[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woooo!
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me!
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[silence]
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd yells] Let's go!
[bell rings]
[ring announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
he is one half of the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions,
Sami Zayn!
[Cole] Welcome to Monday Night Raw, ladies and gentlemen.
We are live tonight in Memphis, Tennessee,
as Sami Zayn kicks us off with one-on-one action.
[crowd cheering]
Well, ladies and gentlemen, last week we lost
two beloved members of the WWE family,
Hall of Famer Terry Funk and the one and only Bray Wyatt.
We will celebrate their lives here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
And what these two men wanted to do was entertain you throughout their career.
And that's what we plan to do here tonight live
from Memphis, is entertain the WWE Universe.
["Punishment" playing]
[ring announcer] And his opponent, representing The Judgment Day,
he is Mr. Money in the Bank,
Damian Priest!
[Cole] Damian Priest, Wade, demanded this match,
one-on-one with Sami Zayn tonight
because of what happened last week on Monday Night Raw.
In the main event, it was Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
versus Damian Priest and Finn Bálor
when Finn's buddy, JD McDonagh, tried to get involved.
[Barrett] Yeah. With all the best intentions in the world,
ended up in a disqualification.
Huge brawl ensuing,
only for a certain Cody Rhodes to run down,
even the odds, and cause bedlam in that ring, Cole.
[Cole] Yeah, Cody Rhodes bringing the equalizer,
this match would be turned into a Six-Man Tag Team Match-Up.
Cody would hit Cross Rhodes, Sami with the Helluva Kick,
Kevin Owens with the Stunner, they'd win the Six-Man,
and then Sami had a little message for Judgment Day.
Hey, Judgment Day, better luck next time, eh, bud? [chuckles]
[Cole] And those words from Sami Zayn ticked off Damian Priest.
Hence the reason we have this match tonight
as Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens look toward this coming Saturday.
Live from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at WWE Payback,
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens will defend the Tag Team Titles
against Finn Bálor and Damian Priest of Judgment Day.
[Barrett] It looked like there were some fragments
within The Judgment Day last week.
Let's hope they're all singing from the same hymn sheet
this Saturday at Payback, 'cause they've got gold on their mind.
[Cole] Damian told Judgment Day members to stay in the back,
Sami Zayn telling Kevin Owens the same thing
to have this match-up one on one here tonight.
Long-simmering rivalry between these two Superstars.
Kevin and Sami, of course, winning the Tag Team Titles
back in the main event at WrestleMania by defeating The Usos
on WrestleMania Saturday night.
Bálor and Priest, the question is, can they co-exist long enough
to take the gold from the Tag Champs Saturday?
[Barrett] Oh! Nice there from Priest.
You've just gotta go back two weeks ago on Raw,
and it looked like all the cracks, all the issues within The Judgment Day
were put to bed when that man, Damian Priest, put Sami Zayn
through our announce table at the end of a show with a Razor's Edge.
Those fragments, those cracks reappeared last week, though.
Hopefully, things have been fixed by now.
[Cole] There's a couple of issues, within The Judgment Day.
The first is, of course, the Money in the Bank contract
that Damian Priest carries,
which he can cash in at any time for a World Championship opportunity.
That has caused issues between Priest and Finn Bálor
over the past couple of months.
Sami Zayn with a nice deep arm drag.
And I think now problems have started to occur
because of Bálor's friend JD McDonagh,
who seems to be trying to work his way into the group
and perhaps, fracture the relationship between both Damian Priest and Finn Bálor.
[Barrett] Well, I certainly agree with point one
in regards to the Money In the Bank briefcase.
However, the JD McDonagh situation, for me,
is a complete misjudgment by Damian Priest.
JD McDonagh has proved to be nothing
but an asset to The Judgment Day,
and personally, I don't understand what Damian Priest's issues are.
[Cole] Well, the issue is Judgment Day is a family.
They mind their own business. McDonagh is an outsider.
But nonetheless, Sami Zayn catches Priest with an elbow to the jaw.
And now Sami with an elbow as he comes off the ropes.
Sami Zayn, cover. Trying to put Priest away
and didn't even get into position for a one-count
as Priest rolls out of harm's way to regroup.
Zayn.
Off the apron now, kicks to Damian Priest.
-Sami, off the top rope! -[Barrett] Whoa!
[Cole] Unique take on a moonsault by Sami Zayn.
[crowd cheering]
[Barrett] The electric start to roar from that man, Sami Zayn.
Hot out of the blocks this evening.
Take another look. The unique arsenal of Sami Zayn,
and Damian Priest is struggling right now.
[Cole] And Sami Zayn brings the fight to Priest in the corner.
[crowd counting]
[Cole] Priest now, the powerhouse of Judgment Day.
Sami able to duck underneath.
[Barrett] He's just a step ahead of everything Priest is trying so far.
[Cole] From the top ropes. Priest, able to duck underneath.
Oh, and he turns Sami inside out with a wicked clothesline.
And now Priest looks to establish dominance.
[Barrett] You've got a massive size difference
with almost anyone Priest steps in the ring with.
So big, so tall, so strong,
and doesn't Sami Zayn know it right now.
[Cole] The World Heavyweight Champion, we're gonna see him live later on tonight.
He's got issues with Shinsuke Nakamura, who he faces Saturday.
But if you're a champion like Rollins, Wade,
you've gotta be worried and concerned the fact that Damian Priest
holds the Money in the Bank contract.
[Barrett] Anyone with gold in WWE now needs to be looking over their shoulder
in the men's division because Damian Priest is ready to pounce.
[Cole] And now Priest is just punishing Sami Zayn.
[Barrett] Sami Zayn's left elbow still wrapped up.
Got some damage a few weeks ago
at the hands of The Judgment Day and JD McDonagh.
May not be 100% yet.
[Cole] Nice sit out suplex by Priest!
Into the cover and a kick out.
There's a reason Priest was once nicknamed the Punisher in his career
in sports entertainment. Take another look.
[Barrett] And if you asked Sami Zayn,
"Is that an appropriate name for Damian Priest?"
I think he'd have to agree
after being subjected to offense like that.
[Cole] And here's the scary thing for Zayn and Owens.
If Priest and Finn Bálor decide to put their differences aside,
what a team they will make come Saturday.
[Barrett] Individually, two of the best we have in WWE,
collectively on the same page, it will be a similar story.
[Cole] Sami Zayn.
Priest quickly up to the apron, catches Zayn.
And now driving Priest into the ring post!
[Barrett] Very few people around can treat Damian Priest like he's been treated
so far in this match-up.
[Cole] Damian-- Launching himself and now--
Oh, Priest! Face first, Zayn out of the table!
Can Sami, somehow climb back into this match?
[crowd booing]
Monday Night Raw is live tonight in Memphis, Tennessee at the FedExForum.
We kick things off with Damian Priest of The Judgment Day
against one-half of the Tag Team Champions, Sami Zayn.
Zayn fighting back against Damian Priest.
This coming Saturday at Payback, Zayn and Kevin Owens defend
their Tag Titles against Priest and Finn Bálor.
Oh, sit-out powerbomb by Zayn,
and Priest, able to kick at two.
[Barrett] You've really got to admire the resilience of Sami Zayn
after the beating he's taken over the past four or five minutes.
Just take a look at Damian Priest's head bouncing off the mat here. Oh!
[crowd counting]
[Cole] And Sami almost able to put Priest away,
but Priest able to kick at two.
[Barrett] Yeah, they built Damian Priest pretty damn tough
as we've witnessed over the past 12 months or so here on Raw.
[Cole] I'll tell you, they've also built Sami Zayn pretty damn tough as well.
And Sami Zayn taking the fight to Priest.
Sami, springboard off the bottom rope.
Leapfrog over Priest and able to clear him from the ring.
[Barrett] Exactly where you do not want to be in a match-up against Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Up over the top!
Down goes Priest!
Sami Zayn launching himself over the top rope!
[Barrett] May have hurt himself in the process.
Take another look. Athletically diving, putting his own body on the line
to take out the Punisher of The Judgment Day.
[Cole] And the resilient Zayn
Looking to head back up to the top rope.
Damian Priest, no clue where he's at.
Oh, now he has a clue,
as he snatches Sami out of the air.
Oh, face first off the ring post.
And now Sami Zayn, Blue Thunder Bomb for the win on Priest!
Shoulders down! And a kick out at two.
[Barrett] From being so close to receiving a South of Heaven
to turning things around, nailing Priest with that Blue Thunder Bomb
and almost getting the victory.
That, in a nutshell, is the drive, the heart, the resilience of Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Yeah. Sami and KO gonna need all that come Saturday
as they defend the Tag Titles against Judgment Day.
Damian Priest wisely rolled out to the apron,
buy himself a little bit of time here.
[Barrett] Great veteran instincts there from Priest, but is it enough? Yes!
That's how you get yourself back on track.
[Cole] Hanging Sami up on the top rope
and now delivers a kick right to the face of Zayn.
[Barrett] Such a great mover for a big man is Damian Priest.
[Cole] Priest with a big kick, dropping Zayn to his knee.
And now Priest, as you mentioned, The Punisher of The Judgment Day,
the muscle of the group, muscling Sami Zayn up to his shoulders.
[Barrett] Razor's Edge! We've seen this before on Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Sami, though,
able to slip out of it.
And now exploder suplex into the corner!
And Zayn has Priest right where he wants him.
[Barrett] Giant six-foot-seven frame crumbled up like an-- Wait a second!
[Cole] And that's JD McDonagh
grabbing Sami Zayn, the distraction into a South of Heaven chokeslam!
And off the distraction,
-Priest has pinned Sami Zayn! -[bell ringing]
["Rise For The Night" playing]
[ring announcer] Here is your winner,
Mr. Money in the Bank, Damian Priest!
[Cole] So JD McDonagh, Wade, continues to try to curry favor
with Priest in The Judgment Day.
[Barrett] Yeah. I'll say he did a pretty damn good job right there.
Damian Priest must be thankful.
[indistinct conversation]
[crowd exclaims]
Stay out of my business!
What are you doing? What's the problem?
-What's your problem? -[Damian Priest] Stay away from me.
[indistinct conversation]
[Cole] Not sure if you made out what Priest said,
but he told McDonough, "Stay out of my business."
[Barrett] McDonagh won him the match.
[Cole] Meanwhile, Kevin Owens is here!
And now the Tag Team Champions are teeing off on JD McDonagh.
Stunner!
Priest is just looking on.
[Barrett] JD McDonagh put himself in the line of fire for Damian Priest,
and this is the thanks he gets?
[Cole] And now a Helluva Kick from Sami Zayn to McDonagh.
Calling Priest's argument, he didn't ask for McDonagh's help.
[Barrett] He wouldn't have won the match without McDonagh's help.
[Cole] Priest walks away from JD McDonagh,
who is taken out by the Tag Team Champions tonight.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn look to defend their titles Saturday at Payback
against Bálor and Priest of The Judgment Day.
But when is JD McDonagh gonna learn?
Priest doesn't want anything to do with the guy.
He should mind his own business.
I've got all the respect in the world for Damian Priest,
but when is Damian Priest gonna learn
that JD McDonagh is a useful asset for The Judgment Day
Again, it's KO and Zayn against The Judgment day
for the Tag Titles Saturday at Payback.
