[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[commentator] Attention WWE Universe.
We have entered The All Mighty era.
The MVP has changed Bobby Lashley.
More motivated, more intense, more aggressive than we have ever seen.
Bobby Lashley is number one.
A man who triumphed over the Goliath, Omos.
And he didn't even need me!
[commentator] The All Mighty Era is in full effect,
and I don't foresee it ending anytime soon.
[crowd chanting] Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!
[commentator] No time for celebration for The All Mighty.
We are about to be graced by the massive presence of Omos!
You don't need me, huh?
Crush him.
MVP! I can do this.
[crowd booing]
[MVP] Bobby Lashley became The All Mighty
because MVP made Bobby Lashley The All Mighty.
His ego got so big that he didn't want to share the spotlight anymore.
No, he decided that he wanted to go to WrestleMania and hog all the glory
to himself.
Leaving the man that made him at home watching from the sidelines.
You see, Bobby Lashley's muscles and athleticism and strength
make him an unstoppable force for the average WWE superstar.
But we're not talking average, we're talking Omos.
The man that dominated and defeated the so-called All Mighty
at WrestleMania Backlash.
Oh! Came right to the eye.
The only reason Omos won at WrestleMania Backlash was because of you, MVP.
I want that seven foot Nigerian giant trapped inside a steel cage.
The All Mighty era is coming to an end.
[commentator] Bobby Lashley and Omos will be locked inside of a steel cage.
But most importantly for The All Mighty, MVP will be locked out.
No controversy.
Just two big badasses throwing down on Monday Night.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Welcome everyone to a sold-out Scope Arena here in Norfolk, Virginia
and Monday Night Raw where two giants will collide in the cage.
Welcome to Monday Night Raw. Jimmy Smith alongside Byron Saxton
and Corey Graves.
So much of the energy of this sold-out crowd due to the 15 feet of steel
behind me that will soon contain Omos and Bobby Lashley.
Here's the thing, this is a match that is designed…
to settle scores. It is designed for brutality.
It is designed to shorten careers.
[Jimmy] It's also designed to keep outsiders from getting involved.
In tonight's case, that means MVP.
If there's good news, that's it for Bobby Lashley.
The bad news is who will be locked inside, the 7'3", 403-pound Omos.
Bobby Lashley wanted this match.
This is his opportunity, without MVP interfering,
to settle his score with Omos once and for all.
[hip-hop music playing]
And we know this Friday night on SmackDown,
both sets of tag team championships will be unified.
The Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro,
will battle the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos.
But before we arrive at Friday Night SmackDown,
there's business to handle tonight.
[Saxton] Indeed, a chance for Riddle to build some momentum for Team RK-Bro
as Riddle goes one-on-one with one half of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
Jimmy Uso.
[Jimmy] Well, when you talk about unfinished business,
you have to talk about the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
He thought he was finished with Seth "Freakin" Rollins
after two consecutive victories.
Well, The Visionary had other plans, a vicious stomp on our commentary table.
The American Nightmare won't take this lying down.
We'll hear from him in two hours.
[Saxton] And it's been said that Raw's women's division
has never been more competitive.
Tonight, six women from both Raw and SmackDown will compete in
a six pack challenge with the winner earning
a future opportunity to challenge for the Raw Women's Championship
currently held by the EST, Bianca Belair.
Probably going to get some clarification when it comes to
the Raw Women's Championship picture.
Well, but it all culminates, of course,
in a cage match that's about to get started.
That's right, Omos making his entrance into the building.
Let's get to it.
♪ It's the big man time in the place right here ♪
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is a steel cage match.
In this match, the only way to win is by pinfall, submission,
or escaping the cage with both feet hitting the ground.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by MVP,
standing at seven feet, three inches,
weighing in at 403 pounds,
the Nigerian Giant,
Omos!
[Jimmy] Gentlemen, I can't believe I'm about to say this,
but I think we may have seen
a look closely resembling trepidation in the eyes of the Nigerian giant Omos.
He's all smiles right now, but moments ago, reality kicked in.
Well, here's the thing.
Omos is about to step inside the ring with a man who knows can defeat him,
who knows can get the best of him.
And now, this is the first time Omos
is stepping inside a 15-foot-high steel cage.
A completely foreign environment to the Nigerian giant.
Who will be locked in solo, one on one with The All Mighty,
with MVP locked outside.
Guys, I hope Omos isn't claustrophobic.
Little perspective, that cage is 15 feet high.
And Omos almost reaching the top, standing up.
Every bit of that seven foot three frame of Omos
observing and taking the environment in.
Ladies and gentlemen of the WWE Universe, welcome to Monday Night Raw.
[crowd booing]
Tonight, you will witness a spectacle of destruction.
One of the competitors stepping into this 15 foot high steel cage
is a man who got a little too big for his boots.
A man who wanted to claim the spotlight of WrestleMania all to himself without me.
You know that I'm talking about
the former WWE Champion.
-[crowd exclaiming] -The so called All Mighty.
[crowd] What?
Bobby Lashley.
[crowd] What?
The other competitor…
is the future of the WWE.
A man bigger, stronger, meaner than Bobby Lashley could ever be.
I present to you the seven foot, three inch,
403 pound Nigerian giant Omos.
[crowd booing]
Now, I expect Bobby Lashley to put up one hell of a fight
because that's the man he is, but let's be real.
The outcome of this match is a foregone conclusion.
You see, Omos can win this match inside this steel cage
by pinning Bobby Lashley right here, one, two, three,
or he can crush Bobby Lashley until Lashley screams out
in painful submission.
Or if he chooses, he can leave Bobby Lashley's lifeless body right here,
climb out over the top, or just walk out the cage door,
whatever he decides to do.
But considering the fact that this is a steel cage match
and that there are no disqualifications, I'm expecting the Nigerian Giant
to brutalize Bobby Lashley even worse than he did
at WrestleMania Backlash.
[crowd booing]
Let's be clear.
The All Mighty era ends tonight.
You all are blessed and fortunate to be living in the age
of the Nigerian giant, Omos.
[crowd booing]
["The All Mighty" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And his opponent, weighing in at 273 pounds,
"The All Mighty" Bobby Lashley!
[Jimmy] A ferocious look in the eyes of Bobby Lashley.
You heard, wait… Cedric Alexander from behind!
Cedric Alexander, who spent the last several weeks
trying to impress MVP, trying to force MVP
to reform the Hurt Business.
[Corey] Is this part of an extended fight?
[Jimmy] Now Omos outside the cage!
The match hasn't officially started yet,
and Lashley already outnumbered.
This is exactly why a cage match exists, to prevent this sort of circumstance.
[Corey] This is ridiculous.
Bobby Lashley should have to contend with Cedric Alexander outside the Steel Cage.
[Jimmy] There's a brawl on the outside of the ring to kick off Monday Night Raw.
-We need to restore some order here. -[Saxton] Good luck.
[Jimmy] An army of referees finally separates them.
Bobby Lashley, he wants some more, outnumbered or not.
[Corey] Get these two men in the steel cage the way it was meant to be.
[Saxton] We heard MVP declare we're all living in the age of Omos.
Well, The All Mighty would like a word.
[Jimmy] Bobby Lashley's in the steel cage. Let's go, Omos.
Your chance. Your turn.
[Corey] Lashley waiting, begging, pleading.
Will Omos step inside the cage? Can these two Goliaths settle the score?
Order has been restored and we are underway.
-Omos versus Bobby Lashley… -[bell dinging]
finally in the cage.
We heard MVP touch on the rules prior to this matchup.
The only ways to win are to pin your opponent, force them to submit,
or by escaping the cage yourself with both feet touching the floor on the outside.
And we mentioned numerous times how MVP will not be a factor in this matchup.
That should benefit Bobby Lashley, but Omos dominant out of the gate.
The reason for that, going back to WrestleMania,
backlash from MVP got involved, thus costing the match for Bobby Lashley
against Omos.
-Get back in there. -Just as we said it.
Speaking of which, literally moments into the Steel Cage match,
designed to prevent it, MVP skirting the rules.
But here comes The All Mighty.
[Jimmy] Bobby Lashley going straight at Omos, working the cage for Vince.
That stick and move style, taking the back.
He has an excellent submission game.
[Saxton] Smart move, someone the size of The All Mighty.
Bobby Lashley using his own body weight to attempt to wear down Omos,
who is tying apart the grip of Lashley.
[Jimmy] Almost impossible to do, fight the grip of Bobby Lashley.
But Bobby Lashley going straight at Omos. Gentlemen, he wanted this match.
He wanted it in a steel cage. Think about that.
-The grip of Omos applied to Lashey. -[Saxton] Oh!
The clubbing blow to the heart of The All Mighty.
[Jimmy] I would dare say the most dangerous element
that MVP has added to Omos
has been the confidence.
This is the most confident Omos has been in his young career.
As we look at the power once again of the Nigerian giant.
Special Omos, special. Special.
[Corey] Once again, slowly sauntering around the ring, taking his time.
-[Jimmy] Once again to the eye. -[Corey] And again.
[Jimmy] MVP locked out of the cage, but still a factor, that's twice, Corey.
[Corey] It may not be legal, but it's brilliant if you're MVP,
an advantage by any means necessary.
Take a look, watch the cane of MVP jammed right into the side of Lashley's neck.
[Jimmy] Now one advantage for Bobby Lashley,
he's been in cage matches before, most notably with Big E.
He's been in a Hell in a Cell match with Drew McIntyre.
-How can he use that experience, Bobby? -[Corey] Again, Lashley.
On the shoulder of Omos having to contend with not only
the Nigerian Giant, but with MVP.
That's gotta really play into the psyche of Bobby Lashley right now.
[Saxton] Right now, Omos is feeling himself
almost strutting around the cage.
[Jimmy] And MVP when he's not a physical factor in the match,
certainly a psychological factor.
Always following his man around, always yelling encouragement,
-pumping him up for moves like this. -[Corey] Oh!
Crushing impact in the corner.
That'd be over sooner than later at this rate.
MVP incredibly proud of his charge. Omos, but keep an eye on the outside.
Oh!
How's that feel, Bobby, huh? How's that feel, huh?
Huh? Huh?
-How's that feel, huh? -[Saxton] This is great disrespect.
[Corey] Oh! Not a hold of MVP's arm.
MVP likely to lose an arm here like Norfolk.
[Jimmy] That's one way to remove the MVP problem. It's Lashley.
-Spear! -[Corey] Right through Omos.
[Saxton] Cover!
-[Corey] Shoulders down! -One, two…
-[Jimmy] Oh! -[Corey] Oh, my goodness.
[Jimmy] Spelled the doom of so many superstars, the spear of Bobby Lashley.
[Saxton] Check out the impact. Lashley got all of it.
7'3", 403 pounds of Omos crashing to the canvas.
-But somehow… -[Jimmy] Uh-oh.
Lashley's got one arm hooked.
You got to believe Lashley's got to be thinking about the hurt left.
[Corey] Listen to this capacity crowd
at the Scope going nuclear for The All Mighty.
[Saxton] On the move again.
Beautiful shot to the back of the head of Omos.
[Saxton] What a scene right now. Omos is down.
Bobby Lashley standing tall.
[Corey] Lashley is stalking the Nigerian giant.
[Jimmy] He's not looking for the door. He's looking for the hurt lock.
[Saxton] One arm, going for the second, trying to lock the fingers.
It's like trying to put the hurt lock on a bull moose.
He's got it.
My God.
That was the escape use last time, but it doesn't work twice.
Lashley stepped out of the way very wisely.
Good in-ring strategy from Omos.
Trying to power his way out, but better ring strategy
from Bobby Lashley getting out.
I think Lashley just realized the opening he had.
Lashley making the long climb to the top of the cage.
[Saxton] Lashley trying to find his position, here comes Omos.
[Corey] Oh, no.
Oh, no, Lashley stuck on the top rope, stepping over for the armbar.
[grunts]
[Jimmy] Creativity there displayed by Lashley.
[Corey] Lashley now viciously stomping on Omos.
You think Bobby Lashley was in the vulnerable spot?
-The All Mighty's got daylight. -Oh, it's Cedric Alexander.
