Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey will officially defend her title against Nia Jax at WWE TLC.
Rousey vs. Jax was announced for the December 16 pay-per-view in San Jose, California during tonight’s post-Survivor Series episode of Raw. This will be the second televised match they’ve had against each other. At Money in the Bank, Rousey defeated Jax by disqualification when Alexa Bliss interrupted their match.
After facing Charlotte Flair at Survivor Series, Rousey made an appearance on tonight’s Raw. She cut a promo where she vowed to submit Jax at TLC and then find Charlotte and finish what they started. Rousey talked about what it means to be a true champion, with the storyline leading to her issuing an open challenge. She retained her title by submitting Mickie James.
Jax & Tamina defeated Bayley & Sasha Banks on Raw.
Rousey vs. Jax, Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin in a tables, ladders, and chairs match, and Seth Rollins defending the Intercontinental Championship against Dean Ambrose have been confirmed for TLC.
All of Raw’s Survivor Series teams have now been confirmed.
On tonight’s Raw, WWE had Alexa Bliss announce Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Natalya (who had been laid out by The Riott Squad earlier in the night) & Ruby Riott as their women’s division team for Survivor Series. Bliss, who is still out of action, is the captain for the team but isn’t in the match.
Charlotte Flair, Asuka, Naomi, Sonya Deville & Carmella will be SmackDown’s women’s team.
There was an angle on tonight’s Raw where Bliss made Sasha Banks vs. Bayley for the last spot on her team, but James, Jax, and Tamina attacked them and Bliss announced Riott as the final member. It was shown that Lynch had Ronda Rousey in an armbar backstage, Lynch came to the ring, and the SmackDown women’s division invaded and stood tall. Lynch got busted open at one point during the segment.
The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California is hosting Survivor Series on Sunday. Here’s the updated card:
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion AJ Styles
Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
Raw Tag Team Champions AOP vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus
Men’s Survivor Series elimination match: Team Raw (Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor & Bobby Lashley) vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Daniel Bryan, Shane McMahon, Rey Mysterio & Samoa Joe)
Women’s Survivor Series elimination match: Team Raw (Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Natalya & Ruby Riott) vs. Team SmackDown (Charlotte Flair, Asuka, Naomi, Sonya Deville & Carmella)
Tag Team Survivor Series elimination match: Team Raw (Bobby Roode & Chad Gable, The B-Team, The Revival, The Lucha House Party & The Ascension) vs. Team SmackDown (The Usos, The New Day, TBA, TBA & TBA)
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defending against Mustafa Ali
A new NXT women’s champion was crowned, a new contender for the Raw women’s championship was established and this year’s Mae Young Classic winner was crowned tonight at WWE Evolution.
In the battle royal, Nia Jax last eliminated Ember Moon to win a future title match. After throwing Zelina Vega to the outside on Tamina, Moon tried to eliminate Jax but to no avail, as Jax tree slammed her then eliminated Moon to win the match. After Ronda Rousey successfully defended the Raw women’s title at the end of the night, Jax was seen backstage watching Rousey celebrate on a nearby monitor.
The NXT women’s championship was the sole title to change hands tonight. The finish had Sane back body drop Baszler into a crowd of NXT women wrestlers, including Shayna Baszler’s friends Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke. Both got involved, with a second cheap shot by Duke allowing Baszler to get the submission win with the kirifuda clutch. With the win, Baszler becomes the first ever two time NXT women’s champion.
In the Mae Young Classic finals, Toni Storm defeated Io Shirai to win this year’s tournament. Shirai kicked out of the Storm zero (tiger bomb). Shirai went for a moonsault, but Storm got the knees up and hit a second Storm zero for the win.
With Ronda Rousey in action, the Raw roster kicked off their weekend of house shows in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last night. They’ll be at Madison Square Garden tonight and Bridgeport, Connecticut on Sunday.
– Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler (w/ Drew McIntyre) defeated Seth Rollins to retain his title
– WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander defeated Buddy Murphy to retain his title
– Ember Moon, Bayley & Natalya defeated Alicia Fox, Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan
Though she had already been cleared and briefly appeared in a backstage segment on Raw late last month, this was Fox’s first match since breaking her tailbone prior to the Royal Rumble. She teamed with the Riott Squad due to Ruby Riott’s sprained MCL.
