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Monday Night RAW kicked off with Asuka coming out for a scheduled match with Charlotte but the new women's tag team champs, Sasha Banks and Bayley came out instead. Asuka was not happy to see them and asked them to leave 'her' ring. Bayley and Sasha taunted her saying that as tag champs they were allowed to be on either brand before Charlotte made her appearance.
Charlotte told them to make it quick so that they could get on with their match. The IIconics were the next to interrupt and it looked like we were heading for a Triple Threat tag team match instead. Asuka and Charlotte were attacked by the two other teams and it soon devolved into an all-out brawl. We returned from commercials to see that the first match of RAW was made official.
Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte & Asuka vs. The IIconics
Banks and Royce started the match off and between taking shots at each other, they teamed up to drop both Asuka and Charlotte off the apron. Bayley was tagged in and Kay came in as well who got a fistful of the SmackDown champ's hair and dropped her.
Flair got the tag and the 'audience' chanted for Asuka but Charlotte refused to tag her in. Banks was legal after Bayley got wiped out by Flair and Asuka forced a tag before clearing the ring of Banks, Royce, and Kay.
We returned to RAW after a break to see Asuka get double teamed by the IIconics and then Banks & Bayley. Flair came in and took the tag as things got heated between her and Asuka for a minute. Flair was setting up for the moonsault but Asuka stole a tag and locked in the Asuka lock on Kay for the win on RAW.
Result: Asuka & Charlotte def. The IIconics, Bayley & Sasha Banks
After the match, Flair hit Asuka with a big boot before posing with the RAW Women's title.
Match rating: A
Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins were setting up for an interview over video call and Rey wasted no time insulting Seth as we headed for another break on RAW. Back to the show, Rey's video feed was glitching a bit as he said that his doctors were hopeful about his recovery and promised to 'kick his a**' the moment he got back to the ring.
Seth was furious and invited Rey and Dominick to RAW next week to show him that his 'sacrifices' were for the greater good. Aleister Black jumped on Seth from out of nowhere and took him down mid-interview as RAW headed to commercials yet again.
Aleister Black & Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy & Austin Theory
We returned from commercials to see Humberto Carrillo and Austin Theory in the ring as the tag team match was underway during the break.
Murphy was tagged and so was Black who dodged the Murphy's Law but Theory interrupted the Black Mass before being caught in a huge kick that dropped him outside.
Aleister Black & Humberto Carrillo vs. Murphy & Austin Theory (contd...)
Humberto Carrillo hit a huge dive to the outside, taking out Theory before Black finished off Murphy in the ring and picked up the win on RAW.
Result: Aleister Black & Humberto Carrillo def. Murphy & Austin Theory
Rollins appeared wearing a Rey Mysterio mask and had Carrillo taken out before focusing on Aleister. Black took the Murphy's Law and then the stomp from Rollins who was out to 'set an example'.
Match rating: B
Backstage on RAW, Randy Orton said that he was looking forward to the Christian's Peep Show with Edge and said that there could be two guests instead.
The Peep Show with Edge was underway on RAW and Edge and Christian seemed to be not on the same page as they argued with each other. Christian implied that Edge had, for lack of a better word, lost his edge by doubting himself. Christian said that he and the rest of us still believed in Edge and he should believe in himself as well.
Randy interrupted them from backstage and told them to shut up and that he was going to break Edge and send him back home. Randy said Edge's redemption arc was over and Edge just replied with 'No it's not' and walked off from the ring on RAW.
MVP was backstage during RAW and was interrupted by R-Truth during his interview. MVP called him names before Lashley used the Full Nelson on him as we headed for another break.
The Street Profits and the Viking Raiders were engaged in a Decathlon that included sword fighting, sprinting, archery, flip cup, hurdles, stick fighting, dance-off, shot put, turkey leg eating and pole vault. The decathlon ended in a tie by the end and this RAW feud refuses to be settled.
