Episode two of Total Bellas which was titled Quickie Fix did a total of 756,000 viewers, up 124,000 viewers from last week’s premiere episode. That has to be considered a very good number for both WWE and E! considering that the last time the sister show Total Divas pulled a similar number was for episode 6 of season 5 back in February. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
TNA President Billy Corgan sues TNA and Dixie Carter
PWInsider.com broke the news today that TNA President Billy Corgan has filed a lawsuit against TNA Impact Wrestling, its parent company Impact Ventures LLC, TNA Chairman Dixie Carter, TNA Chief Financial Officer Dean Broadhead and Dixie Carter’s husband Serg Salinas. The lawsuit was filed today, October 13, at the Chancery Court of Nashville, Tennessee.
It’s not clear what Corgan is asking for in the lawsuit yet as documents have not been made public. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman has pumped in a lot of his personal money to keep TNA afloat, first saving them in June of this year and then frequently putting in more cash up until the Bound For Glory week.
With his financial contribution, Corgan acquired a minority stake in TNA and was named President, replacing Dixie Carter who was then named as Chairman.
Corgan has made no secret that he wants to buy TNA but Carter is playing hardball. He refused to put in more money leading up to the Bound For Glory weekend and subsequent Impact television tapings and TNA were left empty handed, requiring the save of a mystery third-party who made a cash injection in the last minute which enabled TNA to go ahead with the pay-per-view and six days worth of tapings.
Carter acknowledged that there had been some fighting behind the scenes between the minority owners of the company and herself over the ownership but nothing was solved after spending a whole week together in Orlando for the tapings.
The TNA Chairman also revealed that WWE is in play to purchase the TNA video library which would effectively kill the company.
Hideo Itami out injured, drops from the Dusty Tag Team Classic tournament
Hideo Itami cannot catch a break since he moved to NXT and another injury looks like is going to sideline him for several weeks.
Itami was injured in May 2015 and his shoulder problem required surgery. It was expected that he’d be out for six months however there were further complications and only returned in June of this year, 13 months after he got injured. He made his NXT television return on August 3 and then confronted Austin Aries at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II.
His return was short lived though as during the October 1 NXT non-televised live event in Largo, Florida, he suffered a neck injury after he was on the receiving end of a powerslam from Riddick Moss.
Today it was confirmed that Itami will be dropped from the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament and his former tag team partner, Kota Ibushi, is now a one-man team with no partner yet chosen.
In an exclusive interview with WWE.com, Itami admitted that he is unsure if he will be able to compete at NXT Takeover: Toronto, but he vowed to be at NXT’s first event in his home country of Japan on December 3 in Osaka.
Broken Matt Hardy invites The New Day for another crazy TNA segment
TNA is planning to film a wicked and crazy segment for Impact that will air in December featuring several tag teams fighting at Matt Hardy’s place in what is being called a Tag Team Apocalypto match, planned for the Total Nonstop Deletion episode of Impact.
This will be a falls count anywhere match and it will be filmed in the same location where The Final Deletion and Delete or Decay segments were filmed in Cameron, North Carolina. The match will be set up by a Broken Matt Hardy promo on an upcoming episode of Impact, where Matt invites tag teams who are not part of TNA to come and wrestle. All the madness will be taped sometime in November.
Hardy’s invitation also went to The New Day, who he referred to as “The Day Of New” and wrote on Twitter that if “MeekMahan” allows them to appear in this match, he will “make an appearance on MeekMahan’s show.”
Samoa Joe gets NXT title rematch at NXT Takeover: Toronto
Samoa Joe will get his NXT title rematch at the upcoming NXT Takeover: Toronto in November, three months after losing it at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II.
The match was announced by NXT General Manager William Regal after Shinsuke Nakamura made his return on NXT TV on last night’s episode. The current NXT champion was out for a few weeks thanks to an attack by Samoa Joe as part of the storyline.
This will be the first Takeover event in Canada and originally there were only going to be a few non-televised live events, however due to the strong demand, WWE changed them to a Takeover show on the eve of the Survivor Series, booking the Air Canada Centre for three straight nights similar to what they did in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center.
Nakamura and Joe will be headlining the event.
Total Bellas episode preview for tonight: Quickie Fix
Episode two of Total Bellas, titled Quickie Fix, airs tonight on E! starting at 8PM EST.
The synopsis for this episode reads, “A rut in the bedroom causes Brie and Bryan to take out their frustrations on each other, while a bored Nikki comes up with an idea to help them out of their dry spell.”