Again, this pest.
All the way to the top of the cage.
Cedric Alexander looking to play spoiler in the favor of Omos.
How many hurdles does Lashley have to overcome in this thing?
Referee helpless to do anything about it.
Cedric Alexander stomping away.
This matchup is designed to keep outsiders from getting involved in the match.
-Oh, my God! -Yeah, you want in, Cedric?
-You got in the hard way. -From the top of the cage.
And now Lashley continuing with his plans.
Or maybe not.
But the top caught out of midair.
Unbelievable.
Omos muscling Lashley…
through a more favorable position.
Oh!
And The All Mighty just ricocheted off of the inside of the steel cage.
Earlier on, Cedric Alexander tried to get involved again.
This time would suffer for his attempts.
Bobby Lashley was almost over the top. Cedric Alexander tossed him the victory.
A bellow of Omos echoing throughout the Scope.
Omos now feels that victory is imminent.
Almost right back to where we started with Omos now in full control
of The All Mighty.
This has got to be disheartening for Lashley,
who expected a one-on-one matchup, but already we've seen MVP involved.
On multiple occasions, we've now seen Cedric Alexander involved.
It's still The All Mighty versus The World.
To Lashley's credit, The All Mighty will not stop fighting against The World.
Oh! Hasn't quit, but a huge boot to the face.
That might do it.
These attacks, this sequence of moves that would normally finish anyone
on the WWE roster.
Omos is still looking at Bobby Lashley, unbelievable.
[MVP] Finish him!
[Jimmy] Omos with a vice-like grip on the face of Bobby Lashley,
once again hoisted across the Nigerian giant's massive shoulders.
Like a toy.
[Corey] This is going to be it for Lashley.
This will be the end of The All Mighty.
Behold, we are living in the era of Omos.
Oh! Right into the gap.
-Oh, my God. -Oh, my gosh.
The cage is just open.
From the throw from Omos!
Omos just threw The All Mighty through the unforgiving steel cage!
-Lashley's coming too! Lashley! -Wait, wait, wait!
Both feet on the ground! Bobby Lashley wins it!
-And MVP absolutely furious! -[bell dinging]
[crowd cheering]
-MVP's losing his mind. -It appears to be the case.
We need an official word.
The fighter who touches the ground first is the winner.
Doesn't matter if they go over the top or in this situation, through the cage.
The winner, Bobby Lashley.
[announcer] Despite the unique way that this has happened,
both of Bobby Lashley's feet have hit the ground.
Therefore, your winner,
-The All Mighty Bobby Lashley! -[crowd cheering]
-[Corey] You heard it. -[Jimmy] Wow.
[Corey] Against all odds and then some, The All Mighty
overcoming the challenge of Omos tonight.
It doesn't matter how it happened, just that it happened.
[Saxton] Outpowered, outnumbered from the beginning,
The All Mighty finds a way to prevail.
[Corey] Some would say downright outgunned,
but Lashley persisted as Omos
tossed Lashley into the cage wall.
The cage would give way, and this is brilliant.
Lashley initially did not know where he was,
but upon realizing The All Mighty's feet touched the ground,
a hard-fought, hard-earned victory for The All Mighty.
What a way to kick off Monday Night Raw in a capacity,
sold out Norfolk Scope and we are just getting started, gentlemen.
-I need to catch my breath. -Oh, the odds unbelievably stacked against
Bobby Lashley.
Someone else who's had the odds stacked against him.
Mustafa Ali not just because of his opponent Ciampa last week,
but because of a special referee.
You have not been treated fairly in the WWE.
So Theory went to his mentor, Mr. McMahon, and got you a special guest referee.
[Jimmy] Showed you what kind of man theory is to assign The Miz
as a special guest referee.
And look at the inconsistencies we had to sit through with The Miz.
Slow count.
It was certainly a respectable effort by Mustafa Ali.
Unfortunately for Ali, Miz is not a full-time official.
Unfortunately for Ali, we couldn't overcome
The Miz's faulty officiating.
Would open the door for Ciampa to capitalize.
What's the count?
-How absurd was that? -[bell dinging]
Miz just took Ali's advice.
Ali wanted a faster count, so Miz provided it.
Ali got screwed, that's what happened.
♪ Fight to survive ♪
-♪ A-Town ♪ -♪ Down ♪
[Jimmy] Turn that frown upside down, Saxton.
-♪ A-Town down ♪ -[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 220 pounds,
he is the youngest United States champion
in WWE history,
Theory!
[Jimmy] Corey, I know you already have your phone out to give likes
to the selfies, but Mustafa Ali is finally getting the match
he wanted when he returned to Monday Night Raw.
He faces off against Mr. McMahon's protégé,
the always smiling, the always photo-taking,
the always arrogant, youngest United States champion
in WWE history, Theory, on Raw next.
The youngest United States champion.
[Saxton] Welcome back to Monday Night Raw.
You got Mustafa Ali finally getting his hands on Theory.
He's wanted this match since he came back to Raw.
[Jimmy] You're absolutely right, and Ali's gotta really feel self-assured right now
that his goals and attempt to be a bit of a disrupter here have actually worked.
And now he gets to face the United States Champion one on one.
[Corey] It's one thing to get the opportunity, it's another entirely
to capitalize properly.
Give me a mic.
I'm sorry, I almost forgot.
I can't, from a good faith place, I just can't figure out with you
what makes you think this is gonna happen.
I mean, seriously,
this match, I can't go through with it unless somebody that I can trust
that's gonna call this straight down the middle.
Somebody that can be trusted 100 percent.
I guess we're gonna have to have a special guest referee for this match.
-The Miz. -[Saxton] No, no.
-[Jimmy] Oh, my God. -[Saxton] Not again.
["I Came To Play" playing]
[Corey] This matchup just became must see.
[Saxton] This matchup just became a joke.
[Corey] How do you figure? You should have a little respect
for The Miz.
Last week, everyone wanted to pick apart Miz's performance as an official,
so Miz just wants to get some rest in.
-[Saxton] A little horrible job for him. -[Corey] A little on-the-job training.
Practice makes perfect, Byron.
[Saxton] You are so in your best form, and there he is.
So good.
[Corey] I thought Miz did a very respectable job.
Not perfect last week, but now Miz just wants to improve.
[Saxton] It was a biased, officiating job, arranged by Theory.
And once again, Theory deciding to be Theory
and bring his buddy out here one more time.
[Jimmy] Also showing he'll do anything to tip the odds in his favor.
Yeah, getting rid of a legitimate referee.
[Saxton] This is ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Are you ready?
-What's going on? -Something just doesn't seem right.
I'm Mr. McMahon's protégé.
I'm the youngest United States champion ever.
And Ali, it's just not fair for you to lose and fail your way
into a match with the champ.
[indistinct]
You know what, so I think I'll help you out.
I'll take it back to the first lesson I ever learned from Mr. McMahon,
expect the unexpected.
So I've arranged a match for you to prove
if you truly are championship material.
Because your opponent isn't me,
it's Veer Mahan!
-[Saxton groans] Oh, my gosh. -[Corey] Wow.
They say the intelligence is the ability to apply knowledge.
-["Roar" playing] -Theory took Mr. McMahon's advice.
[Jimmy] He's applying his relationship to Mr. McMahon.
[Saxton] It's painfully obvious to anyone with any semblance of common sense
that Theory wants no part of Mustafa Ali.
And now he's bringing out Veer Mahan.
[Corey] I'm certain Mustafa Ali wants no part of the lion of Monday Night Raw,
Veer Mahan, who has been an absolute terror since arriving.
[Saxton] So Ali's got to contend with Veer Mahan unexpectedly
in the Miz as a special guest referee.
[Corey] It's all right out of Mr. McMahon's playbook.
I don't see Mustafa Ali going anywhere.
-Ring the bell! -[bell dinging]
-Going right after Veer Mahan. -[Saxton] Look, Ali has no choice.
He didn't expect to come out here and face Veer Mahan,
but Ali is going to compete as well as he possibly can.
-[Corey] Oh, wow! -Whoo! Whoo!
What a flying body press by Veer Mahan.
Ali's gotta feel like he just ran into a brick wall.
[Jimmy] Speed, the explosiveness of Veer Mahan,
they've been on display for weeks as well.
Also that vicious side that has led to bodies being brought out on stretchers.
Oh! Beautiful move from Mustafa Ali to get out of the way just in time.
[Corey] Ali never short on courage, never short on guts or will,
but will that be enough tonight?
[Jimmy] Ali again ignoring the calls of The Miz,
just bringing the fight as much as he can.
Oh!
Goodness gracious, Veer Mahan nearly turned Ali's lights out.
And every contest involving Veer Mahan has been an absolute mauling
courtesy of Veer Mahan.
Mustafa Ali trying to use his experience advantage,
but so hard to do against a physical dynamo like Veer.
-Boom. -Yes.
-There you go. -Wow.
-Sheesh. -That was hot.
Veer Mahan, a look of malice
in his eyes and behind every movement he makes.
[grunts]
Expression on the face of Ali tells you the misery
he's experiencing at the hands of Veer.
-The unbelievable strength of Veer Mahan. -Ali laying on his feet.
Superkick connects.
Might have rocked Veer a little bit. And a second from Mustafa Ali.
-Veer still standing, Ali. -A fall.
Right in front of our air quotes "referee."
Miz exercising a little leeway.
Oh, now. That's Miz's right hand.
Miz has got something in his eye now.
But finally, some offense from Mustafa Ali.
Ali keeping his eye on the target, and that's Veer Mahan.
But Mahan still on his feet.
Stunned right in front of our table, and Mustafa Ali picking up speed.
-[Saxton] Oh, come on, Miz. -[crowd booing]
[Corey] Miz is doing the official duty.
[Saxton] Miz purposely placed himself in the way of Ali.
[indistinct argument]
You respect me! You will…
[commentators] Oh!
The official can go after the superstar.
Oh!
Loading up to take a shot, The Miz did not see Veer.
[Saxton] How is Mustafa Ali supposed to overcome all of this?
Theory on the outside, Miz as a referee, and a rabid Veer Mahan.
[Jimmy] Veer Mahan is tough enough all by himself,
going for that cervical clutch.
-Can Mustafa Ali hold out? He cannot. -[bell dinging]
["Roar" playing]
[announcer] Here's your winner by submission, Veer Mahan.
[Jimmy] The dominance of Veer Mahan continues.
[Saxton] What is Theory looking for now?
[Corey] I know exactly what Theory is looking for, social media likes.
[Saxton] You gotta be kidding me.
-[Saxton] Telling Veer to go back to it. -[Corey] The cervical clutch reapplies.
Humiliation. Mustafa Ali.
[Saxton] Getting a stupid selfie here.
Get right there. Get in there. Get in there.
[Saxton] Oh, The Miz gotta get in too.
-Selfie. -[crowd booing]
[Saxton] Disgusting.
This is absurd on so many levels.
[Corey] I might make that my new wallpaper.
[commentator speaking indistinctly]
Table. Do the table thing. Do the table.
I think Veer is being sent our way, which means we need to get up.
[Saxton] Don't have to tell me twice.
-I think Veer has further plans. -Oh, hold on.
-Wait a second! -The Mysterios!
-They are back! -Rey and Dominik Mysterio!
We haven't seen them for weeks!
They get put out of action both by Veer Mahan
and the Mysterios now standing up to the lion!
-The Mysterios have not forgotten! -And over the top goes Dominik!
-Oh, no! -Oh, no!
Oh! The assist!
[Saxton] Veer Mahan taking off his feet, courtesy of the Mysterios.
[Corey] Veer Mahan is irate on the outside being taken down for the first time
on Raw by both Rey and Dominik Mysterio.
[Jimmy] He is not trying to get in there, he knows he's outgunned.
["It Is My Time" playing]
[exhales] Sorry.
All right. I ran. I've been talking to a lot of people.
[Jimmy] She's been on a mission since losing
her Raw Women's title at WrestleMania.
We will hear from Big Time Becks on Raw next.
I know you've been advertising it all night, but it's not…
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
[Jimmy] Welcome back to a sold-out Scope Arena.
They've seen some incredible action so far tonight.
