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Monday Night RAW kicked off with a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and Brock Lesnar showed up right after. Paul Heyman put over Finn Balor. Any time his name was mentioned, the crowd went wild.
He talked about how Balor seized the moment, so much so that John Cena, "the second greatest of all time" endorsed him. Heyman seemed happier that Balor was Lesnar's opponent rather than the "controversial" Braun Strowman.
Not long into the rant, Vince McMahon interfered. Vince still didn't seem to believe in Balor. He compared the situation to David & Goliath. McMahon told the crowd that if they actually believed that Finn Balor could beat Lesnar, then they probably believed in fairytales too.
Braun Strowman interfered and said last week was the worst night of his life and that it was the best of Lesnar's - because he got away from the beating he would have gotten. He vowed to rip Lesnar apart if he was still champion after Royal Rumble.
Balor reminded McMahon that he pinned three other superstars to earn the opportunity. He told Vince that he knew he doesn't believe he'll beat Brock Lesnar, and McMahon said he doesn't believe in fairytales. Braun Strowman said that he didn't know if Balor can beat Lesnar, but he damn well better. Balor told Strowman to keep his nose out of his business and Lesnar was about to walk away but McMahon told Lesnar to take a ringside seat for a real David vs Goliath match.
Finn Balor vs. Braun Strowman
Finn Balor dropkicked Strowman and stopped him in his tracks. Balor slapped Strowman and told him to focus on him. Strowman started bulldozing through Balor until he was caught in a surprise sling blade. Balor had Strowman in a sleeper hold and it's broken apart but Balor drove the monster down with elbows to the head and a stomp to the chest. He climbed up to the drop zone but Strowman caught him and threw him on Lesnar. Lesnar caught him and took him to suplex city.
Lesnar was taken down by Balor as he got ready to confront Strowman. Balor hit a suicide dive onto Lesnar and lured Braun Strowman in and took him down before once again dropkicking Lesnar into the barricade. He forgot about Strowman, who pulled him into the ring. He evaded Braun's charge and sent him into the ring post. He hit a Coupe de Grace before Lesnar came in and hit the F-5 on Balor.
Result: Finn Balor def. Strowman by DQ
Bobby Lashley's Intercontinental Championship celebration
Lio Rush started off by saying that Lashley was better than Rollins and Ambrose before Apollo Crews interrupted. It looked like Apollo could be Lashley's next IC title challenger. Crews said no one came to see Lashley pose, but compete. Lio Rush challenged Apollo Crews to pose off with Lashley.
Apollo Crews vs Bobby Lashley
Apollo was in control of Lashley, as he tried to deadlift him. He got him up high but Lashley was just too big. Lio Rush kept causing distractions. Crews deadlifted Rush until he ate a spear. Lashley went for the pin and picked up an easy victory.
Result: Bobby Lashley def. Apollo Crews
Right before Lashley could even celebrate, Rollins interrupted. He was set to face Drew McIntyre. He walked towards Lashley and things got tense. They had a brief staredown and parted ways.
Rollins cut a promo about his passion for the wrestling business, vowing to win the Royal Rumble this Sunday, despite the odds. Drew McIntyre came out and said that he had a rebuttal of his own. He told Rollins he had no chance of winning the Royal Rumble.
Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre dropped Seth on the mat after the commercials as the match started and held him down by the neck. Seth Rollins fought out of it but took a big elbow from Drew for a near fall. Rollins was sent into the turnbuckles before McIntyre went back to the rest hold. McIntyre sent Rollins face first onto the floor outside as we headed to another commercial break.
Rollins hit a huge Falcon Arrow but failed to capitalise. McIntyre had Rollins on his back and hit him with the White Noise off of the top rope. Drew got only a two count before hitting a powerbomb. It was again a two count as Rollins caught McIntyre in a bad position and used his body pressure to pin McIntyre and get the win.
Result: Seth Rollins def. Drew McIntyre
The Revival was backstage complaining to Vince McMahon about the controversy in their title matches previously. McMahon didn't seem too interested, saying he was busy. Curt Hawkins came in but McMahon told him to go since he loses too many matches. However, McMahon agreed to make Hawkins the special guest referee in the upcoming RAW Tag title match.
Lucha House Party vs. Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers
Lance Dorado started off with Jinder Mahal and Samir Singh was soon tagged in. Sunil Singh was then tagged in and Dorado and Kalisto used incredible double-team work. Kalisto began to dominate Samir Singh but Jinder was tagged in. Jinder started dominating and he and the Singh Brothers were looking like a cohesive unit.
