[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woooo!
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman] Acknowledge me.
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
[Cole] We are here in San Jose, California.
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler,
who were supposed to kick off the show tonight with a match,
actually engaging with a brawl before we went on the air.
[Wade] I am not surprised at all.
After Baszler was squashed by Nia Jax a couple of weeks ago,
she ain't waiting for no bell to ring, Cole.
[Cole] Lot of history between these two women.
Nia and Shayna used to be partners.
At one point, Shayna broke the arm of Nia Jax.
Nia Jax returning, damaging the ribs of Shayna Baszler
last week with the annihilator,
and now Shayna wasting little time going after Nia Jax,
as the official tries somehow to separate these two.
[Wade] Well, Baszler might be looking to break a lot more
than Nia Jax's arm this evening.
[Cole] Nia Jax interrupted the Tag Team Championship match,
perhaps costing Shayna an opportunity at the Tag Titles.
And now Nia going right for those injured ribs.
Raquel Rodriguez out for weeks with whiplash.
-on the ribs of Shayna Baszler. -["Trap Queen" playing]
And now another woman who Nia Jax injured back on Monday Night Raw.
Raquel Rodriguez out for a number of weeks with whiplash.
[Wade] The look on Nia Jax's face says it all.
"Have I bitten off more than I can chew?"
[Cole] Yeah, but Raquel Rodriguez takes out Shayna Baszler,
and now Nia from behind.
Remember, Raquel believes she had the Women's Championship won,
before the return of Nia Jax,
and speaking of the championship.
"The Eradicator," the Women's World Champion, Rhea Ripley is here,
Down goes Jax and the fight is on.
[Wade] All your victims returning at once. What a nightmare.
[Cole] And now Baszler back into the fray.
And now Rhea going after Raquel.
What a melee to start Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Friendly fire going off left, right and center.
[Cole] Finally, security here to separate or at least attempt separate these women.
[Wade] Man, who on earth would want to be a security guard?
[crowd chanting] Let them fight!
[Cole] Trying to get some order restored here tonight.
[Wade] Good luck with that.
[Cole] This capacity crowd in San Jose is in a frenzy
as Rhea Ripley is teeing off on the security.
And a riptide from Rhea Ripley.
Rhea's pissed off tonight!
And the fight still spilling back out to the locker room area.
Rhea Ripley wants some more though, she's not done yet.
[Wade] We got ourselves an all-out riot to kick things off here on Raw.
[crowd chanting] Mami! Mami!
[Cole] They are rumbling here tonight in San Jose, California.
What a start to this show!
We were supposed to have Baszler and Nia Jax.
It never happened.
They started fighting in the locker room area.
Mami's back on Monday Night Raw.
And I'm not done yet.
So I'm staying in this ring because I got something else to handle.
Judgment Day, get out here.
We need to talk.
[Cole] Mami is in a mood.
Rhea Ripley the "The Eradicator"
calling out her fellow members of Judgment Day.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, what a night on tap.
Including the intense Tomasso Ciampa
trying to win gold for his first time here on Monday Night Raw
makes it official.
Contract signing for Gunther in the Intercontinental Championship.
[Wade] Tempers flared on Miz TV last week
when the Scottish Warrior Drew McIntyre silenced, then headbutted his host.
What does The Miz have in store this week when Drew returns to Miz TV later tonight?
[Cole] And days away from his Last Man Standing match
against Seth Rollins for the-- against Shinsuke Nakamura.
For the World Heavyweight Championship.
Seth Rollins is here tonight with his final address for Fastlane.
-["The Other Side" playing] -And look who's here.
"Dirty" Dom and Damian Priest, and Mami can't be happy.
The title around Dominik Mysterio's waist
is not the North American Championship from NXT.
He lost that Saturday night at NXT's No Mercy.
Rhea Ripley can't be happy.
[Wade] What a disaster for The Judgment Day.
Rhea Ripley is the matriarch of The Judgment Day.
With her absence, Judgment Day has been falling apart.
Hell hath no fury like Rhea Ripley scorned.
[Cole] And we heard rumors Finn Bálor wasn't here tonight.
I guess those rumors are true.
…Damian Priest and show some respect to "Dirty" Dom!
[crowd booing]
Now that I have gotten that off my chest,
I have some Judgment Day business to attend.
Now we all know that there is no leader in The Judgment Day. Correct?
Correct?
But we each have our own responsibilities to handle.
Someone has to come up with a game plan
so things don't go down for The Judgment Day.
Right, Dom?
Right? Correct.
So what happens?
Mami gets taken out for two weeks by Nia Jax,
and all of a sudden things start falling apart for The Judgment Day.
Because Mami is the one that makes the plans.
But at the end of the day, me being out,
I left that responsibility to someone and they disappointed me.
I left that responsibility to you, Priest.
I go and you can't handle the job.
After the brawl last week, Finn's out injured.
You can't even compete tonight against Jey
because you're not medically cleared.
And what else happens, Priest? What else happens?
Dom loses his NXT North American Championship
to Trick Williams at No Mercy.
[crowd booing]
Shut up.
All because you weren't there to help him, like I told you to.
And now we have a Cody and Jey situation.
They don't fear us, Priest.
You know why?
Because there's tension here. Because we're not a threat to them.
And you know what they're going to try and do?
They're going to try and take your Tag Team Championships
away from you.
What are you going to do, huh?
You can't even do anything about it.
With all due respect, Rhea,
you're not saying anything I don't already know.
Yeah, Cody and Jey are coming for the titles,
but when push comes to shove, I will push harder.
With that being said, screw Cody Rhodes.
Screw "Main Event" Jey Uso.
While we're at it, all these talks about The Judgment Day falling apart.
Screw that too.
You know…
The way I see it, I have my titles.
I have my contract.
I'm not trying to point fingers and start nothing,
but Mami, where's Dom Dom's title?
[crowd cheers]
Dom,
I'm your Mami, right?
What does that make you?
That makes you my Papi.
So tomorrow night at NXT,
you have a rematch against Trick Williams.
You're welcome.
But if you don't come home to me with that championship,
then don't bother coming home.
[crowd cheers]
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[Cole] What a scene here tonight in San Jose for "Main Event" Jey Uso!
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] Uso! Uso!
Hey, hey.
First and foremost, importantly,
can we please welcome back miss Rhea Ripley.
[crowd cheers]
Hey.
We missed you.
We all miss you.
Because it looked like there was a new tribal chief on Monday Night.
And apparently she has bigger balls than Roman Reigns ever did.
[crowd cheers]
You know what, Jey?
I'm really tired of hearing you open your mouth.
[continues in Spanish]
[in English] What are you doing?
[crowd booing]
-Damian… -[booing grows louder]
-…you're not medically cleared… -[booing grows louder]
-…to handle Judgment Day business… -[booing grows louder]
[Rhea speaks indistinctly]
So I'm gonna take care of business,
for Mami.
I'll take care of Jey.
If you want, go ahead.
Go ahead.
No, let Papi. Let him show off.
[Wade] This ought to be good.
[Cole] Dominik trying to stand up for his Mami, Rhea Ripley.
[crowd chanting] Whoop his ass!
[Cole] And the WWE fans telling Jey Uso
what they would like him to do to Dominik Mysterio.
I don't think Dominik liked what Mr. Uso was saying about Rhea Ripley.
[Wade] I'm not sure Dominik has thought this one through.
[Cole] Doubt he'll be thinking much anymore after that superkick by Jey Uso.
Wait a minute! From behind JD McDonagh.
JD McDonagh, who's been auditioning for weeks to be a part of Judgment Day,
ambushing Jey, ambushing Jey Uso from behind.
[Wade] Just when it was looking like a successful audition.
Oh! The numbers game once again shutting down.
[Cole] And now a two-on-one assault of Jey Uso
by both McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio
as Ripley and Damian Priest look on.
[inaudible]
And now calling Damian Priest in the ring
to do even more damage to "Main Event" Jey Uso.
-[Wade] Jey Uso-- -["Kingdom" playing]
[Cole] Oh, Jey's got back up.
"The American Nightmare," Cody Rhodes.
And Cody and Jey Uso taking out McDonagh and Mysterio.
Cross Rhodes to Dominik!
[Adam] Enough! Jey, you have caused enough chaos tonight.
And we're going to resolve that chaos at Fastlane
when Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso face Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
What?
And just so everybody understands the stakes,
that match will be for
the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship.
That is official.
[Cole] Judgment Day's prediction came through.
Uso and Rhodes are coming after the Tag Team Titles.
And Wade, it's going to happen this Saturday
in Indianapolis at WWE Fastlane.
[Wade] My word! In between NXT tomorrow night
and WWE Fastlane on Saturday,
this just became a huge week for The Judgment Day.
Rhea Ripley expects results.
As we head toward WWE Fastlane this Saturday on Peacock,
there has been another superstar who has been in the fastlane as of late.
Always bet on Jade.
Jade Cargill that is.
This superstar grabbing headlines around the world last week,
and one of the biggest free agent signings in recent years here in WWE.
The new video of her signing and arriving at the Performance Center
was viewed over 20 million times.
Jade is an incredible athlete with a boatload of charisma.
In many ways, she already looks like a superhero.
Jade says she wants to capture gold and headline WrestleMania,
but she says none of that is handed out and she'll work as hard as needed
to have marquee matches that has the world talking.
We can't wait to see Jade Cargill in action here in WWE.
["Shoooosh" playing]
[Wade] WWE just acquired a goddess
and the game has changed in the Women's Division.
[Cole] Gunther says that Kaiser and Vinci of Imperium
have to start delivering results.
However, these men, Gable and Otis of the Alpha Academy stand in their way.
Tag team action live next on Monday Night Raw.
Chad Gable and Otis, Alpha Academy set for action,
as WWE Fastlane is presented by Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty.
Buy the bundle today on Xbox Series X and S, Playstation 5 and PC.
Rated m for mature.
Of course, Chad and Otis, accompanied by Maxxine of The Alpha Academy.
["Symphony No. 9 In E Minor" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is a tag team match
scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, representing Imperium,
Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.
[Cole] So no Intercontinental Champion Gunther
coming along with Kaiser and Vinci here tonight.
That is because later on,
the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time
will be in the ring with Tomasso Ciampa
making their match official for the Intercontinental Title
in a contract signing.
But, Wade, a lot to unpack in this match tonight.
First, let's talk about the reason for the match.
Over the past few weeks, been some run-ins
between Kaiser and Vinci and The Alpha Academy.
It seems like Mr. Kaiser is a bit smitten with Maxxine.
[Wade] Well, he certainly has an eye for Maxxine.
That much has been very clear over the past few weeks.
Maxxine, as of yet, doesn't seem to quite have an eye
for his European elegance,
although he's chipping away at her slowly but surely.
-And that's the problem… -[bell rings]
…because Gunther sees Kaiser as having lost focus,
and that lack of focus in recent weeks
has seen a downturn in results for Imperium.
