With free agency approaching, Cedric Alexander is hoping to reunite with The Hurt Syndicate in AEW.
Alexander was released from his WWE contract on February 7 and will be free to elsewhere in May once his 90 day non-compete is up. He appeared on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet that was released on Thursday, opening up about his release.
“Good,” Alexander responded when asked how he’s doing. “Everything’s fine. Once I got that news, I wasn’t even mad. It kind of felt like a pressure was lifted off my shoulders. Oh wow, I’m free to do other things, cool, all right, let’s see what happens.”
Though he wasn’t expecting to be released, Alexander was not surprised by the news. He always thought he was going to be let go when WWE made other roster cuts in the past. Surviving those cuts made him think he had a real future in the company, but things kind of fizzled out.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but it was the thing of, like, I wasn’t surprised,” he said. “I guess I kind of saw the writing on the wall after a while. It was kind of just, eh.”
Alexander’s mindset is that WWE was his job, but wrestling is his career. He still gets to be a wrestler despite his dream job with WWE being over.
“So I immediately thought to myself when I was released, I was like, ‘Ok, that’s a job. Wrestling is my career. I may be out of a job, but I still have a career.’ All thanks to [Mustafa] Ali, he’s one of the guys that — he called me within the hour of me being released and was immediately like, ‘Hey dude, it’s all good.’ You know, just being super positive, as Ali is,” Alexander said. “It sucked, because it’s a dream job. It’s one of those jobs that I’m a kid and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to wrestle for WWE.’ Then when it ends, it just ends. You just move on.”
In addition to Ali, Shelton Benjamin and Lince Dorado have also been a big help to Alexander after his release. Alexander said he’s even heard from some people that he didn’t think he had a good rapport with. He and Dakota Kai only had a few conversations in the locker room, but she reached out wishing him well.
Going back to the indies feels like starting over for Alexander after spending nine years with WWE. He needed to catch up on which promotions are good to work for and find out which opponents are hot right now. Alexander has three months of bookings lined up and knows he’ll be able to make money in wrestling, but his biggest concern is making sure that he can still provide the quality of life that his wife and daughter deserve.
Alexander said AEW is where he wants to end up, but it’s fine if that doesn’t happen. He listed NJPW and Mexico as other places he would like to go.
“100 percent,” he responded when Van Vliet asked if he wants to join The Hurt Syndicate in AEW. “That’s a big chapter of my career that I really felt was never fully explored. And I think it’ll be great to finish that out.”
Bobby Lashley, Benjamin, MVP, and Alexander were known as The Hurt Business in WWE. The other three members of the group besides Alexander are all signed to AEW now, with Lashley & Benjamin currently holding the AEW Tag Team titles.
Van Vliet’s full interview with Alexander can be watched below:
Kenny Omega and WIll Ospreay will meet face-to-face this Wednesday.
During an interview that took place after Dynamite, Will Ospreay said that his battles with Omega were legendary, and were linked through one man, Don Callis. He said it was time he has a chat with Omega, and wanted to do it on the next AEW Dynamite in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Will Ospreay came to the aid of Kenny Omega to help with the Don Callis Family, now "The Aerial Assassin" is calling out "The Best Bout Machine" for #AEWDynamite THIS WEDNESDAY!
Since returning from injury, Omega has been targeted by the Don Callis family, who are not done with him. Despite defeating Brian Cage on Dynamite, Omega was jumped by the rest of the Callis family until Ospreay made the save, helping clear the ring.
Also on Wednesday we will see Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin go for the AEW Tag Team titles against current champions Private Party. After Lashley, Benjamin, and MVP defeated Private Party & Mark Briscoe on Wednesday, MVP considered themselves the new number one contenders to the titles and issued the challenge.
With a definitive victory over the AEW World Tag Team Champions Private Party, the Hurt Syndicate makes a challenge for the Titles THIS WEDNESDAY on #AEWDynamite!
Also announced is Samoa Joe taking on Nick Wayne after Joe made his return on the last Dynamite, taking out members of The Patriarchy. Jamie Hayter will also look to score a measure of revenge by facing Julia Hart following her loss in their last match on January 1.
