We are live from the WWE Thunderdome at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL, as Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe, and Byron Saxton welcome us to the show.
Tom announces that Randy Orton will deliver a pre-Hell In a Cell message tonight, inside the Cell structure, which is hanging high above the ring. They hype the other matches for tonight’s red brand season premiere episode, and the new faces coming out of the 2020 WWE Draft.
— The announcers are suddenly interrupted by the familiar menacing sounds of “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt going out over the arena. The red lights take over. Alexa Bliss is in the middle of the ring with a mic. She announces that “he” is here, let “him” in. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt begins his entrance as Bliss stares straight ahead from the ring.
Retribution shows up in a battle of the lights going out entrances and they surround the ring while wax figure Fiend and wax figure Alexa stand there motionless. Retribution enters the ring and they circle Bray and Alexa. The lights go out and when they come back on, Bray and Alexa are gone.
The music interrupts and out comes The Hurt Business – MVP, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin and WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley. The two teams start brawling in the ring now. Retribution ends up on the floor. Alexander runs the ropes and leaps out with a big dive, taking Retribution down. We go to commercial.
— We are back and Matt Riddle says he is a tough dude to figure out. He says he is laid back, but he has been fighting his whole life. He can go from Bro-Down to Throw Down in a moment. He has done it all over the world, without wearing shoes.
Retribution vs. Hart Business
Lashley and T-Bar start thinggs off and Lashley sends him into the corner. T-Bar with a kick and then Lashley with a flatliner. Slapjack tags in and Lashley with forearms and a delayed vertical suplex. Alexander tags in and kicks Slapjack and connects with forearms. Slapjack goes for a suplex but Alexander counters with a gourdbuster and he gets a near fall. Porter tags in and he kicks Slapjack. Porter with a hard Irish whip for a near fall. Alexander tags in and he kicks Slapjack. Slapjack hangs from the ropes and Mace comes over to check on Slapjack. Alexander gets distracted by T-Bar and Mace and Slapjack with a palm thrust and biel.
Ali tags in and he drop kicks the arm. Ali gets a near fall. Ali with an arm bar and Alexander with a forearm. Ali sends Alexander to the apron and connects with a forearm. Ali sends Alexander into the ropes when he goes for a springboard move. Alexander is sent to the floor and Ali has some words for Porter. Ali sends Alexander into the ringside barrier and we have an Orlando Standoff until…
The Fiend appears on the ThunderScreen and we go to commercial.
We are back and Mace and Benjamin exchange punches and knees. Mace chokes Benjamin and punches him in the corner. Mace misses a shoulder in the corner and hits the ring post. Benjamin with a German suplex and a running knee into the corner. Benjamin gets a near fall. Benjamin with punches in his corner and Lashley tags i and he connects with a forearm. Mace with a kick and Lashley clotheslines Mace over the top rope to the floor. Lashley with a spinebuster and he hits a spear on T-Bar for a near fall. Ali backs up from Lashley to distract him and allows T-Bar to apply a waist lock. Lashley with a standing switch.
T-Bar with elbows but Lashley applies the full nelson and T-Bar taps out.
Winners: The Hurt Business
After the match, The Hurt Business stands tall but the lights quickly go down to signal the arrival of “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. The Fiend is standing beside Ali when the red lights come back up. He knocks Ali to the floor, then attacks the others. Slapjack takes a Sister Abigail on the floor. Mace gets slammed on top of the announce table with the Uranage. Fiend chases Ali into the ring for Sister Abigail but T-BAR attacks. Fiend ends up dropping T-BAR with Sister Abigail as well. The Hurt Business has been watching this from the bottom of the ramp. The Fiend turns to them and stares at them. Alexa Bliss appears on the big screen as the menacing sounds start up. Bliss mouths “Let me in!” but we hear it in Wyatt’s voice. RAW goes to commercial.
In the Arena:
AJ Styles comes to the ring and he is joined by Jordan Omogbehin.
