Dallas is Raw, and so is JOHN CENA?!

After his EPIC return at Money in the Bank, JOHN CENA is back and will open tonight’s Raw to explain why once again, his time is now!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Matt Riddle & The Viking Raiders VS AJ Styles, Omos & John Morrison w/ The Miz; Riddle & The Viking Raiders win.
• Symphony of Destruction: Jaxson Ryker VS Elias; Ryker wins.
• Natalya & Tamina VS Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax w/ Reginald; Natalya & Tamina win.
• WWE 24/7 Championship Better to have Loved and Won: Reginald wins and is the new WWE 24/7 Champion.
• Sheamus VS Humberto Carrillo; Sheamus wins.
• Open Challenge: Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Keith Lee; Lashley wins.
• Karrion Kross VS Jeff Hardy; Hardy wins.
• Raw Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Rhea Ripley; Ripley wins by disqualification, Charlotte retains the title.
• Raw Women’s Championship Money in the Bank Cash-in: Charlotte Flair VS Nikki Ash; Nikki

PLAY BY PLAY

JOHN CENA is opening Raw!

Dallas fires up because they get to be part of the Cenation once more! Cena runs to the ring like he did less than 24 hours ago in Fort Worth to close out Money in the Bank! And Cena welcomes the fans still filing it! It’s rockin’ tonight! There’s a kid who is celebrating his 11th birthday and he’s here for Cena! Cena’s here for him and all of us because damn he’s missed us, and missed this. Fans welcome him back and Cena loves the confusion, the chaos and the electricity. There are still the dueling chants but everyone is loud and here!

Now, Cena has always said the biggest star in the WWE is the fans, and this is proof! This isn’t just loud tonight, tonight is DEAFENING! Tonight is electric, tonight is Monday Night Raw! Live from DALLAS, TEXAS! But Dallas, you just proved how loud you can get. Tonight is a team effort. Everyone is wondering, and yes, he will wear his Peacemaker outfit to the Suicide Squad premiere. And Cena is here to explain his meme worthy return from last night. Cena shows up, ruined Roman Reigns’ celebration. Roman was angry, Heyman was confused, Michael Cole was very excited and Pat McAfee couldn’t see Cena, but everyone had questions! Who, what, where, when, and why.

So to get to those, who brought Cena back here? That’s a lay-up! It’s the fans all around him! FINALLY, we can cheer and boo and make noise and connect with others who love this! So who brought him back? The WWE Universe did. And it was also Roman Reigns. That brings Cena to what: What is Cena here for? The WWE Universal Championship! When? In five weeks at a little thing called SummerSlam! Where? Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? This is where it gets interesting. Cena could be all excited for the pageantry of SummerSlam, being in the main event in a packed stadium. He could tell us about his history-making 17th world title win.

But it’s not for any of that. Cena says, “It’s because Roman Reigns is an a**hole.” WHOA~! Fans agree with, “YES HE IS! YES HE IS!” Cena says Roman needs to be knocked down a peg. “This pathetic Roman Reigns Experience has gone on long enough!” Roman “is an arrogant, self-absorbed, overhyped, overprotected, overexposed gimmick who is not as over as he says he is!” That is coming from Cena. There was a saying, “If you’re good, you’ll tell everybody. If you’re good, you will demand that they acknowledge you.” But here’s some team effort, get loud! Dallas gets loud, and Cena wants to hear everyone! But the rest of the saying is, “If you’re great, they tell you.”

And Cena’s telling us right now, he’ll be on SmackDown this Friday, and he can’t wait to see Roman there! Now, with that said, let’s get down to business! “Bro…” Matt Riddle heads out to the ring?! But Cena wants to wait a minute. Cena finally gets it! Bro… Bro! Bro! Bro…! Bro! Bro! It’s a bro off! Brooooo…! Synchronized bro! BRO! They high-five and fist bump, and then Cena gives Riddle the ring. The Bro and the Viking Raiders team back up to take on Johnny Drip Drip and the still phenomenal Raw Tag Team Champions, after the break!

Six Man Tag: Matt Riddle & The Viking Raiders VS AJ Styles, Omos & John Morrison w/ The Miz!

Raw returns as Morrison ‘n’ Miz ride in and squirt squirt! Byron Saxton gets soaked! Morrison has Mike Rome correct the introduction and officially makes him “America’s Moist Wanted!” The rest of the superstars are here and the trios sort out. Riddle starts with “Skipper” and the two go right into a tie up! Styles headlocks, Riddle powers out but Styles runs him over! Styles speeds things up, Riddle KICKS Styles, then back drops! Styles gets up and Styles has to choose who to tag. He tags Morrison to save Omos as the trump card. Morrison and Riddle circle, Morrison gets a leg but Riddle rolls through the takedown to get an omoplata! Riddle has a modified Yes Lock!

Morrison rolls, sunset flips, but Riddle rolls through !Morrison avoids the kick, kips up and ROCKS Riddle with big forearms and kicks! Riddle knees the clothesline, then palm strikes! Morrison ducks the roundhouse, shoves Riddle, Riddle goes up and over! Riddle gets Morrison for a BROSPLODER! Miz is upset, Riddle covers, TWO! Riddle tags Ivar and then Ivar tags Erik. Feed to Ivar’s knee, feed to Erik’s KNEE! Erik roars, Miz is upset at the fans for cheering, and Erik throws knees into Morrison. Erik has Morrison in the Viking Bro corner, tag to Ivar. Feed to a scoop and SLAM, then Erik scoops and SLAMS Ivar onto Morrison! Ivar covers, TWO!

