WWE RAW Results
December 17, 2018
Sacramento, California
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Renee Young
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
“No Chance In Hell” fires up over the loudspeakers, and Vince McMahon, the WWE Chairman, makes his entrance to a big reception. Mr. McMahon is here to “shake things up.” McMahon says he doesn’t want to hear any boos, so the crowd boos. McMahon says everyone wants to know what’s going on with Monday Night RAW. He’s asked that question of himself. Tonight, we’ll find out. Monday Night RAW has been on the air for 25 years. One of the reasons they’re on so long is they change with the times. Despite one man’s brilliance, creativity, and vision… he can’t do it all by himself anymore. McMahon says he could do it without the crowd.
Stephanie McMahon’s music hits, and the Commissioner of Monday Night RAW makes her way to the ring. They embrace while the crowd boos. Then Triple H makes his way to the ring to a nice reception. The WWE COO gets in the ring and hugs his father-in-law. They stand in the ring. Mr. McMahon says, “And…” and Shane McMahon’s music hits. The Commissioner of Smackdown Live makes his way to the ring to a big reception. Stephanie says they’re out here tonight because they haven’t been doing a very good job lately. They haven’t been listening to their audiences. They’ve let middleman managers suffocate their roster and not entertain the fans, but that’s over. Triple H says the days of absentee management are over. The four of them will be taking back Monday Night RAW. Shane says that goes for Smackdown Live as well. They’re all personally responsible to ensure everyone has the best possible experience. Stephanie says they’ll empower the superstars and the fans. Triple H says they’ll give the fans what they want. They’re giving them something new and fresh. In the coming weeks and months, they’ll be seeing new faces, new superstars, and new match-ups. As of now, the crowd is The Authority.
Mr. McMahon says as long as they give them less of what they don’t want and more of what they do, WWE will always be then, now, and forever!
Baron Corbin’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage to boos. Corbin says no one is more excited for a fresh start than he is. There are massive boos for Corbin. Corbin says he’s excited that the entire McMahon family will run Monday Night RAW. There’s still one thing they forgot to mention: fair. What happened to him last night was absolutely not fair. Corbin wants a simple conversation.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to hear the crowd still loudly booing Corbin. The McMahons and Triple H all make fun of him. Corbin milks this for a while. Mr. McMahon reminds him that Corbin has a microphone and they don’t. Corbin says he’s tried to motivate superstars. It’s not his fault if they can’t rise to the occasion. Going back to last night, Braun Strowman wasn’t supposed to be there. Corbin wasn’t prepared for him or the people he brought with him. Triple H says he’s going to help Corbin. Corbin is out here to say this was unfair and a travesty of justice. Triple H thinks Corbin wants to be reconsidered for General Manager of Monday Night RAW. Corbin says that’s correct. Corbin would have beat Strowman if it wasn’t for Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, Apollo Crews, Heath Slater, and Kurt Angle. Are they going to overturn this unfairness? Corbin says they could accomplish a lot.
The McMahons huddle and then Shane, Triple H, and Stephanie decline. Stephanie says there is “no chance in hell.” Mr. McMahon says there might be a way. Triple H says with Vince being the genius, he brings up a good point. Maybe they’re wrong. Maybe Corbin does deserve a chance to be named permanent General Manager of Monday Night RAW. The crowd boos. Corbin says he only needs a chance. Triple H thinks they should give Baron Corbin that chance… if he can win his match tonight. Right now, Corbin can become the permanent General Manager of Monday Night RAW. All he has to do is beat this man… Kurt Angle’s music hits!
Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring in his wrestling gear. The crowd loudly chants, “You suck” to the melody of his music.
Baron Corbin vs. Kurt Angle
Before the match begins, Stephanie McMahon says there is a special guest referee: Heath Slater. Corbin looks nervous.
The bell rings, and Corbin looks nervous. Angle unloads with some right hands before bouncing him off the top turnbuckle. Angle stomps him in the corner before Corbin reverses a whip. Angle quickly comes back with a German Suplex. Corbin rolls out of the ring to recover.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Corbin standing over Angle. Triple H then comes out and says he forgot to mention this is a handicap match. Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, and Apollo Crews join the match. They beat on Corbin and put him in the ring. Angle hits a trio of German Suplexes. Gable tags in and connects with a German Suplex. Bobby Roode tags in, and he hits a corner clothesline on Corbin. Apollo Crews tags in and hits a step-up enzuigiri. Corbin gets out of the ring and goes to leave through the crowd, but the faces catch up to him. They bring him back to the ring, and Angle is waiting. All four men attack Corbin, while Slater pretends to fix the turnbuckle.