AJ Styles comes to the ring and he says he has to give credit where credit is due to the powers that be. You finally drafted a true leader. A true leader in him. Seth Rollins with his messiah complex spewing his prophecy for the greater good. He can only assume it was Jeff Hardy stumbling to the ring and screwing something else up to try to reclaim the promised land. That is not what happened. The real redemption of Raw was the return of the prodigal son . . . me. I beat Jeff Hardy in a Triple Threat match to further prove this was never Monday Night Rollins. When I beat Matt Riddle tonight, I will shepherd Raw into the future. It is more than the season premiere of Raw, it is a new era that belongs to the Face that Runs the Place.
Matt Riddle makes his way to the ring.
AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle
The referee asks AJ to have Jordan leave the ring but AJ doesn’t want to do it. The referee tells AJ if Jordan doeesn’t leave the ring before five, AJ is disqualified. The referee starts to count, but Jordan stops him. The referee pleads with Jason now and says he’s just trying to do his job. The big man stares the referee down and finally goes to ringside.
The bell starts with AJ kicking Riddle and beating him into the corner. Riddle turns it around and unloads with kicks of his own to drop AJ. Riddle with more knees and knees and punches against the ropes. Riddle counters a strike with a gutwrench suplex, holding it for another, and a third for a big pop. Riddle clotheslines AJ over the top rope and he lands right in front of Jason. Riddle goes to deliver a kick from the apron but Jason steps over in his way, in between Riddle and AJ. Riddle puts the brakes on and goes down on the apron. We go to commercial.
We are back and AJ kicks Riddle in the corner. AJ with a waist lock. Riddle tries to get AJ on his shoulders but AJ with elbows. Riddle with a Pele Kick. Riddle with a forearm in the corner followed by a second one and an exploder. Riddle misses a kickk and moonsault but lands on his feet. AJ with a boot to stop the back senton. Riddle with a kick but Styles with kicks of his own. Riddle with a knee but Styles with a Pele Kick. Riddle with a German suplex. AJ with an Ushigoroshi for a near fall. AJ sets for a Styles Clash but Riddle drops down. Riddle escapes a power bomb and hits a fisherman’s buster for a near fall. Riddle goes to the turnbuckles for a moonsault but AJ stops him and Riddle is crotched.
AJ goes for a belly-to-back suplerplex but Riddle with elbows to knock AJ to the mat. AJ punches Riddle on the turnbuckles and they return up top. They exchange punches and both fall off the turnbuckles with Riddle falling to the floor and AJ falling into the ring. Riddle looks up and sees Jordan standing in front of him and he returns to the ring. AJ with a kick and Styles Clash for the three count.
Winner: AJ Styles
— We have a video package for Randy Orton’s quest for the Raw Title and revenge on Drew McIntyre. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Charly Caruso is in the back and she is with Drew McIntyre.
She asks Drew about his first Hell in a Cell match against a veteran in this type of match. Drew wants to talk directly to Randy and he says from the first moment I met you when I was 20 years old, it was obvious that you are the most evil and self entitled person in WWE. You are very intelligent. When I slammed that ambulance door closed, I should have left you in the past. Then the next night, you saw me in the ring celebrating with four legends and you had to ruin that. You knew how I would react. I have a temper issue and you took advantage of it.
Hell in a Cell, a match made for injury. A last resort. You are made for this type of match. Against any other superstar, you would have a huge advantage, but I am not an average superstar. There will be no honor and no respect. Experience is a factor, but I have gone through hell and I will go through hell to stay champion. Drew says he was asked if he was going to a funeral because he is wearing black, and maybe I am. I hear you have an interview later, maybe I will show up.
RAW Women’s Championship – Asuka vs. Lana
We go back to the ring and out comes the #1 contender Lana. We see how Natalya ended their tag team after a loss last week, and how Lana won the Dual Brand Battle Royal to earn this title shot. Out next comes RAW Women’s Champion Asuka to a pop.
