Party Crashers.
Six nights before SummerSlam, the 1107th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the Moda Center in Portland, OR. RAW would be host to a birthday bash of “Hulkamania” proportions as the most well-known name in professional wrestling, Hulk Hogan, celebrates his 61st birthday live on RAW and, with several special guests expected to greet “The Hulkster”, Portland is sure to be rocking all in honor of the WWE Hall of Famer.
Two men who won’t be celebrating on RAW are “The Beast” Brock Lesnar and WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, who are set for “The Biggest Fight of the Summer” this Sunday at SummerSlam when they collide with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line. With both champion and challenger in the building, what will go down between “The Champ” and “The Beast” just six nights before SummerSlam?
Match Results
- 2-on-1 Handicap Match: Roman Reigns def. RybAxel by DQ after RybAxel repeatedly sends Roman Reigns into the steel ring post.
- Seth Rollins def. Rob Van Dam by pin following the Curb Stomp.
- Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter) def. Cesaro by submission to the Patriot Lock.
- Non-Title: Eva Marie (with Paige) def. AJ Lee by roll-up.
- Heath Slater (with The Miz) def. Dolph Ziggler by count-out.
- Non-Title: Randy Orton def. Sheamus by pin following the RKO.
Detailed Results
Six nights before he challenges John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam in what is being billed as “The Biggest Fight of the Summer”, RAW kicks off with “The Beast” Brock Lesnar and his advocate, Paul Heyman. Speaking on behalf of his client, Paul Heyman says that he “sells” them on “major events”, saying that Brock Lesnar wants to address the fans of John Cena. Heyman continues, saying that “bad things happen” when people step into the ring with Brock Lesnar, citing Lesnar’s shocking defeat of The Undertaker at WrestleMania as an example. Heyman then says that, when Brock was a rookie in WWE, he put The Rock out of WWE for six to eight months. Heyman then recalls when Brock got his hands on Hulk Hogan, saying that, if Hogan ever came back for “revenge” on Lesnar, there would be no birthday celebration for Hogan. Heyman continues, saying that, after this Sunday at SummerSlam, they are not going to see John Cena around here anymore. Heyman then shows still photos of the battle between Cena and Lesnar from Extreme Rules in 2012, saying that the Brock Lesnar that John Cena fought two years ago was a Brock Lesnar that was only at “50%”. Heyman then vows that John Cena will get a Brock Lesnar that is at “100%” and the beating that Cena will receive at SummerSlam will be that of a “Shakespearean tragedy”. Heyman then breaks out his own rap, saying that John Cena says that his “time is now”, but Brock Lesnar says that Cena’s calendar is “out of date”, saying that, in the West Coast’s biggest arena, Brock Lesnar will “conquer” John Cena. Heyman then adds that, as of now, this is “Brock Lesnar’s house” and, while they are leaving for now, Brock Lesnar will come back “home” later tonight.
Before going one-on-one with Randy Orton for the first time ever at SummerSlam, Roman Reigns was set for action on RAW when Roman is met by an unexpected sight as, back in suit-and-tie and without a mask, Kane comes out to the stage. Kane says that it his “pleasure” to be out there once again as the Director of Operations for The Authority and that beating him last week in a Last Man Standing Match was almost like beating “two men”. Kane then reveals that Roman Reigns will actually face two men as he would face both members of RybAxel in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match! During the match, RybAxel would take Roman Reigns to the outside of the ring, repeatedly sending Roman shoulder-first into the steel ring post, ignoring the referee’s instructions to stop. After the match, RybAxel would continue the assault, but Roman Reigns would battle back, taking it to both Ryback & Curtis Axel, knocking Ryback to the outside before setting his sights on Curtis Axel. Reigns would then deliver a boot to the skull of Curtis Axel before sending Ryback into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Roman would level Ryback with the Superman Punch before sizing Curtis Axel up and delivering a second Superman Punch! Reigns then follows this up with a Spear to Ryback and a Spear to Curtis Axel, as well! After his destruction of one of the top tag teams in WWE, Roman Reigns says that he has never stolen anything from Randy Orton, but at SummerSlam, he will take “everything” from Randy Orton. Roman then says that, when you knock a viper’s fangs down its throat, it becomes nothing but a “worm”!
Backstage, Randy Orton confronts The Authority’s Director of Operations, Kane, saying that RybAxel couldn’t get the job done tonight and Kane couldn’t get the job done last week before vowing that he will “end” Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Kane tells Orton that his match against Roman Reigns will be one of the biggest challenges of his career and The Authority wants to make sure that Orton is “ready”, so Randy Orton will go one-on-one with Sheamus tonight.
