Raw took place in Brooklyn, NY this week and with just 2 weeks to go till WrestleMania 33, the show heated up early. However, did RAW actualy live up to the hype as we edge closer to ‘Mania? Read on to find out.
Mick Foley addresses the WWE Universe
RAW kicks off with GM Mick Foley. Foley came out with what looked like a statement of resignation as he thanked Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for the “opportunity of a lifetime”. Foley added that with less than two weeks to go for WrestleMania, he wanted people to talk about ‘Mania and not about the situation between him and Stephanie.
Foley then finished his statement by saying that he was taking a leave of absence. Foley then tore his index cards and said that Triple H had handed him the index cards moments before he came out. As Foley’s mic got cut, Stephanie McMahon made her way down to the ring.
Stephanie said that the reason that he’d been given index cards was because he screwed everything up, even a simple resignation. Stephanie then fired Mick Foley from his position as RAW GM.
Sami Zayn’s music hit and he came out and told Stephanie that what she was doing to Mick Foley was wrong. Sami then added that Foley had shown more integrity in his 9 months as GM than she had in her entire life. Stephanie’s reply was that Sami wasn’t on the level to speak to Stephanie at all, nevermind in this fashion. Stephanie then told Sami to head to the back and think of how to make this up to her.
Sami’s reply was that he was about doing the right thing and not the smart thing. Samoa Joe’s music hit as Stephanie announced that Sami’s mouth had got him in trouble once again before announcing that Sami would be facing Joe next. As Joe came down to ringside, Sami blindsided him with a Tope Con Heilo as we cut to commercial.
Sami Zayn vs Samoa Joe
We came back from commercial to see that the match had already begun. Joe was in complete control in the opening stages. He hit Zayn with a range of strikes followed by an elbow drop before Zayn hit back with a dropkick but it couldn’t get Joe off his feet. Joe hit back with a snap powerslam followed by a cover for the 2-count.
Joe then tossed Zayn into the turnbuckle. He then hit a couple of stiff strikes before attempting to lift Zayn for the Muscle Buster. Unable to hit it, Joe hits Zayn with an enzeguiri. As Zayn fell to ringside, Joe hit a suicide dive to wipe Zayn out as we headed for the break.
Joe was still in control when we came back from commercial as he had Zayn in a bow and arrow lock. Joe then whipped Zayn back into the turnbuckle before hitting another enzeguiri as Zayn rolled out to ringside. Joe followed him out and sent him crashing into the ring-post before driving him into the barrier.
Zayn just beat the referee’s 10 count before he made his way back into the ring. Zayn hit back with a clothesline before catching Joe with elbow strikes followed by a lateral press for an unsuccessful pinning attempt. Joe rolled out of the ring and pulled Zayn out with him. Now it was Zayn’s turn to send Joe crashing into the ring post. Zayn followed it up with his trademark DDT trough the turnbuckle.
Joe just managed to get in before the 10-count as Zayn looked to hit the Helluva Kick. Joe countered and caught Zayn and hit the Uranage Slam, planting Zayn on the mat. Joe then locked in the Coquina Clutch as Zayn was forced to tap out.
Samoa Joe def. Sami Zayn
We came back from the commercial to see Mick Foley saying his goodbyes to Sami Zayn. Foley then proceeded to say goodbye to Cesaro and Sheamus, a tag-team he put together. He then said goodbye to a few of the cruiserweights and Bayley before coming face to face with Triple H who only said “Have a nice day” as Foley headed for the exit.
We are joined by Kevin Wilk, the man who is assisting Rollins with his rehab. He said that Seth's rehab was going well and called him the most driven athlete he had seen. He then added that he didn't believe that Seth could fight for another few months. He then finished off by saying that if Seth did wrestle at ‘Mania, then he could be in physical rehab again soon after.
Charlotte vs Dana Brooke
Dana started off the match strong hitting Charlotte with an early belly-to-back suplex. She followed it up with multiple right hands before starting to work on Charlotte’s arm. Charlotte had to roll out of the ring and regroup after Dana’s opening salvo.