Gran Metalik came in and dropkicked Jinder and Sunil Singh. Metalik went for a pin and actually got it after what seemed like a clear botch. The commentators were clearly confused.
Result: Lucha House Party Def. Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers
Elias was in the ring ready to play his song until he was interrupted by former Acting RAW GM Baron Corbin. Corbin insulted the crowd and Elias said he was not the GM anymore and he'll play anyway. He got Corbin's mic cut. Elias started to sing and rip Corbin apart, but Corbin came in, only for Elias to swing his guitar.
Elias vs. Baron Corbin
Elias used Undertaker's tight-rope walk, aka the Old School. Baron Corbin took control and Elias countered him and hit the swinging neck breaker onto Corbin, but Corbin kicked pout. Corbin soon got the End Of Days after a cheap shot to the throat and put Elias away in a quick fashion.
Result: Baron Corbin def. Elias
A Moment Of Bliss: Royal Rumble edition
Nia Jax was Alexa Bliss' guest for the night. They were interrupted, however, by Ember Moon the moment Nia Jax started talking. Moon proclaimed that she will win the Rumble, and Alicia Fox interfered, proclaiming the same herself. Mickie James came out, then the Riott Squad, then Tamina, and finally Nikki Cross.
Alexa Bliss had had enough. Bliss said that if it broke into a brawl her reputation as a talk show host would be ruined. She requested they calm down for her. Nia Jax pretended to try to calm things down but pushed Ember Moon. Of course, a brawl broke out.
It spilt backstage. Alexa Bliss officially announced her return and that she will be in the Rumble match. She was then interrupted by the debuting Lacey Evans who announced her own entry to the Royal Rumble match.
The Ascension vs. Heavy Machinery
Heavy Machinery made their main roster debut on RAW. They started with Otis Dozovic and he soon tagged in Tucker Night. The were decimating The Ascension, who had gotten only seconds of offence. They double-teamed on Viktor and Konnor and were looking to finish things. Otis was dancing and hit an elbow drop.
Dozovic did the caterpillar and they double-team slammed to get the win.
Result: Heavy Machinery defeats The Ascension
Gable & Roode (c) vs. The Revival - RAW Tag Team title match w/ Curt Hawkins as the special guest referee
Gable started with Dash Wilder. Hawkins did a good job by preventing Bobby Roode from coming in, despite not being tagged. Dawson was tagged in and started to dominate Chad Gable. Gable and Roode finally managed to fight back and Gable flew to take down Wilder.
Dawson clotheslined Gable down but Roode got tagged in and began to clear the ring. Wilder got suplexed onto Roode. Hawkins did a great job catching three different moments where The Revival were cheating. They tried a fourth time and this time, Gable managed to pin Dawson clean. Hawkins did a great job as a referee.
Result: Gable & Roode def. The Revival to retain the RAW Tag Team Championship
The Revival attacked Hawkins but Zack Ryder returned and makes the save. Ryder offered his hand in help and after 10 years the team has reunited.
Rousey started talking trash and couldn't wait to get her hands on Sasha. Natalya was trying to be the voice of reason and was trying to calm her down. Sasha asked Rousey who the hell she was and that she didn't need Rousey to say she was a worthy competitor, because everyone already knows. She lit a fire under Rousey and got under Rousey's skin. Natalya once more had to calm Rousey down.
Ronda Rousey & Natalya vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley
Natalya and Sasha Banks began, and Banks hit a cheap shot on Rousey. Banks and Bayley began to dominate Natalya with good double team work. Rousey came in and hit judo throws on them both. Bayley was outside the ring, getting beaten up by Natalya. Bayley went for the tag but Natalya prevented it. She couldn't get the pin either. Bayley managed to move to her side and got the tag. The two isolated Natalya, making sure Rousey wasn't tagged in. Banks went to Rousey and started talking trash.
Natalya had Sasha lifted up and Rousey took the tag. Rousey went for Piper's Pit but Banks quickly escaped and landed the Bank Statement and Natalya was forced to break it up. Natalya had the sharpshooter locked in but Bayley broke it up and took out Rousey. Natalya took out Bayley but Sasha managed to get the backstabber and the Bank Statement before Natalya tapped out.
Result: Sasha Banks & Bayley def. Ronda Rousey and Natalya
Ronda Rousey faced her first defeat since joining WWE.
After the match, tensions ensued as Rousey and Banks were talking trash face to face.
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