WWE Monday Night RAW Results
May 23, 2016
Baltimore, Maryland
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video recaps the events from last night’s Extreme Rules PPV. Roman Reigns defeated AJ Styles to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in an Extreme Rules Match. Immediately after the match, Seth Rollins made his return and gave Reigns a Pedigree. Rollins then held up the WWE World Heavyweight Championship as the show came to an end.
The RAW video plays, and we’re brought into the arena to see a big pyrotechnics display. This is the 1,200th episode of Monday Night RAW.
Seth Rollins’ music hits, and he comes out to a massive pop from the crowd. Rollins comes out and soaks up the cheers from the crowd. Rollins is sporting completely black hair. He no longer has it half blonde. Rollins stands in the ring and soaks in the cheers. A light “Welcome back” chant makes its way through. Some people are booing, but that is mostly completely drowned out. Rollins goes to speak, but he’s interrupted by a loud “Welcome back” chant. Rollins asks if they’re going to let him talk, and they loudly cheer. It’s been two hundred days. He’s envisioned what it would feel like to step into this ring – his ring – once again. In case you’re living under a rock, he’s back. For seven months he has waited to come back and take the title that he never lost. At Extreme Rules, he fired the first shot. A still photo of him giving Roman Reigns a Pedigree is shown. A “Thank you Rollins” chant fires up.
Rollins says he feels like the people missed him, and the crowd pops again before starting a “YES” chant. Rollins says that’s interesting because it wasn’t always that way. When he put a steel chair in Roman Reigns’ back and destroyed The Shield, they booed him every single time he stepped in the ring. They called for his head every night. When he won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, they called him the weakest champion of all time. They were begging for someone to beat him for the title, even though nobody ever could. They said he was a coward and hid behind The Authority every chance he got. They basically discredited every single bit of hard work that went into the title reign. Then something profound happened. His knee buckled under the weight of carrying this company on his back for so freaking long. Rollins then started getting all these tweets and comments online saying they missed him. Rollins got so much fan mail he didn’t even know what to do with it. Rollins says he didn’t open a single letter. He put it in a garbage can and lit it on fire. The crowd starts to lightly boo him. Rollins says he doesn’t need any of them. He didn’t need them to win the title or defend it night after night. Rollins says he doesn’t need them to get it back. Rollins says it’s ok if they boo him because there is only room on the Seth Rollins bandwagon for one – himself. Rollins rehabbed twice a day to get back here to get the title that he never lost. That’s seven months of hard work, which is more hard work than any of them have put in in their entire lives. He rebuilt himself, redesigned himself, and will take back his WWE World Heavyweight Championship. There are still cheers for him, but the boos are coming out louder.
Roman Reigns’ music hits, and he comes out to a mixed reaction. Rollins removes his jacket. Reigns gets in the ring, and Rollins immediately leaves. The booing is really coming through right now. Rollins talks a little trash, and Reigns invites him into the ring to say it to his face.
Shane McMahon’s music hits, and he comes out to a big reception. Shane gets in the ring and dances around Reigns. Rollins continues to walk around ringside. A loud “Shane O’Mac” chant fires up. Shane thanks the crowd for the reception. Shane invites Rollins back into the ring and wants to have an adult conversation. Rollins gets in the ring. A “You still got it” chant fires up for no reason. Shane says there is a lot of animosity between the two of them. As Rollins stated, the original time it happened was when he turned his back on The Shield. His next defining moment happened at WrestleMania 31 when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to walk out with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Rollins held that title until his unfortunate injury. Now Rollins is back to get the title that he never lost. Reigns can understand that point. This is a match that has “WrestleMania main event” written all over it. At WWE’s next PPV entitled “Money in the Bank,” it will be Roman Reigns defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins. Rollins shakes hands with Shane as his music plays. Rollins is very pleased by that.
The Miz will have a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match against Cesaro. We’ll also see Dean Ambrose take on Dolph Ziggler in another Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. We’ll also see Chris Jericho take on Apollo Crews, AJ Styles will fight Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn face Sheamus. Those are all Money in the Bank Qualifying Matches. Zayn versus Sheamus is next.
-Commercial Break-
Renee Young is backstage with Sheamus. Sheamus says this is a New Era, but what kind of era has him in a qualifying match against a guy named Sami Zayn? Zayn is from Canada. He’s not even from this country. Sheamus says for all the parents with little kids, he advises them to leave the room. What he does to Sami Zayn next won’t be suitable for all ages.
