode opens up with a look back at last week’s show. We cut to the usual opening video.
– We go right to the ring and out first comes WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. Tom hypes Drew vs. Angel Garza for tonight’s main event.
Drew welcomes everyone to Raw and he says this is the highlight of his week. Drew says where to start? He says he was jumped, ambushed, and left laying right here. He says he is not surprised that it happened. This title represents a lot of things to people. It paints a huge bullseye on his back. The person who wears this title is considered the best of the best in this industry. He says someone told him it is lonely at the top. He says that person is a dirty filthy liar. It is crowded at the top. Everyone wants to be champion.
He says Seth Rollins stamped his head into this canvas last week, twice. If you read between the messiah rhetoric, it is simple. I am champion and Seth wants to be champon. Does Seth deserve an opportunity at the title? A lot of people don’t think he deserves it. He can make Seth jump through hoops but he is one of the most decorated in this ring. To be considered the best, you have to beat the best.
Drew says he is making a challenge to Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank. Drew asks Seth how is he doing. He doesn’t want to throw out a lot of insults…
Angel Garza’s music plays and he comes out with Austin Theory and Zelina Vega. Vega says they’re tired of Drew’s speeches. He’s so focused on Money In the Bank that he’s looking past tonight’s main event. WWE United States Champion Andrade attacks with a cheap shot but Drew ends up leveling him with a Claymore. Vega orders Garza and Theory to the ring but they’re not interested. Vega is furious. Drew delivers another Claymore to send Andrade out of the ring. Drew stands tall with the WWE Title as his music hits. He says he’s going to beat the hell out of Garza later tonight. We get a replay of what just happened.
– The announcers hype the unique Money In the Bank matches from WWE HQ and tonight’s qualifying matches. We go to commercial.
Money In the Bank Qualifying Match: Austin Theory vs. Aleister Black
Back from the break and Austin Theory is in the ring for tonight’s first Money In the Bank qualifier. Zelina Vega is on commentary as we see a MITB briefcase hanging high above the ring. Aleister Black makes his way out.
They lock up and go to a stalemate. They lock up again and Theory with a wrist lock. Black with a single leg take down and wrist lock. Black with a wrist lock. Black with a hammer lock. Theory with a side head lock and wrist lock. Black with a single leg take down and Theory with a kick. Black with an arm drag and Theory sends Black to the mat and connects with a shoulder tackle. Black tries for a leg sweep but misses. Theory with kicks and a forearm. Black bounces off the ropes and then he sends Theory to the apron. Black goes for Black Mass but Theory goes off the apron to the floor. Black with a drop kick through the ropes.
Vega leaves the announce table and she she yells at Black. Vega says that Black doesn’t play fair.
Theory sends Black into the ringside barrier and we go to commercial.
We are back and Theory with elbows. Theory with a rolling drop kick for a near fall. Theory with punches to Black. Theory gets Black up in a torture rack and he sends Black into the turnbuckles. He gets Black up again and does the same thing. Theory with another Torture Rack but Black gets to his feet and he kicks Theory in the corner. Black with a slam. Black with a victory roll for a near fall. Black with a punch but Theory blocks a kick. Black avoids the ATL and Black with a waist lock. Theory with a back elbow and Black with a cross arm breaker into a triangle. Theory picks up Black and hits a one armed sit out power bomb.
Theory tries to get Black up for a suplex but he cannot get him up. Black goes for the arm but Theory sends Black into the turnbuckles. Theory with an inside cradle and Black with back elbows and a leg sweep. Black with a running knee to the head. Black with a quebrada for a near fall. Theory with a single leg take down but Black with a kick. Black misses a running knee and Theory with a super kick and an Ushigoroshi for a near fall. Theory gets Black up but Black with elbows and Black goes to the apron and he punches Theory. Black goes up top and he leaps over Theory. Black with a jumping knee and a German suplex for a near fall.
Black pulls Theory up using his boot but Theory ducks Black Mass. Theory with a kick but Black with Black Mass for the three count.
Winner: Aleister Black
After the match, Byron Saxton asks Aleister what is his plan for Money in the Bank. Black says he doesn’t know much about corporate life so he will probably have to cover up his tattoos. When he enters the match, for his opponents, each floor of that building, he will make sure it is turned into their own personal hell.
– Still to come, Shayna Baszler will be in action. Back to commercial.
