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Kurt Angle opens RAW
WWE RAW GM Kurt Angle came out and opened RAW. Angle informed the crowd that Brock Lesnar had no-showed again. He adds that it was disrespectful and anyone else in the locker room would have been fired. He also said that it's because Lesnar was "Vince McMahon's" boy so he couldn't do anything about it. Angle still promised the fans a good show and was about to leave when Roman Reigns came out.
Reigns says he won't stand disrespect from Vince McMahon, especially because he just learnt about Brock's absence on live tv. He goes backstage and confronts Vince McMahon directly backstage! Shane McMahon is there too. Vince asked the crew to cut to commercial and spoke to Roman backstage.
Renee Young is waiting outside Vince's office. Roman walks out first and just walks away. Vince comes out and informs fans that Brock was not "his boy". He then added that Brock would be on RAW next week before announcing that Roman Reigns was temporarily suspended.
Sasha Banks vs Sonya Deville
Bayley came out with Sasha although she didn't look too happy about it. Deville came out with the rest of Absolution.
The match was short but a good way to continue the momentum from the opening segment. Banks and Deville worked for a bit. The main story going on here was the relationship between Banks and Bayley.
Mandy Rose came into play near the end of the match. She tried to intervene but Bayley knocked her off the apron. Banks hit Deville with a backstabber and followed it up with the Banks Statement. Deville tapped out shortly.
Sasha Banks def. Sonya Deville
Bayley left after the match which incidentally left Banks at the mercy of Absolution. Rose and Deville finished what was left of Sasha.
Miz TV with Finn Balor and Seth Rollins
Miz started off by announcing that his "boys" had grown up - adding that Axel and Dallas were getting a title shot later in the night against The Bar.
He then invited out his guests, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor.
Miz started off by saying that Balor had a thin resume which didn't match up to his or Rollins. Rollins spotted what Miz was trying to do but Miz carried on anyway. Miz told Balor that the only big thing he'd done in WWE was beating Seth Rollins to win the WWE Universal Championship. Balor refused to let Miz sway him so Miz desperately turned to try Rollins one more time.
Rollins said that he would win the title but Balor retorted by saying that in the only title match they had, he'd beaten Seth with one hand.
As Rollins and Balor got in each other's face, the look of glee on Miz's face was priceless. Balor and Rollins noticed Miz and took him out. Balor then turned around and Rollins clocked him in the face before walking away.
The Bar vs The Miztourage
Axel and Dallas attacked The Bar as they were in the middle of their entrance and a brawl broke out. The Revival came out and joined in the attack on The Bar.
They sent Sheamus and Cesaro scurrying out of the ring and The Club came out and joined in. Heath Slater, Rhyno, Apollo and Titus O'Neil joined in next. The Bar were beaten down till they managed to escape and run.
Match never started
John Cena has a big announcement
Cena came out and told the fans that despite multiple opportunities on both brands, he had failed repeatedly and now he had no path to WrestleMania. Undertaker chants broke out at this point as Cena continued, saying he would be at WrestleMania only as a fan.
Cena then went into the crowd to try a couple of fan chants. He then went back into the ring and encouraged the fans to chant "Cena sucks". Cena then just challenged the Undertaker to a WrestleMania match, making the last 10 minutes before this redundant.
Cena then said the thing keeping this match from happening was The Undertaker. He asked Taker to get over his ego and tells him to stop hiding his head under the sand after his loss to Roman Reigns. Cena added that Undertaker wasn't too old. Cena then added that if he was too old, he wouldn't be posting workout videos on his wife's Instagram.
Cena then asked the fans if they wanted to see Undertaker kick his ass at WrestleMania? The fans erupted, as expected and a "Yes" chant broke out.
Sheamus and Cesaro demand respect backstage
The Bar are backstage with Kurt Angle. They weren't happy and said that they didn't feel safe on RAW. Sheamus then said that he'd heard of a Superstar Shake Up coming after Mania and added that he wanted to be traded right now.
