Detailed Results
With the Connor’s Cure logo adorning the entranceway, the Season Premiere of Monday Night RAW kicks off with The Authority as WWE COO Triple H & WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon make their way to the ring with the promise of a “historical announcement”. Triple H says that the “next generation” of Superstars will take WWE to “new heights”, saying that this new generation of Superstars will be led by “the man”, the WWE World Heavyweight and United States Champion Seth Rollins. The COO continues, reminding everyone that, this Sunday at Night of Champions, Seth Rollins will not only defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Sting, but will also defend the United States Championship against John Cena. Stephanie then says that, tonight, they are guaranteed to witness history when Nikki Bella defends the Divas Championship against Charlotte, saying that we will either see Charlotte win the Divas Title or we will see Nikki Bella become the longest reigning Divas Champion in history. Triple H then drops a huge bombshell by announcing that, for the first time ever, “The Icon” Sting will compete live on RAW and “The Icon” will go one-on-one with “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show. Stephanie then reveals that the WWE Tag Team Titles will be defended right now, introducing the WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day.
In the opening match of the Season Premiere of RAW, the WWE Tag Team Titles were on the line as former champions The Prime Time Players would challenge The New Day’s Big E & Kofi Kingston, with Xavier Woods in their corner, for the WWE Tag Team Championship with the victorious team heading to Night of Champions to defend the tag titles against The Dudley Boyz! During the match, Xavier Woods would get on the ring apron, distracting Titus O’Neil long enough for Big E & Kofi Kingston to take advantage, hitting the Midnight Hour as Big E pins Titus to pick up the win and successfully retain the WWE Tag Team Titles. However, The New Day’s celebration was short-lived once The Dudley Boyz come out to the stage, reminding the WWE Tag Team Champions what awaits them this Sunday at Night of Champions.
With her PCB teammate Charlotte preparing for her Divas Championship match against Nikki Bella later on in the night, a budding rivalry would continue on RAW as PCB’s Paige, with Becky Lynch in her corner, would go one-on-one with Team B.A.D.’s Sasha Banks, with Naomi & Tamina in her corner. During the match, Paige would knock Sasha Banks to the outside, but before Paige could dive off of the apron onto Sasha, Tamina would pull Sasha out of the way and Paige would collide with the arena floor. Shortly after this, Sasha would lock in the Bank Statement, leaving Paige no choice but to tap out as Sasha picks up the win. After the match, Naomi & Tamina would enter the ring as Team B.A.D. would toss Paige out of the ring before turning their attention to Becky Lynch, beating Becky down before tossing her out of the ring as well, leaving Team B.A.D. standing tall in the ring.
Then it was time for what promised to be a very unusual and uncomfortable edition of Miz TV as The Miz would welcome his special guests, none other than The Wyatt Family! The Miz would introduce his guests as Bray Wyatt leads Luke Harper & Braun Strowman to the ring for Miz TV just six nights before The Wyatt Family faces Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and a partner of their choosing in a 6-Man Tag match at Night of Champions. Bray Wyatt would have a seat while Harper & Strowman would toss their chairs out of the ring as Bray tells Miz to not sit down, saying that The Miz is “not safe here”. The Miz tries to assure Bray that he is not going to be Ambrose & Reigns’ tag team partner at Night of Champions before getting on with his interview, asking “who is Braun Strowman?” Bray responds by suggesting that The Miz asks Strowman who he is and The Miz reluctantly asks the big man his question and Strowman responds by removing his black sheep mask, glaring at The Miz. The Miz asks Bray Wyatt what he wants and Bray says that he wants The Miz to “suffer”, adding that he wants Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns to “suffer”, saying that he has already shown Randy Orton and Jimmy Uso before saying that it does not matter how many show up at Night of Champions because they will “all fall down”.