[Cole] Gable and Kaiser will start things off here tonight
in this tag team match up.
Now, speaking of losing focus, Vinci has lost focus, it appears to many.
He's lost a number of matchups in recent weeks.
Gunther says it's time for Vinci to get back on the right track.
So what does he do? He tells Kaiser, "You're in charge of Vinci
to make sure he gets his head straight."
[Wade] Yeah, and you know what? That's a smart thing to do.
You've got to police yourselves.
And when the standards are as high
as they should be in Imperium, results matter.
And those results have not been here of late.
Police one another before Gunther polices you.
[Cole] So let me ask you, as an observer from the outside,
what do you think the problem has been with Kaiser and Vinci as of late?
Gunther is operating on such a high level, but these two, they really haven't been.
[Wade] Let's see you start to lose a little bit of focus,
start looking at beautiful women,
start driving fast cars, start going to great restaurants.
You don't train the way you used to.
You don't have your eyes on the prize. You don't have the hunger you once did.
And someone like Chad Gable is going to eat you for lunch.
Oh, Chad Gable is very hungry. He has not given up on his dream,
his goal at one time,
winning the Intercontinental Championship from Gunther, perhaps,
as Kaiser delivers a well-placed kick.
[speaking indistinctly]
Tag made. And here comes Vinci,
Kaiser giving Giovanni Vinci
an opportunity to prove himself here tonight.
[Wade] Vinci getting his marching orders there from Ludwig Kaiser,
and starting off really nicely.
You cannot take your foot off the gas
against the competitor as skilled as Chad Gable.
And let's not forget Gunther blames both Vinci and Kaiser
for the reason he's in this predicament,
having to defend his Championship against Tommaso Ciampa,
because Ciampa knocked off Vinci and Kaiser in recent weeks.
[Wade] Well, Vinci and Kaiser were given very simple instructions,
snuff out the threat from Tomasso Ciampa, they failed to do so.
So once again, they're in the bad books of The Ring General.
[Cole] Ankle lock now, and Vinci failing to come up to the level
that Gunther wants him at so far in this matchup,
as Gable blasts Kaiser, but now Vinci looks to take control.
Gable will land on his feet, favoring the ankle,
as Vinci… Great throw by Gable.
[Wade] You have to think with Chad Gable getting flung into Ludwig Kaiser there,
once again, Giovanni Vinci perhaps making mistakes for Imperium.
[Cole] What is Gable thinking? And I was going to say Vinci
was all the way across the ring before Kaiser was able to save him.
Now Gable going to be launched by Otis over the top rope
and takes out Vinci.
Alpha Academy in control, Imperium can't get on the same page.
We are back live on Monday Night Raw,
and Imperium, Kaiser and Vinci have taken control of Chad Gable
and Alpha Academy in this tag team match, as Gable tries to fight back.
[Wade] Yeah, this is Imperium back to their merciless best,
although Chad Gable is not going to stop swinging.
That might do it, though, Cole.
[Cole] What an uppercut, driving Gable out of the ring
and Vinci now out on the attack again,
looking to prove himself once again to both Kaiser and Gunther of Imperium!
That there will go a long way as Kaiser delivers a basement drop kick,
driving Gable out of the ring.
[Wade] Problems in Imperium, they just disappear, Cole,
[Cole] Well, it's about refocusing and getting your head back in the game,
at least according to the Intercontinental Champion, Gunther.
[Wade] It's ultimately about results and moves like this.
Yes, exactly how you get them.
Chad Gable really struggling now under the cosh of Imperium.
[Cole] Great tag team strategy,
dragging Gable toward the Imperium corner.
Vinci comes in off the tag, not allowing the 330 pound Otis
to get into this matchup.
[Wade] It's been a two-on-one contest, and that is why Imperium are so special.
Keep the big guy well out of the ring.
And both of these men tremendously-conditioned.
Kaiser and Vinci.
Had recently shown a lot of discipline, but that has fallen apart.
But there's the backslide, kick out at two,
and trying to refine that focus here tonight.
Vinci with a wicked clothesline.
[Wade] Baseball bat-style clothesline across the jaw of the Olympian.
And Kaiser tags himself in again.
Gunther told Kaiser, "You're in charge of getting Vinci's head on straight."
Oh, as we take another look at that wicked clothesline?
[Wade] Pretty sure Chad Gable's head is not on straight after that clothesline.
The right hand drops Gable again
and Kaiser pinning combination, a kick out at two.
[Wade] Hats off to Ludwig Kaiser.
What a great job of leadership he has done.
He was passed the torch by Gunther for the foreseeable future,
and he's passed with flying colors so far.
[Cole] Well, Wade, I agree. I mean, Imperium is doing a great job
in this matchup tonight.
Gable trying to create some space so he can make a tag to his partner, Otis.
Well-placed elbow by Kaiser.
Gable, reversal will send Kaiser on a backdrop.
Great move by Kaiser.
Gable able to slip through, though, and try to lock the ankle lock.
[Wade] That's exactly why Chad Gable is so dangerous.
[Cole] Gable, though, blasts Vinci off the apron.
Kaiser misses wildly.
Gable. Oh, German suplex.
And now can he make a tag?
[Wade] You just feel the momentum shift in the blink of an eye.
[Cole] There are a lot machines out this way on the West Coast
to check for seismic activity, and you're gonna feel it now
because here comes Otis!
[Wade] Kaiser wanted the tag. Vinci was nowhere to be seen.
[Cole] Vinci was knocked off the apron by Gable. Otis the 330 pounder.
Look at the agility of the big man.
Clothesline by the walking Tree Trunk Otis!
Kaiser runs into a back elbow.
[Wade] Welcome to some raw power, Imperium.
[Cole] Great throw by Otis!
[Wade] Technical now, too.
[Cole] Splash in the corner.
-[Wade] Oh, no. -[Cole] Oh, yes.
Vinci. Springboard.
Second rope caught him mid-air What a slam by Otis!
[Wade] That is just ridiculous strength from Otis.
[Cole] Time for the caterpillar!
Elbow!
[Wade] Things are going downhill in a hurry for Imperium.
[Cole] Kaiser rolling out to the apron to try to find some solitude,
but it doesn't happen.
-Now hung up on the the top turnbuckle. -[crowd chanting] Otis! Otis!
[Cole] Otis from the second rope, this is going to be nasty.
Vinci grabbing the the leg of Otis, and shifts the balance.
[Wade] Referee didn't see a thing.
-[Cole] Gable! -[Wade] Blindsided.
The damage been done to Otis. There we go. Enzuiguri!
-That's it, Cole. -[Cole] Here's the cover.
-One… two… three! -Hook of the leg on Otis.
-And a win for Imperium. -[bell rings]
["Symphony No. 9 In E Minor" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners,
Imperium.
[Cole] Well, Gunther gave them their marching orders
and they turned things around.
[Wade] It was ugly, but they got the job done.
Chemistry and cohesion is back for Imperium.
[Cole] And, Wade, it appears that at least for tonight,
Giovanni Vinci passed the test put forward by both Kaiser and Gunther.
Well, when it comes to Imperium, it's not about one night.
It's about every night. More of that, please, Imperium.
Gunther will be in the ring later on tonight to sign the contract
with Tomasso Ciampa for the Intercontinental Championship.
Both of those men making their names at NXT.
And speaking of NXT, this past Saturday night,
NXT, No Mercy, Becky Lynch versus Tiffany Stratton
in an Extreme Rules match for the championship.
[man] Tiffany Stratton looks to regain her title.
Her actions forced Becky Lynch
to take things to the extreme for the NXT Women's Title.
These two could care less how much it costs,
because being NXT Women's Champion is priceless.
Becky Lynch so far is proving what she said.
There is not one person that is as hungry as she is.
Spinebuster.
Kicking out at two.
Well, you see Lynch holding on to her right elbow.
If Tiffany wants it to be her time once again,
she is going to have to go to extreme measures.
And a springboard!
Stratton, swanton bomb!
Stratton to regain.
No, Becky Lynch kicked out.
Prettiest moonsault, nobody home.
Manhandle slam on the floor!
-Crawling into the cover! -One… two…
Becky down on those steel chairs.
No one there!
Manhandle slam.
-[crowd] One… two… three! -[bell rings]
Becky Lynch retains.
Tiffany Stratton hung with the best ever,
but Becky remains The Man in N-Becks-T.
Incredible match-up this past Saturday. Becky Lynch and Tiffany Stratton.
Really Tiffany Stratton arriving in that match-up it was so brutal.
I want to show you what happened to Becky Lynch
and the reason she's not medically cleared to compete here tonight.
Now, she took to Twitter to post this picture, which is extremely graphic.
So you might want to think twice about looking at it,
but this was her arm injured in this match-up.
The laceration, which needed eleven stitches to close.
Becky Lynch will be at NXT tomorrow, though,
searching for the next contender for her championship.
Right circumstances, but as you just saw, Tegan.
After No Mercy and after the injury she suffered.
Becky's is unable to compete tonight, which means
I unfortunately have to postpone that championship match. And I'm really sorry.
-Look, I understand. -Adam, we need to speak.
-I have an amazing idea. -Hmm, hmm, hmm.
Um, yeah, I'm having a conversation.
[chuckles] With who?
-Her? -Yeah.
Oh, let me guess. She just heard the news about Becky,
and now she's in here complaining.
Honestly, the audacity of people in this company to complain.
-I just cannot. -Really?
Honey, you're going to need to suck it up.
Because if I were you, I would be happy it's postponed.
In fact, I would wish it was canceled.
So you don't have to lose to Becky Lynch, you know what I mean?
-Um, okay. -Look
-You're good. -Thanks.
But some people just aren't championship material.
-So anyway, let's get back to that idea. -Um, hmm--
-I have an idea, actually, Adam. -You do?
Yeah, now that my schedule is completely open…
-Mm-hmm? -…how about myself and…
-This? -Yep, that thing.
Go out tonight and find out who really is
-championship material. -You know what?
That is a good idea. That's a great idea.
In fact, that great idea is official.
I'm going to go talk to management. Hmph.
What is wrong with her?
-I thought you're management. -So do I.
["Battle Tested" playing]
♪ I'm war ready, I am battle-tested ♪
[announcer] And his opponent, from Black Forest, South Australia,
weighing in at 330 pounds.
Big Bronson Reed.
[Cole] Well, the mood's changed, Wade.
[Wade] Yes indeed, and what a hot streak this humongous Aussie is on right now.
He's devoured the Alpha Academy
over the past couple of weeks,
culminating in that super heavyweight clash
against Otis last week on Raw.
[Cole] Now, Cedric Alexander,
former Tag Team champion here
and WWE Cruiserweight champion as well,
will try his fare against the 330-pound
-burly bruiser, Bronson Reed. -[bell rings]
And Alexander looking to take Reed by surprise
and try to catch a quick win in this match-up.
