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Monday Night RAW had an interesting go-home show to Backlash. See what happened on WWE's red brand this week!
Roman Reigns addresses the Universal Championship controversy
Monday night RAW kicked off with the appearance of Roman Reigns who was there to complain about the controversial end to his match with Brock Lesnar at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Samoa Joe showed up on the Titantron to remind us of his match with Reigns at Backlash and Jinder walked out right after to challenge Reigns to a match that night. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens appeared shortly after, demanding their own matches with Reigns who, after some taunting, attacked KO. KO, Zayn and Mahal attacked Reigns.
Bobby Lashley came out to make the save, followed by Braun Strowman. Team Reigns steamrolled the opposing team and sent them packing. The main event was announced and it would be a 6-Man Tag Team match between the teams of Reigns, Strowman & Lashley vs. KO, Zayn & Mahal.
#1 Bobby Roode vs. Elias
Roode interrupted Elias' concert and we headed off into the first match of the night. Elias and Roode traded submissions early on and Roode hit Elias with a huge dropkick followed by a blockbuster. Elias caught Bobby with a huge slam and then a heel kick but missed to get a pinfall as we headed into commercials.
Roode looked to be in trouble after a very long submission move by Elias but Roode hit Elias with a spine buster and then a flying clothesline. Roode was sent crashing into the ring post and looked to be injured from a previous kick to the throat and the medical team came to his aid as Elias grabbed the announcers mic and announced his own victory as the match ended.
Elias def. Bobby Roode
#2 Authors of Pain vs Jean-Paul and Francois
The Authors of Pain took on the team of local Superstars, Jean-Paul and Francois in tag team action. Rezar took Francois down with a massive boot as Jean-Paul tagged himself in. Rezar took Jean-Paul down as well and tagged in Akam. They hit the Super Collider before hitting Jean-Paul with the Last Chapter and getting the three count.
Authors of Pain vs Jean-Paul and Francois
Seth Rollins gets an offer...and a statement
Seth Rollins showed up next, to recall how well he defended his Intercontinental Championship. The crowd broke into a massive "Let's go Rollins" chant and Rollins replied in French sending the fans into wild applause. Finn Balor's music hit and the Irishman introduced himself in French and then challenged Rollins to a title match.
Rollins reminded us that he is a fighting champion and accepts the match for the same night but The Miz's music hit and the Miztourage made their entrance. The duo's advice to Rollins and Balor was to team up together along with themselves but get a negative reaction from both Superstars.
The Miztourage chose to attack Finn and Seth who fought them back and sent them on their way. Finn attacked Rollins right after to remind him of the threat he would face that night.
#3 Ruby Riott vs. Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks had her eyes on the rest of the Riott Squad as she squared up with Ruby Riott. Riott started off strong but Sasha hit her with a nasty forearm followed by an arm drag. Sasha was in control and the RIott Squad looked concerned as Sasha took Ruby down with the running double knees. Riott tried to go for the ropes but Sasha was relentless but Riott dumped Sasha out of the ring. Banks clocked Sarah Logan with a right hand and hits Ruby Riott with the basement dropkick as we headed to commercials.
We returned to see Sasha in a submission before taking a dropkick but kicked out at two. Sasha caught a big kick followed by a middle rope senton but it was only a near fall. Sasha caught Ruby on the apron with two big knees to head before taking out the rest of Riott Squad. Ruby took the opportunity to hit Banks with a Riott kick and got the victory.
Ruby Riott def. Sasha Banks
Alexa Bliss showed up in a video package during commercials to talk about how Nia bullied her before teasing her match with Jax at Backlash.
Titus O' Neil was backstage with Renee to explain his 'sliding' incident at the Greatest Royal Rumble with was one of the most talked about moments from the show. He said very few people get the chance to fall in front of thousands of people and that the important thing is to always get back up.
Baron Corbin interrupted and proceeded to ruin Titus' moment saying that he should not have fallen in the first place.
Matt Hardy showed up onscreen for a small video package with Bray Wyatt before we headed into the commercial break.
#4 Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Jinder Mahal vs Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley - 6-Man Tag Team Match
Reigns kicked the match off against Sami Zayn before Zayn was sent flying out of the ring. Reigns took out KO and Zayn who were conveniently lined up for a dropkick as we headed into commercials. Jinder was in the ring as we returned and Lashley was tagged in by Roman.
Sami was the legal man and tried to hit a suplex on Lashley but failed. Sami countered a vertical suplex from Lashley and tagged in KO who then tagged in Jinder and they double-teamed Lashley before KO caught Lashley in a chin-lock.
After the commercials, KO took a Superman punch and Jinder, Samoan drop from Reigns before he tagged in Braun. Strowman obliterated the opposing team and caught KO in a running powerslam before getting the three count.
Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley def. Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Jinder Mahal
#5 No Way Jose vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin was in control of the match as he kept the pressure on No Way Jose and looked set to be in a position to win when Titus O' Neil's music hit.
Titus made his way down to the ring and slipped on the apron while entering the ring, distracting Corbin who was rolled up by No Way Jose. Jose got the three count and won the match with the help of Titus Worldwide, who the presenters jokingly called Titus Worldslide.
No Way Jose vs. Baron Corbin
#6 Mickie James vs. Natalya
Mickie looked to be injured from last week's encounter with Rousey but still managed to get some hits in early, smashing Natalya's face into the turnbuckle. Mickie was almost caught in a sharpshooter but Alexa interfered. Rousey chased Bliss round the ring a couple of times while Mickie caught a distracted Natalya in a roll up and got a three count. Alexa was about to head backstage when Nia Jax appeared and chased Bliss who escaped into the crowd.
Natalya defeated Mickie James
#7 Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor - Intercontinental Championship Match
Finn was thrown outside early and Seth hit him with a suicide dive as we headed into commercials. Finn took a few big moves from Seth including a springboard clothesline followed by another suicide dive. Balor took control with a DDT but failed to get the three count.
Seth took a big dropkick and Finn followed up with an elbow to the midsection. Rollins and Balor traded big moves before Finn slowed things down with a double stomp. Finn went for the Coupe de Grace but Seth caught him in a superplex and then another suplex but failed to get the pin.
Rollins reversed the 1916 and they traded Pele kicks before Seth went outside and Balor hit him with a suicide dive. Rollins dodged the Coupe de Grace but took a slingblade. Rollins recovered and hit a curb stomp on Finn to get the three count and retain his IC Championship.
Seth Rollins (c) def. Finn Balor and retained the Intercontinental Championship
