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A steel cage main event, Jeff Hardy's first IC title match in over 10 years, the build-up for John Cena vs. Roman Reigns and other promising storyline developments -- RAW looked stacked on paper.
Thankfully, WWE didn't disappoint and put together a well-structured 3-hour program. So without further adieu, below are the results and video highlights:
Jason Jordan vs. John Cena
WWE took us all by surprise with an unexpected offering in the form of a Jordan-Cena match. The backstory is that today marked the day Cena made his infamous debut against Kurt Angle on a SmackDown episode, exactly 15 years back.
Cena was first to come out followed by Kurt Angle's 'son, Jason Jordan. This was inarguably the biggest match of Jordan's career so far and the commentators highlighted that very fact.
Jordan took Cena down and looked to keep his grounded as Cena tried to create some separation. The back and forth beginning saw Cena take Jordan down with a snap mare only to see him come back strongly with a hold. Cena took control of the match with a fireman's carry slam followed by a two-count.
Cena got in a clothesline in the corner and attempted another pinfall as RAW went into a commercial break.
The crowd was hot as they chanted 'Let's go, Cena, Cena sucks" in all its glory. He stunned Jordan with a Five Knuckle Shuffle and trapped him in an STF. In what popped the fans in attendance, Jordan brilliantly reversed the submission hold into his own version of the STF.
Cena took it one step further by deadlifting Jordan and looked to slam him into the mat with the AA. Jordan, though, countered with an epic Northern Lights Suplex and got a really close fall. That was REALLY CLOSE!
Jordan smelt blood and conscouted Cena for the Spear in the corner. Cena, however, caught him and delivered the AA! 1-2-3! Big match John did it again. A solid way to open this week's RAW.
John Cena def. Jason Jordan
Roman Reigns and John Cena engage in another promo war
Roman Reigns' music hit soon after the match and out came the Big Dog to confront his No Mercy opponent.
The two men stood in the ring and took to the mic to continue the no-holds barred war of words that has gotten the entire wrestling fraternity talking. Reigns accused Cena of being well past his prime and ribbed him for being unable to beat a rookie in 20 mins. He branded Cena as a 'lying little fake a** b****'.
Cena didn't look amused as he expressed his disgust over He mocked Reigns' thinking and said that Roman's zipper was open and that he couldn't find the Big Dog's balls.
Cena told Roman that he is all set to lose to a 'has-been' at No Mercy. "A conceited golden boy who needs a lesson in respect" is what Cena brandished Reigns to be. Cena revealed how much he respected the likes of Jordan, Gable and even his arch-rival The Miz, who despite all hate, has worked really hard to get to where he is.
Reigns reciprocated that saying he didn't respect Cena before dropping the mic. Cena was at his absolute best here but Reigns played his part to the tee.
Sheamus &Cesaro vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno
The current RAW Tag Champs, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins joined the RAW commentary desk for this match.
The extremely short match didn't have much for the former SmackDown Tag Team Champions apart from the only piece of offence from Rhyno.
A distraction from Cesaro helped Sheamus to connect the Brogue Kick on Rhyno for the three-count. This was all done to make Cesaro and Sheamus looked strong before their rematch against Ambrose and Rollins before No Mercy.
Result: Sheamus and Cesaro def. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz (Intercontinental Championship Match)
Was Hardy on course to become a 5-time IC Champion or was Miz all set to continue on his path to becoming one of the greatest IC Champs of all time? Here
Here's an interesting fact as pointed out by Michael Cole himself: Jeff won his last IC title yesterday ten years ago and could do it again tonight. It was a big match feel as both men made their respective entrances.
The match began with Jeff taking Miz by surprise with his explosive high-risk style. Miz was on top of the proceedings as RAW returned from a commercial break. The match started off slowly and but gradually picked up the pace.
Matt Hardy, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas were sent to the locker room after the trio engaged at ringside after Axel knocked Jeff off the rope when the referee was blindsided.
The final 5 minutes of the showcased the solid chemistry between the two as there were some really good sequences. Jeff hit an innovative leg drop in a way that locked Miz' feet into and forced a pinfall.
Miz regained control of the match with a kick to Jeff 's face followed by the IT kicks. Jeff survived a major scare when he was almost forced to tap out to the Figure four leg lock.
The action spilled to the outside and Jeff used his environment to his advantage by using the steel steps as a launch pad to connect with the Poetry In Motion on Miz in the barricade.
He put Miz back in the ring and went to the top rope for the Swanton Bomb. Maryse played an important role here as she did something that forced Miz to move away at the right time. Jeff came crashing down and within seconds, found himself at the receiving end of the Skull Crushing Finale! 1-2-3!
The A-Lister notched up a big win against the Charismatic Enigma in an entertaining title match.
Results: The Miz retained against Jeff Hardy
Enzo Amore, Gran Metalik and Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Neese, Noam Dar, and Drew Gulak
Enzo Amore did for 205 Live that we never thought would ever happen -- get a pop. Amore's mic skills have certainly helped the Cruiserweights get some sort of an attention.
The Bonafide G introduced his tag team partners for the night and the six-man tag team match got underway. As expected, Amore was protected all through the match and was brought in just to take punishment.
After taking a healthy beatdown at the hands of the heels, Amore finally made the got tag to Alexander. Cedric came in hot and took Neese out with an epic spinning back elbow. He followed it up with an absolutely surreal springboard enziguiri. Metalik gets into the action with a missile drop kick from the top rope.
Cedric and Metalik worked in tandem and took both Dar and Neese out two perfectly timed moonsaults. Enzo had made the tag and came in to finish off the job for his team. A thumb to the eye and a new finisher from Enzo gave the faces a win.