Also, Saturday at Payback, Seth Rollins defends
the World Heavyweight Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura.
A couple of weeks ago, these two Superstars were in the ring.
Shinsuke got what he wanted. Then he whispered something
in the ear of Seth Rollins.
We would find out later, he was telling Seth
he knows about his back injury,
and as Seth contemplated that, he was attacked from behind
with a Kinshasa by Shinsuke Nakamura.
Tonight, an irate World Heavyweight champion,
Seth Rollins, plans to call out the number-one contender
to the middle of the ring.
[Barrett] Look at New Day,
putting together their final preparations for tonight.
They were victorious last week against the team of Riddle and McIntyre,
unbeknownst to them, thanks to an intervention
by a certain duo known as The Viking Raiders,
who jumped in the ring last week.
Temperatures rising in the tag division.
These two teams go head to head tonight.
[crowd cheering]
You look great! Yeah.
What's up, Drew? So what you think?
[crowd cheering]
Every great team has matching gear, bro.
Haven't we talked about this already?
Maybe we see if this thing starts working out
before we make any big changes, eh?
Okay, so I think I know what you're saying.
Let's get matching kilts.
No, Drew, Drew, Drew, before you leave,
I was thinking… I was thinking, let's get ourselves some ringside seats
for New Day versus The Viking Raiders tonight.
Why?
Why? That's what every great tag team does.
Scout the opposition, see their strengths and weaknesses,
maybe get some hot dogs,
maybe get you some haggis,
so the next time we're in the ring with those guys,
we'll have the upper hand, bro.
You know what? You're on to something.
After last week, I'd love a front-row seat to see those idiots get beat.
Yeah, New Day?
No, not New Day, The Vikings.
Listen, I'll see you out there.
I knew you'd go for the haggis.
Are you a fan of haggis?
Certainly not. There's a lot of Scottish things I'm not a fan of,
apart from their whiskey.
Drew McIntyre is not one of the things I'm a fan of.
Later on tonight, The New Day versus The Viking Raiders
will be a hard-hitting affair, just like the match-ups Saturday
at Payback between Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez
for the Women's World Championship.
Raquel Rodriguez believes it's her time.
Rhea Ripley thinks she runs Monday Night Raw.
Rhea is the strongest and most dominant female in all of WWE.
Except for me.
[Corey] Here comes Liv and Raquel,
the Women's Tag Team Champions.
You guys need to focus on your tag team division.
Stay out of my business.
If Rhea wants me to stop getting involved in her business,
Then Rhea needs to stop taking advantage of her strength and size.
[Corey] A blindside attack by Rhea Ripley!
[screams, groans]
[Raquel] I am not going to let Rhea run through our division.
Not after what she's done to me.
[Johnny] The injured knee of Raquel Rodriguez.
[Corey] We got new Women's Tag Team Champions.
And especially not after what she's done to Liv.
[Corey] She's gonna end Morgan's career!
No!
[Raquel] I have been waiting for weeks
to show Rhea what it's like to be at the mercy
of someone who is bigger and stronger.
[Corey] And Rodriguez is making a beeline for Rhea!
[Raquel] Every bully has a weakness.
An insecurity.
And Rhea, well, she's just not going to be able to measure up to me.
So now I'm going to take her title.
At Payback,
I am going to cut her down to size!
[Cole] This coming Saturday,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, WWE Payback,
has The Eradicator, the World Champion Rhea Ripley
finally met her match
with the number-one contender, Raquel Rodriguez?
We'll find out at Payback.
[Barrett] You see "The Man" Becky Lynch putting some final prep together.
She looks primed. She looks ready.
She's got a Steel Cage Match at Payback on Saturday.
But before that, Becky Lynch will be looking to settle the score
with the protégé of Trish Stratus, Zoey Stark,
in a Falls Count Anywhere Match later on in tonight's main event.
[Cole] This Friday, the return of The Greatest of All Time
to Friday Night SmackDown.
But for the first time in his career, John Cena is also heading to India
a week from Friday, WWE Superstar Spectacle.
John Cena, the 16-time World Champion,
makes the first visit of his career to India.
John Cena is back in WWE
["The Time Is Now" playing]
["Welcome to LA" playing]
[Barrett] Oh, are you kidding me?
Yeah!
[Cole] Relax.
[Barrett] No, it's The Megastar!
[Cole] Uh, it's not.
Who does he think he's fooling?
[Barrett] I want my money back.
[Cole] We pay you to be here.
[Barrett] You gotta pay me more when Miz comes out.
[Cole] This is The Miz, obviously, uh,
doing his best imitation of LA Knight.
This coming Saturday, five nights away, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
WWE Payback on Peacock.
The Miz is gonna go one-on-one with "The Megastar" LA Knight,
and many believe Miz is extremely jealous
of how fast LA Knight has caught on here in WWE.
[Barrett] Miz is jealous. He's trying to rip him off now.
-[Cole] I don't think he's paying homage. -[Barrett] Miz has never looked so good.
[crowd booing]
[imitating LA Knight] Let me talk to you!
Yeah!
I got my wannabe tough guy, big bass voice on
so you know I mean business!
Yeah! 'Cause papa don't play that!
Yeah! Nah, nah! Yeah!
I'm a dangerous man. Yeah!
So dangerous! Yeah!
Then I walk into the ring with The Miz, I start flubbing my words.
Yeah! I mean, what?
I mean, yeah! I mean, what? I mean, yeah! I mean, yeah!
I mean, yeah!
But let me talk to you straight.
Yeah!
-Yeah? -[crowd yells] Yeah!
Lemme talk to you straight.
I know it takes more than a catchphrase to gain your support. Yeah!
[crowd] Yeah!
You are not sheep.
Yeah! You are smart.
You are sophisticated.
You are discerning fans!
And you need to earn your cheers.
That is why
I brought this bag out here.
This is a bag full of free LA Knight T-shirts.
[crowd cheering]
So if you want a free LA Knight T-shirt,
give me a "Hell Yeah!" I mean…
if you want a free LA Knight T-shirt,
let me hear you say "Yeah!"
-[crowd] Yeah! Yeah! -Yeah!
-[crowd] Yeah!
-Over here? -[crowd] Yeah!
Here we go!
[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting] LA Knight! LA Knight!
[in normal voice] You are all so pathetic.
You will cheer for anything,
which means your support means absolutely nothing!
That… that was easy!
Anybody could be LA Knight!
It's generic, it's vanilla!
Anybody can pander.
Anybody can think of some phony name
that you can find somewhere on Cinemax at 2 a.m. in 1997.
I don't do catchphrases!
When I say I am awesome,
it's not because I want you to applause me,
it's because it's the truth.
It's not a catchphrase! It's reality!
And the reality is, when I beat LA Knight,
when I expose LA Knight,
when LA Knight is beaten and battered, party's over!
Everything is done!
Because you know what? You'll cheer free T-shirts,
you'll cheer catchphrases,
but you don't cheer losers.
And that's exactly what LA Knight will be in five days' time at Payback.
And when the dust settles
with everybody
not only saying,
but immortalizing
whose game it really is.
M. I. Z.
Yeah!
["I Came to Play" playing]
[Cole] The Miz is focused.
He's upset at the attention that is being paid to LA Knight.
In this coming Saturday, Miz can put an end to the LA Knight phenomenon,
put an end to the Yeah Movement
as Miz goes one-on-one with LA Knight Saturday at Payback.
[Barrett] And I personally cannot wait for Saturday
to watch LA Knight give the phony A-Lister
a Megastar-sized whopping. Yeah!
Nonetheless, that Saturday at Payback, where also Seth Rollins will defend
the World Heavyweight Championship against the number-one contender,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
Well, last week we asked Shinsuke Nakamura what he whispered into Seth Rollins's ear
a couple of weeks ago.
[in Japanese]
[in English] Watch your back.
[Cole] Shinsuke Nakamura has done a wonderful job
of getting inside the head of Seth Rollins,
not only talking about the injured back of Rollins,
he invoked Seth's family as well last week.
And now Seth Rollins is irate
and he's ready to confront Shinsuke Nakamura
live tonight on Monday Night Raw.
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[crowd chanting] New Day Rocks! -[bell ringing]
[ring announcer] The following is a Tag Team Match scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods…
[Cole] Dozen-time Tag Team Champions, The New Day, in action next.
The tag team division is heating up on Monday Night Raw.
Kofi and Xavier against Erik and Ivar, The Viking Raiders, live next.
We are Live on Monday Night Raw from Memphis, Tennessee.
Tonight, the world is talking about Monday Night Raw and this tag team action.
New Day to take on The Viking Raiders
["Hey Bro" playing]
And they're gonna have some interesting parties
watching them at ringside.
That is a photograph of Drew McIntyre and what Riddle hopes
-will be the new colors of their tag team. -["Gallantry Artist" playing]
[Barrett] I can already promise you, Drew will never wear
what is pictured
in what Matt Riddle is holding.
[Cole] Matt Riddle has been very excited about this tag team
with Drew McIntyre.
Riddle has won over the years,
he's loved to make makeshift tag teams together with some success.
And now, of course, trying to get Drew McIntyre
to be a permanent tag team member.
Drew seemed to be a little lukewarm on the issue.
[Barrett] Well, let's be honest--
McIntyre almost scared me then.
All right, look, Drew has been tolerating Riddle more than he has
really embracing this tag team.
They have an uneasy chemistry,
but I would suggest Matt Riddle needs to sometimes give Drew a little space.
He likes a bit of solitude occasionally.
["Vicious" playing]
[Cole] By the way, he did more than just almost scare you.
[Barrett] No, no.
-These guys, yeah. -[Valhalla] Valhalla is here.
[ring announcer] And their opponents,
accompanied to the ring by Valhalla,
and a combined weight of 590 pounds,
Erik and Ivar,
The Viking Raiders!
[Cole] Let's take you back to last week on Monday Night Raw,
the team of Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle were teaming up
against Kofi Kingston and The New Day.
Riddle would hit this massive superplex from the top rope.
With both men down, Riddle would try to make a tag
before Erik to the Viking Raiders came from out of nowhere
and ripped McIntyre off the apron.
[Barrett] Not quite sure how The Viking Raiders
fit under the ring, but they did.
Launched an attack, took McIntyre out,
and that left Riddle ripe for the picking.
New Day had no clue the Viking Raiders had been involved
until, of course, the jump at the end of the bout,
laying waste to everyone inside until an enraged Scotsman
got back on his feet, flattened everything in sight.
And now the tag division is really starting to hot up on Raw.
[Cole] When asked why they got involved last week,
The Viking Raiders said that the gods are angry with us.
They demand a sacrifice and a spectacle,
and will do anything to win back their favor.
So they look to knock off The New Day here tonight
as Riddle and McIntyre look on.
[bell ringing]
Match underway. Erik starting things off
with Xavier Woods of The New Day as the match gets underway.
We are in Memphis, Tennessee tonight.
Had the opportunity to spend some time
with my former broadcast colleague,
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler, of course, from Memphis earlier today.
I asked him to critique your work
on Monday Night Raw as a broadcaster, Wade.