We're just getting started.
Since emerging at WrestleMania victorious, the ESP of WWE has been on
an absolute tear, but the question still remains.
Who will be the next to step up to challenge the Raw Women's Champion?
Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair taking on the returning Asuka
in a championship contenders match.
Big Time Becky Lynch ringside.
I don't get this.
She hasn't done anything to deserve a title opportunity, yet here she is.
She just came back, disrespected the person
who literally handed her her title.
[Jimmy] Oh, my God, the power of Bianca Belair.
-Oh! -[Saxton] Oh, come on!
[Corey] Becky just got herself into the match!
[bell dinging]
[Saxton] Becky Lynch couldn't even sit by and let the spotlight be on someone else,
be on Asuka, be on Bianca Belair. It's got to be about Big Time Becks.
[Jimmy] Manhandle slam!
The champion, Bianca Belair, and potential future challenger, Asuka,
humiliated by Big Time Becks.
It can't happen now. Do you know why?
You're not even listening to me.
I just saw Naomi and Sasha take their bags and leave.
They left the building. They left the building.
-Little-- -It's a gross injustice
that now the six pack challenge shouldn't happen.
And because, Adam, because I haven't had my rematch after being the greatest
Raw Women's Champion to ever live, then I believe…
I should just be named number one contender
and I think I'll go take the night off.
What do you say about that?
No, how about I've been working on this because I know what happened.
And no, you just can't have the night off because we need a main event tonight.
And so I am going to make it official right now.
News to you, news to the WWE Universe.
You will go one on one with Asuka tonight and the stipulation remains the same.
Whoever wins this match will face Bianca Belair
for the Raw Women's Championship.
It's official.
My goodness…
-Yes. -…the field thinned in a hurry.
The odds swinging in the favor of either Becky Lynch or Asuka.
Totally changing the situation tonight.
But we're gonna find out who's gonna challenge the EST
Bianca Belair at Hell in a Cell. We're gonna find out tonight.
One thing about Bianca Belair, no matter who it is, she has the guts of a champion.
Well, you know who else had the guts of a champion?
RK-Bro going into hostile territory last Friday to face the Bloodline.
I'm going to say this real slow so you understand.
[slowly] Riddle and I want
a tag team title match.
We accept.
[crowd cheering]
There's going to be two titles right here, two titles right here,
and two titles right here.
[laughs]
[Corey] And with that, Riddle will have a little plan of his own,
targeting the tribal chief himself.
Sort of a warning shot, perhaps, of what's to come this Friday.
[Jimmy] Embarrassment for the head of the table.
Well, we might not have to wait till Friday to find out the consequences
of Riddle's actions.
Well, you know Riddle's actions infuriated the Bloodline.
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, he is one half
of the Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro,
Riddle!
[Corey] I've had a few days to think about it,
and I still can't decide whether Riddle's actions
on Friday Night SmackDown were genius
or the dumbest mistake of his entire career.
[Corey] Listen, it just shows how brazen, how fearless Riddle is
in the face of giraffes.
[Saxton] Yeah, Toys R Us.
[Corey] It just shows you, Riddle, RK-Bro, they're not intimidated by perhaps
the most dominant faction in WWE history in the Bloodline.
[Jimmy] Well, if Riddle isn't bright enough to be intimidated,
make no doubt about it, Jimmy Uso will beat respect into Riddle.
Jey will be in Jimmy's corner.
Jimmy Uso and Riddle, one-on-one, live, next.
["We Up" playing]
Well, Riddle certainly seems relaxed for someone who kneed Roman Reigns
in the face last Friday.
[Corey] Have you ever actually seen Riddle stressed out, Jimmy? Worried?
♪ Uso ♪
[Saxton] Perhaps Riddle should find a little worry.
["Done With That (Day One Remix)" playing]
♪ Down since ♪
[announcer] And his opponent, accompanied to the ring by Jey Uso,
representing the SmackDown Tag Team Champions,
The Usos, Jimmy Uso!
[Jimmy] Two men who do not take respect to the level…
at RK, they do not respect RK-Bro.
-Why? Because this Saturday. -[Corey] Friday.
I'm sorry, so sorry,
this Friday, a tag team championship unification match
that has been building for weeks.
[Corey] This is absolutely massive. There can only be one true undisputed
set of Tag Team Champions in WWE.
The Usos believe we the ones.
RK-Bro believe that distinction belongs to them.
We will find out for sure this Friday night on SmackDown on Fox.
But right now it is one-on-one, Jimmy Uso and Riddle.
[Saxton] And how about the fact that
RK-Bro has really turned into the aggressor in this conflict?
We heard from the Bloodline weeks ago,
-they wanted this match. -[bell dinging]
Randy Orton and Riddle went to the doorstep of the Bloodline and said,
"No, we're demanding that title unification match."
[Corey] Look at this, immediately Jey Uso making
his presence known and Jimmy capitalizing.
Do you guys honestly think that Jimmy and Jey weren't sent
to Monday Night Raw tonight by the head of the table,
by Roman Reigns with very, very distinct marching orders?
[Jimmy] Without question.
I'll tell you what, Corey, I think that places extra pressure
on the shoulders of Jimmy Uso knowing that the tribal chief himself
is watching and expecting Jimmy Uso to be victorious.
And Riddle's out here, all on his own.
To your point, Corey, you said this is one-on-one, Jimmy Uso versus Riddle.
Is it really?
We already see Jey Uso interjecting himself into the match, shoulders down.
Quick kick out from Jimmy Uso.
[Saxton] That's a valid point, and Riddle had to know what he was dealing with.
But again, this is, my goodness, Riddle's own fault by embarrassing
the Tribal Chief, the head of the table,
the undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
Friday night on SmackDown, on Roman's show.
Riddle's getting what's coming to him.
And that coming to him as well from outside of the ring.
Listen, Riddle wanted to ruffle some feathers.
Riddle wanted to get into the mind of the Bloodline.
I don't think Riddle regrets what he did on Friday.
Riddle finding out right now, we the ones.
And what I was trying to say with the walk-in is that respect level,
that when you disrespect the head of the table,
you're sending a message that you're not afraid.
Great counter by Riddle, pulling him right into a triangle over the top.
Riddle's so resourceful in so many different ways,
and now looking to strike from the apron.
Jey Uso got Jimmy out of the way and took the bullet for his brother.
Riddle looking to refocus his attention on… Oh!
That is it. Good night, Stallion.
Divided attention from Riddle against the always dangerous Jimmy Uso.
And here's why.
Jimmy Uso taking flight, taking out Riddle in the process.
What you guys are failing to understand is what Riddle did Friday night
wasn't only disrespect to Roman Reigns.
It was disrespect to the Usos, to the entire bloodline,
to generations of a family.
That's why Riddle's in such bad shape.
We the ones.
And you're looking at Riddle slamming away at Jimmy Uso.
This is one-on-one competition, Uso versus Riddle,
this Friday night on SmackDown Tag Team Unification Match.
Winners take all, RK-Bro, the Raw Tag Team Champions,
versus the Usos, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
[Jimmy] I hate to disagree with you, Corey.
This match has been anything but one-on-one, Jimmy and Riddle.
[Corey] Absolutely right, Jimmy.
Not only does Riddle have to contend with Jimmy, Uso back inside.
-But he's had to contend with-- -Shoulders down.
[all] One, two, three.
[Corey] Kick out just in time, very, very late for Riddle.
Take a look at this as Jimmy Uso backing it up and nearly shutting it down.
You know about the incredible resolve, the resiliency that Riddle possesses,
but you gotta wonder if that gas tank is nearing empty.
Listen, we've learned.
Over the past year or so, the impressive amount of stamina possessed by Riddle.
Riddle has a motor second to none.
However, Jimmy Uso right now
putting all of his body weight on the stallion,
wearing Riddle down before a sold-out Norfolk Scope.
Riddle unleashing his strikes on Jimmy Uso.
He'll escape from the chin lock. Good transition.
Overhead kick.
Jimmy Uso is on spaghetti legs for the moment.
Jey Uso barely hanging on, Jey Uso trying to encourage his brother from the outside.
Riddle trying to get moving, trying to get the offense going.
This is where he's at his best.
We know that the Viper, Riddle's tag team partner,
closely watching every movement in this matchup.
Unfortunately for Riddle, Orton had no prior family commitment tonight.
But right now Riddle making a strong accounting for himself.
Knees up at the last possible second from Jimmy Uso.
He just seems to take the wind right out of Riddle at the worst possible moment.
Both men are down. It could go either way.
Still to come tonight, an hour from now, Cody Rhodes responds to the actions
of Seth "Freakin" Rollins that left Cody laying on Monday Night Raw last week.
Right here on our announce table, stomped right through the table
by Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Right now, both of these men scratching and clawing.
Trying to gain an advantage, trading lefts and rights.
Looks like Riddle's getting that advantage.
Riddle with the upper hand for now.
Reversed by Jimmy Uso.
[all] Oh!
-Pop up some shoulders down. -One, two.
Oh!
And again, just barely, Riddle escaped before the count of three.
A millisecond faster with that count and this is over.
Watch the height.
Jimmy Uso with the pop-up, driving the original bro down
with a Samoan drop.
Tremendous impact, but not enough to end this battle just yet.
With so much energy out of Jimmy Uso as well, trying to recover.
Both these men trying to send a message to their enemy tag teams
for SmackDown this Friday.
And the message the Usos are trying to send to Riddle is you screwed up.
You disrespected and humiliated the head of the table, and now you will pay.
The message Riddle's trying to send is, not only do we not fear the bloodline,
we are coming to SmackDown on Friday,
and we are gonna unify the WWE Tag Team title.
And they have to scrape Riddle off the canvas after this.
-Great move by Riddle. -No way.
-Riddle. -No way in hell.
Surrender.
-Riddle wants an RKO. -A super RKO.
And Jimmy wisely fighting his way out of it.
Jimmy Uso all alone on the top rope.
Uso splats, but Riddle got the knees up.
Got him up just in time.
Jey Uso beside himself on the outside, realizing the jeopardy
that has befallen his brother.
We talk about Riddle's gas tank, we talk about how much
he has when he really gets going,
but it's got to be tested now because of this.
Riddle was looking for fireworks,
looking to deliver an RKO from the top rope.
Instead, Jimmy Uso delivered an Uso splash
to the knees of the original bro.
And once again, we are back at zero.
A much needed opening. Who can capitalize?
Can Riddle take advantage?
Jimmy Uso back to his feet. Doesn't look like he knows where he is.
He finds Riddle and unfortunately an elbow as well.
Oh, and Jey!
Gnarly landing for Riddle after the assist from the outside by Jey Uso.
-Roll up, shoulders down. -One, two…
-Assist from Jey! -Referee caught it!
Good.
[indistinct argument]
[Jimmy] And he's ejected from ringside.
[Saxton] Ring call by our official.
Let this truly be a one-on-one match between Jimmy Uso and Riddle.
[Jimmy] Interfered one time too many.
[Corey] No, and Jey realize that he's got an answer to the tribal chief himself.
And Jimmy still has a matchup.
-Riddle. -Oh, no. Shoulders down.
-One, two, three! -And he got him!
[bell dinging]
[announcer] Here's your winner, Riddle!
[Jimmy] Riddle overcoming incredible odds to defeat Jimmy Uso
and send a hard-hitting message to the entire bloodline.
[Corey] Well, if the result remains the same this Friday on SmackDown,
we're gonna have RK-Bro as the undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
And right now, I guarantee you, Roman Reigns is seething.
Here's the final straw here, Jimmy Uso with the assist of Jey
attempting to steal the victory, but our official noticing Jey Uso
making the call to say, Jey Uso…
[indistinct argument]
…get away from the ringside area.
And Jimmy Uso trying to collect himself inside cradle by Riddle.
And three seconds later, all momentum, in my humble opinion,
on the side of RK-Bro as we head towards this Friday.
Wait till Friday Night on SmackDown.
But the Usos Friday will definitely be looking for payback.
We talk about the strength of the bloodline faction.
You also have to talk about, of course,
the strength of the Judgment Day
and Rhea Ripley proving her value last week.