Here’s the current lineup for next Wednesday in Knoxville, Tennessee:
Will Ospreay & Kenny Omega meet face-to-face
Cope vs. PAC
AEW Tag Team titles: Private Party defend against The Hurt Business (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin)
Dave Meltzer on Monday’s Wrestling Observer Radio said that both Bobby Lashley and MVP were on their way out of WWE. Meltzer said that their contracts were up “relatively soon.”
“I know there is talk of them trying to get into AEW, it’s one of those things where technically nobody can talk to them because I don’t believe either’s contracts has expired, but their contracts are going to expire and they are at this point, as things stand right now, WWE is under the assumption that they’re gone and that they are going to try and revamp The Hurt Business,” he said, noting that he wasn’t sure if they would use that name.
Meltzer also said that MVP & Lashley want to bring in Shelton Benjamin in as well, a former member of the group who is also a free agent after being released by WWE last September, to reform the group in AEW.
“I don’t believe it is a done deal or anything like that but it is something that is alive,” he said.
Fightful Select first reported on Sunday that Bobby Lashley’s contract was due to expire “within the next month or so, possibly over the course of weeks.” Later that day, MVP posted a saluting emoji on X.
Lashley, MVP, Benjamin, and Cedric Alexander formed The Hurt Business in 2020 and were prominently featured on the Raw brand during the pandemic, with Lashley at one point holding both the WWE and United States titles and Alexander & Benjamin holding the Raw Tag Team titles. The group eventually split in early 2022. Although a reunion was teased last year, the storyline was quietly dropped.
Alexander remains with WWE and most recently was moved to the NXT roster.
Ricochet could have been a member of WWE’s Hurt Business faction if one decision went differently.
On Tuesday, MVP posted a tweet revealing that — when The Hurt Business was being formed — he asked for both Ricochet and Cedric Alexander to be in the group. When WWE told him that he could only have one of them, MVP chose Alexander because he thought it would help Alexander more.
“True story. When we were forming The Hurt Business, I asked for BOTH Ricochet AND Cedric Alexander,” MVP wrote. “We were told we could only have 1. We chose Cedric because we felt he needed our association more than Ricochet did. I always thought Ricky O would be a big star on his own.”
The Hurt Business existed from 2020-2022 and included MVP, Alexander, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin. Lashley had WWE Championship and United States Championship reigns while the group was together. Alexander & Benjamin held the Raw Tag Team titles.
MVP posted that he, Lashley, and Benjamin also discussed Naomi and Bianca Belair as potential Hurt Business members, but WWE had other plans for both of them.
Ricochet’s WWE run seemingly came to an end with him being demolished by Bron Breakker in an angle that took place on Raw last night. Dave Meltzer reports that the prevailing belief is Ricochet is headed to AEW when his WWE contract expires, but that has not been confirmed.
Two championship matches are set for the Monday, September 25 edition of WWE Raw.
In a Payback rematch, the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship will be on the line next week, with The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest & Finn Balor defending the titles against former champs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
In the other title match announced, The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio will defend the NXT North American Championship against Dragon Lee.
Another segment announced for next week will see Shinsuke Nakamura respond to Seth Rollins after Rollins declared that Nakamura can choose a stipulation, time, and place for their next World Heavyweight Championship match. Nakamura attacked Rollins on this week’s Raw.
Also set for next week, “Big” Bronson Reed will face Alpha Academy’s Otis in singles competition. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ludwig Kaiser is set for the episode as well.
The current lineup for the Monday, September 25 Raw in Ontario, California at the Toyota Arena:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest & Finn Balor defend against Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
NXT North American Championship: The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio defends against Dragon Lee
One of WWE’s top factions looks to be back in business.
During Big E and Bobby Lashley’s WWE Championship match on tonight’s episode of Raw, Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander appeared at ringside wearing their Hurt Business T-shirts. Lashley had kicked Benjamin and Alexander out of The Hurt Business on Raw this March. MVP is also part of the group.
Big E’s New Day stablemates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods ran out to brawl with Benjamin and Alexander after they appeared. The match ended in a no contest, leading to WWE authority figure Adam Pearce announcing that Big E will defend his WWE Championship against Lashley in a steel cage match later on tonight’s show.
Lashley gave Benjamin and Alexander fist bumps as the three of them were heading up the ramp following the announcement.
