WWE RAW Live Coverage - February 22nd, 2021
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The Miz to present a special WWE Championship celebration episode of “Miz TV”
After cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and laying claim the WWE Title at WWE Elimination Chamber, the Miz will have a special WWE Championship celebration episode of "Miz TV" tonight.
:raw:
– Tonight’s post-Elimination Chamber edition of WWE RAW on the USA Network opens up with a video package of highlights from last night’s pay-per-view.
– We’re live from the ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida as Tom Phillips welcomes us to RAW and fans cheer. He’s joined at ringside by Samoa Joe and Byron Saxton.
– We go right to the ring for a special championship celebration edition of MizTV. John Morrison has a mic. He introduces new WWE Champion The Miz, who comes out to mostly boos. Miz raises the WWE Title on the ramp as the big pyro goes off. He enters the ring and more pyro goes off when he raises the title. Miz welcomes everyone to MizTV as the boos get louder.
Miz goes on about how far he’s come in WWE. Everyone else from his generation have come and gone but he’s still standing. Miz says he’s taking them all out. He names Batista, John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Daniel Bryan, even WWE Hall of Famer, and says they just don’t match up to anything he has going. Miz goes on and on bragging and says he didn’t earn the respect of the fans, he demanded it. The music interrupts and out comes Bobby Lashley and MVP. Lashley is wearing a white suit and MVP is in a blue suit, using a crutch to get around.
MVP congratulates Miz on his title win, on behalf of The Hurt Business. MVP brings up Miz’s accomplishments and says he forgot to mention how Lashley destroyed Drew McIntyre last night before his win. Miz says he was getting to that. He thanks them both but says he and Morrison have more celebrating to do. MVP and Lashley aren’t leaving. MVP asks Miz if they want to reveal the terms of their business arrangement. Morrison helped Lashley lose the United States Title, and now Miz owes Lashley to make it right. Lashley tells Miz he owes him a shot and Miz agrees, but adds that he never said when that would happen. Miz rants about how busy he is and says there is just no time right now.
Lashley ends up grabbing Miz by his tie. Lashley says they made a deal and Miz has one hour to give him what he wants, or he will be sent to the emergency room. Lashley says one way or another he’s taking the WWE Title from Miz and it will be painful, merciless, and… awesome. Lashley and MVP stare Miz and Morrison down as the music starts back up. Tom says Miz has one hour to grant the WWE Title match, or else.
– Lucha House Party is backstage congratulating new WWE United States Champion Riddle. He thanks them for having his back as of late. He goes on ranting about nothing and says he’s naming the eagle on the front title plate “Travis.” Riddle ends up pulling his scooter out and riding off to get to the ring. We go to commercial.
WWE United States Champion Riddle vs. John Morrison
Back from the break and we see how Riddle won the WWE United States Title at Elimination Chamber by winning the Triple Threat over John Morrison and former champion Bobby Lashley. We see a timer counting down on the screen for Lashley’s ultimatum to The Miz. The clock stops at 9pm. Morrison is already in the ring now. Out next comes the new WWE United States Champion for this non-title match. Fans chant “bro!” now. Riddle hits the ring and kicks his flip flops off for pyro.
The bell rings and they tangle to the mat, trading holds and counters. Morrison ducks a big boot and kicks Riddle, then levels him with a running kick. Riddle blocks the running standing moonsault, pulling Morrison into a submission but he gets the bottom rope to break the hold. More back and forth on their feet now. Riddle misses a punt kick and Morrison levels him with a roundhouse kick. Riddle with a Gutwrench suplex for 2.
Riddle and Morrison trade strikes now. Riddle catches a kick and delivers strikes. Morrison with a thumb to the eye to take control. Morrison takes Riddle down as fans boo. Morrison with a modified Dragon Sleeper submission now. Riddle gets sent to the apron, then sent to the floor with a kick to the head. Morrison then launches himself over the top rope to the floor with a corkscrew, taking Riddle back down. Morrison clutches his knee but brings Riddle back in as the referee counts.
