WWE RAW
May 1, 2017
Sacramento, California
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
The RAW video plays, and we’re brought into the arena to be treated to a huge pyrotechnics display. A cool camera angle is shown from behind the fireworks.
Alexa Bliss has a championship coronation
The RAW Women’s Division is in the ring, which is decorated with a red carpet and a red podium. JoJo welcomes the new WWE RAW Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss. Bayley looks disgusted, but Bliss comes out to a nice reception. Still photos are shown from last night’s WWE Payback event where Alexa Bliss defeated Bayley in her hometown of San Jose, California. Bliss gets in the ring with the title, and Bayley has her head down. The crowd is starting to boo Bliss. Bliss thanks the women for being out here tonight. Some are out here only because she told Kurt Angle to make them come out. She’ll make this quick. A lot of superstars come out here and refer to themselves as “queen.” The Queen is dead. For the first time ever in Monday Night RAW history, she can rightfully say, “Long live Alexa Bliss, the one and only goddess of WWE.” Last night, she became the first woman to hold the Smackdown and RAW Women’s Championship. The referee held her hand up like any champion. She’s a goddess. She needs a coronation with her “friends” from the Women’s Division here. She wants to personally thank Mickie James. She’s watched Mickie since she was a little girl. Mickie is so inspirational and great. That’s why she brought her back to Smackdown Live. Now they’re on RAW. Even though her contemporaries Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah are in a better place, she’s still inspiring her.
Next, she’d like to thank Sasha Banks. Sasha is fantastic. She’s a three-time RAW Women’s Champion, but she heard what she said last night about not knowing who she was. Banks can call her RAW Women’s Champion or the one that pinned her to get to where she’s at. Banks is furious. Bliss backs into Nia Jax. Bliss says they’re fine and moves on. Bliss gets on top of the podium and says this feels great. Bliss then looks over to Bayley, who is still sulking. Bliss calls attention to her, and she gets a mixed reaction. Bliss says if it weren’t for Bayley, this wouldn’t be possible. A “Bayley” chant fires up. Bliss says she knows Bayley’s name. If it weren’t for Bayley, who else would she beat to get the title? Bliss says she was shocked last night to see Bayley’s whole family in the front row. It was adorable, but there was one moment that really got to her. When the referee raised her hand after beating her for the title, she looked in the front row at her family. Bayley’s nephews were crying. It was a moment that almost took away from her moment. She didn’t let that happen. She wondered what Bayley would do. She’d look at the positives. Now Bayley’s whole family, even her nephews, have someone to look up to. Bayley tips over the podium, and a huge brawl breaks out in the Women’s Division.
-Commercial Break-
Bayley, Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke, and Mickie James vs. Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Alicia Fox, and Emma
Bayley starts off against Alexa Bliss. Bliss ducks a tie up and tags in Emma. Emma smiles while she enters the ring. They lock up, and Emma forearms her in the back to take her down. Emma grabs the ponytail, but Bayley whips her off and takes her down with an arm drag. Emma fights up, and Bayley wrenches the arm. Mickie James tags in, and she comes off the top rope with an axe handle to the arm. James wrenches the arm, but Emma takes her down. James kips up and kicks her in the midsection before kicking her in the face. James takes her down with a flying forearm. Dana Brooke tags in, so Emma quickly retreats and tags in Alicia Fox. Fox knees Brooke in the midsection, but soon has a whip reversed on her. Brooke hits a handspring back elbow before taking her down and hitting a cartwheel splash for a two count. Brooke applies a front facelock before tagging in Sasha Banks. Banks works the arm before tagging Bayley in. They send Fox into the ropes and hits a double-team hip toss for a one count. Bayley attacks the arm before tagging in James. James hits a snapmare and dropkicks her in the face for a near fall. Banks tags back in, and she rolls Fox up for a two count. Banks applies a straightjacket and bends her back. Fox screams in pain, but she fights up. Fox sends her into the ropes, but Banks counters a hip toss and hits one of her own. Banks hits the ropes and floors her with double knees for a two count. Banks applies a front facelock. Someone on her team yells at her to make a tag, and Fox screams, “I’m trying!” Fox eventually fights up and dumps her out of the ring. The heel team gets off the apron and approaches Banks, so the face team cuts them off. Each side talks trash to the other while we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Banks trapped in a chin lock applied by Fox. During the commercial, Nia Jax viciously avalanched Banks down. Banks fights up, so Fox hits a northern lights suplex for a two count. Fox keeps her grounded with a chin lock before tagging in Nia Jax. Jax drops an elbow on Banks’ back. Jax puts her in the corner and avalanches her before throwing her across the ring. Jax drops a pair of elbows for a one count. Jax applies a chin lock and keeps her down. Banks tries to kick her way out, but Jax picks her up and slams her into the corner. Bliss tags in and chokes her in the corner with her boot. Bliss slams her down on her face and stands on her before bouncing her head off the mat. That gets her a two count. Banks tries to fight out of Bliss’ corner, but Bliss clotheslines her down for a near fall. Banks avoids a knee strike and tags in Bayley.