Shane McMahon comes out and says he’s pumped up in Sacramento. Shane says this match is No Disqualifications. All four faces go outside and grab chairs while Slater stomps away at Corbin. Angle hits Corbin with a chair, and Roode smacks him on the back with it. Crews and Gable do the same. A loud “We want tables” chant picks up. Roode and Gable hit a neckbreaker/moonsault combo. Crews then hits a frog splash. They then hold Corbin up for Angle to deliver an Angle Slam. Angle covers for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, and Apollo Crews
Roode, Gable, and Crews go out and get a table. They set it up in the ring, and Angle gives Corbin an Angle Slam through the table.
We’ll hear from “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey later tonight, as well as the new WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose. Coming up next, we’ll have Dolph Ziggler versus Finn Balor.
-Commercial Break-
The commentators congratulate John Cena on winning the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. They show a video package highlighting this.
Finn Balor vs. Dolph Ziggler
Footage is shown from last night’s TLC event when Ziggler attacked Balor backstage.
They lock up, and Ziggler backs Balor into the ropes. Ziggler gives a clean break before shoving him. They lock up again, and Ziggler applies a side headlock. Balor tries to whip him off, but Ziggler keeps it cinched on. Ziggler hits a takeover, but Balor rolls him for a two count. Balor fights up and whips him off before hitting a pair of arm drags. Ziggler kips up, and they go face-to-face. Balor sends him to the ropes and connects with a big dropkick.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Balor chop Ziggler and hit a flying forearm. Balor sweeps the feet and double stomps the chest. Ziggler counters a Sling Blade into a roll-up for a two count. Ziggler goes for a famouser, but Balor counters into a reverse DDT for a near fall. Balor connects with a Sling Blade and charges, but Ziggler counters with a big DDT for a near fall. Balor comes back and goes to the top rope, but Ziggler knocks him off the top rope. Ziggler connects with a Zig-Zag for a near fall.
Ziggler sets up for a superkick when Drew McIntyre comes down to the ring. Ziggler jumps off the apron, and McIntyre catches him in full view of the referee. Ziggler punches away at McIntyre before Balor hits a summersault senton.
Ziggler puts Balor in the ring and hits a famouser for a near fall. Balor connects with a Sling Blade before McIntyre comes in and clotheslines him.
Winner by Disqualification: Finn Balor
McIntyre knocks Balor out of the ring before giving Ziggler a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre floors Ziggler with a Claymore Kick before hitting one on Balor on the floor.
Dean Ambrose is standing next to the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Ambrose makes his way toward the gorilla position. We’ll hear from him, next.
-Commercial Break-
Dean Ambrose celebrates winning the Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring with security guards in gas masks. Ambrose says Rollins dropped the ball and choked. Ambrose took this title from him, but he’s not done. When Ambrose is done, Rollins will have nothing left. Ambrose will drag him through the mud and throw him in the garbage where he belongs. Ambrose says Rollins has an obligation to go face-to-face with him and tell the world that Ambrose was right and Rollins was wrong.
Seth Rollins doesn’t come out. Ambrose says he’ll make an open challenge — not for the title, but maybe Rollins wants to punch him in the face. Ambrose invites him to take out his rage on him. Rollins still doesn’t come out. Ambrose says Rollins is just like the crowd: a selfish whiner. Ambrose says since Rollins doesn’t have the guts to come out here tonight, he’ll steal a page from Rollins’ playbook. Ambrose is going to have an open challenge match for the Intercontinental Championship for anyone other than Rollins.
Tyler Breeze answers the challenge…
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Tyler Breeze
Breeze reverses a whip and takes Ambrose down with a forearm. Breeze dropkicks Ambrose and clotheslines him out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Ambrose apply a modified STF. During the commercial, Ambrose clotheslined him on the floor at ringside. Ambrose takes him down with an elbow for two count. Ambrose applies a chin lock. Ambrose holds it on for a while until Breeze gets out and connects with a step-up enzuigiri. Breeze hits a hurricanrana for a near fall. Breeze boots him back and sends him shoulder-first into the ring post for a near fall. Breeze connects with a Beauty Shot before catching him with a cross-body block for a near fall. Breeze then superkicks him for another near fall.
Breeze goes to hit the ropes, but Ambrose pulls his hair. Ambrose kicks him in the midsection and connects with Dirty Deeds for the win.
Winner and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Dean Ambrose
Ambrose says that was the performance of an Intercontinental Champion with character and integrity. Seth Rollins’ music hits, and he looks nervous. The security prepares itself. One of the guards gets in the ring and superkicks Ambrose. It is revealed to be Rollins. Rollins wipes out the rest of the security force while Ambrose escapes.