Shayna Baszler vs. Indi Hartwell
We go to the ring and out comes Shayna Baszler. Charly Caruso stops her on the stage and asks if she took it too far with stomping Sarah Logan’s arm last week. Baszler says she didn’t break any rules, just Logan’s arm. Baszler walks on to the ring as Tom shows us a replay of what happened between Baszler and Logan, who was cut by WWE on Wednesday. WWE NXT Superstar Indie Hartwell waits in the ring.
The bell rings and Baszler rocks Hartwell in the mouth to start. Baszler unloads and hits a gutwrench suplex in the middle of the ring. Baszler stands on the arm and goes to stomp the elbow like last week but Hartwell avoids it. Hartwell with a quick 1 count.
Baszler is upset now. She runs into a kick in the corner but just laughs. Baszler attacks in the corner and dumps Hartwell on her head. Baszler with a knee to the head. Baszler stomps the right arm like she did last week. The referee calls the match and says Hartwell cannot continue.
Winner: Shayna Baszler
After the match, Baszler quickly marches to the back as Hartwell rolls around in the ring, clutching her arm. Trainers enter the ring to check on her. Baszler comes walking back out with a ladder. Baszler pulls Hartwell out of the ring and launches her head into the barrier. Baszler places the ladder next to the steel ring steps, then sends Hartwell into both. She positions Hartwell’s elbow in between the steps and the ladder now, then kicks them. Hartwell cries out as Baszler stares down at her. Baszler heads to the back as trainers check on Hartwell. We get replays of what happened. Back to commercial.
Cedric Alexander and Ricochet vs. Shane Thorne and Brendan Vink
Vink sends Ricochet into the turnbuckles and Thorne tags in and Ricochet with a kick and a rolling drop kick. Alexander tags in and they double team Thorne. Alexander with an elbow and suplex. Ricochet tags in and hits a stalling senton. Ricochet is sent to the apron and Vink pulls him off the apron and hits a back elbow. Vink tags in and he sends Ricochet back into the ring. Vink with a forearm. Ricochet counters Splash Mountain into a rana and Vink goes into the turnbuckles. Alexander and Thorne tag in and Alexander with clotheslines and a kick to Vink. Alexander uses Vink to hit a hanging swinging neck breaker. Alexander with a jumping knee and a tornado DDT. Ricochet with a shooiting star press for a near fall.
Vink misses a clothesline and Ricochet with a tornado DDT on Vink. Alexander tags in and Alexander iwth an enzuigiri. Ricochet with Recoil followed by a Lumbar Check from Alexander for the three count.
Winners: Cedric Alexander and Ricochet
– Charly Caruso is backstage with Asuka and Kairi Sane. Sane will get a rematch against Nia Jax tonight. Charly asks why it will be any different. Asuka goes on about how Sane is ready and no one is ready for her.
– We go to a pre-recorded message from Bobby Lashley. Lana is with him. He’s in the Performance Center gym to show how easy it is to flip one of these large tractor tires tonight. Lana is all smiles, as is Lashley, as they walk off together.
– Still to come, Sane vs. Jax. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get another promo for Triple H’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, which begins this Friday during SmackDown on FOX.
Kairi Sane vs. Nia Jax
We go to the ring and out first comes Kairi Sane. Nia Jax is out next for this rematch from last week’s MITB qualifier. Nia Jax is out next.
Nia misses a forearm and Kairi taunts Nia. Kairi with a sleeper and she climbs on Nia’s back but Nia tosses Kairi to the mat. Nia blocks a drop kick and Nia with a giant swing. Nia tosses Kairi by the hair as Asuka watches from the back. Kairi with punches that have no effect and Nia toss Kairi by the hair. Nia with a short arm clothesline. Kairi goes to the apron and she slides back in and tries for a rollup but Nia blocks it and she pulls Kairi up and chokes Kairi and tosses Kairi into the turnbuckles.
Nia misses a splash into the corner and Sane with kicks to the knee. Kairi wtih a drop kick to the knee. Nia tries to get Kairi up for the Samoan drop but her knee gives out and Sane with forearms and kicks. Sane with forearms. Sane with a spinning back fist and Nia goes down into the corner. Sane with a Sliding D to Nia. Sane goes up top and misses the InSane Elbow but she rolls through. Nia with a Samoan Drop for the three count.
Winner: Nia Jax
After the match, Jax stands tall as her music hits. Jax slaps Sane a few times and taunts her as we go to replays. Jax makes her exit as Sane recovers on the mat.