They lock up and Asuka with a side head lock. Asuka goes for a hip toss and Lana tries for a rollup but Asuka with a rollup. Lana gets to the ropes to avoid the Asuka Lock. Lana with a kick and she misses a leg sweep. Lana with a rollup for a near fall. Lana avoids a back fist and she kicks Asuka. Lana gets a near fall. Lana sends Asuka into the turnbuckles and kicks Asuka. Asuka with an elbow and kick to the head. Lana with a rollup for a near fall but Asuka with the Asuka Lock and Lana taps out.
Winner: Asuka
After the match, Nia Jax’ music plays and Asuka looks at the ramp but Nia attacks Asuka from behind. Shayna Baszler grabs Lana and Nia adjusts the announce table. Nia with a Samoan drop through the table. Meanwhile, in the ring, Shayna goes after Asuka but Asuka escapes and kicks Shayna and knocks her off the apron with a hip attack. Asuka takes her title and heads up the ramp as her music starts up. Baszler and Jax stare her down from the ring as we go to replays. We go to commercial.
— We are back and the Women’s Tag Champions are still in the ring. Jax says that was to show that they’re on the same page and they are a team, even though they don’t braid each other’s hair on the weekend or follow each other on Instagram. Jax says that was teamwork. Baszler says she would call it dominance. They briefly argue over what to call it but Baszler says actions are more important, and they come out every week to dominate. She says they own the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, which means they own the RAW and SmackDown tag team divisions. Jax dares anyone to come out and do something about it.
The music interrupts and out comes the team of Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke. They make it down the ramp but the music interrupts and out comes Lacey Evans. She’s joined by Peyton Royce on the ramp. Brooke and Rose are in the ring now. Royce and Evans pose together on the apron before entering. It looks like we have an impromptu Triple Threat but the music hits and out comes The Riott Squad – Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott. They were drafted to SmackDown last week but this is their last RAW match, according to Tom.
Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax vs. The Riott Squad vs. Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose vs. Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce
This non-title Fatal 4 Way starts off with Dana Brooke and Ruby Riott. They go for a pin but Shayna Baszler breaks it up. Nia Jax comes in behind her. All competitors start brawling now as the referee tries to break it up. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke kick the champs to the floor and follow with an attack. Peyton Royce flies out to take both of those teams down at ringside. Lacey Evans launches herself out with a moonsault, taking Royce, Brooke, Rose and the champs down. Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan go to opposite top turnbuckles now. They fly with splashes to take the other three teams down. We go to commercial.
We are back and Royce with a forearm and Lacey is using her special napkins to remove some sweat and she is not sure what is going on. Lacey sets for a power bomb but Liv with a rana to counter. Ruby tags in and gets a near fall. Lacey with a leg sweep and punch to the midsection. Mandy makes the tag and so does Nia. Mandy with forearm and Nia goes for a slam but Mandy escapes. Dana tags in and they go for a double suplex but Nia blocks it and she double suplexes Mandy and Dana. Nia charges into the corner but misses and hits the ring post. Dana with an elbow in the corner and then Mandy with a running knee. Mandy knocks Liv and Ruby off the apron. Dana with a swanton and Shayna breaks up the cover.
Royce with a spinning heel kick. Lacey with Woman’s Right but Dana sends Lacey to the floor. Liv with a drop kick to Nia and Lacey tags in and Liv with a drop toe hold. LIv with a double stomp to the back and Ruby tags in and Liv with a facebuster and Ruby with a Riott Kick but Shayna breaks up the cover. Shayna with a Kirifuda Clutch on Ruby and Nia tags in and hits a Samoan drop on Lacey for the three count.
Winner: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
— The announcers show us recent happenings between Elias and Jeff Hardy. We see Elias backstage preparing with his band. Back to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and Elias is on the stage and he mentions that it is the moment you are waiting for… an Elias concert. Elias says his first song is Amen and he hopes that Jeff Hardy is listening.
Elias is done with his second song and he starts to go to the back and he decides to do an encore and he asks the guitar tech for his guitar back and he has his back to Elias and he plays a lot better than Elias. We see that it is Jeff Hardy and he swings and misses with the guitar.