He said, "Eh."
-[Barrett] Well-- -[Cole] No, just kidding.
-[Barrett] I know you're lying. -[Cole] He was very complimentary.
Great to see The King today.
[Barrett] Always great seeing the king of sports entertainment, Jerry Lawler.
[Cole] Now side headlock by Xavier Woods and a shoulder tackle takes down Erik.
Xavier Woods, of course, from The New Day, trying to jockey for position
for, perhaps, a Tag Team Championship opportunity down the road.
The titles will be defended Saturday night at Payback
by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
against Priest and Bálor of The Judgment Day.
[Barrett] And I promise you, all three teams,
either in the ring or at ringside right now,
will be watching that match at Payback very closely.
[Cole] Oh, wow!
[Barrett] And the winners of this particular match
might find themselves in pole position for a Championship opportunity.
[Cole] That's a wicked right hand by Erik.
And now Woods sent into the corner. The highly athletic Xavier Woods.
[Erik grunting]
Caught by Erik, though. There's the power of The Viking Raiders.
Just simply slowing things down and punishing their opponent.
[Barrett] Very few who can have any answer to that.
As we take a look at Valhalla out here in antlers, Michael Cole.
[Cole chuckling] Yeah. Has anybody ever wore antlers to the ring?
[Barrett] Well, it's as scary as it gets.
-You should go interview her right now. -[Cole] No, thank you.
And look at now, the double team by Erik and Ivar
pounding away as--
[screaming]
There's also a skull on her head, Wade.
[Wade chuckling] Various accessories that I want no part of, Micheal.
[Cole] And this is Ivar.
Such a big, powerful man, but extremely agile for his size.
Woods try to fight out of the corner.
But this is where The Viking Raiders want Xavier Woods,
far away from Kofi Kingston.
[Barrett] And there are simply unmatched levels of barbarity
in that ring when The Viking Raiders get rolling.
[Cole] What do you think Drew is thinking about this whole thing with Riddle?
[Barrett] I mean, a face tells the whole story, right?
Drew has been pretty angry ever since SummerSlam.
[Cole] Cover! Oh, and a kick out by Woods at two.
[Barrett] Somehow, Riddle occasionally gets a little chuckle,
but look at the frown on McIntyre's face.
[Cole] What is Riddle doing with the Sharpie?
Oh, and by the way, the back of that picture, I can see it from here.
It says, "McRiddle notes."
He's taking notes on this match-up
for, I guess, he's calling his team McRiddle now.
[Barrett] Might get a fast-food sponsorship out of that.
Probably a smart idea.
[Cole] And again, The Viking Raiders continue to dominate Xavier Woods,
and Kofi Kingston on the other side of the ring
realizes his partner needs help.
[crowd chanting] New Day Rocks!
[Cole] And the WWE fans in Memphis trying to will Woods and The New Day on,
but a knee right to the midsection drops Xavier Woods.
[Barrett] Kofi Kingston has simply been isolated from the get-go
in this match-up.
Viking Raiders doing what they do best, divide and conquer.
[Cole] Woods now trying to fight out, make a tag.
Can he get there? Arm's length away from Kofi Kingston.
[Barrett] You get into a tug of war with The Raiders, you ain't winning.
-But duck and dive might do it. -[Cole] Tag!
And here comes the former WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston,
lighting up The Viking Raiders.
[Barrett] A man who has won it all in this game,
but wants tag gold once again, no doubt.
[Cole] Now Kofi, nobody home, as Ivar skips out of harm's way momentarily,
but Kofi caught him with a kick.
And now Kingston up to the top rope.
Kofi! What a crossbody!
Cover now! Lateral press, kick out of two by Ivar.
Kofi got some height here.
[Barrett] Got some real spring in those boots.
Kofi Kingston, no sign of slowing down.
[Cole] And now Boom Drop by Kofi.
[crowd cheering]
It was so funny last week with the hit in your face with his jacket.
[Barrett] Nothing funny. I watched him from the beginning today,
they better not throw any more junk in my direction.
McIntyre looked as unimpressed as I did.
[Cole] And now Valhalla and Erik,
and now Xavier Woods driving Erik right into our announce table.
Kofi Kingston, gonna fly!
[crowd cheering]
The New Day in control
off the trust dive by Kingston.
And a kick out by Kofi Kingston at two.
Viking Raiders dominating The New Day, and scouting things at ringside,
the newly formed tag team of Drew McIntyre and Riddle.
Now, during the commercial break, Wade, you being the journalist you are,
got a hold of the the picture in which Riddle is taking notes
as he scouts this match-up.
What are the things that Riddle's talking about
in his little scouting report?
[Barrett] Well, there were five bullet points. There was--
Well, take another look at this, first of all, from the impressive Ivar.
[Cole] Bang! I hope he was talking about that.
[Barrett] But the five bullet points on that sheet of Riddle's were
headlock, armringer, Kofi on fire, impressive, and sweet sneakers,
which I have to assume he was talking about the sneakers on Kingston
and not the sneakers on The Viking Raiders.
[Cole] Wow, that's pretty impressive.
[Barrett] I don't know how that's gonna help you win, but he's making notes.
[Cole] I hope he's talking about the back elbows by Ivar,
driving them into the face of Kofi Kingston.
We were also corrected during the commercial break
as well when we asked the question,
"Has anybody ever worn antlers at ringside like Valhalla is?"
And yes, someone did, The Barbarian back in the day,
Kofi Kingston off that dropkick.
Now he buys himself some space.
Can he make a tag to Xavier Woods
as the antlered Valhalla makes her way up to the apron
creeping toward Xavier Woods?
Oh, and the distraction!
[Barrett] This was looking like now or never for that tag for Kingston.
But removing Xavier Woods from the equation by distraction,
Valhalla and The Raiders take over once again.
[Cole] Oh, and Ivar splash in the corner and Erik takes out Kofi.
Here's the cover, for the win, for the Raiders.
Kofi fights to stay in it!
The mesmerizing Valhalla looking on.
Very physical action in this match-up.
First the splash. Now watch this, boom!
[Barrett] The ferocious vessels carrying out the will of the gods.
That is The Viking Raiders in a nutshell.
Stay on him! Stay on him!
[Cole] Valhalla screaming, barking orders,
directing traffic at Erik and Ivar.
[Barrett] Valhalla spewing out psychobabble,
but somehow it fires her team up.
[Cole] Kofi trying to get to the corner and make a tag to Woods.
Erik doing what he can, trying to drag Kofi back into his corner.
Tag made by Ivar. Here comes the big man.
And Ivar with a clubbing blow right to the back of Kingston.
Cover again by Ivar. Look at that forearm right in the face,
rubbing it right across the bridge of the nose of Kingston!
[Barrett] Ivar was smart enough to know a competitor like Kingston
was not gonna go down that easy, it's gonna take more.
So why not rough him up in the process?
[Cole] Yeah. Continue to inflict punishment with that wicked…
forearm right across the face. The crossface by Ivar
as he makes the tag to Erik,
and a boot right to the side of the head of Kingston
[Barrett] Club, to the bridge of the nose, boot to the jaw,
Kofi Kingston's face getting a full work over again.
[Cole] Again, Riddle and McIntyre scouting and looking on.
Another cheap shot by Erik.
Woods dying to get into this. But being anxious there by Woods
allows The Viking Raiders a quick double team on Kingston.
[Barrett] Kingston might wanna tap out at this rate.
I'm not giving him much of a chance from here.
[Cole] And remember, Kofi just returned to action
a couple of weeks ago after ankle surgery.
[Barrett] Yeah, and he beat The Viking Raiders
on his big return alongside Xavier Woods.
Perhaps the gods weren't impressed with this, but wait a second.
[Cole] Ivar is-- And Erik now, having words
with McIntyre and Riddle at ringside.
Oh!
[Barrett] Not gonna take much to set McIntyre off after last week.
[Cole] And that slight distraction is allowing Kofi Kingston to fight back.
Oh, and Ivar again right to the face. That just buckled Kingston at his knees.
Cover, and a kick out of two.
[Barrett] Kingston cannot buy himself an opportunity.
Just when he starts swinging, boot to the side of the jaw,
and how that's not a KO, I have no clue.
[Cole] A jaw-crushing boot from Ivar.
And again, the WWE fans in Memphis, Tennessee, tonight at the FedExForum
trying to will Kingston back into this match.
[Barrett] It's gonna take a lot more than some chanting
to help Kofi Kingston here.
[Cole] And again, the Raiders doing such a fine job, Wade,
isolating Kofi from his partner.
[Barrett] They've been embarrassed the past few weeks.
Time to get back on track where they belong,
right at the top of the division.
[Cole] And the Raiders are always a physical team, but perhaps,
no more physical than they have been tonight.
[Barrett] Just a level of belligerence we have not seen
in a long time from The Viking Raiders, and that is saying something.
[Cole] Again, Erik screaming at Kofi to stay down,
but Kofi Kingston, the heart of a lion,
trying to make a tag to Xavier Woods.
Fingertips away!
Kingston able to slip through, but Ivar… Oh, nobody home!
[Barrett] Kofi almost got turned into a pancake right there.
Saved himself!
[Cole] And now Kofi with an opportunity to make a tag.
Here comes Xavier Woods.
And Woods looking to pick up the pace here.
Ducks underneath, follows it up with that rolling forearm.
Kingston, couple of kicks to Erik and now gonna send Erik flying.
Great Russian leg sweep by Xavier Woods.
[Barrett] Got movement from Xavier Woods.
He's just seen the beating that was thrown on Kofi Kingston
and he knows he cannot give The Viking Raiders an inch.
[Cole] Changed the pace of the match-up.
The Honor Roll by Woods!
He caught Ivar flush. Now for the win!
And a kick out of two by Ivar.
The animated Riddle at ringside.
[Barrett] A very unanimated Drew McIntyre next to him, a chalk and cheese pairing.
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Tag.
Woods caught Ivar so that Raiders could not go for a double team.
But now the full nelson. Knee to the back of the neck.
Cover by Erik for the win, and again Woods able to stay in it.
[Barrett] Well, Erik digging deep.
-Pulling out some new moves here. -[Cole] Watch this.
Full nelson into a knee right to the back of the neck.
One! Two!
[Cole] Again, Viking Raiders.
[Barrett] Some unique hybrid stylings of The Viking Raiders
with some power.
[Cole] Kofi, quickly back up to the apron. The tag was made. Kingston's legal.
And a kick to Ivar.
And now Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston,
double team coming. Off the face-first move by Woods.
Splash to the back.
Cover!
Erik breaking things up.
[Barrett] Little slip on the ropes there from Kingston. Nice recovery,
but allows time for Erik to get back involved.
[Cole] Now Kofi, went for Trouble in Paradise.
But Ivar able to duck underneath
and send Kofi up over the top rope.
Both men now caught on the top, both men over to the floor.
Kofi tried to hang on, able to land on his feet.
Now Ivar turns things around, Kofi sent over the stairs.
[Barrett] As nimble as they come!
[Cole] And now Ivar catching Kingston.
Dropping Kingston on the steps!
[Barrett] Kofi Kingston has taken such a whopping in this match-up.
[Cole] This has been like a car wreck out here.