– Bobby Roode defeated Mojo Rawley
– Raw Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt defeated The B-Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) and Titus Worldwide (Titus O’Neil & Apollo Crews) in a triple threat match to retain their titles
Wyatt has already been cleared to return despite suffering “multiple injuries” in a car accident last week.
– Ronda Rousey defeated Nia Jax
Alexa Bliss entered as the special guest referee and announced that she decided they needed a second ref, then brought out Mickie James. Rousey got a good reaction and, after her induction the previous night, was announced as the first woman to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Bliss, who mostly stayed on the outside, and James both got involved in the match. Jax played heel a bit, but they went against her too. Rousey used kicks to the face, punches, a knee strike, throws, chokes, an armbar in the ropes, and a crossbody. James counted slow for Rousey twice and faked hurting her wrist before attacking her. Rousey threw James and put her in an armbar but was hit with a leg drop from Jax. Bliss then attacked Jax when she went for the cover.
Jax eventually laid out James and Bliss. After another referee came out, Rousey fought off a Samoan drop and submitted Jax with an armbar.
– The Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado) defeated Drew Gulak, Brian Kendrick & Jack Gallagher
This is a rare weekend where WWE has more than two cruiserweights on the road with the Raw roster.
– Bobby Lashley defeated Jinder Mahal (w/ Sunil Singh)
– Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman & Finn Balor defeated Kevin Owens, Elias & Baron Corbin
There’s a new stipulation for the Raw women’s title match between champion Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax at Extreme Rules.
Jax came out before her match tonight against Mickie James and said that she and Alexa Bliss, who was with James, would compete under Extreme Rules at the titular show. Nia once again was the babyface to Bliss’ heel. Jax then defeated James after help from Natalya, who warded off Bliss on the outside.
This would be the third match in a row pitting Jax against Bliss. They first squared off at WrestleMania, where Jax beat Bliss to win the title. She also won the following month at Backlash. Bliss regained the title after cashing in her briefcase at Money in the Bank, pinning a prone Jax to win the title.
Ronda Rousey, who has been suspended, has hinted that she will be part of the match in some fashion. In an interview tonight on Raw, Rousey mentioned that while she is suspended from Raw, she is not suspended from Extreme Rules, and therefore will buy a ticket and sit in the front row.
Extreme Rules will take place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The first match has been confirmed for next month’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
After interrupting Nia Jax vs. Ronda Rousey on Sunday and cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase to win the Raw Women’s Championship, Alexa Bliss will be defending the title against Jax at Extreme Rules. That was announced by Kurt Angle at the start of tonight’s Raw, with him saying Jax is getting her automatic rematch.
Rousey came out during the segment with Bliss and Angle and went on a rampage after Bliss told her to get to the back of the line and called her an overhyped rookie. Rousey attacked Bliss, then did the same to Angle when he tried to stop her. She laid out referees, put Bliss through a table, and was given a 30-day suspension in storyline.
This will be the third time Bliss and Jax have faced each other on PPV this year. There wasn’t a stipulation announced for the match.
Extreme Rules is taking place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 15. It’s WWE’s final PPV before SummerSlam.
With two fatal four-way matches and Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey going face-to-face, Raw finished building to Money in the Bank on last night’s go-home show.
And it was Rousey who got the better of Jax heading into Sunday. Jax headbutted Rousey at the end of their segment and tried to continue the attack, but Rousey was able to lock in an armbar and get Jax to tap out.
The fatal four-ways featured Raw’s participants in Sunday’s Money in the Bank ladder matches, with Braun Strowman and Natalya getting wins before the pay-per-view.
Also on the show, Jinder Mahal played mind games with Roman Reigns by having him face Sunil Singh instead of Mahal, Sami Zayn attacked Bobby Lashley during an obstacle course, and Seth Rollins smashed a guitar that Elias claimed was given to him by John Mayer.
Two fatal four-way matches and a face-to-face segment have been announced for next week’s go-home edition of Raw.