Result: Enzo Amore, Cedric Alexander, and Gran Metalik def. Tony Neese, Noam Dar, and Drew Gulak
Finn Balor and Bray Wyatt to meet once again at No Mercy
The Demon was out first and accused Bray Wyatt of being the reason why lost out on the opportunity to face the Miz.
Balor pointed out the fact that someone like Wyatt has never really beaten him and that he was prepared for all kinds of surprises. He dropped, what probably may be his best line tille date by stating that he didn't run from his demons and eventually became one himself.
No prizes for guessing what happened next! Yes, Bray appeared on the Titantron and cut yet another cryptic promo. It was the same old same old from Bray as he spoke something about being the jury and executioner and what not. Summing it up briefly, Wyatt wanted Balor at No Mercy.
Bray smartly claimed that Finn was not victorious at SummerSlam, but the Demon.
The segment concluded with an apparent confirmation of the rematch at No Mercy, possibly the final bout in the lazily booked feud.
Sasha Banks & Alexa Bliss vs. Emma and Nia Jax (If Emma and Jax win, they get added to the Women's title match at No Mercy, making it a Fatal 4-Way encounter)
Banks and Bliss were forced to put their real life differences aside to team up and face the unlikely partnership of Jax and Emma.
Emma surprisingly debuted a new theme song as the Australian looked to insert herself in the RAW Women's title picture.
Sasha and Nia began the match with Jax slamming Sasha and tagging Emma in. Emma kept up the pressure on Sasha with a bunch of pinning combinations and a stiff clothesline.
Alexa was tagged in next as she looked to be working well with Sasha as the two faces exchanged tags. Sasha connected with the running double knees on Emma and she began working on her shoulders
Alexa came in and went up to the to the top rope for the Twisted Bliss. Bliss, though, survived and tagged Nia Jax. Alexa audaciously slapped Jax in her chest that infuriated the towering monster.
Nia unleashed her rage on the champ with a clothesline and a Samoan Drop. The Boss was forced to enter and save the match for her team. Sasha finally got the hot tag.
She came in with a lot of momentum and stunned Nia Jax with a Shining Wizard. Nia answered with her Leg Drop. Emma took advantage of the opportunity, tagged herself in, and pinned Sasha for the three-count! Jax was not too pleased with her partner as she laid Emma out with the Samoan Drop after the match.
Result: Nia Jax and Emma def. Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks
On a side note, the RAW Women's title match for No Mercy is now Fatal-4-Way match.
Meanwhile, Braun Strowman sent a chilling warning to Brock Lesnar in a backstage interview with Renee Young.
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins vs. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (Non-Title Match)
Sheamus and Cesaro were at ringside for this match.
Ambrose connected with a spinning elbow right from the gate on Anderson from the middle rope. Rollins and Gallows get tagged in, however, Gallows' pace forces Rollins to tag the Lunatic Fringe in again. Ambrose and Rollins double-team Gallows to gain an early advantage in the match.
Rollins got into his element after the commercial break as he came in hot! He took Anderson down and took him down with a running blockbuster. Ambrose got in on the action with a suicide dive on Gallows. Rollins wasn't too far behind as he stunned Anderson with a Hurricanerana on the outside.
Gallows dominated Ambrose after the break and floored him with the Baldo Bomb. He made the tag to Anderson. Three knees to Ambrose and being in a painful submission hold, The Lunatic Fringe was in a bad spot here. Anderson shut Ambrose's attempts of a comeback and tagged Gallows in yet again.
Ambrose looked to suplex Gallows from the top rope. Ambrose looked to create some separation but Gallows went for the Baldo Bomb again. Ambrose revered and made the hot tag. So did Gallows.
Sheamus and Cesaro couldn't hold back anymore and tried to interfere in the match. It didn't go as planned as Rollins took advantage of the chaos and rolled up Anderson for the win.
Result: Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins def. The Club
Braun Strowman vs. Big Show (Steel Cage Match)
The two giants met again and this time it was inside the confines of a steel cage. It was the Monster Among Men' first steel cage match whereas Show had made his WWE debut by interfering in a steel cage match years ago.
Strowman took control of the match with a false start as he trapped Show between the ropes and the cage. Show got some reprieve as he knocked Strowman down with a mean right.
Back from the commercial break, Show continued to manhandle Strowman. He sent Strowman face first into the steel cage on three different occasions. He taunted Strowman by asking him how the taste of the steel felt like.
Show began his ascent and looked to escape from the cage, much to the surprise of Corey Graves. He could have used the door too!
AnywayStrowman disrupted Show's flow and sent him crotch first into the top rope. Strowman, though, couldn't keep up the pressure and got laid out.
What Big Show did next brought the fans to their feet! The Worlds Largest Athlete went up to the top rope and executed a MASSIVE elbow drop on Strowman. The elevation he got was truly an awe-inspiring spectacle. He could ever cut into 205 Live, or 405 Live as Michael Cole joked.
Show attempted to escape from the door but Strowman stopped him at the right time by slamming the door in his head. Instant karma hit Strowman as Show slammed the door in his face.
Show had the KO Punch in mind but Strowman had him covered and looked for the Running Powerslam. Strowman stopped another escape attempt and used the cage to inflict more damage on Show.
Strowman laid Show out with a Superplex! Tha ring didn't give away his time! The reinforcements worked. Strowman finished off the job with a Running Powerslam.
Tremendous main event and one of the greatest big man matches of all time. Show still has it while Strowman just gave us another reason why he should be given the Universal title.
Result: Braun Strowman def. Big Show
The Monster Among Men was not done as he sent out another warning to the Beast Incarnate by using Show's carcass as an example. The show ended with Strowman power slamming Show through the cage, shattering the structure and almost killing the legendary giant in the process.
Holy crap! That.Was.Insane!