Bayley takes Bliss down and punches her before hitting a pair of clotheslines. Bayley bounces her head off the turnbuckle ten times before putting her on the apron and snapping her off the ropes. Bayley shoulders her in the corner, backs up, does some theatrics, and hits a teardrop suplex, but Jax breaks it up. Brooke pulls the ropes down to get Jax out of the ring. James then leaps off the top rope to take her down at ringside. Bayley and Banks team up to take Fox out. Inside the ring, Bayley lifts Bliss up, but Bliss rakes the eyes. Bliss DDTs her down to pick up the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Alicia Fox, and Emma
Alexa Bliss celebrates in the ring with her team while Bayley is helped to the back by hers.
We’ll get a medical update on Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman, who was beaten back by Reigns on RAW Talk. We’ll also hear from Seth Rollins. Coming up next, we’ll see Enzo Amore take on Luke Gallows.
-Commercial Break-
Enzo and Cass make their entrance to their usual great reception. Enzo goes through his usual shtick, and they get in the ring. Enzo says he and Cass are a little tired. The reason why they’re tired is because their real life is better than their dreams. They chose not to sleep because they were giving Gallows and Anderson the beating of their life. Tonight will be no different. Enzo will beat Big Gal in uno momento in Sacramento. Cass goes to do his line, but Gallows and Anderson attack them from behind. Enzo and Cass soon clear them from the ring. The crowd is buzzing for Enzo and Cass. This match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Enzo Amore w/ Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows w/ Karl Anderson
The bell rings, and Gallows grabs him by the hair before sending him into the ropes for a big boot. Gallows taunts the crowd and stomps away at him. Gallows punches away at the midsection in the corner before giving him an uppercut. Gallows wrenches the arm and takes him down with an arm bar. Enzo’s right eye is swollen shut. Enzo boots him back and goes for a dropkick, but Gallows swats him away. Gallows then clotheslines him down. Enzo’s eye doesn’t look great. Gallows applies a hammerlock, but Enzo fights up. Gallows hits Enzo with a hammerlock scoop slam. Gallows continues to wrench the arm before the referee stops him to check Enzo’s eye. Gallows takes him down in the corner and chokes him with his knee. The camera shows a cut on Enzo’s eyelid. Enzo tries to fight back, but Gallows takes him back down. Gallows works the arm and applies another arm bar. Enzo fights up, but Gallows takes him down once again. Gallows then applies a wristlock. Enzo fights up again, but Gallows sends him to the corner. Enzo boots him back and dives off the second rope with a DDT. Enzo jabs away at him before winding up and punching him. Enzo dropkicks him in the knee and kicks him in the face. Enzo then poses for the crowd. Gallows stumbles him back with an uppercut before going for a suplex, but Enzo counters into an inside cradle for a near fall. Enzo catches him with Eat Defeat and goes to the top rope. Karl Anderson distracts him, so Gallows punches Enzo. Gallows hits a fireman’s carry flapjack for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Luke Gallows
Neville is backstage when TJ Perkins walks up to him. Perkins asks what happened at Payback. Neville says Austin Aries isn’t at his level. Perkins says some people are saying Neville was going to tap, so he hit the referee to escape with the title. Neville tells him to be careful not to slander the king. Neville says the referee was out of position. Neville says they have to end their Austin Aries problem. Perkins is confused as to how he is involved. Neville says this is about Cruiserweight Title opportunities. How can Perkins get a shot when Austin Aries has a claim to it? Neville says Perkins has a match against Aries tonight and tells him to make the most of his opportunity.
Coming up next, we’ll hear from Seth Rollins.