Big E cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Lashley to win the WWE Championship on Raw two weeks ago. When asked about potential challengers in an interview with Complex, Big E said he wanted to see The Hurt Business get back together:
Oh yeah, man. The first thought that comes to mind is The Hurt Business. I want to see them back. I want to see them together. Man, just the opportunity to go out there. The story is already there. The history is there, but I beat Bobby, and now Bobby needs to back up and [get] his two cast-off brothers back again. I got two brothers of my own. There are so many opportunities. And, same thing, I look over at SmackDown, it’s Roman and The Bloodline. I am someone who loves that. You look at The Hurt Business, you look at The Bloodline, and those that might be in those two great, incredible [factions] with really talented performers. But imagine The Hurt Business coming back together to do battle with The New Day. All kinds of incarnations; singles matches, tag matches. Man, there’s so much that we can do there.
So that’s the first order of business. I saw Cedric’s tweet, too, and I sent him the ‘mount up.’ Let him know: bring your boys, get the troop together, because that’s what I want. And I don’t think Bobby is ready to go quietly into that good night. I think he’s got some more fighting. So I want to see him with his troop, and let’s get this thing cracking again.
MVP is currently out of action after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last week. He said he hopes to be back on Raw in 4-6 weeks. In storyline, WWE claimed that MVP suffered a rib injury when Randy Orton gave him an RKO on the floor.
The Hurt Business imploded with two members being kicked out of the group on last night’s episode of Raw.
After Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander failed to take out Drew McIntyre in a two-on-one handicap match the previous week, Lashley berated them last night for not being able to get the job done. Lashley said he refuses to associate himself with incompetence. MVP gave Benjamin and Alexander the chance to speak, and Benjamin said Lashley wouldn’t even be WWE Champion without them. Things then broke down into a brawl that ended with Lashley laying Benjamin out. Lashley said The Hurt Business is over when it comes to Benjamin and Alexander.
Later in the show, Lashley defeated Benjamin in a singles match. Lashley vs. Alexander will take place on Raw’s WrestleMania 37 go-home show next week.
Lashley put a bounty out on McIntyre after Benjamin & Alexander were unable to defeat him last Monday. Lashley said that if anyone could take out McIntyre before WrestleMania 37, they’d get a WWE Championship shot against Lashley at WrestleMania instead. McIntyre dared anyone to try and cash in on the bounty. He confronted wrestlers in the locker room and wrestled twice on last night’s show, defeating Ricochet and Mustafa Ali.
McIntyre called out Lashley after defeating Ali in the main event. They went back and forth on the microphone and then started brawling. McIntyre sent Lashley out of the ring, but McIntyre was then attacked by SmackDown’s Baron Corbin. McIntyre tried to fight back against Corbin but was dropped with the Deep Six. Lashley then put McIntyre in the Hurt Lock three times and posed with the WWE Championship as the show went off the air.
Date: March 15, 2021 Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
The Big Takeaway —
Shane McMahon beat up Braun Strowman and covered him with green slime. The two will have a singles match at Fastlane. Also, Randy Orton accepted Alexa Bliss’ challenge for some sort of fight at Fastlane.
The New Day won the tag team titles and will defend them at WrestleMania against AJ Styles and Omos. Riddle retained the US title over Mustafa Ali.
Asuka returned and squeaked out a quick win over Shayna Baszler before attacking Baszler after their match. Asuka was about to curb-stomp her into the exposed turnbuckle but the referee stopped her.
Show Recap —
They kicked off with breaking news: Bobby Lashley will defend the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania.
Lashley and MVP entered. They were extremely well-dressed. MVP reminded us that we are in the All Mighty era. MVP called Lashley the CHO of the Hurt Business and said he won the WWE title after 16 years of dedication. Lashley said he wasn’t given anything — he had to fight to win the title and he did so after destroying McIntyre, which he will do again at Mania.
The Miz and John Morrison entered. They were not as well-dressed. They claimed they were all-in on the All Mighty era. Miz was honoured to share the ring with Lashley and was sad that their rivalry was over. He talked about the great feuds that had showdowns at Mania, including Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan-André the Giant, and The Rock-Steve Austin.
Miz did an awful Steve Austin impression (for 3:16 week) and he went on for a while. Basically, he wanted Lashley to agree to a title match against him at Mania.
McIntyre interrupted. He walked right by Miz and Morrison without acknowledging them. McIntyre said he knew what it was like to take such a long journey to finally win the title. They both went years being the hardest-working men in the room while opportunities passed them by. They both left WWE and had to start at the bottom to get to the top.