The Money in the Bank briefcase is hanging over the ring.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Sami Zayn vs. Sheamus
The bell rings, and they take some time before locking up. Sheamus quickly powers him to the corner before giving a clean break. They lock up again, and Sheamus takes him down with a headlock takeover. Zayn quickly gets out of it. Sheamus takes him down before wrenching the arm. Sheamus applies a side headlock, but Zayn whips him off. Sheamus shoulder blocks him down before hitting the ropes. Zayn leapfrogs him and takes him down with a jumping heel kick. Zayn chops the chest and forearms him in the face. Zayn forearms him in the corner before Sheamus clubs him down. Sheamus catches him with a kick to the head before dropping a leg. Sheamus elbows away at him before throwing him to the apron. Zayn shoulders him in the midsection before doing a slingshot flip back into the ring. Zayn ducks a clothesline and takes him out of the ring with a head-scissor takeover. Zayn follows him out of the ring and attacks him. Sheamus quickly sends him into the barricade, but Zayn jumps to the top and takes him out with a moonsault on the floor! Zayn puts him in the ring, but Sheamus quickly knees him in the face as he gets in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Sheamus taunting the crowd. Sheamus trash talks Zayn and points to the Money in the Bank briefcase. Zayn punches back at him, but Sheamus shoves him into the ropes and connects with a big powerslam for a near fall. Sheamus props him up on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Zayn punches him off. Zayn leaps over him as Sheamus gets up and runs into an Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus picks up a near fall. Sheamus hits the ropes, and Zayn viciously clotheslines him down. Zayn approaches him in the corner, but Sheamus kicks him. Sheamus hits the ropes, but Zayn lays him out with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall! Sheamus kicks him back and rips at the face. Zayn punches away at him and grabs the hand. Zayn scales the ropes, but Sheamus kicks them out from under him. Sheamus then poses for the crowd as they boo him. Zayn ducks a Brogue Kick and clotheslines him out of the ring. Zayn sets up for a summersault plancha, but Sheamus forearms him in the face before he does. Sheamus gets in the ring, and Zayn catches him with the Helluva Kick for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Sami Zayn
Match Rating: **
Sami Zayn is the first one entered into the 2016 Money in the Bank match. Zayn celebrates and leaves the ring. Sheamus gets to his feet and looks furious. Sheamus kicks the ropes and pulls at his hair.
Charlotte will deliver a State of the Women’s Championship Address later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Renee Young is backstage with Apollo Crews. She asks if he has an advantage after witnessing the brutality Chris Jericho experienced at Extreme Rules last night. Crews says Jericho went into thumbtacks and must be feeling like road kill. Crews says this is the biggest match of his life… Sheamus attacks him from behind! Sheamus sends him into some crates and yells about the New Era. Sheamus says this is a warning for all New Era guys. They can’t replace him, and he’ll always be there to knock them down.
“OHH B-MORE! DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR! CLAP FOR YOUR WORLD FAMOUS TWO-TIME CHAMPS AND FEEL THE POWER!”
The New Day makes their entrance to a huge reception. There is a cake in the ring that says, “Happy Birthday!” Xavier Woods says as of last night at Extreme Rules, The New Day is still your WWE World Tag Team Champions! The crowd loudly cheers that. Kofi Kingston says this cake is not to help celebrate their victory – OH NO! This cake is out here because RAW has been going strong for 1,200 episodes. That means that RAW is over 23 years old. What they want to say is, “Happy birthday, RAW!” Big E says we all know that a WWE ring is never safe for a cake. Big E suggests they take it out and take care of business. Kingston picks it up and hands it to Big E outside the ring. Woods says to be careful because they wouldn’t want it to wind up in anyone’s face, particularly anyone in the front row! Big E has a great look on his face as he prances around ringside with the cake. Big E goes to shove it in JBL’s face, and he cowers. They then suggest Byron Saxton, and he begs them off.
The Social Outcasts attack Woods and Kingston in the ring and kick them out of the ring. They then knock Big E off the apron. They pick up Francesca II and celebrate in the ring. This six-man tag happens next.