The four-ways will feature all of Raw’s participants in the Money in the Bank ladder matches. Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, and Bobby Roode will face off in one of them, with Sasha Banks, Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss, and Natalya set for the other.
For the women’s match, WWE is questioning whether Bliss and Natalya will be able to compete after suffering storyline leg injuries. Bliss bailed on a six-woman tag tonight, leaving Banks & Moon on their own against The Riott Squad until Bayley tried to sub in for her.
Natalya’s storyline knee injury happened right before Nia Jax hit a Samoan drop to defeat her. Both Jax and Ronda Rousey checked on Natalya following the match, then argued as they tried to console her in the back. Jax insisted that she’s Natalya’s friend just as much as Rousey is.
Jax and Rousey will be involved in next week’s face-to-face segment as part of the final build for Rousey challenging for Jax’s Raw Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank.
Strowman defeated Roode tonight, and Balor beat Owens by disqualification when Owens wouldn’t stop stomping on him in the corner. Owens got a ladder out after the match and hesitated when going for a frog splash off it. Balor closed the show by hitting Owens with a Coup de Grace from the ladder.
A gauntlet qualifier for the final spot in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, an Intercontinental title defense, and the next step in the Nia Jax-Ronda Rousey storyline took place on the Memorial Day edition of Raw.
The last chance qualifier headlined the show, with Sasha Banks coming in last and submitting Ruby Riott. Bayley started the match off and eliminated Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, but she was attacked by the two Riott Squad members before Riott entered. Riott eliminated Bayley, Dana Brooke, and Mickie James until being tapped out by Banks.
Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal ended in a disqualification as Rollins got retribution for Mahal using a chair behind the referee’s back. Rollins’ entrance had interrupted an attempted performance by Elias, and Elias laid him out with a guitar shot following the match.
Jax taunted Rousey by holding an exhibition where she dominated a supposed judo champion, then went face-to-face with Rousey and said she isn’t intimidated by her.
The build to the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match also continued, with another Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor match and Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode.
A number of matches have been announced for next week’s Raw.
As a result of what happened at the start of Raw tonight, Kevin Owens will square off against Finn Balor. Owens shoved Balor right as he was going for the finish in a match against Braun Strowman, causing him to win by DQ. Owens then laid him out with a ladder before being chased away by Strowman.
Another match for the show has Nia Jax taking on Ronda Rousey’s friend Natalya. Jax mocked Rousey tonight by easily deflecting armbar attempts against a supposed Judo champion. The two had a staredown after the segment.
Braun Strowman will also battle Bobby Roode on next week’s show after he left both him and Owens, his original target of the evening, laying with powerslams. There will also be a battle royal next week featuring the B Team (Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas) where the winners get a future Raw tag team title shot against Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt.
Raw next week will be at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Stephanie McMahon returned to Raw last night and presided over a contract signing between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax.
Stephanie interrupted Kurt Angle in the opening segment and announced that she would be taking his place for the contract signing. Stephanie tried to turn Jax against Rousey, with Jax agreeing that Rousey couldn’t get the armbar on her and vowing to retain the title at Money in the Bank. Rousey said she’ll take the championship and Jax’s arm.
Also on Raw, Braun Strowman took on Finn Balor in the main event, Natalya qualified for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match by winning a fatal four-way, and Sami Zayn invited “Bobby Lashley’s sisters” to the show in a segment that was as bad as expected.
In her second televised match, Ronda Rousey will be challenging for Nia Jax’s Raw Women’s Championship.
The match was announced for Money in the Bank after being set up as Rousey, Jax, and other WWE representatives appeared at this morning’s NBC Universal upfronts in New York City. The storyline is that Jax issued the challenge at the upfronts and Rousey accepted it.
Rousey and Jax both spoke to E! News about the match, keeping kayfabe by explaining how they can get along outside of the ring and still face each other at the pay-per-view.
Rousey hasn’t wrestled since teaming with Kurt Angle to defeat Stephanie McMahon & Triple H at WrestleMania 34, but she’ll be taking part in matches on WWE’s European tour this week. She’s scheduled for WWE’s house shows in Geneva, Switzerland on May 16th, Vienna, Austria on the 17th, Turin, Italy on the 18th, and Paris, France on the 19th.
