'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The go-home episodes for the last few PPVs have been really underwhelming and the pressure was on the WWE to deliver the goods.
It's safe to say that a couple of big returns, announcements, changes and unlikely matches made this week's show a worthy finale before Survivor Series.
So without further adieu, let's delve into this week's results and video highlights:
Opening Segment
Stephanie McMahon kicked off this week's Raw in Atlanta and didn't waste any time in berating Raw Gm Kurt Angle. Stephanie was annoyed by New Day's unwelcomed appearance on last week's Raw and Angle's decision to add Jason Jordan to team Raw.
She did have a valid point as Shane McMahon and co. picked John Cena to be their fifth member. Angle retaliated by saying he would not only start the match but also break Shane McMahon's ankle.
The boss' daughter wasn't impressed as she expressed serious doubts about making him the team captain. She accused the Olympic gold medalist of being too soft and demanded her brother's head, not just his ankle.
She continued to put the legendary WWE Champion down with her trademarked insults before Shield gave Angle some reprieve. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose looked on from the crowd as Roman Reigns emerged from the darkness to a surprisingly great pop.
The Hound of Justice made their way to the ring and backed up Kurt Angle as the right man to lead the charge. Stephanie and Reigns had a hilarious exchange that ended with Reigns challenging New Day to a match. He dropped the mic and the segment came to an end.
Mickie James vs. Bayley vs. Dana Brooke (Winner becomes the 5th member of team Raw)
A high-stakes triple threat match followed a relatively happening solid opening segment. All three women made their respective entrances as the team assembled by ringside helmed by their captain, Alicia Fox. The story going into the match focussed around Bayley's inability to make it into the team and her recent struggles on the card.
The match kicked off and Mickie got the early offence in with a double hurricanrana takedown. Brooke, however, took control after a good spell of triple threat moves on display as Raw went into a break.
Back from the break, Bayley looked to pick up the pace as she suplexed Dana and Mickie. James looked to shift the match in her favour with a takedown on Bayley followed by a pinfall attempt. She continued to rally on her momentum by delivering a sweet backbreaker on Bayley.
Dana, in the meantime, somehow managed to piss Asuka off and it all ended with she being laid out with a spin kick. You don't mess with the Empress of Tomorrow! Back in the ring, Bayley counters James' smart move to take advantage of the chaos outside by connecting with the Bayley-to Belly. 1-2-3!
Result: Bayley def. Dana Brooke and Mickie James to become the final member of the Raw Women's Team
Enzo Amore & Drew Gulak vs. Kalisto & Akira Tozawa
The Cruiserweight Champion and the realest guy in the room, Drew Gulak cut a promo before the match which was as generic as WWE's theme songs these days. Actually no, Gulak was pretty hilarious in the short segment.
Amore's opponent at Survivor Series, Kalisto interrupted the proceedings along with former Cruiserweight Champion Akira Tozawa by his side. They tried the whole Lucha chant/scream combination. Cringe.
The match followed the usual heels dominating until the babyfaces mount a comeback right before the commercial break only for the heels to take it back after the break.
Gulak was in control of Tozawa after the break. The Japenese star made the hot tag to Kalisto, who came in hot and cleared the ring.
There was a time when the babyfaces looked set for the win but a moment of hesitation outside gave Amore the opportunity to stun Tozawa with the JawDonzo for the win.
Results: Enzo Amore and Drew Gulak def. Kalisto and Akira Tozawa
Miz TV with The Bar
The A-Lister welcomed the fans to the most must-see show on TV and began his promo by addressing his match against United States Champion Baron Corbin at Survivor Series. He called Corbin an Internet trash who could have been WWE Champion by now if not for the opportunities he wasted.
Miz exclaimed that he would amass the biggest win of his career by defeating the Shield tonight. He showered praise on the Raw tag team champions for their unwavering focus on the task at hand, which was the cue for their entrance.
The champs called SmackDown the b-show and gave it up to the Usos for winning their titles on the 'cute little show'. A 'You look stupid chant' directed to Sheamus echoed around the arena. How is this stupid chant still relevant is beyond me. Movin on...
The Bar promised to jailbreak the Uso Penitentiary and reminded the fans that they are THE BAR! The three champions of RAW stood tall proudly flaunting their titles.
Jason Jordan vs. Bray Wyatt
So Kurt Angle booked Jordan vs. Wyatt as he felt Bray Wyatt is the most sadistic man in the WWE. Tough dad!
Jordan looked happy and PUMPED UP as always. Poor Bray Wyatt. Reigns and he suffered from the same illness. Reigns will team up with his brothers to take on New Day while Wyatt got Jordan and no possible match at Survivor Series. However, he is the most dangerous man in the WWE, according to Angle and the commentators.