-Commercial Break-
The New Day vs. The Social Outcasts
We join this match in progress. Heath Slater goes to the middle rope, but Kofi Kingston takes him out with a hurricanrana. The New Day then starts up the unicorn stampede. It ends with Big E sending Kingston into Slater with a dropkick. Woods plays trombone as the rest of The New Day gyrates. Big E tags in and does snake eyes into the corner as the other two members kick him. Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel hold Slater up and go for a victory lap, but Slater collapses at ringside. Woods then takes them out with a summersault plancha! Slater is thrown into the ring, and Big E and Kingston connect with the Midnight Hour for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The New Day
Match Rating: 1/2 *
The New Day celebrates before remembering the cake at ringside. Big E reaches into the cake, but they tell him to put it down. They then shove Slater face first into it! The New Day celebrates as they leave ringside.
Coming up next, we’ll see Cesaro take on The Miz in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match.
-Commercial Break-
The Miz and Maryse make their way to the ring. Maryse rubs it in the crowd’s face that Miz is still the WWE Intercontinental Champion. Miz says he’s still the Intercontinental Champion and future Money in the Bank winner. He’s done it once before and will do it again. Since his wife has been by his side, he has been on a roll. At Extreme Rules, he was given a 25% chance of winning, but like the movie “Rudy,” he overcame insurmountable odds. It was a drama filled match. It had social media buzzing. He went up against three of the greatest stars WWE has to offer today and at the end of it, only one man stood as your Intercontinental Champion, and his name is The Miz! This is a true underdog story, but who would play his character: Chris Pratt, Brad Pitt, Dwayne Johnson? Maryse says none of those men compare to him. They don’t have his good looks and charisma. Miz asks who will win the contract. Maryse says he will. They then go to kiss, but Cesaro’s music interrupts them.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Cesaro
The bell rings, and Cesaro quickly ducks a clothesline. Cesaro then starts up the uppercut train before taking him down with one last uppercut for a two count. Cesaro hits the ropes a number of times to showcase his athleticism before connecting with a dropkick for a near fall. Maryse then pulls Miz out of the ring. Cesaro gets on the apron and takes Miz out with a summersault senton off the apron. Maryse yells at him, but Cesaro holds up his hand and says, “Talk to the hand!” Miz attacks Cesaro as he gets in the ring and goes for a suplex, but Cesaro blocks it and goes for a delayed vertical suplex, but Miz knees him in the head. Cesaro keeps him held up and powers into a suplex for a two count. Cesaro applies a headlock, but Miz fights up. Miz whips him off and goes for a leapfrog, but Cesaro counters into a powerslam attempt. Miz slides off and sends him into the ropes, but Cesaro takes him out with a springboard spinning uppercut that sends Miz out of the ring!
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Cesaro holding his shoulder. Miz rips at his face, but Cesaro fights out. Miz quickly takes him out with the Reality Check before signaling for the Skull Crushing Finale. Cesaro counters into an inside cradle for a two count. Miz quickly attacks the injured shoulder before hitting a kneeling DDT for a two count. Miz punches away at him. Cesaro rolls to the apron to recover. Miz then catches him with a guillotine catapult. Miz viciously pulls at the arm. Cesaro goes outside to recover. Miz charges into an uppercut. Cesaro blocks a punch and uppercuts him a few times. Miz comes back with a shot to the injured shoulder. Miz then connects with his patented corner clothesline. Miz goes to the top rope, but Cesaro dropkicks him off to the floor! Cesaro then takes him out with a running uppercut!
Cesaro puts him in the ring and goes to the top rope. Cesaro then connects with a cross-body block for a two count. Cesaro goes for the swing, but Miz kicks him off. Cesaro then gives him a double stomp to the midsection for a near fall. The referee backs Cesaro up, and Miz kicks him in the shoulder. Cesaro then goes for the Cesaro Swing, but his shoulder doesn’t allow it to happen. Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Cesaro elbows out. Cesaro then gives him a back body drop to the apron, but Miz lands on his feet and snaps the arm off the top rope. Miz goes to the top rope, but Cesaro uppercuts him out of mid-air. Cesaro then connects with the Neutralizer for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Cesaro
Match Rating: **
Cesaro joins Sami Zayn in the 2016 Money in the Bank Match.
A replay is shown from earlier in the night when Shane McMahon booked Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank.
Renee Young is backstage with Seth Rollins. Rollins says it would be a fitting environment for him to win the title. A few years back, he won his contract there and went on to have the greatest cash in in WWE history. Stephanie McMahon walks up. Rollins goes for a hug, but she holds him back. Rollins says it’s been so long. Her brother gave him the championship match for the title he never lost. Stephanie says things have changed around here, including their business relationship. She extends her hand and welcomes him back. They shake hands, and she walks off.
Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring limping and his back covered in bandages. Jericho will face Apollo Crews, next.
John Cena returns next week on Monday Night RAW.
-Commercial Break-
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Chris Jericho vs. Apollo Crews
Replays are shown of Sheamus attacking Apollo Crews earlier in the night. Crews is showing no signs of the attack as he jumps and dances his way to the ring.
The bell rings, and Jericho throws a t-shirt at him before punching and kneeing away at him. Jericho sends him into the ropes and connects with a back elbow. Jericho taunts the crowd before kicking Crews. Jericho slaps him in the head a few times before kneeing him in the face. Jericho chops the chest and hits the ropes, but Crews dropkicks him down. Crews connects with an arm drag before catching him with a suplex. Crews executes a slingshot senton for a two count. Sheamus is watching this match backstage. Crews punches him in the corner before running into a back elbow. Crews kicks him in the bandages, and Jericho screams in pain. Crews then body slams him down. The referee backs him up, and Jericho punches him before clotheslining him in the back of the head. Jericho taunts the crowd and hits a snap suplex before dropkicking him in the head for a two count. Jericho talks some more trash before Crews fights back. Jericho dropkicks him down for a two count. Jericho punches him in the head a few times before kicking him in the back. Jericho applies a chin lock, but Crews fights up. Jericho chops him back and sends him into the ropes, but Crews kicks him in the face and clotheslines him twice. Crews hits the ropes and kicks him in the head. Crews then avalanches him in the corner and connects with a jumping back elbow. Crews kips up, and Jericho drops him to the apron. Jericho goes for a springboard dropkick, but Crews moves. Jericho crashes and burns at ringside. Crews then takes him out with a standing moonsault off the apron.
Crews puts him in the ring and goes to the top rope. Jericho avoids a leap before running into a powerslam. Crews picks up a two count. Crews connects with an enzuigiri, but Jericho doesn’t go down. Jericho counters a sit-out powerbomb into a roll-up. Jericho releases and applies the Walls of Jericho. Crews claws his way to the bottom rope. Crews dropkicks him and rolls him up for a two count. Crews forearms away at him before sending him into the ropes, but Jericho avoids a dropkick. Crews tries to kip up to avoid a Lionsault, but he timed it wrong. Crews kicks out at two. That did not look pleasant. Jericho chops the chest and goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Crews rolls him up for a two count. Jericho then connects with the Codebreaker for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Chris Jericho
Match Rating: *
Chris Jericho joins Cesaro and Sami Zayn in the 2016 Money in the Bank match. Sheamus looks happy with the result. Renee Young asks for his reaction. Sheamus just laughs and walks off.
Later tonight, we’ll see AJ Styles take on Kevin Owens in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match.
-Commercial Break-
There’s another Darren Young/Bob Backlund split screen vignette. They’re attempting to “Make Darren Young Great Again.”
JoJo is backstage with Baron Corbin. Footage is shown of Corbin giving Dolph Ziggler a low blow last night. Corbin got the victory from there. She asks for comments on those critical of his victory. Corbin could care less what people think. He did that to Dolph Ziggler because he can. Ziggler walks up and asks about the things he can’t do like putting three words together, looking like a tool, and competing in a technical wrestling match. Corbin grew up giving out beatings to punks like Ziggler. Then he was told if he’s good at something, you don’t do it for free. That’s why he’s here. When he’s done breaking Ziggler’s body, we’ll discuss his technical wrestling. Ziggler says we’ll see if Corbin can hang with him in a technical wrestling match next week. Ziggler tells Corbin to watch his match against Dean Ambrose later tonight. He’ll do what Corbin can’t: steal the show.
