It was the go-home RAW before Payback. The show saw Braun Strowman in a dumpster match with Kalisto, among other things. Did The Miz get a measure of revenge on Dean Ambrose? Did Alexa Bliss stamp her authority ahead of her Women’s Championship match at Payback? Did things continue to get heated between Seth Rollins and Samoa Joe? Find out what happened on the latest edition of Monday Night RAW!
A recap was shown of Braun Strowman’s destruction of Roman Reigns, followed by last week’s events with Kalisto and The Big Show were shown.
The Highlight Reel gets cut short
Chris Jericho praised the crowd for being behind him and vowed to defeat Kevin Owens for the United States Championship at Payback. He began trash talking Kevin Owens and revealed that he was his own guest at the Highlight Reel.
The Miz interrupted and began his back and forth with Jericho. He said that RAW is all about the “It” couple. He said that the Highlight Reel was cancelled and going to be replaced by Miz TV. The ring crew then began changing up the setting to make it Miz TV.
Dean Ambrose then came out, and agreed that Miz is a “Stupid idiot”. He replaced the set and replaced MIZ TV with The Ambrose Asylum.He began talking about his “checkered past” with Chris Jericho, and Ambrose gifted him with a new jacket. The Miz tried to interrupt but was hijacked by the crowd.
The Miz proclaimed that he was the one who should have been getting gifts, and Ambrose said he had one, hitting him with the Dirty Deeds. Chris Jericho then put Maryse on the list.
Matt Hardy vs Sheamus
The match was promoted as a “must-win” for Sheamus. A hard-hitting match saw Sheamus dominate in the early part of the match. Matt Hardy once again teased the Broken character with a Delete gesture. As Matt was ready to finish with the Twist Of Fate, Sheamus countered with a knee from Sheamus.
Matt fell outside the ring, and the action briefly went outside. Jeff had a verbal confrontation with Sheamus, and Cesaro pulled him down. The distraction saw Matt Hardy hit the twist of fate to win the match.
After the match, the two teams reluctantly shook hands.
Matt Hardy defeated Sheamus
Backstage, Kurt Angle was talking on the phone about the dumpster match between Kalisto and Braun Strowman. The Miz & Maryse got in and seemed outraged at what happened earlier that night. Kurt Angle wasn’t amused and set a match for later in the night that would see Miz take on both Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho.
The Miz stormed out while Maryse insulted him in French.
Neville & TJ Perkins vs Gentleman Jack Gallagher & Austin Aries
Before the bell even rang, the two teams got into a brawl. The babyfaces cleared the ring and stood on the second turnbuckles while Neville & TJP were outside.
After the commercial break, the match had started. TJ Perkins was in action with Neville. After sending TJ Perkins into Neville, he tagged Austin Aries in, and A-double cleared the ring. He nearly submitted TJ Perkins with the last chancery, but it was broken by Neville.
After Gallagher cleared Neville from the ring, Aries hit the discus five-arm on TJP for the win.
Gentleman Jack Gallagher & Austin Aries defeated Neville & TJ Perkins
Braun Strowman vs Kalisto – Dumpster match
Before the match, Strowman cut a promo on the crowd calling the crowd garbage and warned Roman Reigns. Backstage, Kurt Angle was trying to ensure Kalisto wanted to go through with the match. Kalisto said that he’s not trash, and wanted to fight for his pride.
The match started with Kalisto giving low kicks to Strowman. Strowman then manhandled him, and Kalisto continued to use flashy offence to Strowman but was eventually caught and flung high onto the ground. The match seemed to be have been coming to an end, but Kalisto countered and was very close to getting Strowman into the dumpster.
Strowman then flung Kalisto into the ring again and pounded his chest. The Monster Among Men was about to win, but Kalisto once again escaped, drop kicked Strowman into the dumpster. An outraged Strowman then began to decimate Kalisto.
Kalisto defeated Braun Strowman
Strowman then threw Kalisto into the dumpster and closed it. He pushed the dumpster towards the entrance ramp. He sealed the dumpster and was getting ready to push it down. He pushed it down and it toppled.
Long after the match, Kalisto was being placed on a stretcher.
Bray Wyatt cut a promo in the back about Randy Orton.