-Commercial Break-
Seth Rollins addresses what’s next for him
Seth Rollins makes his entrance to a really good pop. Rollins gets the crowd pumped up and asks to hear them louder. Rollins says he’s feeling good, too. For the first time in a long time, aside from getting his butt kicked a little bit last night by Samoa Joe, he’s feeling really good. The last six months have been like a rollercoaster, and the crowd has been with him throughout all of it. Sometimes you get to a point where you want to dig a hole and climb in, but you have to embrace the sucky part of life, look in the mirror, and figure out who you are and who you want to be. Rollins did that. He looked in the mirror and realized he’s still Seth Freakin’ Rollins. Everything kind of came full circle. At WrestleMania, he slayed the King of Kings. Last night, he took out Samoa Joe. There’s only one thing left to do. Rollins says, “I want The Beast!” A loud “YES” chant fires up. Rollins says he wants Brock Lesnar and the Universal Championship. Rollins has been to Suplex City and isn’t afraid to go back!
Finn Bálor’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage smiling. Bálor says they’ve been on the same page recently. Bálor respects Rollins. Rollins is the one-legged man who won at WrestleMania. As for him, he’s the one-armed man who became the very first Universal Champion. Bálor gets in the ring and says Rollins remembers it. Bálor’s arm was hanging from his body, yet he still beat him. Bálor never actually lost the title, either. Bálor means no offense, but when it comes to facing Brock Lesnar, the line starts with him.
Dean Ambrose’s music hits, and he comes out to a very good reception. The WWE Intercontinental Champion makes his way to the ring. Ambrose says they all sound like a couple of chickens saying “Brock” over and over again. Lesnar fights when he wants, which isn’t often. RAW is about fighting champions, which is what he’s all about. The Intercontinental Championship is the #1 title on RAW now, and he’s anxious to get to some action.
The Miz’ music hits, and he comes out with his wife, Maryse. Miz tells them to hold up, and the crowd loudly starts booing him. If Ambrose wants to talk about action, Rollins and Bálor haven’t earned anything. As for Ambrose, he’s an embarrassment as a champion. Miz and Maryse get in the ring. If anyone deserves that title, it’s him. Miz is the one who made the Intercontinental Championship relevant and prestigious. Bálor says Miz is also the latest member of the “Finn Bálor just kicked my ass” club. Miz says Bálor cheap shotted him and it’s a coward. No one in the ring deserves to be the Intercontinental Champion. Miz defended it nightly. Ambrose wasn’t important enough to defend it at Payback last night. Then there’s Seth Freakin’ Rollins. Rollins used to be the man, but now he hobbles on one leg like the gimp he is. Rollins says he could still run circles around him. Miz says this isn’t a running competition. This is a WWE ring. In this ring, he beats people up. Miz says people hate him because he’s the biggest threat on Monday Night RAW. All three men tell him to shut up.
Ambrose says there’s a lot of mudslinging going on here. Ambrose says he will defend the title against anyone, and people like seeing Miz get beat up. Ambrose asks if the people of Sacramento would like to see Bálor beat up Miz. The crowd loudly cheers. Ambrose then asks if the people want to see Rollins beat up Miz. They loudly cheer again. Ambrose calls Kurt Angle on his cellphone. Ambrose says Angle was not happy he had his phone number. Angle made a match for tonight. It’ll be The Miz vs. Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollins. The winner will become the #1 Contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Ambrose says, “It’s true… it’s damn true, baby.” Ambrose then walks off.