[Wade] Alexander, who perhaps has lost his way,
over recent months here on Raw, but catching a quick one
on Bronson Reed is a great idea in theory, but harder to execute.
But this is a nice start from Cedric Alexander.
[Cole] Alexander uses quickness with nice missile dropkick.
Reed now dropped out of the ring, out to the floor, still on his feet.
What does Alexander do here?
Alexander, again, trying to knock Reed off his feet. Not successful thus far.
[Wade] Simply got to hit and move when you are in there with someone--
[Cole] Oh! And the suicide dive takes Reed off his feet.
[Wade] Bronson Reed, who is getting rocked early in this one.
[Cole] Alexander again up over the top rope. Reed knocks down again,
and Cedric Alexander taking the fight to big Bronson Reed.
[Wade] A really nice start from Alexander,
putting his own body on the line,
-perhaps feeling the effects. -[crowd] Oh!
[Cole] Oh, and runs into a back elbow. That stops Alexander in his tracks.
Reed now looks to regroup and refocus,
up to the apron, Alexander.
off the second rope and runs into a forearm by Reed.
That is like being hit in the head by a tree limb.
[Wade] Well, that's an ugly collision, but highly effective.
Completely knocking the wind out of the sails
of Cedric Alexander after that hot start.
[Cole] Now Alexander ducks underneath,
and a big enziguri will knock down Bronson Reed.
Cover now for the win! Hooks the big leg, but a kick-out.
[Wade] Cedric Alexander almost pulled off a huge shocker there.
I don't think anyone anticipated this kind of performance.
[Cole] Well, may be Bronson Reed took Alexander a bit too lightly.
And I think he's…
changed his strategy up a bit.
As Alexander lands on his feet.
[Wade] Cedric Alexander just too quick.
[Cole] Oh! what a collision!
And the running senton by Reed.
[Wade] I don't care what kind of momentum you build up.
When Bronson Reed does that to you,
it's as good as over, Michael Cole.
And are you ready for this meeting of beauty and disaster?
Tsunami.
-[crowd] One, two, three. -[bell rings]
["Battle Tested" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner.
Big Bronson Reed.
[Cole] Alexander was game tonight and he tried everything, Wade,
but how the hell did he stop Bronson Reid?
[Wade] You can throw whatever you like at Bronson Reed,
when he throws that back it is game over.
And this is just the icing on the cake.
The greatest move in WWE
-that is guaranteed to get results. -[bell rings]
[Wade] Big win once again for Bronson Reed,
who is steamrolling through Raw.
[Cole] And that fan's reaction tells it all
when it comes to Big Bronson Reed,
who is a big time player
who once again may have an opportunity to be on Miz TV.
And speaking of Miz TV, he gets all the guests, doesn't he?
-He gets all the big time star. -Including
Last week, the Scottish warrior, Drew McIntyre.
Do you remember all those beatings from The Usos?
All those opportunities taken away by The Bloodline?
What Roman did to you Woods, you just forgive and forget.
That was not the time, Drew.
Jey Uso was here and he's trying to make it right.
I think the time for talking is over.
[crowd murmuring]
[Wade] As the match was going down, Kofi Kingston
distracted by Ivar attacking at ringside,
which gave Drew McIntyre just enough time
to hit the Claymore and get the win.
But it was what happened post-match that was interesting.
Drew McIntyre uncharacteristically leaving New Day to defend themselves against Ivar.
I think everything is quite lining up nicely for Fastlane.
Yep. Let me call you right back.
-Drew. -Pearce.
I'm not going to do Miz TV today.
I did it last week, I felt that the fans deserved it.
But I'm absolutely not going to do it tonight, man.
Okay. I get it.
You know Miz requested that, he said he wanted to give you an open forum to speak.
Miz requested it?
-Yeah. -Oh, then absolutely not.
I'm still going out there to say what I need to, and do me a favor.
Tell Miz, if he pokes his head out there, if he gets involved in my business,
-he's going to bloody regret it. -Cool, I'll let him know.
-Thank you. -Hey, Drew.
Look man, I don't want to overstep, but you good? You alright?
You seem off.
You going to come, come down on me too? About the---
Jey thing, the New Day thing, not doing the right thing?
I don't recall anybody doing the right thing
when the Bloodline were beating down Drew McIntyre.
[Cole] We're interested to hear what Drew has to say
later on tonight, but coming up next,
they will make it official and sign a contract
for the Intercontinental Championship match.
The champion Gunther, the Challenger Ciampa in the ring, live next.
Here tonight at Monday Night Raw,
members of the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers,
including all Pro George Kittle, who was a part of WrestleMania last year.
[Wade] Nice to see a tight end who doesn't need to date Taylor Swift
to put himself on the map.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
WWE official, Adam Pearce.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time
for the contract signing to make official
our Intercontinental Championship match.
Please allow me to introduce first
first the challenger,
Tommaso Ciampa!
["No One Will Survive" playing]
[Cole] So this is an interesting dilemma that the Intercontinental Champion
Gunther faces against Tommaso Ciampa.
Now, these two know each other very well, but when it comes to Ciampa.
Wade, he's got a short fuse, a hot temper,
and he is obsessed with winning gold.
[Wade] Yeah, Tommaso Ciampa also has a track record of success,
stretching back many years,
especially during his time in NXT.
And he's looking to grab a slice of gold here on Raw.
This is a massive threat,
to someone who has previously been viewed as perhaps unbeatable.
["No One Will Survive" playing]
And his opponent,
the Intercontinental Champion.
The Ring General Gunther!
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[Cole] Wade said it moments ago.
There is an aura surrounding this man that is unbeatable.
He's the longest reigning Intercontinental Championship--
Champion of all time. It dates back to June of last year, 2022.
479 days this man has carried the gold.
[Wade] Many have tried, all have failed.
This man, the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time,
is so well-rounded, it doesn't matter what you throw at him,
what tactics you bring,
what size, shape, dimensions,
he has an answer for it all.
[Cole] I agree with you, Wade. I mean…
More than a dozen WWE Hall of Famers
have held the Intercontinental Championship,
but perhaps none as dominant as this man,
Gunther.
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[crowd cheering]
Gentlemen, we discussed the particulars earlier tonight.
You know how this works.
Two signatures make this match official.
[crowd murmuring]
[contract thuds]
[crowd murmuring]
Hey.
Yeah.
What I'm setting out to do with you,
that's even beyond my own imagination.
The morning I wake up to fight for that championship,
the air's going to taste different.
The sun is going to shine a little bit different,
and there's only two people
in this entire world who are going to matter, and I'm one of them.
You want to know what the difference is between you and me?
Ever since you've come to the WWE,
you've been served five-course meals,
opportunity after opportunity after opportunity.
That doesn't happen for guys like me.
No, no. We're served roadkill, and we're expected to turn it into filet.
And when we do that, we do that enough times,
then we get an opportunity.
But that's okay with me. I don't need a hundred chances.
Boy, look at me when I'm talking to you.
[crowd cheering]
Next week, when my music hits,
I walk out that curtain on Monday Night Raw,
I fight for the Intercontinental title,
a title I have dreamed about having since I was five years old.
I will have my family sitting front row ringside to watch me make history,
but make no mistakes about it.
Next week I fight for me,
not for mom and dad, not for my brother and sister, not for my wife,
not even for my baby girl Willow Bell.
No, no, no. Next week,
when that bell rings, I fight for that five-year-old boy
who has dreamed about this very moment his entire life,
and I wrestle in the center of this ring with my entire heart,
and at the end of the night,
I will be the new Intercontinental champion.
[mic thuds]
[crowd cheering]
Sign the contract.
I'm gonna eat you alive.
First of all,
this is an official contract signing
for the most important championship in this sport today.
And you choose to show up like this?
[crowd murmuring]
That tells me everything I need to know about you.
But…
you talk about your family,
fighting for the right thing, standing up for yourself?
I respect that.
Very noble motives.
I fight for what's near and dear for myself.
You know what's near and dear to me?
This is what means the most to me.
I am the greatest and longest reigning
Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of all time.
[crowd cheering]
[Tommaso clapping]
-One shot. -Have a good look,
because once I'm done with you--
Man, you seem so damn confident
for someone whose entire world is about to crumble
when I take your most prized possession.
and I become the new Intercontinental champion.
Sign the damn contract!
[crowd murmuring]
First of all, you do never ever interrupt me again.
[crowd cheering]
Don't interrupt you like this?
Have a good look,
because once I'm done with you, you can go home,
hug your family real tight, and keep on dreaming.
Because this is the closest you will ever get
to this great championship!
[mic thuds]
[crowd cheering]
Well, hell man, if you're so damn confident,
you still haven't signed the contract, so there's still time.
Because I'm standing here, you're standing here,
Adam Pearce is standing here.
I am sure we can change around
a couple of words in this contract.
Because there are TV cameras
all around us, and there's thousands of people
-in San Jose, California… -[crowd cheering]
…that would love to see me make history tonight.
So we don't gotta wait till next Monday,
we don't gotta wait till Fastlane.
No, no, no.
I would love to make you tap out tonight!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
Mr. Pearce,
I think you should prove it.
[mic thuds]
[crowd murmuring]
Ladies and gentlemen, it is official,
this match takes place tonight.
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Now we are talking.
And Gunther went for a cheap shot at Ciampa.
We won't be needing this, we won't be--
[Cole] And Ciampa off the table on to Gunther and the fight on.
[Wade] Ciampa historically takes a back step to nobody.
-[Cole] And Gunther livid after he-- -[Wade] Oh!
[Cole] The fact that he is disrespected tonight.
And now Ciampa, going for the Sicilian Stretch on Gunther.
Submission move on Gunther.
If Ciampa can--
can lock it in tonight, we may have a new Intercontinental Champion!
[Wade] Well, whatever the plans were five minutes ago, rip them up.
We just got ourselves a main event, Cole.
[Cole] Ciampa talked the champ into this match tonight.
He made Gunther so mad that he agreed to defend the championship tonight.
And the problem for Gunther is this.
He's walking into the ring against a ticking time bomb
named Tommaso Ciampa.
["No One Will Survive" playing]
[inaudible]
Judgment Day tied for nights.
I just can't wrap my brain around this.
I can't beat anybody up tonight.
But on Saturday we got to put both our titles on the line.
I just don't get Pearce man. Like what is he thinking? Why does he--
-Damian, if you stop for one second-- -[speaking Spanish]
-Why are you talking to me? -Hey.
See the positive here dude.
He may be on to something.
We don't want Cody Rhodes, or Jey,
or Kevin, or Sami on the same page.
Remember what it took for Kevin and Sami to get the championship?
Kevin already doesn't like Jey.
How do you think he's gonna feel about the guys
going for the tag titles at Fastlane?
Exactly. This could be the wedge that we need to divide them.
