This week’s RAW was live Royal Farms Arena - Baltimore, MD and there were quite a few things to look forward to. Roman Reigns had an opportunity to book his place in the Clash of Champions main event if he beat Kevin Owens. Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Dana Brooke kicked off the in-ring proceedings in a match to get a shot at Charlotte’s WWE Women’s Championship at the upcoming RAW PPV.
That was not all as WWE gave an impetus in progressing other feuds heading into Clash Of Champions.
Here are the complete WWE Raw results for 12th September 2016:
Opening Segment
RAW GM Mick Foley opened the show tonight to address the fans. He acknowledged BackLash and congratulated Becky Lynch on becoming the first SmackDown Women's Champion, before calling out Charlotte to the ring. She was accompanied by Dana Brooke, but the tension between the two has been palpable these past few weeks.
Charlotte looked to address Sasha Banks' actions, but says that an apology is in order. Dana Brooke said that Charlotte doesn't need to apologize to her, but Charlotte said that it is Brooke who owes her an apology. And under the threat of their 'friendship' being over, Brooke publicly apologizes to Charlotte.
Sasha Banks' music hits and the Boss came out to and tells Charlotte that she's going to take her Title at Clash of Champions. Hey, it’s Bayley!
Bayley stated her ambition and believes that she deserves a title shot after beating Charlotte last week. Dana Brooke quips in saying that maybe Bayley and Sasha Banks have to fight over who gets to face Charlotte for the Women's Title. For which Charlotte tells Brooke that if she opened her mouth again tonight, she will 'slap the taste out of her mouth'.
Dana Brooke had enough by then and she slapped Charlotte! Hard! Like really, really hard. Mick Foley too had reached his limits and announced a Triple Threat Match next to determine who will face Charlotte at Clash of Champions!
Dana Brooke vs Sasha Banks vs Bayley (winner faces Charlotte at Clash Of Champions for the Women’s title)
The Triple Threat match kicked off with Dana Brooke sending Bayley out of the ring and taking the action to Sasha. She tried to dump her head first against the turnbuckle, only to have her attempt reversed by Sasha who unloads on her against the turnbuckles before slapping her and getting in an unsuccessful pin attempt.
Bayley came in meanwhile and sent out Sasha before taking the attack to Dana Brooke. She hits a couple of kneedrops off the ropes and attempts to pin Brooke, but it was unsuccessful again. Bayley locks in the arm wrench, which is reversed by Dana momentarily, but her mat skills were no match for Bayley, who asserted control over her in the middle of the ring.
Sasha came into the ring and worked together with Bayley to land a double arm drag on Dana Brooke to send her packing, out of the ring. They stared at each other, as RAW cut to a break. Charlotte was mouthing off on commentary, as RAW came back on which saw Dana Brooke having Bayley in a fireman's carry, but Sasha intervened and rolled Dana Brooke up for a near fall.
Sasha then got both Brooke and Bayley on the second and first ropes at the turnbuckle and hits a double knee, meant to take both of them out. Bayley rolled out but Dana Brooke bears the brunt of it. Dana Brooke recovered and went after Bayley. Bayley turned the momentum and got Brooke on the top rope looking to land a Superplex. Sasha got involved and hit a powerbomb-cum-superplex!
And Sasha went on to lock the Bank Statement on Dana Brooke, but Bayley made the save just in the nick of time as it looked like Brooke was going to tap (Michael Cole: Is Bayley going to tap? Is Bayley going to tap?)
Bayley landed the Belly to Bayley to Dana and attempted to pin her, but Sasha broke it up and bridged Bayley up for the pin. 1-2-3, and The Boss picked up the win. Sasha Banks will now face Charlotte for the Women's Title at Clash of Champions.
Sasha Banks def. Bayley and Dana Brooke. She’ll face Charlotte at Clash Of Champions for the title.
Bo Dallas vs Brandon Scott
Bo Dallas’s renewed push continued as he took on another local enhancement talent, Brandon Scott. The match kicked off with ‘let’s go jobber’ chants! And as expected Bo made short work of the jobber by finishing him off in under two minutes to pick up the win.
Bo Dallas def. Brandon Scott
A backstage segment followed featuring The Shining Stars and Enzo and Cass.:
Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel with Sami Zayn
After Kevin Owens couldn't make it to today’s Highlight Reel because of his match, Jericho revealed that KO’s former best friend, Sami Zayn, would be his guest tonight and that he would reveal the truth about Zayn in an exposé.
