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WWE RAW or rather Championship Monday kicked off with Drew McIntyre in the ring. Before Drew could talk, Dolph Ziggler came out and said that AJ Styles was now on SmackDown while Dolph and Robert Roode were now on RAW. Dolph went on about how he picked Drew up in the lowest point of his career and for that, Drew owed Dolph a title shot.
Drew fired back, calling Ziggler an entitled jack**s and then asked him if he really wanted the match, knowing how strong Drew was. Dolph was quiet and Drew accepted the title challenge for Extreme Rules before walking out.
Nia Jax was out next to the RAW ring but R-Truth interrupted, saying that he had a match with the Ninja Clan leader, Akira Tozawa for the 24/7 title. He then mistook Nia for Tozawa in disguise but then the Ninjas and Tozawa sneaked up and chased Truth away.
Nia tried to speak again but then Charlotte came out to mock Nia for throwing a 'hissy fit' after losing two title matches. They traded insults before attacking each other and a group of officials came out to separate them. The Queen would suffer an injury during the brawl.
The Street Profits and Viking Raiders were set for the tiebreaker in their absurd feud but for the moment, they were friends. Zelina Vega was seen plotting something as the two teams headed out to the ring.
Street Profits (c) vs. Viking Raiders - RAW Tag Team titles match
Dawkins and Ivar started us off in the first title match on RAW and the Vikings were in control early as Erik tagged in and tossed Ivar into Dawkins before Ford was tagged in. Ford hit a huge dive over the ropes but was caught in a powerbomb by Erik and tossed into Dawkins on the outside.
Street Profits (c) vs. Viking Raiders - RAW Tag Team titles match (contd...)
We returned to RAW to see the Profits hit the Viking Experience on Erik but the pin was broken. Montez Ford took a big boot and tagged Dawkins before the four of them did cartwheels for some reason. Dawkins was taken down and Ivar went for the splash but missed.
Erik was wiped out and then Ford hit a From The Heavens Splash on Ivar for the win. After the match, the two teams hugged it out, showing great sportsmanship.
Result: Street Profits def. Viking Raiders to retain the RAW Tag Team titles
Andrade and Angel Garza attacked the two teams as they were celebrating but the Viking Profits managed to fight them off.
Match rating: B
Backstage, Seth Rollins was waiting to send a message to Rey Mysterio.
Seth was on screen after the break and said that anything that happened to Rey or his son from now on was their own fault.
Backstage on RAW, Flair was seen recovering from her fight earlier and said that she would take part in the title match tonight, no matter what.
Still backstage, Andrade and Garza declared that they were going for the RAW tag titles next.
Asuka (c) vs. Charlotte - RAW Women's title match
Flair had control early but Asuka hit the hip attack and then a running kick from the apron, sending Flair to the floor. Asuka went for a leaping dropkick from the ring but Flair sidestepped.
In the ring, Charlotte took Asuka to the mat but missed the Moonsault, landing on her feet before sending the champ into the turnbuckles. We returned to see Asuka almost get pinned but managed to find the bottom rope.
Asuka tried for the armbar but managed to lock the shoulder in for the Asuka lock, damaging the already injured arm and Flair had no option but to tap out.
Result: Asuka def. Charlotte to retain the RAW Women's title
Match rating: A
Edge was on the screen on RAW and spoke about his injured tricep and that he was disappointed for not seeing through Randy Orton's cheap tactics. Edge now vowed to stoop to any level to embarrass and destroy Randy the next time they fought.
Randy Orton was backstage on RAW and said that he will defend himself and survive while threatening Edge and Christian to stay away.
Charlotte was backstage after her RAW Women's title match and gave Asuka credit before Nia Jax attacked her injured arm, slamming it in a cupboard door.
The Ninjas and Tozawa were out for their match with R-Truth but Bobby Lashley came out and took out the Ninja gang before taking out R-Truth in the ring with a Full Nelson. Tozawa was hiding under the ring the whole time and came out to pin Truth and become the new 24/7 Champion!
Natalya was backstage and teased an 'important announcement' for later on RAW.