We divide, and then we conquer.
Exactly.
I gotta think about this, but…
Alright. Not bad.
JD McDonagh has some--
♪ It's a new day, yes it is! ♪
[Cole] And tonight, Xavier Woods of The New Day will try his fare against
Ivar of the Viking Raiders.
Woods and Ivar, one-on-one, next on Monday Night Raw.
We are back live on Monday Night Raw. Xavier Woods set for action,
his New Day brother, Kofi Kingston, with his commentary.
Yeah, you see it. You see it.
You've been talking a lot of trash, Wade.
You've been talking a lot of trash about fantasy football,
things of that nature. Trying to besmirch my good name.
[Kofi] And now I'm here.
[Wade] I think you've upset enough Europeans in recent--
-[Kofi] Wow, okay, okay, okay, hold on. -[Wade] Don't add more to the collection.
["Vicious" playing]
[Kofi] Here we go.
Woods got this.
["Vicious" playing]
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, representing the Viking Raiders,
Ivar.
[Cole] Kofi, before we get into this matchup, I do want to talk
briefly with you about your trip to Perth, Australia,
which will host the Elimination Chamber in February. How was it?
[Kofi] It was amazing, man. The energy was so amazing.
I cannot wait for Elimination Chamber Perth.
The Australian people are so welcoming. The energy is just the best.
It's going to be such a great show. I can't wait.
[Wade] You know what? Now we've got the pleasantries out of the way, uh--
Kofi, Drew McIntyre declined to help New Day out last week
while you both being attacked by this man, Ivar.
I would like to know, why exactly do you have a problem with that?
[Kofi] Why do I have a problem? Drew's actions speak for themselves.
You know what I'm saying? Drew's the one with the problem.
He's obviously going through something.
I just hope he pulls out of it before too late.
[Wade] He's going through something,
and the two people, namely yourself and Xavier Woods,
who came down last week when Drew was already in a bad mood.
Dropping twenty human-- Oh!
[Kofi] He didn't do what he was supposed to do. Leave it at that.
[Cole] Match-up underway Xavier Woods and Ivar.
Now, Ivar's got an issue with the New Day, Kofi.
He blames you and Xavier for the fact that Erik is out with injury.
[Kofi] He blames us?
I thought his feelings were hurt because they see themselves as brothers.
But then they see me and Woods together, having fun and a good time…
[Wade] Oh! Did that look like fun?
It didn't look like fun last week when you were getting beat up, Kofi.
[Cole] Well, Kofi, you were involved in it,
you were involved in a five-star match with Ivar a number of weeks ago.
As you take another look at the power, Ivar is unbelievable in ring for his size.
[Kofi] He's amazing for his size, just for himself.
As a WWE superstar, man. He's very underrated, man.
He's been doing this for a long time. He's been all over the world.
A lot of people don't know, but I think that they're finding out
how talented he really is.
[Wade] And unfortunately for Ivar it appears he's going to have
to compete in the singles game for a little while,
thanks to the fact that you and your partner…
-[Cole] Cover. -[Wade] …took out…
[Cole] Xavier kicks.
[Wade] …Erik for the foreseeable future.
[Kofi] We took him out. Look, it ain't ballet. You know that.
People get hurt. That's just the nature of the business. We hate to see it happen,
but it is what it is. You know you sign up for the job.
[Wade] It certainly isn't ballet for Xavier Woods right now.
An eye for an eye. That is what Ivar is out for.
[Kofi] An Ivar for an Ivar? Are you trying to make a pun here?
You had a chance to make a pun, it's your job. You could've done it!
An Ivar for an Ivar. You're not even doing your job out here, bro.
[Wade] I'm the serious one here, I don't do puns.
[Kofi] Here we go, oh, whoa!
[Cole] Look at Xavier trying to get Ivar on his shoulders. That was not wise.
-[Wade] Sorry Xavier, you-- -[Kofi] Don't sell him out now.
[Wade] You're not the powerhouse.
[Kofi] He is a powerhouse. You'd be surprised at what he can do. Here we go.
-[Cole] Oh, nice kick by Woods. -[Kofi] There we go.
[Cole] Got Ivar right on the bridge of the nose.
Woods getting an eye bar up over the top.
[Kofi] See what I'm talking about? See what I'm talking about?
-Get him. -[Wade] Off his feet, however.
[Cole] Xavier-- Uh-oh. Caught by Ivar.
Not going to be pretty, driven right into the ring.
[Wade] Welcome to the unmatched barbarity
-of Ivar. -[Cole] Oh, no. Oh!
-[Kofi] There it is. -[Cole] Woods moves out of harm's way.
[Wade] That would have been game over, had he not.
[Kofi] He bait him, wait a minute. Here he go.
-[Cole] Woods off the barricade! -[Kofi] Ah!
[Kofi] Let's go, baby! Let's go, Woodsy.
[Kofi laughing hysterically]
[Cole] We are back live in San Jose, California.
Capacity crowd tonight in the ring.
Xavier Woods of New Day against Ivar of the Viking Raiders.
Xavier Woods' partner, Kofi Kingston,
joining Wade and I at ringside for commentary.
-Oh, and Woods trying to fight back. -[Kofi] There we go!
[Cole] Xavier Woods doing a great job,
trying to cut down the big man, Ivar, in this match-up.
[Wade] Woods trying his best just to stay alive at points in this match-up.
[Cole] Now Woods again trying to lift Ivar out of his shoulders!
-[Cole] He is able to. -[Kofi] Yes.
-[crowd cheering] -[Kofi] Yes!
[Cole] Down goes Ivar.
[Kofi] That's a wrap, Wade!
[Cole] Cover by Woods! Oh!
Ivar kicks at two.
[Wade] Woods is the new Big E. He's the powerhouse of the group.
[Kofi] Told you he the powerhouse.
-[Wade] You couldn't do that! -[Kofi] Don't doubt this man!
[Kofi laughs] Come on, Woodsy. Keep it up! Keep it up!
[Cole] Woods trying to keep the pressure on Ivar of the Viking Raiders.
Ivar blames New Day for the fact that his partner, Erik,
is out with an injury.
[Wade] After the onslaught of attacks that Woods has withstood.
so far in this match-up, it's a miracle he's still going!
[Cole] More to come, knee to the back, now a slam by Ivar.
[Kofi] They call him the kick-out kid for a reason, he's going to kick-out.
[Wade] Oh, I don't know.
[Kofi] Hey, you got… Hey, come on, Woods!
[Wade] You've tasted this before, Kofi.
[Cole] Woods back to his feet.
Shot to the spine, and another one to Ivar.
Looks like Ivar was going for that moonsault.
[Wade] No chance.
[Cole] And now Woods again. That's 330 pounds.
[Kofi] Get there! Get there!
[Cole] Ivar trying to hang on and just sits down on top of Xavier Woods.
Splat goes Woods.
[Wade] Well, a little bit of success in the power game does not
equal the fact that you can lift up
a man the size of Ivar like that.
[Cole] And now Ivar up to the top rope.
[Kofi] You've got to move, Woods!
[Cole] Big splash, Woods moves out of harm's way.
[Kofi] Let's go, baby.
[Cole] Xavier now. Roll through, is it enough to put him down?
Shoulders down. Kick-out at two by Ivar.
[Wade] Trying to catch a quick one on the big man, but immediately denied.
Back under the hammer.
[Cole] Xavier, small package,
rolls through, hooks the leg here, shoulders down.
-[inaudible] -[bell rings]
I told you, Wade I told you! Didn't I tell you? I told you!
Don't doubt this man! Don't doubt this man!
[Cole] And now Ivar from behind. Xavier Woods.
Hit back, Woods, to pick up the win.
[Wade] Don't celebrate too soon, Kofi Kingston.
[Cole] And it's sent to Ivar.
And now Kofi coming to the aid of his partner, Xavier Woods,
off the top rope. Down goes Ivar.
Oh, and now a spin kick.
Into Woods as well, just about decapitating The New Day.
[Wade] What a game-changer that kick truly is.
The power of positivity is no match
for the will of the Viking Gods.
[Cole] And Ivar is not done yet.
Wants to continue to lay waste to the New Day.
[crowd murmuring]
[Cole] Carnage!
[Wade] The ferocity of Ivar
simply knows no bounds at the moment.
[Cole] I don't think he's done yet, Wade.
Pillaging and plundering…
Ivar of the Viking Raiders going to climb up to the top rope.
Kingston and Woods are helpless, stacked on top of each other.
Ivar with a Moonsault!
[Wade] Spectacular devastation.
[crowd murmuring]
[Cole] Suddenly a bad day
for Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods here tonight.
[Wade] The humor for the New Day is just not landing right now,
but Ivar of the Viking Raiders certainly is.
And Ivar has been so hard to slow down as of late, this path of destruction
throughout Monday Night Raw.
Much like Shinsuke Nakamura and his destruction
as of late of Seth Rollins. This coming Saturday
at WWE Fastlane in Indianapolis.
Rollins will defend his championship against Shinsuke Nakamura,
last man standing.
[Seth] At payback, Shinsuke Nakamura
did everything he said he was going to do.
[speaking Japanese]
[Seth] But last time I checked…
-[crowd] Oh! -One two, three.
…I'm still the World Heavyweight Champion.
But there's one thing, guys.
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd murmuring]
Shinsuke Nakamura was able to walk out of the building.
That just doesn't sit right with me.
What do you say we have ourselves
a World Heavyweight Championship rematch
right now?
No.
[crowd booing]
[speaking Japanese]
[Seth] I'm losing my mind.
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get that son of a bitch in the ring!
[speaking Japanese]
[Seth] Shinsuke,
you name the time,
you name the place,
you can even name stipulation if you want.
[speaking Japanese]
[speaking English]
[Rollins] Last Man Standing, huh?
Shinsuke Nakamura has made one critical mistake.
You think I'm gonna go out here and give it less than 100%?
The only way my family is gonna be ashamed of me
is if I don't give it everything I got!
Only one of us is walking out of there,
but it ain't gonna be you.
-[dramatic music playing] -[Nakamura speaking]
[Cole] For the first time ever, Rollins goes into a Last Man Standing Match
this coming Saturday.
Coming up next, live on Monday Night Raw,
Seth Rollins' final address before Fastlane.
["Greatness" playing]
[Wade] We'd like to extend a special thank you to Yonaka
for I Want More,
the official theme song of WWE Fastlane.
It's from the album Welcome To My World,
available now on Apple Music and Spotify.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
the World Heavyweight Champion,
"The Visionary" Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
♪ Burn it down! ♪
-[fireworks explode] -[crowd cheers]
[crowd singing "Visionary"]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[Wade] His health, his future, and his World Heavyweight Championship,
that's what's on the line for Seth "Freakin" Rollins
when he takes on the sinister Shinsuke Nakamura
at WWE Fastlane,
streaming live this Saturday on WWE on Peacock!