Jordan and Wyatt worked decent match though, which revolved around Jordan's injured left knee. The finish of the match saw Wyatt set up Jordan for the Sister Abigail with the Urinage.
Jordan countered with a stiff right, rolled Wyatt up and picked up a surprising clean win over the former WWE Champion.
Result: Jason Jordan def. Bray Wyatt
The Eater of Worlds viciously attacked Jordan after the match and made sure Jordan doesn't make it to Survivor Series by slamming his injured leg into the steel ring post. The fans in Atlanta absolutely despised Jordan as they chanted 'Thank you, Wyatt'. Sadly for Jordan, apart from the jeers, the referee's help was all he got.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman address Survivor Series match against AJ Styles
The Beast Incarnate and his advocate appeared for the first time ever since AJ Styles won the WWE Championship to book his date with the Universal Champion at the upcoming Survivor Series PPV.
Heyman took the mic and let the genius unfold. He laid out 5 reasons why the fans should subscribe to the WWE Network to watch Lesnar vs. Styles. First reason, Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles!
He mentioned that this may be the only time we see the Beast go up against the Phenomenal One ever inside a squared circle. He praised AJ Styles but the crowd seemed to be distracted by a couple who proposed in the audience. 'She said yes' chants reverberated around the arena that forced Lesnar to smirk and Heyman to address the couple.
He fired a few hilarious jabs at the couple before congratulating them and getting back to his promo with effortless ease. GOAT! He called Styles one of the greatest, if not the greatest in-ring performer of his generation, with Finn Balor being the only man to come close.
He then came down to the fifth selling point; the F-5! He said that AJ Styles ain't no Rocky movie and he will be conquered by the conquerer with the F-5 at Survivor Series.
The Shield vs. The Bar & The Miz
Rollins and Cesaro started things off. Rollins tagged Ambrose in from the get-go after he chest slapped the Swiss Cyborg.
The match progressed predictably with the heels working on keeping Rollins away from his corner. The Architect, however, made the hot tag to Roman Reigns. The Samoan took down anyone in sight.
The final moments of the match were nostalgia at its best. The Miz first distracted the Big Dog only to have Ambrose make the save. Sheamus, Cesaro, Ambrose and Reigns had a short sequence of moves and near falls.
Reigns went for the spear but Cesaro countered with a well-timed uppercut. He tagged Miz in but unsuccessfully tried the springboard uppercut on is way out. He ate a superman punch for all his troubles.
The Miz was next, as he was taken out with a Rollins knee followed by a spear. The IC Champion was surrounded by the hounds with the fans yearning to see the 'Original' Triple Powerbomb after three long years!
Ooooaaa! Shield Triple Powerbomb! 1-2-3!
Result: Shield def. The Bar & The Miz
Triple H returns and replaces Jason Jordan on team Raw
Kurt Angle made his way to ring and looked dejected. The fans knew he was about to replace the injured Jason Jordan and so did Angle's son.
He interrupted and tried his best to convince Angle to change his mind. He was almost successful until Triple H's music hit and out came the Game marching towards the ring.
He meant business as he wasted no time in pandering to the crowd and got right into Angle's face. The two storied rivals stared off as HHH took the microphone and announced himself as Jason Jordan's replacement for Survivor series.
He pedigreed Jordan on his way out much to the shock of Angle and the amusement of the anti-Jordan crowd in Atlanta.
And just like that, we have two stacked Survivor Series dream teams! WWE just went all out in the past week!
Finn Balor & Samoa Joe vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
All didn't begin well with Joe and Balor as the two rivals shoved each other from the get-go. They got on the same page, just like they did back in 2015 in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic that they won.
The heels dominated all throughout the match with Balor being the one to take a lot of punishment. The finish of the match saw Balor make the hot tag to Joe. The Samoan Submission Machine came in and completely ran through Anderson. He took the Club out all by himself before tagging Balor in again.
The Demon took Gallows out with the Suicide Dive before hitting Anderson with the Coupe-De-Grace for the win.
Result: Finn Balor and Samoa Joe def. The Club
Kane vs. Braun Strowman
Kane smacked Strowman in his face even before the match began! The Monster and the Machine just brawled like no one's business outside as the steel steps came into play.
Kane, though, was not mucking around as he took a table from underneath the ring to a big pop. Strowman and Kane somehow found themselves on the mid turnbuckles for a suplex. The match didn't even start at this point!
The Monster Among Men outpowered him and hit a running powerslam! The ring tore and Kane went back to where he usually 'reappears' from!
The show ended with Strowman getting the last laugh. Sadly, the match never happened and it feels WWE is smartly saving it for a bigger occasion.