Ivar pushes Morrison, gets him up, tags in Riddle, Morrison tires to kick but Riddle kicks him down! Hot tag to Styles, Riddle KICKS him in the ropes! Morrison KICKS Riddle, Erik runs in but is sent out! Ivar runs in and he’s dumped out! Morrison slingshots for a FLYING- NO! No rana! Erik gets Morrison up, he slips out, but gets a VIKING SANDWICH! Styles gets a boost from Omos to FLY!! Styles takes out everyone and Omos is fired up as Raw goes to break!

Raw returns and Omos is in, clamped onto Riddle’s shoulders! Riddle fights up but is thrown down! Omos stomps Riddle to keep him from his corner, and then drags him back up. Omos whips Riddle to a corner, runs in and back elbows! Riddle falls down, Omos looms over him, and then Omos clamps onto Riddle’s head. Omos stands Riddle up, tags in Styles, and the tag champs hand off Riddle, only for Riddle to power Styles to the corner! Styles digs in his heels, and snap suplexes Riddle! Cover, TWO! Styles sits Riddle up, brings him over and tags in Morrison. Fans rally for the Bro but Morrison fires off strikes. Morrison kicks but Riddle blocks to KICK back!

Both men fall over, Morrison blocks Riddle from his corner with a CHANCERY! Riddle endures, fights up, fans rally up more, but Morrison makes it a wrench across his shoulder. Riddle spins out to FINAL FLASH! Styles tags in to waistlock, and back suplex! Riddle lands on his feet, leaps over, hot tag to Erik! Erik dodges Styles, gets him up but Styles fights free. Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz! Erik blocks to give a VIKING BLITZ! Erik whips corner to corner, Styles goes up but Erik stays away to SHOTGUN KNEE Styles down! Fans fire up as Erik gets Styles up to a snap suplex. Styles knees free, but runs into Act Ten Mao! But he PELES right back!

Both men are down and fans fire up again! Hot tags to Ivar and Morrison! Morrison runs in but Ivar back drops him. Morrison lands on his feet?! But Ivar rolls over Morrison’s back to kick and whip. Morrison slides under, kicks back, whips but Ivar reverses. Ivar ducks the Flying Chuck, cartwheels and LARIATS Morrison down! Fans fire up with the War Beard and Ivar runs corner to corner. Morrison gets a BRONCO BUSTER! Ivar goes up the corner, and way up top! VIKING MOONSAULT FLOPS! SHINING WIZARD from Morrison! Morrison goes up, STARSHIP PAIN FLOPS! Both men are down and Omos is there! Riddle shuts Miz up and SQUIRT SQUIRT on Omos!

Omos looks over, and thinks MIZ did it! Miz says it was Riddle but Omos isn’t listening. Morrison hurries out to defend Miz but Omos TOSSES Morrison back into the ring! Ivar stalks up behind Morrison as Styles calms Omos down, and Ivar tags Erik! The Viking Raiders get Morrison with THOR’S HAMMER!! Cover, the Viking Bros win!!

Winners: Matt Riddle & The Viking Raiders, by pinfall

They didn’t win at MITB but they won tonight! Will this help Erik & Ivar get back towards those Raw Tag Team Championships? What about RKBRO with Riddle here representing for Randy?

Jaxson Ryker stares into your soul.

Replay footage shows Ryker putting the strap to Elias again and again, and now Ryker smirks. “Wait to you see what I do to Elias tonight.” What more can Ryker do to the Drifter when he already whipped him and whooped him?!

Ladies and gentlemen: Elias.

The phone lights come out as The Drifter introduces himself and plays a somber tune. “There is a truth that will last for forever.” And that is a truth we all know deep down: WWE stands for #WalkWithElias! Fans do say it, and Elias is glad they remembered. But Ryker interrupts via titantron! Ryker interrupts just like everyone else has. Everyone’s tired of hearing Elias introduce himself over and over again. That’s why after tonight, we’ll never hear the words, “Hello, I am Elias,” ever again! Quite the ultimatum, but will Ryker make sure this is Elias’ swan song?

Symphony of Destruction: Jaxson Ryker VS Elias!

The bell rings, Elias runs at Ryker but gets CLOBBERED! Ryker fires off hands, Elias hits back but Ryker bumps him off buckles. Ryker whips Elias to ropes, Elias kicks back! Elias throws Ryker out hard, then catches his breath. Ryker comes back as Elias hops out, and clubs him from behind! Then uses a keyboard piano to SMACK Elias on the back! And then he throws Elias down on the keyboard! Cover, TWO! Ryker gets a cymbal stand but Elias kicks him first. Elias CLUBS Ryker, JAMS Ryker with the stand, then CLUBS him in the side with it! Elias tosses the cymbal stand aside but Ryker fires off hands before he bowls him into the drum set!

“C’mon, drummer boy!” Well, Elias is a guitarist but Ryker uses him to beat the bass drum! Speaking of the guitar, Ryker has one! Ryker climbs up the apron to then LEAP, into a Sympho-KNEE! Cover, TWO! Elias gets the keyboard to SMACK it off Ryker’s back! Elias runs but Ryker sends him into the GONG~~! Ryker snarls as Elias slowly gets up, and Ryker looks at what else there is to use. Ryker gets a guitar, jams Elias in the ribs with it, and SMASHES it on Elias’ back! Elias writhes from that literal smash hit and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Elias has Ryker on the apron. Ryker holds off the lift and Elias clubs away. Elias tries to get Ryker up again but Ryker shoulders free. Ryker kicks Elias down, chases Elias into the ring, but Elias uses a trumpet into a rib shot! Elias whips and CLOBBERS Ryker with an elbow! “Who wants to walk with Elias?” Fans boo so that’s a no. Elias gets Ryker up to CHOP and throw body shots. Ryker hits back, they brawl, but Elias shoves Ryker out hard! Elias goes out after Ryker towards the grand piano. Elias kicks Ryker down, goes to bump him off the post but Ryker blocks and POSTS Elias instead! Ryker stalks Elias, and JAMS him with another guitar! And again!

