'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAIAQEAAAAAlq//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAADf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAAGv/xAAhEAADAAAEBwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABRESBCExMlHB0v/aAAgBAQABPwDODLJc8rw8RW6qLX1uyHt2kKNFBC9QfWKNIOw2NyPifxj/xAAaEQACAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBAADEiKR/9oACAECAQE/AFmLTtmez//EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBABH/2gAIAQMBAT8AYJkPN//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tonight's edition of Monday Night RAW revolved around Kofi Kingston, as the former WWE Champion was in several segments throughout the night. We found out the stipulations for Drew McIntyre's WWE Championship match against Bobby Lashley, learned who would challenge next for the RAW Tag Team Titles, and more.
RAW kicked off with a huge tag team Battle Royale being set up. RK-Bro made their entrance while the rest of the teams were already in the ring. The tag champs AJ Styles and Omos showed up right before the match and gave some backhanded compliments to the teams.
Trending
The New Day took shots at AJ and Omos before Riddle started talking about his t-shirts and how Randy never wears any. Randy made him shut up before the Miz showed up in a wheelchair with John Morrison.
Miz said that the tag team division was lacking and they were there to make things more interesting, well at least one of them.
No. 1 Contenders Battle Royal for the RAW Tag Team Title
Miz was outside for the match as Morrison competed for himself and the A-Lister. Lince Dorado was the first to be eliminated, followed by Morrison, thanks to Mace and T-Bar. The New Day took double chokeslams from Mace & T-Bar before they went after Randy.
Riddle went to save Randy and took a double chokeslam. The Viking Raiders faced off with Mace & T-Bar before we headed for a break on RAW. Back to the match, Riddle was eliminated by the New Day before they went after Ivar, but the Vikings managed to eliminate Woods.
Erik and Ivar took a beating from Orton before Riddle came back to defend Randy and took a Kofi Kingston's Trouble in Paradise for him. The Vikings managed to eliminate both Kofi and Randy and picked up the win.
Result: The Viking Raiders won the Battle Royale and will face AJ Styles & Omos for the RAW tag titles
Grade: A
Charlotte walked up to Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce backstage on RAW and wanted a match with Nikki Cross.
Rhea Ripley showed up as well and wanted the same thing before Sonya suggested they team up to face Nikki and a partner of her choosing. Could they coexist tonight?
The Viking Raiders were backstage and had a run-in with the RAW Tag Team Champions who looked to have stolen their turkey leg. Styles and Omos attempted to belittle their new challengers, but it didn't seem to work. Unfortunately, Omos seemed to walk out with The Viking Raider's turkey leg.
Elias was back on RAW and Ryker was nowhere to be seen. Elias said that it was Ryker's fault that they didn't win the tag titles and called him unhinged. After showing some footage of last week's match, Elias was still speaking when Ryker attacked him from behind and tossed his guitar out of the ring.
Elias vs. Jaxson Ryker on RAW
Ryker had the early advantage on Elias and sent him outside where he continued to beat on Elias. Elias managed to fight back and sent Ryker into the steel steps before hitting a spinebuster.
Elias tried for the atomic drop but Ryker fought back and pulled at Elias' beard. Elias was sent outside the ring and he retreated backstage while the referee counted him out.
Result: Jaxson Ryker def. Elias via count out
Grade: C
It was clear that the Drifter didn't want anything to do with his former tag team partner, but it's obvious that Ryker wasn't done with Elias yet.
Next up on RAW was the WWE Championship contract signing between Drew McIntyre and the All Mighty Bobby Lashley. Knowing how these tend to go, we could assume that the table used for this segment wouldn't be making it out in one piece.
WWE Championship Match Contract Signing on RAW
Drew McIntyre was out next on RAW for the WWE Championship contract signing but no one showed up when Lashley's music hit. Drew told a story about not giving up and was about to sign the contract.
MVP & Lashley showed up on the Titantron and told Drew to hold up till they showed up in the ring.
Lashley and MVP came out and said that the champ's condition was that if Drew loses the title match, he would never get another shot at the WWE Championship while it was in Lashley's possession. Pearce added the clause to the contract after Drew agreed to it. Lashley continued to trash talk as he signed the contract.
The former champion had a stipulation of his own, wanting no more games and no cheap outs for Lashley. McIntyre demanded that this final match take place inside Hell in a Cell, which Lashley and MVP agreed to. Drew threatened Lashley before using a sword to slice the table in two.
Nikki Cross was backstage on RAW and revealed that her surprise tag partner was Asuka!
Sheamus was out with a broken nose to spectate Ricochet and Humbert Carrillo's match on RAW. He started speaking before the match before Ricochet and Carrillo scared him by teasing some dives onto the US Champion.
Ricochet ended up taking Carrillo to the floor before the match began.
Ricochet vs. Humberto Carrillo on RAW
We returned to RAW to see that the match was underway and Ricochet was in control. Carrillo fought back and jumped through the ropes to take out Ricochet after sending him outside.