The Allstate Arena in the Chicago area will host Money in the Bank on June 17th. Here’s the updated card:
Raw Women’s Champion Nia Jax defending against Ronda Rousey
WWE Champion AJ Styles defending against Shinsuke Nakamura
Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match (Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, The Miz, Rusev, and four more wrestlers)
Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match (Ember Moon, Charlotte Flair, and six more wrestlers)
Two matches that had been expected to be added to the WrestleMania 34 card were made official on tonight’s episode of Raw.
First, it was confirmed that Nia Jax will be challenging for Alexa Bliss’ Raw Women’s Championship in New Orleans on April 8th. Their program has progressed over the last few weeks, with Bliss making fun of Jax and admitting to using her last Monday in a segment that was “accidentally” shown on the video screen. On tonight’s show, Bliss walked out of her match against Asuka and then ran away from Jax.
The 2018 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was also announced tonight. The Revival defeated Titus O’Neil & Apollo and then declared themselves as the first entrants in the match. They mentioned Braun Strowman challenging for the the Raw tag titles at WrestleMania, saying that they’ll become the first tag team to win the battle royal.
Mojo Rawley, Baron Corbin, Big Show, and Cesaro are the four wrestlers who have won the battle royal since it was created in 2014.
Here’s the updated card for WrestleMania 34:
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Roman Reigns
WWE Champion AJ Styles defending against Shinsuke Nakamura
Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defending against Asuka
Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss defending against Nia Jax
Intercontinental Champion The Miz defending against Seth Rollins and Finn Balor in a triple threat match
Raw Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus defending against Braun Strowman & a partner
Cedric Alexander vs. either Mustafa Ali or Drew Gulak in the Cruiserweight Championship tournament finals
The Ultimate Deletion is upon us, while Alexa Bliss and Asuka will square off once again next week on Raw.
During a video on tonight’s episode of Raw, Matt Hardy was shown in a video showcasing the Hardy Compound. His family, including Senor Benjamin, King Maxel, Wolfgang and Queen Rebecca were shown alongside Vanguard 1 and Skarsgard, the former dilapidated boat. He invited Bray Wyatt to the Ultimate Deletion that is set to take place during Raw. Bray Wyatt cut in immediately after the video and said he would accept.
Meanwhile, following a Nia Jax squash, Alexa Bliss admitted inadvertently on camera that she was just using Jax and made fun of her for standing out. Bliss said that Jax had better help her in her match against Asuka next week or she and Mickie James would take care of her. This stemmed from an angle earlier in the show where Jax was supposed to help Bliss take care of Asuka, but she never showed up as Kurt Angle had told Jax that she had a match just before she was to come out and help her.
When Charly Caruso, who was set to do an interview with Bliss and Mickie James, told them that the boom mic was on the whole time and everyone had just heard what they said, Bliss and James bolted out of the dressing room. Nia Jax came in soon after and destroyed everything in sight.
Raw will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
The Big Takeaway: Several WrestleMania matches are now official, including Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon and HHH. Also, The Miz will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Finn Balor and Seth Rollins in a triple threat match.
Show Recap:
Angle walked out. Stephanie and HHH are now being referred to as “The Power Couple.” Angle said ever since he was named the General Manager last April, he’s had to swallow his pride many times. He said Stephanie told him he had to do what’s best for business. But last week when HHH suckerpunched him, things went too far. He called out HHH to face him like a man.
Stephanie showed up to try to calm Angle down. She said HHH wasn’t even in the building yet. Stephanie got booed loudly. She said that Angle had five kids, the youngest being a 1-year-old girl. She said she knows that Angle wants to buy her the world. Since Angle was on his second marriage, his alimony payments must be steep. Crowd booed some more. Stephanie put over Angle saying he was a Gold Medalist and a 4-time WWE Champion, but are those accolades paying the bills? Being the Raw GM is paying the bills. Stephanie said it wasn’t like HHH wasn’t provoked last week. She blamed Angle for nearly ruining the Rousey contract signing and said Angle’s actions led to HHH being thrown through a table by Rousey. Stephanie said they were all on the same page now and not to let his ego get in the way.