The premiere episode last week debuted with 632,000 viewers.
Smackdown rating for 10/11/2016
The post-No Mercy Smackdown did 2,448,000 viewers, up from last week’s 2,316,000 viewership and the best number since the September 13 episode. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Alberto Del Rio and Paige discuss stabbing incident, WWE problems and more
Interviewed by TMZ.COM, Alberto Del Rio said that he was at the wrong place and at the wrong time when he was stabbed by a guy who was disrespecting his girl [Paige].
“I got involved in a street fight, I got a little bit hurt, but I’m fine now, I put that behind…it was just a freakin incident,” Del Rio said. He also added that it took place in San Antonio, Texas outside a restaurant and now he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore and the reason he put it on the Internet is out of respect of the AAA promoter “because he was the only one affected.” Del Rio was supposed to appear at an AAA event but no showed due to the incident.
Del Rio, who now goes by the new name of Alberto El Presidente, also talked about how he is now the “Mexican Dana White” after being appointed president of the MMA promotion Combate Americas. Despite his new role, he will still be wrestling and talked about going to Ring of Honor and TNA – if they can afford to pay him – as well as doing other indie dates.
Accompanying him was his girlfriend Paige, looking all in love, who also touched on her problems with WWE and the Wellness Program and how she still wants to wrestle, whether it’s for WWE or someone else, because she loves wrestling.
Brock Lesnar scheduled for October 24 Raw in Minneapolis
Brock Lesnar will be returning on WWE television on October 24 on the Raw that will be live from his hometown – or previous one – in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Brock has not appeared on WWE television since the SummerSlam pay-per-view towards the end of August where he was in the much-debated main event against Randy Orton. That night, Lesnar opened up Orton’s head with two vicious elbows and the match was stopped after Orton began bleeding profusely. His last act on WWE TV was to F5 Shane McMahon, who came out to check on Orton.
Lesnar wrestled at a non-televised event in Chicago on September 24, wrestling Randy Orton again in a rare house show appearance.
His return on Raw is to continue the hype for his match against Goldberg at the Survivor Series. Goldberg will be on Raw this coming Monday to answer – and accept – Heyman’s offer.
WWE fires back, says Paige tested positive for illegal substance
WWE did not appreciate the comments of Paige’s parents who came out in full defense of their daughter, first saying that she is not receiving proper care for her injury and then saying that she did not fail a drug test.
In rare public comments about Wellness Program suspensions, WWE fired back at Paige and her family with a statement published by the New York Post. “Saraya-Jade Bevis tested positive for an illegal substance, not a prescription drug,” a WWE spokesman said. WWE don’t usually reveal why Superstars are suspended and it’s up to them to reveal if they want.
For her first suspension, Paige gave her own version why she was suspended and WWE did not contest her version of events. But this time it was different. It was her father who in a Facebook post said that she never failed a drug test and took a prescription drug that was given to her by her doctor, although apparently not cleared by WWE.
However, the statement did not end there. After allegations that she is also not getting proper medical care for her neck injury, WWE said, “In addition, WWE is providing world-class medical care for her in-ring injury.”
WWE pays for any care associated with injuries if they occur while Superstars are on the job.
James Ellsworth gets WWE World Heavyweight title shot next week
Daniel Bryan, the Smackdown General Manager, announced on Talking Smack last night that following his non-title match win against AJ Styles, James Ellsworth will be getting a WWE World Heavyweight title shot next week on Smackdown!
Ellsworth defeated AJ Styles on yesterday although his win came thanks to a lot of help from Dean Ambrose, who also happened to be the special guest referee of the match. Ellsworth pinned the champ after Ambrose hit the Dirty Deeds on him.
Ellsworth has been wrestling for the past 14 years and made his first WWE television appearance in July when he wrestled Braun Strowman on Raw. Eventually he was offered a small role on Smackdown to tag with AJ Styles but he got attacked by The Miz before the match and Miz ended up taking his place. The 31-year-old has also worked as a Rosebud a few times when Adam Rose was around.
Smackdown Live TV report for 10/11/2016
Introduction Segment: Video Promo, Welcoming, and Arena Promo
A recap of No Mercy airs first, and then we are live in the arena. NEW Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler is acknowledged and walks out. Dolph talks about both sides of his “win or go home” match at No Mercy; what would happen and what it would mean if he won or lost.
The Miz – his opponent and former Intercontinental Champion – interrupts with his wife, Maryse. They are dressed in black, and Miz asks for a moment of silence, as the Intercontinental Championship is now dead since it he no longer has it. Miz makes a few movie analogies to their story, but Ziggler fires back with video from No Mercy of Miz getting pinned and then crying at the end.