Ricochet and Carrillo were both on the apron when they ran at each other and took each other out to the outside with a Spanish Fly off the apron. Neither man was able to beat the count of ten and Sheamus was the only one walking away with a smile.
Result: Double count-out
Grade: B
Backstage on RAW, MVP praised Kofi Kingston and said that Kofi inspired his own comeback to WWE. MVP said he was sad to see him shaking hands with Drew after the match last night and told him to toughen up.
Kofi got mad and said that his friends and family give him the support he needs to fight in the ring.
Former Women' Champ Eva Marie was set to return next week on RAW.
Mansoor was backstage and Ali gave him some more advice on dealing with opponents who didn't fight fair and square.
Ali knew Mansoor's opponent tonight all too well, and warned of all the tricks Drew Gulak would pull on RAW.
Jeff Hardy vs. Cedric Alexander on RAW
Jeff Hardy was back to teach former RAW Tag Champion Cedric Alexander some respect and took control of the match early and hit a move from up top.
Cedric countered Hardy and started unloading on the veteran. Cedric got a few near falls before stomping on Hardy's face. Hardy got a big kick in but Cedric countered the following dive.
Cedric hit some big kicks before Hardy came back with the inverted atomic drop and Russian Legsweep, getting a near fall of his own. Cedric was on the top rope and mocked Hardy but missed the following dive. Hardy went up and hit the Swanton Bomb for the win.
Result: Jeff Hardy def. Cedric Alexander
Grade: B-
Nikki Cross & Asuka vs. Charlotte & Rhea Ripley on RAW
Charlotte tagged Rhea in right away and Nikki made a tag shortly after, letting Asuka pick up the early lead on the women's champ. Asuka went for a modified armbar but Rhea powered through.
Tags were made and Rhea ended up outside where Charlotte tried to check on her. Rhea shoved her away and things got tense as Flair dragged her down from the apron but let the match go on.
Nikki Cross & Asuka vs. Charlotte & Rhea Ripley on RAW (contd...)
After a break on RAW, Flair got a few near falls while ignoring Rhea's tag requests. Flair slapped Rhea as a tag and the match still went on. Flair was back in and hit Rhea with Nikki's feet while Cross was on her shoulders.
Asuka tagged in and Charlotte ran a distraction letting Rhea get a near fall. Nikki went to the top rope and hit the crossbody on Rhea but Charlotte broke the pin. Ripley and Charlotte started to brawl in the ring and Charlotte took out Rhea and hit the Natural Selection before Nikki Cross took advantage and pinned her.
Result: Nikki Cross & Asuka def. Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley
Grade: B+
Mansoor vs. Drew Gulak on RAW
Gulak started off strong and went for early rollups but Mansoor reversed it every time. Mansoor was grounded and managed to get some offense in.
Gulak went for the tights but Mansoor countered it and got a very quick pinfall.
Result: Mansoor def. Drew Gulak
Grade: C
Riddle was backstage before his singles match on RAW. Randy let him speak for just a moment before taking back the 'key' and putting it in the trash.
Riddle vs. Kofi Kingston on RAW
Riddle hit an early Broton while Woods played his trombone, distracting Riddle. Kofi got the upper hand off the distraction and Riddle was starting to get angry. Randy Orton's music hit and he walked out mid-match, going after Woods.
Kofi took out Randy with a slide before Randy sent Woods into the announce desk. Kofi hit a big dive to the outside on RKBro before we headed for a break. Back on RAW, Riddle hit an Exploder Suplex before Kofi countered a Superplex.
Riddle hit the draping DDT on the ropes before going for the RKO but missed. Kofi went for the Trouble in Paradise and missed it but got it in the next try for the win.
Result: Kofi Kingston def. Riddle
Grade: B+
Backstage on RAW, Nia Jax tried to offer her help to Shayna but she refused, saying that Alexa Bliss with a 'stupid doll' didn't scare the Queen of Spades.
Alexa's Playground with Shayna Baszler in the final segment of RAW
Alexa Bliss was in the ring, sitting on the swing and talking to Lilly in the final moments of Monday Night RAW. Shayna Baszler entered the ring and Alexa said that they could all be friends if Shayna apologized to Lilly. Shayna refused and blamed Alexa for their tag title loss.
Alexa suddenly got serious and asked Shayna to apologize once more. Shayna grabbed the doll and falsely apologized before tossing her aside. Alexa attacked Shayna but Baszler tossed her out of the ring and stepped on the doll.
The lights and screens started going crazy in the arena and the pyros started triggering all at once. Shayna ran backstage and the lights were flickering as equipment started falling from the ceiling.
Shayna ran into a room and locked it before she looked in the mirror and saw Lilly. However, it was there only in the reflection. Shayna smashed the mirror but Lilly was still there as the lights went down, and we heard Shayna scream as RAW went off the air.
Episode grade: B
We got another exciting RAW as we inch closer towards Hell in a Cell. Drew and Lashley cut a very risky deal while Asuka teamed up with an unlikely superstar. Riddle took a big loss and we got a tag team Battle Royale tonight on RAW.
Meet Randy Orton's lovely wife HERE