Elias throws the drums at Ryker! Ryker comes back to club Elias down! Ryker gets the high hat to SMACK Elias on the back with it! Ryker brings Elias back over to the piano, but Elias blocks the bump off the cover! Elias SMACKS Ryker off the cover instead! And then CHOPS him! Elias runs but into a SPINEBUSTER on the piano! Cover on top of the piano, TWO!! Elias survives but Ryker climbs up onto the piano with him. Ryker stands Elias up and throws hands. Elias hits back, they brawl but Elias CHOPS! Ryker CHOPS back! Elias CHOPS, Ryker throws hands, but Elias gives those, back! Elias gets the edge, fireman’s carries, but Ryker fights free!

Ryker shoves Elias down and Elias hits barriers! Elias staggers back over, Ryker drags him up but Elias trips Ryker! Ryker hits hard on the piano cover, Elias gets a cover, TWO! Ryker crawls away, Elias gets him up. Elias gets Ryker up, and throws him over the steel steps! Elias kicks Ryker while he’s down, and gets the cello! Fans fire up as Elias references the days of him and the Monster Among Men, Elias jams Ryker, and then hits a SUPER SMASH HIT! Cover, TWO!?! Ryker survives and no one can believe it! Elias drags Ryker up, stands him against the post, and throws forearms. Fans want tables but Elias gives Ryker elbow after elbow instead!

Elias roars, fans fire up, and Elias gets Ryker back into the ring. Elias storms up the steps, gets up top, but Ryker hits him first! Ryker throws hands, Elias goes to the apron, and Ryker climbs. Elias shoves Ryker down, Elias climbs, but Ryker ROCKS him with rights! Ryker climbs and sees the tables from a moment ago! The fans fire up as Ryker throws more hands on Elias! Elias is busted open in the forehead as Ryker goes to the apron. Ryker climbs the corner, gets Elias up the other end, SUPERPLEX through the tables!! Dallas is thunderous as Ryker covers, Ryker wins!

Winner: Jaxson Ryker, by pinfall

Ryker may not be a musician but he knows how to please the crowd! Ryker wrecks Elias, will this finally help him move on from The Drifter?

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville talk with Mansoor.

He has a great idea and the WWE Universe will surely like it. Mustafa Ali then walks in and Sonya brings it up their request to be a tag team. Wait, what? Ali didn’t make that request! What is Mansoor up to? Mansoor says he may not have been a fan of Mustafa’s advice and lessons, but it was more how he was going about it. Because in the end, Mustafa was right each and every time. So if he wants to teach Mansoor more, then do it alongside him. So wait, are they still having a tag match or not? Mustafa says it is just this one time, and Mansoor better not screw it up! Well then, can the Star of Saudi Arabia succeed by being guided by the Beacon?

Mustafa leaves, Sheamus walks in and tells Mansoor to leave, so Mansoor does. Sheamus talks with management about he has to face Humberto Carrillo again tonight, even those Sheamus won last week with a broken nose? Is Sheamus really proud of that? He attacked Carrillo backstage before the match! Oh is Pearce some kind of fortune teller? How does Pearce know Carrillo didn’t start it? Sonya stops the arguing here to say that the only fair way to do this is to give Carrillo a real rematch with Sheamus, to earn another shot at the US Championship.

Sheamus says this is like talking to a brick wall! But if this is what they want, then this is what they get. Don’t be surprised if Carrillo leaves needing his own steel face mask! Will the Fella finally fight Carrillo fair and square tonight?

Charlotte Flair is here!

And she is once again Raw Women’s Champion, making her a ELEVEN TIME (13 if you include her two NXT title reigns) Women’s Champion in the WWE! The fans cheer the Queen as she gets the mic, and she says, “This. Feels. Good!” She is so proud to be standing here as NEW Raw Women’s Champion! But the last year and half hasn’t been kind to us. From adversity comes opportunity, and Charlotte is THE Opportunity. She is the opportunity that all of us fans have been begging for. That snake, Rhea Ripley, is an opportunist. The difference is, Charlotte doesn’t need to take a page out of anyone’s book, she wrote the book!

And Rhea can do as many of Charlotte’s moves as she wants, but she’ll never measure up to the original! Charlotte doesn’t need to tell us, we can just look up “Charlotte Flair” online! What an outpouring of congratulations- The fans chant “Becky! Becky!” Yes, yes, yes, Becky is home breastfeeding her baby, while Charlotte is dominating the division! So as she was saying, there were so many congratulatory messages when she won the title last night at MITB! But here’s the important part. This makes Charlotte the one-time, and final, Diva’s champion, the five-time SmackDown women’s Champion, and now a five-time Raw Women’s Champion! She’s the ONLY 11 time women’s champion in the WWE!

Rhea had her chance and failed. Charlotte beat Rhea last night and could beat her any night of the week. Well here comes Rhea Ripley! And Charlotte isn’t happy about it. Rhea walks her way to the ring, not in any better mood. Rhea gets a mic, joins Charlotte in the ring, and Charlotte rubs it in that she has Rhea’s title. But at least Rhea has fans. If Charlotte thinks she can beat Rhea any night of the week, then why not tonight? Rhea, you’re in no condition to challenge for the title after the damage to her leg. And Charlotte knows because the camera got footage of Rhea crying like a little girl last night. So for Rhea’s sake, Charlotte declines.

But management comes out to say hold on! Sonya congratulates Charlotte on behalf of herself and Pearce on Charlotte’s newest reign. Truly an incredible accomplishment. However, didn’t she just say she could beat Rhea any night of the week? And if Rhea’s up for it, then Charlotte should be, too! So Pearce makes it official! So tonight, in Dallas, Charlotte VS Rhea in a rematch for the title! Charlotte kicks her shoe off at Rhea and then kicks the bad leg! The Queen gets out of the ring to go get ready for this last minute match, will 11 feel like 13 and be unlucky for the new champ?

