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Bobby Lashley and MVP kicked off RAW. After reminding us WWE was going back on the road in July, MVP said a dark cloud was hanging over the WWE champ and it was Drew McIntyre.
Lashley said that after WrestleMania Backlash, Drew was not coming back anytime soon before the Scottish Warrior walked out to the ring. McIntyre started trash-talking before Kofi Kingston joined him. Kofi bragged about beating Lashley and Drew stepped in to say that it was only due to the distraction he caused at the end.
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Kofi demanded a title match because he never got a rematch after losing the WWE title to Brock Lesnar. He and Drew had a little face-off before Adam Pearce booked a match between them on RAW, with the winner going on to face Lashley for the WWE title at Hell in a Cell.
Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston - No. 1 Contender's Match for the WWE Championship on RAW
McIntyre tossed Kofi around as the match started before Kofi countered a vertical suplex but took the reverse Alabama Slam early on. The two were stuck on the top rope when Kofi hit a headbutt and then a crossbody to the mat before McIntyre got a Michinoku Driver.
Drew missed the Futureshock DDT but got the spinebuster and a sit-up powerbomb in for a near fall. Kingston hit a huge dive to the outside, taking out both Drew and Lashley, who was at ringside.
Kofi hit an SOS but Lashley came back and attacked Kofi before Woods and MVP joined in too. Drew hit a Claymore on Lashley and stayed in the ring with the New Day as Lashley and MVP retreated on RAW.
Result: DNF
Grade: B+
Rhea Ripley and Charlotte had a tense exchange backstage on RAW before Nikki Cross challenged them to a match. Charlotte said Cross wasn't worth her time but Rhea accepted the challenge.
Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki Cross - Beat the Clock Challenge on RAW
Cross got taken down right off the bat on RAW before coming back and countering a big move from the champ. Cross hit a jawbreaker and a crossbody from up high.
Ripley took her down again with a dropkick before unloading on her in the corner as the clock counted down to zero. The clock counted all the way down before Ripley realized what was happening. Cross took a beating but got the win anyway.
Result: Nikki Cross def. Rhea Ripley
Grade: C
Drew and Kofi were furious backstage on RAW and Adam Pearce said they would have a rematch next week with the same conditions.
Asuka vs. Charlotte on RAW
Charlotte was taking it slow and was being cautious as the match started. Asuka went for an early hip attack but Charlotte caught her with a chop block.
The Queen went for a kneebar using the ropes before sending her opponent knee first into the steel ring steps, trying to make it difficult for Asuka to stay on her feet.
Asuka vs. Charlotte on RAW (contd...)
After a break on RAW, Charlotte was going after the injured knee of the Japanese star using the turnbuckles, ropes, and the apron but Asuka managed to hit a German Suplex and recover. The Empress Of Tomorrow went for an armbar but Charlotte managed to get to her feet.
Charlotte managed to hit a backbreaker off the second rope before missing a moonsault from the top. Asuka caught The Queen in an Asuka Lock but Charlotte reversed it only to pin her opponent.
Result: Charlotte Flair def. Asuka
Grade: B+
Backstage on RAW, Lashley was headed to meet Adam Pearce who said that if The All Mighty and MVP interfered in the No.1 Contender's match next week, the champ would be suspended for 90 days.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Cedric Alexander on RAW
Alexander got on the mic before the match on RAW and blamed Shelton for being kicked off the Hurt Business.
He called Benjamin washed up while Cedric himself was in his prime.The former Cruiserweight Champion vowed to end Shelton's career before the match started.
Benjamin unloaded on Cedric as the match began and took him to the corner.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Cedric Alexander on RAW (contd...)
Cedric managed to hit a knee strike and then the hurricanrana from the top rope, taking control of the match on RAW.
Shelton hit a spinebuster but Alexander nearly rolled him up after. Benjamin hit a roundhouse kick and took Shelton down before hitting two German Suplexes. As he tried to go for the third, Alexander poked Benjamin in the eye.
Cedric came back with the Neutralizer and picked up a win over his former partner on RAW.
Result: Cedric Alexander def. Shelton Benjamin
Grade: B
Riddle vs. Xavier Woods on RAW
Riddle got the first takedown in the match on RAW before Woods hit a Vertical Suplex from the ropes. The two of them traded blows before taking each other out with double clotheslines.
Woods hit a huge suplex on the apron and nearly knocked Riddle out. After a break, Woods hit a missile dropkick and hung Riddle up in the corner upside down for another huge kick but Riddle still kicked out.
Woods dodged the Floating Bro and was about to go for the finish but Riddle hit an RKO out of nowhere and took down Woods for the win.
Result: Riddle def. Xavier Woods
Grade: B+
AJ Styles vs. Jaxson Ryker on RAW
Styles was dominating in the match on RAW before Elias came out of nowhere and took out AJ on the apron with a knee strike before going and hiding in the timekeeper's area.
Ryker took advantage of the distraction that the referee did not see and hit the Blackhole Slam to pin the Tag Team Champ.
Result: Jaxson Ryker def. AJ Styles
Omos walked out, having seen the incident, and chased Elias and Ryker down before tossing The Drifter into the LED boards.
Grade: C-
Sheamus vs. Humberto Carrillo on RAW
Sheamus took Humberto down and hit a vertical suplex before going for submission on the mat. Carrillo powered through but took a big tackle and the chops to the chest.
Carrillo still came back and dropkicked Sheamus out of the ring and hit a dive, sending the US Champion into the announce desk. Back in the ring, Carrillo tried to pin Sheamus but The Celtic Warrior rolled him over with a handful of tights for the win.
Result: Sheamus def. Humberto Carrillo
After the match, Sheamus was about to lock in the cloverleaf on Carrillo but Ricochet interfered and hit a moonsault followed by the springboard 450, taking out the US Champ for good.
Grade: B
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler were backstage on RAW and Baszler said Jax was distracted because of Reginald and asked him to stay back there and not interfere in the match tonight.
Tamina & Natalya (c) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler - Women's Tag Team title match on RAW
Baszler and Tamina kicked off the match on RAW and Natalya asked to be tagged in right away. The Queen Of Harts got some big moves in before being forced on to the backfoot.
Reginald showed up at ringside and Shayna was furious at him before Natalya hit her with the German Suplex. Tags were made before Tamina hit a superkick on Jax before the former champions isolated her in their corner.
Tamina hit a powerslam on Baszler before she and Nia went outside and Jax tossed her over the barricades. Natalya was about to get pinned but Reginald distracted the referee at the wrong time.
Shayna was fuming and yelled at Reggie to go backstage but as he walked up the ramp, the pyro went off, sending him flying once more. Shayna was pinned off the distraction by Natalya.
Result: Tamina & Natalya def. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler to retain the Women's Tag Team titles
After the match on RAW, Shayna swore at Reginald and challenged him to a match next week, before the show went off air.
Grade: A
Episode grade: B-
We got a big opening to RAW with a No.1 Contender's match for the WWE title before we saw Nikki Cross get a big win. Asuka took a beating from the Queen while Cedric Alexander had a lot of harsh words for his former tag partner. Riddle paid homage to Randy and we got a tag title match for the main event tonight on RAW.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