Andrade vs. Angel Garza vs. Kevin Owens - No.1 Contender's match for the United States title
Apollo Crews was out to announce the Triple threat No.1 Contender's match for the US title between Andrade, Garza, and Owens on RAW. KO attacked the two heels before the match and got the upper hand before the match even began.
Andrade vs. Angel Garza vs. Kevin Owens - No.1 Contender's match for the United States title (contd...)
Andrade and Garza were teaming up but Owens still managed to get a near fall on Garza which Andrade broke up on RAW. They locked in a combined submission and Owens was barely holding on.
Andrade almost got a pinfall but Garza broke it up, sparking a fight between the heels. Vega tried to break it up but got hit as we headed for another commercial on RAW. Back to the match, Owens hit a senton on Garza but Andrade broke the pin.
Owens hit the splash on Andrade for a near fall before he hit a dive on both opponents over the ropes. Owens hit the stunner but Andrade broke the pin and pinned Garza himself.
Result: Andrade def. Angel Garza & Kevin Owens to become the No.1 Contender for the United States title
Match rating: A
Charlotte was being interviewed backstage on RAW when Asuka interrupted and when Flair asked her if she took anything seriously, she was slapped by the RAW champ.
Backstage on RAW, Andrade & Garza were arguing when Zelina showed up, injured.
Erik and Ivar were invited by Drew McIntyre to an after-show party as an alliance looked to be forming between them.
Kurt Angle showed up on RAW and said that he expects Edge to beat Randy at Backlash.
The VIP lounge was back on RAW but instead of Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre came out. MVP said that on Sunday, Lashley was going to take the WWE title from Drew and McIntyre said that MVP hides behind Lashley.
Drew gave MVP a countdown but Lashley came up behind him. MVP took the Glasgow Kiss before the Viking Raiders came out, making Lashley and his manager retreat.
The Viking Raiders vs. MVP & Bobby Lashley
We returned to RAW to see that the match was underway and the Vikings were dominating early on as Erik tossed Ivar onto the veteran. Lashley came in and hit a spinebuster on Erik. MVP got multiple near falls but Ivar came in and hit a senton before sending Lashley outside.
The Viking Raiders vs. MVP & Bobby Lashley (contd...)
The Street Profits distracted MVP and Lashley outside as Ivar wiped them out from behind. Lana was watching from backstage on RAW and said that staying away from Bobby's matches gave her time to focus on herself.
Lashley hit a spear on Ivar on the outside before he locked in the Full Nelson on Erik, making him tap out.
Result: MVP & Bobby Lashley def. The Viking Raiders
Ivar attacked MVP after the match and Lashley caught him in the Full Nelson as well. The Street Profits went to help him before Drew broke the hold with a Claymore.
Match rating: A
Asuka vs. Charlotte
Sasha Banks and Bayley came out yet again but this time to spectate the match. Charlotte unloaded on Asuka as the bell rang and the RAW champ was tossed over the announcers' table early on.
Asuka took control after we returned to RAW and hit a dragon screw suplex but Charlotte sent her into the barricades before applying a headlock on the champ. The IIconics appeared out of nowhere and attacked the tag champs who were watching from the announcers' desk.
Flair continued to dominate Asuka in the ring and hit a huge knee strike for a near fall. Asuka hit a dropkick off the ropes and then the German Suplex before sending Flair outside with the hip attack.
The two traded submissions but both women were tired. Asuka took a spear but hit a big kick before Nia Jax attacked her. Jax was sent flying with a hip attack but Flair took advantage of the distraction and pinned Asuka for the huge win on RAW!
Result: Charlotte def. Asuka
After the match, Nia hit a Samoan Drop on Asuka to send a message on the RAW before Backlash.
Match rating: A
Episode rating: A
An action-packed go home episode saw an amazing triple-threat match involving Kevin Owens while Asuka and Charlotte were involved in two great matches in one night on RAW!
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