Alexa Bliss speaks.

Hello~! She can’t wait for us to play with her tonight. And she has a very, very special guest tonight! See you soon~!

Natalya & Tamina VS Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax w/ Reginald!

The Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly don’t have to worry about #SexyMuscleFriends anymore, but they might have to be careful with the agitated Queen of Spades and Irresistible Force. Will the former champs get one over on the current champs to get back in the title hunt?

Raw returns and this match is already going as Shayna has Natty in a heel hook! Natty endures, kicks at Shayna and gets free. Shayna CLUBS Natty, whips her hard to a corner, and Natty bounces off buckles! Shayna runs in but Natty dodges and the knee hits buckles! Natty shoves Shayna out of the ring, hurries over, but Nia trips Tamina and ROCKS her with a right! Then SAMOAN DROPS her into barriers! Nia looms over Tamina, Shayna KNEES Natty down! Cover, TWO! Shayna hurries to tag in Nia, she gets Natty up and shoves her to the corner. Nia runs in to SPALSH, then tags Shayna. Nia scoops, Shayna runs, KNEE SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO!

Shayna keeps Natty from her corner as she twists the wrist and stands on Natty’s head. Natty endures, Shayna locks up the arm, and Shayna lets her hair down for the STOMP!! Natty writhes and clutches her arm while Shayna soaks up the heat. Tag to Nia, she taunts Natty, then gets her up by her hair. Nia talks more trash, whips Natty to a corner, then swaggers before she runs in. Natty dodges and Nia POSTS herself! Natty reels Nia in for lariat after lariat, then the DISCUS! Cover, TWO! Nia still has power and she stalks Natty. Nia gets Natty up, headbutts her down, then tags Shayna. Shayna taunts Natty but fans rally up.

Shayna stands Natty up but Natty waistlocks! Tamina tags in as Natty GERMAN SUPLEXES Shayna! Tamina aims as Shayna flounders, but Nia gets in to take the SUPERKICK! Shayna rolls Tamina, TWO! Shayna KICKS away on Tamina’s leg but Tamina elbows back! Tamina scoops and SLAMS Shayna, then heads to a corner. Fans fire up but Reggie distracts Tamina! Shayna GAMANGIRIS Tamina! Natty trips Reggie! Shayna BOOTS Natty, Tamina aims at Shayna! SUPERKICK! Cover, Natty & Tamina win!

Winners: Tamina & Natalya, by pinfall

The champions hold off would-be challengers! Will they now be able to focus on their challengers from SmackDown, Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox?

As for the former champions, Shayna says she is getting sick of this! Nia wants her to calm down but Shayna says they were unstoppable before Reggie! This is Reggie’s fault! Nia hugs Reggie, she says it’s okay. And then she HEADBUTTS Reggie down?! Nia DOES blame Reggie! Nia and Shayna leave Reggie behind, and again the sommelier is solo. But wait, the 24/7 Champion and contenders are running into the arena? Reggie sees his golden lining tot his! Akira Tozawa laughs at the others for falling over themselves, but he spots Reggie. Reggie dodges Tozawa, then TORNILLO CROSSBODIES?! And SOMERSAULT SENTONS! Cover, Reggie wins?!?!

Winner: Reginald, by pinfall (NEW WWE 24/7 Champion)

Reggie’s got gold! But he has to run, too! Drew Gulak, Akira Tozawa, R-Truth and even Lucha House Party are after him! Reggie hides behind commentary, then heads for steel steps. Reggie uses those to LEAP over Gulak! And then again! Reggie grins but he has a golden target on his back now. Reggie handsprings up the ramp, will his fancy moves keep him golden through the rest of the night?

Tick-tock, Monday Night Raw.

Though still NXT Champion, KARRION KROSS, will make his debut on the red brand later tonight! Who will feel the hands of time take away their last moments?

Sheamus VS Humberto Carrillo!

The Celtic Warrior used a backstage confrontation to keep Carrillo from having a fair fight last week. But now, whether he likes it or not, he has to give Carrillo a fighting chance! Will Carrillo prove himself worthy of another shot with a win here tonight?

Raw returns and Carrillo makes his entrance. The bell rings and Carrillo dodges Sheamus to fire off in a corner! Sheamus shoves him away, boots him down, but Carrillo rolls, dodges and trips Sheamus up. Carrillo fires off hands and stomps but Sheamus bails out. Sheamus gets back up but Carrillo knocks him down! Sheamus is furious but Carrillo WRECKS him with a dropkick! And then PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Sheamus! Carrillo CLUBS away on Sheamus’ back, chases him into the ring, but Sheamus kicks him down! Sheamus seethes and stands Carrillo up to CLUB him back.

Sheamus stands Carrillo up, suplexes but Carrillo holds ropes to resist. Sheamus CLUBS Carrillo but Carrillo fights back! Carrillo HOTSHOTS Sheamus away! Carrillo climbs up, leaps, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE?! Sheamus is tough but Carrillo is furious as he fires off on him! Sheamus gets to a corner, the ref counts as Carrillo keeps after him, and Carrillo lets off at 4. We see Damian Priest watching closely backstage, perhaps supporting Carrillo as he did last week. Carrillo KICKS Sheamus in the corner, then again! Carrillo keeps on Sheamus with clubbing forearms, then brings him around to go after the mask! Sheamus fights up and elbows Carrillo away!

