Tag: superstar shakeup

The Big Takeaway: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bobby Roode, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal, Sunil Singh, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Fandango, Tyler Breeze, Natayla, and more all became members of the Raw roster in the Superstar Shake-Up.

Jeff Hardy pinned Mahal to win the U.S. Championship in the show’s first match. Mahal said he would get his rematch at the Greatest Royal Rumble. They explained Owens and Zayn becoming members to the Raw roster by claiming that Stephanie McMahon signed them, unbeknowst to Kurt Angle. Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt will face The Bar for the Raw Tag Team Championships after beating the Revival in the tag team eliminator finals.

Kurt Angle already announced that The Miz will be going to SmackDown tomorrow, but Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel will be staying on Raw. 

Show Recap: 

Kurt Angle came out and introduced the first new member of Raw: Jinder Mahal. So the United States Championship is now on Raw. If tradition holds true, that means Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins will be on SmackDown tomorrow night. Mahal came out with Sunil Singh and said he was unhappy that he came to Raw in an SUV when he always travels in a limousine. Angle stared to say something, but Mahal said he was a former WWE Champion and demanded to be treated the same way as Brock Lesnar. Angle said if Mahal had any concerns then Mahal or SIngh could email him at [email protected]. Angle said he brought Mahal to Raw to compete which means his United States championship is on the line immediately and opened anyone to come out and face Mahal. Jeff Hardy came out. 

Jeff Hardy defeated U.S. Champion Jinder Mahal (with Sunil Singh) to win the U.S. Championship (11:27) 

Good crowd heat. Hardy took a beating on the apron, climbed the ropes for the Whisper in the WInd but Mahal crotched him. Hardy fought Mahal off the top rope for the Whisper in the Wind. Hardy knocked SIngh off the apron to start his comeback, Hardy went for the Twist of Fate, but Mahal popped Hardy with a high knee for a two count. Mahal went for the Khallas, but Hardy turned it into a victory roll for a two count. Mahal nailed a superkick for another near fall. In slo-mo, Mahal looked like he drilled Hardy across the nose. Mahal went for the full nelson slam, but Hardy escaped into the Twist of Fate, then got the pin with the Swanton. Hardy won the U.S. Championship for the first time. 

In the back, Mahal was angry at Angle. He cut a promo with Renee Young backstage saying he would challenge Hardy for the U.S. Championship at the Greatest Royal Rumble. The rest of his interview was drowned out by No Way Jose’s music. Jose smailed at Mahal and said when life tries to get him down, he says no way. Jose danced off with Young as Mahal stewed.

Sasha Banks and Bayley fought to a no contest (8:52)  

Banks had total heel body language during her ring entrance. Bayley blew the first spot she did slipping off the second rope. After Banks tried a rope walk arm drag but Bayley dropped Banks on her face, Bayley threw Banks over the top rope. Bayley pulled off a reverse Tornado DDT for a two count. Banks kicked Bayley in the head and threw her out of the ring. Banks caught Bayley with a knee to the head, and the double knees off the top rope, which Michael Cole called the Meteora. Banks trash talked Bayley and slapped her, Bayley retailiated and they started brawling, which got the fans involved. Banks hit the Meteora in the corner, but Bayley reversed a pin attempt into a backslide. Then Banks put on the Bank Statement. As Bayley was trying to get to the ropes, the Riott Squad ran in. Ruby Riott gave Bayley the Riott Kick while Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan took out Banks. Yet again, Banks and Bayley were left laying while feuding with each other. 

Heath Slater and Rhyno did an inset promo about the Authors of Pain. Rhyno admitted AOP made a great first impression, but tonight they get a second chance, something they don’t take lightly.

The Authors of Pain defeated Rhyno and Heath Slater (2:37)  

Cole announced that Paul Ellering had been fired by the Authors of Pain after last week. Rhyno and Slater jumped Akam and Rezar early and got some offense in the opening 40 seconds. Akam and Rezar gave Slater a double gutbuster for a near fall. Rhyno got a hot tag and more offense on Razar, including a belly-to-belly suplex. Akam pinned Rhyno after the Last Chapter. 

The Miz, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel came out for MizTV. Miz said his guests will represent a seismic shift for Raw. He introduced Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn as the newest members of the Raw roster. Cole screamed how this isn’t right because Owens and Zayn don’t have a job in WWE. Owens and Zayn had a group hug jumping up and down. Jonathan Coachman said they were free agents just like any other sport and a GM is supposed to sign free agents. Miz said this was the greatest collection of talent ever gathered in one place, saying they were better than the NWO, the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team and the Avengers competing in Infinity Wars. Miz said together, they would change the landscape of WWE. 

