Location: Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center
Date: August 22nd, 2016
Airing Live On The USA Network
Welcome to the WWE Raw pre-show, and we are live on the WWE Network. Scott Stanford, Booker T, Lita and Jerry Lawler talking about Finn Balor’s injury. Balor will relinquish the WWE Universal Title on RAW, and that will be the opening segment. Also, Charlotte will talk about her big win at SummerSlam. WWE is using the same stage at Sunday’s SummerSlam event.
Welcome to WWE Monday Night Raw, there is a recap video of Sunday’s SummerSlam PPV event. Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon are standing in the ring. Foley brought out Finn Balor to the ring.
The fans chanted “you deserve it” at Balor. Balor cut a promo about sacrifice and how if you believe in yourself then you can get anything. Balor thanked the fans for their support and Seth Rollins for giving him a match of his life. Balor relinquished the Universal Title and said that rest assured that he will be back and the title would be the first thing he is coming for. Foley took the title and raised Balor’s hand. Rollins walked out and said that everyone should be happy because he is the true winner. Rollins thinks that there should be a title celebration for the true champion. Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass walked down to the ring. They wall wanted the title. McMahon booked Zayn vs. Rollins for right now.
Singles Match: Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins.
Before the match started, Rollins attacked Zayn.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Rollins in control of Balor. Rollins tossed Zayn to the floor and Zayn hit a moonsault off the barricade. Back in the ring, Rollins cut him off and locked in a headlock. Rollins then landed some chops in the corner. Zayn with a series of clotheslines. Zayn went for a springboard move and sold his ankle. Zayn tossed Rollins to the floor and hit an outside dive. Back in the ring, Rollins hit a springboard knee strike for 2.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Zayn hitting a powerbomb off the top rope to Rollins for 2. Zayn went for a big boot but Rollins caught him with a knee strike and then started kicking the right ankle of Zayn. Rollins locked in a heel hook but Zayn fought out. Rollins hit the Pedigree for the win.
Winner: Rollins.
Rollins advances to the fatal 4-way match on next Monday’s RAW to determine a new WWE Universal Champion.
-Commercial Break-
Still shots from SummerSlam were shown.
Singles Match: Kevin Owens vs. Neville.
They lock up, Neville sent him to the floor and hit an outside dive. Owens walked to the other side of the ring and hit another dive. Chris Jericho walked out and distracted Neville which led to Owens hitting a clothesline.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Neville hitting a moonsault off the middle rope for 2. He went for the Red Arrow but Owens moved. Neville knocked him down and then hit a drop kick to Jericho. Owens knocked Neville off the top rope and hit spinning neck breaker for the win.
Winner: Owens.
Owens advances to the fatal 4-way match on next Monday’s RAW to determine a new WWE Universal Champion.
-Commercial Break-
The New Day walks down to the ring and starts dancing. Big E said he was glad to be back and then was interrupted by Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. Anderson brought up that New Day lost their match at SummerSlam and they want their Tag Team Title rematch. Anderson asked Kingston if he enjoyed the magic killer last night. Kingston told Big E to defend him. Gallows said that all the catchphrases won’t mean anything when they lose the titles. Gallows was convinced that Anderson would destroy Big E. Big E vowed to show them why New Day rocks.
-Commercial Break-
Singles Match: Karl Anderson vs. Big E.
The match was already underway when we came back from break. Big E hit a splash in the corner but Anderson cut him off with a knee. Big E fought back and hit the Big Ending for the win.
Winner: Big E.
New Day danced after the match.
A video of the debut for The Dudley Boyz from 1999 was shown.
-Commercial Break-
Titus O’Neil walked out to the ring and cut a promo about how he and Darren Young were WWE Tag Team Champions when they lost the titles to New Day in Brooklyn last year. O’Neil said that was the best day of his life because he dropped the dead weight of Young. He said that there is only one prime time player and that’s him. He said that he made Young a star. O’Neil ripped on Bob Backlund which led to Backlund running down. They brawled and Backlund locked in the Chicken Wing. O’Neil got out of it and hit a power slam. Young ran down and checked on Backlund. O’Neil hit a sitdown powerbomb to stand tall.
-Commercial Break-
A recap video package of Randy Orton vs. Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam was shown. Stephanie cut a promo backstage saying that Lesnar crossed the line and that there will be repercussions for Lesnar.
Lana introduced Rusev and said that he would be the next WWE Universal Champion.
Singles Match: Rusev vs. Big Cass.
Rusev knocked him down and we cut to break.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Rusev having Cass in a neck submission. Rusev caught him with a kick. Cass fought back with a shoulder tackle and a splash. Rusev with a kick but Cass landed a big boot that sent Rusev to the floor for the count out victory.
Winner: Big Cass.
Cass advances to the fatal 4-way match on next Monday’s RAW to determine a new WWE Universal Champion.
Owens and Jericho were interviewed backstage. Jericho vowed to defeat Roman Reigns in the main event.
-Commercial Break-
Charlotte walked down to the ring with Dana Brooke. Charlotte cut a promo about beating Sasha Banks at SummerSlam and reclaiming her throne. Foley walked out and congratulated her for her match. Foley said that Banks will get a title shot when she returns. Foley brought out Bayley as the newest member of the women’s division. Bayley was excited to be on RAW and wanted a hug with Foley in which she got. Charlotte mocked Foley for signing Bayley. Bayley wants a shot at the WWE Women’s Title. Foley booked Bayley for Dana Brooke.
-Commercial Break-
Singles Match: Bayley vs. Dana Brooke.
Bayley hit a powerslam before Brooke sent her to the floor and rammed her into the barricade. Back in the ring, Brooke locked in a submission. Bayley fought back and hit the Bayley-To-Belly for the win.
Winner: Bayley.
Reigns said in a backstage promo that he would shut up Jericho tonight.
-Commercial Break-
The Dudley Boyz come down to the ring to say goodbye. They cut a promo about their careers and standing out with their TLC matches with Edge & Christian as well as with The Hardy Boys. Bubba said that wrestlers don’t get the chance to go out on their own terms and they get to do just that. Devon said “oh my brother testify.” This led to The Shining Stars walking out. Primo said that it’s about time they leave because they’re washed up. The Dudleys attacked Shining Stars and hit a 3-D to Epico. Anderson and Gallows ran down to the ring and attacked The Dudleys. D-Von was put through a table by Anderson and Gallows.
-Commercial Break-
Singles Match: Roman Reigns vs. Chris Jericho.
They lock up then Jericho pushed him, and Reigns hit a back elbow. Jericho fired back with an elbow of his own, and we cut to break.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Jericho in control of Reigns. Moments later, Reigns fought back with a series of clotheslines.Jericho cut him off with a back elbow and went for the lion sault but Reigns put up his knees. Reigns hit the Superman Punch and covered him for 2. Reigns went for a spear but ran into a big boot and Jericho went for a Codebreaker, but Reigns hit a sitdown powerbomb for 2. Owens ran down to the ring, and Reigns punched him. Jericho rolled him up for 2. Reigns hit the Superman Punch, but Jericho blocked and went for the Walls of Jericho and got it. Reigns powered through and got to the bottom rope. Owens with a super kick to Reigns and Jericho hit the Codebreaker for 2. Jericho slapped him several times, and Reigns fired up. Reigns hit Owens with a Superman Punch and a spear to Jericho for the win.
Winner: Reigns.
Reigns advance to the fatal 4-way match on next Monday’s RAW to determine a new WWE Universal Champion.
Thanks for watching along and we will see you next time.