– Tom shows us how Seth Rollins attacked Drew McIntyre last week. Tom sends us to a video message from Rollins, responding to Drew’s Money In the Bank challenge from earlier. Seth Rollins says that Drew McIntyre is a brave man and a fighting champion. Seth says he admires and respects that. Not many men know what it is like to walk in your shoes, but I do. Not many men understand what it is like to go into the main event of Wrestlemania and beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. You and I have a lot in common. We command the respect of our peers. We have a deep love for this industry. Seth says he accepts Drew’s challenge, but not out of respect or disdain. It is nothing personal. He accepts the challenge out of necessity and duty because now, more than ever, the WWE Universe needs a leader. As much as you and I have in common, the similarities stop there. Seth says he is a proven leader but Drew is not. Seth says he will sacrifice for the greater good. He is the one who will be the light in the darkness. At Money in the Bank, I am going to take your title, not because he wants to, but because he has to.
– Still to come, two more qualifiers for the Men’s MITB Ladder Matches. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Tom sends us to The Viking Raiders on the road, doing their own version of Carpool Karaoke. They’re singing about being Vikings, and they’re wearing their headgear. Ivar is munching on a large turkey leg.
Money In the Bank Qualifying Match: MVP vs. Apollo Crews
We go to the ring for the next Money In the Bank qualifier as MVP makes his way out.
MVP takes the mic and talks about Money In the Bank. MVP says in his storied career, he has seen a lot of WWE Superstars literally rise and fall in pursuit of that briefcase. In that briefcase there is a contract that allows the holder to earn a chance at a title match. Aleister Black punched his ticket earlier. Later tonight, Rey Mysterio, a legend like himself, will get his chance. Standing in MVP’s way is Apollo Crews. A man who is the most talented man on this roster. Crews is outmatched. To make this the most unique match, they called the most unique competitor. No stranger to wearing suits, the WWE Headquarter, no stranger to making big money deals. No offense to Alesiter Black (sic) or Apollo Crews. He told his agent to book that corporate jet because he will be going to Money in the Bank. The music interrupts and out comes Apollo Crews. Crews takes a look at the ladders around the arena. He hits the ring and stares at the briefcase hanging high.
The bell rings and Crews unloads after MVP tries to strike first. Crews with a pair of dropkicks, sending MVP to the apron to call for a time out. Crews drops MVP off the apron to the floor. MVP ends up taking out Crews’ legs on the apron, sending him to the floor. Back to commercial.
We are back and MVP with a camel clutch. Crews gets MVP on his back and runs MVP into the turnbuckles to get out of the hold. MVP with a clothesline for a near fall. MVP with crossfaces to Crews. MVP sets for the Playmaker but Crews escapes and hits a spinebuster. Crews with a splash into the corner followed by punches and the referee warns Crews. Crews with a thrust kick and boot to the head. Crews with a running clothesline followed by a power slam for a near fall. Crews with a slam and then Crews goes to the turnbuckles. Crews goes for a frog splash but MVP gets the knees up and MVP with the Playmaker for a near fall.
MVP sets for the Ballin Elbow but Crews with an enzuigiri followed by a press slam and he drops MVP behind him. Crews with a standing moonsault followed by a standing shooting star press. Crews with the toss power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Apollo Crews
– Charly is backstage with Ruby Riott now. She asks about facing Liv Morgan now and the history of The Riott Squad. Riott says she had to have double shoulder surgery because she carried both of them. Ruby says now Sarah Logan has a broken arm and Liv will be lucky if she doesn’t get both arms broken tonight. Ruby goes on, running Liv down ahead of their match. She walks off and we go to commercial.
Liv Morgan versus Ruby Riott
They lock up and Morgan backs Ruby into the corner. Liv with a clean break and Ruby with a forearm and kicks. Ruby with kicks to Liv and she slams Liv’s head into the mat. Liv with punches but Ruby with a forearm to the back. Liv with punches and forearms followed by a kick and bicycle kick. Morgan with clotheslines and an enzuigiri. Liv misses a charge into the corner but turns it into a missile drop kick for a near fall. Liv pie faces Ruby and then goes for a suplex but Ruby blocks it. Ruby puts Morgan on the top rope and then kicks Liv in the side of the head and gets a near fall.
Ruby wtih a cravate. Ruby with forearms to Liv. Liv with a forearm to Ruby. Ruby with a forearm of her own. Liv grabs Ruby and Ruby with a back elbow and thrust kick. Ruby tells Liv she will always own her and she tells Liv to beg. Liv with a slingshot flatliner for the three count.