Sheamus runs in but Carrillo dumps him out! Carrillo builds speed to DIVE into a double ax handle! Sheamus drags Carrillo out to APRON POWERBOMB! Carrillo writhes and flops to the floor and Sheamus asks, “Are you not entertained?!” Fans are torn as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns as Sheamus grinds Carrillo down with an armlock and chinbar. Carrillo endures, fights up and throws body shots, then whips. Sheamus reverses and gets Carrillo for an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Sheamus turns Carrillo over, fish hooks his face for the Dublin Smile, and the ref counts. Sheamus lets off at 4 as Priest still watches backstage. Sheamus gets Carrillo on the apron, against the ropes, and CLUBS him for the Beats of the Bodhrain. Fans count so Sheamus stops and CLUBS Carrillo in the back. Fans cheer and jeer and Sheamus soaks it all in. Sheamus gets Carrillo around for another Dublin Smile! The ref reprimands, counts, but Carrillo BITES Sheamus!

Carrillo fights up, throws elbows and arm-drags free! Carrillo KICKS away on Sheamus’ legs, but Sheamus ducks a roundhouse, only to get a GAMANGIRI! Carrillo runs but into a BOOT from the corner! Sheamus goes up, shakes out the bit finger, but Carrillo GAMANGIRIS again! Carrillo goes up to SUPER STEINER Sheamus down! Sheamus gets up but Carrillo dropkicks him out! Carrillo builds speed to DIVE! Sheamus is sent over the announce desk! Carrillo hurries to get Sheamus into the ring at 5 of 10, then he climbs a corner. Carrillo leaps to missile dropkick Sheamus down! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives and shocks Carrillo!

Carrillo grits his teeth as he gets up. Fans rally as Carrillo KICKS and KICKS and KICKS Sheamus! Sheamus punches but Carrillo counter punches, only to hit the mask! Sheamus then HEADBUTTS, making sure the mask hits Carrillo! Sheamus runs and BROGUES Carrillo down!! Cover, Sheamus wins!

Winner: Sheamus, by pinfall

The Celtic Warrior got quite the fight from Carrillo, and there won’t be a title match in Carrillo’s immediate future. But will Sheamus have an Archer of Infamy aiming at him from now on?

Open Champion: Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS ???

From WWE United States Champion to WWE World Champion, the All Mighty is here! Lashley showed his power and his brutality last night, and now he wants to show it again just 24 hours later! But after what we saw Lashley do to Kofi Kingston, will anyone even want to accept this open challenge? We’ll see, after the break!

Raw returns and Lashley has a mic. “Last night, I did all the talking I needed to do in this ring when I destroyed Kofi Kingston.” Fans boo that, but Lashley says, “No more talking. P, tell ’em what’s up.” MVP takes the mic to say, “Aren’t you all so lucky to be here live in attendance tonight to bear witness to the All Mighty WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley?” Fans are mixed on that but MVP says this is Dallas, right? Home of the Cowboys! So he gets why they’re reacting this way, it has been DECADES since they’ve seen a champion! But let’s address what happened last night: All Mighty Lashley made a statement at Kofi’s expense.

Over the past several weeks, Kofi’s said some very harsh and disrespectful things to these two. Kofi said Lashley lost his edge, that the women, the drinks and the good life had made Lashley soft. Lashley and MVP looked in the mirror, had self-reflection, and MVP reluctantly admits that Kofi was right. Kofi was right that Lashley lost his edge. MVP apologizes for bringing that about. But what Kofi didn’t realize was that his word slit an inferno inside Lashley unlike we’d ever seen! And from now on, anyone that goes against Lashley for the WWE Champion faces utter annihilation and decimation!

MVP almost feels sorry now, because the window of opportunity where the champ had some semblance of vulnerability has closed forever! NO ONE will take this title from Lashley! No more ladies, no more champagne, no more fun and games. As the champ said, no more BS. The Hurt Business is back to business. All of you here live get to lay witness to the ultimate, most dominant WWE Champion in the history of the WWE, all for the price of admission. So then who will it be that accepts this All Mighty Open Challenge? Lashley waits, and out comes… KEITH LEE!! The Limitless One is finally back!! Fans fire up for Keith’s return as he goes right to the ring!

Lee and Lashley stare down, and it is clear that Lee wants what Lashley has! Can Lee earn himself a title opportunity with a shocker of a return match tonight, in his home state of Texas?!

Raw returns and the bell rings. Fans fire up already as the two stare down. Lashley is moving around a lot but Lee just stands like a statue. They tie up, Lashley powers Lee but Lee turns it around. They go around again, then break. Lee smiles as he and Lashley circle again. Lee avoids Lashley’s punches but they tie up again. Lee can’t hold Lashley back forever and Lashley puts him in a corner. The ref counts, Lashley lets off but then sucker punches Lee! Lashley throws more haymakers, then forearms. Lee picks Lashley right up to RAM him into a corner! Fans fire up as Lee hauls Lashley up again to carry him to the other corner!

Lee backs off, runs back in, but Lashley elbows him away! Lashley runs but Lee dodges, and hurdles?! And then things keep going, BODY CHECK! Fans fire up with Lee as he watches Lashley. MVP coaches Lashley, Lee gets him up to pop-up, but Lashley fights free! Lashley throws hands, Lee shoves him to POP-UP!! Lashley fights the bomb off again, clinches, COMPLETE SHOT! Lashley snarls but fans boo as he stalks up behind Lee. MVP is confident as Lashley clubs and CHOKES Lee! The ref counts, Lashley lets off and MVP talks trash. Lashley gets Lee up, bumps him off buckles and throws hands! The ref counts, Lashley lets off at 4 and runs corner to corner to RAM Lee!

