Monday Night Raw TV Report for August 29th, 2016
Introduction Segment: In Memoriam
A couple of pictures of Hall-of-Famer Harry Fujiwara – a.k.a. Mr. Fuji – is displayed, as he passed away yesterday; he was 82, born in 1934.
Segment #2: Video Promo, Welcoming, and Arena Promo
A recap of Finn Balor winning the Universal Championship at Summerslam, and then him having to give it up just a day later on Raw last week, along with the qualifying for tonight’s Fatal=-4-Way for the Championship airs.
The regular Raw video plays and we are live in Houston, Texas! Michael Cole greets us, and in the ring, Corey Graves is with Seth Rollins, Big Cass, Kevin Owens, and Roman Reigns, along with the Universal Championship.
Corey starts off but is quickly stopped by Rollins, who puts himself over. He challenges Kevin to speak, and Owens does, making fun of everyone. Cass replies that “size does matter,” and Roman slugs Owens instead of saying anything. A brawl breaks out.
Up next, Chris Jericho is in action against Neville!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – Neville VS. Chris Jericho
(Note: Before the bout, Jericho is interview) Neville delivers a fist and chop, and then hits a flying-forearm. Jericho goes to counter a run with a front-dropkick, but Neville catches him and sling-shots him to the floor! Back in the ring, Neville soars off the top turnbuckle with a crossbody for a two-count, and then Jericho gets the advantage soon after.
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Chris pushes Neville from the turnbuckle and follows with a diving tornado-elbow! 1 – 2 – Neville raises his shoulder! Jericho whips Neville off the ropes, but Neville counters with a spin-kick. He also counters a top-turnbuckle dive from Jericho with another kick, and then gives him a standing Shooting Star Press for a near-fall!
Neville whips Jericho, but “Y2J” slides to the floor again. “The Man That Gravity Forgot” springs off the middle rope with a moonsault onto Chris! He brings him back into the ring, but Jericho gains quick control. He tries a running-bulldog from the corner, but Neville throws him into the opposite turnbuckle, crotch and stomach-first! Neville picks him up in a German Suplex position, but Jericho rolls through and goes for his Walls of Jericho submission. Neville counters, and hits an enziguri! He goes to the top turnbuckle and his Red Arrow twisting-splash, but Jericho moves. Neville lands on his feet, but Jericho traps him in his Liontamer – the old version of the Walls of Jericho – forcing Neville to give-in!
Winner via Submission: Chris Jericho
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
New Raw wrestler Bayley is walking through the halls, where she hugs an assistant and then meets Tag-Team Champions The New Day! She is overjoyed to do so, and they are just as equally happy; until Dana Brooke joins. She is not pleased with their happiness, and declares to collect Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson for a match. Kofi Kingston, Big E., Xavier Woods, and Bayley answer her challenge, and tell her to get another partner for an Eight-Person Match!
Commercials.
Match #2: Single – Ion VS. Nia Jax
Nia takes this convincingly after her Fireman’s-Carry Sidewalk-Slam finisher!
Winner via Nia Jax
Segment #4: Video Promo
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have left the doctor business and now are in the retirement business. They are part of the Octogenarian Leisure Destination For Aging Rehabilitation Treatment, a.k.a. O.L.D. F.A.R.T., and talk about Tag-Team Champions The New Day. Footage of them dismantling the WWE-retired Dudley Boys plays, and then Dana Brooke joins them dressed as a nurse.
Ads.
Segment #5: Video Promo
Seth Rollins highlights are aired, hyping him for the Fatal-4-Way.
Match #3: Single – Jinder Mahal VS. Sami Zayn
Sami controls this quickly at first, until he hits the jumping calf-kick and appears to have hurt his right leg again. Jinder clamps on a grounding rear-chinlock, but Zayn fires back with a hard clothesline. He gives Mahal the Exploder Suplex into the corner, and then runs at him with his Helluva Kick! 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Sami Zayn
Up next, it will be Tag-Team Champions Big E. and Kofi Kingston, teaming with Bayley to face Dana Brooke, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows in Six-Person Mixed Tag-Team! (My correction; I misunderstood from the promo earlier and thought this was an Eight-Person one.)
Commercials.
Match #4: Six-Person Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Big E. and Kofi Kingston) (with Tag-Team Champion/New Day member Xavier Woods) and Bayley VS. Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Dana Brooke
Dana and Bayley begin, with Brooke slamming Bayley to the mat and pounding her with punches. Bayley reverses into a jackknife pin for a near-fall, and then another roll-up, also getting a two-count! She holds Dana in an armbar, but Brooke counters and slams Bayley’s head a couple of times into the turnbuckle. Bayley reverses and does the same, and then tags in Big E. as Brooke switched with Karl.