The difference with their stories was that McIntyre won the Royal Rumble and beat Brock Lesnar in five minutes, whereas Lashley made a deal to screw him out of the title.
MVP told McIntyre that he’d have to deal with Sheamus first. McIntyre wasn’t worried about Sheamus and wondered why MVP was even there. Lashley said to focus on him.
Miz reminded them that he was there. McIntyre said Miz can attack him if he wants or just go to the back. McIntyre said he would beat Miz in their match and beat Sheamus at Fastlane before regaining his belt at Mania, ending the All Mighty era. McIntyre called Lashley a “big, bald, bitch.”
Lashley acted like he was going to leave but attacked McIntyre after Miz distracted him. After Lashley left, Miz attacked McIntyre.
Sheamus then attacked Lashley as he was leaving until officials stepped in. Lashley was about to go after him but MVP told him to wait until later tonight.
In the back, Sheamus told Sarah Schreiber that he wanted McIntyre at 100% so he wouldn’t have any excuses at Fastlane. He was going to beat Lashley tonight and show McIntyre what he wouldn’t be able to do at Mania.
A referee checked on McIntyre to make sure he could start his match against the Miz. As this happened, they ran down tonight’s card. Conveniently, McIntyre was ready to go once this was finished.
Drew McIntyre defeated The Miz (w/John Morrison) (11:18)
Miz attacked McIntyre but McIntyre quickly fought back and took control. Morrison tried distracting McIntyre but it didn’t work, so Morrison chucked his shades in the ring and McIntyre stomped on them. This distraction allowed Miz to attack but again McIntyre quickly fought him off.
McIntyre hit a reverse Alabama Slam but Morrison pulled Miz out of the ring as McIntyre set up for a Claymore. The ref tossed Morrison from ringside and they went to break.
Miz hit a DDT for just a one count. McIntyre came back with clotheslines, overhead suplexes and a neckbreaker before taking him to the outside to drive him into the barricade and side of the ring. McIntyre slapped him in the face and bounced his face on the steel steps. McIntyre followed with a Future Shock DDT and a Claymore kick.
Instead of going for the cover, McIntyre pointed at the camera, pointed at the Mania sign, and put Miz in the Hurt Lock for the decisive submission win.
The announcers congratulated Bad Bunny on winning a Grammy for best Latin pop album. He was shown walking with Damian Priest in the back.
Braun Strowman / Shane McMahon segment
Strowman was mid-sentence in the ring after a commercial. He called out Shane McMahon who came out on the stage. He wasn’t sure what Strowman wanted. Strowman said he was bullied his whole life by guys like Shane and said he didn’t grow up in a mansion like him. Shane thought his accusations were disgusting. He claimed he would never insult another man.
Strowman said Shane was afraid which is why he stumbled over his words. Strowman knew Shane wanted a match with him but didn’t have the guts to issue the challenge. Strowman challenged him to a match tonight. Shane said Strowman couldn’t handle him. Shane made a bunch of jokes about how stupid Strowman was (as he stumbled over his dialogue).
Strowman told him to shut up. He wanted an answer. Shane accepted.
R-Truth, dressed as Steve Austin, approached Dana Brooke, Mandy Rose, Lana and Naomi in the back. They told him it was 3/15 today, not 3/16. He kept saying “What” in response. He offered them a beer but they told him that they have a match next. Truth downed a Broken Skull IPA before saying, “And that’s the bottom line because R-Truth said so!”
(It’s hard to believe that the 3/16 show where Steve Austin appeared in front of an empty building was one year ago. That was the first Raw at the Performance Centre.)
Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke defeated Lana & Naomi (4:30)
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler were on commentary.
Rose and Brooke worked over Naomi until she hit a jawbreaker and tagged in Lana. As Lana ran wild on Rose, Byron Saxton said she looked impressive. Baszler responded, “impressive for a dancer.”
The four wrestlers traded moves when Asuka’s music suddenly hit and she marched out. Baszler left commentary and went after her. Asuka dodged her attack and nailed a roundhouse kick. Asuka hammered away on Baszler until officials stopped her. Jax calmly said, “I should help” but she remained on commentary.
Lana gave Rose an X-Factor but Rose wasn’t the legal wrestler. Brooke flew in with a swinging neckbreaker for the pinfall win. Jax was appropriately confused. I’m not sure where Naomi went.