Angle told them that they would find out who their WrestleMania opponents will be, later in the night after a tag-team Battle Royale.
Elias refuses to perform
Elias was out next. He had a neckbrace on and was clearly upset about what happened during the Symphony of Destruction match last week on RAW.
Elias refused to sing and left the ring
Braun Strowman has a message
Strowman said that he didn't have a match at WrestleMania. He added that it didn't matter who he faced, they would "get these hands".
Also, I won't comment on the elephant in the room.
Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor
The two started off immediately. Balor caught Rollins with a big strike. Rollins then began to take it to Balor, getting the advantage as The Miz watched on.
Rollins was still in control for a large chunk of the match. having a tight headlock onto the former Universal Champion. Balor rocked the architect and began to make a slow comeback.
After a failed roll-up, Balor double-stomped Rollins and even hits the slingblade. When he went for the drop-kick to the turnbuckle, he eats a big superkick to the face.
Rollins was back in control and went for a massive Falcon Arrow from the top rope. He hit Balor with it but Finn hooked Seth's leg in an inside cradle after landing and managed to get the win.
Finn Balor def. Seth Rollins
Asuka returns to RAW
Asuka was asked by Charly Caruso why she chose Charlotte. As Asuka was about to answer, Alexa Bliss came out accompanied by Mickie James.
Alexa ran down Asuka's English before saying that Asuka chose the champion of the B-show. Asuka replied that to be the woman, you had to beat the woman.
This led to a match between Asuka and Mickie James after James had already blindsided Asuka.
Asuka vs Mickie James
The Empress of Tomorrow wasn't in the mood to be messed with. She immediately sent James to the outside and hit her with a sliding knee. When Asuka attempts a kick to Mickie's head against the ring post, the veteran moved out on time and Asuka seemed to injure her leg.
Mickie James slammed her leg against the ring post again. Asuka fought back but despite landing a vicious kick to Mickie James' head, she isn't able to get the cover.
Mickie continued to take advantage of Asuka's injured leg. She then hit a sunset flip but it still wasn't enough. James attempted to finish Asuka off with the Mick Kick but Asuka countered into the Asuka Lock and that was all she wrote for Mickie James.
Asuka def. Mickie James
Nia Jax vs Joan King
Joan King looked petrified as Jax got into the ring. Nia tossed her across the ring and hit a running elbow drop followed by a Samoan Drop.
And, that was it for Joan King. Nia didn't even break into a sweat.
Nia Jax def. Joan King
As Nia celebrated, a video of Alexa Bliss taking to Nia Mickie James backstage. Alexa hammers Nia without knowing she is on camera. Bliss said many terrible things about Jax including how she uses her and how she's as dumb as she is big.
Charly Caruso comes at this point and informs Alexa and Mickie that the camera and mic were on. Alexa and Mickie ran away as an enraged Nia Jax came backstage and destroyed the dressing room.
Tag-Team Battle Royale #1 Contender's
The Revival, Miztourage, The Club, Slater & Rhyno and Apollo and Titus were waiting in the ring to begin the match when Braun Strowman came out.
Strowman eliminated Apollo in a second before turning his attention to Heath Slater. Strowman then eliminated Slater after chasing him around the ring.
The remaining 8 men ganged up on Strowman and tried to eliminate him. The Revival eliminated Rhyno as he concentrated on Strowman.
Titus stepped up to face Strowman at this point. He had second thoughts and rolled out of the ring as we headed to commercial.
Back from the break, the rest of the Superstars sent Strowman into the steel steps before dumping him in the announcer's area.
The action continued in the ring without Strowman. The Revival and Heath Slater got eliminated.As Titus tried to eliminate Gallows, Strowman came back in. He threw out Gallows and Titus. He then threw out the Miztourage.
Anderson was the last man left and made a valiant attempt. It wasn't enough though and Strowman threw him out to become the #1 contender.
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