Highlights are shown from last night’s match between Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns at WWE Payback. Strowman beat Reigns clean in the ring before crushing his ribs with the steel steps. Moments later while Reigns was heading to an ambulance, Strowman tried to attack him, but Reigns sidestepped him. Reigns then slammed the door off his shoulder a few times before Strowman retreated. We’ll get a medical update on both men later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Tonight’s main event will see Seth Rollins face Finn Bálor and The Miz in a triple threat match to determine the #1 Contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Cruiserweight Match
Tony Nese, The Brian Kendrick, and Noam Dar and Rich Swann, Akira Tozawa, and “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher
Gallagher hand his two tag partners their own umbrella. Tozawa will start against Kendrick. They get into a brawl and trade forearms. Tozawa sends him into the ropes, but Kendrick catches him with a sunset flip. Tozawa rolls through and kicks him. Nese blind tagged in at some point and forearms Tozawa down. Nese sends him into the corner and hits a hip toss. Nese poses. Nese applies a torture rack, but Tozawa punches out. Swann tags in, and he hits a double-team dropkick with Tozawa. Noam Dar tags in, and he punches Swann before applying a side headlock. Gallagher tags in, and he takes Dar out of the ring. Kendrick runs in, and Tozawa kicks him out of the ring. Nese charges, and they give him a back body drop over the top rope onto his partners.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Kendrick punching away at Tozawa. During the commercial, Dar kicked out Tozawa’s knees. Kendrick knees Tozawa and hits a snap suplex for a two count. Nese tags back in, and he stomps Tozawa a few times before clubbing the face. Nese poses for the crowd to try to elicit some type of response. Nese boots Tozawa in the head. Tozawa tries to fight back, but Nese puts a stop to it and goes for a suplex. Nese holds him up before giving him a front suplex onto the top rope for a near fall. Dar tags back in, and he stomps Tozawa’s midsection. Dar wrenches the arm and slams it off the mat. Tozawa tries to fight back, but Dar floors him with a European Uppercut. Nese tags back in, and he stomps the midsection. Nese reapplies the torture rack, but Tozawa fights out. Nese quickly takes Tozawa down. Tozawa soon pops up and hits a snap back suplex. Dar tags in and stops Tozawa from making a tag. Tozawa kicks him away and tags in Swann.
Swann tags in and clotheslines Dar. Kendrick tags in, and he eats a pair of clotheslines. Swann hits a rolling thunder splash. Dar runs in, but Swann kicks him. Kendrick goes for Sliced Bread #2, but Gallagher tags in. Gallagher head-butts him and pins, but Nese breaks it up. Nese then punches Swann. Gallagher then head-butts Nese out of the ring. Kendrick catches Gallagher with the Captain’s Hook, but Tozawa breaks it up. Swann and Tozawa then hit Dar and Nese with stereo dives. Gallagher then hits the Gentleman’s Dropkick on Kendrick for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Rich Swann, Akira Tozawa, and “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher
We see still photos of Sheamus and Cesaro attacking The Hardy Boyz following a loss at WWE Payback. The Hardy Boyz were really banged up afterward. We then see slow motion footage of Sheamus kicking Jeff Hardy’s tooth out. Coming up next, we’ll hear why Sheamus and Cesaro attacked The Hardy Boyz.
-Commercial Break-
Sheamus and Cesaro explain their actions from last night
Sheamus and Cesaro make their entrance, and they’re getting booed. Sheamus thanks the crowd for the reception. Sheamus asks them if they know how good it feels to finally be set free. For the last few months, he’s lived in a fog of delusions. Sheamus says he’s never really liked anyone in the crowd. Sheamus says if he looks stupid, The Hardys looked worse laying on the floor. The crowd has treated him like a red-headed stepchild. Cesaro had his own “Cesaro Section” and believed that with that support, they could be better. Sheamus believed him until WrestleMania. That was supposed to be their moment to take back their titles. At the last moment, The Hardy Boyz were added to their match and stole their moment. A loud “DELETE” chant fires up. Sheamus says that’s cute. Cesaro says he’ll tell them what happened. The people felt a rush of nostalgia, and they loved it. That’s what they do whenever a shiny new trinket shows up. They’d rather look at the past or to the future than look at the present. That’s what happened at WrestleMania. That feel good didn’t last long. Last night, they proved that The Hardy Boyz are just a novelty act that don’t belong in the ring with a Warrior or a Superman. Sheamus says, “That’s the ‘tooth’ of it.” Novelty acts don’t last long. Matt and Jeff Hardy are novelty acts. They showed them last night that this is the WWE that belongs to Sheamus and Cesaro! Cesaro says they are going to win back the RAW Tag Team Championships. They don’t set the bar. They ARE the bar!
The Hardy Boyz make their way to the stage. Matt Hardy is using his BROKEN accent. Hardy says it’s illuminating to see how they believe these asinine assurdities. Hardy says they were hurting from the ambush and want to give them their response. Their response is… Matt puts the microphone down and signals to the crowd, “DELETE!” They charge the ring, but Sheamus and Cesaro flee the ring.
Charly Caruso is backstage with The Miz and Maryse. She asks how he’s preparing for the match. Miz says Seth Rollins cost Finn Bálor eight months of his career. Preparation is all the same for him. It’s all about the method. Dean Ambrose walks up and says that’s amazing. People want to know if Miz’ hair gel gets in his eyes when he wrestles. Miz and Maryse just walk off. Ambrose says, “This is ‘Mean’ Dean Ambrose signing off.”