After chants of “you were crying,” Miz yells at Dolph that he will get his championship back, and that “they” are also wanting more of Ziggler. Kenny and Mikey of The Spirit Squad join on the stage and cheer that they will be in a Two-On-One Match against Ziggler.
Match #1: Two-On-One – Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler VS. The Spirit Squad (Kenny and Mikey)
Dolph starts off and gets the better quickly. He stands on the turnbuckle and yells at Miz.
Commercials.
Kenny is now in control with a surfboard-stretch and hammer-blows. He drags Dolph to his corner and tags in Mikey, who clotheslines Ziggler hard. Dolph manages a comeback with a Sleeper, and then a double handstand-DDT! The Squad regain after Kenny clotheslines, but Dolph slides out of a Canadian backbreaker and superkicks Kenny for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler
Post-match, Miz immediately attacks Dolph and The Spirit Squad join in. Tag-Team Champions Heath Slater and Rhyno run down and make the save!
Later tonight, Randy Orton and Kane will take on The Wyatt Family – Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt. up next, General Manager and Commissioner Shane McMahon have a major announcement for Survivor Series!
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Segment #2: Video Promo
GM Bryan and Commissioner McMahon propose to Raw a bunch of Five-On-Five Traditional Survivor Series matches – Raw’s “five best male athletes” VS. Smackdown Live’s “five best male athletes;” the same for the women; and the same for their tag teams.
Match #2: Single – Carmela VS. Naomi
Prior to the bout, a video of
Carmela assaults Naomi before the bell rings, and then once the referee gets control, takes over.
Commercials.
Carmela continues to dominate until Naomi hits her rapid Bicycle Kicks and a crossbody from the top turnbuckle! Carmela regains, but Nikki Bella marches down. referees are behind her, but this is enough to distract Carmela and allows Naomi to roll her up for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Naomi
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Alexa Bliss is interviewed about Naomi; she proclaims that she can beat Naomi anytime, so GM Bryan walks up and tells her that will be next Tuesday on Smackdown Live!
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Match #3: Single – American Alpha member Chad Gable (with American Alpha member Jason Jordon) VS. Uso member Jimmy Uso (with Uso member Jey Uso)
Chad takes Jimmy down with amateur-wrestling moves, and then focuses on his left arm. Jimmy comes back with a Samoan Drop and a grounding rear chinlock. Gable manages to toss Jimmy to the floor, and then backdrop him in the ring. he gives Jimmy punches in the corner, and then leaps off the second turnbuckle with a clothesline! He suplexes Jimmy and gears up, and then runs and locks on an armbar against the ropes! He misses a move and Jimmy rolls up Chad, with the help of his brother by pushing against Jimmy to leverage the pin!
Winner via Pinfall: Jimmy Uso (with Uso member Jey Uso)
Segment #4: Locker Room Promo
Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder – The Hype Bros – talk about the tag team Division and Championships. The Ascension – Konnor and Viktor – walk up and stare them down.
Up next, WWE World Champion A.J. Styles will give his “victory speech!”
Commercials.
Segment #5: Arena Promo
WWE World Champion A.J. Styles parades out. Still-pictures of No Mercy’s Triple-Threat Match with John Cena, Dean Ambrose, and A.J. are shown. He declares “the champ is here!” He makes fun of the fans, John Cena, and Dean Ambrose, and then moves on to himself.
He is happy to say two times that he “beat John Cena and Dean Ambrose at the same time.” A.J. decides to let a new “man of main-event status an opportunity” tonight. The man that walks out is Dean Ambrose, who Styles denies. A.J. wasn’t talking about him, but James Ellsworth, a man who teamed with The Miz last month and then was beat-up by Miz.
Manager Daniel walks out and changes this up. He confirms that Ellsworth and Styles will wrestle, but instead makes Ambrose the Special Referee!
Dean changes into referee gear, and then checks A.J.’s pants and kneepads.
Ads.
Match #4: Single – WWE World Champion A.J. Styles VS. James Ellsworth (Non-Title)
(Note: Dean Ambrose is the Special Referee)
A.J. is hitting James in the corner, and receives loud boos for being cocky. He goes to punch Ellsworth, but Dean blocks it, claiming that Styles was going to use a “closed-fist” which is “illegal.” James runs around the ring and A.J. gives chase, but is somewhat tripped by Ambrose.