Charly Caruso is backstage with Shane McMahon. McMahon goes to talk about the changes, but Drake Maverick interrupts him. Maverick introduces him to the rightful RAW Tag Team Champions, AOP. McMahon says they’re not getting their mandatory rematch clause. That’s antiquated. Maverick cannot believe it. McMahon says they’ll get an opportunity against The B-Team, The Revival, and The Lucha House Party. The winners get a future RAW Tag Team Championship shot.
We’ll take a look at the new faces coming to Monday Night RAW next.
-Commercial Break-
These are the new faces coming to Monday Night RAW: Lars Sullivan, Lacey Evans, Heavy Machinery, Nikki Cross, and EC3.
Bobby Lashley is in the ring with Elias’ set-up. Lashley has a broken guitar in his hands. Lio Rush says Lashley fell in love with the guitar last night after hitting Elias with it. Rush says no one is here to hear Elias sing another bad song. Rush tells them to silence their cellphones, hold the applause, and shut their mouths. Rush has Lashley do a bunch of poses. Rush then has Lashley do his favorite pose. Lashley poses bent over.
“Ladies and gentlemen… Elias.”
Elias comes from out of nowhere and smashes a guitar on Lashley’s back. Lashley is stunned, but he’s quickly on his feet.
The Lucha House Party is shown backstage. The Fatal 4-Way match is next.
-Commercial Break-
Sami Zayn will return soon.
Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match
The Lucha House Party vs. The Revival vs. The B-Team vs. AOP w/ Drake Maverick
The “Lucha House Rules” no longer exist on Monday Night RAW. Curtis Axel starts against Lince Dorado. Dorado dropkicks him and Kalisto tags in to take Axel down as well. Scott Dawson tags in and takes Kalisto down. The Lucha House Party makes a comeback before AOP tags in and overwhelms them.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Dorado hit a handspring stunner on Axel. Kalisto and Bo Dallas are tagged in. Kalisto hits a springboard cross-body before hitting a corkscrew cross-body. Kalisto hits Axel with a tornado DDT before kicking Dallas. Dawson blind tags in on Kalisto and sends him out of the ring. Dallas comes back with a forearm and takes Dawson down. Dallas hits a hanging neckbreaker, but Dash Wilder breaks it up. Dawson and Dallas team up to get AOP out of the ring. They then give Lucha House Party dual back body drops over the top rope onto AOP. Dawson rolls Dallas up, but Dallas rolls through. They trade roll-ups. Revival comes back with Shatter Machine for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Revival
The Revival will earn a future RAW Tag Team Championships match.
Seth Rollins is backstage with Charly Caruso. Rollins says last night was a disaster. Rollins let Ambrose get in his head. Rollins will have to move forward. This isn’t about his performance in the ring or losing championships. This is his life. This is everything he’s been dedicated to. Rollins says he’ll right the ship and end Dean Ambrose. Baron Corbin walks up to him. Corbin says everyone thought he was doing a good job as General Manager until Rollins said something. Corbin blames Rollins for all his misfortune. Corbin says Ambrose was right about what he said. Rollins chuckles before leveling him with a right hand.
Replays are shown of The McMahon family kicking off Monday Night RAW and promising change.
We’ll hear from “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey next.
-Commercial Break-
RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey makes her way to the ring. Footage is shown of her beating Nia Jax and then costing Becky Lynch her Smackdown Women’s Championship. Rousey said she told Nia Jax she could kiss her right hand goodbye. She told Charlotte Flair she’d write the next chapter of their story. She also told Becky Lynch that she’s the last woman she should provoke. A “Becky” chant fires up. Rousey isn’t here to justify her actions. She’s here to define what a real champion is. Rousey says a real champion is so much more than a title you hold in your hands. A real champion is more than the winner of a match or the decision of a referee. Those are symptoms of a champion. A real champion represents the limit of human potential – the best of the best physically, mentally, and morally. A real champion is the best the human race has to offer. That’s why she’s here tonight. Rousey says she wants to start a new tradition. After a PPV, a champion should defend their championship whether they’re in good or bad condition. Rousey issues an open challenge.
We go into the gorilla position to see a bunch of female superstars arguing over who gets the shot. Stephanie McMahon screams and tells them to follow her. Stephanie McMahon comes out on stage and says all these women want a championship match against her. They’re all deserving, but she’s not playing favorites anymore. They’ll give them each an opportunity to earn it. Rousey will defend the title against the winner of tonight’s 8-woman gauntlet match. They’ll kick it off with Alicia Fox. She’ll go against Bayley.