Morrison comes back in and follows but Riddle takes him back over the top rope. They tangle and get back on the apron, trading big stiff strikes. Riddle with a big suplex on the apron, dropping Morrison’s head on the edge. Riddle returns to the ring and stands tall as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Riddle splashes Morrison. Morrison comes back and nails an Alabama Slam into a 2 count. Morrison grounds Riddle in the middle of the ring now. Back and forth now as they go to the corner. Riddle fights out and ends up nailing an overhead kick. Riddle kips up and runs into the corner with a forearm, and another. Riddle with a big suplex. Morrison ducks a punt kick and dodges a standing moonsault.
Morrison rolls to the floor but Riddle kicks him from the apron. Riddle then nails the Floating Bro from the apron to the floor. Riddle brings it back in and hits a German suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Morrison rams Riddle back into the corner, hitting him with thrusts. Morrison runs up to the middle rope and nails a Spanish Fly for a close 2 count. They tangle and Riddle hits Bro 2 Sleep. Morrison comes right back with a big kick to send Riddle to the apron.
Riddle fights back in but Morrison decks him with a knee strike to the face. Morrison goes for Starship Pain but it’s blocked. Riddle then hits the Bro Derek for the pin to win.
Winner: Riddle
– After the match, Riddle stands tall with the title in the air. Fans chant “bro!” as we go to replays. Riddle hits the corner to pose as the chants continue.
– Still to come, the timer is down to less than 30 minutes for Bobby Lashley’s ultimatum to The Miz.
– We get a “coming soon” vignette for Rhea Ripley. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see Bad Bunny performing on SNL with his WWE 24/7 Title. He will be in Damian Priest’s corner later on tonight against Angel Garza. Sarah Schreiber is backstage with Bunny and Priest now. Priest spots R-Truth with a referee, and he calls him out. Truth comes over with some comedy explanation but Priest knows what he’s up to. Truth gets Bunny’s name wrong and Priest aggressively corrects him, which leads to Truth running away.
– We get another look at what happened with Bobby Lashley and The Miz earlier. Miz is backstage with Adam Pearce complaining now. Miz points out how there was nothing in writing between he and Lashley, and Pearce agrees. Pearce suggests that Miz step up and face all challengers, including Lashley, as he’s now WWE Champion and everyone has doubted him. Miz says he will face all challengers, just not now. Pearce is going to respect what Miz decides, but he reminds him he’s running out of time.
The New Day vs. RETRIBUTION
We go back to the ring and out first comes Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston of The New Day. We see recent happenings between The New Day and RETRIBUTION. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and the announcers lead us to a look at the “Punky Brewster” reboot on Peacock, which will feature Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair on an upcoming episode. We see actor and former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr. and a few other “Punky” cast members in the ThunderDome crowd, including Punky herself. Out next comes RETRIBUTION – Mace and T-BAR with Mustafa Ali, Slapjack and Reckoning.
T-BAR starts off with Woods. T-BAR clubs Woods to the mat and delivers another big strike. Woods fights back and works on the arm, tagging in Kofi for the double team to the arm. Kofi also ties up the arm but T-BAR overpowers and slams him. Mace tags in and slams the back of Kofi’s head into the mat a few times. T-BAR runs in and levels Kofi with a big boot. Mace covers for 2.
T-BAR scoops Kofi with a big backbreaker but Kofi kicks out at 2. Mace tags back in and T-BAR runs and knocks Woods off the apron with a big boot. T-BAR and Mace hit the big High Justice double team to Kofi in the middle of the ring.
Instead of going for the pin, Ali is yelling over and over for them to hit the move again. Mace slams Kofi’s head a few times. Woods pulls T-BAR over the top rope to the floor. Kofi with Trouble In Paradise to Mace to send him out. T-BAR comes back in but Kofi nails Trouble In Paradise on him also, for the pin to win.