Riddle approached Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods in the back. New Day were startled upon seeing him, which was funny. They were all excited to leave tonight as champions. Riddle thought they should get matching tattoos but New Day didn’t like that idea. Riddle suggested matching scooters and New Day liked that idea better.
[Second hour]
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods defeated Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander to win the Raw Tag Team Championships
New Day wore their Mortal Kombat gear and did a spot inspired by Scorpion, which led to Woods yelling, “toasty!” Hurt Business put an end to the fun with a cool spot where Alexander monkey flipped Kingston into a Benjamin spinebuster.
Kingston came back with a double foot stomp and tagged in Woods who fought off both men. New Day tried dives but Hurt Business blocked them and knocked them down outside the ring which led to break.
Woods and Alexander exchanged blows until Alexander hit a Michinoku Driver for two. Kingston tagged in but Benjamin cut him off with an enziguri. Kingston came back with a rana and foot stomp for two, followed by an SOS for two. Benjamin launched Kingston off the top with an arm drag but Woods broke up the cover.
Woods took out Alexander with a tornado DDT on the outside. Kingston hit Benjamin with Trouble in Paradise before wiping out Alexander with a dive.
Woods gave Benjamin a flying elbow drop and they followed that with Day Break for the pinfall win. New Day are the new tag team champions. Good match.
AJ Styles and Omos entered as New Day celebrated. New Day were ready for a fight but Styles said he just wanted to congratulate them on winning the titles right before Mania. Styles said he has been the WWE champion, IC champion and US champion. He even fought the Undertaker at Mania. Woods (off mic) yelled, “What do you want, AJ? We don’t care!”
Styles said Omos had an idea. Omos thought they should be tag champs. Styles officially challenged them to a title match at Mania. Kingston grabbed a mic and asked if they were officially registered as a tag team. Styles said yes. New Day accepted their challenge.
Priest and Bad Bunny approached Miz and Morrison. They mocked Miz and his awful stretch. Bad Bunny thought it was amusing that Miz ever held a belt. Miz ran down his accomplishments and asked Priest which championships he’s won. Priest said he was right and maybe he should start winning some right now. He got in Miz’s face but Miz and Morrison backed off and left.
Truth was about to attack Bad Bunny with an “Austin 3:16” lunchbox but Priest saw him coming, so he stopped. Truth said he was only there to give them some gifts. He had a Steve Austin plush doll and smoking skull belt for Bad Bunny. He also had a beer for Priest.
Bad Bunny wanted to know what Truth wanted in return. Truth wanted the 24/7 title belt. Bad Bunny said he respected Truth and the business. He gave Truth the 24/7 belt. Truth was elated. Right on cue, Drew Gulak, Akira Tozawa and Humberto Carrillo (I think) chase him away.
(I was reminded recently that Gulak wrestled Daniel Bryan at last year’s Elimination Chamber.)
Tom Phillips said there will be a new on-sale date for Mania soon.
Priest won immediately by pinfall after a Broken Arrow and Hit the Lights.
Elias attacked Priest after the match. He was about to attack with a guitar but Bad Bunny snatched it away. Elias grabbed Bad Bunny for a slam but he slipped out and punched Elias in the face. Priest gave Elias his finisher.
Morrison sauntered out to distract them so Miz could hit Bad Bunny from behind with the guitar. (The director actually missed the spot, so they showed a replay.) Miz bailed before Priest could go after him. Priest checked on Bad Bunny.
There was an ad for NXT but no matches were announced.
Schreiber interviewed Lashley and MVP. MVP was pissed about Sheamus attacking Lashley. He warned Sheamus that he won’t be walking into Fastlane at 100% and the same thing that happens to him tonight will happen to McIntyre at Mania.
Shane McMahon vs. Braun Strowman
The match didn’t happen.
Shane stalled before the match could start. He claimed he needed to warm up so he did push-ups and jumping jacks outside the ring. He also had a hopscotch game set up at ringside because of Strowman’s schoolyard comment earlier. (How did he get that so fast?) That pissed off Strowman so he went after Miz.
Strowman kicked Shane into the barricade and decided to run all the way around the ring for a shoulder tackle attempt. This gave Shane enough time to grab a camera from the cameraman and hit Strowman in the face. Shane repeatedly hit Strowman with the camera before clearing the announce table.