Styles traps Ellsworth in his Calf-Crusher submission, but Dean talks on his cell phone and turns his back on James tapping out. Ambrose continues to play games with A.J., and eventually plants him in the canvas with his Dirty Deeds. He drags Ellsworth over, but A.J. actually kicks out! Dean drives A.J. again with Dirty Deeds and puts James back on top, and then fast-counts to give this to Ellsworth!
Winner via Pinfall: James Ellsworth
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Randy Orton is walking through the halls; he finds his tag-team partner for tonight, Kane. He is happy to be teaming with “The Big Red Machine” as Kane has “gone through hell.”
Commercials.
Segment #7: Video Promo
A Royal Rumble feature is shown, promoting the January 2017 event.
Segment #8: Office Promo
WWE world Champion A.J. Styles walks in to Shane and Daniel’s area. He is upset about what transpired; McMahon berates him and says that the loss he had against Ellsworth is confirmed. Daniel whispers that he has an idea regarding James.
Ads.
Segment #9: Arena Promo
The announcers talk about WWE’s partnership with the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Segment #10: Arena Promo
“This world has put me to sleep, but now I am wide awake, and I have seen ‘the light,’” prophesizes Luke Harper. “And that light is shining brighter than it ever has; but it cannot pierce the darkness,” Bray continues. He talks about having his “monster” (Harper) back with him and challenges Orton to bring his “monster.”
Commercials.
Match #5: Tag-Team – The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt) VS. Kane and Randy Orton
Kane and Bray go back-and-forth until Wyatt gets out of a chokeslam attempt.
Ads.
Orton and Harper are now going at it on the turnbuckle. Randy suplexes Luke from their and then crawls toward Kane for the tag! “The Big Red Machine” clotheslines Harper in the corner and then drops him with a sidewalk slam! He runs with a front-dropkick, and then grabs both Bray and Luke by the throat. They break out of it, and Luke dropkicks Kane! Bray tags in and throws Kane into the barrier. He gives Kane a senton in the ring, and then switches with Harper, who stomps away on Kane’s knee in the corner.
Bray comes in and stomps too, and then Luke is brought back, clutching Kane in a front-facelock. He whips Kane into the ropes, but “The Devil’s Favorite Demon” counters with a DDT. Kane makes the hot-tag to Orton, who cleans house on The Wyatts. He waits for the R.K.O. onto Bray, but is superkicked by Harper! Randy manages to put Wyatt back to the mat, and then as he goes to tag Kane, the lights go out and Harper is on the apron instead when the lights came back on! Randy turns into a Sister Abigail! Bray covers and receives the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: The Wyatt Family
Post-match, Bray and Luke stare-down Orton as the announcers ponder where Kane went to close the show.
End of Smackdown! Live.
Raw rating for 10/10/2016
Monday Night Raw drew 2,758,000 viewers yesterday, down 38,000 viewers from last week’s show. It will be interesting to see next week if Goldberg’s return will spike the number up.
Hour one drew 2,790,000 viewers, then went up to 2,876,000 viewers in the second hour, before going down to 2,610,000 in the third and final hour. This is the fifth week in a row that Raw failed to break the 3 million viewer mark and the numbers landed the show in 6th, 7th, and 8th place in the cable rankings. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Paige’s angry parents jump to her defense
Paige’s parents, Ricky and Saraya, used Facebook to voice their displeasure at how their daughter is being treated in the WWE and her father even bashed the health care that is being given, or in his opinion not given, while nursing an injury.
Ricky made it clear that Paige did not fail a drug test and was prescribed pain killers by her doctors which were against the Wellness Program policy because they were not approved by WWE’s medical team. He said that he has pleaded with his daughter to return to the United Kingdom for help with her neck injury as “help and direction in the USA has not been forthcoming.” He said he feels Paige has been “let down big time” while in the USA and she has not been given the proper care and advice needed in the position.
“To say I am pissed off with the situation is an understatement,” Ricky wrote.
Meanwhile, her mother Saraya wrote that she wished she would come home. “Sometimes letting out a scream just doesn’t sound loud enough, banging your head against a wall doesn’t reach the spot, closing down emotionally causes inner demons to surface, asking for help creates rumors, being in a sea of people but being alone, sometimes life just sucks…” she wrote.
Saraya has since deleted the Facebook post.
WWE suspended Paige for 60 days yesterday for her second strike in the Wellness Program.
Washington D.C. to host Tribute To The Troops this year
WWE today announced that the 14th annual WWE Tribute to the Troops event will be held on Tuesday, December 13 at Verizon Center in Washington D.C., marking the first time the event will be held in the nation’s capital.