Backstage:
The Miz and John Morrison are backstage talking about last week when Tucker walks up. Hes not happy with Miz using his influence to get him drafted to RAW, like he did with Mandy Rose, and like he’s doing to delay the trial with Otis to ruin his life. Tucker says he and Otis may be on different brands now, but he’s going ton find a partner and fight The Miz and Morrison. Miz says he’s not trying to ruin Otis’ life, just trying to restore dignity to the Money In the Bank briefcase. They accept the challenge because Tucker finding a tag team partner is… they laugh in his face and walk off.
— We go back to the ring and out come the RAW Tag Team Champions – Kofi Kingston with Xavier Woods of The New Day. Back to commercial as fans do the “New Day rocks!” chant.
Backstage:
Back from the break and a furious Elias is walking backstage. Charly stops him for comments. Elias agrees that what happened was not how he planned his concert. He says next Monday not only will he celebrate dropping his new album, he will celebrate dropping Jeff Hardy because he’s challenging Hardy to a match at Hell In a Cell. Elias walks of.
— We go back to the ring where The New Day are dancing. Kofi takes the mic and talks about how they are back on RAW. Woods talks about how a lot has changed in the past year. The music interrupts and out comes Sheamus with a mic.
Sheamus is glad The New Day finally stopped crying because they were embarrassing on SmackDown last Friday. Sheamus points to how Big E is still on SmackDown, so that makes Kofi and Woods “two turds” of The New Day. He says both of them are going to end up on the wrong end of a Brogue Kick. Kofi says no one is trying to hear that, and just because Big E is on a different brand doesn’t mean The New Day is done, it just means they’re holding down both brands, and spreading their seed of positivity all over the WWE Universe. They trade more words and Woods taunts Sheamus for how Big E dropped him on top of a car two weeks ago. They taunt Sheamus some more and challenge him to come to the ring. They tease the “New Day rocks!” chant but Sheamus tells them not to say it. They say it anyway and the crowd joins in. Sheamus marches to the ring. The bell hits and Sheamus takes Kofi to the mat with a headlock. They tangle and get back to their feet trading shots.
Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus
Sheamus fights Kofi into the corner and works him over. Kofi fights back but Sheamus kicks him and clubs him to the mat as Woods looks on. Kofi kicks Sheamus but Sheamus catches him and presses him high over his head. Kofi lands on his feet and clotheslines Sheamus over the top rope. Kofi charges and kicks Sheamus back to the floor as he tries to re-enter. Kofi runs and dives over the top rope but Sheamus catches him on the way down. Sheamus slams Kofi face-first into the edge of the apron as we go back to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a reverse chin lock on Kofi and Kofi with a jaw breaker. Sheamus with a clothesline. Sheamus has Kofi in the ropes and connects with forearms across the chest.
We see Big E in Thunderdome.
Kofi with elbows and punches but Sheamus with a punch to the midsection. Sheamus with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Sheamus with a reverse chin lock. Kofi with a boot to the chest. Kofi with chops and a drop kick. Kofi with a jumping clothesline and the Boom Drop. Kofi with a cross body off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Sheamus runs into a pendulum kick and then Kofi goes up top and Sheamus catches him on a cross body and hits a uranage for a near fall. Kofi kicks Sheamus and Kofi has a drop kick blocked and Sheamus with a Cloverleaf. Kofi tries to get to the ropes but Sheamus pulls him into the center of the ring and Kofi with a rollup for a near fall.
Sheamus catches Kofi on Trouble in Paradise and Sheamus with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Sheamus gets Kofi on his shoulders and goes to the turnbuckles but Kofi gets to his feet and he hits a side Russian leg sweep off the turnbuckles and both men are down. Kofi gtets a near fall. Sheamus counters SOS into a rollup for a near fall. Kofi with a crucifix for a near fall. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Kofi stands tall and celebrates with Woods as the music hits. Big E also celebrates fro the virtual crowd. We see WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry celebrating with them from the ThunderDome crowd. The referee checks on Sheamus as we go to replays. Kofi and Woods pose in the corner as the crowd cheers them on.