Charlotte got back on the apron and hit Dana with a shoulder but Dana replied by sweeping Charlotte off her feet. Dana rolled Charlotte back in before hitting her with a running clothesline for a 2-count. Charlotte looked like she was in trouble for a second before she hit back with elbow strikes. Dana hit back with a boot, only for Charlotte to nail her with a big boot out of nowhere to pin Dana Brooke.
Charlotte def. Dana Brooke
The Highlight Reel with the ‘real’ Kevin Owens
Chris Jericho came out to a huge pop from the Brooklyn audience, saying that he had no need for Owens as a best friend because he had many other friends in Brooklyn. Jericho then proceeded to show the fans who the ‘real’ Kevin Owens was.
Jericho then showed the world a picture of Owens from back in the day, showing Owens posing in a Jericho t-shirt with a poster of Jericho behind him on one side and a poster of Sunny on the other. Jericho then went on to show fans a Twitter conversation the two had right after Owens had been signed by WWE.
Jericho then said that he wasn’t Owens’ equal, he was Owens’ hero and idol. Y2J then went on to say that when his music hit at WrestleMania, Owens would finally realise what he’d gotten himself into, a match with his hero and idol.
Jericho was about to finish his promo off by adding Kevin Owens to the list when he noticed Samoa Joe coming out. As Jericho was distracted by Joe, Kevin Owens blindsided him and hit him with a Pop-Up Powerbomb. Owens then proceeded to destroy the list.
TJ Perkins vs Brian Kendrick
TJP started off at an incredible pace after Kendrick refused the pre-match handshake. Perkins hit him with a jumping spin kick before hitting a crossbody that knocked Kendrick out of the ring. Perkins followed it up with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick before looking to hit a Detonation Kick.
Perkins then got knocked into the referee and Brian Kendrick took advantage and hit him with the Sliced Bread #2 to pick up an early win.
Brian Kendrick def. TJ Perkins
Kendrick took to the mic after the ring to teach Akira Tozawa lesson #7 – to ever leave his passport lying around – as Kendrick showed us Tozawa’s passport, which Kendrick had found on the locked room floor.
We got a backstage segment with Charli Caruso interviewing Roman Reigns. Reigns said that the only way he pictured the Undertaker was ‘Taker lying flat on his back after being pinned.
This was followed by a backstage segment with Cesaro, Sheamus and Stephanie. Stephanie announced that Cesaro and Sheamus would be in a 4-on-2 handicap match later against Gallows & Anderson and Enzo & Cass.
If Cesaro and Sheamus won, they’d be out of the tag title match at ‘Mania.
Bayley vs Nia Jax (No DQ Match)
As announced earlier in the night, if Nia Jax won this match, she’d get added to the RAW Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 33.
Nia was totally dominant in the opening stages as she drove Bayley out of the ring. Bayley tried to fight back but Nia caught her mid-hurracanrana and drove her face-first into the mat.
When we returned from commercial, Jax was still in complete control and hell bent on punishing Bayley as she dropped elbow after elbow on Bayley, who still fought on. Jax then locked in a sleeper hold as Bayley desperately tried to fight back. Bayley broke out of the sleeper and slapped Nia Jax across the face.
An incensed Nia Jax drove Bayley out of the ring and tossed her into the barricade by the hair, completely ragdolling her. Jax then looked to bring in a steel chair but Bayley kicked it away. Bayley then hit Jax with a headbutt followed by a single running knee.
The Hugster followed it up with running elbows to Jax’s back before hitting a crossbody from the top rope. Bayley then headed to the middle but Nia swept her feet out from under her, sending the back of Bayley’s head right into the turnbuckle. Jax then hit a thunderous Samoan Drop to pin Bayley.
Nia Jax def. Bayley
Jax will now be added to the RAW Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania.
Michael Cole interviews Triple H
Triple H started off by saying he was disappointed because wanted to fight Seth Rollins really badly. He added that it was a shame that Rollins was injured for ‘Mania two years in a row. The customary “CM Punk” chants started to break out as ‘The Game’ berated Rollins for being on the fans side.