[crowd singing "Visionary"]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
-[music stops] -[crowd continues singing]
San Jose!
[crowd cheering]
Welcome to Monday Night Raw!
[crowd cheering]
And give it up, give it up, give it up, give it up,
the voice of WWE, the one and only
Michael Cole!
[crowd cheering]
Michael, welcome to the party, baby! Let's get this thing started!
So, Seth, let's get right to it.
I've had the pleasure and honor of calling most of the matches in your career,
and I've known you for a very long time.
And I've helped come up with some of those great nicknames.
Architect. Visionary.
How about Manipulator? Puppeteer, at times.
But it seems like, this time around, you're actually
the puppet.
[crowd booing]
Whoa! Whoa! Michael!
Come on! I give you that great introduction,
and this is how you treat me? We go back a long way.
Besides,
what show you been watching, man?
I've been asking Shinsuke Nakamura
for a rematch for weeks
and, finally, he gave it to me, baby!
-[crowd cheering] -Seth, seriously.
What are you doing?
I mean, you've accomplished everything in your career.
You're a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Now, I get it, you've never been in a Last Man Standing Match.
But do you understand what is gonna happen on Saturday?
This is one of the most brutal matches in the history of WWE.
Everything can be used as a weapon.
There is only one rule,
and that rule is, you must beat your opponent down so badly
that they can't answer a count of ten.
And that could be you.
Now, listen, it's been well documented, your back
is hanging by a thread.
You could be days away from your career ending,
your livelihood going away.
So, the question I have for you is, "Why?"
Why the hell are you putting yourself through this?
[crowd singing "Visionary"]
Michael, I'm gonna be honest with you,
I don't really know how to put it into words, man. I… I…
Well, let me ask you a question real quick. Let me ask you a question.
How many years have you been sitting at that commentary desk, Michael?
26.
26 years!
[crowd cheering]
Right, and how many shows have you missed?
Two.
You've missed two shows in 26 years.
[crowd cheering]
So, you get it, man.
You're addicted to it.
It's a compulsion. You need it. And most importantly,
you love it.
That's what it's like for me in this ring, Michael.
That's what it's like for me to be in front of these people.
When they sing my song, Michael, I need that! I love that!
I have an honor, I have a responsibility, I have a duty.
And for me, man, this ring…
it's given me everything.
It's put a roof over my head, it puts food on my table,
It's how I met my wife.
It's the reason I have a beautiful baby girl.
And when you're World Heavyweight Champion,
all that responsibility, man,
that gets amplified.
'Cause now you gotta be a bigger example, right?
Now you have to be the change.
And if that responsibility, if that takes me all the way to Fastlane,
and this is my last ride,
my back gives out and I can't do it anymore…
that doesn't matter that much, because what matters…
is that I left it all
in the ring!
[crowd cheering]
Because, then, I will have fulfilled my responsibility.
Then, I'll be an honorable man.
Then, I will be an example
for my daughter.
[crowd applauding]
And, so, you want a reason, Michael, that's…
that's the best I got, man.
It's not words. It's…
it's just a feeling.
And I'll tell you what…
it feels right.
[Nakamura] Seth Rollins.
[crowd booing]
[speaking Japanese]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
Nakamura from behind!
A cheap shot, and a Kinshasa!
[Wade] The ruthless Nakamura strikes again!
-[crowd booing] -[Nakamura on screen] One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
[Cole] Now, Nakamura with a steel chair to Rollins yet again!
And, now, focusing on the already injured back of Rollins!
And you heard the counting going on!
That's what'll happen on Saturday, Last Man Standing!
-[crowd exclaims] -If the…
If a man can't make it to his feet by a count of ten, the match is over!
And that's what Nakamura is trying to do tonight!
Send a message, send a statement to Rollins,
that he's gonna be the last man standing come Saturday night!
[Wade] Sending more than a message,
he's softening up his opponent for Saturday night!
[crowd booing]
[Nakamura on screen] One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
-[crowd booing] -Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
-Nine. -[Cole] And again!
This is that stubborn pride from Seth Rollins!
Will continue to try to get back up,
try to get back into the fight, injured or not!
And Nakamura, again, the focal point here,
the already bad back of Rollins.
And Nakamura not done yet!
[Wade] How smart is this from Nakamura?
[Cole] Spine first through a steel chair!
[crowd booing]
And a Kinshasa!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six! Seven! Eight! Nine!
-Ten! -[crowd booing]
[Cole] Well, if that happens on Saturday,
Shinsuke Nakamura will be your new World Heavyweight Champion.
Has Seth Rollins finally met his match?
Has he finally allowed his pride to get in the way?
Everything Seth Rollins said tonight in the ring is true.
But at what cost?
Against one of the most diabolical, sinister
Shinsuke Nakamuras we have ever seen!
Saturday Night at Fastlane,
Nakamura-Rollins,
Last Man Standing
for the World Heavyweight Championship!
["The Rising Sun" playing]
Listen, Wade, I get it.
And I understand everything Seth Rollins was trying to say earlier tonight.
But at some point, you have to understand
that it might be the end of the road,
that maybe, perhaps, you shouldn't have been suckered in
to this type of match-up by Nakamura.
The weak exist to be consumed by the strong,
and it's abundantly clear
that Fastlane may well be the last ride of Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
Nakamura-Rollins, Last Man Standing.
[crowd cheering]
Hmm. Well,
I really wanna be putting this on the line against you tonight,
but after wrecking my arm at No Mercy, I am not cleared to compete.
And I have a feeling that you'd wanna be facing the best version of me anyway.
Obviously.
But when I am cleared,
you better get ready for a fight,
'cause we're gonna go.
No worries.
[crowd cheering]
Tegan, I'm so sorry.
I feel awful for you, losing this Championship opportunity.
Like, I know what it's like to feel disappointed
But what I'm trying to say is I…
We got off on the wrong foot.
We… Just…
I have a different level of respect for you after last week,
and I just wanna say I'm proud of you.
Like, I genuinely am proud of you.
And you're gonna get your opportunity against Becky
for the NXT Women's Championship again. You're gonna get it.
And when you do, you're gonna nail it.
So…
I just wanted to get that off my chest.
Thank you, Nattie. I appreciate it.
You're welcome.
♪ It's Chelsea ♪
[Cole] A very confident Tegan Nox tonight.
["Hot Mess" playing]
Well, Chelsea Green, one half of the Women's Tag Team Champions,
heads into action next.
Tegan Nox hopes to silence the doubters.
Nox, Green, live, next,
on Monday Night Raw!
["Hot Mess" continues playing]
[Cole] Back here on Monday Night Raw.
Tegan Nox with an opportunity to knock off one half of the Tag Team Champions,
Chelsea Green.
And I mentioned it before the break, Wade,
really an opportunity tonight for Tegan Nox, who's already earned
an NXT Championship opportunity against Becky Lynch,
well, a chance to silence her doubters.
[Wade] Yeah, no doubt about that. But it has to be said,
Tegan Nox spent the entire week prepping for a championship match.
It must feel like a huge let-down to be not getting that right now.
[Cole] Well, Becky did tell Tegan, "As soon as I'm medically cleared,
you will get your championship opportunity."
Piper Niven, not…
Oh, look at this now. Tegan rolling up. And a kick-out by Chelsea Green.
Not too enthusiastic is Piper Niven
out here in Chelsea Green's corner tonight!
And Tegan Nox caught Chelsea with an elbow.
Into the cover.
And a kick-out at two.
[Wade] I think Natalya really lit a fire under Tegan Nox last week,
as we saw a very different animal coming out.
Something the world has been waiting for from Tegan Nox.
[Cole] And now looking for the Unpretty-Her is Chelsea Green.
But Tegan Nox able to counter.
A big kick to the face!
And Tegan falls out of the ring off the superkick.
And Chelsea Green, now,
barking at Piper Niven.
[Wade] I would not be doing that, I gotta be honest with you.
I'd ask very politely if I was Chelsea Green.
[Cole] Chelsea Green slides under the bottom rope. Tegan Nox now.
Oh, there's a little payback for earlier on in the match-up.
And Piper Niven saves Chelsea.
[Wade] I mean, Chelsea, time for talk is over now.
[Cole] Becky Lynch, the current NXT Women's Champion
will defend down the road against Tegan Nox
Becky will be at NXT tomorrow night, we understand,
to check out who could possibly be next in line after Tegan
for an NXT Championship opportunity.
[Wade] That's a little presumptive, isn't it? You gotta beat Tegan Nox first
before you start looking for future opponents.
[Cole] Now, Tegan heading up toward the top rope.
-["New Foundation" playing] -Piper Niven, now, causing a distraction.
And here comes Natalya,
who Tegan Nox beat in a match-up.
[Wade] Well, this match is continuing,
but we might have a little something on the outside.
[Cole] And Natalya seems to have evened the odds a bit,
as she backs Piper Niven off.
-And, now, Tegan Nox from the top rope! -[Wade] Nice!
[crowd cheering]
And a Shiniest Wizard from Nox to Green
-for the win! -[bell rings]
["Blue Marvel" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
Tegan Nox!
[Cole] So Natalya, who admitted she got off on the wrong foot with Nox
a couple of weeks ago came out and neutralized Piper Niven.
Nox with the win!
[Wade] Yeah, really nice from Tegan Nox.
May well have impressed Natalya enough to have gained herself a veteran alley…
ally, excuse me.
[Cole] Well, still to come in our main event here tonight
on Monday Night Raw,
this will be a hard-hitting affair.
The chance of a lifetime for Tommaso Ciampa.
He will take on Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship,
live on Monday Night Raw!
["Blue Marvel" continues playing]
["Gallantry" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[explosion] -[crowd cheers]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
Drew McIntyre!
[Cole] Well, McIntyre cancelled Miz TV for tonight
because he said, "I've got something to get off my chest."
McIntyre's here live, next.
["Gallantry" continues playing]
You see Jey Uso right behind me. Gonna try to get some insight.
What's up, Jey? Good?
So, I wanna know, how are you thinking right now?
Where's your head at?
Man, Saxton, I really don't know, uce.
When Cody invited me to Monday Night Raw,
it was for something new, right? Like, a fresh start.
Man, when I was running with The Bloodline,
Cody was the enemy.
Judgment Day put us in the same situation.
I'd throw hands with The Judgment Day anytime, anywhere.
So, if it's at Fastlane, we good.
If it's for the Tag Titles, we good, uce.
"Main Event' Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes,
man, we good.
Full speed ahead, yo.
Yeet.
["Gallantry" playing]
[Cole] Interesting remarks there by Jey Uso.
In the ring, "The Scottish Warrior" Drew McIntyre!
San Jose.
[crowd cheering]
What should we talk about?
Everybody wants an explanation. "What's going on, Drew?
Why have you changed? You're not the same guy. Explain yourself."
I don't have to explain a damn thing to anybody in that locker room.