With Strowman laid out on the table, Shane nailed a flying elbow drop off the top and they crashed through the table. Shane got up pretty quickly from this spot. He grabbed a bucket of green slime from under the ring and dumped it over Strowman while calling him stupid. He grabbed a second bucket and dumped that on him as well.
They played Shane’s music as he walked to the back. Strowman got up and said he would rip Shane’s head off.
Rhea Ripley is (still) coming soon.
Alexa Bliss segment
Alexa Bliss (wearing white contacts) was on a swing set in the back. Bliss told Randy Orton that he if wanted her out of his life, he’d have to take her out of it. Bliss said he would have the opportunity at Fastlane and wondered if he’d take it. (The announcers weren’t sure what she meant by that.)
[Third hour]
They played the clip of Shane Helms informing Molly Holly that she would be inducted into the hall of fame this year.
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defeated Shayna Baszler (w/Nia Jax) in a non-title match (1:29)
Asuka attacked Baszler before the match started. She also took out Jax with a Codebreaker. The ref checked on Baszler who told him to start the match.
Asuka attacked Baszler while also knocking Jax off the apron with a hip attack. Baszler hit a knee strike (which appeared to hit Asuka hard right in the jaw). The ref checked on Asuka who appeared to be fine. As Asuka went for an armbar, she once again had to knock Jax from the apron.
Baszler put Asuka into the Kirifuda Clutch but Asuka rolled into a cover for the pinfall win. Baszler still had the hold on but let it go after the bell rang.
Baszler tried to kick Asuka’s teeth out again but Asuka blocked it, hit a German suplex and kicks of her own. Asuka then curb-stomped Baszler’s face into the bottom turnbuckle.
Asuka removed the buckle padding and Baszler’s mouthguard. She was about to stomp her into the exposed buckle but the ref saved Baszler. (I liked the post-match stuff.)
Mustafa Ali told Retribution that he would right their wrongs tonight. Riddle sped through them on his scooter. Ali was unamused.
The announcers ran down the Fastlane card which now includes Shane vs. Strowman, and McIntyre vs. Sheamus.
Riddle defeated Mustafa Ali (w/Retribution) to retain the US Championship (8:51)
Early in the match, Ali chucked Riddle neck-first into the edge of the new announce table. Ali hit a swinging neckbreaker off the apron to the outside which led to break about 90 seconds into this championship match.
Ali took control after the break and hit a neckbreaker for two. He followed moments later with another neckbreaker for two again. Riddle fought back with a Pelé kick, exploder suplex, senton, and fisherman buster for two.
Riddle cradled Ali but as Ali reversed into a cradle of his own, T-Bar was distracting the referee. Riddle kicked out and hit a Bro Derek for the pinfall win. This match was fine.
Retribution chased Riddle away after the match. Ali yelled at them.
Schreiber asked Orton for his reaction to Alexa Bliss challenging him to a one-on-one match. Orton thought it was funny that she wanted him to “kick” her out of his life because that’s exactly what he planned on doing.
Drew McIntyre promo
McIntyre was still in his gear. He started with some comedy and said people must be wondering why he hasn’t showered and changed yet. He joked that he pretty much always dressed this way.
McIntyre said MVP did a dangerous thing by making a guarantee earlier. McIntyre planned on beating Sheamus at Fastlane before beating Lashley at Mania. He wanted a front-row seat for tonight’s main event.
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley (w/MVP) defeated Sheamus in a non-title match (17:38)
McIntyre watched from ringside.
They fought back and forth until Lashley caught Sheamus off the apron and gave him an overhead suplex. Lashley got in McIntyre’s face as they went to break.
Lashley was in full control after the break. He pointed at McIntyre who gave him a sarcastic thumbs-up. The extra time allowed Sheamus to dodge a running shoulder tackle and Lashley went shoulder-first into the post. Sheamus hit a flying clothesline but Lashley kicked out at one.
Sheamus clubbed away at him before hitting a backbreaker for a one count. Sheamus followed with another backbreaker, this time for two. Sheamus applied a modified sharpshooter but Lashley kicked his way out of it and hit a powerslam for two.
Sheamus hit elbows strikes but Lashley countered into a flatliner for two. Lashley followed that with a superplex but Sheamus countered a spear attempt with a knee strike. Sheamus followed with White Noise for a two count.
Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick but Lashley nailed a spear for the pinfall win. Pretty good match.
Lashley put Sheamus down with the Hurt Lock after the match. After McIntyre got into the ring, Sheamus bumped into MVP by accident (as he was selling). This caused Lashley to turn his attention to them, which allowed McIntyre to knock him out of the ring with a Claymore kick. McIntyre and Sheamus stared each other down as the show ended.
The injury occurred during a match where he, Shelton Benjamin, and Cedric Alexander faced the Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado) and Riddle. Dave Meltzer reported on.Wrestling Observer Radio this morning that MVP needed getting help to the back while the cameras were off . He appeared on Raw Talk later that night in crutches. Additionally, PWInsider reported this morning that MVP had traveled to Brimingham, Alabama.
Riddle scored the win for his team in the match, pinning MVP with a knee strike and a floating bro. After the match, Riddle was laid out by Bobby Lashley. Riddle is scheduled to face Lashley for the United States title at Elimination Chamber this Sunday in a triple threat match that also includes Keith Lee.
After returning to WWE last year, MVP aligned himself with Lashley. His association with Lashley would later turn into managing his own stable, adding Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin to the mix.
Riddle will face The Hurt Business’ Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander, and MVP in a gauntlet match on Raw this Monday. If Riddle wins, he’ll earn a shot at Bobby Lashley’s United States Championship. WWE hasn’t announced when Riddle will be getting his title shot.
Benjamin will be Riddle’s first opponent in the gauntlet match. Benjamin & Alexander are the Raw Tag Team Champions.
On Raw two weeks ago, Lashley retained the United States title against Riddle after attacking him before the bell rang.
WWE has also announced that Charlotte Flair will face Shayna Baszler in a singles match on this Monday’s Raw. Charlotte & Asuka won the Women’s Tag Team titles from Baszler & Nia Jax at last month’s TLC pay-per-view.
Charlotte and Baszler were the final two in last year’s women’s Royal Rumble match. Charlotte, Baszler, and Jax have all declared for this year’s women’s Royal Rumble.
Here’s the updated lineup for Monday’s Raw.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Goldberg return ahead of their title match at the Royal Rumble
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defends against Alexa Bliss
Hurt Business gauntlet match: Riddle vs. Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander, and MVP (if Riddle wins, he becomes the number one contender to Bobby Lashley’s United States Championship)
Ahead of challenging for Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship at TLC, AJ Styles will be in action against one of McIntyre’s friends on Monday’s go-home episode of Raw.
WWE has announced that Styles vs. Sheamus will take place on Raw this Monday. They also faced off last week as Styles, The Miz & John Morrison defeated McIntyre & Sheamus in a three-on-two handicap match. After Sheamus accidentally gave McIntyre a Brogue Kick when Morrison moved out of the way, Styles hit a Phenomenal Forearm on Sheamus and pinned him to get the win.
There was an angle where McIntyre and Sheamus briefly brawled backstage after the miscommunication, but they were back on the same page after they put Pat Buck through a table when Buck tried to break things up.
WWE is also hyping that there will be a “The Nightmare Before TLC” segment with Styles on Monday’s Raw. Styles is challenging for McIntyre’s WWE Championship in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at TLC.
“The Phenomenal One plans to bring ‘The Nightmare Before TLC’ to Raw this Monday to display what’s in store for the WWE Championship Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match,” WWE.com wrote. “The Miz & John Morrison will back up Styles for his terrifying display, as Mr. Money in the Bank has his own hopes of delivering sleepless nights to the King of Claymore Country.”
A six-man tag match with Jeff Hardy & Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) facing The Hurt Business (United States Champion Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) has also been added to Monday’s Raw. The New Day are defending their titles against Benjamin & Alexander at TLC. Lashley defeated Hardy in a non-title match on Raw last week. Riddle came to Hardy’s aid when MVP got involved during the match and when Lashley wouldn’t let The Hurt Lock go after.
Here’s the updated lineup for Monday’s Raw:
AJ Styles vs. Sheamus
Jeff Hardy & The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Hurt Business (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
Lana vs. Nia Jax
AJ Styles brings “The Nightmare Before TLC” to Raw
Bray Wyatt takes his Firefly Fun House characters on a field trip to the WWE ThunderDome
A new title match has been added to the card for this month’s TLC pay-per-view.