Rousey came out to big cheers. She made a lap around the ring to slap hands with spectators. Rousey said what Stephanie did to Angle last week was very enlightening. She talked about how the people who brought her to WWE are now who she thought she was, which was fine because she’s dealt with bully bosses her whole career and she will deal with it her own way. Stephanie said she understand that employees don’t always understand the choices their bosses make, just look around the building, the fans take their orders and get it done. Stephanie said Rousey signed a WWE contract, which makes her part of the WWE. Stephanie said they gave Rousey her dream, to be a part of WrestleMania, the grandest stage of them all.
Rousey said she was thankful, but her contract does allow her to choose her opponent for WrestleMania. Stephanie said that’s true, as long as it isn’t a current champion and is an active member on the WWE roster. Rousey jumped the gun a little bit as Stephanie asked for a big drumroll for Rousey to announce her opponent. Rousey got in Stephanie’s face and said “You.” Crowd chanted “yes.”
HHH came out and said this was not going to happen. HHH said Stephanie was the Commissioner of Raw and not an active part of the Raw roster. Angle said he thought HHH wasn’t here tonight. Angle said Stephanie was an WWE executive, but she also had an active contract as a performer. Since he makes the matches, Angle announced that Stephanie would be facing Rousey at WrestleMania. But Angle didn’t stop there. Angle told HHH after Survivor Series if HHH ever touched him again, he was going to come for him. So Angle annnounced he was adding himself to the match and said it would be Angle/Rousey vs. HHH/Stephanie at WrestleMania.
Stephanie got in Angle’s face and started screaming at him. She started to give him the dreaded Steph slap, but Rousey grabbed her arm. HHH got Rousey to back off and tried to defuse the situation by getting Stephanie out of the ring, but HHH attacked Angle. But Angle was ready and threw several punched at HHH, gave him a Drop Toe Hold and attempted the ankle lock, but HHH kicked him off. Rousey stood above HHH, but Stephanie gave Rousey a forearm to the back. Rosey had a look on her face like “Can you believe she tried that?” Stephanie ran out of the ring. HHH tried to give Angle the Pedrigree, but Angle escaped and put on the ankle lock. Stephanie reached for HHH hands and pulled him out of the ring. Rousey grabbed Stephanie by the hair, pulled her back in the ring and gave Stephanie a Samoan Drop. Angle and Rousey walked up the ramp together and raised each others hands.
Alexa Bliss and Mickie James (with a new heel hairdo) did a promo during the Jax/Asuka match. Bliss said Jax was not only going to end Asuka’s undefeated streak, but Jax was going to send Asuka to the hospital.
Asuka defeated Nia Jax by tapout (11:35)
Asuka attempted the Octopus, but Jax threw her into a corner. Jax gave Asuka a spinning slam where she hoisted Asuka up by her armpits. Jax had Asuka on a Cobra Clutch, but Asuka escaped and nailed a Shining Wizard. Jax drove Asuka into the corner for a two count. Jax caught the Samoan Drop, but Asuka got her foot on the ropes to escape Jax’s finisher. Or is it Rousey’s? Jax gave Asuka the Ultimate Warrior press slam, but Asuka rolled out of the way when Jax tried a legdrop. Asuka clamped on an armbar, but Jax got to her feet. Jax delivered a power bomb, but Asuka held on to the armbar. Jax picked up Asuka again and tried to ram her in the corner, but Asuka maintained the armbar. Jax again got Asuka up, but Asuka bounced off the top rope and reaffirmed the armbar. Jax fought, screamed and finally tapped out. Bliss and James looked on and Bliss looked concerned that Asuka was coming for her.
Postmatch, they showed Jax getting up selling her right arm. It was a babyface spot designed to get Jax a standing ovation, and she did get a pop. It seemed they wanted to get Jax more over by losing instead of getting Asuka more over by winning.
Chloe and Hallie were announced as performing the national anthem at WrestleMania.
Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar defeated The Revival in a nontitle match (9:27)
They announced that if the Revival won, they would get a tag team title shot at WrestleMania against the Bar. Cesaro did the old Demolition finisher on Scott Dawson. Dash Wilder made a tag for a dropkick to Sheamus’ back for the heat. Dawson pulled off a DDT on Sheamus for a two count. Cesaro gave Dawson an uppercut in the corner and tagged Sheamus, who gave Dawson a knee. Sheamus missed a charge in the corner, leading to Dash & Dawson giving Cesaro the old Power & Glory finisher, but only for two. Sheamus came back in the ring and hit Wilder with the Brogue Kick. Then Cesaro pinned Dawson after the Gotch Neutralizer.
John Cena was out next. He said he was there to talk to everyone about SmackDown. He said he has found his road to WrestleMania and it is on SmackDown, which is why Angle granted him the opportunity to talk about SmackDown on Raw. Cena said at Fast Lane on Sunday, there is a Six Pack Challenge for the WWE Championship. This Sunday at Fast Lane, Cena said a record that has stood for nearly 20 years will be broken. He understands it may not be popular, but this Sunday he will win the WWE Championship for the 17th time. Cena said all records are made to be broken, even the ones that we hold very close. He said it is the only way he can get to WrestleMania. Over the last few weeks, he has been criticized for being handed every piece of success, that he doesn’t earn opporunity and the only reason he stands there is to hold people back. He said he wasn’t given success, he was given an opportunity and with that chance he defeated A.J. Styles for the WWE Championship. Crowd booed. Admist all the adversity, he said he has never been a man to hold anyone back in this ring. When he beats Styles on Sunday, the critics will say that he will have robbed Styles of a WrestleMania moment. He said that isn’t true because when he beats Styles on Sunday, he wants Styles to use his rematch clause to set up a three-way match at WrestleMania, with Cena vs. Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.
Of all people, Goldust came out. Goldust quoted a scene from “On the Waterfront” and said he always had a Dream of sharing the silver screen with someone like Cena. The dream of soaking in the spotlight at WrestleMania, and that dream starts with him stopping Cena from going to WrestleMania. Goldust said all his dreams haven’t had a perfect ending. Goldust said it seems like his dreams have been taken from him, and they have turned grey. In a weird speech, Goldust said his job tonight was to shatter Cena’s dreams, and he then gave Cena a cheap shot.
John Cena defeated Goldust (3:49)
Cena won with the AA. Crowd was as silent as you’ll hear from a Cena match because they knew Goldust had no chance.
Elias approached Angle backstage and said that Angle should reconsider the Symphony of Destruction match with Braun Strowman tonight. Angle thought about it for about a second, then said he wasn’t going to cancel the match. Not only that, but Angle made it a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Bayley came out. Charly Caruso was set to interview her about her not tagging Sasha Banks last week. Bayley was about to explain her actions, but Absolution came out. Paige did a promo saying that Bayley was still a little girl who has yet to grow a backbone. Paige said Bayley turned her back on the only person who cared about her and if you don’t have backup in WWE, you don’t have anything.
Bayley defeated Mandy Rose (8:43)
Bayley won with an Oklahoma Side Roll after Sonya DeVille jumped on the apron in an effort to distract Bayley. Mandy Rose attempted a schoolgirl cradle after Bayley knocked DeVille off the apron, but Bayley escaped leading to the finish. DeVille and Rose jumped Bayley after the match. Banks ran out for the save and sent Rose and DeVille out of the ring. Banks tried to shake Bayley’s hand, but Bayley brushed her off. Banks stepped back, then tried to hug Bayley. Again, Bayley shunned banks and left the ring without thanking her for the save.
Bliss talked with Jax backstage and delivered a speech to her designed to make Jax a sympathetic babyface. Bliss said that she knows that Jax has to be devastated that she quit tonight, which means that she won’t be on the WrestleMania card. In a soft tone, Bliss said throughout Jax’s life, Jax has been an outcast. She was always bigger than the other girls and other people made fun of her. Jax was crying as the camera focused in on her. Bliss said Jax can’t let this loss get to her and Jax will lose everyone’s respect if she does.