Hunter then added that he never needed the fans’ support unlike Mick Foley. Triple H then added that the fans had ruined Foley’s life. He blamed the fans for Foley’s numerous injuries over the years. Triple H then recalled the events from last week’s RAW when he beat down a returning Seth Rollins.
After the footage, Triple H blamed the fans for the beating he dished out to Rollins. Cole then asked Triple H if he would do anything different with Seth Rollins if he could do it all over again. Triple H replied that he gave Seth the blueprint and he made things too easy for Seth Rollins.
Triple H then announced that he was officially done with Seth Rollins before he handed Michael Cole a couple of WrestleMania tickets to hand to Seth Rollins.
Triple H then took the tickets back and asked Seth Rollins to sign a contract next week on RAW for a non-sanctioned match at WrestleMania 33.
Cesaro and Sheamus vs Enzo & Cass and Gallows & Anderson
This match was a total disaster, booking-wise. After Enzo and Cass cut into their opponents and their partners for the night. This led Gallows and Anderson to attacker Enzo and Cass.
This led to Cesaro and Sheamus isolating Karl Anderson. Sheamus hit him with a Brogue Kick and pinned him.
Cesaro and Sheamus def. Enzo & Cass and Gallows & Anderson
Enzo and Cass laid out Gallows after the match before hitting Anderson with the Air Enzo.
Austin Aries vs Tony Nese
Tony Nese charged at Aries and attacked him as soon as the bell rang. Aries soon cartwheeled out of Nese’s offence before hitting him round the ears. Nese hit back with a leg sweep and a bodyslam as he tried to take control.
Unfortunately for him, Aries dumped him over the top rope before hitting him with the Heat Seeking Missile as we headed for a commercial.
We came back from the break to see Nese back in control. Nese ran through Aries with a running back elbow before posing for the crowd. Nese then missed a moonsault before Aries hit Nese with a reverse neckbreaker on the middle rope. Aries followed it up with a Pendulum Elbow and a rolling senton. He then went to the top rope and hit a dropkick before finishing Tony Nese with the Discus Forearm (Fivearm, as Graves called it) for the win.
Austin Aries def. Tony Nese
Neville’s music hit after the match. Neville told Aries that he could easily come down to the ring and obliterate him. However, in Neville’s opinion, Aries wasn’t on his level and beating him at ‘Mania would be more satisfying.
Aries’ replied and told Neville that he looked like a man who knew he would step into the ring with a man who was above his level.
Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman received a huge pop from the fans in Brooklyn as he came out to face Roman Reigns.
Reigns started off well, dodging Strowman’s offence and hitting him with targetted strikes. Things started to go wrong for Roman when he went for the Drive By, only for Strowman to hit him with a massive clothesline. A stunned Roman was then sent crashing into the corner before the “Monster Amongst Men” locked in a vice-like grip on Roman’s throat.
Chants of “Let’s go Roman, Roman sucks” broke out as Reigns powered his way back into the match briefly. Reigns then went for a Samoan Drop but he just couldn’t get the big man up and Strowman hit back with a clothesline. Strowman looked to follow it up with a choke slam but Roman broke free and finally hit his Samoan Drop.
Strowman rolled out to ringside to recover and Roman finally hit the Drive By. However, this didn’t keep Strowman down for long as he sent Reigns crashing into the ring-post before picking up the steel steps and tossing it into the ring.
As Strowman picked up the steel steps, Reigns hit him with a Superman Punch. Reigns looked for a second Superman Punch but Strowman reversed it and looked to hit the running powerslam. Roman broke free and landed a second Superman Punch.
As Reigns lined up the Spear, the lights went out and the Undertaker appeared in the middle of the ring. Undertaker hit Braun Strowman with a chokeslam. When he turned around, Reigns cut him down with a vicious spear.
Match ends by DQ
As Reigns made his way back up the ramp, Undertaker sat back up and the two men started at each other.