The only person I answer to, and the only people I answer to,
are my fans.
[crowd cheering]
They're with me since I was 22, through the ups, the downs,
the firings, the titles,
all the way until right now.
And the truth is,
I am gonna stop being the savior,
I'm gonna stop interfering in fights that I didn't start in the first place.
I've been doing it for years, man.
And between my own business, everyone else's business,
my responsibility outside the ring,
I'm showing up and fighting at less than 100%,
and I'm done with it.
And as you may have noticed the past few weeks
when I've not been saving the day, nobody's been stepping up.
So, as much as y'all wanna run your mouth,
you're a bunch of hypocrites.
I mean, except Cody. But we did talk about that last week.
He's only cleaning up his own mess.
It's all to do with ego.
Sometimes, I feel like I'm in the Codyverse, where… [chuckles]
you know, he just does what he wants,
says what he wants.
I don't know, man. Here's the deal,
forgiveness when it comes to Jey Uso,
it's weakness, not strength.
And another thing…
♪ Awesome! ♪
[Cole] That's gonna go over real well.
♪ Time for you to get down on your knees ♪
♪ Say goodbye to the good old days ♪
♪ They're never coming back Watch your future fade ♪
♪ I came to play To get my dues paid ♪
♪ I guess you had a dream But it can't be saved ♪
Well, Drew, I guess that makes me really strong,
because I don't forgive you
for what you did to me last week on Miz TV.
I don't forgive you for cancelling this week's edition of Miz TV.
I gave you an open platform to talk about
whatever you wanted last week,
and you just sat there.
So, what did I do under the goodness of my heart?
I told your story, and I did a very good job of it.
And you had the audacity--
Shut up, Miz.
[crowd cheering]
You were warned not to come out here.
So, I suggest you bugger off, and I'm gonna finish what I was saying.
You've got to stand up for yourself,
because no one else is gonna do it for you.
I stood up for you!
I was looking out for you!
And what did you do? You told me to shut up!
Just like you told me to shut up two seconds ago!
Last week, you had 10,000 people chanting "Shut Up, Miz!"
[crowd chanting] Shut up, Miz! Shut up, Miz! Shut up, Miz!
You think you're justified, don't you?
You think you're edgy. You're taking a stand.
Well, in that case,
why don't you embrace who you really are?
Shut up, Miz.
[crowd chanting] Shut up, Miz! Shut up, Miz! Shut up, Miz!
Let me get this right.
You want me to be the bad guy, yeah?
You want me to go attack Seth Rollins backstage.
I know he's got a bad back. Beat him down, drag him to the ring,
take the title off him,
maybe screw Jey Uso over at Fastlane, is that what you want?
No, that's not how I operate.
I rack up the wins, I earn the opportunity,
I earn the title shot. That's the kind of man I am.
And since you're in the ring with me right now,
I feel like getting another W
So, how about you and I fight?
Unless those balls are still tiny.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Tiny balls! Tiny balls! Tiny balls!
You want a match right here right now?
Do you all want a match right here right now?
[crowd cheering]
We are not dressed for a match.
[crowd booing]
I am in a suit, you are in a skirt.
-[Wade chuckles] -[Cole] Oh, boy.
[Miz] And you don't think I know what you're doing,
painting yourself as the hero, pandering to this audience,
because maybe, just maybe, deep down,
you feel bad for what you've done the past couple of weeks.
But in reality, you're self-absorbed
Right now, you're Good Drew.
But if someone gets beaten down in the next hour,
you'll be Bad Drew, the real Drew.
You know, I was wrong about you.
You're not the Batman of WWE,
you're Two-Face!
You play both sides,
and pick a side, whichever benefits Drew.
I suggest you really shut up, Miz.
I don't shut up, I grow up. And when I look at you, I throw up!
[mimics vomiting]
-[Cole laughing] -Man, you're a bloody idiot.
And you are not worth my time!
[McIntyre] Well, guess what?
-Time's up, it's time to fight. -[Miz] Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Wait a second! Wait a second!
Wait! What… Keep your skirt on.
Hold on!
Look…
Mama Miz always taught me that a bigger man
will walk away from a fight.
So, instead of playing the hero,
I'll be the hero and walk away.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Oh, not wise! Not wise, Miz! From behind!
Went after McIntyre with a mic in hand!
[Wade] Sense Miz has just made his situation a whole lot worse.
[Cole] And Miz going right after McIntyre!
And Drew with… Driving Miz into the corner!
[Wade] Should've buggered off while you had the chance, Miz.
[Cole] Now, officials coming into the ring to try to separate these two men.
McIntyre's ticked off!
Miz escaping!
Miz just ran his mouth again and paid for it!
[Cole] And we're back live on Monday Night Raw.
This match was made official in the commercial break.
Yes, Miz not dressed to compete, but he will have to against Drew McIntyre.
-[bell rings] -[Wade] Miz is wearing a ten grand suit.
It should be illegal.
[Cole] And McIntyre now, focused on The Miz.
And Miz is going to scoot out of harm's way
and look to regroup before he starts this match.
[Wade] I mean, give him the chance to take his suit off.
At least Drew took his skirt off.
[Cole] And McIntyre, now, in pursuit of The Miz.
And Miz trying to do what he can.
And McIntyre just dragging Miz out of the ring.
And, now, driving him into the barricade!
McIntyre said he's sick and tired of being the savior.
[Wade] Does not pay to be a do-gooder in this game,
fighting everyone else's battles for them.
[Cole] Oh! "It's about time I fight my own battles at 100%."
And that's what McIntyre is doing right now.
And, now, is driven into the ring post by Miz.
Face first goes McIntyre.
[Wade] Well, Miz took a Glaswegian Kiss last week on Miz TV.
Perhaps, McIntyre just got a taste of his own medicine.
[Cole] McIntyre said last week, "I'm the same guy as I've always been.
"My principles are the same. I stand by them.
"I just do what I feel is right.
And what I feel right now is just taking things into my own hands."
But he may have miscalculated with The Miz tonight.
[Wade] People have been telling Miz to shut up for about 17 years.
He never listens!
But the truth is, when the bell rings, he is as good as they get.
[Cole] Miz with a ferocious attitude here tonight. I mean, he was upset, Wade,
and embarrassed, Drew McIntyre cancelled
Miz's big Miz TV for tonight where Drew was supposed to be the guest.
[crowd chanting] Tiny balls!
[Cole] And, now, the chants from the WWE fans,
not flattering toward The Miz.
[Wade] Miz TV is the most must-see talk show on planet Earth,
and you don't say no…
[Cole] And, now, McIntyre says yes.
Belly-to-belly throw to Miz!
Driving Miz into the corner, and yet another throw by McIntyre!
[Wade] Yeah, don't ever forget,
-this is the same Drew McIntyre… -[Cole] Neckbreaker!
[Wade] …who, once upon a time, slayed "The Beast" Brock Lesnar
at WrestleMania.
Very few people can say that.
[Cole] Kip-up by McIntyre. Now focused on The Miz.
Looking for the Future Shock DDT.
Miz able to counter, but runs into a right hand by Drew!
Now, McIntyre sent over the top rope out to the apron.
[Wade] I can't believe Miz is still standing after that right hand.
[Cole] Knee by the wily Miz, former WWE Champion.
Double knees to McIntyre!
[Wade] Two-time Grand Slam Champion, The Miz!
[Cole] Now, Miz, with the official dealing with McIntyre,
trying to take the protective covering off the turnbuckle in the corner.
[Wade] You need all the help you can get
when you're in there with The Scottish Warrior.
[Cole] And the official caught Miz, and…
-Oh, Glasgow Kiss… -[Wade] Shades of last week on Miz TV!
[Cole] …by McIntyre.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Three! Two! One!
[Cole] McIntyre is calling for the Claymore kick.
[Wade] McIntyre's got Miz bang to rights right now.
How's he able to?
[crowd cheering]
Give it to me! Knock it off or I'll-- [continues indistinctly]
[Cole] McIntyre with his sword, Angela.
Hey, come here!
[Cole] The official's getting it out of the ring and harm's way.
And now McIntyre ripping off the protective turnbuckle.
Driving Miz into it face first!
[Wade] He's falling on his own sword.
[Cole] And now Drew,
with a Future Shock DDT!
Cover by McIntyre!
And the win!
[bell rings]
[crowd cheering]
[female announcer] Here's your winner!
Drew McIntyre!
[Cole] Well, Wade, Drew McIntyre made it pretty clear,
I'm gonna do things the way I wanna do them.
[Wade] Yes. He's got a number of ways he can beat you,
all of which are effective tonight.
[Cole groans]
[Wade] McIntyre opted to go cheap, and it furthers the point
that McIntyre is sending a message to anyone paying attention.
All bets are off.
He's finished playing nice.
You know,
I've done some serious thinking
I'm not the same guy I was 30 seconds ago.
I'm sorry for my actions.
And now that I've said sorry, I'm automatically forgiven, yeah!
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] The hell has gotten into him?
[Wade] Well, he said it himself a little earlier.
Forgiveness is not a strength, it's a weakness.
And there's nothing weak about this version of The Scottish Warrior.
Drew McIntyre showing no mercy
for The Miz here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Speaking of "no mercy," the NXT version this past Saturday,
what an incredible event,
including the match-up for the North American Championship,
[stammers] Dirty Dom defending against Trick Williams.
And Dirty Dom would take out the special guest referee,
Dragon Lee with that super kick.
And the complexion would change.
[Wade] Yeah. This match went back and forth.
This is the moment Trick Williams thought he had it won.
Of course, referee previously taken out. Not there to make the count for him.
[Cole] And Dominik Mysterio had grabbed the North American Championship.
Try to use it, but it would backfire.
[crowd cheering]
And what a moment here, Wade,
For Trick Williams to win his first championship in NXT.
[Wade] And with apologies to Booker T.
-[crowd chanting] Whoop that Trick! -[Wade] Oh, yeah!
Jam on!
Uh-huh.
-I like it. -[Cole] What are you doing?
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the new NXT North American Champion, Trick Williams.
[crowd cheering]
Trick congratulations on your victory at No Mercy. Big things.
But tomorrow night you will defend this very title in a rematch
against Dirty Dom at NXT.
That's right Jackie and I must say,
it's a pleasure to meet you for the first time.
Allow me to introduce myself to you, and the rest of the world.
My name is Trick Williams.
I am six foot four.
I am 240 pounds of muscle.
I have gold in my ear.
I have gold around my wrist. But most importantly,
I have gold around my waist.
Because I am your new NXT North American Champion, baby. Believe it.
And tomorrow I will be defending this title against Dirty Dom.
-Keep my name out of your mouth. -Whoa, whoa, whoa.
He seems more confident now that you got your Mami with you.
Keep talking trash.
Tomorrow night. You won't just have to worry about Dom,
because he won't be coming to NXT alone.