The more we learn about the Judgment Day, the more questions we are posed with.
We learned that Rhea Ripley has aligned herself with Edge,
with Damian Priest and as X declared her the eradicator of the Judgment Day.
Dominating her former partner Liv Morgan yet again.
And in the wake of a decisive victory, Rhea Ripley would once again
impose her pain, punishment, and suffering on Liv Morgan.
[Saxton] Just a symbol of the influence the Judgment Day has had on Rhea Ripley.
Not concerned about public opinion or what's acceptable,
it's about what is acceptable to the Judgment Day.
And then later on that night, there'd be Damian Priest
going one-on-one with Finn Balor.
-And the numbers game would play into -[bell dinging]
the advantage of the Judgment Day.
[Corey] Fortunately for Balor,
the phenomenal AJ Styles, who has been wrapped up
in an issue with the Judgment Day since its inception,
would be caught in a conundrum.
Styles, understandably, would not strike Ripley, but that opened the door
for Edge to capitalize and once again gain
the upper hand on the phenomenal AJ Styles.
["The End" playing]
Excuse me, Liv, can you shed a light into your mindset right now
after you were brutally attacked by Rhea Ripley,
the newest member of the Judgment Day?
Yeah, whether Rhea Ripley joins a motorcycle gang, a female rugby team,
or even the Judgment Day, she's never going to get away with this.
No matter what the odds are, I never give up the fight.
So you know what? I encourage Maria to do
-whatever she needs. -Bye-bye.
Come on. Come on.
Liv, I saw what happened to you last night.
And we are here to comfort you.
-Liv, we are gentlemen. -And you know what
always cheers a beautiful woman up?
-The Kiss Cam. -Of course.
Oh, thank you. No.
-All right, all right. -Love's Creepy McGee's.
Beat your feet.
-Come on. -Hasta luego, muchachos.
-We'll see you guys later on tonight. -Thank you.
Liv, I'm not going to offer you the Kiss Cam.
I'm going to offer you an opportunity.
I mean, you have a problem with Rhea Ripley.
We have problems with Damian Priest and Edge.
Why don't we join up, watch each other's back?
Liv, the three of us, we need to work together.
If we don't, the three members of Judgment Day
are gonna pick us apart one by one.
That's right, we need a plan to fight Judgment Day.
So how about it, sister?
Wanna come join us at ringside tonight?
Um…
I don't know.
I'll think about it.
All right, all right.
[Jimmy] Obviously, the list of superstars who oppose the sinister group
known as the Judgment Day continues to grow…
Edge, Rhea Ripley,
Damian Priest, the Judgment Day, will join us tonight.
And still to come tonight, one-on-one, the Empress of Tomorrow,
Asuka, battles Big Time Becky Lynch.
The winner will face Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship
at Hell in a Cell.
This match is still to come in our main event tonight.
Hey, have you been listening?
Are you getting it yet?
No, you're not.
You're not because by now,
you should all rise and show respect to the Judgment Day.
Around here, we don't take any orders.
We do what we want to whoever we want.
And if any of your precious heroes wanna step to us,
they'll face nothing but punishment.
[laughs evilly]
[crowd booing]
I've embraced the movement,
and I have enjoyed every single second of it.
We?
We are done being everything that you all wanted us to be.
I will not be the figure of my mistakes. There is nothing holding me back.
Now it's time for complete and utter eradication.
See, I would listen to my saints of fate, because they don't take names
and they don't speak lies.
We are at the forefront of something that most of you cannot understand,
especially the low-hanging fruit on the evolutionary tree that is most of you.
But there's some of you.
There's some of you…
that are tired of pretending.
See, I travel the country, I travel the world,
and I see it in your faces. You're angry.
And with the state of the world today, who can blame you?
So stop being sheep.
Join us. Join our movement.
Grab this bolt of electricity and throw some meaning into your life,
some excitement.
Here's our mission statement. Judgment Day equals power.
So accept this gift or continue to live your purgatory of an existence.
You've seen what we've done to your favorites,
Liv Morgan, AJ Styles, Finn Balor.
And I've seen how this all plays out.
More will come to us, more will join.
As a matter of fact, my arms are spread wide open
to any WWE superstar who wants to join us,
who wants to take their career to the next level
with my genius guiding their way.
It could even be you, AJ Styles.
Think about it.
More than anyone, you should understand after everything you've been through,
we could use your athleticism, your leadership, your tenacity.
AJ, your problem is you try to please everyone else.
And I get it. I did too.
I used to jump off 20-foot ladders thinking that their adulation
would somehow fulfill me.
But it didn't.
It left me with a body full of broken bones and a career
that was over before it should have been. And then where were they?
Gone.
Join our movement.
AJ, it's not too late.
We can put the past behind us and you can start climbing onward
and upward and join us on top of the mountain.
It's a beautiful place to be.
So Liv, Finn, AJ, the choice is yours.
This has to end and it can end with you standing by our side
or laying at our feet again and again and again, as long as it takes.
[crowd booing]
[Jimmy] …I expected to hear from the Judgment Day.
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
I guess we got our answer.
[Corey] It would certainly appear that way.
Liv Morgan said she wasn't sure if she'd run up with AJ Styles
and Finn Balor for their tag team match.
Match about to happen, here she is.
[Jimmy] Let's be perfectly honest, it was a smart decision by Liv Morgan.
If for no other reason than the enemy of my enemy is my ally.
And here comes one of those allies.
["I Am Danger" playing]
Thought he was motivated before? You thought he was intense before?
A man who has had the gall and the guts to stand up to the Judgment Day
on multiple occasions, to stand side by side with
the phenomenal AJ Styles.
Understanding the critical importance of how to combat the numbers
that the Judgment Day possesses.
And the unique problem presented by Rhea Ripley that AJ Styles
himself experienced last week on Raw.
["Phenomenal" playing]
[Corey] That problem was the Phenomenal One unwilling,
understandably, to hit Rhea Ripley. It stopped him, and he paid the price.
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest
is a tag team match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Liv Morgan,
the team of Finn Balor,
and the Phenomenal AJ Styles!
[Corey] Tonight for Styles, Balor, and Morgan, there is safety in numbers.
Essentially standing side by side, back to back to back,
to prevent the Judgment Day from rearing their ugly heads tonight.
[Jimmy] I'd love to know what these three thought about the eerie olive branch
extended by the Judgment Day.
Well, tonight, it is AJ Styles who will team up with Finn Balor
to take on Los Lotharios.
We'll get a taste of how the chemistry of Styles and Balor are building.
That is coming up next, but still to come,
we found out moments ago Sasha Banks and Naomi left the arena.
They're ordinarily professionals. There has got to be a reason behind it.
However, we have returned to the plan at hand, one-on-one, no controversy.
Asuka, Becky Lynch, the winner, heads to Hell in a Cell to challenge
Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's title in our main event tonight.
[narrator] It all started in Connecticut in 1995
during the Special Olympics World Games.
Since then, WWE's partnership with Special Olympics
has become part of a global inclusion revolution to help further ignite
a movement that unleashes the human spirit around the world.
It's all about inclusion and acceptance and bringing people together.
And one of the best ways to do that is through sport and athletics.
[narrator] Throughout the 26 year partnership,
Special Olympics athletes
and WWE superstars have formed incredible bonds and lasting friendships.
Motivating and inspiring each other, overcoming challenges,
persevering and staying connected despite obstacles.
Shining as one together.
Now, we invite you to join us on the journey to the 2022 USA Games.
[Jimmy] Clash at the Castle, the first UK stadium show in 30 years,
hosted at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Tickets are available this Friday on ticketmaster.co.uk.
For three decades, the WWE Universe in Europe has been begging,
they have been clamoring for an event of this magnitude.
Ask and you shall receive. Do not miss this.
[Corey] I am counting down the days.
It is going to be absolutely electric in Cardiff, Wales.
♪ They don't want none ♪
Got a little more electricity incoming in moments.
Tag team action there.
We see the phenomenal AJ Styles and Finn Balor flanked by Liv Morgan.
[Corey] Oh, guys, what a treat.
Here come the two men who attempted to comfort Cliff Morgan.
[announcer] Angel and Umberto, the Lethal Lovers, Los Lotharios!
[Corey] You guys won't hear me say this often, but I will readily admit,
at this particular point in time, I am only the third most handsome man
-in this building right now. -[Saxton] Oh, only the third!
-That's right. -How humble of you.
Angel and Umberto…
Living up to their namesake as close look there is not only
are they incredibly handsome.
They're very, very dangerous.
[announcer] And now, Los Lothario's kiss cam.
[Jimmy] Los Lotharios kiss cam.
[Corey] Liv Morgan turned this down.
[Saxton] I wonder why.
We know these two
have an affinity for PDA with strangers.
Can see that first hand.
[Corey] The Lotharios are discerning.
They're not just going to pass out a lip lock to anybody.
It's got to be somebody deserving.
[Saxton] They found a special taker, huh?
[Corey] This is about to be the best moment of this young lady's life.
[Saxton] Now that that's out of the way, can we actually have a match?
[Corey] I mean, that's basically the closest thing she'll ever experience
to having Channing Tatum and Joe Manganiello at the same time.
-I mean… -[Saxton] You are out of your mind.
[Corey] Listen, I'm understanding her excitement.
-They're also great competitors as well. -[Saxton] You wouldn't say that as well.
We're talking about their wrestling ability.
Anybody?
-Anybody? -I will happily talk about
the in-ring ability of Los Lotharios as well as their opponents,
-[bell dinging] -Styles and Balor,
but as far as tag team chemistry goes, you have to give the nod
to Los Lotharios, a full-time regular tag team.
[Saxton] Well I agree with you there, Corey, we know AJ Styles and Finn Balor
have known each other for quite some time. Long before their days in WWE,
but it's a different story competing as a tag team and building experience
as a tag team.
[Jimmy] You know, Corey, you were very successful in a tag team.
What's the difference between great individual competitors and a tag team?
What do they need?
[Corey] Tag teams need to know what their partners are thinking at all times.
-Oh! Beautiful. -Speaking of.
-And again. -Cover.
Cover.
Balor and Styles are far from strangers.
Both of these athletes have traveled the globe
doing battle alongside one another, sometimes against one another.
There's a great deal of healthy respect between Balor and Styles.
You see the countdown in a little over a half hour.
We will hear from Cody Rhodes after his savage attack at the hands
of Seth on our very commentary table last week.
Do you guys think Liv Morgan has a little bit of FOMO realizing
the opportunity that she was presented with?
No, I think she was actually disgusted, nauseous.
I think she's thinking a little more about Judgment Day,
a little bit more about Rhea Ripley.
Getting some payback for the double submission last week.
-No respect for the tag. -And here's what I still can't get over.
I still can't believe that we heard Edge. We heard the Judgment Day.
Extending all of France to AJ Styles, Finn Balor, Liv Morgan.
Four fists from Los Lotharios.
Two on one right now on AJ Styles. Wise move, but--
Have to get out before he's disqualified.
Now it's Angel Garza, abdominal stretch going after the ribs.
Speaks to the tag team experience we talked about between Angel
-and Humberto, isolating AJ Styles. -Oh!
Breaking down the Phenomenal One, all Finn Balor can do is look on.
Umberto now drawing the ire of Balor.
It's a smart strategy by Los Lotharios, looking to cut the ring in half
and isolate Styles from his partner, Finn Balor.
Tag made.
I mean, this matchup is so important if you're AJ Styles and Finn Balor.
It's about sending a message to Edge, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley
about the threat that they face in Styles and Balor.
-And Liv Morgan on the outside as well. -Oh, they can come together.
They can win the numbers battle, but it's teamwork that's going to be
the difference right now. Beautiful teamwork.
Angel sent to the outside, and Humberto meeting the same fate.
And I think it's about to get worse for Los Lotharios.
Flight club.
Oh, and a top crossbody laying out.
Los Lotharios, and it's fired up. AJ Styles in control.
Welcome back to Los Lotharios right now in control against AJ Styles and Finn Balor.
Teamwork was the question heading into this match.
Right now, it's been Los Lotharios.
Talk about tag team chemistry and why Los Lotharios have the advantage.