-Commercial Break-
Heath Slater w/ Rhyno vs. Apollo Crews w/ Titus O’Neil
Titus O’Neil was upset that Apollo Crews was talking to Heath Slater and Rhyno earlier tonight in the locker room.
They lock up, and Slater applies a waistlock. Crews gets out and takes him down. Slater slides out and hooks the head. Crews fights out and wrenches the arm. Slater takes him down with a headlock, but Crews quickly grapevines the head. Slater gets out and applies a side headlock. Crews fights up and twists out before hitting a headlock takeover. Crews then kips up. Slater smiles and nods his head. A “He’s got kids” chant fires up. Crews takes him down with a shoulder block, but Slater comes back with an arm drag. Crews quickly arm drags him and dropkicks him. Slater sidesteps an avalanche and rolls him up for a two count. Slater then sends him out of the ring. Slater gets Crews back in the ring for a two count. Slater applies a chin lock, but Crews soon fights out and makes a comeback. People start loudly booing Crews. Crews then hits Slater with an enzuigiri. Crews then hits a sit-out powerbomb for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Apollo Crews
Apollo Crews celebrates with Titus O’Neil. O’Neil goes for a selfie in the ring, and Rhyno photobombs it.
We’ll hear medical updates on Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman, next.
-Commercial Break-
Medical updates on Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman
The commentators talk about the war between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman.
Kurt Angle’s music hits, and the RAW General Manager comes out mouthing, “Thank you,” while the crowd chants, “You suck.” JoJo called him “Carter” Angle. Angle says last night at Payback, the match between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman had to be the most physical match he’s ever seen. A match like that has consequences. Reigns re-injured his ribs and has other injuries, and Braun Strowman tore his rotator cuff. Both men say they’re not done with each other. As RAW General Manager, it’s up to him to look out for them and the WWE Universe. He’s talked with officials all day long to see how to deal with this.
Bray Wyatt’s video flashes on the screen, and he comes out to interrupt Angle. Wyatt asks Angle to forgive him, but they haven’t had the pleasure of being properly introduced. Wyatt says, “My name is Bray Wyatt.” They shake hands. Wyatt says he understands Angle’s apprehension, but he means Angle no harm. Wyatt is here tonight as the savior. Last night, he closed the chapter of Randy Orton. Orton will forever be trapped inside his House of Horrors as he burns for his sins. With those ashes, he has begun to write something brand new right here on Monday Night RAW. Wyatt says he is reborn, rising from the hell of his own creation like an angel with burnt wings. Wyatt understands what he must do. Wyatt hears the cries for salvation and knows what each and every one of them need. Wyatt can fix them. There’s an evil all around infecting with a poison you cannot feel. Wyatt says, “You need me, Mr. Angle!” What he needs to know from Angle is if he’s going to allow him to do his work. Will Angle let him work or stand in his way? Angle says he doesn’t know what Wyatt has planned, but he needs to remember that this is his show. Wyatt laughs heartily and says it may be his show, but he needs Angle to understand that this is his world. The video flashes, and the segment is over.
-Commercial Break-
Dean Ambrose walks up to Seth Rollins to interview him. Rollins isn’t prepared, but Ambrose points out that there are cameras in the locker room, so he should’ve known. Ambrose thinks of some show names like “The Today Show,” but Rollins tells him it’s already taken. Ambrose asks how he feels about the title. Rollins says he’s beat Ambrose before. Ambrose says Rollins should know how far he’d go to keep the title. Rollins says maybe Ambrose will be surprised. Ambrose says he won’t be surprised again and throws it back to “Gorilla.”