Winners: The New Day
– After the match, the music hits as The New Day celebrates. RETRIBUTION storms the ring but Woods and Kofi hit the ramp, taunting their opponents. Ali takes the mic and yells at the other members, asking how much longer they are going to fail him and embarrass him, how much longer he has to deal with this crap. Ali says he carries them all on his back but they keep failing over and over. Ali storms out of the ring by himself as the other members of RETRIBUTION look on.
– We see MVP and Bobby Lashley walking backstage. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see how Bobby Lashley demanded a WWE Title shot from The Miz earlier tonight, issuing him a one-hour ultimatum to have an answer. Adam Pearce is in the ring now. He says the deadline is here for Miz to give Lashley an answer. Pearce introduces Lashley and out he comes with MVP. Lashley is dressed to wrestle.
Pearce then introduces the new WWE Champion and out comes The Miz with John Morrison, who is limping a bit. Lashley isn’t happy with the face that Miz is still wearing a suit. Miz says he has made his decision but he needs more time. Lashley tells him to quit stalling and wasting his time, which is like wasting is money. Miz is worried about the honor the title deserves, not money. Miz goes on but MVP interrupts, saying Miz doesn’t have a deal with other WWE Superstars, he has a deal with them. Miz says he doesn’t know what to say, he just needs more time.
Miz understands what Lashley wants and Lashley deserves it but Miz wants to give everyone his best efforts, it’s what the fans and the WWE Title deserves. Miz asks for a week, asking Pearce if he can pencil it in for next week. The music interrupts and out comes Braun Strowman for a big pop.
Strowman says if anyone around here is getting a WWE Title shot it’s him. Pearce says he can’t just do what he wants… Strowman says he can do whatever he wants. He says it’s clear that Pearce and Shane McMahon have an agenda against him, which is why he was kept out of Elimination Chamber. The arguing continues among everyone in the ring until the music of Shane hits and out he comes.
Shane enters the ring and dances around. A “Shane O’Mac!” chant starts up. Shane says let’s everyone chill out and let cooler heads prevail. Shane says Adam needs to tighten his ship up a little bit, and Braun can’t just storm down here and demand a WWE Title shot. Shane mocks Braun, joking about his brain size. Braun says Shane sucks, Miz sucks, Lashley sucks, this whole idea sucks. Braun wants a WWE Title opportunity tonight. Shane thinks that idea kind of sucks, so no. Braun says if Shane won’t give him the champ, give him the challenger. Lashley. Shane says this is intriguing. He’d love to see this match tonight. Most everyone else agrees.
Shane books Strowman vs. Lashley. Shane says he’s going to up the stakes. If Braun wins against Lashley, then next week there will be a Triple Threat for the WWE Title with Strowman, Lashley and Miz. Braun likes this idea now, but Miz isn’t thrilled. Braun stars Lashley down and then turns around to tell Shane that may be the smartest decision he’s ever made. Lashley takes advantage and takes Braun’s knee out from behind with a chop block. Lashley exits the ring and looks on as Braun gets back to his feet, limping around. We go to replays. Strowman and Lashley stare each other down as we go back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see what just happened with Braun Strowman.
Tornado Tag Team Match: RAW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Business vs. Lucha House Party
We go back to the ring and RAW Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander are already in the ring for this non-title match. MVP is on commentary. Out next comes Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik of Lucha House Party.
Shelton and Metalik go at it while Cedric and Lince go at it. The champs drop their opponents. Cedric with a big dropkick to Lince’s back of his head for a close 2 count. Cedric and Benjamin continue to dominate. Cedric with another close 2 count on Metalik. Lince attacks but Shelton fights him off to save Cedric. Shelton straps Lince across his back, letting Cedric knock him off with a big dropkick for a close 2 count. Shelton sends Lince out of the ring. Metalik fights Cedric into the corner but Shelton saves him and nails a big suplex to Metalik.