Big Cass makes his way to the stage to a big pop. Big Cass goes to talk, but then he waves his hand. Enzo Amore makes his return to a tremendous reception! The crowd is going crazy right now. Enzo says he’s a certified G and a bona fide stud, and you can’t teach that. As for Big Cass, he’s seven-foot tall, and you can’t teach that. They get in the ring, and the crowd chants, “How you doin’?” Enzo dances around a bit. Enzo says as most of the people are aware, he forgot to pay his electric bill. They cut his lights out – how you doin’? The doctors diagnosed him with a concussion. The crowd boos that. Enzo says that’s what he likes to call a hard sneeze, and then does the dab. Enzo says he’s got the gift of gab and the gift of jab. If he had a dime for every time he got knocked down and didn’t get back up, he would have zero dimes! As for those couple of haters Bub and Devon Dud, they have been out of line… and apparently not on the guest list. Do them a favor and don’t do them any favors. At the end of the day, The Dudleys are full of baloney. That boar’s head on Bubba’s shoulder is good for one thing because Big Cass isn’t a delicatessen – it’s a target. Big Cass says him putting his size 16 boot on Bubba’s head is like throwing a basketball into a swimming pool because he’s not going to miss. Enzo gets the crowd going with his wild antics. Big Cass says he’ll prove again why there’s only one word to describe The Dudley Boyz, and he’ll spell it out for them: S-A-W-F-T!
The Dudley Boyz make their entrance. Bubba Ray Dudley will face Big Cass, next.
-Commercial Break-
Big Cass w/ Enzo Amore vs. Bubba Ray Dudley w/ D-Von Dudley
They lock up, and Big Cass powers him to the corner. Bubba turns him around and chops the chest. Big Cass just stares at him before shoving him down. Bubba looks stunned. They lock up before Bubba puts Big Cass in the corner. Bubba gives a clean break before going for a cheap shot. Big Cass sends him hard into the turnbuckles, and Bubba face plants. D-Von Dudley then attacks Enzo Amore at ringside. Bubba attacks Big Cass from behind and gives him a back suplex. Bubba jabs away at Big Cass before eating a clothesline. Big Cass connects with a pair of shoulder blocks before hitting an avalanche. Bubba goes outside, and Big Cass follows. Big Cass then sends Enzo into D-Von. In the ring, Bubba goes to the top rope. Big Cass throws him off before connecting with a big boot and the Empire Elbow for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Big Cass
Match Rating: 3/4 *
Charlotte is walking backstage with Ric Flair and Dana Brooke. She’ll talk about the Women’s Championship, next.
-Commercial Break-
Charlotte comes out arm in arm with Ric Flair and Dana Brooke. Charlotte gets on the microphone and lets out a “WOO!” Ric Flair takes the microphone and the crowd buzzes. Flair says before she starts tonight, he just wants to convey to her as a father how proud he is of her for everything she’s accomplished since she won the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. As a child, every time he turned around, she had her hand in the candy jar. Even when they hid it, she found it. Everything she’s touched in her life, she’s made happen. She’s that fabulous. Last night with her back against the wall, she once again prevailed. She even got someone like her Uncle Arn in Dana Brooke. Without Charlotte Flair, there is no Dana Brooke. Flair says he’s proud of her.
Charlotte wants to thank one person, and that’s obviously herself. She’s also proud of Dana Brooke. She made the right decision because she wants to be the best. Dana thanks Charlotte for the opportunity to stand in the ring with the dirtiest player in the game. Charlotte asks if Flair knows what she remembers growing up. She remembers Thanksgivings, Christmases, and Birthdays. The crowd gives her the “WHAT” treatment. She dares them to say “WHAT” one more time. She remembers her mother saying her father would always be there, but he wasn’t. She had to watch him on TV. She understands why he wasn’t there. Her mother had to rub her hair because she was crying, but she gets it now because she’s the WWE Women’s Champion. She’s never been more powerful or confident. Now she understands. Her father knew what it was like to be the man. She’s the woman. That’s why she has the courage to say this to her father: “Get out of my ring!” She asks if he’s hard of hearing. She figured he’d stand there looking dumbfounded. Everyone from his generation is the same. They never want to leave the spotlight. She was compassionate enough to let him bask in her success. Does anyone know what it’s like to walk into a room and be called Ric Flair’s daughter? He’s Charlotte’s dad. She asks if he’s going to cry. Her spotlight shines brighter than his ever did. Flair begins to cry.
Charlotte appears like she’s on the verge of tears saying all these things. Charlotte says Ric Flair abandoned her for the last thirty years of her life. Ric Flair is immortal to the fans, but to her he’s dead. Now he can watch her on TV like she had to do for him. She tells him to get out of the ring. Flair sadly leaves the ring as she sings “Kiss Him Goodbye” at him.
