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The Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania is always one of the most hotly anticipated episodes of WWE's long-running weekly episodic show and this week's Monday Night Raw, live from New Orleans, certainly looked like no exception to that.
With Brock Lesnar still Universal Champion, Ronda Rousey winning her debut match and Braun Strowman winning the RAW Tag Team Titles with a kid called Nicholas at WrestleMania 34, this week's Monday Night Raw had a lot to live up to, and it delivered. My god did it deliver. So, so, so much happened.
Read Also: WrestleMania 34 2018 results
Here's a run-down of the results and a synopsis of the events of the huge post-'Mania Raw
Stephanie McMahon tries to settle her differences with Ronda Rousey
Stephanie McMahon entered the ring and began to say that she is responsible for Rousey getting over and bringing out the best in her, the crowd relentlessly chanted 'you tapped out' but she wasn't bothered.
Ronda came out and Stephanie told her she wants to make peace, she introduced Ronda as her friend and offered an olive branch in the form of a handshake which turned out to be a huge mistake because Ronda didn't seem ready to reconcile, locking Stephanie in another Arm Bar.
It's interesting to note that Ronda targeted Steph's already injured arm, ripping off the brace Stephanie had on and then damaging it further. It's possible we could see Stephanie being written off of television here. Especially as they seemed to go for an injury angle in the aftermath
Superstar shake-up announced
There's an advert for the Superstar Shakeup and WWE announce that Superstars from Raw and SmackDown Live will be swapping brands on both Raw and SmackDown Live next week
Nia Jax & Ember Moon vs Alexa Bliss & Mickie James
Nia Jax came out and got a huge pop, she got into the ring and immediately get 'you deserve it' chants. She looked genuinely thrilled.
Alexa Bliss and Mickie James interrupt and Bliss started immediately cutting a promo saying that Rousey, and now Nia Jax are the real bullies and that Nia enjoyed throwing her weight around. There's a weight joke made and then Alexa says she lost because she was in emotional distress at seeing Mickie get decimated by Nia at WrestleMania. The crowd hate Alexa.
Alexa then said it's no surprise Nia doesn't have a partner for the tag-team match that was about to happen. Nia told Alexa to shut up and then shuts her up by revealing she did have a partner, former NXT Women's Champion, Ember Moon.
Ember Moon dominated the match, starting by demolishing Mickie James and showing exactly why she was NXT Women's Champion.
The finish came when Moon, who looked a million dollars on her official main roster debut (if you don't count the Royal Rumble) hit Alexa Bliss with the Eclipse to put the 'Goddess' down.
Ember Moon & Nia Jax Def. Alexa Bliss & Mickie James
Braun Strowman and Nicholas relinquish the Tag Team Titles
We get an advert for the debut of No Way Jose coming up next, but first a backstage segment with Kurt Angle talking about Ember's debut and how there were debuts more to come.
He's interrupted by Braun Strowman and Nicholas. the new Raw Tag Team Champions. However, Strowman has some bad news, due to scheduling conflicts with Nicholas and school the pair will be relinquishing the titles.
No Way Jose debuts against John Skyler
We immediately jump into No Way Jose's entrance and boy does he bring the party to Monday Night Raw complete with fun music and a conga line. The fun vibe really gets over with the crowd.
No Way Jose is wrestling against an enhancement talent identified as John Skyler and makes short work of him with the Pop-Up Punch to join Ember Moon in winning on his debut match on the main roster. The party then returned as he made his exit.
Result: No Way Jose Def. John Skyler
#5. Kurt Angle announces Tag Team Tournament for vacant Tag Titles
The Bar confronted Kurt Angle backstage asking Angle to give them their titles back now that Strowman and Nicholas had given them up. Angle said he isn't going to just give them their titles back because they just lost to a ten-year-old at WrestleMania.
Angle announced that the Bar will wrestle against the winners of what he calls the Tag Team Eliminator at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia. He stated that four teams will compete in a tournament with the first match next.
The Revival Vs Gallows & Anderson - Tag Team Eliminator Qualifier
We return from the break to see the first match in Angle's Tag Team Eliminator already underway and it's The Club vs The Revival. Let me be the first to say that The Revival are great, as evidenced by this good old-fashioned Chop Block.
However, it doesn't take too long for The Revival's no-nonsense approach to wrestling to win the day when they hit the Shatter Machine to pick up the win and advance in the tournament to win a chance to compete for the Raw Tag Team Titles
Result: The Revival Def. Gallows & Anderson
Jeff Hardy returned to assist Seth Rollins and Finn Balor
Seth hits the ring and announces himself as the new Intercontinental Title winner, he says he proved that he was Seth Freakin' Rollins. He goes on to add that he has now caught up to Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns and is now Grand Slam Rollins, a Grand Slam Champion.