Angle walked out looking unhappy saying Miz had no control to sign talent, he does. Angle said Owens and Zayn had their chance to make the Raw roster last week and they both lost. Owens said an email was just sent out and Angle’s plans have changed. Zayn had a printed copy of the email, put on his reading glasses and read the email saying in light of Angle’s habit of making emotional decisions, the compay awarded Zayn and Owens new Raw contracts. Zayn said the email was signed by Stephanie McMahon. Owens taunted Angle about how he and Zayn were back on Raw and there was nothing he could do about it. Miz laughed about how Angle and wondered if he saw his job future flashing by his eyes. Angle said he was surprised that Stephanie would have time to write a letter. He thought Stephanie would be in physical therapy after Ronda Rousey nearly broke her arm. Angle welcomed Angle and Owens to Raw and told them to say goodbye to Miz. Angle said they Daniel Bryan was adamant about getting Miz on SmackDown, and he assumes that Bryan still has pull on SmackDown. Miz said Angle can’t do that. Angle said he can and he did. Miz screamed that Angle just made SmackDown the A show, that he and the MizTourage would make SmackDown a must-see show. Angle said Dallas and Axel were going nowhere, they’re staying but Miz is going. Angle then announced a 10-man tag team match for later tonight with Owens, Miz, Dallas, Axel and Zayn vs. Finn Balor, Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman and a WWE Superstar making his Raw debut. 

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt defeated the Revival to advance to face The Bar for the Raw Tag Team Championships at the Greatest Royal Rumble (5:27) 

Sheamus and Cesaro were on commentary. Matt Hardy got the heat and gave Scott Dawson the Side Effect to make the hot tag to Bray Wyatt. Hardy tagged in as Wyatt gave Dawson Sister Abigail. Wyatt lifted Dash Wilder into wheelbarrow position as Hardy delievered the Twist of Fate for the pin. 

They ran a video basically explaining the end of brand specific PPVs next month with the gimmick being the Superstars were singing in a recording studio. 

Sheamus and Cesaro walked backstage when they stumbled on Fandango and Tyler Breeze. Fandango said the Fashion Police had been transferred to clean up the streets of Monday Night Raw. Breeze asked Sheamus if he had a permit for that mohawk. Fandango told Cesaro he should write him a ticket for the skirt he was wearing. Fandango handed them the ticket. Cesaro screamed they were kilts. 

Rousey talked with Angle backstage. Rousey said WrestleMania was an amazing experience. Angle said Stephanie wasn’t going away quietly. The door knocked. It was Natalya, who hugged Rousey. Angle didn’t know they were familiar with each other, but Natalya said they used to train together. Angle said Natalya had transferred to Raw. Natalya said she was glad to be getting a new start on Raw and she wanted to be the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be. She looked at Rousey and said, well, maybe the second best. Natalya and Rousey shared a friendly laugh. 

Ember Moon defeated Mickie James (4:38) 

Nia Jax was on commentary. Bliss was supposed to join her but didn’t show up. Cole annouced that Bliss was in the locker room. Bliss did an inset promo saying that Jax was a bully and just like a bully, Jax probably wanted to rub Jax’s win in her face. Crowd was tired by this point. After James took most of the match, Ember Moon did a kick up head scissors, a kick to the midsection, a handspring elbow to the corner and got the Eclipse for the pin.

Zayn and Owens were in the back talking. Zayn said they need to focus on Strowman and take him out early. Owens was concerned with the mystery man. Owens was mad that Angle was do this to them. Miz walked in and asked about Shane McMahon and how would Shane treat him. Zayn told Miz to focus on tonight and not Zayn. Owens said maybe Miz needs to focus on his MizTourage, who were talking among themselves. Miz said tonight was his final Raw appearance and they need to focus on him. They zoomed in on Miz forever after he finished speaking. 

Dolph Ziggler came out as the newest Raw acquisition. Ziggler said he still steals the show but one thing has changed. Titus O’Neil, Apollo and Dana Brooke came out. O’Neil welcomed Ziggler back to Raw and said things have changed, which included him creating Titus Worldwide. Titus handed him a business card and offered Ziggler a spot in Titus Worldwide. Titus said that Ziggler was a multi-platform superstar. Ziggler said it was nice to hear that, but the one thing that changed was he didn’t come back to Raw alone. Ziggler threw the card back in O’Neil’s face. Drew McIntyre ran out of the crowd and jumped O’Neil. McIntyre unloaded on Apollo. Crowd was hot for McIntyre and he gave Apollo the Claymore. Cole put McIntyre joining Ziggler over huge. 