Big and Kofi double-team Karl with a snapmare and kick, and then slams him down. Anderson and Gallows trick Big, and then Luke takes over for a bit. Big hits back and then makes the hot-tag to Kingston who flies all over Anderson. He and Big give Karl the Unicorn Stampede, and then Bayley gets slung into Anderson by Kofi, and she hits him with a front-dropkick! New Day and Bayley pose while Xavier sounds off on his trombone.
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Anderson and Gallows start to govern now after a spinebuster by Anderson. He goes for a knee drop, but Kingston moves! Kofi kicks Karl away, but Luke pulls Big before Kingston could tag him. Anderson sets Kofi up in the corner, but Kingston double-stomps him as he ran! Kofi gets the hot-tag to Bayley, who is all over Dana!
She elbows her in the corner and then T-Bone suplexes onto the canvas. Bayley drops an elbow, but Luke yanks Brooke out of the ring to prevent the pin. Kofi and Big take out Anderson and Gallows, and Bayley Bayley-to-Belly suplexes Dana and covers to take this!
Winners via Pinfall: Tag-Team Champions The New Day and Bayley
Post-match, Charlotte glares at Bayley, as Cole talks about both Bayley and Sasha Banks being potential challengers to her Women’s Championship.
Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Tom Phillips asks Cesaro about being down 1 – 0 against Sheamus in their Best-Of-Seven series. Cesaro admits he’s in trouble, especially if he falls 2 – 0, but promises to Swing Sheamus repeatedly, and go on to win the series overall and a Championship Match that General Manager Mick Foley will give the winner.
Commercials.
Segment #7: Video Promo
Big Cass talks about his Raw debut and what it would mean to win the Universal Championship.
Match #5: Best-Of-Seven Series (Single) – Sheamus VS. Cesaro
(Note: Sheamus leads, 1 – 0)
Before the contest, Sheamus cuts a promo with Byron Saxton, putting himself over, and wondering what Cesaro will think when Sheamus bests him.
They lockup and Cesaro brings Sheamus to the mat with a waistlock and roll-up for one! they lockup again and Cesaro trips Sheamus up by his leg, and then after a little back-and-forth, he tries for the Swing. Sheamus blocks and goes to the outside, and then shoulder-blocks him between the ropes from the apron. Cesaro elbows back, knocking Sheamus to the floor, and then hits a couple of uppercuts. Cesaro brings Sheamus back into the ring, but “The Celtic Warrior” yells that his elbow is hurt. Cesaro axe-handles the left elbow, and focuses on it. He dropkicks Sheamus and boots him back to the floor!
Ads.
Sheamus is in control now with a standing side-headlock, and then drives him down with his Irish Curse backbreaker. He ties him up for the Cloverleaf submission, but Cesaro blocks by separating Sheamus’ hands, and then springs off the middle rope with a tornado-elbow! He goes for the Swing again, but Sheamus pulls himself to the ropes to stop. Cesaro yanks and plants Sheamus with a sit-down powerbomb for two!
Sheamus reverses a crossbody pin into a roll-up for a very near-fall, and then does the same with his legs on the ropes, but the ref sees that. Cesaro gives Sheamus nine uppercuts in one corner and then a couple running runs in two corners! He follows with a dropkick while Sheamus was on the top turnbuckle! He runs on the outside, but Sheamus reverses into a backdrop that sends Cesaro flying onto the apron and post! The referee checks on Cesaro, and then Sheamus puts him back into the ring and locks on the Cloverleaf, where Cesaro has to tap quickly!
Winner via Submission and LEADING 2 – 0: Sheamus
Segment #8: Remembrance
Harry Fujiwara’s, also known as Mr. Fuji, career highlights from 1977 – 2007 (including a Hall of Fame induction) plays.
Commercials.
Segment #9: Video Promo
Kevin Owens’ reasons for wanting to win the Universal Championship are seen.
Match #6: Single – Americano VS. Braun Strowman
Braun picks this one up after his finisher!
Winner via Pinfall: Braun Strowman
Post-match, Braun rips off the mask of Americano, but we do not see his face.
Up next, Stephanie McMahon will call out Paul Heyman regarding Brock Lesnar.
Ads.
Segment #10: Arena Promo
Commissioner Stephanie McMahon saunters out and puts over the Universal championship match. She moves on to Brock Lesnar, who gave Smackdown! Live Commissioner Shane McMahon an F-5 at SummerSlam. She can’t get too far, as Paul Heyman interrupts. He does understand that Brock “crossed a line” when he did that, and wants to pay the $500 fine. He takes a stack of money out and begins to dish out dollars, one-by-one.
Stephanie slaps that stack away and warns him “there’s a storm coming your ugly way.” Heyman retorts that McMahon is the one who deserves an apology, as Lesnar is going to be the real “storm.” He says he really did her a favor by lining her up with the Board of Directors, who he says that Stephanie will one day rule over. McMahon takes his apology and walks away.
The commentators recap Finn Balor’s injury from SummerSlam and show still-pics of his shoulder surgery. Up next, Darren Young wrestlers Titus O’Neil.