Cruiserweight Match
Austin Aries vs. TJP
They’re calling TJ Perkins, “TJP” from now on. It’s on the name card, so that’s that. Aries takes him down and punches away at him in the corner. Aries has a whip reversed, but he slingshots over him and elbows him. Aries then drives him headfirst into the corner. Aries punches him in the midsection, but TJP reverses him and drives a shoulder into the midsection. Aries quickly comes back with a vicious kick to the skull. TJP begs him off, but Aries soon comes back with a neckbreaker off the middle rope. Neville is seen watching backstage. Aries hits TJP with a missile dropkick and goes for the Last Chancery, but TJP fights out. Aries takes him down and goes to the top rope, but TJP attacks and puts him in the tree of woe. TJP works on the leg and dropkicks the knee.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see TJP applying a butterfly lock. Aries fights out with an inverted atomic drop, but TJP quickly comes back with a springboard cross-body block. TJP kips up and stomps the knee in the corner. Aries punches him back to the corner. Booker T is talking about how he doesn’t like guys like Rich Swann who smile too much. Aries knee gives out and he collapses to the mat. TJP picks him up, and Aries drives him into the corner before collapsing. Aries goes for a shoulder thrust, but TJP gets out of the way. Aries hits the ring post shoulder-first. TJP then applies a single leg crab from the top rope. TJP goes to slam the leg off the ring post, but Aries pulls him face-first into the ring post. Aries hops around on one leg before hitting a suicide dive. Neville is shown backstage shaking his head in frustration. Aries gets him in the ring and starts viciously chopping the chest before hitting a gutbuster, an STO, and a pendulum elbow. Aries hits a snapmare and goes to the second rope for a diving back elbow for a near fall. TJP counters a move and takes him down with some rapid strikes. Aries comes back with a shin-breaker and a slam. TJP soon fights back, but Aries counters with the Last Chancery for the win.
Winner by Submission: Austin Aries
TJP chop blocks the knee and viciously attacks it. TJP hits a leg breaker and applies a knee bar. Aries screams in pain while the referee tries to pull TJP off Aries. TJP eventually releases the hold and walks off with a confident smirk. TJP does a dab to irritate the fans at ringside.
Finn Bálor is seen walking backstage when Dean Ambrose stops him. Ambrose says this is his biggest match since his return. Ambrose asks if he’s nervous. Bálor says he eats nerves. Bálor says he’ll take the Intercontinental Championship from him. Ambrose hands him a doughnut and tells him to eat a carb. Bálor takes a bite and walks off. “The Drifter” walks up playing the guitar. Ambrose asks if he plays any Pearl Jam, but he doesn’t respond and keeps walking.
-Commercial Break-
Goldust is talking about a movie that’s better than Baywatch or Guardians of the Galaxy II. Shattered Dreams Productions presents, “The Golden Quest.” R-Truth says it sounds good. Kurt Angle doesn’t look convinced. R-Truth says they want to challenge The Hardy Boyz for the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships. Angle says he can’t sanction the match because their win-loss record isn’t good enough. Goldust says a lot of people don’t think they’re legitimate contenders, but they’ve known each other for 20 years. Goldust says Angle has inspired them. They want to prove they’re not a joke. Goldust says he’ll do anything because he needs this. Angle says they’ll have a match next week. It’ll be a Tag Team Turmoil match. The winners will become the #1 Contenders for the RAW Tag Team Championships. Goldust thanks him, and Angle hugs both men.
They show a hilarious YouTube video of Chris Jericho saying goodbye to RAW. They didn’t show the full video, which saw Tom Philips and Mike Rome come up. Jericho thought they were clones and put them both on the list.
Finn Bálor makes his entrance. The main event is next.
-Commercial Break-
#1 Contender’s Match for the Intercontinental Title
Finn Bálor vs. The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Seth Rollins
The bell rings, and The Miz quickly gets out of the ring. Miz wants to watch Rollins and Bálor fight. They lock up, and Rollins wrenches the arm. Bálor transitions to a hammerlock and rolls him up for a one count. Miz gets on the apron, but quickly backs away. They lock up, and Bálor applies a side headlock. Bálor takes him down, but Rollins gets out. Miz starts to get in, but he thinks better of it once again. Rollins asks him if he’s in or out. Miz backs away with his hands up. Rollins and Bálor circle the ring, and Miz goes to grab Bálor’s feet. Miz quickly scurries away. Rollins and Bálor look at each other before getting out of the ring on opposite sides and trapping Miz. Miz gets in the ring and runs off. Miz runs around ringside before getting in the ring only to find himself in front of Bálor with Rollins behind him. Miz tries to negotiate his way out of it and goes for a handshake deal with both men, but they both turn him down. Miz tries to cheap shot Bálor, but Bálor punches and kicks him. Rollins takes him down, and Bálor throws Miz out of the ring. Rollins rolls Bálor up and gets a two count. The kick out knocks Rollins into Miz. They hit Miz a few more times before Bálor dropkicks Rollins. Bálor drives Rollins into the corner and punches him. Rollins reverses a whip, but Bálor avoids him. Bálor kicks Rollins back, and Miz pulls him down off the apron. Miz gets on the apron, but Rollins dropkicks him to the floor. Rollins gets a head of steam for a plancha, but Maryse stands in front of Miz. Bálor goes to attack, but Miz throws Maryse in front of that as well. Finally, Rollins hits Miz with a plancha. Rollins and Bálor put Miz in the ring, and Rollins throws Bálor out. Rollins goes for a move, but Bálor pulls him back. Miz tries to attack Bálor, but Rollins pulls him away. Rollins goes to the top rope, but Miz throws him off to the floor.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Miz taking Bálor down with a chin lock. During the commercial, they took each other out with a triple clothesline. Bálor fights up and punches out. Miz reverse a whip and turns him inside out with a knee to the midsection. Miz gears up in the corner, but Bálor boots him and hits some clotheslines before hitting a low dropkick. Rollins then takes Bálor out with a springboard cross-body that spikes him on his head! Miz avoids an avalanche and rolls Rollins up. Miz then sends him into the ring post shoulder-first. Miz starts hitting the Daniel Bryan dropkicks in the corner before hitting his patented clothesline. Miz goes to the top rope and hits a double axe handle for a near fall. Miz works on Rollins before sending him into Bálor, who just got on the apron. Miz starts stomping both men before doing the Daniel Bryan kicks to their chests. Bálor ducks a big kick and sends him into Rollins. Bálor then dropkicks Rollins, who in turn hits Miz with a DDT.