Roman Reigns came out. It’s like the buildup for WrestleMania has been forgotten by the fans and he’s back to the same reaction as the last three years. In fact, it may be worse. There were Roman Sucks chants. Reigns said, once again, he was there and Brock Lesnar isn’t. Crowd was booing him loudly and nearly drowned him out. Reigns he was going to leave Lesnar trapped in a cage and he was going to return to Raw as your full-time Universal Champion. Samoa Joe showed up to “Joe” chants. Joe said that Reigns comes out and brags about how he shows up for work, but he never talks about getting the job done. Because the fact is Reigns doesn’t get the job done and Reigns never will. Joe said Reigns doesn’t understand that Reigns is going to get in the ring with Lesnar, who has beaten Reigns every time he’s faced Lesnar. Joe said Reigns is too stupid to understand he can’t beat Lesnar. When Lesnar is finished with Reigns, he’ll be waiting for Reigns to put the big dog to sleep once and far all at Backlash. Then Joe showed a video of the beatings that Lesnar has given Reigns over the years, including the WrestleMania in Santa Clara, CA, the buildup to this year’s WrestleMania, followed by last Sunday. 

Reigns said that was everything Lesnar has done and challenged Joe to come to the ring to see what his lazy, fat ass can do. Joe walked to the ring, then stopped and walked back up the ramp. Joe stopped, threw his towel down and went back to the ring, but stopped just shy of ringside and told Reigns he would see him at his time, at Backlash.  

Natalya defeated Mandy Rose (with Sonya Deville) via tapout (2:49) 

Natalya worked as a babyface. Mandy Rose put on an abdominal stretch. After Natalya gave Rose a hip toss, Natalya put Rose in the sharpshooter for the tapout. Sonya Deville jumped Natalya, Rose joined in a double team. Rousey came down to a huge roar to clear the ring. Deville went in the ring to challege Rousey. Deville, with her MMA gimmick, tried to punch Rousey, who quickly scored a combination back and took down Deville. Rousey helped Natalya out of the ring. 

Baron Corbin was announced as also joining the Raw roster. 

Breezeango defeated The Bar (3:47) 

Fandango opened the match wearing Cesaro’s camoflague jacket. Cesaro wallopped Breeze with a hoist uppercut. Sheamus and Cesaro gave Breeze the old Demolition finisher for a near fall. Fandango pulled Sheamus off the apron as he was awaiting Cesaro’s tag, and Breeze gave Cesaro a Sunset Flip for the upset pin. 

Elias did an interview with Young, who said that he has opted not to play tonight. Elias said he doesn’t do small shows anymore, he only plays the big time. A rinky dink town like Hartford doesn’t matter. He said Lashley doesn’t deserve to be in the same arena as him, much less the same ring. Elias said if Lashley interrupts him again,he will learn that WWE stands for Walk With Elias. Elias said Renee took this interview because she was a huge fan of Elias. Renee said they don’t have time for a performance, but he started playing anyway. They went to a commercial. 

Brock Lesnar will be back next week for the Greatest Royal Rumble go-home show. 

Braun Strowman, Bobby Roode, Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor defeated The Miz, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (22:12) 

Rollins came out in a “Monday Night Rollins” t-shirt. Cole and Graves laughed at the irony of that considering Rollins could be headed to SmackDown within 24 hours. Bobby Roode came out as the latest member of the Raw roster. Roode’s response was lacking. Crowd chanted for Strowman as Balor got the heat. Lashley got a hot tag to very little reaction. He did his power suplex on Zayn and press slammed Miz onto Owens and Dallas on the floor. After a commercial, Rollins tagged in and Zayn backdropped him to the floor. Miz trolled Bryan, who tweeted earlier that he was looking forward to seeing the Miz again tomorrow on SmackDown, with the Yes kicks on Rollins. Dallas and Axel pulled Balor and Lashley from the apron as Rollins went for the hot tag. Owens and Zayn tried to do the same thing, but Strowman threw them against the dasherboards.

Crowd was disappointed as Roode got the hot tag because they wanted Strowman. Roode really struggled to get a response as he set up the Glorious DDT on Axel. Roode hit a blockbuster on Axel, but Dallas made the save. Axel gave Roode a chop block and tagged in Miz, who went for the Figure Four. Roode turned it into a small package and tagged in Strowman to a big pop. Miz tried to run away but Strowman ran him down. Strowman gave Miz a choke slam, threw Dallas and Axel into the same corner, but Strowman missed a charge and hit the post. Rollins gave Axel a tope. Roode gave Zayn the Glorious DDT, but Owens gave Roode a superkick. Lashley delivered a spinebuster to Owens, and Miz threw Lashley out of the ring. Miz was left alone with Strowman. Miz hit two flying dropkicks, but Strowman came out of the corner with his own flying dropkick.

Miz tried to tag in Axel, who walked out on him. Miz tried to tag in Dallas, who also walked out. Miz looked stunned at the betrayl. Strowman was up and waiting for Miz. Strowman gave him the running powerslam for the pin.