Finn Balor's music hits and he apologises for interrupting. He enters the ring and congratulates Rollins on his win. However, he then points out that it was a Triple Threat match and that Rollins pinned The Miz and not him. Balor then adds that he wants to be the first person to step up and challenge Rollins for the title.
The Miz then interrupted both men and told Seth Rollins he most definitely doesn't deserve it.The Miz then said that the only reason he didn't win is that he left the Miztourage behind and didn't use them to gain the advantage.
The Miz said he's turned over a new leaf because of the birth of his daughter, but when he lost the title it made Munroe cry, which made Maryse cry and that then made Miz himself cry. As a result, Miz is going to invoke his rematch clause. Rollins challenged Miz to invoke it tonight, but The Miz disagreed. It'll be invoked at Backlash.
The Miz then said that if Balor and Rollins are looking for a fight between the three of them, he and the Miztourage will take on Rollins and Balor later tonight. However, the crowd goes nuts as Jeff Hardy's music hits.
Hardy then joined Seth Rollins and Finn Balor in the ring, indicating that he is going to even the odds against Miz and the Miztourage making it a 3 vs 3 match for later on in Monday Night Raw.
Sasha Banks Vs Mandy Rose
It's Boss Time next as Sasha Banks is out to take on Mandy Rose from Absolution. But before the match could get started, Sasha Banks' on-off friend Bayley's music hit and she made her way to ringside to watch the match.
The story of the match is that Bayley and Sasha once again get in each other's way. Bayley found herself in an altercation with Mandy Rose and attempted to level her with a punch, but Mandy evaded it and Bayley ended up accidentally hitting Sasha. This then allowed Mandy to capitalise and pick up a win.
Result: Mandy Rose Def. Sasha Banks
Paige announces her retirement
Things take an incredibly sad turn as Paige took to the ring with a microphone to address the elephant in the room, her status as an active wrestler in the WWE. Paige then begins what is essentially a retirement speech as she announced that her in-ring career is over.
Paige thanked Daniel Bryan for giving her hope with his incredible comeback from a career-ending injury, and also thanked Edge for showing her that there's life outside of the WWE with his family and successful acting career.
Paige was incredibly emotional in the ring as the crowd chanted 'thank you Paige' and 'This is your house' and she could barely keep it together as she tried to continue talking. Paige said that four years ago she made her WWE debut in New Orleans, winning the Women's Title at New Orleans, and four years later she retires there.
Elias gets interrupted by an unlikely name
Elias is out and he said that at WrestleMania the Undertaker interrupted his performance, which everyone paid to see. Elias did his usual schtick and is incredibly over as always until he started singing.
BECAUSE BOBBY LASHLEY'S MUSIC HIT AND ... ahem. Bobby Lashley interrupted Elias' performance and made his way to the ring
'Welcome Back' chants greeted Bobby Lashley as he made his way into the ring. Elias clearly upset that Bobby Lashley had interrupted him tried to attack the returning Superstar, which was obviously a huge mistake
Welcome back, Bobby Lashley.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ask Kurt Angle for a job
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are backstage, interrupting another debut tease from Angle on the phone. Owens and Zayn ask Kurt Angle for a job, as both men are still fired from SmackDown Live.
Kurt Angle then genuinely says that he's heard that TNA are hiring and that he doesn't need a new Tag Team on Raw. Owens says he doesn't have to hire them both and then Angle offers them a proposition. He tells Owens and Zayn that he only has one spot and that they'll need to wrestle each other to see who fills it.
The Authors of Pain begin a new chapter
Heath Slater and Rhyno are in the ring. Slater tells the crowd he isn't angry that he and Rhyno aren't in Angle's Tag Team Eliminator even though they were the first ever SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions.
Slater then issued an open challenge to anyone in the back because they need to earn their spot. This was, in hindsight, a silly thing to do. Perhaps even sillier than Elias attacking Lashley.
Naturally the Authors of Pain squash Slater in seconds, but it's what happened after the match that was interesting. As the team are leaving Akam and Rezar stop and push Paul Ellering back. Have they just parted ways with their manager on their Raw debut?
Result: The Authors of Pain Def. Heath Slater and Rhyno
Roman Reigns is confronted by a returning Samoa Joe
Reigns hit the ring and cut what was a half-shoot promo about people whispering behind his back and something feeling off on the night of WrestleMania. He says he's here despite getting his ass kicked and Lesnar isn't.