And he'll be walking out with his NXT North American Championship.
-Good. -Keep it clean for me.
[Cole] That match is tomorrow night on NXT,
but coming up tonight in our main event,
that man, the number one contender for the Intercontinental title,
says he's dreamed about this match since he was five years old.
Ciampa, Gunther, live, tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time,
the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
["Kingdom" playing]
♪ That's me against more than one ♪
♪ Royal family ♪
[explosion]
♪ Every thought, out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd] Whoa!
♪ And my father said, when I was younger ♪
Hard times breed better men
[crowd cheering]
Uh, hi, Cody.
Alright. Earlier tonight, Adam Pearce puts you together
with Jey Uso in a match this Saturday at Fastlane,
where you'll face Finn Bálor and Damian Priest
for the undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.
Do you feel that maybe, you were backed into this match at all?
Jackie, I'll be honest. I never anticipated.
I never planned on tagging with main event, Jey Uso,
but i think it's The Judgment Day that has backed themselves into this match.
I think it's The Judgment Day that has backed themselves onto this fight.
This hyena-like fashion running around Monday Night Raw.
And I've heard-- I've heard their plan is to be at SmackDown this Friday.
[crowd cheering]
That's great. Because guess what?
I'll be there too and I will not be alone.
Main event Jey Uso will be there as well.
And then, we are going to march to Fastlane.
Then we are going to win the WWE undisputed Tag Team Championships,
and we will come back and it will be a very different Monday Night Raw.
Thank you guys.
[Cole] Well, Cody Rhodes is ready to go.
A big weekend SmackDowndown in Saint Louis on Friday.
And of course, Saturday it is Fastlane in Indianapolis.
Cody Rhodes said it.
It will take place live on Peacock
this coming Saturday night,
Eight o' clock, five, Pacific.
It is WWE Fastlane live from Indianapolis, Indiana,
and Cody Rhodes will be in action.
It is an unlikely tag team of Cody Rhodes and main event Jey Uso
taking on Finn Bálor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day
for the undisputed Tag Team titles.
[Wade] And Iyo Sky may rue the day that a Damage CTRL buddy,
Bayley, got her into this mess.
Sky defends the WWE Women's Championship
against Charlotte Flair and Asuka in a Triple Threat match at Fastlane.
[Cole] Also from Friday Night SmackDown,
the LWO in action in a Six-Man Tag Team match-up
of the new team of Bobby Lashley
and The Street Profits live, Saturday night.
[Wade] We all saw it.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins went down for the count tonight.
And if that happens again at Fastlane,
we've got a new World Heavyweight Champion.
Rollins. Nakamura. Last man standing this Saturday.
[Cole] And who could have seen this coming?
The greatest of all time,
John Cena teaming up with LA Knight…
-[Wade] Yeah! -…against Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa
of The Bloodline.
Massive tag team match this Saturday, eight Eastern, five Pacific.
WWE Fastlane only on Peacock.
["Symphony No. 9 In E Minor" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] He is the longest reigning
Intercontinental Champion in WWE history.
Four hundred seventy nine days today,
dating back to June of 2022.
But Gunther heads into the ring tonight.
With a man as intense and as focused
as anyone he has ever faced.
[crowd cheering]
Tommaso Ciampa says he has dreamed about this moment for five years.
He-- Believes in his heart that he will be Champion
and that Gunther's world will crumble.
Gunther, Ciampa for the title, live next on Raw.
-Hard to climb! -Look, look.
You don't need to apologize to me.
I could never be disappointed in my number one guy, alright?
Who I am disappointed in, is the clowns we keep coming across,
cheating to beat The Academy, but rest assured,
I'm keeping track of them all in my big golden brain.
And they're going to pay.
And as far as Gunther.
Well, he peaked, okay?
And I haven't even begun to peak.
Because when I peak, everybody's going to know, alright?
And everyone, all those idiots. are going to pay
for what they've done for this little setback, okay?
Savages. Idiots. Savages. Idiots.
[Cole] An intense Chad Gable.
It's going to be intense Friday night on SmackDown in Saint Louis.
Now, Cody Rhodes told us earlier, he will be there.
Jey Uso will be there.
The Tag Team Champions, Judgment Day,
will be there live, Friday night, on SmackDown
[Wade] And then next Monday on Raw,
the plucky Tegan Nox finally gets a chance at the gold.
NXT Women's Championship on the line
as The Man, Becky Lynch, defends against the Welsh firecracker.
[Cole] And Ivar and The Viking Raiders has been laying waste
to New Day over the past couple of weeks.
Next week, Kofi looks for revenge
in a Viking Rules Match live on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Wow, Nia Jax's return to Raw has been a path of destruction.
It started with Raquel Rodriguez.
Raquel is back and determined to make the irresistible force pay.
These two titans will clash next week right here on Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] The Intercontinental Champion, Gunther,
is now in the ring here on Monday Night Raw for our main event
where he will defend that coveted Championship.
[alarm beeping]
[flatlining]
["No One Will Survive" playing]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen,
44 years ago,
the late Great Hall of Famer, Pat Patterson,
became the first ever Intercontinental Champion.
Since that day, dozens of WWE Hall of Famers
have held this prestigious Championship,
which many think may be the most important title
on the way to the top in WWE.
Tonight, that man, Tommaso Ciampa
is focused looking to win the first major Championship in his career here
on Monday Night Raw against Gunther.
[Wade] A lot of history tied into the Intercontinental Championship,
but Ciampa is refusing to be bound by the weight of history,
that is the unblemished track record of the Champion, Gunther.
[bell rings]
The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the Intercontinental Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
weighing in at 201 pounds,
Tommaso Ciampa!
[crowd cheering]
And his opponent,
representing Imperium from Vienna, Austria.
Weighing in at 250 pounds,
he is the Intercontinental Champion.
The Ring General,
Gunther!
[Cole] And as this match gets underway for the Intercontinental title,
I'd like to offer my congratulations to the new NXT Champion,
Ilja Dragunov, who knocked off Carmelo Hayes
this past Saturday at NXT No Mercy.
Dragunov and Gunther have had some great battles in the past,
so here tonight, it's Gunther against Ciampa
for the Intercontinental title.
Wade, if you're Ciampa, what do you need to do
to stop this seemingly unstoppable reign of Gunther?
[Wade] Well, Ciampa we saw him earlier,
he's boiling over with passion and he needs to bring all that and more.
I'm buying whatever Tommaso Ciampa is selling tonight.
This guy is on one.
[Cole] Ciampa with a smile on his face.
The cold hearted, compassionless Tommaso Ciampa,
who will do anything he needs to do to win the Championship tonight
and the fight is on.
Now again, Champion's advantage for Gunther.
Ciampa must pin or submit the Champion to win the title.
And this is going to be as physical as they come, Wade,
and look at Ciampa trying to wrestle the champ down into the Sicilian Stretch.
The submission maneuver that Ciampa locked into Gunther earlier tonight
during the contract signing.
[groans]
[Wade] Ciampa showed no deference whatsoever to the Champion.
Unbridled, unremitting rage.
[Cole] Now the clothesline to Gunther.
[Wade] Gunther is having another one by Ciampa.
[Cole] Trying to create some separation.
Missed with the big chop, and that's what Ciampa has to do,
avoid the chop of Gunther, but Gunther though,
dropping Ciampa on the back of his neck,
and now trying to turn him over into a Boston Crab, which Gunther does.
Now he sits down all the weight of his body in the small of the back.
And look at how Gunther turns Ciampa away from the bottom rope,
not allowing him to make the break, and now the kick to the midsection.
[Wade] So technically astute.
Perhaps as smart as anyone we've ever seen inside the ring.
That is part of why The Ring General is so damn good.
[Cole] Now Gunther brings the fight outside the ring.
Ciampa though, driving Gunther face first to the post,
and now Ciampa with an opportunity.
Oh, there's the face pressing!
Now unlocking with the right hands to Gunther, the Intercontinental Champion.
[Wade] This is nice from Ciampa, you give Gunther an inch,
he's gonna to take a mile.
You have to smother him.
[Cole] Again, trying to wrestle Gunther down into the Sicilian Stretch.
Center of the ring, Gunther in trouble.
Gunther screaming for pain, trying to use his large frame,
his lanky legs and arms to try to make it to the bottom rope.
And he does to force the break.
-Two! -[Wade] Second time
Gunther has tasted that this evening.
He wants no part of it, right now.
[Cole] Ciampa trying to win his first Intercontinental title.
Can he knock off the unstoppable Gunther?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw,
this is for the Intercontinental Championship.
Gunther defending against Tommaso Ciampa in front of a capacity crowd
in San Jose, California, in our Main Event on Monday Night Raw.
Now, Wade Barrett, my broadcast colleague, a five-time intercontinental champion.
Wade, why is this title so important to everyone here in WWE?
[Wade] Because everyone who is in that list
of Greatest Of All Time at some point has held this championship.
Believe me, I'm not including myself in that list.
-[Cole] You were-- -The ones who are in the Hall of Fame,
that real, true greats of this industry,
they all held it at some point.
[Cole] Yeah, Ciampa chopping away
but Gunther with a slam of Tommaso Ciampa.
Ciampa said he's heard the rumblings that Gunther's unbeatable.
He's also heard the rumblings that he's not the same Tommaso Ciampa
that he was at NXT.
But he claimed he's gonna stare the dragon in the face
and cut its head off tonight.
But it's been all Gunther here.
[Wade] Talk about NXT, these two did compete back at NXT Stand and Deliver.
2021, there's a lot of water
under the bridge since then, however.
[Cole] And Wade, you know this is a different Gunther since that event.
[Wade] Yeah, Gunther is just going from strength to strength.
He's turned himself into an impenetrable fortress
since arriving here on Raw and SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] WWE universe electric for this match here tonight in our Main Event,
as Ciampa, who's just got a non-stop motor.
But will that be enough?
Look at him just fight back against Gunther.
[Wade] Ciampa does not have a defense mode,
he doesn't have a reverse gear, it's all-out attack!
[Cole] Going for the Sleeper, going for the Sleeper.
Trying to lock the Sleeper in on Ciampa.
Ciampa made one mistake, Gunther capitalized.
And now with the Sleeper locked in,
middle of the ring, nowhere for Ciampa to go.
He's tryna break the grip now by Gunther.
[Wade] Just one of about eight ways that Gunther has that he can beat you.
And right now Ciampa is fading quickly.
[Cole] Gunther, just like that, so quick, locked in the Sleeper.
And now the methodical pace
of Gunther as he just sits out.
And he continues to put the pressure on Ciampa.
Trying to get Ciampa to tap or pass out,
with the Intercontinental Championship on the line.
And Gunther with a straight knee to the ribs
and back now, into a side headlock.
[Wade] Now, I'm surprised Gunther released the Sleeper there,
he had it locked in.
Ciampa wasn't close enough to other ropes to get out.