Lashley lets Lee stagger about, and then he runs in at the ropes, to clothesline Lee out of the ring! Lee lands on his feet but staggers some more. Fans rally up for Lee but Lashley goes out and stalks him around the way. Lashley tries a fireman’s carry but Lee is so big! Lashley somehow gets Lee up but Lee slips off to POST Lashley first! And then SPALSHES him against the post! The ref counts, we’re at 7 of 10! Lee puts Lashley in, but MVP swipes at him? Lee is distracted, Lashley DECKS Lee! The ring count begins again, Lashley goes back out, and builds up speed! Lashley runs in to SPEAR Lee down!! Lashley hushes the crowd but MVP talks trash.

Lashley puts Lee in, rains down rights, then storms around the ring as fans boo. Lashley gives Lee his last rites, waits for him to stand up, and goes for the Hurt Lock! But Lee’s so big and strong, Lashley’s struggling to even lock hands! Lee arm-drags Lashley away! Fans fire up as Lee runs, but into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER!?! Lashley seethes, runs in, and SPEARS again! Cover, Lashley wins!!

Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall

A valiant effort from the returning Keith Lee, but the All Mighty refuses to bask in anyone else’s glory! With this level of dominance, does anyone stand a chance against- WAIT!! Is that GOLDBERG?!? Lashley is in shock and the fans go nuts as Goldberg steps through the pyro! Goldberg gets in the ring and stares Lashley down. And then he shouts, “I’M NEXT!!” MVP says that’s not tonight, though, and he keeps Lashley from starting something with the legend here tonight. Lashley is chomping at the bit, but will he get to take a bite out of the icon?

MVP and Lashley talk backstage.

MVP keeps Lashley calm and reminds him of their mission, “back to business.” But Kevin Patrick asks about a response to the apparent challenge from Goldberg. MVP answers by saying what Goldberg just did, that disrespect, won’t even be dignified with a response! The Hurt Business heads out, but will Goldberg find a way to get his match?

Jinder Mahal, Veer & Shanky are in the ring.

The Modern Day Maharaja has the mic to say, “Today, yes, it’s my birthday!” And it’s better than that! Because Drew McIntyre is NOT Mr. Money in the Bank! McIntyre took away opportunities that were Mahal’s so Mahal took them back from McIntyre. First, the match with McIntyre a few weeks ago, where Team Mahal mugged McIntyre. And Mahal will admit, McIntyre is smart. Mahal thought he had the precious family sword, and broke it last week to try and anger McIntyre. But McIntyre revealed that what they grabbed was a decoy! The real deal with with McIntyre. And that was the same for Mahal’s motorcycle! McIntyre bashed it to pieces and Mahal could only watch!

But Mahal says, “There he is! Your Scottish Warrior, your knight in shining armor, your beacon in the dark of the ThunderDome Era.” But when it comes to karma, it always comes around. McIntyre was all alone with the ladder and briefcase when Mahal, Veer & Shanky attacked again! They made sure McIntyre wasn’t even in the match anymore after that by dragging him away from ringside! Mahal says he can buy another motorcycle, or even ten! But McIntyre will never have another title opportunity as long as Lashley is champion! So before moving on with the celebration, please join them as Shanky sings happy birthday for Mahal.

Shanky is given the mic to sing, and he’s a bit sour. But wait, who is coming in from the crowd?! It’s MCINTYRE, with a chair! He SMACKS the birthday boy down, and then goes after Veer! Shanky wants McIntyre to take it easy, this is supposed to be a celebration! Veer gets Mahal away as McIntyre stares down Shanky. McIntyre smiles, then jams and SMACKS Shanky down! Shanky gets the chair shots meant for Mahal! The chair is bent and broken, much like the motorcycle was. Fans still want “One More Time!” but McIntyre tosses the chair and then throws off his shirt. McIntyre goes out to get a new chair!

McIntyre gets in, Shanky crawls but can’t get away! McIntyre brings Shanky back to center for MORE chair shots! Mahal and Veer stay away, too afraid to stop this! McIntyre hits Shanky ten times, 15 times… TWENTY! McIntyre throws away another bent chair, but he is FAR from through with Mahal! When and where will the Modern Day Maharaja have to meet McIntyre in the ring? Will Shanky and Veer choose to stay away?

Karrion Kross VS Jeff Hardy!

Doomsday has come to Raw! The NXT Champion is live in Dallas, but will he be able to crush the Charismatic Enigma? Or will there be a Twist of Fate in Kross’ near future?

Raw returns and Hardy makes his entrance. Fans fire up for the old theme and the pyro returning! The bell rings, Kross and Hardy tie up and Hardy headlocks. Kross powers out and DECKS Hardy with a forearm! Kross stomps Hardy, gets him up and gets him for an EXPLODER! Hardy gets up but Kross is on him with another EXPLODER! Kross grins as he stomps Hardy, and he shouts, “I OWN YOU!” Another EXPLODER! Kross dares Hardy to get up, then he runs corner to corner but Hardy moves! Kross POSTS himself, and Hardy kicks low, TWIST OF FATE! Hardy hurries up top and fans are thunderous! Hardy SWANTON FLOPS as Kross moves!

Kross winds up the hands of time, “TICK TOCK!” But Hardy gets around to waistlock! Kross backs Hardy into a corner, fires off elbows, and then climbs up. But Hardy trips him, has the cover, and the ropes! HARDY WINS?!

Winner: Jeff Hardy, by pinfall

The NXT Champion can’t believe it! Hardy beat him and ruined his Raw debut?! Hardy pinned the NXT Champion, does that mean Hardy could become NXT Champion?

Kevin Patrick interviews Kross in the ring about that shocking loss. “Jeff Hardy just made the biggest mistake of his life! Because in the end, everyone will fall… and pray!” Kross is putting Hardy on the clock, when and where will it strike midnight for the Charismatic Enigma?

Alexa Bliss welcomes us to the Playground.