Cedric works Lince over at ringside. They bring it back in. Metalik has Shelton in one corner while Cedric has Lince in the other. Shelton brings Metalik out of the corner with a big powerbomb for a 2 count as Lince saves the pin. Cedric was smiling and wasting time as Lince broke the pin up. MVP shouts from the announce table.
Lince gets double teamed in the corner now. They go for a big double team move but Lince pulls Cedric to the floor and rocks him while Metalik is fighting Shelton off. Metalik with a big DDT and Lince with a top rope splash on Shelton for a close 2 count that Cedric breaks up just in time. Cedric gets double teamed into a corner now. Cedric fights both opponents off as they charge him in a corner.
Lince with a big hurricanrana from the top to Cedric. Metalik walks the top rope but misses the stomp as Cedric moves. Shelton runs in the ring and levels Metalik with a clothesline. Shelton then tosses Lince into a knee strike from Cedric. Lince stumbles right into Paydirt from Shelton for the pin to win.
Winners: Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander
– After the match, The Hurt Business stands tall in the ring as the music hits. We go to replays. MVP raises Cedric and Shelton’s arms as they stand tall with the titles.
– We see how Damian Priest helped Bad Bunny win the WWE 24/7 Title from R-Truth last week.
Damian Priest vs. Angel Garza
We go back to the ring and WWE 24/7 Champion Bad Bunny is introduced first to pyro. He walks down the ramp and the lights go out as Damian Priest begins his entrance. They greet on the ramp and head to the ring together. Priest wraps his entrance and stands tall as we go back to commercial with Bunny watching from the apron.
Back from the break and out comes Angel Garza to boos. Garza tries to surprise Priest as the bell hits but Priest turns him inside out. Priest takes it to the corner and beats Garza down as Bunny looks on. Priest with a dropkick and more big offense. Garza comes back with a dropkick of his own. Garza snatches his pants off to boos, then tosses them out at Bunny. Garza works Priest over while he’s on the mat, talking trash. Garza mounts Priest with strikes and shoves his face into the mat. Garza with a dropkick while Priest is down.
Garza keeps control and keeps the trash talking going. Garza with a Camel Clutch in the middle of the ring. Priest tries to fight out but Garza keeps shutting him down. Garza twists Priest’s neck and taunts Bunny while Priest is trapped in the hold. Priest overpowers to his feet but Garza nails him, angering Priest. Priest makes his comeback now, nailing a big jumping kick to the head. Priest with a big right hand and another Bell Clap, then a big kick to stun Garza and send him to the mat, collapsing.
Priest gets hyped up in the corner, acquires his target, and then fires his invisible bow & arrow. Priest charges and nails the leaping back splash in the corner. Priest follows up with the Broken Arrow but Garza kicks out just in time. Garza tries to retreat too the apron. He fights Priest off with a big right hand to the jaw. Bunny talks some trash now. Garza goes for the Wing Clipper but he can’t get Priest into position. Instead he runs and knocks Priest through the ropes to the floor. Garza invites Bunny to step through the ropes, into the ring. Bunny hesitates and taunts Garza, pointing behind him to Priest, who has recovered.
Garza charges but Priest nails a big kick from the apron. Priest then leaps off the top with another big kick. Priest yells out and grabs Garza in the middle of the ring, putting him right back down with Hit The Lights, formerly called The Reckoning. Priest covers for the pin too win.
Winner: Damian Priest
– After the match, Priest recovers and stands tall with Bad Bunny as he comes in. We go to replays. Bunny raises his WWE 24/7 Title in the air but here comes Akira Tozawa, Humberto Carrillo and Drew Gulak with their eyes on the title. Priest helps attack and clear the ring. Bunny’s music starts back up as he raises the 24/7 Title in the air. We go to replays. Priest and Bunny continue their celebration in the middle of the ring.
– Still to come, Randy Orton will address Alexa Bliss and her recent antics. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get a new “coming soon” vignette for Rhea Ripley to RAW.