He says Lesnar must be a great businessman because all of a sudden he has a new contract with WWE and there's a match going on in Saudi Arabia between them in a steel cage that he didn't know about.
Before Reigns can continue Samoa Joe returned to confront him. Joe tells Roman that he always comes up short against 'The Beast' and that he lied to the crowd by saying he was the only one that could beat Lesnar.
Joe tells Roman that once he's done trying to break the cycle in the steel cage match at the Greatest Royal Rumble and when Brock Lesnar is done with him, that he will face Roman at Backlash to put him to sleep.
Titus Worldwide vs Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt - Tag Team Eliminator Qualifier
Titus Worldwide are against mystery partners in the other qualifying match for the Tag Team Elimination, and they're in the ring awaiting their partners. A vignette aired promoting a new 'Wonderful' tag team, Bray Wyatt and 'Woken' Matt Hardy who are about to embark on an 'Expedeetion of Gold'
The match starts with Titus chanting 'Worldwide' and Matt chanting 'Delete' leading to duelling 'Worldwide' and 'Delete' chants. I'll be honest I am all-in for Bray and Matt as a tag-team.
To be perfectly honest most of this match was Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews looking confused as hell as Wyatt and Hardy did zany stuff in the ring and I am here for it. Here's Apollo looking dumbfounded.
Unfortunately for Titus Worldwide Dana Brooke couldn't crunch the numbers for a team like 'The Deleters of Worlds' (credit goes to my colleague Gary Cassidy for the name) and Matt Hardy would hit a Twist of Faith for the victory.
Result: Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt Def. Titus Worldwide
We get a recap of the opening segment of Monday Night Raw when Ronda Rousey indicated that she as still angry at a humbled Stephanie McMahon by locking in another vicious arm-bar on the Commissioner.
Up next we have Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn for that all important spot on Monday Night Raw.
Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn - Winner Earns A RAW Contract
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their way to rings for the match. Owens seems quiet and broody whilst Zayn is enjoying the pageantry of the post-WrestleMania Raw. Luckily Raw had their entrance music and graphics ready to go.
Zayn tries to reason with Owens that they don't need to fight, but Owens, true to form, tries to sucker-punch his opponent and the match truly begins. I can never grow tired of seeing Steen an Generico go at it inside a wrestling ring.
There's a commercial break and when we return Sami Zayn countered a Pop-up Powerbomb setup into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. But Owens fought back with a huge kick to Zayn's face and followed it up with a Cannonball. Owens connected with a Frog Splash but Zayn kicked out.
Owens gets Zayn into the corner and is hitting running elbows to Zayn. However, Zayn managed to hit Owens with a spontaneous Helluva Kick with Owens falling out of the ring as a result. Owens then plants Sami with a Pop-up Powerbomb and unfortunately, Zayn falls out of the ring so neither man can get the pin after their finisher.
There's a huge move from the top and both Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens end up down in the middle of the ring. The referee starts counting up to ten and incredibly both men stayed down for the ten-count, meaning that neither of them will be joining Monday Night Raw.
The match ended in a double count-out
'Woken' Matt Hardy finally meets Brother Nero
There's another backstage segment. This time with Jeff Hardy running into Matt Hardy and the two greeting each other. Jeff talks to Matt in the 'Woken' manner and Matt introduces Bray Wyatt.
The camera pans to Finn Balor and Seth Rollins who were just off camera the whole time and both guys have incredibly bemused looks on their faces with Finn asking what all that was about. Jeff Hardy just shrugged and walked off.
Finn Balor, Seth Rollins and Jeff Hardy vs The Miz & The Miztourage
The opening moments of the match sees Balor, Rollins and Hardy taking first blood, including a cool moment where Rollins and Balor stood in for Matt Hardy to hit some classic Hardy Boys Tag Team moves.
Unfortunately for the good guys the Miztourage soon fought back and managed to isolate their opponents splitting the ring in half and picking apart Finn Balor to control the match.
Eventually Hardy got the hot tag to hit Whisper in the Wind. Rollins is tagged in and he hits a Suicide Dive and then another Splash over the ropes onto all three of his opponents.
The Miz is stumbling around and tripping over a lot. It's unclear why at this point. Luckily we don't get to find out if The Miz is actually injured or suffering from a concussion as Rollins ends the match with the Stomp.
Balor, Hardy and Rollins then take turns hitting all of their finishers on the Miztourage to close the show. Yes, the ending of this Raw with all of these debuts, surprises and returns ended with a house show finish.
Finn Balor, Seth Rollins & Jeff Hary Def. The Miz, Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel
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