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Seth Rollins kicked off RAW and was hosting a retirement ceremony for Rey Mysterio. He said Rey was a sacrifice for the betterment of Monday night RAW before showing us a video package celebrating his career, ending with his injury from last month at the hands of Rollins himself.
Aleister Black rushed the ring and attacked Rollins before we headed for commercials. We returned to see a match had started between the two as Murphy and Theory watched from ringside.
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Seth Rollins vs. Aleister Black
Black was dominating early on and Seth fled the ring to catch a breather before returning with a snap suplex and was now in control as he hit a dropkick off the ropes. Rollins sent Aleister into the barricades with a suicide dive and brought him back inside before they traded counters.
Black was dropped outside and Rollins' followers were approaching him before Humberto Carrillo came out with a steel chair to defend him. Theory and Murphy retreated and the match went on as the participants returned to the ring.
Rollins and Black kept trading near falls before Black got a huge moonsault to the outside. Back in the ring, Black dodged a stomp and tried for the armbar before catching Rollins who was coming off the top rope, with a knee strike.
Outside, Theory and Murphy were engaging Humberto when Black got a quick rollup on Seth to get the win on RAW.
Result: Aleister Black def. Seth Rollins
The disciples attacked Black the moment the match ended and Humberto got involved as well. The trio overpowered Carrillo and Black and Rollins hit them with stomps, taking them out for good on RAW.
Match rating: A
Angel Garza was being interviewed backstage on RAW and said that he was willing to do anything to win, as he demonstrated last week.
Shawn Michaels came on RAW to talk about Randy Orton and Edge's match at Backlash and said that his bets were on Edge.
Backstage, Lana was yelling at MVP, and MVP said he had to get ready for the match. Lana said he was just leeching off Lashley's success and MVP accused her of the same. Lana slapped him and walked off.
Apollo Crews was out on RAW and when asked about his next title opponent before Crews said he picked Kevin Owens. Owens came out and said that he felt like Crews was giving him a title shot out of pity. Crews confirmed that it was out of respect before the match kicked off.
Apollo Crews (c) vs. Kevin Owens - US title match
The match went outside early on and Owens hit a senton off the apron before Kevin hit a kick that looked like it could have been a low blow. Crews walked it off and took Owens to the mat and then outside as they brawled on the floor on RAW.
Apollo Crews (c) vs. Kevin Owens - US title match (contd...)
Owens hit a senton and got a near fall on RAW when we returned from commercials before taking the Olympic Slam for a near fall from Crews. Apollo hit splashes in the corner before getting his knees up for the following senton from Owens.
Angel Garza and Andrade rushed the ring, attacking both Owens and Crews as the match was called off as a DQ.
Result: DNF
Match rating: B+
Apollo Crews & Kevin Owens vs. Andrade & Angel Garza
The match on RAW was started during the commercials we returned to see Crews taking a beating from Andrade and then Garza. Owens was tagged in and so was Andrade and the former US champ was going for Owens' knee by locking in a submission.
Owens recovered and hit a senton before taking a dropkick and then making the tag to Crews. Apollo sent Garza into the announce table and then hit the toss powerbomb on Andrade before pinning him for the quick victory on RAW.
Result: Apollo Crews & Kevin Owens def. Andrade & Angel Garza
Match rating: A
Asuka was backstage on RAW and said that she was always better while Charlotte stayed the same, adding that "the Empress never bows to anyone".
The Viking Raiders and Street Profits went bowling and the Vikings were dominating as the Profits failed to hit anything. The Vikings got distracted by food and almost got kicked out. The Profits asked for the smoke (machine) to be turned on and instantly started doing better. The Vikings won anyway on RAW and the score was now 2-2.
Nikki Cross vs. Billie Kay
The match kicked off during commercials after the teams started a brawl backstage. Kay got an early near fall with a big boot before Cross was pinned in the corner with Kay's boot and Cross was struggling to keep up with the former tag champ. Cross was locked in a submission before Kay hit a backbreaker followed by an elbow drop for yet another near fall.
Kay was frustrated and slipped up as Cross gained control with a splash and a bulldog followed by a top rope crossbody but Kay rolled out of the way. Kay hit a powerbomb and picked up the win on RAW.
Result: Billie Kay def. Nikki Cross
Match rating: B
Drew McIntyre was backstage on RAW and said that MVP, Lashley, or literally anyone who came after him will be sent to Claymore Country without any hesitation.
Rey Mysterio was on RAW and said he was still recovering and was not sure when he would be able to return. He said that he probably might not be able to return if his condition worsens in the coming weeks.
Rey called out Rollins after Dominick appeared and said that Rollins hurt his family and did not deserve forgiveness. "An eye for an eye", Dominick said to Rollins before leaving, confirming that revenge was on its way.
Nia Jax was out and said that Asuka did not deserve the RAW women's title and that she only got it because Becky had to take a break. She said Asuka was an undermining charlatan, among other things before her match with Kairi Sane.
Rob Gronkowski was shooting a tiktok dance before R-Truth came dressed as a gardener and pinned him for the 24/7 title.
Nia Jax vs. Kairi Sane
Nia went for an early submission but Sane got out of it and hit a DDT from the ropes before hitting a sliding kick in the corner. Nia was outside and slammed Sane's face into the apron before sending her into the steel steps.
Nia Jax vs. Kairi Sane (contd...)
Back in the ring, Nia hit a huge leg drop and picked up the win on Kairi. Asuka came out after the match on RAW and stared Nia down but Jax retreated without a word.
Result: Nia Jax def. Kairi Sane
Match rating: C
Randy Orton came backstage on RAW to brag about how Ric Flair called him the best in the business. He addressed Edge and said that even though he 'phoned it in', Randy was still the best and he will prove it at Backlash.
Charlotte vs. Asuka
Charlotte came out on RAW and gave a big speech before the match started. Asuka was in control early and the Queen went for Asuka's knees as they sparred in the corner. Asuka tried to hit Charlotte but got taken out by a kick to the knees.
Asuka made her comeback and hit the hip attack but took a German Suplex. Asuka got a near fall off the Shining Wizard and got the armbar in. Charlotte reversed into the Boston Crab which was reversed into a kneebar.
Charlotte vs. Asuka (contd...)
Charlotte hit another German Suplex and Asuka went for the armbar yet again, followed by the triangle lock on RAW. Charlotte lifted Asuka and hit the powerbomb for another near fall. Asuka was sent outside by the Queen when Asuka's own music hit and Nia Jax came out wearing on of Asuka's masks.
Asuka abandoned the match and went for Nia who flattened her on the ramp before taking off her mask and standing tall on the stage on RAW.
Result: DNF
Match rating: A
Lana was backstage and hinted at possibly interfering with MVP's match against the WWE champ.
Drew McIntyre vs. MVP
Bobby Lashley was ringside and Lana joined him before the match began. McIntyre was predictable dominating and hit the Glasgow Kiss before Lashley distracted him, allowing him to catch Drew off guard and hit a kick of his own.
Drew was setting up when Lashley pulled MVP out of the way but Drew hit a huge dive and wiped out both men. Drew did the countdown and hit the Claymore for a quick win on RAW before Lashley caught him with a Full Nelson from behind as the show cut out.
Result: Drew McIntyre def. MVP
Match rating: B
Episode rating: B
A slow episode of RAW overall, tonight's highlights were Owens and Apollo's tag match, Asuka vs. Charlotte and Rollins' rivalry with Aleister Black and Humberto Carrillo.