The legend of Y2J was there to be seen when Chris Jericho introduced Sami Zayn by lying down in the ring in reference to Zayn being at the bottom of the mountain. Zayn came out to a good reception and entered the ring while Y2J looked on. Y2J did a masterful job of pulling the fans behind Zayn by reminding them about the Ole chants and cut them off soon after in a classic heel move by calling him a ‘lowlife’
Zayn spoke with conviction and experience when he told Jericho that he’s just KO’s ‘bi***’ if he thinks he’s of himself as the Universal Champion’s best friend. A smug expression from Jericho said it all and the inevitable followed. Y2J hit Zayn with the Codebreaker and to initiate the feud with the ‘Underdog from the Underground’. The match was made official for Clash of Champions later on in the night. Whoever thought Zayn can’t cut a promo to save his life needs to watch this segment as Zayn was quite solid throughout.
Chris Jericho vs Sami Zayn announced for Clash Of Champions
Sheamus vs Cesaro (Match 5 in the Best Of Seven Series)
The 5th match in the Best Of Seven Series kicked off with Cesaro getting an early pinfall attempt with a clothesline. Cesaro was selling his bad back since the onset of the match and in spite of it, dominated in the early goings with an impactful uppercut and a Sharpshooter attempt.
Sheamus rolled his way out of the ring, but Cesaro took him down by running and jumping off the apron. He got Sheamus back in the ring for a 2-count as RAW went into a commercial break. Back from the break, Sheamus took control of the match. Cesaro created some separation while sitting on the top rope with some strikes and kicks. He took Sheamus down with a crossbody lateral press for a two-count.
The classic uppercuts landed on Sheamus’s face, but the Celtic Warrior reversed with a rolling senton followed by a Cloverleaf attempt. Cesaro reversed and connected with a cockscrew uppercut, followed by a sharpshooter. He transitioned smoothly into the Cesaro swing. Sheamus looked to recuperate and reply with an Irish Cross, but Cesaro fought out of it and rolled him up for the win.
Cesaro picked up his second win in the series making it 3-2 and continued his resurgent return.
After the match, Seth Rollins was seen going into Foley's office to confront the GM about his decision to give Reigns an opportunity at a spot in the Clash Of Champions title match.
Nia Jax vs Alicia Fox
Nia Jax faced off against Alicia Fox in a fallout of last week’s events that saw Fox snapping at Jax backstage. The match began with Fox’s ‘unpredictability’ taking Jax by surprise. It didn’t take long before Jax manhandled Fox. Jax rag dolled Fox into the barricade while bashing Fox’s crazy traits. She went on to spear Fox through the barricade that yielded a ‘holy sh**’ chant from the fans.
The referees came to attend on an unresponsive Fox as Jax walked out with the crowd appreciating the most intimidating woman on the roster. Jax came out looking like a complete beast here!
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs The Club
After the New Day pandered to the Baltimore fans followed by a short promo by The Club, the match kicked off Anderson and Gallows dominating Kofi Kingston. They took turns to wear Kingston with clotheslines, headlocks and kicks on the outside.
Kofi tried to fight back and go for the tag by jumping over Anderson, but he catches Kingston mid-air and delivered a sick spinebuster for a two-count. Anderson tagged Gallows in who continued with to kick the life out of Kofi before tagging Anderson in again. Anderson with a knee for another unsuccessful pinfall. Gallows tagged in, who scoop slammed Kingston, but Kingston took Gallows down and tagged Woods in.
Woods took both Gallows and Anderson down, after which, Woods and Anderson began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring with the fans cheering Woods on while booing Anderson. Woods got the upper hand and connected with a DDT for a near fall. Gallows and Anderson, though, got the better of Woods after taking Kingston out of the picture.
They connected with the Magic Killer to pick up the win and send a strong statement before their match against The New Day for the Tag team titles at Clash Of Champions.
The Club def. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods
Jinder Mahal vs Jack Swagger
Jinder Mahal came out for his match, but before it kicked off, the Indian Superstar cut a promo about his absence from the WWE for two years and all the soul searching that happened in the meantime. He said that he’d found inner peace and advocated ‘Shanti’ that stands for peace in Hindi.
The All-American Jack Swagger cut him off and got a good pop. Mahal cheap shots Swagger to begin the match before choking him against the ropes with his foot. The crowd, predictably, chant for USA as Mahal was dishing out all the early offense.