In a match originally scheduled to take place on last week’s RAW, this week’s RAW would see “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Seth Rollins square off with “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam. At the end of a competitive match, it was Seth Rollins spiking Rob Van Dam with the Curb Stomp en route to picking up the win. After the match, Seth Rollins would become suspicious of a rather large present sitting among the presents for Hulk Hogan situated on the stage. Rollins would poke and shove the present before laughing off his suspicions, but just as “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” tries to walk away, Dean Ambrose bursts out of the present, attacking Seth Rollins! Dean Ambrose would knock Seth Rollins down on the way to the ring, but Seth Rollins would narrowly escape Ambrose, fleeing through the crowd. Ambrose then tells Rollins to run while he can because, at SummerSlam, he is going to get more than his money’s worth.
Before she returns to in-ring competition for the first time in over a decade to face Brie Bella at SummerSlam, WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon would appear on RAW with a supposed “confession” for Brie Bella. Stephanie says that, as a Principal Owner for WWE, she does what is “best for business” before saying that Daniel Bryan has been aggressively rehabbing to recover from his neck surgery a few months ago. Stephanie continues, saying that Daniel Bryan has been working hard with his physical therapist, Megan Miller, before revealing that Megan has something to say and she is in the audience tonight. Stephanie then has security allow the physical therapist into the ring and Megan is hesitant to make her confession, but when Stephanie says that Megan is the “victim”, it encourages the personal trainer to speak. Megan says that Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella are great people and her and her boyfriend have had dinner with them several times. Megan continues, saying that she has been working so hard with Daniel Bryan to get him back into the ring as soon as possible. At the encouragement of Stephanie, Megan begins to break down, saying that her boyfriend left her and she cannot be Daniel Bryan’s physical therapist anymore. When Stephanie asks why, Megan says that it all happened so “innocently” at first and, at the continued pressure put on her by the Principal Owner, Megan finally admits that she has been having an “affair” with Daniel Bryan! Stephanie then hugs the physical therapist as Brie Bella storms down to the ring, demanding answers from Megan Miller. Stephanie continues to pour salt in the wound, saying that Megan told her that Daniel Bryan called Brie Bella a “dead fish” and that every therapy session ended with Megan shouting “yes, yes, yes”. A rightfully angry Brie Bella slaps Megan Miller across the face before tackling Stephanie McMahon, grabbing the Principal Owner by the arm and, after some struggling from Stephanie, Brie is able to lock on the Yes Lock! Agents then rush down to separate Brie and Stephanie as Stephanie shouts that they are not going to wait until SummerSlam, they are going to finish things tonight!
With a Flag Match against Rusev coming up at SummerSlam, Jack Swagger was in action on RAW as “The Real American”, with Zeb Colter in his corner, would go one-on-one with his former tag team partner, Cesaro. Throughout the match, Cesaro would target the injured ribs of Jack Swagger, but Swagger would tough it out, managing to lock Cesaro in the Patriot Lock, making Cesaro tap out to pick up the win. After the match, Jack Swagger & Zeb Colter would try to lead the crowd in shouting “we the people”, but would be interrupted by the Russian flag unrolling behind them as Rusev & Lana come out to the stage.
In an unusual sit-down interview with both Chris Jericho and Bray Wyatt earlier in the day, Bray Wyatt would instruct Michael Cole to leave, leaving only the SummerSlam opponents face-to-face. Bray asks Jericho if he remembers his dreams, saying that he remembers a “scared, little boy” who wanted nothing more than to live up to his father’s expectations, asking if Jericho can still see the “disappointment” in his father’s eyes. Bray continues, saying that Jericho became a “savior”, but he cannot even save himself before saying that, every time he tries to dream, instead he gets a reoccurring nightmare. Bray then says that the only thing that he lives for is to “help people who cannot help themselves”, saying that the only way to truly help someone is to “hurt them” and he has hurt a lot of people. Bray continues, saying that he is not the least bit sorry because he has no “conscious” and he hates everything that the world has created, saying that he is a “monster” and he is “the eater of worlds”. Bray then says that there is a “pale horse” on the horizon and it is coming for Chris Jericho at SummerSlam and his smile is the last thing he will ever see. Chris Jericho then responds, saying that he is not a “savior”, he is a “survivor” and he cannot promise which Chris Jericho he will get at SummerSlam and he will be the first man in history to leave Bray Wyatt “speechless” and shut Bray Wyatt up for good!
Before she defends the Divas Title against Paige at SummerSlam, Divas Champion AJ Lee would go one-on-one with Eva Marie in a non-title match. During the match, Paige would come skipping down to the ring, continuing to skip around the ring. Paige’s distraction would eventually succeed as Eva Marie rolls AJ Lee up to score the upset victory. After the match, Paige says that she wrote AJ Lee an “apology”, saying that it’s not as though she hates AJ Lee, AJ has a face that she wants to punch. Paige then vows to leave SummerSlam with the Divas Title. After Paige exits, the Divas Champion would set her sights on Eva Marie, attacking Eva and tossing her into the ringside barricade before skipping around the ring with a smile on her face.