Ivar now driving Kingston into both Riddle and McIntyre!
[Barrett] Talk about a car wreck, now we got a pileup here at ringside.
[Cole] And McIntyre. Now McIntyre throwing some furniture.
[Barrett] McIntyre has snapped.
Eyes up, guys.
-Oh! -[Cole] Now the chair…
[Barrett] He was likely aiming for Erik.
[Cole] Yeah, but he took out Xavier Woods.
[Barrett] Collateral damage, it seems.
[Cole] And now Ivar the cannonball off the apron to take out McIntyre.
There are bodies strewn everywhere.
Viking Raiders back to their feet.
Kofi Kingston back in the ring.
[Barrett] Sheer carnage everywhere you look,
but somehow still standing are The Viking Raiders.
[Cole] Now the double team by The Vikings.
[Barrett] Taking no prisoners tonight.
We're going to Ragnarok!
[Cole] And connecting the Ragnarok by the Raiders!
-The Vikings with the win. -[bell ringing]
["Vicious" playing]
[ring announcer] Here are your winners,
The Viking Raiders!
[Cole] There is a lot to unpack
after what happened at the end of that match-up.
[Barrett] Sum it up in a nutshell,
we saw the bloodthirsty rage of The Viking Raiders
come to the fore tonight.
[Cole] McIntyre…
first was knocked out of his chair as was Riddle
as Ivar sent Kofi into the team.
And then I believe McIntyre was aiming for Erik
as he took out The New Day.
[Barrett] Kofi Kingston who'd been sent to hell and back during this match
went even worse than hell. Ended up in Ragnarok.
And what a victory.
-What a statement for The Viking Raiders. -[laughing maniacally]
[Cole] The Viking Raiders with the victory here tonight
over The New Day on Monday Night Raw after some miscommunication at ringside.
Sorry.
Hey, come on, man.
…get a trainer out here or something.
Man, I'm sorry. You know it was an accident.
Week after week, it's the same stuff with me and you.
We're arguing all the time. Now we got to get on the same page.
On Saturday, we have a Tag Team Title Match
against KO and Sami.
We need to get it together.
Yeah, you're right. We do need to get it together.
We need to focus on Judgment Day business
instead of worrying about people who don't matter.
People like your friend JD.
-Oh, yeah? Is that right? -Yeah.
Well, JD is the only reason why you beat Sami Zayn tonight,
and then you left him laying.
Yeah, I left him!
I left him hanging. You know why?
Because I don't care about your friend JD!
I care about this family.
This, right here. This is what I'm concerning myself with.
[speaking Spanish]
[in English] And you know what?
Since you're so concerned with your friend JD,
why don't you take a walk and go--
Hey. Hey!
Shut up! Shut up!
Every single week we go on about The Judgment Day
being the most dominant faction here in the WWE.
But then every single week, without fail,
we fall apart because you two cannot get along.
The only people handling Judgment Day's business right now
are myself and "Dirty" Dom.
Apart from that…
No. But I can't keep doing it
because now people are starting to target me.
They're thinking I'm weak, I'm distracted.
People like Raquel Rodriguez.
So this is what's going to happen, okay?
Finn, Priest, you guys are going to make it right this Saturday at Payback.
Y'all are gonna remind everyone that The Judgment Day,
we're a force to be reckoned with,
and we win when it matters.
Because if The Judgment Day don't all walk out with gold
at the end of Payback,
then there's gonna be some changes around here.
Dom, grab the titles.
I have no problem winning gold.
[Cole] An ultimatum by Rhea Ripley tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next on Monday Night Raw,
we pay tribute to the one and only Bray Wyatt.
Welcome back to Monday Night Raw.
As we kicked off the program tonight, we told you about what a rough week
it's been in WWE as we've lost two beloved members
of the WWE family,
Hall of Famer Terry Funk and the one and only Bray Wyatt.
Tonight, we will celebrate the lives of both of these men,
starting with Bray Wyatt.
[solemn music playing]
♪ He's got the whole world ♪
♪ In his hands ♪
♪ He's got the whole world ♪
♪ In his hands ♪
[Bray] I guess I've created some kind of buzz here, man.
You ain't seen nothing yet.
Behold a new face of fear.
Walk by my side and I will lead you to paradise!
We're here.
[blows]
♪ I can see your body dancing ♪
♪ Feel the magic on the floor ♪
♪ They try to say we lost you ♪
♪ But they never kept score ♪
♪ You never had a last time You couldn't outshine ♪
♪ You gave us everything And now your memory's mine… ♪
This is the firefly fun house.
♪ You know who you are You are the everknown ♪
♪ You shine on, you shimmer… ♪
You wanna see my secret?
[grunting]
♪ Your currency moves From every inch of your bonеs ♪
♪ You never give in ♪
Yowie wowie.
♪ You arе the everknown ♪
♪ In the golden hour sunset And the space between the shores ♪
♪ You never met a darkness You couldn't outshine ♪
♪ You left us everything But still you're leaving us more… ♪
I can truly say that I have the whole damn world in my hand.
♪ You never give in ♪
♪ You are the everknown… ♪
[Bray] I would like to welcome you all to the era of Wyatt!
This is my favorite new toy.
This is such good [bleep].
♪ You're more than just a photograph ♪
♪ Fluorescent in my mind We're still together ♪
♪ Your spirit is all over me ♪
♪ Your smile is with me While I'm dreaming ♪
♪ I miss you But I know it means you're mine… ♪
[Bray] I am the color red
in a world full of black and white.
I am the eater of worlds.
I, Bray Wyatt, am forever.
♪ We'll follow you on to wherever you go ♪
♪ You never give in ♪
♪ You are the everknown ♪
[Bray] I can look all of you in the eyes
and I can say thank you.
[blows]
[music stops]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Thank you, Bray. Thank you, Bray. Thank you, Bray.
["Live in Fear" by Mark Crozer playing]
♪ Catching flies ♪
♪ In his mouth ♪
♪ Tasting freedom ♪
♪ While he dares ♪
♪ Then crawling back ♪
[Cole] Just a few moments ago, it was The Viking Raiders against The New Day.
Riddle and McIntyre scouting at ringside when Ivar would drive Kofi Kingston
through McIntyre and Riddle.
And then watch this.
It was pretty clear that McIntyre meant that for The Viking Raiders.
But instead, he took out Xavier Woods.
[Barrett] Quite recklessly. People get caught in the crossfire.
And when you give The Viking Raiders a window, a window to win,
they're gonna hit Ragnarok every single time.
Kofi Kingston bouncing off the mat.
New Day losing.
[Cole] Well, it's pretty clear that Drew McIntyre felt badly
after what he did by tossing the chair into Woods.
[ring announcer] The Viking Raiders!
Kofi, how's Woods doing?
Riddle, he's not doing well, but he's gonna be all right.
He's the Kick-Out Kid for a reason. He'll be all right.
Kofi, what happened out there, you know it was an accident.
Big D, don't even trip, man.
It's all good. We know you ain't do it on purpose.
Taking cheap shots like that out there, it's not even in your repertoire.
Woods understands that, too, man.
-You straight. It's all good. -Appreciate that.
Riddle,
next week, we are gonna take care of this Viking Raiders problem.
I'm gonna have a word with Adam Pearce, make sure I don't have to tag in
to get my hands on them because I'm gonna beat their arses.
What do you mean by tag in?
I have no idea. But he said we, and we're a team.
Drew, where are we going?
Drew.
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[bell rings]
[ring announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Giovanni Vinci
and the Intercontinental Champion, "The Ring General" Gunther,
representing Imperium,
Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] I can guarantee you this,
the Intercontinental Champion Gunther is not in a good mood tonight
as he gets set to watch
Ludwig Kaiser in action against Chad Gable.
Last week on Monday Night Raw, a massive match,
Gable versus Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.
Gunther was dominating, but it was one mistake
and Gable would take advantage,
suplexing Gunther into the timekeeper's area,
allowing Gable to beat the count and becoming the first man
since Gunther burst on the scene a year and a half ago on the main roster
to beat Gunther, this time via count out.
So he did not win the Championship, however, did pick up the victory.
[crowd booing]
Last week, Chad Gable made history.
[indistinct mouthing]
Last week, Chad Gable became the first man
to beat "The Ring General" Gunther in more than 500 days.
By countout
in a Championship match.
Technically,
Chad Gable gained a victory,
but in reality, he has won nothing!
Because I'm still standing here
as your Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion.
[crowd booing]
[indistinct yelling]
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck! You suck!
But…
Chad Gable has achieved one thing
and that is pissing me off!
[speaking German]
[in English] Now Chad Gable has my attention!
Now Chad Gable has my focus!
And if Chad Gable is the last thing
between me and my rightful legacy, so be it.
Because next week, Chad Gable will challenge
"The Ring General" Gunther,
for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship
on Monday Night Raw!
But just like Chad Gable is not going to beat me next week,
tonight, Chad Gable is definitely not beating my best man here, Ludwig--
["Shoooosh" playing]
[Cole] This is gonna make Gunther even more mad.
[Barrett] Who shooshes Gunther?
[clears throat] Gunther!
Gunther, now I'm sitting back there listening,
and normally, I'd come out here and give you a nice big Shoosh!,
but… but I'm not gonna do that tonight
'cause you were actually making some pretty good points, my friend.
Not least of which is the fact that you've been on the main roster
almost two years and nobody has managed to defeat you.
That is until last week, my friend!
Because last week, Chad Gable handed you your first loss
and I found a way to do it in only ten seconds, baby!
But next week, Gunther, title's on the line,
and it ain't gonna take me ten seconds to take your Intercontinental Title.
I'm gonna take it away in one, two, three, baby!
[crowd cheers and boos]
But that's next week.
As for tonight,
Captain Kaiser,
Lieutenant Ludwig,
get your carcass in the ring,
'cause Master Gable's gonna cook you up Memphis style, baby.
Thank you!
[Cole] So it's Gable and Kaiser one on one here tonight
on Monday Night Raw.
Now, let's talk about the significance of next week's match between--
[crowd chanting]
Anyway, let's talk about the historical significance
of next week's match between Gunther and Gable.
-As of tonight… -[bell rings]
…Gunther has held the Intercontinental Championship
for 444 days.
Eleven more days from now,
he will become the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in history.
So if he beats Gable next week, Wade,
we're gonna probably be looking
at the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion ever.
[Barrett] Well, it's next week or bust as far as Gunther is concerned.
He didn't turn up in WWE to take second place in anything.
He wants to be number one in the all-time list
of Intercontinental Champions.
[Cole] Up over the top.
Kaiser, dropped to the floor by Chad Gable,
who would love a win over Kaiser tonight.
Building momentum! Cannonball off the apron!
-Gable in control of Kaiser. -Thank you!
Can he keep it up on Monday Night Raw?
Well, the man who hopes to stop Gunther's march toward history next week,
Chad Gable, taking on Gunther's stablemate, Ludwig Kaiser
in this match-up here tonight.
Kaiser landed hard on the back of his neck and may have hurt his wrist
as he came through the rope. And Gable now, into a deep arm drag.
You noticed the Intercontinental Champion no longer out here at ringside?
-That's the arrogance of the champion. -[Barrett] No.