This is a perfect example. Talk about being on the same page.
How about the same sentence?
And from Angel of Los Lotharios, dinner for AJ Styles
-and a show for the WWE Universe. -Lucky all of us as the tag is made.
Angel back in, basement dropkick to Styles.
Now some teamwork from Los Lotharios working on the back.
Absolutely folding AJ Styles in half.
This has become a serious situation of peril for Styles
who desperately has got to make a tag with Finn Balor.
I am starting to believe that this much handsome on one team
should be against some sort of rule.
I'm talking about Los Lotharios in case you didn't know.
Oh, I never would have guessed.
Liv Morgan on the outside trying to get the crowd rallying.
Recently joining, recently willing to come out with AJ Styles and Finn Balor.
Listen, we know Friday night on SmackDown we're going to have
a tag team title unification match.
You know Angel and Humberto Los Lotharios would love to take a step toward being
a set of challengers in the future to whoever the new champions may be.
Styles trying to take a step towards Finn Balor.
-Oh! -Styles rocked.
Dallas has got a chance, just inches away from Balor.
And in comes Finn Balor, the Prince, fired up.
Down goes Angel.
Oh! Balor answering with a forearm.
Double leg and a double stomp.
Balor, a lot of pent up frustration watching the damage
that was done to AJ Styles.
Now a chance to turn this match around.
-And speaking of pent up frustration. -Whoa! [exclaims]
Finn Balor on the receiving end of a lot of abuse from the Judgment Day.
Him and AJ bringing all that frustration in this matchup.
Cradle, shoulders down.
-A kick out just in time from Finn Balor. -Angel nearly stole this one.
-Oh, man. -He just rocked Balor.
Oh! There goes Styles.
Angel has been uber impressive in this matchup
and maybe seconds away from victory.
Wing clipper, no. Balor has other plans.
-Oh! -Sling blade.
Liv Morgan enjoying the work of her new ally, Balor, eyes set.
Oh!
Beautiful timing on the super kick from Angel Garza
in the face of Liv Morgan sends it all, says it all, in comes Humberto Carrillo.
Humberto looking to put this thing away.
Oh! Angel made a Finn Balor.
What impact. [exclaims]
Send Humberto all the way to the other side of the ring.
And now Balor begging, daring Humberto, get up.
Angel tried to make the save. Balor out of the way just in time.
Humberto is now down and in the drop zone.
-Styles. -Phenomenal forearm to the face.
-And now Balor. -Puni Gras.
-Puni Gras cover of Humberto Correa. -One, two, three.
[bell dinging]
[announcer] Here are your winners, the team of the Phenomenal AJ Styles
and Finn Balor!
[Jimmy] We knew they were great alone.
Turns out they're great together as well, gentlemen.
AJ Styles, Finn Balor working very well together.
Found by a mutual disdain of the Judgment Day,
these were the closing moments.
A picture-perfect moonsault attempt by Humberto, met with Balor's boots.
Styles would follow with the phenomenal forearm, right in the mush.
And Balor, with the exclamation point, the coup de grace,
right to the heart of Humberto.
An impressive outing for Balor and Styles, with a little moral support
from Morgan on the outside.
Right now, if I'm Edge, if I'm Rhea Ripley,
if I'm Damian Priest, I would love to know what those three are thinking,
because you've got a serious threat of these three superstars
coming after the Judgment Day.
-United Front. -[crowd cheering]
[crowd booing]
Finally.
Finally. Are these the results? Do you have the results?
Indeed they are, Kevin. Indeed they are.
-I had my boys at the lab. -Yeah. The DNA lab?
The lab.
We cross-referenced Ezekiel's DNA, the stuff we got off that red solo cup
we confiscated from him.
-That we stole. I stole it. -With some of Elias' DNA.
-Yeah. -A piece of hair I got off
-one of his old guitars. -Ugh.
-Disgusting. -I bet.
However, inside this manila folder are the answers we seek.
Great. Finally, we can expose him for the fraud that he is.
What are you waiting for? Come on.
-Anticipation. -Come on.
-Anticipation. -What's it say?
It says the DNA results
were contaminated…
by what appeared…
to be barbecue sauce on the sample.
Barbecue sauce.
Elias must have eaten pulled pork, smoked ribs before the show.
-Yes. -Oh, yeah?
-Yes. -Really?
You know what?
Maybe we should give him a lie detector test because I specifically remember
that week you were eating ribs in catering like there was no tomorrow!
-Whoa, whoa, whoa. -I know what happened here, okay?
The chain of custody got broken along the way somehow.
-That's what happened. -This is useless!
No worries. We can run ancestry tests.
We'll find out about Elias' family tree.
No! No more tests!
They never work.
You're supposed to be the smartest man in the world.
I am.
Really, while Elias is making you look like an idiot.
Are you going to let him make you look like an idiot?
Shoooosh.
Shoooosh. Please.
Okay, next week, I'm going to expose Ezekiel for the fraud that he is.
-But tonight, I take it upon myself -What?
to beat it out of him in the middle of the ring.
-Oh, yeah? -You believe me?
-You say that every week. -You have to believe me.
Just go do it, okay?
-Go do it. -Thank you.
-You're welcome. -Thank you.
You're welcome.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
It's actually sad at this point.
I mean, how out of sorts are the Alpha Academy
and Kevin Owens when it comes to trying to expose Ezekiel?
Well, not a lot of trust from Kevin Owens, and something we haven't trusted
for months is the objectivity of Sonya Deville as a WWE official.
We wondered if anything would be done about it.
Turns out something was done, and it wasn't good news
for Sonya Deville last week.
Upper management has found that time and again,
you recklessly and unprofessionally abused your power.
Therefore, it is my duty to inform you
that your contract as a WWE official
is terminated.
[crowd cheering]
-["Fight Me" playing] -[mouths] What the…
And her opponent, Alexa Bliss!
[Corey] So think about this, Sonya Deville had to deal with being terminated
as a WWE official and then deal with the returning Alexa Bliss.
And well, things did not go very well for Sonya Deville.
-Salt in the wound, insult to injury, -[bell dinging]
a bad night that managed to get even worse for Sonya Deville.
Well, at least Sonya Deville got to pay homage to Justin Timberlake
and cry us all a river.
[Saxton laughs] You've been holding on to that one since last week.
I sure have.
I wish you'd do an NSYNC tribute and tell us all bye-bye-bye.
-That's not funny. -["Fight Me" playing]
She made a triumphant return to Monday Night Raw last week,
and she looks phenomenal doing it.
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Columbus, Ohio, Alexa Bliss!
[Saxton] Five-time Women's Champion Alexa Bliss returning after three months.
Did not show any ring rust, although still a little uncomfortable
with the presence of Lilly.
[Corey] We don't know if Alexa Bliss had any ring rust or not, Saxton.
She only had to perform two moves because Sonya was so out of sorts.
[Saxton] Alexa Bliss will have another chance
to prove just what kind of ring shape
she is in here tonight because Alexa Bliss for the second week in a row
will take on former WWE official
Sonya Deville next, live on Raw.
[Corey] You just love saying that, don't you?
[Saxton] How'd you know?
[Corey] You're a bad person, like really bad, the worst.
Welcome back to Monday Night Raw.
Alexa Bliss, full of confidence with good reason based on
her performance against Sonya Deville last week.
["Pride Fighter" playing]
Big difference this week. Sonya Deville has been able to prepare.
She has had seven nights, seven sleepless nights to think about
what happened.
[announcer] From Shabbat, New Jersey, Sonya Deville!
[Jimmy] Byron, what are your thoughts on that?
Mentally not in a great place to have a match against someone
she was not prepared for.
It was a surprise match and stripped of her authority
as a WWE official in the ring.
[Saxton] I'll tell you what I think is going on right now.
I think Sonya Deville is still trying to figure out her identity.
I mean, Sonya Deville has identified herself as a WWE official.
That's what she's known here in recent memory.
Now she has to pivot and once again adapt the mindset of a superstar.
And you're in there with a five-time women's champion
in the form of Alexa Bliss. That's a huge challenge for Sonya Deville.
[Corey] Just 14 minutes away
from hearing from the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes
-about his vicious attack last week at… -[bell dinging]
…the hands of Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Saxton] With all the tears and misery, let's see how Sonya Deville rebounds here
against Alexa Bliss.
[Jimmy] And also having to win a match
without being able to rely on her authority.
-Already going at the referee a bit. -[Saxton] Mixed martial arts experience.
Sonya Deville is a very, very prolific striker,
a submission specialist.
And, oh! Look at Sonya Deville, even in the early going of this match.
Jaw jacking with the official, getting chippy with Alexa Bliss.
Sonya Deville is not herself.
High flying Alexa Bliss, as always, we saw on display last week.
See the therapy she went through to get here.
She's actually…
flicking on all cylinders right now. Oh!
Knees to the abdomen of Deville.
This time Deville able to roll out of the way.
-Oh! -Very, very nice running knee by Deville.
-Shoulders down. -One, two…
We see the confidence tonight that we didn't see last week
in the eyes of Sonya Deville. That's undeniable.
Sonya didn't expect to get fired last Monday.
Sonya didn't expect to battle someone we haven't seen in months
and months and months last week.
But tonight Deville knows what she's up against.
Tonight it's Alexa Bliss who looks a little overwhelmed and overmatched.
Is this girl Alexa Bliss?
[Corey] Did Sonya Deville really think with all of her weeks and months
abusing her power, there wasn't gonna be any repercussion,
no punishment for her actions?
[Jimmy] But is this a chance, as you said, Corey,
to rediscover her abilities as a competitor?
As we found out, the Raw women's division is wide open.
-Cover, shoulders down, hook the leg. -One, two…
-Oh! -Kick out from Alexa Bliss.
Sonya Deville knows what a victory over Alexa Bliss would mean for her own career.
It could propel Sonya directly to the top of the ladder.
The same ladder currently occupied by Asuka and Becky Lynch,
who will collide tonight.
The winner earning a Raw Women's Title opportunity against Bianca Belair
at the Hell in a Cell Premium Live event.
Well, you talked about the submission skills.
Look at the chin lock here.
A lot of pressure on the back of Alexa Bliss, slowing her down.
Smart move, Byron.
[Saxton] And let us not forget when Sonya Deville was a regular competitor,
Sonya Deville could hold her own.
And we're seeing Sonya Deville almost utilize that muscle memory now
as an even competitor again.
Goes without saying how huge of a win this would be for Sonya Deville
if she can find a way to overcome Alexa Bliss.
Could Alexa Bliss have come in here a little bit too confident
based on last week?
Absolutely.
And that's exactly what we're seeing out of Alexa Bliss.
She's had spurts of offense, but Sonya Deville has been overwhelming.
Jaw breaker.
Was able to create some separation between herself and Deville,
-but Deville-- -Oh! Charlie Horse by Deville.
Looks like it caught Bliss in the thigh.
Bad Charlie Horse at any time, it's a bad, bad feeling.
-Oh! -That's it, good night Bliss.
-Cover, shoulders down, this might be it. -One, two…
Oh!
They're able to pop up the right shoulder and Sonya Deville none too happy
-as we take another look. -Boom!
Gliding knee right between the eyes
of Bliss and Deville is a half a second away
from a massive victory here on Raw.
Right into Alexa Bliss getting that shoulder up, her will being tested.
And Byron, you were going on and on about Sonya Deville having an identity crisis.
What about Alexa Bliss?
-What happened to the competitor? -What are you doing, Alexa Bliss?
Come on, Alexa Bliss, relax.
-She's working back to her old tactics. -Deville knows what she's doing.
-Referee all over that one. -Trying to cheat.
Oh! Impressive spine buster by Deville.
-Ref, come here now! -Time to turn around, ref.
-You derelict. -One, two…
[exclaims]
See, does Sonya Deville really know what she's doing?
Definitely would have been free, but she untied the turnbuckle.
If he knew how to tie a knot, we wouldn't be in this situation.
If Sonya wasn't worried about trying to cheat, she would have won the match.
Oh!
Beautiful right hand from Alexa Bliss.
-Oh! -Ace first goes to Deville.
To the cover.
One, two, three.