Backstage:
Mustafa Ali is in the back and he says The Fiend and Hurt Business made a big mistake. My power is not strength in numbers, it is creating chaos. You do not know how much chaos I can create. With a laptop or cell phone, with one click I can bring anyone’s life down. While I was at home because WWE couldn’t make a dollar off someone named Mustafa Ali, I watched and learned all of your pathetic secret. I was the Smackdown hacker and I did it because I want the entire world to know that this sick place is infecting everyone.
Good and talented individuals are being abandoned with their dreams left behind. I united them and promised them that their truth will be heard. Whether it is the Fiend or Hurt Business or anyone on Raw, if you try to stop the truth from being heard, we will shut you down.
— We go back to the ring and out comes The Miz and John Morrison. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
Back from the break and Titus O’Neil approaches The Hurt Business backstage. He says he thought he would make a great addition to the group. Titus says with his connections and public image, he can turn this conglomerate and take it worldwide. MVP compliments Titus on his connections and how he dresses, and says Ricochet isn’t coming to his senses right now. It looks like they’re in business now. They shake hands and Titus can’t wait to get started. MVP clarifies that they are in business, not Titus. They all attack Titus and beat him down.
In the Arena:
We go back to the ring and The Miz waits with Morrison. They taunt Tucker and out he comes. Tucker says they won’t be laughing when he reveals his tag team partner. Tucker says he looked all over the world and he found a legendary luchador. The music hits and out comes El Grand Gordo, which is just Otis in a pink mask and cape. He’s even carrying the Money In the Bank lunchbox. Miz and Morrison aren’t fooled but Tucker keeps selling it and says El Grand Gordo has potential to be the next Rey Mysterio. Otis is barely trying to disguise his voice.
Miz wants this to stop. He says this proves his point that Otis does not deserve the briefcase. I upped my game and earned the cash in. That contract changed my career while you are wasting it. Why are you making a joke out of it. Maybe it is because you are the joke. When we stand side by side, there is a difference. One of us looks like a superstar. I have been here for 15 years and I have represented the company in every manner. Why do they cheer you? It is because you are the underdog story. They will feel sorry for you when I win the court case. I will separate you from the contract. You can play any character you want. You put a mask on a pig and it is still a pig. Tucker and Otis end up rushing the ring and clearing it, then standing tall together. We go to commercial.
The Miz and John Morrison vs. Tucker and El Grand Gordo
Back fro the break and Tucker has started things off with Morrison. Tucker with an early 2 count. Morrison drops Tucker with a kick and goes to work in the corner as Miz taunts him. Miz gets some cheap shots in while Morrison distracts the referee. Miz tags in for a double team Gutbuster. They taunt Otis next before Miz goes to work on Tucker while he’s down. Morrison tags back in for more double teaming. Morrison with a standing Shooting Star Press for a 2 count.
Morrison keeps Tucker down and taunts him. Gordo paces the apron and reaches for the tag as Morrison drops Tucker with a shot to the throat for a 2 count. Morrison grounds Tucker and works him over on the mat now. Tucker tosses Morrison and nails a big clothesline. Miz runs in but Tucker fights them both off. Otis gets the hot tag and levels Miz with clotheslines. Otis also drops Morrison and clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor. Miz runs into a boot in the corner. Otis flies from the second rope with an arm drag for a pop.
Otis scoops Miz for a powerslam but Morrison breaks the pin up. Tucker comes from behind and slams Morrison on his head. Miz kicks Tucker to the floor. Miz stalks Otis now and goes for the Skull Crushing finale but WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth suddenly runs in the ring from the crowd, and then out the other side, distracting Miz. We see Drew Gulak, Akira Tozawa and Lucha House Party chasing Truth away now. Otis takes advantage of the distraction and drops Miz for the Caterpillar. Otis then splashes Miz from the corner for the pin to win.