Swagger managed to create some separation by rolling out of the ring, and met an oncoming Mahal with an elbow before sending him into the ring again. Mahal got in a shot meanwhile, that sent Swagger to the mat, and tries to pin him twice, both times unsuccessfully.
Swagger recovered to hit a back body drop on Mahal before hitting him with a belly to belly as well. Mahal fought out of it and hits a pull-in Neckbreaker on Swagger. Cover! 1,2,3!
Jinder Mahal shockingly picked up the victory over Jack Swagger! Signs of a Mini push for the heel?
Jinder Mahal def. Jack Swagger
Enzo Amore vs Epico
As is the norm, Enzo and Cass come out to a great pop and after the customary promo work, the Shining Stars came out. Epico and Enzo kicked off the match with Epico dominating in the early goings with a vertical suplex followed by the punches and kicks to wear Enzo down.
Enzo got control with a tornado DDT and followed it up by going up to the top rope, but Primo got up to the apron to distract him. While Big Cass took Primo down with a kick, Epico took Cass down with a suicide dive. Enzo took it to the next level with a crossbody from the top rope on Epico. Back in the ring, Epico managed to get the pinfall with the help of Primo holding Enzo’s leg down, thus preventing a kick-out. Primo picked up the win and continued the streak of wins for the Shining Stars.
Epico def. Enzo Amore
The cameras cut to backstage where Seth Rollins stops Kevin Owens in his tracks before the main event between the Universal Champion and Roman Reigns. Kevin Owens cut one heck of a promo and it really spoke volumes of the man’s skill with the mic. Naturally, Mick Foley had to intervene before things got out of hand. Foley advised KO to move towards the ring for his match which was up next.
Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens
The main event of the night kicked off between Reigns and Owens after RAW returned from the commercial break. Reigns began the match in impressive fashion by taking the fight to Owens on the outside.
Back in the ring, Owens took the reigns of the match with a clothesline. The trash talk ensued and this fueled Reigns to fight back with some punches. Owens slithered out of the ring as he normally does, but Reigns followed him and took him down. He pushed him towards the barricade and unloaded with some strikes, Back in the ring, the momentum shifted in Owens’s favor after he attacked Reigns from the back.
It’s was the KO show from here on as he went on to slow down the pace of the match by wearing Reigns down with a chin lock. Meanwhile, Fight Owens Fight chants echoed around the arena. Reigns fought out of the lock and floored Owens with a back suplex side slam. Reigns rallied with a couple of stiff clotheslines before setting up a Superman punch.
Owens smartly got out of the way and shut Reigns down with a kick to the midriff and a subsequent collision into the ring post. Back from the break, Reigns fought out of the Owens chin lock and pushed Owens outside of the ring. Reigns charged towards Owens but lands shoulder first into the ring post.
Owens celebrated his dominance but it didn’t last long as Rollins came out and went on an all-out assault on KO. The ref called for the bell and Owens was adjudged the winner by DQ. Mick Foley came out and looked livid with Rollins. He told him that to head backstage and said that they need to have a talk after Rollins disobeys the GM’s orders. Foley went on to add that he couldn't let the match end the way it did and called for the referee to start the match again, much to the dismay of Owens.
We were underway once again as Reigns looked to capitalize on the situation. Back in the ring, Owens goes up to the top rope for a five-star-frog-splash after laying Reigns out. Reigns got up to stop KO from executing the splash. Owens, though, fought back and Reigns goes up top with him. Owens then went on to drop Reigns with the fisherman suplex from the second rope.
Owens smelled blood and he went up top again for the five-star frog splash. He got a near fall for it and tried to follow it up with a cannonball in the corner. Nobody home, as Reigns got up and after a sequence of counters, Reigns hit the Superman punch for a near fall.
A drive by Reigns was followed by a superkick and a cannon ball by KO inside the ring for yet another near fall. A roll-up by Reigns transitioned into a powerbomb for a very close pinfall that got the crowd on the edge of their seats yet again.
As Reigns was about to go for the spear, Rusev returned to distract Reigns and that was enough for Owens to capitalize on, who hit the pop-up powerbomb for the 3-count and the win. What a match!
After the match, Rusev laid out Reigns with a superkick as fans chanted for Rusev in unison as the Bulgarian Brute stood over a powerless Reigns to close out the show.
Kevin Owens def. Roman Reigns