This brings out two of The Wyatt Family’s three opponents at Night of Champions as Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns make their way to the ring to confront The Wyatt Family. Ambrose & Reigns’ first order of business upon entering the ring is getting rid of The Miz as Dean Ambrose tosses Miz out of the ring, leaving Ambrose & Reigns to go face-to-face with The Wyatt Family. Roman says that Bray Wyatt sits there like he’s “the man”, saying that Bray is going to “pay” for what he did to his cousin Jimmy Uso before saying that, if Bray was really “the man”, then Bray could have beat him one-on-one. Roman then says that Bray and Luke Harper failed to beat himself and Ambrose at SummerSlam as well, saying that Wyatt wants the odds in his favor and he wants the protection of his “monsters”. Roman then reveals that, at Night of Champions, it will not be three-on-two because they found a tag team partner before saying that, in six nights, they are bringing the “big fight” and they are going to win, telling The Wyatt Family to “believe that”.
Before he challenges Seth Rollins for the United States Championship this Sunday at Night of Champions, John Cena was in action on the Season Premiere of RAW as Cena would go one-on-one with “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Sheamus. At the end of a grueling match between two powerhouses, it was John Cena who finally secured the three-count, hitting the Attitude Adjustment on Sheamus and pinning “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” for the win.
Intercontinental Champion Ryback would then make an appearance on the Season Premiere of RAW as Ryback does his best Elvis impersonation, saying that Kevin Owens has him “all shook up”. Ryback then says that he knows that Kevin Owens has no respect for him, but that is when Owens interrupts the Intercontinental Champion. Owens makes his way to the ring, recalling Ryback discussing the book “The Secret” as the driving force behind Ryback’s return to the ring. Owens then calls the book an “excuse” and a “crutch for weak people”, saying that it’s an “absolute travesty” that Ryback is the Intercontinental Champion. Ryback says that it’s clear that Owens does not know who he is and what he is about, saying that he “kicks the day in the ass” and he wakes up saying “feed me more”, leading a “feed me more” chant from the fans. The Intercontinental Champion continues, saying that he “respects” Owens and his long road to the top, saying that he will be the first to admit that he got an “elevator ride to the top”, but he fell on his face. Ryback then says that he got back up and he climbed his way back to the top and now he’s the Intercontinental Champion. Owens responds by saying that Ryback is the champion for now because, when he gets an opportunity at the Intercontinental Title, he is going to take the title from Ryback and prove to the world that Ryback is just a “weak little boy”! Ryback then reveals that he went to The Authority earlier in the evening and, at Night of Champions this Sunday, he and Kevin Owens will go one-on-one for the Intercontinental Championship! This leads to a face-off between champion and challenger, but Kevin Owens exits the ring, opting to save the fight for Night of Champions.
With his new allies The Ascension by his side, Stardust was set to go one-on-one with Neville on RAW, but Neville would not come out alone as “The Man That Gravity Forgot” would bring The Lucha Dragons with him, which would spark a six-man brawl in the ring before The Lucha Dragons get the better of The Ascension, diving to the outside to take out Konnor & Viktor, leaving Neville and Stardust alone in the ring. Neville would get the better of Stardust, sending Stardust out of the ring and, at the encouragement of The Lucha Dragons, Neville was set to take flight, but The Ascension would pull Stardust out of the way as the trio retreats, leaving Neville & The Lucha Dragons standing tall in the ring.
With less than two hours until she becomes the longest reigning Divas Champion in history, Nikki Bella’s record-breaking night could very well be derailed as Charlotte, with her PCB teammates Paige & Becky Lynch in her corner, would challenge Nikki Bella, with Team Bella teammates Brie Bella & Alicia Fox in her corner, for the Divas Championship live on RAW. During the match, Charlotte was in control of the match until Nikki Bella draws the attention of the referee, allowing Alicia Fox to get involved, but Charlotte pulls Alicia into the ring. Then, as the referee’s attention is on getting Alicia Fox out of the ring, Nikki’s sister Brie would enter the ring, trying to pose as her sister to steal the victory, but Charlotte would counter, rolling up Brie Bella and scoring the three-count and, despite not pinning the champion, Charlotte becomes the brand new Divas Champion, ending the 295 day reign of Nikki Bella! As Nikki has words with her sister on the outside, Paige & Becky Lynch congratulate Charlotte on the biggest win of her career before Charlotte’s Hall of Fame father Ric Flair makes his way to the ring to celebrate with his daughter! However, the celebration is interrupted once Paige directs Charlotte’s attention to the outside where Team Bella is revealing their ruse to the referee, frantically trying to explain that Charlotte pinned Brie Bella, not Nikki Bella. This controversy is then solved by WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon, who comes out to the stage, immediately apologizing to both Charlotte and Ric Flair before saying that she has to “uphold the integrity” of the Divas division.