Dana Brooke vs Alicia Fox
Emma came out during the match. Dana Brooke defeated Alicia Fox with a Michinoku driver.
Dana Brooke defeated Alicia Fox
After the match, Emma came in and hugged Dana Brooke.
Backstage, Charly interviewed Samoa Joe and Gallows & Anderson who were set to face Seth Rollins and Enzo & Cass. They talked about their plan. Samoa Joe vowed to destroy Seth Rollins and ensure he didn’t even make it to Payback.
Seth Rollins, Big Cass, & Finn Balor vs Samoa Joe and Gallows & Anderson
After Enzo & Cass came out, they were quickly taken out by Gallows & Anderson. They hit the Magic Killer on Enzo outside the ring. Rollins came out for the save. He got into a brawl with Samoa Joe, but Gallows & Anderson ensured it became a beat down.
Big Cass came back in and levelled things. After the commercial break, Kurt Angle announced Finn Balor as the mystery partner. The match started off in a brawl, and the commentators made sure to acknowledged Finn Balor’s history with The Club, and even his history in NXT with Samoa Joe.
Finn Balor was weakened down but made the tag to Rollins, who cleared the ring. Big Cass drove Gallows outside the ring. Balor dropkicked Samoa Joe outside the ring, and Rollins finished Karl Anderson with his new finisher for the win.
Seth Rollins, Big Cass, & Finn Balor defeated Samoa Joe and Gallows & Anderson
Backstage, Finn Balor was looking for a partner, and Cesaro & Sheamus rejected his offer.
Alexa Bliss confronts the champion
Alexa Bliss came out and mocked Bayley and her promo about her dream. Bayley didn’t take long to come out and cut her usual promo about working hard to achieve her dream. Alexa realised that Payback was in her hometown, and continued to mock her.
Alexa vowed to take the RAW Women’s Championship from her. Sasha Banks came out, and before she said anything Alexa began taking jabs at them both. Sasha Banks trashed Alexa Bliss and backed Bayley to win at Payback. She also vowed to shut Alexa up.
As Alexa was storming away from the ring, Sasha Banks caught her and struck her. A match was announced between the two as next.
Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks
There was a lot of back and forth in the match, but Alexa Bliss walked out and let Sasha get a count out victory
Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss by count out
After the match, Bayley caught Alexa before she left. Alexa ran away and attacked Bayley from behind. Sasha came for the save and Alexa once again ran away.
Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose had a back and forth, and Jericho removed Ambrose from the list. After Ambrose was hyped up, he was shoving Jericho, and as he left, Jericho re-entered him into the list.
Charly interviewed Heath Slater & Curtis Axel to promote Marine 5. Miz came in and tried to recruit a tag partner. Both of them refused to tag with him. He got a letter and said that he finally got a good tag team partner.
Curt Hawkins vs Apollo Crews
Curt Hawkins got some offence in against Apollo Crews. However, Apollo Crews came back and hit a sit out powerbomb for the win.
Apollo Crews defeated Curt Hawkins
After the match, Titus O’ Neil congratulated Apollo Crews in the ring.
Kalisto was reportedly suffering from hip and cervical trauma(kayfabe).
A video package taking an inside look into the rivalry between Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns was shown.
Austin Aries was talking to Kurt Angle backstage about the main event on 205 Live “with a twist”. The Drifter Elias Samson was drifting behind. Kurt Angle assumed at first that drifter was his partner, but Miz said that he didn’t even know who he was.
Dean Ambrose & Chris Jericho vs The Miz
The Miz tried to announce his partner, but no one came out. Kurt Angle then came out and said that The Miz was having a match, whether he had a partner or not.
After the break, the match had started and The Miz was having it handed to him, but used his trickery to get the better of Ambrose. Once Ambrose tagged Jericho in, the momentum fell back on the babyfaces. The Miz tried to escape, but Ambrose ensured that didn’t happen.
As he was on the commentator’s table, Bray Wyatt made an unexpected appearance. This was his first proper appearance on RAW since July 2016.He hit a half-Sister Abigail on Ambrose near the ramp. Back inside the ring, he hit the Sister Abigail on Jericho. After the match, Miz was appreciating Bray Wyatt and patting his back, Bray hit him with the Sister Abigail as well.