Commercials.
Segment #11: Video Promo
Roman Reigns broadcasts his cause to become Universal Champion.
Match #7: Single – Titus O’Neil VS. Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)
Darren starts off strong, but after Titus throws Young over the turnbuckle, he takes control. Darren kicks out after a clothesline, and then catches Titus in a pin-combo for the three!
Winner via Pinfall: Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)
Post-match, O’Neil assaults both Young and Backlund, and slams Darren to the mat with his Clash of the Titus Spinebuster.
Segment #12: Backstage Promo
General Manager Mick Foley apologies for not backing up Stephanie against Heyman; she is fine with that and Foley proposes to ban anyone associated with the wrestlers in the Universal Championship Match. She agrees and then Seth Rollins walks up. Stephanie puts him over and gives him a hug, as he declared “I won’t let you down.”
Ads.
Match #8: Fatal-4-Way Elimination for the Universal Championship – Roman Reigns (Challenger) VS. Kevin Owens (Challenger) VS. Seth Rollins (Challenger) VS. Big Cass (Challenger)
GM Foley and Commissioner Stephanie are standing ringside, with Foley holding the Universal Championship. After formal introductions, we go to a break.
Commercials.
Owens rolls to the outside and stands by Foley and McMahon, as he knows he doesn’t have to be included for a while due to the elimination rules! All four go at it now, with Owens and Reigns, and Rollins and Cass pairing up against each other.
Cass and Reigns square off and slug away at each other. Reigns runs off the ropes and leaps with a forearm, and then gears up for the Superman Punch. Big stops it, but Roman elbows out. Cass runs back at him with a huge boot that puts Reigns to the floor and Cass exits as well. Seth follows with a dive-through-the-ropes and Owens then drops Rollins onto the barricade. He picks up Big, but both are put to the floor mat by a soaring Roman!
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Kevin has the better of everyone and works over Cass. He tries for a Cannonball Splash, but Seth pulls him to the floor. Cass misses on Rollins, and Seth hits a running-forearm. He goes for another, but Reigns cuts him off with a clothesline, and then hits a couple more. Big boots back on Roman, and shoves Seth and Kevin with shoulder-blocks. He splashes both in corners a couple of times, and then boots Owens off of the apron.
Seth rolls-up Cass, but Big kicks out! He drops The Empire Elbow, but Roman Superman Punches Cass. Rollins capitalizes with a kick-to-the-head, but Big still kicks out! Owens rockets off the top turnbuckle with a Frogsplash, and eliminates Cass!
Big Cass is eliminated!
Commercials.
Roman powerbombs Kevin from the turnbuckle, who was also gives Seth a superplex! Reigns covers but only gets two on both competitors! He goes for another Superman Punch, but Rollins counters. He goes again, but Seth ducks and twirls him with the Falcon Arrow front suplex! 1 – 2 – Roman kicks out! Seth tries the Pedigree, but Reigns counters! Rollins springboards from the top rope with a knee, but Roman hits a Superman Punch! 1 – 2 – Seth kicks out!
Owens is back in and hits both with Cannonball Splashes. He goes for a third, but Roman counters with a Superman Punch! 1 – 2 – Kevin gets his shoulder up! Roman runs for his Spear, but Owens kicks back and slings him for the Pop-Up powerbomb, but Reigns reverses into a Superman Punch! Kevin rolls to the floor, and Seth tries The Pedigree; Roman reverses into a roll-up and sit-down powerbomb for a very-close call! Loud chants of “this is awesome” commence!
Reigns hits Rollins with his Drive-By running front-dropkick, Kevin with another Superman Punch, and then Seth with a Spear! As he goes to put Rollins back in the ring, Triple H comes from the crowd and Pedigrees him! “The Game” places Roman back in the ring and yells at Seth, and then puts him back in the ring and on top of Reigns to eliminate “The Guy!”
Roman Reigns is eliminated!
HHH walks around and throws Kevin back in the ring too, and lines him up. Seth looks on, but Triple H turns around and Pedigrees “The Architect!” He nodded to Owens, and then Kevin jumps on top of Seth for the victory!
Seth Rollins is eliminated!
Winner and NEW Universal Champion: Kevin Owens
Post-match, Triple H holds Owens’ hands high. He leaves and stares at Mick and Steph on his way out. Kevin continues to celebrate, crying with his head on the title! The fans call out boisterous “you deserve it” chants as to close the show.
End of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings
In respect to Mr. Fuji, instead of my usual review, I will give my thoughts on him.
Unfortunately, I was not as into wrestling (or even born) when he was super-popular/at his peek. I have only seen footage of him, but what I have seen, he seemed to be a fantastic manager and personality. It looked like he made the wrestlers he was with, and if it wasn’t for him, they may not have reached the heights in their careers. I’m sure a few of today’s stars could use his talents. May God rest his soul and provide love and support to his family at this time.