She isn’t going to lie, though: She’s a little sore today. But that’s okay, because she has her very, very special guest! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, fresh outta timeout, welcome back LILLY! The doll sits in the other swing and Alexa chants for her. Now, last time Lilly was here, things got outta hand. But Lilly’s promised to be on her best behavior. Is this a joke? Eva Marie and “Doudrop” Piper Niven walk in. Eva thought “Doudrop” throwing Alexa around taught her a lesson to not treat them like an afterthought. But here we are again! Alexa is ignoring the star and face of the WWE to talk to “some creepy, gross little doll.”

Alexa finally looks over and says hi to “Doudrop.” Eva doesn’t want Piper saying hi back. Alexa finally notices Eva and says, “Yay…” Well, Eva, since you insist on coming to the playground, remember that it is a bad idea to say anything mean about Lilly. Mean? Like if Eva says she’ll have “Doudrop” throw Lilly in the trash? Hahahahahahaha. For their sake, they better not. Plus, Alexa doesn’t want to put Lilly back in timeout so soon. But here’s an idea! Let’s put “Doudrop” in timeout for just a moment. Then we can all see what Eva Marie, “the most important star in WWE,” can do without anyone’s help. AKA by herself.

Does Alexa know what Eva’s capable of on her own? No, no one does. Well, Eva won’t waste any more of her time on Alexa, or Lilly. “There’s no room in the #EvaLution” for them. She and “Doudrop” leave again, but then Eva trips over Lilly’s swing! Oh, was that there before? Oops. Eva gets up in a huff and storms off. Alexa laughs and commends Lilly for that one. Will Eva get what she wants, or what she deserves, on the road to SummerSlam?

BREAKING NEWS!

With the big win earlier tonight, we get to run it back from MITB! The Viking Raiders get another title match with Styles & Omos! Will Erik & Ivar make the most of this second chance next week? Speaking of…

Raw Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Rhea Ripley!

The Queen took the title from the Nightmare last night, but 24 hours later, Rhea’s back for more! Will Rhea learn that she can’t copy Charlotte to be better than her? Or will not even her own brand of brutality be enough to bring the belt back?

The introductions are made, the title is raised, and the shoe is on the other foot here in Dallas!

Raw returns and this match finally begins. Fans fire up as Charlotte rushes Rhea but Rhea gets around to SLAM her down! Rhea rains down rights, Charlotte shoves her away and kicks her low. Charlotte whips Rhea to a corner, runs in but Rhea dodges. Charlotte hits buckles, Rhea SPALSHES then RAMS Charlotte! And again! Rhea digs her shoulder in, the ref counts, and Rhea lets off. Rhea CLUBS Charlotte, whips her to a corner, but Charlotte tumbles up and out. Charlotte blocks a punch to give a punch, then shoulders in. Charlotte slingshots to arm-drag Rhea down to an armlock! Rhea endures, fights up, and throws haymakers!

Charlotte hits back, Rhea fires forearms but Charlotte knees low! Charlotte whips Rhea back to a corner but Rhea rebounds to dropkick her down! Cover, TWO! Rhea clamps on with a cravat, cranks the neck wrench, but Charlotte endures and fights up. Rhea throws in knees, Charlotte grabs hair, but Rhea throws body shots. Rhea goes to buckle bump but Charlotte blocks and hits back! Charlotte gives Rhea the buckle bump, then CHOPS! Charlotte bumps Rhea off more buckles, reels her in and suplexes, but Rhea makes it a cradle! TWO, and Rhea gets up to kick low! Rhea reels Charlotte in, suplexes, but Charlotte slips out! Charlotte shoves Rhea, Rhea gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX!

Fans fire up as Rhea gets up. Rhea runs and basement dropkicks hard! Cover, TWO! Charlotte sits up but Rhea is on her. Rhea brings Charlotte up to whip her to a corner. Charlotte reverses, Rhea hits buckles hard, and Charlotte clotheslines her out of the ring! Rhea hobbles up, the leg coming into play. Charlotte BOOTS Rhea off the apron, Rhea lands on her feet but she again jams the leg! Charlotte goes out, runs in around the way, and CHOP BLOCKS at high speed! Rhea is down and writhing, but Charlotte gets her up fast! Charlotte puts Rhea in the ring, wants after the leg but the ref has her hold off. Rhea gets to a corner, Charlotte is shark with blood in the water, but Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Charlotte is after Rhea in a corner. Charlotte has the bad leg on ropes and pulls but the ref counts. Charlotte stops, to ROCK Rhea with a forearm! Charlotte puts the leg on ropes to drop a knee on the knee! Rhea writhes, Charlotte grabs the leg and puts it on ropes again. Charlotte goes to the apron to wrap the leg around ropes and pull! The ref counts, Charlotte lets off but she stomps away on the leg! Charlotte gets back in, drags Rhea around again, and then steps through, but Rhea boots her into buckles! Charlotte staggers, Rhea gets her for another GERMAN SUPLEX! Rhea grits her teeth, the bad leg was affected by that one!

The fans rally for Rhea but Charlotte is after her with forearms. Rhea hits back, Charlotte CLUBS her but Rhea ROCKS Charlotte! The two brawl back and forth, Charlotte gets the edge but Rhea spins her into a LARIAT! And then another! And then a ripcord to HOOK KICK! And NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover on one leg, TWO!! Rhea couldn’t hold that because of the damage Charlotte’s done, but she’s still after Charlotte. Charlotte is in a corner and she suckers Rhea into a BACKBREAKER! And then a BOOT! Charlotte drags Rhea around, climbs up the corner, and MOONSAULTS onto knees! Rhea used the bad leg to save herself!