While in D.C., WWE Superstars will spend time with members of all five branches of the military. WWE began Tribute to the Troops in 2003 as a way to honor our servicemen and women and their families. Tribute to the Troops will air on Wednesday, December 14 on USA Network. WWE Superstars will spend time giving back to military personnel and their families. Activities will include a Be a STAR anti-bullying rally, as well as hospital visits and outreach initiatives at various installations throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Additionally, servicemen and women and their families will be given complimentary tickets to attend Tribute to the Troops.
“First I would like to thank the USO and WWE for all the support they have given our servicemen and women,” said Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. “The National Capital Region is the political and military center of gravity for the United States with an infrastructure vital to the global interests of the nation, and I believe is an ideal location for the upcoming Tribute to the Troops because of the large number of military personnel and their families that live and work in the DC-Metro area. I know that our service members are big fans of WWE and are excited to participate in this wonderful event.”
Royal Rumble 2017 pre-sale kicks off today
The pre-sale for the 2017 Royal Rumble kicked off this morning on Ticketmaster.com using the code COWBOYS or NETWORK. The pre-sale will run through Thursday, October 13 at 10PM CDT.
Ticket prices are $45, $75, $125, $175, $200, $300, $350, and $400 for ringside with the commemorative chair. The Royal Rumble will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas to celebrate the 20th anniversary from that memorable Rumble in 1997 which was headlined by Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid and Steve Austin winning the over-the-top Rumble match.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 14 at 10AM CDT.
Hell In A Cell pay-per-view gets 3 HIAC matches
The Hell In A Cell pay-per-view will have a total of three matches inside the steel structure, also a first for a WWE pay-per-view. Typically there’s only one, or a maximum of two Hell In A Cell matches during the show.
The latest match to be given the cell treatment is the WWE Universal title match with Kevin Owens defending the gold against Seth Rollins. The previously announced matches for Hell In A Cell were Rusev vs Roman Reigns for the United States title and Sasha Banks vs Charlotte for the Raw Women’s title.
The other two matches on the card so far are The New Day vs Cesaro and Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team titles and TJ Perkins vs Brian Kendrick for the Cruiserweight title.
Goldberg returning to Raw next week
Bill Goldberg announced that he will be returning to Raw next week to answer Paul Heyman’s challenge, making his first appearance on WWE television since 2004.
On last night’s Raw, Heyman appeared to promote the WWE 2K17 video game and then challenged Goldberg to a match, telling him to either continue living in fantasy or else step up and face Lesnar.
“Booking my flight to answer that big mouth @HeymanHustle’s challenge next week in person on #MondayNightRaw #WhosNext? #seeyathere,” Goldberg wrote on Twitter.
Goldberg started his first stint with WWE in 2003, making his debut on the night after WrestleMania XIX, spearing The Rock after he interrupted The Rock Concert. His career in WWE started off pretty good, defeating The Rock at the Backlash pay-per-view however was unsuccessful in winning the World Heavyweight title at SummerSlam in an Elimination Chamber match after Triple H pinned him. He eventually won the title at Unforgiven, keeping it until December and losing it back to Triple H.
Perhaps the most famous feud he had was with Brock Lesnar which started at No Way Out in February 2004 when he speared Lesnar and Eddie Guerrero followed with the frog splash to win his first and only WWE Heavyweight title. The two went on to have a match at WrestleMania XX with Steve Austin as the special guest referee. However the marquee match was overshadowed by the fact that both Lesnar and Goldberg were leaving the company and the fans turned on both of them. Goldberg won the match but was given the Stunner by Steve Austin as a goodbye present.
In the following years, Goldberg openly bashed WWE and Vince McMahon and said he’d never work for them again. As they always say in the WWE though, never say never, and this year he was announced as the pre-order bonus for the WWE 2K17 video game. The deal was struck between Goldberg and 2K with the blessing of WWE however as all previous 2K deals with the likes of Sting and Ultimate Warrior, the video game appearance was just the beginning for Goldberg and WWE.
In several media appearances to promote the video game, Goldberg expressed his desire to return to the ring and often said that if it were up to him, he’d be already back.
Sasha Banks and Charlotte to step inside Hell In A Cell
Sasha Banks is known to make history in NXT along with Bayley but now she will be making history in WWE with Charlotte.