After hearing what Brock Lesnar’s advocate, Paul Heyman, had to say earlier in the night, WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena would appear on RAW to address his SummerSlam challenger. Cena says that, if they are to believe Paul Heyman, then he will be “maimed” by Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam and, while there will be a fight, Brock Lesnar will “not win”. Cena continues, saying that he is not “laying down” for Brock Lesnar before Brock does not deserve to be champion and, while he will inevitably lose the title one day, he will not lose the title to Brock Lesnar. Cena then says that he does not like Brock Lesnar, saying that Brock is the “most difficult” and “selfish” competitor to ever step foot in WWE. Cena continues, saying that this is a “business” and Brock’s “idiotic view” of this business does not entitle him to being the champion. Cena says that he has heard it all from the fans and, no matter what they say to him, he comes out there with a smile on his face, but he is always asked when he is going to “turn” and when he is going to “unleash hell”.
Cena then says that, this Sunday, they will witness a John Cena they have never seen before and he will do whatever it takes to keep the WWE World Heavyweight Championship out of the hands of Brock Lesnar. Cena continues, saying that Paul Heyman said earlier that this is Brock Lesnar’s house and the fans belong to Brock before saying that WWE will always belong to the fans. Cena then says that, if this really is Lesnar’s “house”, then there is a “stranger” in his house right now, daring Brock to come out there and try to kick him out! After Brock Lesnar does not come out, John Cena says that, this Sunday, he will be the “one that beats the one” before declaring that, at SummerSlam, “The Champ is here”!
After a brawl earlier in the night prompted Stephanie McMahon to not wait until SummerSlam for their match, Brie Bella would appear ready for action on RAW, but Stephanie McMahon comes out in her normal clothes. Stephanie says that Brie is going to have to wait until SummerSlam for their match, revealing that, after Brie slapped her husband’s physical therapist, Megan Miller, earlier in the night, Megan is pressing charges against Brie Bella! This brings out two plain-clothed officers, who read Brie her rights before handcuffing Brie and escorting her out of the arena. Stephanie then says that, what goes around comes around, and, if Brie posts bail in time, she will see Brie at SummerSlam.
With Intercontinental Champion The Miz a guest on commentary, The Miz’s challenger at SummerSlam, Dolph Ziggler, went one-on-one with Heath Slater on RAW. During the match, Dolph Ziggler would hit the Zig Zag on Heath Slater, but The Miz would get on the ring apron and Dolph Ziggler would attack the Intercontinental Champion, pummeling The Miz around the ring before The Miz is able to escape. However, Dolph Ziggler then realizes that the match was still going on, but was still unable to make it back to the ring before the referee’s ten-count as Heath Slater picks up another improbable win. After the match, Dolph Ziggler would offer a handshake to Heath Slater, but Slater would try to cheap-shot Ziggler and Heath would receive another Zig Zag for his trouble.
In a match made earlier in the night by The Authority’s Director of Operations Kane, “The Viper” Randy Orton would go one-on-one with United States Champion Sheamus in a non-title match. At the end of an intense, back-and-forth match, it was Randy Orton catching Sheamus in mid-air with the RKO, pinning the United States Champion to pick up the hard-fought win.
With several Superstars and Divas populating the stage, it was time to celebrate the 61st birthday of the most well-known personality in professional wrestling history as the Superstars and Divas, as well as some special guests, would celebrate Hulk Hogan! With Gene Okerlund & Jimmy Hart in the ring, “Mean Gene” would introduce the WWE Hall of Famer as “The Hulkster” makes his way to the ring as the Superstars and Divas applaud the legend. With Hogan in the ring, Gene Okerlund then shows a special video package, highlighting the extraordinary career of Hulk Hogan. After seeing the video package, Hulk Hogan says that he just about “speechless” before saying that, all day, people have been showering Hogan with presents, saying that Mr. McMahon gave him $9.99 for his birthday to make sure that he subscribes to the WWE Network. “The Hulkster” then thanks every person in WWE before saying that Hulkamania is a “two-way street”, saying that he hopes he have been able to touch them in even a small way because they have certainly touched his life. Hulk Hogan is then greeted by a fellow Hall of Famer and an old rival in “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, who makes his way to the ring, followed shortly by another old rival in “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff! The surprises then keep on coming with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Hogan’s former New World Order running mates, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash! In his signature fashion, Scott Hall decides to take a “poll” of the audience, asking if they prefer the red and yellow of Hulk Hogan or the black and white of the New World Order!
Hogan then rips off his shirt to expose an nWo shirt to the elation of the crowd. Kevin Nash then says that he has done a lot of things in his career, but he has never done this. Nash then sings his best rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the Hall of Famer, but the festive feel of Hulk Hogan’s birthday is then ruined with the arrival of “The Beast” Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman as Lesnar makes his way to the ring to face the ring full of legends. Brock then takes the time to stare down each of the legends before locking his eyes on Hulk Hogan as Brock tells Hogan, “party’s over, grandpa”. However, before the unthinkable could happen, John Cena rushes down to the ring to intervene, readying himself for a brawl with Brock Lesna, but “The Beast” just smiles at Cena before leaving the ring as “The Champ” continues to stare his SummerSlam opponent down.
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