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RAW kicked off from Cincinnati, Ohio with Vince McMahon coming out to greet the WWE Universe but before he could say anything more, Roman Reigns' music hit. Reigns came out and Vince asked him what he was doing on RAW when he was assigned to SmackDown.
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Roman said he was done watching Vince and his "spoilt kids" ruin RAW and that the fans were his real bosses before Daniel Bryan came out. Vince revealed Bryan too was meant to be on the Blue brand and the former WWE champ said he was robbed of his title unfairly.
Kofi Kingston showed up next and the RAW ring was full of SmackDown stars. Kofi and Bryan got into a yelling contest about whether he deserved the title shot at Mania. Vince came up with a Wild Card rule before the yelling continued once again.
Drew McIntyre came out to clear the ring of the invaders. Drew then focused on Reigns and said he moved to SmackDown to avoid being beaten by him. Vince then set up two WrestleMania rematches between the four Superstars before yelling 'I'm brilliant!'.
AJ Styles showed up next. The other Superstars left and Styles was talking to Vince alone. Vince explained his new Wild Card rule after Styles asked him why the SmackDown stars were there. Styles hinted at bringing 'some friends' over from the Blue Brand and Rollins came out to dispute him.
Rollins was fired up about how Styles sucker punched him last week and Styles was mad about Rollins not treating him like a man. In the middle of the yelling, Vince set up a match with the two of them in the same team and the mystery tag team match was right up next! The unlikely team's opponnets were soon revealed to be Bobby Lashley and Baron Corbin.
Segment rating: A+
Seth Rollins & AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley
Rollins and Corbin kicked off the match and Seth tagged in AJ early on and Corbin made the tag as well. Lashley overpowered AJ at first but took a big dropkick. Rollins stole a tag and the two cleared out the heels from the ring as we cut to commercials.
Lashley was in control as we returned and sent Rollins outside before Corbin sent him into the barricades. Corbin was legal and got a near fall in the ring and Rollins replied with a blockbuster and tagged in Styles.
AJ was in trouble as Lashley threw him into the barricades outside and Rollins came in with a huge Suicide Dive to both opponents. Corbin was in the ring shortly after and Rollins was getting ready for the finisher when AJ hit him with the phenomenal forearm and left the ring. Corbin hit the End of Days on a shocked Rollins for the win.
Result: Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley def. Seth Rollins & AJ Styles
Match rating: A
Sami Zayn goes dumpster diving
Sami Zayn was out next and went on one of his usual rants about critics and toxicity among the fans. He asked the crowd what they had to complain about, talking about the events that transpired today. He called the fans cowards for complaining so much before Braun Strowman came out to save us the lecture. Sami ran like the wind, into the crowd and then backstage as Braun gave chase. The Monster cut him off in the parking lot and sent him straight into a dumpster.
Segment rating: B
Lucha House party vs. Developmental Talent
Next up we had a six-man tag team match between Lucha House Party and some local competitors. There was some quick, high-flying action as the House Party teamed up together for a big sequence and the match was over in no time.
Result: Lucha House Party def. Developmental Talent
Match rating: D
Robert Roode vs. Ricochet
Robert Roode kicked off the match with a few kicks to Ricochet and continued with some chops. Ricochet countered with a Hurricanrana and a dropkick but was then thrown out of the ring by Roode.
Roode landed multiple punches and went for the pinfall, but Ricochet kicked out. He then put Ricochet in a sleeper hold, followed by a lariat butRicochet kicked out again.
Ricochet countered with a moonsault on Roode and then took down Roode twice. Roode countered with a spinebuster and went for the pinfall, but Ricochet kicked out. Ricochet hit the top rope 630 and got the easy win.
Result: Ricochet def. Robert Roode
Match rating: C
Backstage, Rey Mysterio and his son were walking to the lockers and when they parted ways, Samoa Joe caught up with Rey's son and threatened him and Rey, hoping to send a message to his challenger at MITB.