Strowman did an interview that was designed to get in as many Megadeth references as possible. Strowman said he knows that Elias has been sweating bullets (from Megadeth’s Countdown to Extinction album) because Elias known tonight begins his Countdown to Extinction. Corey Graves started reeling off lyrics to the chorus from Symphony of Destruction, which is arguably Megadeth’s best known song. Funny enough, Megadeth’s “Crush ‘Em” was briefly Goldberg’s entrance music in 1999, and Megadeth lead singer Dave Mustaine expresses nothing but hatred for that song nowadays.
A Symphony of Destruction match is basically a street fight with musical instruments on the stage. Elias was playing a piano this week instead of a guitar. Elias said he was living amongst the dead, he breaths life into everything he does, everything he touches, everything he says. Elias says he loves symphonies because they’re cultured and sophisticated, unlike this scumbag town. Elias stepped onto a drum kick and started playing, saying he could do it all. Then he picked up a guitar and said Strowman man be a monster among men, but he’s living in Elias’ world. Elias sang a song saying Milwaukee sucked and he wasn’t afraid of Strowman.
Braun Strowman defeated Elias in a Symphony of Destruction match (5:00)
Elias asked JoJo for a proper introduction. So the lights faded down, but Elias wasn’t in the ring. Instead, Elias walked to the back, went backstage and tried to leave. He hopped in a car and tried to drive off. As he attempted to put the car in reverse, Strowman was behind the car and supposedly holding down a car that was trying to speed off in place. Strowman chased Elias back to the ring and attempted the running powerslam, but Elias chop blocked Strowman and smashed a guitar across Strowman’s back. Elias went to the top rope and hit a Randy Savage elbow, but Strowman kicked out. Elias attempted Drift Away, but Strowman landed a right hand. Strowman dragged Elias up the ramp and went to the commentator’s table, where Strowman cleaned it off. Strowman tried to powerslam Elias through the table, but Elias raked Strowman’s face. Strowman recovered to push Elias into the LED display, throw him into a set of guitars, then took a stand up bass guitar and smashed it across Elias’ back. Strowman threw Elias under the piano, where Strowman played some piano before getting up. Strowman picked up the piano and slammed it on Elias. Strowman turned over the piano and pinned Elias.
An emergency crew came out to put Elias in a neckbrace and he was lifted off on a stretcher.
Bray Wyatt defeated Rhyno (:48)
Bray Wyatt pinned Rhyno with Sister Abigail in a squash. Wyatt called out Matt Hardy afterwards. Hardy showed up on the big screen and said the Great War is far from over. Hardy said there is only one battlefield worthy of a cosmic combat, the Hardy compound. They showed highlights of Hardy at the Hardy compound, complete with drones, the Mighty Stauregard boat and a field with the old Hardy’s logo designed on it. The reaction to the Hardy Compound was the biggest pop anything has had since the program started.
The Miz, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel were out for the 3rd annual Mizzies. Dallas and Axel wore gold jackets to look like Academy Awards. Miz ran down the fact that “The Shape of Water” won Best Picture over “The Marine 5.” Miz said Get Out is what Angle should do as GM. And Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri should be Three Billboards Outside New Orleans, Louisiana with Miz’s face on it. Miz honored the best of WWE. The Mizzie for the Superstar who is the Best at Patting Themselves on the Back included nominees Seth Rollins, Angle for being a father to Jason Jordan, and Finn Balor for holding the Universal Title for less than 24 hours. Miz announced the winner was a tie between Rollins and Balor, and they weren’t accept their awards because they weren’t invited.
Miz said the next award was the Worst Decision by a Raw General Manager. The nominees were Angle for announcing Jordan as his son, Angle for making seven entrants in the Elimination Chamber, and Angle for not naming an opponent for Miz at WrestleMania. Miz announced Angle won unanimously and Angle can’t accept the award because he was too busy sucking up to Rousey. Miz said winning a Mizzie will help Angle on his resume when he’s looking for a new job after WrestleMania. Miz said he was ready to announce a Lifetime Achievement Mizzie, then man who was 55 days away from breaking Pedro Morales’ record.