Rhea gets up, gets the bad leg moving, and she grins as she steps through! She’s stealing the Figure Four!! Fans go nuts as Charlotte endures her own family’s favorite hold! Charlotte turns it over to put pressure back on Rhea! Rhea crawls to the ropebreak! Charlotte slips free to stomp away on Rhea! Charlotte gets Rhea up, CHOPS and HCOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Rhea ends up in a corner but the CHOPS keep coming! The ref counts, Charlotte lets off and Rhea BOOTS her, then HOOK KICKS! Pump handle, RIPTIDE!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Charlotte survives by a game of inches! Rhea is furious but she focuses, only to see Charlotte is running away with the belt!

The fans boo as the Queen wants to use Champion’s Advantage, but Rhea chases after her! So Charlotte CLOBBERS her with the belt!!

Winner: Rhea Ripley, by disqualification; Charlotte Flair is still Raw Women’s Champion

Rhea’s anger cost her against the savvy of Charlotte! But Rhea SUPERKICKS Charlotte down! They brawl outside, Charlotte RAMS Rhea into barriers! Rhea POSTS Charlotte, pump handles, and RIPOTIDES to the floor! And here comes NIKKI CROSS! Er, Nikki Ash! She runs in with her Ms. MITB briefcase!! 24 hours later, is she cashing in?! SHE IS!! Rhea is fine with this as the announcement is made!!

Raw Women’s Championship Money in the Bank Cash-in: Charlotte Flair VS Nikki Ash!

Nikki climbs, the bell rings, and she wants Charlotte to get up! SUPERHERO CROSSBODY!! Cover, NIKKI WINS!!!

Winner: Nikki Ash, by pinfall (NEW Raw Women’s Champion)

Almost a Superhero, DEFINITELY a champion!! Nikki’s fighting spirit wins out and she is now on top of the world!

My Thoughts:

What a great episode for this return to live fans and to follow an awesome MITB PPV. There were things that brought it down, though, but mostly because of executive decisions. We were given such a great moment with Keith Lee returning to accept Bobby Lashley’s Open Challenge, and it was a great match, but I’m a little disappointed Lee lost after being gone for so long. But at the same time, Lashley is being built into a beast, in what I am still hoping will be the eventual Lashley VS Roman Survivor Series match of top title VS top title. However, there is the roadblock in the middle and it’s in the shape of Goldberg.

I personally didn’t want Goldberg to come back, I’m pretty sure a lot of other fans out there didn’t, but it’s happening. I suppose this is to build Lashley up even more, adding to how powerful he is, but they could’ve done that with an extended program with Keith Lee. Lee is better than Goldberg, that’s not even an opinion. Lashley VS Lee would’ve added must-see value to an already awesome SummerSlam card given we’re getting Cena VS Roman and Edge VS Rollins, but whatever. Speaking of Cena, he had a great opening moment to call Roman out, though I am reminded of his promo going into Firefly Funhouse Match with Bray in how he called Roman all those things. And he had a great little bit with Riddle, it seems he’s just as amused by the Bro as Randy Orton.

Another odd choice was having Karrion Kross appear on Raw even though he’s still NXT Champion. I suppose if anyone was going to get a Kevin Owens style double duty contract, it’d be Kross. I’m torn on him losing to Hardy, but at least it was surprising. It also gives Kross reason to keep coming back to Raw, and could even give Hardy a reason to go NXT. I would love seeing Hardy in NXT for a spell, just because there are many unique match-ups he could have. This could go any which way, but it is something that can help get Kross some exposure on the more mainstream RawDown stage so that he can get a running start after losing the NXT title and being on Raw full time.

Ryker VS Elias in a Symphony of Destruction match was another interesting move, but I think this one was for the better. It was hard to tell if the fans even cared about Ryker, but they at least got behind him destroying Elias and destroyed various instruments. I do like there were all these callbacks to the other Symphony of Destruction matches, and it’s fitting of the story that Ryker win here. If nothing else, being the new hard-hitting hardcore guy can help get fans behind Ryker.

Things with Reginald were a bit mixed. On one hand, Vince sending Mandy Rose away and ending #SexyMuscleFriends hurts the Women’s Tag Division, because we had to go back to Natty & Tamina VS Shayna & Nia. But on the other, this was finally the time Reggie gets kicked to the curb so that Shayna & Nia can be more serious. And then, in quite the twist, Reggie gets in on the 24/7 Championship and takes it from Tozawa! Reggie’s acrobatics can definitely help him make for exciting escapes, so I hope we get more title segments with him.

The Six Man opener was great stuff, and it was clever for Riddle to frame Miz for squirting Omos. The Heel team falling apart for the Faces to win works out, and we’re getting a rematch from MITB’s Raw Tag title match mostly for ratings. Omos & Styles surely will retain again so that RKBRO can go after them for SummerSlam, and then we’ll see where things go for Orton and Riddle. Sheamus and Carrillo had a very good match, but Priest watching backstage is another indicator that he’s up next. And we got a great attack from McIntyre on Mahal and his men. Poor Shanky, but talk about paying your dues. No less than 20 chair shots total, wow.

We got a better Alexa’s Playground with Eva and Piper than we did last time, but of course Lilly is back. Are we heading for a tag match, Eva & “Doudrop” VS Alexa & Lilly’s human form? Is that human form going to be Dana Brooke since she’s without Mandy Rose? Or NXT’s Aliyah since she was “traded” to Raw? I suppose being dressed up as an evil Raggedy Anne is better than nothing, right? Then we got an awesome main event with the Raw Women’s Championship. Charlotte and Rhea had a decent promo exchange to set it up, but I absolutely felt the cash-in coming, and it was still great for Nikki Cross/Ash to finally get herself a singles title. I wish USA Network stayed with it a little longer to watch her celebrate, but this was still definitely how to close out Raw.

My Score: 8.7/10