WWE has announced that Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) will defend their titles against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) at TLC. While Benjamin & Alexander have unsuccessfully challenged for The New Day’s titles twice recently, Alexander has defeated Woods and Kingston in singles action on Raw over the past two weeks.
Alexander defeated Woods on Raw last week. On this Monday’s show, Kingston defeated Benjamin but suffered a storyline knee injury in the process. Alexander then got on the microphone and challenged Kingston to face him. Kingston agreed and then lost to Alexander.
The New Day will look to keep The Hurt Business in the red and once again retain their Raw Tag Team Titles at WWE TLC.
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have gotten the better of Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander in two epic championship battles on the red brand. Alexander has found success on his own in recent matchups against Kingston & Woods, but his solo swagger has definitely caught the attention of his Hurt Business associates.
It will be another clash of styles when The Power of Positivity takes on the no-nonsense culture that MVP has put in place.
Will The New Day head into the holidays feeling golden? Or will The Hurt Business be stacking titles and profits entering the new year?
TLC is taking place on Sunday, December 20. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends his title against Kevin Owens in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends his title against AJ Styles in a tables, ladders, and chairs match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends her title against Carmella
Randy Orton vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend their titles against Asuka & Lana
Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) defend against The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
Two non-title matches involving tag team champions are set for Monday’s episode of Raw.
WWE has announced that Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) will face The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) in a non-title match on Monday’s Raw. Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will also face Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke in non-title action on the show.
The Hurt Business confronted The New Day in a backstage segment on Raw this week and said they have their sights set on The New Day’s Raw Tag Team titles.
Baszler, Jax, Rose, Brooke, and Lana are the wrestlers who will be on Team Raw for their five-on-five elimination match against Team SmackDown at Survivor Series. Bianca Belair is the first wrestler to qualify for Team SmackDown.
Rose & Brooke began teaming together last month after both were moved to Raw. They argued with Baszler & Jax on Raw this week after Baszler & Jax claimed to be the leaders of Team Raw.
Jeff Hardy vs. Elias in a Guitar on a Pole match has also been announced for Monday’s Raw.
Ahead of tonight’s Raw going on the air, WWE announced that The Hurt Business (MVP, United States Champion Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) will face RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-Bar, Mace & Slapjack) in an eight-man tag match tonight. AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle and Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus have also been added to the show.
Ali was revealed as the leader of RETRIBUTION on Raw two weeks ago. It had been announced that last week’s Raw would feature Ali speaking for the first time since that reveal, but the segment ended up not taking place.
Styles, Riddle, Kingston, and Sheamus all moved over to Raw in the WWE Draft after formerly being on SmackDown.
Kingston & Xavier Woods are now the Raw Tag Team Champions after swapping title belts with The Street Profits. With Kingston & Woods moving to Raw and Big E staying on SmackDown, The New Day had their farewell match on SmackDown last Friday and defeated Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro.
Tonight’s Raw is also the brand’s go-home show for Hell in a Cell and will feature the final build to WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton’s Hell in a Cell match.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s show:
Keith Lee vs. Braun Strowman
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defends against Lana
Elias concert
Bray Wyatt hosts a Firefly Fun House segment
The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) vs. RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-Bar, Mace & Slapjack)
Raw’s go-home show for Clash of Champions featured the in-ring debut of RETRIBUTION.
After it was announced during last night’s opening segment that the five core members of RETRIBUTION have signed WWE contracts, three of them faced off with The Hurt Business (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) in the main event. Dominik Dijakovic is now known as T-Bar, Dio Maddin is Mace, and Shane Thorne is Slapjack.
The match ended in a disqualification when T-Bar attacked Lashley as Lashley had Slapjack in a full nelson. A brawl between the teams broke out and more RETRIBUTION members got involved. WWE Champion Drew McIntyre then led the Raw locker room out to the ring. When they cleared RETRIBUTION out of the ring, Randy Orton came in and laid out McIntyre with an RKO ahead of their ambulance match for the WWE title on Sunday.
Orton also interrupted a match between McIntyre and Keith Lee earlier in last night’s show.
Three new title matches were confirmed for Clash of Champions last night. Lashley will defend his United States Championship against Apollo Crews, The Street Profits will defend their Raw Tag Team titles against Andrade & Angel Garza, and Asuka will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Zelina Vega. Asuka vs. Vega will be Sunday’s pre-show match.