-Commercial Break-
All three commentators are disgusted by Charlotte’s actions against her father.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler
They lock up, and Ambrose takes him down with a waistlock. Ziggler quickly gets up, but Ambrose catches him with a snapmare for a one count. Ziggler takes him down with a fireman’s carry for a one count. They go for a test of strength, but Ambrose kicks him and takes him down with an arm bar. Ziggler quickly rolls him up for another one count. They lock up, and Ambrose applies a hammerlock. Ambrose takes him down with a headlock takeover, but Ziggler soon fights up and whips him off. Ambrose runs him over with a shoulder block. Ambrose hits the ropes, and Ziggler dropkicks him down for a two count. Ziggler applies a side headlock and takes him down. Ambrose whips him off and connects with a back elbow. Ambrose connects with a body slam for a one count. Ambrose chops the chest before putting him in the corner. Ambrose sends him into the ropes, but Ziggler catches him with a sunset flip. They trade pins before Ambrose throws him out of the ring. Ambrose feigns a dive, but Ziggler moves. We’re at a stalemate as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Ziggler fight out of a superplex attempt. Ambrose punches him and then catches him with a double arm superplex for a near fall. Ambrose connects with a running forearm and goes for a bulldog, but Ziggler pushes him to the corner and hits an avalanche. Ambrose gets out of a neckbreaker. Ambrose also counters a DDT and clotheslines him out of the ring. Ambrose hits the ropes and nearly kills himself on a sloppy suicide dive. Ambrose puts Ziggler in the ring and goes to the top rope, but Ambrose shoves him off. Ambrose takes him down with an elbow, but Ziggler rolls through and gets a two count. Ziggler connects with a famouser for a near fall. Ziggler tunes up the band, but Ambrose blocks the superkick. They go into the ropes and take each other out with a double cross-body block.
They trade punches until Ziggler superkicks him. Ambrose then catches him with a rebound clothesline for a near fall. Ambrose goes to the top rope, and Ziggler dropkicks him out of mid-air. Ziggler punches away at him in the corner. Ambrose goes for a powerbomb, but Ziggler rolls him up for a two count. Ambrose counters a Zig-Zag and connects with the Dirty Deeds for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Dean Ambrose
Match Rating: * 1/2
Ric Flair is sadly walking backstage past a few superstars before bumping into Arn Anderson. They hug, and Anderson says he’s sorry. Renee Young comes up to him and says this is a horrific night. Flair didn’t get a chance to respond, so she gives him a chance. Flair shakes his head, says something inaudible, and walks off.
Coming up next, we’ll see AJ Styles take on Kevin Owens in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match.
-Commercial Break-
The Shining Stars talk about how great their debut was last week on RAW. Since everyone loves them so much, they invite the WWE Universe to Puerto Rico.
AJ Styles makes his way to the ring. Still photos are shown from his war against Roman Reigns last night. Styles says in this business, you never know how good someone is until you get in the ring with them. After the last six weeks and at Extreme Rules, Roman Reigns is every bit the man he says he is. The crowd loudly boos that. Reigns is one of the better men he’s ever been in the ring with. However, if it wasn’t for The Usos, he had him beat. If it weren’t for them, we’d be looking at the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. That didn’t happen, but he has an opportunity tonight. Styles has the opportunity to beat Kevin Owens on his own.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows make their way to the ring looking none too pleased. Karl Anderson tells him to take it back a second. Styles makes it sound like he didn’t want them out there fighting with him last night. Styles says that is the case. This isn’t Japan. Things have changed. Anderson says if this was Japan, he’d have bought them a round for helping him. Anderson says Styles has changed. Styles says things may have been lost in translation. He didn’t get them into WWE to watch his back. Luke Gallows says if they didn’t drop every guy he ever had a problem with, there’s a lot of bar fights he wouldn’t have walked out of. If they didn’t drop everyone here, Styles never would have made it to Extreme Rules. Styles says he sees what’s happening here. He doesn’t want their professional lives to break up their friendship. Professionally, they need to separate. Styles says for right now, they’re done. Styles says he doesn’t care what the crowd thinks. Nothing and no one can separate them from being brothers.
Gallows says, “How dare you talk to us like that and try to stand here and call us brothers.” Anderson says they’re not brothers anymore. They’re not friends anymore. Styles says if that’s the way it is, then they don’t need to be in the ring together. In fact as of right now, this is his ring. Anderson and Gallows turn and leave the ring.
Styles will face Kevin Owens in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match, next.
