Lunatic Champion?
Six nights before WWE Payback, the 1147th edition of WWE Monday Night RAW came to you, live, from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, OH. This past Thursday night on SmackDown, the contract signing for the Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback devolved into chaos with the ever opportunistic Seth Rollins standing tall over Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, & Dean Ambrose at the end of the night. With Seth Rollins set to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Orton, Reigns, & Ambrose at Payback and with WWE COO Triple H expected to return on RAW, will The Authority get the last laugh before Payback?
For the first time since the April 16 edition of SmackDown, Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan would make an appearance live on RAW to address his current health and his career going forward after Bryan was pulled from his scheduled title defense at Extreme Rules last month. After just returning from a career-threatening injury back in November, has another injury cast a dark cloud over Daniel Bryan and his reign as Intercontinental Champion?
Before their fourth and final battle in an “I Quit” Match for the United States Championship this Sunday at Payback, United States Champion John Cena and “The Super Athlete” Rusev will both be in the same ring at the same time on RAW as champion and challenger will come face-to-face in what is sure to be an explosive confrontation between two proud athletes. With both men looking to make a lasting impression before their “I Quit” Match, will RAW be able to contain these two bitter rivals?
Match Results
- 2-on-1 Handicap Match: Dean Ambrose def. J&J Security by pinning Jamie Noble following Dirty Deeds.
- King Barrett (with Sheamus) def. Dolph Ziggler by pin following the Bull Hammer Elbow.
- Erick Rowan (with Luke Harper) def. Fandango by pin following the full nelson slam.
- United States Championship: U.S. Open Challenge: Neville def. John Cena (c) by DQ after Rusev interferes. As a result, John Cena (c) retains.
- Tamina (with Naomi) def. Brie Bella (with Nikki Bella) by pin following the super kick.
- Macho Mandow and Curtis Axel fight to a No Contest after The Ascension comes out.
- Cesaro (with Tyson Kidd & Natalya) def. Big E (with Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) by roll-up.
- Non-Title: Randy Orton def. Seth Rollins by DQ after J&J Security interferes.
See page 2 for detailed results.