Lacey Evans vs. Developmental Talent
Lacey Evans made a whole deal out of her match with an unknown developmental talent and sent perfumed invitations to Dana Brooke, Alexa Bliss, Naomi & Natalya, asking them to come and watch the match, which they did.
Lacey sent her opponent into the corner and then hit a big slam in the ring for a quick pinfall. She then got on the mic and taunted her star-studded audience of 4 before Becky Lynch came out and attacked her. Lacey ducked out and retreated to the backstage area almost as quick as she got the pinfall earlier.
Result: Lacey Evans def. Developmental Talent
Match rating: D
Backstage, Daniel Bryan was very angry with Kofi and part of it seems to be his inexplicable hatred of pancakes.
Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder vs. The Viking Raiders
Hawkins and Ryder worked on Ivar with quick tags and double team moves. Ivar countered and Erik was tagged in. Ryder was tagged in and he landed a missile dropkick as Hawkins clotheslined Ivar. Erik landed the double knees on Ryder and the two double teamed to land the Viking Experience and get the win.
Result: The Viking Raiders def. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder
Match rating: C
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
Roman Reigns started off strong and hit a big clotheslined but was overpowered by Drew McIntyre early on. Drew moved to a submission move and Reigns tried for a Samoan Drop but failed to lift McIntyre.
McIntyre tried to land a suplex but was blocked by Reigns. Roman countered and landed a suplex himself. Reigns clotheslined McIntyre out of the ring and then tried to take control of the match but McIntyre landed a big boot and then smashed Reigns' head face first into the apron.
Outside, Reigns went for a Superman Punch but walked into a big kick before Drew sent him into the steel step. McIntyre went for a top rope move but ate a Superman Punch but Drew kicked out. Reigns then managed to hit the spear but before the referee could count to three, Shane Mcmahon and Elias attacked him.
Result: Roman Reigns def. Drew McIntyre via DQ
The Miz came out with a steel chair and chased down Shane while Reigns was destroyed by Elias and McIntyre in the ring. Shane and The Miz got into a big brawl in the parking lot and Shane hit a low blow on The A-lister before getting in his limo and driving away.
Match rating: A
Gallows & Anderson and The Revival were getting ready for a match when the Usos came out and revealed that they had a new product, The Ucey hot. It's a lotion that is activated by sweat and burns the skin. The Revival started freaking out and rubbing their crotches on the ring and all around the ringside before the Usos offered them water.
The Revival ran to get the water and tried to watch the lotion away but the Usos reminded us that it was sweat activated and water made it worse; adding that they meant for them to drink the water. The Revival started shrieking and ran away backstage as the Usos laughed and retreated as well.
Segment rating: B
No Way Jose came out for a match but Lars Sullivan came out and destroyed the conga line and hit a running situp powerbomb on Jose before he was satisfied. Backstage, Lars came to the backstage area and intimidated Vince into adding him to tomorrow's list of Wild Card entries for SmackDown.
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Daniel Bryan - WWE Championship match
Daniel Bryan came out of the gate with some big moves followed by a double dropkick into the corner. Kofi countered and sent Bryan outside before hitting a big splash over the top rope.
Bryan tossed Kofi to the outside over the top rope after the match returned to the ring. Bryan then sent Kofi's face into the ring post followed by a kick to the arm of the Champ. Bryan countered and put Kofi in an armbar and then the Lebell lock, but Kofi got out of the submission hold.
Bryan was manhandling Kofi on the outside before Kofi took a risky leap from up top that hurt both Superstars. Bryan locked in the Lebell yet again but Kofi's foot found the bottom rope. Kofi fired back with some strikes into the corner and then a clothesline.
Kofi went for the Trouble in Paradise but Bryan countered with a dropkick and a German Suplex. They both ducked each other's finishers and Kofi finally managed to hit the Trouble in Paradise for the win.
Result: Kofi Kingston def. Daniel Bryan and retained the WWE Championship
Match rating: A
Epiosde rating: B
A pretty good episode overall. Started off strong but dragged a bit in the second hour.