Rollins came out and said the segment was dragging. Then Balor came out, which annoyed Rollins. Balor said he wasn’t out there to follow Rollins, he wanted to do Rollins one better. Miz said neither Rollins or Balor deserve an Intercontinental title shot. Miz said no one makes losing look better than Rollins, except for Balor. Miz said since Balor won the Universal Championship for one day, he’s done absolutely nothing. Yet Balor will tell everyone how over he is. Miz said this isn’t Japan, this is the WWE where you have to bust your butt every day. Miz said to get over, you needed more than a hand sign that isn’t even his. Miz challenged Balor and Rollins to face him, Axel and Dallas. Rollins accepted.
Seth Rollins and Finn Balor defeated The Miz, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas in a handicap match (11:03)
Rollins got the heat. He made his comeback with a superkick, forcing Axel to make the save. Rollins wiped out Axel and Dallas with a tope, then followed with a clothesline over the top rope on Miz. Rollins was about to do a tope on the three heels, but Balor tagged Rollins before he could do the spot. Balor did a somersault tope on Axel and Dallas, gave Miz a Sling Blade and Woo Dropkick. Balor was ready for the Coup de Grace, but Rollins tagged himself in and gave Miz the Curb Stomp for the pin. Balor looked unhappy with Rollins for making the tag.
Angle came out and said that Miz would defend the Intercontinental Champioinship against Balor and Rollins at WrestleMania.
Paul Heyman came out for the main event segment. he got some boos and Heyman was a total heel, calling the fans opinions “irrelevant.” Heyman came out with the Universal Championship belt and laid it down in the ring. Heyman said when Brock Lesnar successfully defends the championship and if he defends the title at SummerSlam, he will lay it down in the ring and possibly the UFC Heavyweight title, as well. Heyman said last week, Reigns criticized Lesnar’s schedule. Heyman said the biggest win of Reigns’ career was when he defeated the Undertaker last year. That got boos, but Heyman said Reigns was only one of two men in history to beat the Undetaker at WrestleMania. Heyman wondered did anybody bring up the fact that the Undertaker only wrestled once that whole year. He said no one made that statement because if they did, that would be bull**** (it got bleeped out). Heyman said the Undertaker is the Undertaker 365 days a year and Regins deserves props for that. Lesnar is Lesnar 365 days a year, except Reigns isn’t beating Lesnar this year. And if Reigns doesn’t like what Heyman is saying, then next week Reigns can do something about it because he’s bringing Lesnar to Raw next week. Heyman said “Afa Wrestlemania, Reigns can Sika a new title to challenge for because the Universal Championship belongs to Lesnar.” Heyman got light boos. He stopped, looked around the ring, then looked at the belt and said Reigns called Lesnar a bitch last week. Heyman held up the belt and said this is Brock Lesnar’s bitch. Heyman said the belt belongs to Lesnar and Reigns is eyeballing Lesnar’s bitch and Reigns can’t have her. Heyman said Reigns wants to be Universal Champion because his family’s bloodline runs through the business and the business runs through his family’s bloodline, but when you’re the Universal Champion, this belt is your bloodline. Heyman laid down the belt and said that isn’t a belt, a prop, or a strap, that’s a declarative statement that you’re better than anybody else. Heyman said it’s not how bad you want the title, it’s how bad the title wants you. It means if your father has an accident at 3AM the night before a PPV, you can’t go home to see him because the title needs you. Heyman said Reigns doesn’t want to shoot on the microphone with Paul Heyman and you don’t want to shoot in the ring with Lesnar.
Reigns came out to very little reaction. He walked in the ring with Heyman, got in his face and started arguing with him. Heyman picked up the belt. Reigns said Lesnar sent Heyman out for Lesnar’ rebuttal after what he said last week. Reigns said Lesnar really is a bitch, isn’t he. All reigns is asking for Lesnar to do is to show up for work. Reigns said if Lesnar is going to be in Detroit next week, so will he. But he wants Lesnar to show up next week not for a promo segment. He wants Lesnar to show up for a fight. Heyman hastily left.