-Commercial Break-
John Cena will return to Monday Night RAW next week. On Smackdown this week, Cesaro will face The Miz for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. We’ll also see Rusev defend his WWE United States Championship against former champion Kalisto.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens
The bell rings and both men look up at the Money in the Bank briefcase. They talk trash to one another and shove each other. They trade punches with Styles coming out on top. Owens kicks him back and applies a side headlock. Owens calls himself the “headlock master.” Styles whips him off and leapfrogs him. Owens holds onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick. Owens derisively claps for him before running into a dropkick. Styles picks up a one count. Styles connects with a snapmare and drops a knee for a two count. Styles chops the chest, but Owens fights back. Styles has a whip reversed on him, and he kicks Owens in the face. Styles hits the ropes, and Owens connects with a textbook dropkick for a no count. Owens kicks him in the back and goes for a body slam, but Styles slides out. Styles applies a waistlock, but Owens takes him down and taunts the crowd. Styles quickly takes him down before throwing him out of the ring. Styles goes for a plancha, but lands on the apron when Owens moves. Owens then pulls him off. Owens teases a plancha, but he simply rolls under the bottom rope and clotheslines him on the floor.
Owens puts Styles in the ring and yells at Michael Cole. Styles punches him from inside the ring and connects with a forearm plancha! Owens punches him back before Styles sends him into the steel steps. Styles puts him in the ring, and we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Styles trapped in a chin lock. During the commercial break, Owens dropped Styles face-first on the apron. Back to live action, Styles punches out and charges him, but Owens gives him a back body drop out of the ring. Owens goes to powerbomb him onto the steel steps, but Styles drives him into the apron. Styles gets him in the ring, and they trade punches. Owens ducks a strike combination and lifts him up, but Styles gets out and takes him down. Styles then hits him with a low forearm smash for a near fall. Styles puts him in the corner, but Owens punches him back. Styles then hits a sit-out face-buster for a near fall! Styles goes for the Styles Clash, but Owens gives him a back body drop. Styles elbows him back and goes to the second rope, but Owens pulls him off and gives him a German Suplex. Owens then catches him with the cannonball for a near fall. Owens then tells Michael Cole to shut up.
Owens sends him into the ropes, but Styles hangs on and boots him back. Owens ducks a kick, but Styles comes right back with a German Suplex. Styles catches him with an enzuigiri before hitting a fireman’s carry neckbreaker for a near fall! Owens counters out of the Styles Clash and hits a fisherman’s suplex neckbreaker for a near fall! Owens sets him up and goes to the top rope. Styles cuts him off and goes for a superplex, but Owens head-butts him off. Owens leaps up and goes for a moonsault, but Styles moves! Styles connects with a springboard 450 splash for a near fall! Owens rolls out of the ring to recover. Styles jumps onto the top rope for a plancha, but Owens moves so he goes to the apron. Styles then gives him a running knee to the face. Styles charges him, but Owens counters with a powerbomb onto the steel steps at ringside! Owens gets in the ring and looks for the count-out. Styles just barely beats the count.
Owens sends him into the ropes for a Pop-up Powerbomb, but Styles gets out and connects with the pelé kick for a near fall. Styles quickly goes to the apron and waits for Owens to get up. Owens kicks the top rope out from under him and catches him with the Pop-up Powerbomb for the clean win!
Winner by Pinfall: Kevin Owens
Match Rating: ** 1/2
Kevin Owens joins Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Chris Jericho, and Dean Ambrose in the 2016 Money in the Bank match. There are still two more spots left to fill.
Mick Foley is seen greeting Shane McMahon backstage. The live interview is next on the WWE Network.
——————–
Quick Match Results
* MITB Qualifier: Sami Zayn def. Sheamus
* The New Day def. The Social Outcasts
* MITB Qualifier: Cesaro def. The Miz (non-title)
* MITB Qualifier: Chris Jericho def. Apollo Crews
* Big Cass def. Bubba Ray Dudley
* MITB Qualifier: Dean Ambrose def. Dolph Ziggler
* MITB Qualifier: Kevin Owens def. AJ Styles
E-Mail – MikeyT817@gmail.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
My thoughts on this episode of RAW will be up tomorrow exclusively on this site. I definitely will be reviewing this show. It’s been a while since I’ve had time to sit down and write one. Be sure to read it and share your feedback on this episode.
Did you miss last week’s episode of RAW? Check out my recap here!
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