Winners: El Grand Gordo and Tucker
After the match, the lucha music hits as Heavy Machinery dances together in the ring.
— Still to come, the Firefly Fun House. Back to commercial.
— We are back and El Gran Gordo and Tucker are celebrating with Xavier and Kofi. Mandy Rose shows up and she has a ham for the masked doppelganger for her true love.
— We go to the Firefly Fun House.
Bray Wyatt pulls some things out of the boxes as he moves to Raw and he says hello to his fireflies. Bray says it makes him sad to leave his friends on Smackdown but he is looking forward to making some new friends on Raw.
Abigail tells Bray to keep it down but Bray says this is about having fun. Huskus and Ramblin Rabbit talk about what they look forward to do on Raw. Ramblin says he wants to be a better father and husband. Bray says he didn’t know that Ramblin had a family. Bray says he will be a better friend and then we see a montage of Ramblin Rabbit’s Kenny McCormick impression.
Bray says the past is in our heads while the future is in our hands. Ramblin says he wanted a fresh start and Mercy attacks and kills him. There is a knock on the door and Alexa Bliss enters. Alexa says our fun is just getting started. BYEEE!
— Braun Strowman makes his way to the ring as we go to commercial.
Keith Lee vs. Braun Strowman
They lock up and Strowman with punches in the corner followed by elbows. Strowman with a splash into the corner and his ribs are much better than when he walked to the ring. Strowman clotheslines Lee over the top rope to the floor. Strowman with a wacky half lap shoulder to Lee. Strowman gets Lee up for a slam and Strowman remembers his injured ribs and Lee escapes. Lee with kicks to the ribs. Lee with a cross body to the ribs and a Kamala Splash for a near fall. Lee with shoulders in the corner. The referee warns Lee.
Strowman punches Lee and misses a splash into the corner and hits the turnbuckles. Lee with a shoulder tackle. Lee goes for a power bomb but Strowman drops to the mat. Strowman drops down again and his head connects with the ding ding. Strowman with a boot to the head for the three count.
Winner: Braun Strowman
After the match, Keith Lee kicks Strowman in the ding ding and he tells Strowman not to test him and use short cuts. You have tangled with the wrong one. We go to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and the Cell is lowered for Randy Orton to talk inside the Cell.
Randy Orton makes his way to the ring.
Randy says he wanted the cell to be lowered so he could come out and reflect and remember. Ever since I have been in this company I have heard about Hell in a Cell and has been told that everyone who competes in this match leave a little piece of themselves behind. I have been in seven matches and I have never left a piece of myself behind. I found out what I was truly capable of. Sunday, it will be my eighth Hell in a Cell match.
As I sit in here, I remember standing toe to toe with the World’s Strongest Man. I remember facing the Celtic Warrior. I remember facing Jeff Hardy and beating Daniel Bryan. I remember facing John Cena twice and winning the World Title twice.
Drew says I have never earned a thing in my life, but I remember standing in this hell and looking the Deadman in the eye and earning his respect right here.
Every name I listed, if they aren’t already Hall of Famer, they will be in the Hall of Fame. When I think of the Hall of Fame, I think of the word ‘legend’. The word ‘legend’ gets thrown around these days very loosely. The word ‘legend’. There are legends and legendary moments. It was a legendary moment when you beat Brock Lesnar.
The music interrupts and out comes McIntyre with the WWE Title.
Drew stops at the Cell door, which is chained shut. Orton stares him down from the other side, taunting him. Orton tells Drew he will have to break the lock or wait until Sunday. Orton tells Drew to come and get him. Drew says OK. Drew grabs a pair of bolt cutters from the other side of the barrier and the crowd pops. Orton is worried now. Drew cuts the lock and Orton hits the ring to wait with the chair. Drew enters the Cell and stares Orton down. Orton waits to swing the chair. Drew slams the door and tells Orton his ass belongs to him, there’s nowhere to run. The RAW season premiere Hell In a Cell go-home show goes off the air right after McIntyre says those last words, before he can hit the ring.
