The 1200th episode of WWE Monday Night RAW comes to us from the Royal Farm Arena, Baltimore, MD and it promises to be a barnburner, what with Seth Rollins’ thunderous return at WWE Extreme Rules 2016.
The journey to one of the most decisive PPVs of the year, Money In The Bank, has begun and the whole locker room will look to earn a shot at the golden briefcase, at all costs. Here’s how the show progressed:
REIGNS VS ROLLINS FOR THE WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Seth Rollins kicks things off in typical fashion, telling the crowd that they might have missed him, but he does not need them. Reigns comes down to the ring and Rollins quickly exits. Enter Shane McMahon, who’s making a habit of starting things off in style. He officially announces Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Money In The Bank.
SAMI ZAYN BEAT SHEAMUS TO EARN A SPOT IN THE MITB LADDER MATCH
Sheamus looked a shoo-in for the MITB ladder match, dominating the smaller redhead but a moment of inattention cost him as he ate a Helluva Kick out of nowhere. Zayn quickly covered him and got the win.
Sheamus vents his frustration on Apollo Crews, who’s speaking to Renee Young backstage.
NEW DAY BEAT SOCIAL OUTCASTS AFTER CELEBRATING RAW’S 1200TH EPISODE
The New Day come out and unveil a cake to celebrate WWE RAW’s 1200th episode, but tell everyone they’ll wait till after the match to cut it. Big E’s trying to find a safe place to keep it, when the Social Outcasts ambush them.
A short match follows, with Kofi and Big E taking turns stomping a mudhole in Heath Slater. The ‘Red Dragon’ is pulled to safety by his mates, but Kofi removes them from the equation by flying out of the ring. Kofi and Big E hit the Big Ending and pin Slater for the win. They feed him some cake, New Day style, after the match.
CESARO BEAT MIZ IN AN MITB LADDER MATCH QUALIFIER
After harping about beating three other men to retain the WWE IC, Miz is blown away by Cesaro’s initial burst of uppercuts. They spill outside and return to the ring, where Cesaro retains control.
Miz starts to target Cesaro’s bandaged shoulder, but the Swiss Superman sends him out of the ring and connects with a murderous running uppercut on the barricade. Cesaro’s shoulder slows him down to the point where he can’t pull off his merry-go-round and Miz looks to exploit it. Miz goes for a flying crossbody but gets caught with an uppercut and the Gotch Neutralizer. Cesaro wins.
Renee Young catches up with Seth Rollins backstage, where he runs into Stephanie McMahon. His attempt to hug her is met with frostiness. Stephanie says things have changed. Curious.
CHRIS JERICHO BEAT APOLLO CREWS TO QUALIFY FOR THE MITB LADDER MATCH
Y2J, back pockmarked with bandages from the thumbtacks, faces the 5-star athlete with a spot in the MITB ladder match on the line. After a back-and-forth start, Crews shows off his athleticism with a standing backflip off the apron and targets Jericho’s wounds.
Crews fights out of the Walls, but gets hit with a moonsault and then falls into the Walls Of Jericho again. The rookie fights out of it, but gets stunned with a Codebreaker. Jericho covers him and gets the win.
Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin confront each other backstage, where they agree to a ‘technical wrestling match’ next week.
BIG CASS WITH A RETURNING ENZO AMORE BEAT BUBBA RAY DUDLEY WITH D-VON DUDLEY
The 7-footer comes out wearing a leopard pattern muscle tee and welcomes back Enzo Amore, who’s shooting around like Sonic the Hedgehog. Enzo trashes the Dudleys, before they come out for the match.
Cass dominates, but D-Von knocks Enzo down outside the ring, providing the distraction. Enzo barely slows down, unloading on Bubba before both of them return the favour to D-Von.
Bubba goes to the top rope, but gets thrown off by Cass, who hits the Empire elbow for the win.
CHARLOTTE DISOWNS RIC FLAIR
The Flairs, with Dana Brooke in tow, walk to the ring. Ric Flair begins by saying how ‘resourceful’ Charlotte has always been. Charlotte responds by telling Flair she’s tired of living in her father’s shadow and says she doesn’t need him anymore. A weeping Flair walks back to the locker room. As far as heel promos go, this has to be right up there, if not the best in the women’s division.
DEAN AMBROSE BEAT DOLPH ZIGGLER TO QUALIFY FOR THE MITB LADDER MATCH
They start the match evenly, but Dean soon gains the upper hand. After a suplex from the top rope, Dean takes out Dolph who is outside the ring. Dean then goes to the top rope and hits an elbow drop, only to be rolled up.
He kicks out at 2, but goes back down after a Famasser. Dean kicks out at 2 again, but eats a Superkick. He bounces off the ropes for a clothesline. Both men are down after a double crossbody. More back and forth, until Dean finally dodges a Zig Zag to hit the Dirty Deeds for the win.
AJ STYLES PARTS WAYS WITH ANDERSON AND GALLOWS
Styles comes out for his match with Kevin Owens and blames Anderson and Gallows and the Usos for costing him the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. His buddies come out and object, but Styles tells them they should stay out of each others’ business in the ring.
He follows by saying they’ll always be his brothers, but both spurn him and leave.
KEVIN OWENS BEAT AJ STYLES TO QUALIFY FOR THE MITB LADDER MATCH
An intense match sign off on the evening as the Prizefighter battles the Phenomenal One for a shot at the MITB briefcase. Owens planted Styles on the apron but paid for showboating by being run into the steel steps.
Styles looked for a Styles Clash but missed it. Owens actually took flight for a moonsault but noone was home. Styles hit a 360 splash on Owens after which the bully powerbombed him on the steel steps.
Once back in the ring, Styles tried the Phenomenal Forearm but gets tripped on the top rope. Owens hit the Pop Up Powerbomb for the win and the spot in the MITB ladder match.
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