– The announcers talk about Randy Orton and Alexa Bliss. We see how Bliss’ face appeared all over the ThunderDome screens during Orton’s match with Drew McIntyre last week. Orton is backstage now as fans in the arena boo. Orton says failure is not a word he’s too familiar with, his track record proves it, but here lately he finds himself surrounded by it. He should’ve won the Gauntlet last week and that would’ve put him at an advantage for Elimination Chamber, but instead he was the first one eliminated. He goes on about getting distracted, and when that happens, he takes out the source of his problem and distracted. Like he did with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, he set him on fire. We get a replay of The Fiend going up in flames at TLC. Orton says he took care of The Fiend and while some think he’s coming back, he’s not, he’s gone for good.
Orton asks why he can’t focus on the WWE Title. He’ll tell us why… Orton coughs and stops his promo but regains his composure. Orton says he is still distracted, but not by The Fiend now, he’s distracted by Alexa Bliss now. We get a partial replay of her pentagram promo from last week’s RAW. Orton is having trouble with his throat now. He starts throwing up thick black liquid. Orton stumbles and quickly hurries off camera with the black liquid coming out of his mouth. That ends the segment, leaving the announcers confused.
– We see how Lacey Evans announced her pregnancy on last week’s RAW.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Charlotte Flair and RAW Women’s Champion Asuka
We go back to the ring and out first comes Charlotte Flair. The pyro hits as she heads down the ramp. Flair enters the ring and poses as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and we get a promo for WrestleMania 37. We go back to the ring and Flair waits as her partner comes out, RAW Women’s Champion Asuka. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler are out next for this non-title match as Mike Rome does the introductions. Baszler starts off with Asuka and they lock up. Asuka ties Baszler’s arm up. They trade offense and Asuka applies the Octopus submission in the middle of the ring. They go to the mat with Asuka focusing on the arm. Asuka keeps the arm tied up and takes it to the corner to bring Flair in.
Flair goes right for Baszler’s arm but she breaks free and tags in Jax. Flair and Jax lock up. Jax rocks her a few times with strikes. Flair is upset as she unloads out of the corner for a pop. Baszler comes in but Flair cuts her off and launches her over head, sending her out to the floor. Flair kips up and then sends Jax to the floor with Asuka’s assistance. Fans cheer for the babyfaces as Asuka runs and keeps Baszler from re-entering. Flair and Asuka stand tall while the champs are out on the floor. We go to replays.
Back from the break and Asuka is fighting Jax off in the middle of the ring. Jax drops Asuka in the corner. Baszler tags in and stomps away on Asuka. Baszler takes Asuka down and kicks her in the spine for a close 2 count. Baszler bends Asuka’s wrist and hand up now, keeping her down with a boot to the side of the face as fans boo and Asuka screams out. Baszler tags in Jax, then does the big stomp on Asuka’s twisted elbow.
Jax wraps the hurt elbow around the middle rope and damages it some more as the referee warns her. Baszler tags back in and decks Asuka while Jax holds her. More back and forth now. Flair comes in and goes at it with Baszler. Jax tags in and they go for a double suplex but Flair slides out and clotheslines Baszler, then decks Jax. Flair gets sent to the apron but she fights both opponents off once again. Baszler is sent to the floor. Flair comes back in and stuns Jax. Flair charges but Jax catches her with a big powerbomb in the middle of the ring for a 2 count. Jax can’t believe it.
Asuka is back on the apron now after being knocked of earlier. Jax keeps control of Flair as the crowd tries to rally. Baszler comes back in as they keep Flair in their corner. Baszler stretches Flair to prepare for the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler stops Flair from tagging and drags her back to their corner. Jax sends Flair into the corner but Flair knocks Baszler off the apron. Flair ends up dropping Jax in their corner. Flair crawls to tag Asuka in but Baszler runs over and knocks her off the apron. Flair with the Figure Four on Baszler now in the middle of the ring. Jax breaks it up with a big leg drop to the arm, doing more damage to it as fans boo.