-A win for Alexa Bliss! -[bell dinging]
Back to back.
[announcer] Here is your winner, Alexa Bliss.
["Fight Me" playing]
[Jimmy] What do you say now?
Sonya Deville had time to prepare for Alexa Bliss?
What do you want me to talk about, Saxton? Let's take a look at the action.
Sonya Deville driving Bliss nearly through them.
Let's count.
One, two, three, four, five.
Sonya's attempt to cheat cost her the victory of this match.
Again, if the official had his priorities in order or knew how to tie his shoes,
Sonya Deville would likely still be in this battle.
Instead…
More Bliss.
-With or without preparation, -[bell dinging]
Alexa Bliss getting the best of Sonya Deville.
But a much better performance from Sonya Deville.
That was my… [indistinct]
[Jimmy] Oh, Deville going to have another breakdown.
[indistinct chatter]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Jimmy] Oh! Sonya cannot do that.
You cannot strike an official.
She is no longer a WWE official.
She has slapped the referee. There's got to be consequences for that.
Yeah, of course there will be.
Sonya Deville's got to figure some things out quick.
Another person who might face some consequences from Cody Rhodes
is Seth "Freakin" Rollins, because he had a savage moment
last week here on Raw.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Cody Rhodes, a second chance at history.
Tonight, we run it back.
[all cheering]
The motivation for Seth Rollins is to erase what happened at WrestleMania.
Seth Rollins is top five in the world no matter how you slice it.
Rollins had the tights!
-[Cody Rhodes] But also… -To reverse!
And Cody has the tights!
I walked away with the moment, the money, and the victory.
Cody Rhodes beats The Visionary at his own game.
For the second time, Cody Rhodes defeats Seth Rollins.
So as far as I'm concerned,
the chapter of Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes is closed.
Theory, the youngest United States champion in company history.
Nothing sounds better to me than the American nightmare,
the new United States champion.
[commentator] Cody Cutter!
Rhodes is feeling it, closing in on the United States Championship.
What?
Seth "Freakin" Rollins taking the moment away from Cody Rhodes.
You're not going to take anything from me ever again.
You understand me?
[Jimmy] Look in the eyes of Rollins right now.
You're not gonna take anything away!
Never again, never again you'll defeat me.
[breathing heavily]
[echoing] Never again.
[Corey] Still hard to believe.
[Saxton] Absolutely disgusting attack by Seth Rollins.
[man on speaker] Wrestling has come to an end. Royal family.
["Kingdom" playing]
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
[Saxton] I admit, guys, I did not expect the American Nightmare
to even make it here to Monday Night Raw this week after that brutal attack
-from Seth Rollins. -You know what, Byron?
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Rhodes was in bad… bad, bad shape.
That's my favorite part.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the American Nightmare,
Cody Rhodes!
It's not about adversity, it's how you deal with adversity.
That's what we find out tonight from the American Nightmare.
Cody Rhodes, certainly a man with a great deal on his mind.
Questions being raised throughout the WWE Universe.
What will Cody's next move be?
How will the American Nightmare respond to Seth Rollins?
After having his skull driven into the announce desk last week,
what's on Rhodes' mind?
Find out next.
For the first time since the savage attack by Seth Rollins,
we are going to hear from the American Nightmare himself,
Cody Rhodes.
♪ You took my dreams but not my name You'll follow me into the end ♪
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody! Cody!
I have been told that Seth Rollins is not here.
[crowd booing]
And although I am surrounded by lovers here in Virginia,
and millions watching at home, I hope at least that Seth is listening.
Last week, I tried to move forward.
I tried to extinguish this chapter in our career,
and Seth, he went ahead and dumped gasoline on the flame.
He stomped my head on that desk right there,
and he said the most peculiar thing.
He said that I would never take away anything from him ever again.
So inquiring minds, I have to know.
What is it that I took away from you? What did he lose?
Two matches? A winning bonus?
A momentary spotlight?
It isn't as if I diluted his legacy or crossed a personal line.
If anything,
the biggest threat to Seth Rollins probably isn't me.
It's probably Seth Rollins.
He is trapped in this pandemonium purgatory of his own design,
and he is hellbent on pulling me in with him.
Let's take a little stroll, that memory lane stroll, 2012.
Seth Rollins shows up to WWE, shielded up.
And I would remember, I was one of the bitter boys in the locker room.
Within months,
he had won Tag Team Gold.
Within a few years, he had climbed the metaphorical
and very real ladder in our sport.
He had won the WWE Championship. He had shattered the glass ceiling.
And for skeptics like myself, he had proved there was a glass ceiling
in the first place.
Seth Rollins won his way to the top.
My story is a little different.
I…
I didn't win.
No,
I didn't win that much till recently. Actually, I lost.
I scratched, I clawed,
I painted my face with a smile,
dead inside, looking up at the lights most nights.
But the thing is, I endured.
[crowd cheering]
You learn so much from loss.
You learn how to live, how to love, how to adapt, how to reinvent yourself.
The difference between a revolutionary interview
and actual revolutionary actions.
And the number one thing that I learned,
I'm never gonna be the American dream.
So why not embrace the nightmare?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
I guess you could say that I lost my way to the top.
But what this comes down to truly,
does Seth Rollins, his embarrassment over
losing two matches outweigh my quest for vindication?
And if quest for vindication sounds hyperbolic,
here's another way to put it, my second chance.
Everyone here tonight knows what it's like to get a second chance.
You don't take it for granted.
And if Seth Rollins intends on denying me said second chance, buddy,
you're gonna have to kill me.
[crowd cheering]
And I'm gonna give you the chance.
I say we run it back.
I say we lock all that angst in here. We leave it all on the mat.
I say we play for keeps. What do you say?
Rollins versus Rhodes for the third time,
but this time…
-inside Hell in a Cell. -[all cheering]
[Jimmy] Wow.
-Rose has thrown down the gauntlet. -[Seth Rollins laughing]
-[crowd booing] -[exclaiming]
[continues laughing]
Oh, there you are.
Mr. Nightmare, in all your glory, countdown to Cody.
There you are. [laughs]
So let me get this straight, Cody.
Trying to steal my spotlight at WrestleMania,
that wasn't enough for you.
No, no, no.
Cheating to beat me at WrestleMania Backlash,
that wasn't enough for you.
One little stomp on the announce desk and now you're begging,
pleading with Seth "Freakin" Rollins for one more go around.
[laughs] This time inside Hell in a Cell.
[crowd exclaiming]
Cody, you must be stupider than you look.
That is the biggest mistake you've ever made in your entire life.
Anyone who's ever stepped foot in
that cell with me is changed forever.
You already know my answer.
I am going to exploit…
every one of your insecurities, and I am going to expose you
for the fraud that you are.
Rollins versus Rhodes III.
I accept.
-[laughs] -[crowd cheering]
Well, I guess there's nothing left to say other than…
I'll see you in hell.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] No better way to say it.
Can you imagine if this match is made official?
Can you imagine what Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will do to each other
inside the barbaric confines of hell in a cell?
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
Excuse me, Asuka, earlier tonight we learned you'll be facing Becky Lynch,
where the winner will be facing Bianca Belair
for the Raw Women's Championship.
What's your reaction to the news?
[sobs]
Becky Lynch cries like a big,
big time baby.
[sobs mockingly]
[laughs]
But tonight, I'll give her a…
I'll give her a reason to cry. [laughs]
Because I'm ready for the Royal Women's Champion.
And Becky Lynch is not ready for Asuka.
[Corey] Asuka certainly ready for Becky Lynch.
Both women were originally scheduled to be part of a six pack challenge
until WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi summarily
and unprofessionally left the arena
before this match could take place.
So now it has been declared official.
One-on-one, the Empress of Tomorrow Asuka versus big-time Becky Lynch.
The winner of this match will move on to the Hell in a Cell Premium Live Event,
where she will challenge the Raw Women's Champion, Bianca Belair,
for the gold.
-["Shoooosh" playing] -Incredible stakes later tonight.
What a mess up.
These two have been involved in failed forensic filed experiments.
-Session with Ezekiel. -[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, upcoming to the ring by Otis,
representing Alpha Academy, Chad Gable.
[Jimmy] Barbecue sauce disinformation.
There's been a lot happening to Alpha Academy and KO.
[Saxton] Let's be honest, we all know the barbecue sauce mishap
was because of Otis.
[Corey] That lie detector test as well.
Every class was a few to assume that it's Otis.
["Fight (Theme Song)" playing]
Well, hey, at least we get Kevin Owens and not Ken Owens this week.
Although I kind of like Ken Owens better.
Well, it could be about barbecue sauce, could be about lie detector tests,
but it's all about Ezekiel.
Apparently, Elias' younger brother takes on the master of the Alpha.
Kevin's been trying to undermine him at every corner, at every turn.
Chad Gable, we'll see how it turns out in the ring on Raw next.
-We'll find out the truth next. -Oh, gosh.
[Jimmy] Well, it was announced before the break,
the challenge thrown out and accepted.
-It's gonna be unbelievable. -[Saxton] It is now official.
Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins will run it back for a third time,
but this time inside one of the coolest,
most barbaric structures in WWE history.
Hell in a Cell.
Thank you.
And there's Chad Gable, of course, and joining us on commentary,
Kevin Owens for this match. Chad Gable versus Ezekiel Elias.
-Elias. -It says Ezekiel.
I know, but the papers are wrong.
-What's your… -[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
allow me to introduce to you,
-Elias' younger brother, Ezekiel. -That's not…
Liar, Mike Rome is a liar.
The screen, Jason who runs the screen or whoever's running it, that's a liar.
Liars all around.
-Corey, help me. -[Corey] I'm doing my best.
I was as disappointed as anybody to find out that
the DNA results were inconclusive.
-They were contaminated. -[Kevin] Otis ate five racks of ribs.
[Saxton] Kevin, I want to show you something right now.
[Kevin] I don't want to see it. Whatever it is you want to show me,
I'm not looking.
-[Saxton] Look, side by side. -My eyes are closed.
-Elias with his younger brother, Ezekiel. -My eyes are closed.
-Why don't you want to look at the photos? -[Kevin] That's a doctored picture.
[Saxton] Oh, my God.
[Kevin] He posted, he went to some concert, that's a musician.
The guy in the black shirt, okay? Do your research.
It could very easily be one of those giant cardboard cutouts they sell on WWE shops.
It's not even that, but it could be. The point is, it's not--
-[bell dinging] -You know, I met his parents,
Elias' parents, I met them.
We used to live near each other in Orlando, I met them.
They never mentioned that they had another kid, never.
[Saxton] Listen, Kevin, just a possibility to consider here.
Ezekiel passed a lie detector test, your DNA test kind of fell by the wayside.
Why don't you just let it go? Just give it up.
[Kevin] I don't know why I can't let it go.
I just know that I care.
I don't like liars. It's not right. Byron, is that your real name?
-Ezekiel. -Listen…
I'm trying to deal with Chad Gable.
-Oh! -I've never seen Saxton's
birth certificate.
-I've never seen his driver's license. -Don't start this.
[Kevin] Yeah. No, those are solid points.
[Saxton] A lot of people would say you're the worst liar in WWE, Kevin.
[Kevin] Well, a lot of people would be lying about that too.
-Byron. -And a lot of people don't know Kevin.
There we go, get him, make him submit.
But before he submits, make him admit that he's Elias, Chad Gable.
Good job by Elias rolling through the arm lock.
-Stop, Ezekiel. -Hey, no, no, you said it, you said it.
You said good job by Elias 'cause he's Elias.
Good job, keep it up.
-I didn't mean it. -You did.
I wish you would, I heard it.
You said it, you said it, just like you said Cody Rhodes
hadn't competed in like six years the other day.
And that was ridiculous too.
Wrong, lies.
Corey, thankfully, was here to put you back on the right track.
-A lot of confusing information. -Kevin, have you ever tried goat yoga?
-I've never tried-- -Might calm your nerves.
-What the hell kind of question is that? -There we go, solid.
-Oh, rolling through the arm tag. -See, I'll give it to him.
He's an impressive competitor, Elias, always has been.
[Corey] Right into the chin.