Liv Morgan vs. Natalya
Lana was out with Natalya and the 'announcement' was pretty predictable by now. Nattie took Morgan down with a clothesline early and got a near fall.
Liv Morgan vs. Natalya (contd..)
Natalya sent Morgan outside before taking a Hurricanrana from the apron. Lana distracted Morgan while Natalya caught Morgan from behind and locked her in the Sharpshooter for the win on RAW.
Result: Natalya def. Liv Morgan
Match rating: C
Big Show was backstage on RAW and said he was very angry about what happened to Christian last week.
The Nature Boy, Ric Flair, was out next and talked up Randy as the greatest wrestler ever and so on. Randy came out and spoke about being the Legend Killer before Big Show interrupted them. Show said he was going to make Randy pay for what he did to Edge and Christian, calling Randy a narcissistic parasite.
Big Show promised to break every bone in Ric Flair and Orton's bodies before Randy fired back, threatening to kick Show in the face. Show was ready to fight but Randy escaped the ring, nothing off to Show before leaving RAW with Ric.
Could Show and Orton be heading for a match at Extreme Rules?
Sasha Banks & Bayley (c) vs. The IIconics - Women's Tag titles match
Kay and Banks started the match off and Kay was unloading on Banks right off the bat. We returned to RAW to see Bayley attacking Kay while mocking her but Royce came in for a huge fisherman's suplex.
Royce managed to bump Banks into Bayley sending Bayley outside. Royce almost got a pin on Banks but was locked into the Banks Statement after the champ countered it. Royce struggled and eventually tapped out.
Result: Sasha Banks & Bayley def. The IIconics to retain the Women's Tag titles
After the match, Banks teased a title match with Bayley but then challenged Asuka instead. Asuka came out and accepted the challenge before Bayley attacked her. Asuka was fighting back but Banks hit the backstabber and then the Banks Statement, taking out the RAW Women's champ.
Match rating: B
Backstage on RAW, MVP said that he could help Apollo retain his US title, making a veiled threat that he would have Lashley take the title away if Apollo didn't accept the help.
Backstage on RAW, Ruby Riott tried to talk to Liv Morgan but she brushed her off, clearly upset about her recent series of losses.
In the ring, the VIP lounge was up next and MVP called out Apollo Crews on RAW as his guest. Crews rejected MVP's offer and MVP said that then the US Title will be going where it belongs. Shelton Benjamin came out to fight Apollo and thanks to a distraction from MVP, Apollo was sent outside the ring by Benjamin.
Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin
We returned to RAW to see Benjamin unloading on Apollo. The champ managed to hit a standing moonsault before Banjamin locked in an armbar.
Both men ended up outside and Apollo sidestepped, sending Benjamin into the steel post. Crews hit the toss Powerbomb and picked up the quick win despite the shoulder injury.
Result: Apollo Crews def. Shelton Benjamin
After the match, Lashley locked in the Full Neslon from behind and took out Apollo on the stage.
Match rating: C
Rey Mysterio and his son were backstage and getting ready to come out to the RAW ring.
Mysterio and his son Dominick were out on RAW as Rey said how much he was scared for Dom last week when he had attacked Seth Rollins. He said he was proud of Dom and yet he was angry at his son for taking the risk.
Rey said that he was mad at Rollins for trying to blind him but he had learned to accept it. Rey said he needed to get his own revenge but Dom said he wasn't going anywhere and that their family 'wanted a fight'.
Rollins came out and said he was conflicted about who to 'sacrifice'. He then said it was 'fate' as Theory and Murphy came out behind him. Humberto Carrillo and Aleister Black came out to fight the disciples and Dominick joined the fight too.
The disciples were down and Rey hit a 619 before they tried to use the steps to damage Seth's eye. Theory and Murphy caught Rey while Seth tried to do the same to Dominick but Black and Carrillo came with chairs to fight them off.
Episode rating: A
Four major titles were put on the line tonight in an incredibly action-packed episode of RAW and we saw two big title matches being set up while one was confirmed to be for Extreme Rules. We got Ric Flair, Big Show, and Rey Mysterio's return to RAW and while WWE did not confirm it, I'd be surprised if Big Show and Randy Orton don't face each other at Extreme Rules.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