Stop that right now. No arrogance about it.
Gunther has left ringside because he's so angered by Gable's taunts,
he didn't wanna bring the sanctity of this athletic competition
into disrepute by snapping and attacking Chad Gable.
[Cole] Well, that's your take on things. But nonetheless, Gable has an opportunity
to knock off Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship
next week on Monday Night Raw. Meanwhile, Kaiser looks to do damage
to Gable here tonight.
At ringside for Gable is, of course, Otis,
uh, out there cheering on the Coach along with Maxxine,
who Ludwig Kaiser seems to be a bit smitten with, Wade.
[Barrett] Well, pretty much every man on the planet would be smitten
with Maxxine Dupri.
But right now, Ludwig Kaiser has his hands full
and needs only have eyes for Chad Gable.
[Cole] Kaiser telling Maxxine that, "You should leave Alpha Academy
for some European elegance."
That, "You're a beautiful flower that can't blossom in a mud pit."
Those are the words Kaiser.
[Barrett] And I'd have to agree. Look at the esthetics of Ludwig Kaiser.
What a specimen he has crafted himself into.
And right now he's every bit the match for the Olympian Chad Gable.
And that speaks volumes.
[Otis] I love it!
[Cole] Chad with a bridge,
and a kip-up. And now, look at Chad Gable putting on a clinic.
[Barrett] Ridiculous movement from Chad Gable.
So, Wade, Gable's victory last week, albeit by countout,
over the Intercontinental Champion, that has got to help his confidence
heading into the title match next week.
[Barrett] Yeah, undoubtedly. Look, we've all known for a long time
Chad Gable is capable of more than we've seen over the past couple of years.
I get it, he's done things to keep himself in the spotlight
when opportunities weren't there.
But last week, we saw the rebirth of in-ring machine, Chad Gable.
[Cole] But in order to win the championship,
you've gotta pin or submit the Champion.
Champion's advantage.
Again, Gunther marching toward history.
Eleven days away from becoming
the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in history.
[Barrett] I love Gunther's response to losing last week.
How many champions have we seen lose by countout,
retain the gold and be happy about that?
I may have even done that once or twice myself.
Not for Gunther. There is a massive stain on his record now
in the shape of Chad Gable,
and he wants to fix that. Nothing to celebrate.
[Cole] Kaiser with a shoulder tackle to take out Gable.
Ludwig Kaiser in control. But Gable…
Oh, did you hear that?
[Barrett] Slice out of the playbook of Gunther himself.
[Cole] Look at Gable turn that into an ankle lock.
Kaiser trying to drag himself to the rope to force a break.
[Barrett] Shows you just how dangerous Chad Gable really is.
[Cole] Kaiser, dangerous in his own right.
[Barrett] Nobody has stepped up bigger than Ludwig Kaiser
over the past three months on Raw.
This guy has turned himself into a legitimate contender
to be a main-event player, thanks to moves like this.
[Cole] When he keeps his head in the game.
Gable, sent across the ring, shot up over the top.
Kaiser slides underneath, but Chad Gable, gonna meet him there.
Sends Kaiser halfway across the ring.
Gable, such a machine.
Caught by Kaiser. Kaiser… The kick was blocked.
And that was a risk. I believe Kaiser, injured
as he came out of the ring earlier on in this match-up.
And now, Gable is targeting the arm and the wrist.
He's got a five-count before he has to break.
[Barrett] So many inventive ways to hurt you and turn the tide
back in his favor.
[Cole] Oh, goodness!
[Barrett] That's just a good old-fashioned slap to the face.
[Cole] And now Kaiser with that running uppercut to Gable.
He's taken over. Can Gable climb back into this?
Monday Night Raw is live tonight at the FedExForum
on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.
The number-one contender for the Intercontinental Championship,
Chad Gable, trying to knock off Ludwig Kaiser of Imperium.
Of course, his stablemate is Gunther, the Intercontinental Champion.
Nice belly-to-belly and the strength being shown here by Gable!
[Barrett] A level of technical excellence you would expect from Imperium,
but it's coming in the other direction.
[Cole] Gable, who owns a countout victory
over the Intercontinental Champion last week,
gets an opportunity at the title next week on Monday Night Raw.
[Barrett] Gable also beat Giovanni Vinci two weeks ago…
-[Cole] Oh! -[Barrett] …becoming a real nightmare
for Imperium. But that nightmare might end tonight.
[Cole] Yeah. Shoulder first into the post and Kaiser has taken over.
And now the very dangerous Ludwig Kaiser
delivering that drop kick driving Gable to the floor.
And now mocking Otis of the Alpha Academy.
Kaiser is so fun to watch. He is a machine in the ring.
[Barrett] Yeah. In a different time and a different place,
you might think Chad Gable would be perfect to incorporate into Imperium.
Cut out the catchphrases, cut out the silliness,
he certainly has all the tools.
[Cole] And now Kaiser, off the chop and then a kick to Gable.
[Barrett] And this is where Kaiser is at his sneering, merciless best.
[Cole] Have to imagine Gunther's looking on back in the locker room area,
watching Kaiser and Gable do battle here tonight.
Gable fighting back. Tremendous heart out of Gable.
Face first he goes! Kaiser for the win!
Hook of the leg and Gable has to kick at two, a near fall.
[Barrett] Nothing in this game does a mental number on an opponent
more than when your opponent fires up briefly like this,
only to be cut straight back down by the excellence
of someone like Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] If you wanna talk about mental games,
a loss for Gable tonight does not bode well
heading into his championship match next week.
[Barrett] Gable proved himself to be a mentality monster last week.
Looked down and out several times,
still picked up the victory.
I'm not ready to count Gable out quite yet.
[Cole] Gable and Kaiser, exchanging chop center of the ring.
Chad Gable, though, getting the upper hand on Kaiser.
Oh, what a right!
[Barrett] Ooh!
[Cole] Dragon screw by Chad Gable.
[Barrett] Absolutely shred the ligaments in the knee.
[Cole] And now the power of Gable!
Looked like he was going for the German suplex and Kaiser…
Oh!
-[yells] -Down goes Gable.
Kick to the face! For the win for Ludwig Kaiser,
and a kick out by Gable at two!
What a competitive match-up here tonight on Raw.
[Barrett] Two custodians of the mat game giving it everything they've got.
Just take another look at the rapacious nature…
-[Cole] Boom! -[Barrett] …of these attacks from Kaiser.
[Cole] Nothing pretty from Ludwig Kaiser.
[Barrett] That's the brilliance of Kaiser. He goes from pretty to brutal
in the blink of an eye, and it's all effective.
[Cole] And Gable, able to drag Kaiser out of the ring.
Gable looking to rally.
Kaiser quickly back in. Chad Gable, forearm and knee,
and here comes Chad Gable now, fighting back.
-Kaiser misses. -[grunting]
Gable, oh.
-There's a rolling neckbreaker. -Thank you!
[Otis] Get up there, Coach!
[Cole] Gable, realizing that Kaiser was a bit too far away,
goes to the other corner.
Went for the moonsault and that cost him.
Kaiser, back on his feet, Gable caught him, though.
[Otis] Come on, Coach.
[Kaiser groaning]
[Cole] Chad Gable dropping Kaiser on his face!
Here's the cover for the win and a kick-out by Kaiser at two!
[Barrett] Well, you saw what Gable had in mind.
He wanted to go for that moonsault, made a massive error
which allowed Ludwig Kaiser to recover temporarily.
But immediately, the versatility of Chad Gable got him back on top.
[Cole] The issue is you can't make that type of mistake next week
against Gunther, the Intercontinental Champion.
[Barrett] Not when it's all on the line.
[Cole] Collision. Gable. Oh.
Fishermen's throw that time.
And now Chad Gable, gonna send Kaiser and himself
over the top rope to the floor.
[Barrett] What a match-up we're getting here.
Giovanni Vinci, of course, concerned for his partner.
-Gable. -[Cole] Gable going up to the top rope!
Moonsault! Takes out Imperium!
[Barrett] Gable got a nasty landing in the process,
but clearly, Ludwig Kaiser ate the worst of that.
[Cole] Maxxine, loving the moonsault from Coach Gable from the top rope.
And now Chad going up top again.
[Barrett] Looking to put this one to bed
and ripe for the pickings is Ludwig Kaiser.
[Cole] And Kaiser went to block. Gable saw it coming,
pulled up at the last minute and now locks the ankle lock in!
[Barrett] Counter for counter.
Agony on the face of Kaiser.
Another reversal, another roll through.
[Cole] Yeah. Kaiser tried to roll through. Gable, though, was the better man there.
Ankle lock, center of the ring.
Kaiser, this time, creates separation.
And now the uppercut by Kaiser drives Gable to the corner.
Hard-hitting affair here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[Barrett] Best European uppercut in the game from Ludwig Kaiser.
-[Cole] Into the corner. -[Barrett] Here we go!
[Cole] Gable rolls through.
Is this enough to put him away?
Oh, and Vinci, he breaks things up!
-[bell ringing] -Giovanni Vinci!
That'll be a disqualification
Otis now gets involved.
[Barrett] Well, that was game over for Ludwig Kaiser.
Just in the nick of time to save his blushes, but now…
[Cole] Gable was going for-- Went for Chaos Theory.
He hit it between-- before Vinci broke things up.
And now Otis gets involved, and Kaiser on Otis!
[Barrett] Might take more than these two to take down the human Tree Trunk, Otis.
Oh!
[Cole] And Imperium driving Otis
shoulder first to the post
Chad Gable now, trying to fight back in defense of his friend,
but the numbers game catching up on Gable.
-[Barrett] Gable, exhausted. -[Cole] Look who's reappeared.
The Intercontinental Champion, Gunther out here to watch Imperium
do damage to the man he faces next week, Chad Gable.
-[crowd booing] -Hey! Hey!
[Cole] And Gunther.
Going to send a simple message.
I thought he was but Gable turns it around into an ankle lock
on the Champion before Imperium able to beat Gable down.
[Barrett] Another embarrassment to Gunther,
but now Chad Gable is gonna pay the price.
[Cole] And now Gunther is flat-out ticked off.
And a powerbomb to Gable.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Next week, Gunther defends the championship
against Chad Gable as his march to history continues.
A win by Gunther next week and he almost ensures himself
that he'll be the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in history.
[yelling in German]
[Cole] Well, we are five nights away
from Seth Rollins defending the World Heavyweight Championship
against Shinsuke Nakamura.
But in Rollins's mind, Nakamura has made this personal.
He plans to call out Shinsuke Nakamura live next.
Monday Night Raw is live tonight on the Banks of the Mississippi River
and Beale Street at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Moments away from the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth Rollins.
Ladies and gentlemen, we here at WWE
mourn the loss of one of the greatest guest hosts
in the history of Monday Night Raw,
the legendary Bob Barker.
-[jazz music playing] -[announcer] Please welcome Bob Barker!
We are really going to party tonight.
[announcer] Come on down!
I'd like to actually buy a vowel, please.
You want a vowel?
There's no Vanna White here.
I have two words for you. Spin it.
I'm not leaving here tonight
without my car, Bob.
-[groaning] -Hiyah!
Bob Barker reminding you,
help control the pet population.