Come Hell In A Cell later this month, the Raw Women’s title match between the two will be contested inside the cell structure, the first time ever that a women’s match has taken place inside the Hell In A Cell. This will be the 35th Hell In A Cell match since the structure’s inception back in 1997 and there have been one-on-one, three-on-two, tag team, and six-way matches along the way so it’s about time two women stepped inside Hell In A Cell.
While this is certainly a first, there have been steel cage matches featuring the women in WWE before with the last one being Lita vs Victoria on an episode of Raw several years ago.
Monday Night Raw TV report for 10/10/2016
Monday Night Raw TV Report for October 10th, 2016 – “Hell Has Fury”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo, Welcoming, and Arena Promo
Raw’s opener plays and the pyro goes off in the arena of Oakland, California; Michael Cole greets us.
The NEW Women’s Champion – Sasha Banks – is saluted by Raw’s ring announcer. She walks out to a loud ovation and “you deserve it chants” when she gets in the ring. She gives homage to the late-great Eddie Guerrero, whose birthday was on October 9th. Banks wants to inspire little girls everywhere, as she was once one that had a dream that became true.
Sasha states that the Women’s Revolution is still continuing, and she wants to upgrade it. She knows Charlotte has a rematch with her for the Women’s Championship at Hell In A Cell on October 30th, so she wants to wrestle Charlotte INSIDE the Hell In The Cell!
Charlotte walks out but before she can give her response, Rusev and Lana interrupt. Rusev is in no mood to discuss the Women’s Revolution, but says he is the main-event whenever he’s in the ring. Charlotte rips the mike from The Bulgarian Brute and claims HER championship is around Sasha’s stomach. She agrees to the Hell In A Cell challenge, but Lana gets involved. She is shoved into Rusev and then Sasha and Charlotte double-dropkick Rusev out of the ring!
Charlotte and Sash now square off, but Rusev climbs back into the ring. United States Champion Roman Reigns marches down for the save; he stares down Rusev and glares him away!
Later tonight, Paul Heyman is back to talk about Goldberg’s comments from last week’s Sports Center interview. Also, Seth Rollins will wrestle Chris Jericho!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – Tag-Team Champion/New Day member Kofi Kingston (with Tag-Team Champions/New Day members Big E. and Xavier Woods) VS. Cesaro (with Sheamus)
Before this gets started, New Day talk about Oakland and how they will retain their WWE Raw Tag-Team Titles against Sheamus and Cesaro at Hell In A Cell.
They lockup and Kofi goes behind. Cesaro turns around into a wristlock, and Kofi flips out of it but is wrapped in a standing side-headlock. Cesaro gives Kofi a shoulder-block (thanks, Cole!), and then tosses Kingston to the floor. The Tag-Team Champion gets back in the ring and gives Cesaro a headscissors, sending Cesaro to the outside!
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We come back with Cesaro landing an elbow from the top rope (thanks again, Cole!) for a near-fall! He runs at Kofi in the corner but is elbowed out and Kofi follows with a diving crossbody! 1 – 2 – Cesaro gets his shoulder up. Kingston gears up for his Trouble In Paradise finisher, but Cesaro counters with a couple of uppercuts. “The Swiss Superman” starts his turnbuckle-uppercuts and then hits a big boot to Kofi’s face!
Kofi goes for a springboard move from the top rope, but slips and appears to have hurt is leg. On the outside, Sheamus takes Francesca – Xavier’s trombone – and Cesaro’s attention is turned, giving Kingston the chance to roll him up in a small-package for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champion/New Day member Kofi Kingston (with Tag-Team Champion/New Day members Big E. and Xavier Woods)
(Note: most of this match, Sheamus was on his phone.)
Cole announces that General Manager Mick Foley has made a mixed tag team match for later tonight, with United States Champion Roman Reigns and Women’s Champion Sasha Banks facing Charlotte and Rusev!
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
A recap of Goldberg’s “challenge” to Brock Lesnar from last week’s SportsCenter interview airs.
Match #2: Single – Cami Fields VS. Bayley
An elbow/collar tie-up begins and then Bayley waistlocks her. She throws her into the ropes and puts her to the canvas with a hip-toss, and then follows with a running-dropkick. Bayley is whipped into the corner, but counters with an elbow and a diving-twisting-armdrag. Bayley misses a couple of moves, but quickly finishes Cami with her Bayley-To-Belly suplex!
Winner via Pinfall:
Post-match, as Bayley is celebrating on the stage, Dana Brooke axe-handles her and stands over.
Up next, General Manager Mick Foley will talk about Hell In A Cell!
