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Monday Night RAW kicked right off with a Tag Team match between RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey & Natalya against Nia Jax & Tamina. Tonight's show was broadcast from The Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and leads up to the last PPV of the year, TLC.
Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs Nia Jax and Tamina
The Riott Squad's music hit as soon the two teams were ready to face off. They came out with a table as Nia Jax and Tamina blindsided Rousey and Natalya. Jax and Tamina double teamed Ronda Rousey as The Riott Squad focused on Natalya. Natalya was then power bombed through a table following a superkick from Riott.
Result: Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs Nia Jax and Tamina was called off due to injury
Alexa Bliss' open forum part two
Alexa Bliss was out next. She invited Sasha and Bayley out. The two were asked questions by members of the audience. One fan asked Bayley and Sasha who their dream opponents were and they replied "Trish and Lita at WrestleMania" in unison.
Bayley then said she and Sasha wanted to become the first Women's Tag-Team Champions. Dana Brooke, Alicia Fox, and Mickie James tried to interfere in the segment but Alexa booked James and Fox in a match against Banks and Bayley.
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs Alicia Fox & Mickie James
James and Fox isolated Bayley early on in the match and continued working on her after isolating her in the corner.
Bayley dodged Fox and tagged in Banks who came in on the hot tag and attacked Fox. Fox briefly hit back with a sunset flip powerbomb but Banks locked in a Banks Statement.
Mickie James broke up the submission attempt but Banks hit her with a Backstabber. Bayley followed it up with Bayley-To-Belly for the win.
Result: Bayley & Sasha Banks def. Alicia Fox & Mickie James
Backstage, Bobby Roode and Chad Gable demanded a match with AoP and they wanted it to be for the RAW Tag titles. Corbin said that despite the disrespect shown to Roode's robe, they lost, so they're owed nothing but he added that he's a nice guy.
So he made a match: Drake Maverick vs Bobby Roode. If Roode won, they'd get a rematch. Drake Maverick was about to make his WWE in-ring debut.
Scott Dawson vs Lucha House Party
The Lucha House Party traded tags and took shots at Dawson. A distraction from Wilder led to Dawson nearly beheading Lince Dorado with a clothesline. A frustrated Scott Dawson started unloading on him.
Dawson couldn't keep up with the 3-on-1 attack much longer. Kalisto hit him with a Salita Del Sol and Metalik followed it up with a splash from the ropes.
Result: Lucha House Party def. Scott Dawson
Drew McIntyre appreciation night
Baron Corbin was out and announced the night as Drew McIntyre appreciation night. Corbin handed him a gold medal, RAW's Gold Medal of excellence. McIntyre thanked Corbin and added that when he joined the main roster, the people backstage were busy on their phones or playing games instead of being the best they can be.
Dolph Ziggler's music hit and he came down to the ring. Ziggler told McIntyre that he brought the latter to the main roster but he was nowhere to be seen in McIntyre's video package. McIntyre replied that he was the brains and the muscle and that he made Ziggler relevant for the first time in years.
Ziggler punched McIntyre before hitting him with a Zig Zag and walking away. GM Corbin booked Ziggler vs McIntyre and it was right up next.
Drew McIntyre vs Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler started off strong with a headbutt to McIntyre but it all went wrong from there. McIntyre ragdolled Ziggler around the ring before taking a mic and threatening to treat him like Finn Balor. McIntyre sent Ziggler back-first into the ring apron before rolling him back into the ring.
Finn Balor made his way out at this point as WWE cut to commercial. McIntyre continued his dominance after the break as Finn Balor watched on from ringside. Ziggler briefly managed some offence, leaping at McIntyre from the apron. His momentum didn't last long as McIntyre hit him with an Atomic Drop onto the barricade.
After Balor rolled Drew back into the ring, Balor hit McIntyre with a dropkick into the barricade. Drew barely managed to beat the 10-count. Ziggler immediately hit him with a superkick as soon as he rolled into the ring and pinned him. This was McIntyre's first singles loss via pinfall on the main roster since his return. In fact, it was the first time he was pinned since NXT Takeover: War Games last year!