Winner: Liv Morgan
– We go back to Bobby Lashley and Lana in the Performance Center gym. Lashley is ready to flip a tractor tire and he does. Now there’s an even bigger tire. It looks like Lashley will flip this tire later on.
– Still to come, Rey Mysterio vs. Murphy. Back to commercial.
Rey Mysterio vs. Murphy in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
They lock up and Rey with a head scissors and Buddy escapes. Murphy with a head scissors and Rey escapes. Murphy tells Rey that is not bad for an old man. They lock up and Murphy with a wrist lock. Rey with a head scissors that sends Murphy into the ropes but Murphy gets off the ropes before Rey can hit the 619. Murphy with kicks and forearms. Murphy sends Rey into the ringside barrier and then into the timekeeper’s area. Murphy sends Rey back into the ring and gets a near fall. Murphy gets another near fall.
Murphy goes to the floor and Rey with a drop kick through the ropes. Rey goes for a sliding splash but Murphy catches Rey. Rey with a back elbow but Murphy with a kick that knocks Rey down. Murphy stomps on the hand.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Murphy slams Rey’s wrist into the ring steps. Murphy does it again. Murphy slams the hand into the turnbuckle and he stands on it on the ring post. Rey drops Murphy onto the top rope and Murphy falls to the floor. Rey with a head scissors that sends Murphy onto the ramp. Murphy is sent back into the ring. Rey kicks Murphy and then hits an enzuigiri. Rey with a springboard seated splash followed by a springboard cross body. Rey with a kick but Murphy hits Rey in the hand. Murphy is tripped into the ropes and Murphy gets up but Rey with a tornado DDT for a near fall.
Murphy with a kick to the chest as they fight on the apron. Murphy gets Rey up but Rey gets into the ring and he kicks Murphy off the apron into the ringside barrier. Rey with a baseball slide into a head scissors and Murphy is sent into the ringside barrier. They get back into the ring. Rey goes up top and Murphy rolls through and picks up Rey. Murphy with a TKO neck breaker followed by a knee and brainbuster for a near fall.
Rey grabs the ankle and Murphy with boots to Rey. Murphy goes to the apron. Rey crotches Murphy. Murphy with forearms to Rey and he goes for a sunset flip power bomb but Rey holds on to the ropes. Rey kicks Murphy and Rey with a Destroyer and Murphy falls into the ropes and hits a 619. Rey goes up top and hits a frog splash for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Backstage:
Charly Caruso is in the back and she is joined by Zelina Vega and Angel Garza. Zelina is asked if things didn’t go as planned and Zelina asks Charly how does she know it. She talks about how Drew attacked Andrade when he couldn’t stand. Zelina asks how does she know things aren’t going as planned? How do we know if Drew will make it to Money in the Bank. It would be a real shame if he didn’t. Angel says once he is finished with Drew, he would love for Charly to ask him how it felt to defeat the champion. Angel walks away. Back to commercial.
Charlotte Flair vs. Kayden Carter in a Non Title Match
Back from the break and out comes NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. NXT’s Kayden Carter waits in the ring for this non-title match.
Charlotte with a boot to the head after stretching in the ropes. Charlotte with a chop. Charlotte misses a boot and gets caught in the ropes. Kayden with a kick to the leg and a rollup for a near fall. Carter with a crucifix bomb for a near fall. Carter with Rings of Saturn. Charlotte gets to her feet and Carter turns it into an octopus. Charlotte gets to the ropes and connects with elbows to the head and she drops Carter on the ropes. Charlotte avoids a boot and hits a spear. Charlotte with the figure four and she bridges to force Carter to tap out.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match, Flair stands tall with her title as the music hits. She taunts Carter as we go to replays. Flair taunts Carter some more before raising her title in the air.
– Still to come, McIntyre vs. Garza. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get another pre-recorded video from Bobby Lashley. He’s trying to flip the 450 pound tire at the Performance Center gym. He tries a few times and can’t get it over. He finally flips it and in comes Lana to praise him. Lashley says that’s the kind of power everyone in WWE needs to fear. They walk off together.
– The announcers hype Drew McIntyre up some more. He will face Seth Rollins at Money In the Bank and Angel Garza tonight.
– We go to the ring and out first comes WWE United States Champion Andrade with Zelina Vega for this non-title match. Back to commercial.
