The main event of Monday night RAW was one that fans will remember for a long time. After Finn Balor's injury forced the inaugural Universal Champion to vacate his title, the foursome of Seth Rollins, Big Cass, Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens earned the right to wrestle in a fatal-4-way elimination title match on Raw - and it delivered one of the biggest surprises of the year. Kevin Owens became the new WWE Universal Champion following an elimination fatal-4-way match that was absolutely unpredictable, to say the least.
From the outset, Owens and Rollins seemingly had the best chances to win, and during the early stages of the match both of them remained on the outside of the ring while Big Cass and Reigns fought each other inside. After Cass was pinned by Owens following a frog splash, the match came down to Reigns, Rollins and Owens. Then, the shocking moment of the night – Triple H making his surprise return. It was his first appearance since Wrestlemania 32 where he lost the WWE World Championship to Roman Reigns.
Triple H delivered the pedigree to Reigns at ringside allowing Seth Rollins to get the pinfall on Reigns and eliminate him. Then came the moment that no one in the arena had expected. Triple H stunned the WWE Universe by hitting the Pedigree on Seth Rollins which allowed Kevin Owens to score the pinfall on Rollins and win the match and become the new WWE Universal Champion.
There were looks of shock on the faces of RAW General Manager Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon. Following the shocking conclusion, a distraught Seth Rollins questioned whether Stephanie McMahon was aware of her husband’s shenanigans. He asked Stephanie about the events that had transpired that had led to him to lose the title and accused Stephanie of colluding with Triple H to affect the result of the match. There was a sense of betrayal in Rollins’ voice as he felt undone by the cruel plans of Triple H.
Stephanie responded by saying that she had no idea that Triple H would interfere in the match. Rollins was livid and was literally screaming at Stephanie claiming he did not believe that Stephanie was unaware of her husband’s plans.
Whether this marks a face turn for Rollins and a feud with Triple H that will culminate in a match at Wrestlemania 33, only time will tell. For now, the WWE Universe can rejoice in the fact that they have a new Universal Champion in Kevin Owens. Many may disagree with the WWE creative in making Owens the new Universal Champion, but the Houston crowd celebrated the win with chants of “You deserve it”. And Owens does deserve it. He’s extremely talented both inside the ring and on the mic and he has worked for this moment for years.