Bálor gets to his feet, and the crowd starts chanting, “This is awesome.” Bálor starts chopping away at both guys before Miz reverses a whip. Bálor slingshots over him and chops Miz. Miz goes to the top rope, but Bálor kicks him in the head to send him to ringside. Bálor then clotheslines Rollins out of the ring. Bálor gets on the apron and kills Miz with a running kick to the face. Bálor then runs around ringside and dropkicks Rollins into the barricade. Bálor gets Rollins in the ring and hits the 1916, but Miz breaks up the pin. Miz tries for a Skull Crushing Finale on Bálor, but he fights out. Bálor then sends Miz out of the ring. Rollins elbows Bálor back, but Bálor soon drops him with the Sling Blade. Bálor sets up in the corner, but Miz sweeps the feet and pulls him groin first into the ring post. Rollins counters the Skull Crushing Finale into a roll-up for a near fall. Miz immediately dropkicks the bad knee before giving him a vicious kneeling DDT for a near fall. Michael Cole exclaims, “What a sequence!” Miz works over Rollins’ knee and applies the Figure Four Leglock. Bálor breaks it up with a running boot to the face. Michael Cole says Maryse is Miz’ husband. The crowd loudly chants, “This is awesome.” Bálor forearms away at Miz before Rollins hits him with a pelé kick. Bálor then kicks Rollins, but Rollins comes right back with a superkick for a near fall. Rollins cannot believe it.
All three men are down. Bálor and Rollins struggle up to their feet. Rollins hits a running forearm in the corner before catching Miz with a reverse STO into the turnbuckle. Rollins goes to the top rope and hits a double blockbuster on Bálor and Miz. Rollins hits Bálor with a frog splash for a near fall! Rollins pulls Bálor up and throws him out of the ring. Rollins then catches Miz on the top rope and hits a superplex. Rollins immediately rolls through and follows up with a falcon’s arrow for a near fall! The crowd is on their feet. Rollins takes out Bálor with a suicide dive, gets back in the ring, and hits Miz with a suicide dive! Samoa Joe all of a sudden comes through the crowd and hits Rollins with a uranage on the floor!
Miz is stunned and turns into a Sling Blade from Bálor. Bálor follows up with a vicious dropkick into the corner. Bálor goes to the top rope, and Bray Wyatt’s video flashes on the screen. The lights go out. When they come back on, Wyatt pushes Bálor off the top rope and hits him with Sister Abigail! The lights go out, and Wyatt is gone! Miz crawls over to Bálor and covers him to become the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship!
Winner by Pinfall: The Miz
The Miz celebrates with his wife while walking up the ramp. Balor and Rollins show the scars of battle around the ring and look disappointed.
Quick Match Results
* Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Alicia Fox, and Emma def. Bayley, Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke, and Mickie James
* Luke Gallows def. Enzo Amore
* Rich Swann, Akira Tozawa, and “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher def. Tony Nese, The Brian Kendrick, and Noam Dar
* Apollo Crews def. Heath Slater
* Austin Aries def. TJP via Submission
* The Miz def. Finn Bálor and Seth Rollins
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