Have your pets spayed or neutered.
[Cole] You know, Bob Barker won a Slammy Award
as being the greatest guest host
in the history of Monday Night Raw.
Well, talk about a guy who encapsulated the fun spirit
of what WWE is all about.
Best guest host ever.
Rest in Peace, Bob Barker.
["Visionary" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd vocalizing]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[Cole] Well, Seth Rollins with a lot on his mind tonight.
Five nights away from defending the World Heavyweight Championship
against Shinsuke Nakamura,
Saturday in Pittsburgh at WWE, Payback,
and, Wade, normally it's Seth Rollins
who's the architect and the master of mind games,
but not this time around.
[Barrett] Yeah. Listen, it's been an open secret in the locker room
for quite a while now that Seth has been struggling with back issues.
There's a brotherhood in the locker room.
You don't bring up a guy's injury issues unless they do,
but Shinsuke didn't pay attention to that.
Shinsuke's brought it up, and Seth now has to face the reality
of that injury and that situation.
[crowd singing Rollins's theme]
[singing continues]
[singing stops]
[crowd cheering]
Memphis, Tennessee!
[crowd cheering]
Yowie wowie!
Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!
And I am your host for this evening.
I happen to be a visionary.
I happen to be a revolutionary.
I am Seth "Freakin"…
[crowd yells] Rollins!
[crowd singing Rollins's theme]
Memphis, I'm gonna level with ya.
It has been a long week,
so I'm gonna keep this short and sweet.
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[crowd booing]
This Saturday at Payback, I give you what you want,
a crack at my World Heavyweight Championship.
So how about right here, right now,
you give me what I want?
If you got more mind games to play,
you got some mean things you wanna say,
why don't you Shinsuke your way down this aisle and say them to my face?
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
Come on, Shinsuke.
You don't wanna deprive the fine people here tonight.
They wanted you to make your entrance so they could sing your song.
Oh, wait, that's right.
Y'all don't sing his song no more, do you?
[laughing]
Well, if, uh…
if Shinsuke is not gonna show his face here tonight, Memphis,
I think there's only one thing left to do.
Maybe we head on down to Beale Street.
[crowd cheering]
Maybe I pour myself a tall, stiff drink
and I let you guys sing my song all night long.
[crowd singing Rollins's theme]
[tense music playing]
[Nakamura in Japanese]
[crowd booing]
That's it, huh?
That's it from the legendary Shinsuke Nakamura?
We get a video package, huh?
You know what I wanna know?
I wanna know what happened to the Shinsuke Nakamura
that headlined the Tokyo Dome.
I wanna know what happened to the Shinsuke Nakamura
that lit the world on fire when he came to NXT.
A month ago, I would've given you the shirt off my back.
Yeah, that's right. The same back that's broken in two places.
But my broken back didn't stand in the way of me becoming
World Heavyweight Champion,
and it's not gonna stand in the way of me beating your ass
this Saturday at Payback.
[crowd cheering]
When that bell rings this Saturday, Shinsuke,
I'm gonna get a hold of you and I'm gonna pummel you,
and I'm gonna maul you,
and I'm not gonna stop until somebody pulls me off of you!
And in that moment,
when you are lying there defeated,
you will know,
you will never take anything from me.
Not my title!
Not my future!
And not my family!
I will--
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute!
Shinsuke Nakamura! Another sneak attack from behind!
[crowd booing]
[yells]
[Cole] Oh!
Shinsuke Nakamura, telling Seth Rollins,
"I told you to watch your back."
Yet another sneak attack by Nakamura.
Shinsuke Nakamura has a game plan.
He is focused. He's taken Rollins Out of his game.
And Saturday at Payback,
he plans to take Seth's World Heavyweight Championship.
["The Rising Sun" playing]
I'm so tired of doing this.
I'm so tired of doing this week after week, month after month
with The Judgment Day, because no matter how many times
we beat them, they always find a way to come back.
They always find a way to play with the rules, to play the numbers game.
They always find a way to get these cheap little victories.
Like, look what happened to me tonight.
Look what happened to us last week.
They play the numbers game.
They try to get that briefcase involved, and what happens,
we get disqualified, they get a DQ in, and now that gives them
a title match this Saturday at Payback.
Well, guess what, boys? You wanna do this one more time?
Fine! We will do this one more time.
But guess what?
Kevin…
you wanna explain to them how it's going to go down this time?
Sure. See, Judgment Day, the rules won't play in your favor this time.
Because we're sick of this.
So we went to Adam Pearce and we got something made official.
What do they call Pittsburgh again?
-The nickname? -Steel City.
The Steel City. That's exactly what's happening on Saturday at Payback.
It's not just any tag team title match,
it's going to be a Steel City Street Fight.
No rules, anything goes.
And guess what? A lot of crazy things have happened in WWE in Pittsburgh.
Myself, I was thrown off the top of a cage
through the announce table before.
And you know what? As crazy as that was,
it is nothing compared to what's coming to you, Judgment Day,
at Payback this Saturday,
because we are ending this once and for all.
[Cole] I love it. A Pittsburgh Steel City Street Fight
for the tag team titles.
You know, Pittsburgh's the Steel City.
[Barrett] I think I heard that once before.
-["No One Will Survive" playing] -[bell ringing]
[ring announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, weighing in at 201 pounds,
-Tommaso Ciampa! -[Cole] Oh, look out, Tommaso!
Bronson Reed from behind!
[Barrett] 330-pound bowling ball,
knocking it down in the aisle.
[Cole] Reed told Ciampa, "Size does matter."
"This game is designed for a big man like me."
But Ciampa is back to his feet.
Bronson Reed doesn't realize
Ciampa is back in it, and we got the fight underway.
[Barrett] Well, Tommaso Ciampa is as gritty as they come.
"You tell me the rules. You wanna go low, I will go lower."
[Cole] And Reed sent outside the ring,
and Ciampa now catches him with that running knee.
Reed is stunned. This match hasn't even started yet.
Another running knee by Ciampa.
[yelling] Let's go! Come on!
Come on!
You wanna play more? Let's go!
[Cole] This match got underway during the commercial break.
Tomasso Ciampa against "Big" Bronson Reed one on one tonight.
Bronson Reed tried to start things off with a sneak attack
in the aisleway of Ciampa,
but Ciampa's come back strong.
[Barrett] Well, we saw a massively fired up Ciampa last week
give a speech, telling the world he's sick of missing out on opportunities.
[Cole] Oh, what a splash by Reed!
Almost cutting Ciampa in half.
That's 330 pounds flying through the air like a jumbo jet. Watch this.
Go! What a collision!
[Barrett] Yeah. And I'm impressed that Ciampa's even moving
after that landing.
Could have had a crushed sternum on that one.
Ciampa talking about opportunities last week,
but that opportunity might have just passed him by
in the blink of an eye, thanks to Bronson.
[Cole] Yeah. Ciampa said that he wants to be the guy.
He didn't come back to Monday Night Raw to come close.
He said he's been there before. It's his oxygen.
[Barrett] This is really two guys who have massive success in NXT.
They're done wasting time here on Raw.
[Cole] Sleeper by Ciampa.
Ciampa, former NXT Champion,
North American Champion was Bronson Reed in NXT.
And Ciampa, able to move out of harm's way.
[grunting and groaning]
"No more excuses," says Tomasso Ciampa.
"Do it yourself. Get the job done."
Looking to knock off the burly bruiser, Bronson Reed.
-And Ciampa! -[Barrett] Oh!
[Cole] Looking to put Reed away!
[Barrett] I did not see that coming.
[Cole] Cover by Ciampa!
And a kick out. You know, Tomasso Ciampa is sneaky strong, Wade.
[Barrett] Yeah. That was absolutely outrageous to pull off a move like that
against someone the size of Bronson Reed.
Most people couldn't even wrap their hands
around the massive frame of Bronson, let alone pick up all of that weight.
But immediately the size, the frame of Bronson Reed
swings this match-up back in his own direction.
[Cole] Yeah, one blow by Reed can change the entire momentum of a match-up.
Just such a massive man.
Oh, now that running sit-out powerbomb by Reed.
Trying to put Ciampa away,
who kicks out at two.
[Barrett] Just got the feeling that if Bronson is capable
of following this up with a gear change right now
after this volley of offense,
including this running powerbomb
that somehow Ciampa managed to kick out of,
it could be a very short night for Tommaso Ciampa.
[Cole] Dragging Ciampa toward the corner, Bronson Reed now.
[Barrett] Oh! Come-- Oh, no.
[Cole] He was gonna try to go up top, and Ciampa realizing that,
quickly back to his feet
[Barrett] Getting a little excited.
Bronson Reed goes up top, the match will be over.
Clearly, Ciampa had it well scouted, though.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
[Barrett] No way to scout something like that.
[Cole] Ciampa, face first into the steel steps.
Big smile on Reed's face,
and running shoulder tackle off the apron.
[Barrett] That was a heavy landing for Ciampa,
who's previously had neck surgery. Listen to this.
[crowd exclaims]
[Cole] Just tossing Ciampa into the steps.
And now, Reed… Ciampa, though, lands on his feet.
Back into the ring.
And he-- Oh! Hanging him off the Willow's Bell
delivered to Reed by Ciampa.
[Barrett] It was a desperation move in a way from Ciampa,
who's been beaten from pillar to post.
[Cole] And now the running knee by Ciampa!
Looking to put Reed away.
Here's the cover for the win! Almost had him and a kick out of two.
[Barrett] Yeah. Well, hats off to Bronson Reed.
-Very few survive this level of offense. -[Cole] Bang!
[Barrett] Ciampa has put away countless blows with that,
but not big Bronson.
[Cole] And Ciampa, going for it again,
got picked out of the air by Reed.
Ciampa with the right hand, now a chop, fighting, gets back against the big man.
[Barrett] Speaks volumes to how hungry these two are for success on Raw.
They're both ticking after the beating they've delivered each other.
[Cole] Yeah, but a brutal match-up between these two men,
between Reed and Ciampa here tonight.
And now Ciampa.
Shoulders.
[crowd counting]
-[Cole] He got it! -[bell rings]
Awkward cover and pin by Ciampa, but he stole one there.
[ring announcer] Here is your winner, Tommaso Ciampa!
[Cole] Wasn't sure Ciampa was gonna be able to get the shoulders down,
but in the end, he did, Wade, and he stole the win.
[Barrett] Ugly as hell, but resourceful
and ultimately a massive victory for Ciampa,
who is moving up in the world here on Raw.
That is a big win for Tomasso Ciampa over "Big" Bronson Reed.
And later tonight, we've got a big-time match
between Becky Lynch and Zoey Stark.
So with that, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"The Man" Becky Lynch.
[crowd cheering]
Becky, in less than a week, you'll take on Trish Stratus
inside of a steel cage.
Do you have any second thoughts about challenging
for this Falls Count Anywhere Match tonight, just days ahead of Payback?
Yeah, I've had second thoughts.
Third thoughts, fourth thoughts, fifth thoughts,
sixth, seventh, eighth thoughts.
They've all been about whopping Zoey Stark all around this arena.
Look, for the last few months, those two have backed me into a corner.
And so is this the easy way out? No. No, it's not.