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. Drew McIntyre
Elias calls out Bobby Lashley
Elias was out next. Elias started to play, but Lio Rush and his annoying voice interrupted. He was out with Lashley and said the spotlight belonged to The Almighty Bobby Lashley. He started hyping Lashley for TLC; and his body of course.
Lashley posed for the audience before taunting Elias. Elias charged at Lashley with the guitar but got kicked in the gut for his troubles. Elias replied by sending Lashley face-first into the entrance screens. Balor then tossed Lio Rush in front of Elias and The Drifter smashed him with his guitar.
Jinder Mahal was backstage busy sucking up to Baron Corbin before leaving. Corbin called in Heath Slater and Rhyno. He said he has crunched the numbers and come to a conclusion. He said there's only enough room on RAW for one of them. Corbin suggested one of them quit and save the other.
Neither agreed to quit and Corbin said that they'll have a match to decide who stays on RAW,
Bobby Roode vs Drake Maverick
Acting GM Corbin turned the match into a 3 on 2 handicap match after AOP destroyed Gable backstage. AOP went out and attacked Roode just as he was on the verge of pinning Drake Maverick. Gable made his way out despite the beating earlier on but was taken out.
AOP then hit Roode and Gable with the Super Collider. Drake Maverick then pinned Roode for the win.
Result: Authors of Pain def. Bobby Roode and Chad Gable
Dean Ambrose makes a statement
Dean Ambrose was out next wearing a gas mask and with a SWAT team accompanying him. Ambrose said that he can't be too careful in a place like Houston, Texas. Ambrose then called out Rollins for attacking him earlier before taking a shot at the fans.
Ambrose said that Rollins always wanted to be in control and he couldn't stand it anymore, so he stood alone now. The Lunatic Fringe added that Rollins would slip up at TLC and finally lose control of himself and his emotions. Dean also predicted that Rollins would lose the Intercontinental Championship.
Rollins' music hit and he came out of the crowd and took out the SWAT guys before turning his attention to Ambrose. Rollins and Ambrose brawled amongst the fans before Rollins tossed Ambrose into the ring area again.
Rollins went to leap off the barricade and onto Ambrose but Dean hit him with a gas mask and followed it with the Dirty Deeds.
Heath Slater vs Rhyno
There was initial hesitation but Rhyno started attacking Slater. The match was quite a quick one and they have an initial back and forth and Slater pushed him into the turnbuckles and pinned him.
Result: Heath Slater def. Rhyno. Rhyno was fired from RAW
After the match, Baron Corbin informed Heath Slater that he wasn't back into RAW as a competitor, but as a referee!
Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal
Balor started off strong but was caught in a resthold by Jinder early on. Jinder picked him up and dropped him on the ropes before Finn hit the floor outside. Balor took control with a sling blade but the Singh Brothers dropped him from the top rope.
The Singh Brothers were celebrating when Apollo Crews came out and chucked one brother at the other. Jinder went out and Balor hit him with a huge dive and then hit a dropkick in the corner followed by a Coupe de Grace for the win.
Result: Finn Balor def. Jinder Mahal
Drew McIntyre attacked Balor backstage and wailed on him mercilessly for costing him the match earlier. The officials had to break them apart twice before Mcintyre let up.
Ronda Rousey & Ember Moon vs. Tamina & Nia Jax
Nia and Tamina attacked Rousey before the match began but Moon made her entrance and the match was started by the official. Tamina dominated Moon in the corner and tagged in Nia who punched Moon in the gut before hitting a headbutt.
Ember was about to make a tag but Nia dragged her away by the feet. Tamina was tagged in and accidentally took out Nia who was on the apron. Tamina was overpowered by Rousey who got the tag and she asked Tamina to tag in Nia Jax.
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Ronda hit Nia with a huge Judo throw but Tamina was still legal and hit Rousey from behind. Ronda hit a big kick to Nia and took her out. Ember hit the Eclipse on Tamina and Rousey locked in the armbar for the win.
Result: Ronda Rousey & Ember Moon def. Tamina & Nia Jax
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