8-Woman Gauntlet Match
Alicia Fox vs. Bayley
Bayley starts off hot, but Fox soon takes her down. Fox bounces her off the top turnbuckle. Bayley avoids a scissor kick and hits a swinging back suplex for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Fox stomping Bayley. The winner of the gauntlet will face Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women’s Championship next week on RAW. Fox takes Bayley down and chokes her on the ropes. Bayley soon makes a comeback and goes for a slingshot, but she tweaks her knee. Fox follows up with a big boot and covers, but Bayley rolls her over to eliminate her.
Bayley defeated Alicia Fox in the Gauntlet Match
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke
Brooke runs down and attacks Bayley. Brooke punches away at her and applies a body scissor. Brooke pins her for a near fall before hitting a chop block. The referee checks on Bayley, and she agrees to continue. Brooke stomps Bayley and takes her down for a two count. Brooke applies a chin lock. Bayley fights out, but Brooke continues to take her down. Bayley hits a desperation Bayley-To-Belly out of nowhere to eliminate Brooke.
Bayley defeated Dana Brooke in the Gauntlet Match
-Commercial Break-
Kevin Owens returns soon.
Bayley vs. Mickie James
We join this match in progress. Bayley fights up from a chin lock, but James soon takes her down with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Ronda Rousey is seen watching backstage. Bayley fights back, but James soon takes her down. James kips up and goes to the top rope. James hits a flying Thesz Press, but she can’t put Bayley away. Bayley soon takes her down with a swinging back suplex. James musters some strength to kick her out of the ring. Bayley blocks a baseball slide and punches James. Bayley’s knee gives out, but she still manages to hit a cross-body. Bayley hits James with a running kick before going to the top rope. Bayley comes off with a diving elbow drop, but James grabs the bottom rope.
James blocks the Bayley-To-Belly and punches her down. James connects with a big DDT to eliminate Bayley.
Mickie James defeated Bayley in the Gauntlet Match
Mickie James vs. Ember Moon
James immediately dropkicks her as soon as she gets in the ring. James chokes her with a boot and goes for an arm drag, but Moon lands on her feet. Moon takes her down, but James avoids a dropkick for a two count. Moon comes back with a springboard cross-body block for a near fall. James rolls out of the ring to recover. James avoids a baseball slide and kicks Moon. James goes to powerbomb her on the floor, but Moon holds the ropes. James then sweeps her down on the apron.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Moon and James ducking strikes. Moon finally connects with a kick for a near fall. Ronda Rousey is still watching the television sideways from backstage. James flattens her with a flapjack and kips up. James goes to the top rope, but Moon counters into a Codebreaker. Moon goes to the top rope and hits the Eclipse for the elimination.
Ember Moon defeated Mickie James in the Gauntlet Match
Ember Moon vs. Natalya
Moon quickly rolls Natalya up for a two count. Moon avoids a discus clothesline for a two count. Moon applies a chin lock, but Natalya fights out. Moon quickly boots her and hits a swinging suplex for a two count. Natalya avoids Moon coming off the top rope and hits a discus clothesline for a near fall. Moon counters a Sharpshooter into a roll-up for a two count. Natalya rolls her up for the elimination.
Natalya defeated Ember Moon in the Gauntlet Match
The Riott Squad makes their entrance. They’re not sure who is going to face Natalya.
-Commercial Break-
Natalya vs. Ruby Riott
We come back from the break to see Riott applying a chin lock. During the break, Liv Morgan got a cheap shot in. Natalya fights out and hits a slam. Natalya rolls her up, but Riott kicks out and immediately clotheslines her down. Riott goes back to a chin lock. Natalya eventually fights out and dropkicks her down. Natalya hits a pair of snap suplexes and slaps her. Riott quickly takes her down and goes for a reverse senton, but Natalya moves. Natalya covers for the elimination.
Natalya defeated Ruby Riott in the Gauntlet Match
Natalya vs. Sasha Banks
Banks takes Natalya down and gives her double knees in the corner. Natalya fights back, but Banks takes her down with a DDT for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Natalya get a head of steam and hit a discus clothesline for a near fall. Natalya applies a Sharpshooter, and Banks screams in pain. Banks tries to get to the bottom rope, but Natalya drags her to the center of the ring. Banks crawls and rolls, sending Natalya head-first into the turnbuckle. Banks comes back with a single leg crab, but Natalya fights the pain. Banks rolls her up, but then transitions to the Bank Statement. Natalya fights up and kills her with a release German Suplex.
They take their time fighting up and Banks hits a meteora for a near fall. Natalya all of a sudden comes back and applies a Sharpshooter for the submission victory!
Winner of the Gauntlet Match: Natalya
RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey comes down to the ring to shake hands with Natalya and hug her.