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Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Chris Jericho is on his phone when R-Truth walks up and listens in. He wants the person on the other line to get him is “payday.” Truth thinks this means the candy bar, but Jericho reasserts he meant money. Truth apologizes and walks away, but Chris still wanted that “Payday” too!
Match #3: Tag-Team – Drew Gulak and Tony Nese VS. Lince Dorado and Sin Cara
Lince and Drew start, hopping over and around each other. Dorado gives Gulak a hurricanrana, and then Dew tags in Tony. He is taken down with a double-team launching-senton-flip, but both Drew and Tony take over.
Nese slugs away on Lince but is hit down along with Gulak. Cara gets the hot-tag and flies around on Drew. He dives through the ropes onto Tony, and then Dorado soars off the top turnbuckle with a Shooting Star Press onto Gulak for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: Lince Dorado and Sin Cara
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
GM Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon are walking through the hallways. Mick is dressed up to talk about Hell In A Cell, and Stephanie wants to join him.
Commercials.
Segment #5: Video Promo
Clips of Angelica Frey, who is a breast cancer survivor, are shown.
Segment #6: Arena Promo
Gm Foley and Commissioner McMahon are in the ring. they put over Smackdown Live’s No Mercy Pay-Per-View, but promote Raw’s Hell In A Cell one. Foley confirms that Sasha and Charlotte will wrestle INSIDE Hell In The Cell, and that Roman Reigns will take on Rusev in one too. They then talk about the Universal Championship picture. Seth Rollins VS. Kevin Owens for the title at Hell In A Cell is confirmed, but Stephanie and Mick make them wrestle in the Cell as well, so there will be THREE Hell In The Cell matches at that Pay-Per-View.
The Universal Champion – Kevin Owens – saunters out with Chris Jericho. He protests being put in a Hell In The Cell because he doesn’t want to have his career shortened like Mick’s was after 1998. Jericho also protests and adds Mick to “The List” – again! Stephanie one-ups, and adds a stipulation to tonight’s main-event of Jericho VS. Rollins. If Chris defeats Seth, then he will be added to Rollins/Owens for the Universal Championship at Hell In A Cell!
Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Raw interviewer Charley is with Seth Rollins. She asks him about the stipulation of Jericho and him in tonight’s main-event. Seth says that he will work through McMahon’s idea, puts himself over, and tries to verbally drive a wedge between Jericho and Owens.
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Match #4: Tag-Team – Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel VS. Enzo Amore and Big Cass
Prior to the bout, Enzo starts to cut their usual promo, but he and Cass are suddenly assaulted by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson! The Club lay out Big and Amore with their two double-team moves.
Winners: None due to No Official Start
Commercials.
Match #5: Tag-Team – Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel VS. Sami Zayn and Neville
Bo and Curtis still want to wrestle, so they have demanded opponents, hence Neville and Zayn. The former Social Outcasts are aggressive early, but Axel takes the fall after a Helluva Kick and Red Arrow Splash combination!
Winners via Pinfall: Sami Zayn and Neville
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
Charlotte is warming up when Lana joins her. They bicker about their standing with Rusev, and then Lana warns “there will be severe consequences” if Charlotte interferes with Rusev.
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Match #6: Single – Titus O’Neil VS. Golden Truth member R-Truth (with Golden Truth member Goldust)
Truth sweeps up and mount-punches Titus right away. O’Neil attempts a comeback but Truth quickly rolls him up to take this!
Segment #9: Locker Room Promo
Brian Kendrick is sitting and contemplating when Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins walks in. Perkins doesn’t understand why Kendrick hit back on him and took the “dirty” route. T.J. recounts their history together, and insinuates that Brian is better than that. He offers his hand again, but Kendrick goes for a punch instead. T.J. sees it coming and punches back, and then walks away.
Commercials.
Match #7: Two-On-One – The Splash Brothers (Clay and ) VS. Braun Strowman
Strowman dominates both and wins easily!
Winner via Pinfall: Braun Strowman
Post-match, Braun threatens GM Foley to get him “real competition” for next week.
Segment #10: Backstage Promo
Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and United States Champion Roman Reigns discuss their tag-team match for later tonight.
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Segment #11: Video Promo
A montage of the Royal Rumble’s history is shown, since January 2017 will be the 30th Royal Rumble, taking place from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas!
Match #8: Tag-Team – Rusev (with Lana) and Charlotte VS. Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and United States Champion Roman Reigns
Charlotte and Rusev play games, trading at first, and then Rusev is settled with Roman. As the two big men go back-and-forth, loud “we want Sasha” chants ring out from the fans. Reigns clotheslines a few times in the corner and then gives Rusev a big boot. He signals for the Superman Punch, but Charlotte holds his leg. Sasha runs and pushes Charlotte to the floor, and Roman throws Rusev to the outside as well.