Would I want it the easy way?
Hell no.
So The Man has come around to Memphis
and she's bringing a whole lot of chaos with her.
["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]
[Cole] Falls Count Anywhere, still to come tonight on Monday Night Raw.
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
♪ The demons in your dreams ♪
♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪
♪ Look at my eyes Do they look alive? Alive ♪
♪ Look at my eyes This is do or die, die ♪
[ring announcer] Please welcome the NXT North American Champion,
Dominik Mysterio
and the Women's World Champion,
Rhea Ripley!
[Cole] Rhea Ripley, earlier tonight, dressed down both Bálor and Priest
with Judgment Day and said, "You better get your act together
because Judgment Day is starting to look weak
and people are starting to target me. People like Raquel Rodriguez."
Well, The Eradicator is here,
the WWE Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley.
I can only imagine what she's whispering to her Dirty Dom.
Mami's here live on Monday Night Raw next.
WWE Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley in the ring,
of course, with Dirty Dom.
Meanwhile, here tonight at Monday Night Raw
is the NXT Women's Champion, Tiffany Stratton,
hanging out the front row, uh,
scouting for possible opponents,
because she said nobody in NXT stacks up to her
despite the fact there's a Fatal 4-Way tomorrow night to determine
who faces Tiffany Stratton for her championship.
[Barrett] Talking about Women's Champions, the most dominant women in the division
collide with the WWE Women's World Championship on the line.
Has Rhea Ripley met her match in the form of Raquel?
We will find out Saturday at Payback.
Raquel Rodriguez
claims that she's gonna cut me down to size.
That's real cute coming from someone who had to play up
an injury to pull one over on me.
Look, it was a smart trick, but it's the first and last time
that is ever, ever going to happen.
But I don't… I don't blame her, Dom.
I really don't blame her. I mean…
my resume speaks for itself.
But I'm not gonna come out here
and tell you all about my accomplishments
because that's just gonna take too damn long.
This Championship around my waist
proves absolutely everything.
But Raquel thinks that she's gonna take my Championship at Payback this Saturday.
That's just another reason why she is an idiot.
But, you know, I'm not gonna take anything away from her.
Raquel, she's got her own accomplishments as well.
Like…
the accomplishment that she's big.
She's tough.
I guess she's a bit strong, right?
But she's not Rhea bloody Ripley.
[crowd cheering]
So like I said, she can talk, talk, talk all she likes,
but when it comes to Payback,
Mami's walking out champion.
But Raquel, she doesn't…
she just doesn't learn her lessons, you know?
["Trap Queen" playing]
Here we go again.
[Cole] Yeah, apparently not.
Raquel Rodriguez marching to the ring.
She had a lot to talk about
earlier on tonight about why she wants Rhea,
why she wants Payback,
Rhea taking her out, taking out her partner, Liv Morgan,
costing her the tag team titles. And here we go. Rodriguez and Ripley.
And Rhea sent into the corner by Raquel Rodriguez,
who's unloading on the Champion.
[Barrett] Nobody can manhandle Rhea Ripley quite like Raquel.
[screams]
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez, taking the fight
to the Women's World Champion
and overpowering the The Eradicator.
A fallaway slam, out of the ring!
Dirty Dom may wanna think twice.
[indistinct speaking]
[Cole] And now, Rhea, taking advantage of the distraction.
[Barrett] Just what Rhea needed.
[Cole] And now looking for Riptide on Raquel Rodriguez.
And Raquel, able to counter, into a hip toss!
[Barrett] Raquel just too big and too strong to be manhandled.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, what a clothesline.
Rhea Ripley is stunned and shocked.
It's been said that no one can match the power of Rhea Ripley
except Raquel Rodriguez.
[indistinct yelling]
[Cole] Will Saturday be Raquel's night at Payback?
[Rhea Ripley] You're screwed up now!
Idiot!
You messed up now!
Let's just be clear, Lynch.
You're the idiot who asked for Falls Count Anywhere Match,
so you're basically giving WWE's fastest-rising star Zoey Stark
free reign to do anything to you tonight.
Well, Lemony Snicket, you've only got yourself to blame for this one.
You're leaving me a little something on Saturday, aren't you?
[chuckles] Trish, don't even worry about it,
because when I'm done with "The Man" Becky Lynch tonight,
oh, I will leave plenty of her
for you in that Steel Cage Match this Saturday.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next, it is Becky Lynch
versus Zoey Stark.
But its Falls Count Anywhere.
No disqualifications, no countouts, and the fall can take place anywhere.
Concession stands outside on Beale Street, anywhere in Memphis.
While the announcement on X earlier today
from ESPN, NFL insider Adam Schefter,
the WWE and NFL are announcing a multi-year deal,
a licensing deal to create NFL-inspired WWE legacy title belts
and branding for NFL teams are available at WWE shop, NFL shop, and Fanatics.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're looking ahead to Saturday night
in the Steel City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
for WWE Payback, where Seth Rollins has a target on his back
at the hands of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Seth Rollins defends the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
against Shinsuke Nakamura Saturday night.
[Barrett] And it is a match that Trish Stratus wanted no part of,
but can the Hall of Famer survive "The Man" Becky Lynch
inside an unforgiving steel cage this Saturday at Payback?
[Cole] Becky has A Falls Count Anywhere Match coming up next here on Raw.
Meanwhile, the United States Championship up for grabs.
The new champion, Rey Mysterio, against the old champion, Austin Theory,
Saturday at Payback.
[Barrett] The egos have landed.
The A-Lister took some biting shots earlier,
but at Payback, The Megastar will bite back.
Miz versus LA Knight this Saturday.
[Cole] Has WWE Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley finally met her match?
Raquel Rodriguez with the opportunity of a lifetime Saturday in Pittsburgh.
[Barrett] We heard it a few minutes ago, the champs want this ended for good.
WWE tag gold on the line as KO and Zayn take on Bálor and Priest
in a Steel City Street Fight.
[Cole] Pittsburgh's the real Steel City.
Also, in Pittsburgh on Saturday, The Grayson Waller Effect,
Grayson Waller with a special guest, the "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes,
Saturday, Pittsburgh at WWE Payback.
Well, speaking of Cody Rhodes, this past Friday night on SmackDown,
a heartfelt memory by Cody Rhodes
of the late great Hall of Famer Terry Funk,
who passed away last week.
Tonight, we celebrate the life of Terry Funk.
[country music playing]
[narrator] The WWE family is saddened to learn of the passing
of one of the most iconic figures in sports entertainment,
WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk.
[Terry Funk] I didn't wanna be president.
I didn't wanna be anything.
I knew what I wanted to be since I could walk.
I wanted to wrestle.
[narrator] Born into a wrestling family,
Terry Funk burst onto the scene with his brother Dory Funk, Jr.
as part of their father's homegrown promotion in Amarillo, Texas.
The Funks are legends. I've always looked up to Terry Funk.
I loved watching him work in the ring. I loved the unpredictability.
[yelling] Get him outta here! Get outta here!
Unbelievable work ethic, and Terry Funk was a great, great performer.
I learned a lot from Terry Funk.
[narrator] Terry's rugged, no-nonsense style
captivated the NWA audience, catapulting him to great success.
[announcer] Terry Funk has just achieved the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
I'm gonna go ahead and prove to you people
that I will be the finest champion that this world has ever seen.
[narrator] Terry's popularity captured the attention of Hollywood.
You're a dead man.
[grunting]
There is just one of me.
[narrator] Terry would continue
to captivate audiences all around the globe.
[Terry Funk] I am middle aged and crazy like a fox!
[narrator] Making an impact in WCW,
ECW, and WWE,
where his matches with WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley
would pioneer the hardcore style.
Terry was ahead of his time in the sense that he did things
that nobody ever did before.
[narrator] These former foes would then go on to join forces
reaching ultimate triumph at WrestleMania XIV.
[announcer] Terry Funk, Cactus Jack are the new Tag Team Champions.
Terry Funk is one of the nicest guys, one of the kindest guys.
I feel fortunate.
He had a way of bringing out the best in me.
[narrator] In 2009, alongside his brother Dory Funk, Jr.,
Terry would take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Before it was fashionable to call ourselves ECW,
Terry Funk was extreme.
I wanna thank you so much.
You make an old man feel good, thank you.
I'm gonna go on record as saying in my own personal opinion,
Terry Funk's the greatest Superstar of all time.
[narrator] A five-decade career that may never be replicated.
Terry's tireless dedication left an indelible mark
on the sports-entertainment world.
The WWE family will remember Terry Funk
as a family man, a fearless entertainer,
and an unforgettable pioneer.
We love you guys. We love you.
[crowd chanting] Terry, Terry, Terry!
[cheers and applause]
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[Cole] We are in Memphis tonight.
Terry Funk had one of the great rivalries of all time with Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Who will ever forget the empty arena match
between those two?
[bell rings]
[ring announcer] The following is a Falls Count Anywhere Match!
Introducing first from Dublin, Ireland,
"The Man" Becky Lynch!
[Cole] You know, Wade, this is a type of match-up
that would be right up Terry Funk's alley.
[Barrett] Yeah, a fitting tribute to the man himself.
And The Man herself stepping in the ring now
looking to even the score with a certain Zoey Stark,
who got involved in her match-up a couple of weeks ago.
[Cole] You know, in five nights,
Becky's locked inside a steel cage with Trish Stratus.
But coming up next, she gets Trish Stratus protégé, Zoey Stark.
Falls Count Anywhere! I mean anywhere!
It's live and and its next.
Next week Monday Night Raw is in Charlotte, North Carolina,
and Gunther continues his march toward history.
If he can knock off Chad Gable,
he will become the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Can Gable stop Gunther? We'll find out live next week.
[Barrett] And just breaking, the Scottish warrior, he's got his wish.
McIntyre and Riddle will take on The Viking Raiders
in a Tornado Tag Match.
Both members of both teams are legal at all times.
No need to tag, nothing to keep these guys from tearing each other apart.
That is next week right here on Raw.
[Cole] Meanwhile, our main event, Becky Lynch set for action
in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
And looking on in Memphis, Tennessee,
the NXT Women's Champion, Tiffany Stratton.
Scouting competition because she says there's no one in the NXT
that can challenge her for her title.
[Barrett] Now, that is a woman with a bright future.
And speaking of bright futures, the protégé of Trish Stratus.
[ring announcer] And her opponent, accompanied to the ring
by WWE Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus,
Zoey Stark!
[Cole] Kendo stick in hand because there are no rules
in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
No count outs, no disqualifications,
falls count anywhere in the arena or in the city for that matter.
And Becky Lynch with a kendo stick of her own.
And Becky, looking to take out Zoey Stark tonight
before she gets locked inside a steel cage
with Trish Stratus on Saturday at Payback.
[Barrett] Well, why not start from the off-tooled-off.
-[Cole] And Zoey, who's been causing… -[bell rings]
…problems for Becky Lynch for months now.
And Becky Lynch immediately meets her with a kendo stick,
shoots a glance down at Trish Stratus,
and every shot with a kendo stick, Becky, sending a message
to the Hall of Famer Trish Stratus.
[Barrett] Trish Stratus is wincing at every blow right now.