Ezekiel very impressive here against Jack Gable.
No, no, that kind of maneuver takes experience.
This guy hasn't been in this industry for a few weeks.
He's been here for like eight years.
[Corey] Kevin's raising a lot of extremely valid points that I think are being
overlooked by the majority of the WWE Universe.
[Saxton] Also raising his blood pressure.
My blood pressure has been raised nonstop since before WrestleMania, okay?
-Okay? -[Saxton] Listen to you, Kevin.
Let's talk about something a little more light hearted.
[Kevin] Yes, please. Shoulders down.
-Looking for the cover. -That was three.
[Corey] Kevin, as a true student of the game,
what impresses you the most about
Chad Gable and his charge Otis, his number one guy?
[Kevin] Well, he's got some solid traps right off the bat.
[Corey] They are strong.
[Kevin] But what about the amateur background he's got?
The fantastic skills and until just recently,
I was very impressed with his IQ.
You know, he says he's the smartest man on Earth.
I bought it until his test went awry and he couldn't get this guy
not to spoil everything with barbecue sauce.
[Jimmy] Oh, look at this. Look at this, Ezekiel now.
Trying to hip toss.
[Saxton] A very precarious position here in the center of the ring.
Corey's special.
Breaking on the back of Chad Gable, looking for the submission.
-[Kevin] It's the Elias special, okay? -[Saxton] Okay, let's call it that.
-[Kevin] Because that's Elias, yes. -[Saxton] It's Ezekiel.
[Corey] Saxton, as to keep the peace and not badger our guests.
[Kevin] I don't know what's keeping me from jumping across this table
and slapping you in the face.
-[Saxton] I'd rather you not do that. -Great escape, Sunset Flip.
-Rolling right through it is Ezekiel. -Elias.
I'm thinking ankle lock.
He's got the ropes. He's got the ropes.
Fortunate situation for Chad Gable.
Hey, hey, hey.
Oh!
He's in the ring. Come on.
Come on. Chad's in bad shape here, KO.
Oh! Come on.
Ezekiel? There we go. Oh.
Absolutely leveling Ezekiel. Can he recover?
-Great stuff. -What impact from the tree trunk.
Elias is down.
Welcome back to Monday Night Raw, Ezekiel versus Chad Gable.
According to most, but our guest Kevin Owens at the desk.
-Clap, Byron. -In your opinion.
-No, don't clap now. -Yeah, I'll clap.
-No, don't, Kevin. -I missed what happened.
-Chad Gable competing against right now. -Elias.
Ezekiel, it says right there in the graphic and graphics department,
-very, very accurate. -Graphic is a filthy liar.
Somebody in the trunk changed that immediately.
-No, no, no, like suplex. -Almost beat Elias.
Put the graphic back with the name Elias under his face.
-We can fix that. -[Saxton] K.O., honest question.
How do you feel about a newcomer like Ezekiel essentially holding his own
against a more experienced Chad Gable?
I will dive across this table and drop you in the forehead.
-Modified Americana right now, Keylock. -[Kevin] I'm spry, Byron.
[Corey] Byron's got one of those foreheads that last to the back of his head.
-You can't miss. -The five head.
[Saxton] Can we focus on the match, please?
[Kevin] Well, you're the one asking stupid questions.
[Saxton] I was just wondering.
Kevin, do you have any additional plans to expose Ezekiel?
You know, I gotta think, 'cause I thought this,
Gable said it was from the DNA lab.
-Right. -The one.
-Yeah. -The best one.
-Of course. -Well, what am I supposed to do?
I thought this was it. I thought we had him.
Whoa.
-Like he has him. -Nice.
-Straight to his back. -One, two…
-Come on. -Kick out from Ezekiel.
I need another.
Bring the graphic back with the proper name there, please.
-That's not the right name. -That's Ezekiel.
Okay, I'm gonna walk into that truck and dropkick whoever's doing this
-in the forehead next. -I can't do that.
That could get me in trouble. But Byron, nobody cares.
-Whoa. -But nobody home.
Ezekiel charging full steam ahead. Gable out of the way.
-Watch out. -I knew he was gonna do that.
Because it's Elias and he's done that before.
Ezekiel right now taking it to Chad Gable.
There we go.
-Get him. -Yeah, he got him all right.
Spinebuster right through the canvas to the cover.
Kick out, kick out.
-Kick out. -That was one, that was a one count.
-Good stuff, Gable. -He's got Olympian hips.
There you go, Olympian hips, Otis is saying.
-Gable's in trouble, Kevin. -I'll take his word for it.
Gable in trouble, but Ezekiel showing the where.
I'm impressed with the continued effort we're seeing here from Ezekiel.
-Elias. -Every single one of you.
On the top rope in a very dangerous position.
Helping the ante right now, Ezekiel. Ezekiel looking to finish it.
-Looking for a superplex. -Get it, fight him off.
Gable, fight him.
There we go, nice headbutt to Elias' face.
Headbutt always works.
And Gable off the top.
Oh!
Lumping knee.
-No, no, no. -One, two…
Whoa. That was close.
One of Elias' trademark moves, I'll have you know.
[Corey] How do you draw that comparison? I see it.
I can't help but see it, KO. I think you're on to something here.
Look at this. Very slow motion.
Watch as the master, Chad Gable, descends.
[Kevin] Listen, he can say, oh, no, I'm using my brother's moves as a tribute.
-No, no. -Okay.
Doing a move, somebody else's move, I can understand.
But this is the exact same motion, the exact same jump.
Every ounce of that motion is the same as Elias.
-It's him. It's him. -Boom.
You're presenting some pretty strong evidence.
He's going to moonsault. Look at him.
Gable, through the air, yes, cover, yes.
-One, two… -Oh!
Don't touch me, you're very sweaty, I got excited too though.
Keep on him, Gable.
Not enough for Chad Gable to attempt to defeat Ezekiel.
[Kevin] Elias.
See Ezekiel though, wiring down in the center of the ring.
Wobbly.
-But by Elias. -On back.
Shots of his own, rocking Chad Gable.
This reversal by Gable.
Wait a minute, donkey kick to the chin.
Elias would do that all the time, every single match he would do that.
I think I remember that.
You don't think you remember it.
-I think you're feeling it. -Elias.
Oh! Big splash in the corner.
Fight him off.
-Oh! Here comes Otis. -Oh, no, another running knee.
-Here goes Otis. -There we go, there we go.
Roll your shoulders down.
Try to maneuver.
Now the cradle.
-He's got him. -Nope.
-Reversal into a Grammy roll. -Ezekiel.
-Ezekiel's got him. -[bell dinging]
Oh, no.
Right, Ezekiel.
[announcer] Here's your winner, Ezekiel.
Now, how silly does this make Kevin Owens and the Alpha Academy look?
Ezekiel.
I think Kevin really believes that's Elias.
I was playing along. I didn't want to get punched in the face.
-Oh, really? -Kevin's really… he's really violent.
[Jimmy] He clearly really believes it, but call him whatever you want.
Great performance by Ezekiel.
[Saxton] Congratulations, Ezekiel.
Another rough night for KO in the academy.
[indistinct chatter]
[Kevin] You don't get to stand up. [continues indistinctly]
Truth, what are you doing?
My gosh, you didn't even give him the divorce papers?
-Shh, be quiet. -I told you I want him gone.
I know where he's hiding at.
-Where is he hiding? -Trust me, Tamina.
Trust you how?
To catch a Tozawa, you gotta think like a Tozawa.
-[grunts] -What are you doing?
One, two.
No!
-I don't want to hear it. -Get him!
Tozawa, you've been served, bro. You got served, bro.
-Tamina! Tamina! -Where you going?
Oh, yeah.
Another dissatisfied couple.
-Truth. -Yes, ma'am.
I just wanted to thank you so much for serving Reggie those papers last week.
Oh. It was my pleasure, Dana.
You know, starting your marriage and ending it. Muah!
Now's the time we talk about conversation.
I want my 24/7 championship back.
I gotta have my 24/7 championship back.
Yeah, give it to me.
Give it to me, Dana.
-No! -Oh!
You're gonna push the page out! Oh!
You push the page out!
-I'm gonna get you! -Oh.
-I am sorry, Carmella. -Sorry?
You almost smashed my face.
I said I was sorry.
You know what, Dana? You are sorry.
You're a sorry excuse for a competitor, and you're a sorry excuse for a wife.
Not me, though. I'm so perfect.
Because unlike you, my husband can't get enough of me.
And unlike you, I'm a real champion.
I am relevant, honey.
Well, here's a reality check for you, honey.
The last time you were relevant is when the chinless guy worked here.
You talk a big game, Dana.
You should know.
Corey talks one, but he couldn't cut it.
And neither can you.
You wanna talk about my husband now, don't you?
[R-Truth] Dana! Yeah, I'm getting all that.
I'm getting, oh, no. Girl, you back.
Where you been? Oh! Get on my back.
Uh, uh, uh.
Oh, damn, it's like that?
I need some help, I gotta get my baby back.
Come on, help me get my baby back.
Truth, I'll help you get the 24/7 title.
When the time is right, I want Dana.
All right.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mother, wife, daughter,
United States Marine and WWE superstar,
Lacey Evans.
["Bet On Me" playing]
♪ When the walls keep tumbling down I'ma keep my feet on the ground ♪
[Jimmy] Well, for weeks, we have heard the heartfelt,
we've heard the inspirational comeback story of Lacey Evans.
Lacey Evans will join us live next, right here on Raw.
[The Miz] Some people don't like being a bad guy.
I enjoy it.
I'm not playing a character. I am the character.
[man] What do the voices tell you?
[Sasha Banks] You don't make children cry.
[sobs mockingly]
Sasha Banks does, though.
[Paul Heyman] Do you find good guys to be interesting?
I don't.
♪ When the walls keep tumbling down ♪
[Jimmy] Welcome back with WWE Superstar Lacey Evans
ready to speak to this sold out crowd.
Hey you guys, I just want to say first and foremost how much I admire
and respect the men and women of our armed forces.
[crowd cheering]
And how much they keep volunteering their time and their life
to protect this country.
So with that being said, hold on, because I want every single one of you
in this building tonight to get off your butt and on your feet
and give them a round of applause with me.
[crowd cheering]
[all chanting] USA! USA! USA! USA!
[Jimmy] Great show of respect here tonight.
Hell yeah.
Hey, I want to also thank you guys for the warm welcome
that I got coming back here on Monday Night Raw
and how honored I am that I'm actually in the presence
of some servicemen and women here tonight.
Where are you guys at?
[crowd cheering]
Hey, I know what you've been through. I know what your family goes through.
And I wanted to personally tell you guys thank you for your service
and everything that you guys do for this country.
[crowd cheering]
You know, finding the courage to fight is hard.
Finding the courage to try to change your circumstances in life
to be successful is hard.
But we've got what it takes to do so.
I'm thankful to be here on Monday Night Raw to not only show
the entire WWE Universe that you have what it takes to beat the cycle,
but also show my two beautiful baby girls that we can do it.
[crowd cheering]
That we have what it takes inside of us to make it.
That we have what it takes to wake up, to work, and to win.
I may not be better than any of these other WWE superstars
in the Raw women's locker room.
But they damn sure are no better than me.
-[crowd cheering] -Lacey Evans.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Lacey Evans, without question, ultra driven, ultra determined,
and ultra confident
about the competition that awaits here in WWE.
Well, earlier tonight, someone facing big competition with Riddle.
Two questions, will the Bloodline avenge the disrespect given to the head
of the table at SmackDown?
And could Riddle build momentum heading into Friday's SmackDown?
We got an answer to both questions.
That was a little one-on-one with Jimmy Uso.
Watch Jey Uso, who would multiple times get involved in this matchup,
coming to the aid of his brother.
And this was the final straw here. Jimmy Uso with the cover.
Watch Jey on the outside providing assistance.
But thankfully, thankfully, our official noticed.
This will lead to our official ejecting Jey Uso from ringside.
However, as his brother Jimmy attempted to capitalize on the chaos,
it would open a door for the original Bro.
Lying in wait, playing possum, executing a perfect inside cradle
-and earning a singles victory -[bell dinging]
over Jimmy Uso.