He must have known for some reason,
he wasn't gonna get a decision through that.
[Cole] I think what happened, Wade,
when Ciampa was able to break the grip,
Gunther couldn't get it back the way he had it.
[Wade] Well, speak too soon, there we go.
[Cole] And now the Sleeper again,
dragging Ciampa back to the center of the ring.
Tommaso Ciampa.
And now back to his feet.
[Wade] Gunther with a big boot, flooring Ciampa!
Here's the cover. Hook to the leg now.
And a kick out.
You block the big boot,
he gets you in a Sleeper, you block the Sleeper,
he powerbombs you.
There's so many ways he has to hurt you,
that is just one of a long list.
Ciampa lives on for now, but he is hurt, make no mistake.
[Cole] Trying to break the Sleeper again by Gunther.
But each and every time he puts it on, it does more damage.
[crowd cheering]
Ciampa, though tremendous will,
talked a lot about his heart coming into this match-up
and how he's dreamed of this moment since he was a little boy.
And now Gunther driven into the turnbuckle.
And it buys Ciampa some time, creates some space.
And now Ciampa looks to muster some offense,
trying to get Gunther down into the Sicilian Stretch in again now.
Center of the ring, Gunther with nowhere to go.
Can Ciampa tap out the champion?
[crowd cheering]
Gunther again, trying to drag himself to the bottom rope.
And now Ciampa hammering away, trying to lock it in yet again.
-And now Gunther makes it to the rope. -One! Two!
[Wade] You can see the strategy from Ciampa,
he doesn't just wanna win, he wants that tap out.
[Cole] But look at Gunther,
no waste of motion, no separation created.
Dragged Ciampa out of the ring, drove him into barricade.
Chop after chop by the relentless champion, Gunther.
[Wade] Sternum-cracking Chop.
Gunther's in control.
Does Ciampa have anything left to get back in this?
-[crowd cheering] -[indistinct chatter]
[Cole]You wanna talk about defiance,
Tommaso Ciampa has been defiant tonight
against the nearly unstoppable, Intercontinental Champion, Gunther.
Chop after chop, beat down after beat down,
Ciampa still in this match.
Oh, my goodness!
[crowd gasping]
And now Gunther gonna drive
Ciampa into the corner, top turnbuckle.
Chop turning Ciampa inside and out.
[Wade] Brutalism at its absolute best.
[Cole] Do you miss being in there?
[Wade] Hell, no, I'm never getting back in that ring, Cole.
[Cole] Especially with a man like Gunther,
who drives Ciampa down to the floor.
Gunther is a machine, he's a robot. He's unstoppable.
[Wade] But every time Ciampa just tries to throw something at Gunther,
that's the response he gets.
And at what time do you become mentally broken
by the realization there's perhaps nothing you can do?
[speaks indistinctly]
-[Cole] Now the trash talk. -[crowd booing]
The mental game starts now for Gunther.
[Wade] Coming into this match-up,
we had two guys who simply could not comprehend losing this match-up.
[Cole] Ciampa can barely stand.
And Gunther now, went for the chop!
He went for the Chop, Ciampa moved out of the way.
He's cracked the damn table!
[Cole] Gunther cracked the cowl of this announce table in half
that wicked knife-edge Chop that Ciampa avoided.
And now, Tommaso Ciampa, with that strike knee now.
[Wade] A brief window of opportunity
that rarely comes against Gunther, make it count.
[Cole] Now the Running Knee off the apron.
And the champion's down.
And Ciampa now with a second wind, trying to dig down deep
and pull a massive upset here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
And again working on the injured arm, the injured wrist of Gunther.
Ciampa now as Gunther writhes in pain.
And again off the table.
[Wade] Trying to break the bear paw of the Intercontinental Champion.
[Cole] Yeah, take the Chops away.
And Gunther, delivered a Chop now with the left hand.
Went to the left hand with that Chop that fell Ciampa.
[Wade] The right hand might be useless
after the number that Ciampa just did on it.
[crowd chattering]
Three!
[Cole] And just the awareness of Gunther
to be able to turn around into a Southpaw Chop that time
protecting the injured right arm.
Now, wait a minute, wait a minute!
Willow's Bell, Willow's Bell!
Cover for the championship by Ciampa.
Kick out by Gunther at two!
[Wade] Wow, he put away many competitors over the years with that move.
But again, it takes something very, very special
to defeat a person who is very special in the form of Gunther.
[Cole] And now Ciampa measuring his man.
Trying to drag Gunther up.
Now looking for his finishing move, it's called The Fairytale Ending.
Trying to get Gunther up into it.
Does Ciampa have enough?
Gunther trying to counter.
[Wade] Gunther scouting everything.
Kick to the hand.
[Cole] Again, back to the bad wrist, to the bad hand of Gunther.
Great strategy here by Ciampa.
[groans]
[Wade] Twenty minutes in, and Gunther is getting the hell stomped out of him.
Something we have never seen before this deep in a match-up.
[Cole] And now Ciampa measuring his man.
[Wade] This is how he put away Kaiser.
[Cole] Oh! And Gunther with a drop kick, exploded out of the corner!
And now Gunther with an opportunity to retain.
Hook to the leg. Cover on Ciampa who kicks out at two!
And this match continues.
[Wade] Well, just when Ciampa had victory in his sights.
Of course, Gunther yet again has the antidote
and almost got the victory for himself.
Give everything, leave nothing.
That's what it's gonna take to win the Championship tonight.
[Cole] Exhaustion beginning to set in for both of these men.
With the Intercontinental Championship on the line, this is crunch time.
Time to dig down deep for Gunther and Ciampa
in our Main Event here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Both men know these deep waters well.
-Ciampa from his time in NXT, -Gunther--
but they're looking for forever. The hand gave out!
[Cole] Gunther was looking for powerbomb,
that bad hand gave out.
And now Ciampa up and able to slip down underneath.
And Ciampa now!
That reverse DDT delivered to Gunther.
And now that Running Knee by Ciampa!
Cover now for the title!
Is it enough to knock him off? Kick out at two by Gunther!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Once again, Ciampa loads it up, connects.
-[crowd] One! Two! -A miracle was about to happen.
Gunther decided, simply, not tonight.
[Cole] What else does Ciampa have to do
in our Main Event live on Monday Night Raw?
Capacity crowd here tonight in San Jose, California.
[crowd cheering]
It's for the Intercontinental Championship.
Ciampa, the challenger, in control right now
of a clearly injured. Intercontinental Champion, Gunther.
And again, looking for The Fairytale Ending.
And again ducking underneath is Gunther.
Oh! Used the chop with the bad hand.
And now looking for-- Oh my goodness! What a Suplex!
Cover now by Gunther to retain on Ciampa, who kicks again.
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Well, just when he locked in that Sleeper,
turned it into a form of Dragon Suplex.
Ciampa landing right on the dome.
How he's not out cold, I'll never know.
[crowd cheering]
Unwavering belief in his ability to dethrone the champion.
[Cole] Ciampa's obsession with titles and gold is well documented.
[crowd chanting]
It continues to drive him tonight as the WWE fans show their respect.
Gunther runs into Ciampa.
Ciampa now, fighting back, ducks underneath.
Looking for the Sicilian Stretch!
The Sicilian Stretch, will Gunther tap?
[Wade] A million miles away!
-Oh! -[Cole] Shoulders down!
Gunther now trying to force the break.
Ciampa, though, still has it locked in.
Pounding away now on the chest of Gunther.
[Wade] Ciampa tastes victory.
[Cole] Gunther trying to somehow drag himself
to the bottom rope before he taps out
and loses the Intercontinental title here tonight.
[Wade] Nowhere near the ropes and Ciampa knows it, just hold on Ciampa.
[Cole] Gunther screaming in agony, writhing in pain.
Gunther trying to make into the rope, but he's a foot away.
-[Wade] Those legs are-- -Now the break! The break has to happen.
[Wade] And that must feel like defeat to Tommaso Ciampa,
who had it within his grasp.
[Cole] He's still got opportunity. He's gotta stay in this, Wade.
Gunther is hurt, the champ's in trouble.
[Wade] Ciampa needs to retain that competitive psychosis,
that granite mindset, you can do this.
[Cole] Gunther, bad-- That bad arm, that bad hand, the bad wrist.
Ciampa trying to dig down deep,
trying to feed off the WWE fans here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
The challenger back to his feet.
[Wade] He's eaten too much roadkill, it's time for some fillet.
[crowd gasping]
[Cole] And now, it's Ciampa's turn to deliver the Chops to the champion.
[crowd gasping]
Gunther driven back to the corner.
Ciampa not done yet, Chop after Chop after Chop.
Gunther trying to fight his way out of the corner using his bad hand.
Ciampa blocked.
Big kick.
Ciampa now.
[crowd cheering]
With Gunther up on his shoulders. Didn't have enough.
-Powerbomb! -[crowd cheering]
Powerbomb!
[Wade] Stacking move after move.
Sleeper hold locked in.
[Cole]And now Ciampa, off the two Powerbombs
is locked in the Sleeper by Gunther.
Ciampa may be fading.
I'm not sure how much Ciampa has left.
Gunther has it locked in.
[Wade] The tank is empty, the reservoir, perhaps dry.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Ciampa is out!
-[bell rings] -Gunther retains the title!
[Wade] Wow.
[female announcer] Here is your winner, and still
the Intercontinental Champion,
The Ring General,
Gunther!
[Cole] What a Main Event here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Ciampa took Gunther to the limit.
But the longest reign
in Intercontinental Championship history will continue.
[Wade] Well, Ciampa gave it all he had.
We had gladiators slugging it out for 12 rounds.
This is the moment I thought Ciampa had it done,
Sicilian Stretch, center of the ring.
[Cole] And then Gunther would turn one powerbomb
into a second powerbomb.
And this was the beginning of the end,
because Gunther now locked in the Sleeper.
Ciampa did not have anything left, he passed out.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell rings]
Gunther retains and now--
-In the ring, Imperium! -Wow.
[Cole] Imperium, Kaiser, Vinci down here
beating the hell out of Ciampa,
who just passed out to the Sleeper by Gunther.
[Wade] Well, this is absolute garbage from Imperium.
Well, Ciampa doesn't deserve that at all.
[Cole] Yeah, Gunther now has Imperium doing his dirty work.
Gunther walks away with a smile on his face.
And now Ciampa getting a hell beat out of him by Vinci and Kaiser.
Now, we had a war for the ages,
and what a stink this leaves on it.
-["Rebel Heart" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Maybe not!
Johnny Gargano is here!
Gargano with a spear!
[Wade] Ciampa's been looking for it for months, he's finally found it.
Gargano taking the fight to Imperium.
superkick.
[crowd cheering]
DIY!
-[crowd cheering] -[audience whistling]
Back tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
Meeting in the middle!
[crowd cheering] ddle!