Commercials.
Roman and Rusev are still going at it, with Reigns giving Rusev a few headbutts. Rusev counters with a dropkick for two, and then taunts Roman to tag in Banks. He hits Reigns in the back and then gives him a suplex. Rusev whips Roman into the corner, but the United States Champion fires back with a Superman Punch!
Rusev tags Charlotte and Sasha is forced to enter. Banks is all over Charlotte, but can’t take this after knees in the corner. Charlotte manages a roll-up but Banks reverses into her Banks Statement submission. Reigns Spears Rusev as Charlotte gives in!
Winners via Pinfall: Women’s Champion Charlotte and United States Champion Roman Reigns
Segment #11: Locker Room Promo
Tom Phillips talks to Universal Champion Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho. They make fun of Phillips when he doesn’t ask them properly about the Universal Championship situation. They confirm they will also back each other up if the time comes, and that if one of them is the champions, then they both are.
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Segment #12: Arena Promo
Paul Heyman is in the ring. He addresses Goldberg’s interview from last week’s Sports Center, and in his usual oratory, more or less accepts Goldberg’s challenge to Brock Lesnar.
Segment #13: Video Promo
Still-pictures of Emma transferring into Emmalina are shown.
Commercials.
Match #9: Single – Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins VS. Ariya Daivari (Non-Title)
(Note: Brian Kendrick is on commentary.)
They shake hands, begrudgingly by Daivari, and then T.J. is whipped into the ropes where he catches himself. Ariya hits a dropkick, but Perkins comes back with a springboard and then locks on his kneebar. Daivari manages to grab the bottom rope for a break and soon take over. He mount-punches the Cruiserweight Champion and then wears him down with a grounding rear-chinlock.
Perkins breaks out of it with a flip-kick, and reverses with an Irish Whip wheel-barrow bulldog! He almost gets this after a … and then goes to the top turnbuckle. Ariya punches, but T.J. pushes him off and follows with a sunset-flip try. Daivari reverses into a pin but Perkins kicks out! Ariya is soon rolled through into another kneebar and gives up!
Winner via Submission: Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins
Post-match, Brian claps in approval from the announcer’s table by the stage.
Segment #14: Backstage Promo
Chris Jericho and Stephanie discuss Hell In A Cell.
Segment #15: Video Promo
Hall-of-Famer Tito Santana’s career is recalled, to commemorate Hispanic Month.
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Match #10: Single – Chris Jericho VS. Seth Rollins
(Stipulation: If Jericho wins, he is added to the Rollins VS. Owens Hell In The Cell Match for the Universal Championship at Hell In A Cell)
Chris chucks his scarf at Seth, which infuriates “The Architect.” He becomes aggressive with punches and chops, and then a running-knee! He flips over Jericho with a neckbreaker from the second turnbuckle, but can’t hit him as he slung Jericho off of the ropes. Chris held onto the ropes and went to the outside, but Seth followed with a dive!
He puts Jericho into the barricade a couple of times and then jumps off of the apron with an axe-handle. As they are just back in the ring, Universal Champion Kevin Owens’ music plays and he walks out to watch from the aisle way. Jericho takes advantage of the distraction and then poses for the fans.
Commercials.
Chris is still governing, stomping away. He places Rollins across the top turnbuckle and kicks him in the gut hard. He puts Seth in an abdominal stretch and they continue to battle back-and-forth. Jericho tries a suplex from the top turnbuckle, but Rollins shoves him off. He follows a crossbody, but Chris counters with a dropkick!
Kevin averts Rollins’ attention, but is kicked away. Seth springboards but is caught into the Walls of Jericho! Rollins struggles, but is able to get to the ropes! He dives through the ropes a bit later onto Owens, and then springboards from the top rope onto Chris with a knee-to-the-head, slightly botched! He goes to the top turnbuckle and rockets with a frog splash, but Jericho moves! He follows with a Lionsault (springboard moonsault) but still can’t take this!
Chris jumps off the top turnbuckle but is kicked! Rollins sets up for The Pedigree, but Jericho backdrops and rolls into a Walls of Jericho. Seth reverses into a small-package for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins
Post-match, Kevin tries to attack Rollins but he is countered. Seth almost lands The Pedigree, but Jericho saves his buddy, and instead gets planted with The Pedigree. Seth and Kevin glare at each other to close the show!
End of Raw.