Andrade vs. Akira Tozawa
Tozawa with punches but Andrade with a forearm. Tozawa with a spinning heel kick and a flying knee for a near fall. Tozawa with a forearm and a rana. Andrade goes to the floor and he gets back on the apron but Tozawa knocks him off the apron. Tozawa with a cannonball off the ring steps onto Andrade into the ringside barrier. Tozawa goes up top for the missile drop kick and he hits it for a near fall. Zelina checks on Andrade and she distracts Tozawa long enough to allow Andrade to kick Tozawa and chop him before Andrade sends Tozawa back into the ring.
Andrade with a kick to the back followed by a back elbow. Tozawa lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt. Tozawa with an octopus and Andrade tries to get to the ropes and he is able to get there. Andrade with a back elbow. Andrade gets Tozawa up and Tozawa gets back to his feet. Tozawa gets Andrade to flinch and Tozawa with a jab. Andrade with a drop kick and he goes for a suplex but Tozawa with an inside cradle for a near fall. Tozawa with two more near falls followed by a super kick.
Tozawa goes to the turnbuckles and Andrade recovers and crotches Tozawa. Andrade with a hanging hammerlock DDT for the three count.
Winner: Andrade
After the match, the music hits as Vega brings the title in to celebrate. We go to replays. Vega and Andrade stand tall on the ramp. The music interrupts and out come RAW Tag Team Champions The Street Profits, while Andrade and Zelina Vega are still on the ramp. They walk past, staring each other down. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins dance at the announce table with Ford on top of the table. Back to commercial.
Bianca Belair vs. Santana Garrett
We are back and the Street Profits are still on the announce table and Byron is ‘dancing’ behind them. Montez introduces Bianca Belair.
They lock up and Bianca backs Santana into the corner and gives a clean break. They lock up and Bianca sends Santana face first to the mat. Garrett goes for the leg and Bianca picks up Santana and gets her up for a back breaker. Santana with a rake of the eyes and a pie face. Bianca pushes Santana down. Santana with a waist lock and Bianca with a standing switch and take downs. Santana misses and elbow and takes Santana down again. Bianca kicks Santana in the corner and then follows with a biel. Santana with a forearm but Bianca with an Irish whip. Santana floats over and Bianca blocks an arm drag and takes Santana down with a shoulder tackle. Bianca with another shoulder tackle.
Bianca with a delayed vertical suplex with squats followed by a splash. Bianca wit a forearm to Santana on the apron and Santana drops Bianca on the top rope. Santana with a boot to the head and Santana goes up top. Santana with a cross body for a near fall and she hits a super kick. Bianca kicks Santana when Santana goes for a handspring move. Bianca drops Santana on the top turnbuckle followed by KOD for the three count.
Winner: Bianca Belair
After the match, Belair celebrates on the shoulders of Ford and Dawkins after we get replays.
– Still to come, the WWE Champion in the main event. Back to commercial.
Drew McIntyre vs. Angel Garza
Drew with punches and chops to Garza. Drew with a forearm to the back of the leg and a kick to the back of the leg. Drew with another chop. Garza with an elbow but Drew with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Garza goes to the floor and Drew follows and he hits Garza in the back. Drew hot shots Garza on the ringside barrier followed by a chop. Drew with a head butt to Garza and then Drew hits Theory. Garza with a drop kick off the ring steps. Garza sends Drew into the ring post a few times as they go around the ring. Garza goes up top and hits a missile drop kick.
Garza gets a near fall. Garza with shots to the leg and he tries for a single leg crab. Drew with a clothesline and back elbow to Garza. Drew with a boot to the head. Drew goes up top and hits a forearm. Drew sets for the Claymore but Garza tries to get out of the ring and he escapes but his pants are not so lucky. Drew with a flip dive onto Garza, Andrade, and Theory. Garza is sent back into the ring and he sends Andrade over the ringside barrier. Theory gets a Claymore.
Drew with an elbow into the corner followed by a reverse Alabama Slam but Garza counters into a victory roll. Drew with a Claymore for the three count.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match, Drew stands tall as his music hits. Drew raises the WWE Title as the referee raises his arm. We go to replays. The announcers hype Rollins vs. McIntyre for Money In the Bank. We see Garza getting back to his feet int he ring. Drew drops him with another Claymore. Drew talks trash to Vega. Theory comes back in but Drew drops him with a Claymore. Drew chases Andrade up the ramp and stops him from running away with the WWE Title belt as the music hits. RAW goes off the air with Drew smiling with the title on the ramp.
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