Stephanie then explains that Charlotte cannot win the title by pinning someone who was not even in the match and, as the biggest moment in Charlotte’s career is shattered in front of her father and in front of the world, Stephanie says that the moment that Brie put her hands on Charlotte, the match should have ended by disqualification. Stephanie then rules that the winner of the match is Charlotte, but she is the winner by disqualification and, therefore, Nikki Bella is still the Divas Champion, ensuring that Nikki will make history as the longest reigning Divas Champion. Charlotte then reluctantly hands the Divas Title belt back to Nikki Bella as Team Bella celebrates on the outside. However, Stephanie would not let Team Bella get away with their ruse as Stephanie informs Nikki Bella that she will defend the Divas Title against Charlotte for a second time this Sunday at Night of Champions and, this time, if Nikki gets disqualified or counted out, she will lose the Divas Title!
Six nights before he goes one-on-one with Dolph Ziggler at Night of Champions, “The Bulgarian Brute” was in action on RAW as Rusev, with Summer Rae in his corner, would go one-on-one with “The Swiss Superman” Cesaro. During the match, Dolph Ziggler would make his way out to ringside with a present in his hand, walking over to Summer Rae and trying to hand Summer the gift, but Summer would refuse to take the gift, so Dolph would put the present on the announce table. Dolph’s plan would work to perfection as Rusev would take his attention off of Cesaro and Cesaro would take advantage as “The Swiss Superman” rolls Rusev up for the win. Before Rusev can even realize what just took place, Ziggler is in the ring, blasting “The Bulgarian Brute” with a super kick! Rusev then rolls to the outside where Summer Rae checks on Rusev while discreetly holding Dolph’s present behind her back!
Backstage, the drama continues as an angry Rusev storms into his locker room, slamming the door in Summer Rae’s face. However, Summer takes this time to take a look at Dolph’s gift before Rusev demands that Summer join him in the locker room.
Then it was time for the main event as, six nights before he challenges Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship this Sunday at Night of Champions, “The Icon” would compete on RAW for the first time ever as Sting would go one-on-one with “The World’s Largest Athlete” and fellow WCW alumni Big Show with Triple H & Stephanie McMahon at ringside for the historic match. However, it would not take long for Seth Rollins to ruin the historic main event as, after Sting hits the Stinger Splash on Big Show, the WWE World Heavyweight and United States Champion would rush the ring, sparking a brawl between Sting and Rollins as the match ends in a disqualification. The brawl would continue until Big Show gets involved as Rollins and Big Show double team “The Icon”, putting the boots to Sting until John Cena makes the save and, together, Sting and Cena send both Rollins and Big Show packing! Rollins & Big Show regroup with The Authority on the outside before Triple H announces that they are going to have an impromptu tag team match as the team of Sting & John Cena will take on Seth Rollins & Big Show!
After Seth Rollins got involved in Sting’s match against Big Show and John Cena saved Sting from a two-on-one beatdown, The Authority would make an impromptu tag team match as the #1 Contender for Seth Rollins’ WWE World Heavyweight Championship Sting would team with the #1 Contender for Seth Rollins’ United States Championship John Cena to face WWE World Heavyweight & United States Champion Seth Rollins and “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show. In the end, it was John Cena hitting the Attitude Adjustment on Big Show and Sting hitting the Scorpion Deathdrop on Seth Rollins before “The Icon” locks in the Scorpion Deathlock on Rollins, making the WWE World Heavyweight & United States Champion tap out to pick up the win for his team! After the match, The Authority would help Seth Rollins to his feet on the outside as Sting & John Cena celebrate their victory in the ring.
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