If it's Riddle or Randy Orton who secure a victory this Friday on SmackDown,
we'll be saying that RK-Bro
are the new undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions.
What's up, guys?
Usos, that was just an appetizer, like a three inch cocktail weiner
if you would, and nothing's gonna stop Randy and myself from coming to SmackDown
this Friday and unifying those tag team championships, bro.
And one more thing, RK-Bro 420 said we just smoked your ass, bro.
Yeah.
Riddle, tonight we got lucky, but come Friday,
-all that luck running out. -You gonna come to our house.
-Yeah. Yeah. -Come to our show. Sit at our table.
-Yeah. -And disrespect the tribal chief?
And come SmackDown, this is one and done
and the Bloodline gonna be shifting all the gold.
'Cause we're gonna be the new unified tag champs.
-Yes, sir. -We the best tag team.
-Yes, sir. -We the Bloodline.
-Yes, sir. -And we the one.
♪ Are you ready ♪
[Jimmy] And this is what it all leads to this Friday.
It's been building for months.
Winner take all tag team championship unification match.
The Usos versus RK-Bro.
The Raw tag team champions versus the SmackDown tag team champions.
There's going to be a major power shift in the tag team division after this Friday.
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
[Saxton] Can't speak about championships without talking about the EST of the WWE.
Without question, sitting on top of the mountain of the Raw Women's Division.
[announcer] Please welcome
the Raw Women's Champion, Bianca Belair.
[Jimmy] It has already been a tumultuous night in
the Raw Women's Division and no doubt, the Raw Women's Champion,
the EST, Bianca Belair wants to get a close look at what the future holds
for herself in the Raw Women's Championship.
Well, she gets to be an interested observer in
a colossal showdown between Asuka and Big Time Becky Lynch.
The winner faces Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship.
Asuka came back and Becky didn't expect her.
In fact, she expects her now.
[Corey] Who is going to be the next challenger for the EST?
We'll find out next.
Ladies and gentlemen, we had a very positive superstar visit
to the USS Iwo Jima earlier today.
Bobby Lashley, the Street Profits, and Liv Morgan had an opportunity
to take the full tour of the ship led by Captain
and some of his executive officers.
And they did an extensive meet and greet with sailors on the flight deck.
They were also able to interact with nearly 700 sailors
throughout the tour and meet and greet.
Not just that, but Bobby Lashley was able to connect with his own cousin
who is serving on the ship.
That doesn't mean Bobby wasn't able to take care of business early tonight
in a steel cage match with none other than Omos.
This is before the opening bell, before Lashley ever made it into the cage.
Cedric Alexander, formerly of the Hurt Business,
making his presence known in what one would assume would be to impress MVP.
But the match would eventually get started and chaos would ensue.
Omos reminding Lashley in the WWE Universe of the terrifying Superhuman power
he possesses.
Oh, and MVP still making his presence felt from outside of the cage.
So many hurdles Lashley would have to overcome,
and this was just jaw-dropping to watch.
Watch the force of Omos.
Lashley perched on his shoulder, breaks through the cage.
And as Lashley sits there prone, what a smart move by Bobby Lashley.
Once The All Mighty realized exactly where he was and what the situation was,
Lashley simply stepped off of the fallen cage
and earned himself the victory in a cage match.
Much to the chagrin
-of MVP and Omos. -[bell dinging]
Well, the question now moving forward is, what is next for Bobby Lashley?
We'll find out next week with Bobby Lashley's All Mighty Challenge.
He's defeated the Nigerian Giant in a steel cage match.
But what does The All Mighty have in store for not just Omos, but MVP next week?
Can't wait to see it on Monday Night Raw.
[Corey] I can't wait to see that for sure next week.
You know what else I can't wait to see or find out?
Who's going to be the next challenger for the Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair?
[Jimmy] It's safe to assume that's exactly why the EST has joined us at ringside
to get the best seat in the house because it's about to go down.
["The Future" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell dinging]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Osaka, Japan,
Asuka!
[Corey] As the hypnotic Asuka dances her way toward the ring.
Can you imagine what Asuka and Bianca Belair
would be capable of in a one-on-one matchup
without the interference of Becky Lynch like we saw last week?
To your point, Corey, we got a taste of it in what was supposed
to be a championship contenders match.
A second chance now for Asuka to earn her way into
a Raw Women's Championship opportunity.
But it will be no easy task because this game,
as the Empress of Tomorrow constantly is,
Becky Lynch feels this is her opportunity to take the Raw Women's Championship back
to the big time.
And of course, Bianca Belair would disagree with both
women's assessment of the situation.
Listen, we all know Bianca Belair. We know her mindset.
We know that she's got to be pumped.
She's got to be excited to find out who she gets
to show out against at Hell in a Cell.
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
WWE Universe, welcome to the big time.
-Mike Rome, I hope you get run over. -[announcer] …Becky Lynch!
Becky Lynch specifically asked me to do it, and you screwed it up again.
Impeccable timing from Corey Graves. Beyond that, I'm done.
Becky Lynch looked like she saw a ghost. There goes Corey.
I'm sure he'll come back eventually. Hopefully not.
Looked like she saw a ghost when she saw Asuka.
The nose flick heard around the world, just not prepared for the return
of the Empress of Tomorrow. Am I wrong?
Becky Lynch lost the Raw Women's Championship
at WrestleMania, took some time away to regroup,
thought she was going to have this heroic comeback
to tell the world how she was feeling, and yeah,
Becky Lynch got upstaged by Asuka,
and Becky Lynch has not been able to get over it.
Very curious to see how this plays out when Monday Night Raw kicked off.
Both Lynch and Asuka believed they were going to be part of
a six-pack challenge, but now the field has thinned.
It is one-on-one.
Either Asuka or Lynch will challenge Bianca Belair
-at the Hell in a Cell premium live event. -[bell dinging]
Here we go.
Doesn't matter what was supposed to happen earlier in the night.
You're right, it's all about the here and the now and the opportunity
on the table for both of these women.
And these two superstars knew they were going to collide at some point.
Everything else was a warm up, a tune up, a preparation for this match.
Last week here on commentary, Becky Lynch raised a lot of valid points.
What has Asuka done recently to earn an opportunity to challenge Bianca Belair?
Remember, it was--
Oh!
It was Becky Lynch who handed over her championship to Asuka
before leaving WWE to become a mother.
That's after Asuka earned a victory
in the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
Let's also not forget the return, the famous return
of Becky Lynch at SummerSlam against Bianca Belair.
Right in there, took the title from Bianca Belair in 24 seconds.
That might as well be ancient history at this point.
Whoa! Whoa, Asuka is laid out, can she come back?
Who will head to Hell in a Cell to challenge Belair?
Welcome back to an epic match.
Big time Becky Lynch versus Asuka, the winner facing Bianca Belair
for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell.
Lynch now taking a moment to remind Asuka.
Backslide.
-One, two… -Shoulders are down.
The stakes simply could not be much higher.
-Oh! Shoulders down. -One, two…
-Kick out just in time-- Oh! -Oh!
Lights out, that could be it for Lynch if Asuka can capitalize.
And even Bianca's gotta be a little impressed at the impact
of the kick that just turned Big Time Becky's lights out.
Boom, look at them.
Charring kick that Asuka delivered to Becky Lynch.
And that could be in store for Bianca Belair,
assuming Asuka gets past Becky Lynch.
Lynch now making her way to a vertical base and the EST here
at ringside with the best seat in the house scouting her competition.
Which of these two women will challenge Belair at Hell in a Cell?
It could go either way at this point.
Becky unable to connect but Asuka does multiple times.
A spinning back kick… Oh!
Spinning back kick right to the guts.
-We have to ask-- -Hip attack in the corner.
What either superstar will have left after this match for Bianca Belair.
Boom. Knee to the chin.
That's released German by Asuka.
Asuka has not skipped a beat.
Unbelievable offense from the Empress of Tomorrow cover.
-One, two… -No.
Left shoulder up from Becky Lynch.
Hard to believe with this shot.
The sliding knee right between the eyes of Becky Lynch.
But Big Time Becks has and knows what it takes to make it
to the top of the mountain.
As does Asuka.
You're absolutely right about that, Byron, both women.
-Roll up. -One, two…
Kick out at two from Asuka.
-Oh! What a counter! -Great counter by Asuka.
Into the arm drag throw.
Asuka with a hip attack sidestep by Becky.
No attack in this match is going unanswered.
Great counter techniques from both superstars.
Shows you how bad both these superstars want this,
want this victory, want the championship opportunity.
And how well they've scouted one another.
-Looking for the cover, this could do it. -Shoulders down.
We've basically seen Becky Lynch begin to unravel since WrestleMania,
since the moment where Becky was defeated by the EST,
the Raw Women's Champion, Bianca Belair.
Lynch has lost sleep.
Lynch has become obsessed with dethroning Bianca Belair.
Has that made her, in a sense, more dangerous?
Perhaps.
Or more vulnerable. Listen, Asuka's been a large part of that.
Asuka's been able to rent real estate in the mind of Becky Lynch.
There is nothing more dangerous than someone with nothing left to lose.
And right now, that is Becky Lynch. Looking to disarm her.
-Roll up. -One, two…
Kick out before three for Becky Lynch.
She waist locks him behind. Shoulders down.
One, two…
Asuka counter. Asuka lock is in!
Middle of the ring. Lynch is in trouble.
Asuka can taste hell in his cell. Absolutely nowhere to go
-for Big Time Becks. -Oh, look at Becky.
-Oh. -Shoulders down, shoulders down.
Asuka, just one down. Great wherewithal by Asuka.
-One, two… -Oh.
Just before three.
I was gonna break her own submission hold.
Great veteran maneuver by Lynch.
She would never get her other shoulder down a little bit sooner,
-that might have been over. -Becky catches Asuka
with a kick to the jaw. Lynch now perched up top,
looking to strike airborne.
No, Asuka out of the way.
But gaining momentum. Jumping arm bar.
Into the arm bar, it is straight. Right over the head.
-She's got it. -Becky Lynch has got to feel
her opportunity to challenge Belair slipping through her fingers,
slipping away second by second.
Rolling out, she can get to the rope, she got it.
A smart wherewithal from Becky Lynch.
And again, a cagey, crafty maneuver that keeps Lynch's opportunity alive.
And Asuka now looking downright frustrated.
Think of all the momentum shifts we've seen in this matchup
between Asuka and Becky Lynch.
Both of these women know what's at stake.
Both of these women know the magnitude of this matchup
and the opportunity the victor will earn.
Becky Lynch draping the neck of Asuka over the top rope.
And the craftiness, the caginess on display.
[indistinct argument]
Oh!
The strategy of Becky Lynch allowing herself to be distracted
with Bianca who in Bianca's defense hasn't done anything wrong out here.
Just, oh…
Let's go, Becky!
-…used as a weapon. -I think lynch was trying to draw Belair
into striking her to win the match by disqualification.
I guess another example of the veteran brilliance.
A win by any means, earns the opportunity…
Again, preoccupied with the champ.
-Becky needs to focus on Asuka. -Uh-oh.
-She hasn't bit yet, but now very upset. -Wait, wait, wait, now there is irate.
And Lynch now, that's Asuka's umbrella.
-Turn around, ref. -Oh!
Miss to the face.
Shoulders down.
-One, two, three, a win for Asuka. -[bell dinging]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Asuka!
[Saxton] Becky's underhanded tactics blew up in her face.
[Jimmy] Literally, literally blew up in her face.
I'm not so sure how Asuka achieved victory was legal, but let's take a look at this.
Lynch initiated the nefarious deed.
Asuka beat Big Time Becks to the punch, followed with a lights-out buzzsaw kick.
And Asuka has punched her ticket to hell in a cell
where the Empress of Tomorrow
will collide with the EST of WWE
for the richest prize in Raw's women's division.
And talking about the collapse of Becky Lynch, it is complete tonight.
Simply put, Becky was not ready for Asuka. It is now official.
Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women's Championship
against the Empress Asuka at Hell in a Cell.
Be ready for Hell.
-♪ I am the future ♪ -[imperceptible] l.