[Cole] And Becky Lynch, with kendo stick in hand,
delivers the Russian leg sweep.
Cover now. Hook of the leg and a kick out.
And Becky Lynch, gonna punish Zoey Stark as Trish looks on.
[Barrett] This really has been an example
of the experience difference between these two.
Zoey Stark, looking for a rope break.
That's not going to help you in this match.
[Cole] Yeah, no disqualifications in this match-up,
so the ropes will not force a break.
Becky Lynch now, off the apron. Here comes Zoey Stark,
making her way out in front of the announce table.
And now Trish Stratus gets involved with a kendo stick.
And I was gonna say earlier, Wade,
I have a feeling this match is gonna turn into a two-on-one affair.
[Barrett] Well, it's right in front of the referee
and there's nothing the referee can do. It's all perfectly legal, as you know.
[Cole] And Zoey Stark, looking for a powerbomb.
Becky, hanging on as she ends up on the apron, delivers a kick of her own.
And now Becky, trying to climb the rope.
Trish Stratus again, running interference,
suffers a right hand at the hands of Becky.
And now Lynch, off the second rope,
taking out both mentor and protégé!
Cover on Zoey Stark!
Falls count anywhere, and a kick out!
[Barrett] Lynch, going up top early in this one.
Not necessarily known for her high-flying offense
but almost ended this one early.
[Cole] We were worried about the condition Becky Lynch
would be in tonight… Oh! …after this match-up.
What about the condition Trish Stratus could be in
heading into the steel cage?
[Barrett] What about her condition in this arena, Cole?
[Cole] As Becky is bounced off the steps by Zoey Stark,
the powerhouse, no-nonsense style, and a kick out…
by Becky.
[Barrett] We're gonna learn a lot about Zoey Stark tonight.
How badly do you wanna be a top name in this industry?
[Cole] We know Zoey Stark does not mess around.
She came here to make the most of her opportunity,
aligned herself with Trish Stratus!
Missie dropkick, top rope, cover on Becky Lynch!
Hook of the leg, wraps the arm, and a kick out of two by Becky.
[Barrett] We saw a glimpse of the superior athleticism
that Zoey Stark has over most of the roster
here in WWE and it's proven effective.
[Cole] Oh, no!
And Trish, trying to help her protégé just threw a steel chair
into the ring and it bounced off the face of Zoey.
Embarrassing moment.
Becky, looking to take advantage
[Barrett] Trish Stratus needs to get her head in the game right now.
[Cole] Trish again, uh…
[Barrett] What are you doing, Trish?
[Cole] Well, she's, uh, sending steel chairs to her buddy,
Zoey, to use on Becky.
[Barrett] With friends like Trish Stratus, who needs enemies?
[Cole] That miscalculation did not throw Zoey off her game, however.
[Barrett] I'm impressed she didn't go down after that chair shot
bounce right off her forehead.
Feeling the effects now, but still ticking is Zoey Stark.
[crowd chanting] We want tables!
[Cole] And now, setting steel chairs up in the ring.
Becky fighting back, realizing the danger she's in.
And it's been an uphill battle for Becky since the beginning
with Trish hanging out down at ringside.
And now Zoey delivers the right hand.
[Barrett] You'll see the confidence of Zoey Stark growing
week in, week out here.
[Cole] Oh, and Zoey, dumped down to the apron.
Trish Stratus up the steps.
And Zoey takes advantage.
And again, Becky has it coming at her from all directions here.
[Barrett] Well, it would behoove Trish Stratus to--
[Cole] Oh! Legdrop by Lynch!
Cover on Stark for the win!
And got the shoulder up at two.
[Barrett] Lynch had a nasty altercation on that, but we're going for the…
[Cole] The disarmer!
And now Zoey countered as Becky went face first off the chairs.
And now Zoey Stark taking control of this match.
Uh-oh. Looks like she's going for the Z-360,
and Becky Lynch!
Delivers the Man-handle Slam!
Cover! Trish Stratus breaks things up.
[Barrett] I mean, what chance does Becky Lynch have…
-[Cole] None. Zero. -[Barrett] …in this scenario?
[Cole] One of the reasons we have a Steel Cage Match on Saturday.
So it can be finally one-on-one with Becky and Trish.
And now, Becky, in pursuit of Stratus.
Uh-uh, kendo stick blocked by Becky.
Not quite what Trish had in mind.
[crowd cheering]
And Becky!
Getting her opportunity!
Kendo sticks to Stratus!
[Barrett] What you call an equalizer.
Trish Stratus cannot get outta Dodge quick enough here.
[Cole] Stratus trying to retreat.
Trying to run away from Becky Lynch, who continues to unload a kendo stick.
[Barrett] Stratus, done saving Stark.
You gotta save yourself at this point.
[Cole] And remember, on Saturday, Wade, there's no retreat for Stratus
inside the steel cage.
-[groans] -Oh, and now Zoey with a chair.
[groaning]
Becky had turned all of her attention to Trish Stratus,
and Zoey Stark, taking advantage.
Cover! Falls count anywhere!
Becky stays in it.
Cena, live on SmackDown, a week from Friday.
John Cena makes his first appearance ever in India at the Superstar Spectacle.
Meanwhile, here on Monday Night Raw in Memphis, Tennessee,
Becky Lynch, Zoey Stark, Falls Count Anywhere in our main event!
Becky takes out Zoey!
[Barrett] This match-up that started out messy
has just got messier and messier from there.
Zoey start with a giant goose egg on her head.
-And that's from her own-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Barrett] …Trish Stratus. Imagine the damage being done by Becky--
[Cole] Cover! Hooks the leg after the Bexploder, and a kick out.
Yeah. Becky has really taken over this match as…
-You gotta listen to this. -[crowd exclaims]
Trish Stratus got involved a lot in this match-up,
and Becky finally sent her flying out of the arena, and Becky has taken control.
[Barrett] The protégé, Zoey Stark, is on her own now.
It speaks volumes that Zoey Stark, a relative unknown a few months ago,
is going toe-to-toe with Becky Lynch.
And things just got very interesting.
[Cole] Oh, and then Becky trying to drag the table.
And Zoey Stark said, "No, you're not gonna get a table. You don't deserve it,"
telling the WWE fans here in Memphis.
[Barrett] I agree. They cheered when she got hit in the face with a chair.
They don't deserve anything.
[Cole] She's not having a good night with furniture, Zoey.
She sends up Becky back into the ring.
And Becky hung up on the top rope by Zoey Stark.
Zoey understands what a win here tonight
over the multi-time World Champion Becky Lynch would mean.
[Barrett] Yeah, undoubtedly. We said it before,
this is one of the most ambitious individuals we have here on Raw.
Fierce aggression, and now showing that remorseless attitude
that could get her a massive win here.
[Cole] Yeah, Becky, just looking to survive.
She's locked inside a steel cage Saturday at Payback in Pittsburgh
against Trish Stratus.
Zoey would like to make sure Becky doesn't even make it to Pittsburgh.
Oh, and Zoey Stark!
[Barrett] Great athleticism once again.
[Cole] Cover now by Stark. Hook of the leg and a kick out.
But did you notice Becky grabbing her knee when Zoey came off the rope?
Now watch this. The impact of the chair,
and Becky immediately grabbed her right knee.
[Barrett] That is a hyperextension of that knee.
And that is just going to keep feeling worse and worse as time goes by.
[Cole] And now Zoey Stark just…
trying to bury Becky in the steel chair.
And this is not gonna be pretty as Stark looks to climb to the top rope.
[Barrett] Well, we know how angry Becky Lynch has been lately,
but it might've been a huge mistake accepting this particular match-up
ahead of Payback and that steel cage match.
[Cole] Using the chair to her advantage, now climbing up to the second rope.
[crowd cheering]
Becky, gonna throw caution to the wind.
[Barrett] There's no good ending--
[Cole] Superplex on the chairs!
Cover by Lynch for the win!
Kick out by Stark.
[Barrett] Stark having to dig deeper than she's ever dug before
in her entire career.
[Cole] Watch this.
[Barrett] Even Becky Lynch landing on the chairs here.
But clearly the worst of it came for Zoey Stark.
[Cole] Look out.
Wondering why it took 'em so long.
Becky, ripping apart our announce table here.
And now Zoey, bounced off the table by Becky,
And Becky now…
Setting Zoey Stark up!
Was looking for a Man-handle Slam.
And now Trish Stratus back in the game!
[Barrett] Back out of nowhere.
Perhaps a decisive moment in this match.
[Cole] And Stark with a running knee.
And again, Trish Stratus paying dividends. Cover right on the announce table!
Falls count anywhere! Kick out by Becky Lynch at two.
[Barrett] What an iconic victory that would have been.
[yelling]
[Cole] Watch Becky's head snap there off the kick.
[grunting and groaning]
And now Zoey Stark has the upper hand on Becky Lynch
Up?
[Cole] Very angry.
Zoey Stark thought she should've put Becky away moments ago.
And now Becky Lynch sends Zoey off the barricade!
[Barrett] That's a big mistake there from Zoey Stark!
[Cole] Also a mistake for Trish Stratus to even come back out here.
Because all she did was tick Becky Lynch off.
And now The Man has come to play.
Becky Lynch, going up top!
Again, looking for a Mand-handle Slam
and again, Trish Stratus getting involved!
[Barrett] Just cannot keep these women down.
[Cole] And now Trish! Oh, a bulldog through a table!
[groaning]
Come on, Zoey!
[Cole] Becky may be down and out.
Trish calling for Zoey Stark.
[Barrett] Stark might be down and out. That's the problem.
[Cole] Zoey, trying to crawl,
and now Trish dragging her toward the cover now.
For the win!
Becky somehow kicks out at two!
[Barrett] Trish thought she got the job done,
as well she might after this bulldog through those tables.
But Zoey Stark so beaten up during this match,
unable to capitalize in time.
[Cole] I understand the rules that there are no disqualifications,
but this is ridiculous.
This has been a two-on-one fight against Becky Lynch since the beginning.
Stratus and Zoey beating the hell out of Becky Lynch.
[Barrett] Becky must have known this was coming.
[Cole] And Becky's still fighting back.
Trish missed with a chick kick.
And now, Becky and Trish!
Becky, and Zoey, right hand to the kidney.
-[Barrett] Oh! -[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
Zoey just took out her mentor Trish Stratus!
[Barrett] Absolutely.
Payback inadvertently for that chair shot earlier.
[Cole] And now Becky!
Man-handle Slam!
Cover!
-Becky with the win! -[bell ringing]
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
What a match!
[ring announcer] Here is your winner,
"The Man" Becky Lynch!
[Cole] A battle-hardened Becky Lynch stands tall here tonight.
[Barrett] What a gutsy performance from both Stark and Lynch,
and even Trish Stratus.
[Cole] Watch this. Zoey inadvertently takes out her mentor.
And off the shock of that, Becky Lynch would make Zoey Stark pay
with the Man-handle Slam.
And now "The Man"
Becky Lynch turns her attention to Saturday night at Payback,
when she's locked inside a steel cage
with the Hall of Famer Trish Stratus.
It's Trish's first appearance ever inside a steel cage.
Stratus, Lynch at Payback Saturday night.
[music playing continues] Saturday night.