Asuka is screaming for a tag on the apron once again. Flair finally makes it. Asuka flies off the top with a missile dropkick to Baszler. Jax tags in but Asuka unloads. Asuka with a Hip Attack to Baszler, then one to Jax, and another for Baszler. Jax runs but Asuka moves and Jax splashes Baszler instead. Asuka with double knees to the face and more offense to Jax for a close 2 count. Asuka with the arm bar to Jax but Baszler breaks it up with a stiff kick. Fans boo Baszler.
Asuka holds Baszler and Flair charges but Baszler avoids it and Flair accidentally nails Asuka with a running big boot. Flair and Baszler end up tumbling to the floor. Jax follows up with a running leg drop to Asuka for the pin to win.
Winners: Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
– After the match, Jax and Baszler stand tall as their music hits. We go to replays. The champs back up the ramp with their titles as Flair tries to help Asuka up. Asuka is upset and wants none of Flair’s help. Flair throws her hands up and exits the ring as Asuka recovers on her own. Flair heads to the ramp, stopping to look back at Asuka in the ring as she holds her nose from the kick.
– We see what happened to Braun Strowman, Shane McMahon, Bobby Lashley and The Miz earlier tonight.
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus
We go back to the ring and out comes Jeff Hardy to a pop and some pyro. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and out next comes Sheamus as Hardy waits in the ring. The bell rings and Sheamus immediately attacks with kicks. Sheamus takes control until Hardy fights back. Hardy tries to turn it around from the corner but Sheamus levels him. Sheamus grounds Hardy and drives elbows into him. Hardy fights back and sends Sheamus to the floor. Sheamus comes right back in and Hardy stays on him. Hardy continues to unload, stomping away in the corner to keep Sheamus down.
Sheamus powers up out of the corner with a huge clothesline. More back and forth now. Hardy kicks Sheamus to the floor and then to the barrier. Hardy also goes out and runs the ringside area, then leaps off the steel steps and splashes Sheamus against the barrier. We go to commercial with both Superstars down at ringside.
Back from the beak and Sheamus has Hardy down on the mat, driving elbows into him. Hardy fights back but Sheamus nails the Irish Curse backbreaker, and another Irish Curse, and a third Irish Curse backbreaker. Hardy kicks out at 2. Sheamus grounds him and unloads with forearms to the chest on the mat.
Hardy rolls around as fans try to rally for him. Hardy fights back and nails a jawbreaker to get an opening. Sheamus blocks a Twist of Fate. Hardy blocks a back suplex. Sheamus runs into the ring post as Hardy moves. Hardy nails Whisper In the Wind. They trade big strikes on their feet now. Hardy drops Sheamus and hits the inverted Atomic Drop, then the double leg drop and the dropkick. Hardy keeps going but Sheamus catches him for a slam but Hardy kicks out at 2.
Sheamus runs into boots in the corner. Hardy goes to the top and hits a big splash for a close 2 count. Sheamus catches a kick but gets kicked back into the turnbuckles. Sheamus blocks the thrust kick in the corner with a big boot. Hardy blocks a clothesline and drops Sheamus with a Twist of Fate for a pop. Hardy slowly climbs up to the top.
Hardy goes for a Swanton but has to land on his feet as the knee gives him trouble. They go back and forth and trade counters. A Twist of Fate and a Brogue Kick are missed. Sheamus nails a big knee strike to the face and then a Brogue Kick for the pin to win.
Winner: Sheamus
– After the match, Sheamus hits the corners to pose as the music plays.
– Charlotte Flair is backstage with WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. Charlotte says she can’t focus on the tag team match or doing what she loves with this Lacey Evans business. She mentions Ric dancing around after Evans announced her pregnancy, whether he believes it’s his or not. She goes on about the important thing here is protecting their name. Charlotte says the performer we saw out there tonight wasn’t her. She tells Ric to go home. Ric says he never said the baby was his. He says he truly saw a lot of potential in a good person in Evans, he saw her being a great competitor and thought he could motivate her like he did with Charlotte. Ric goes on and says he was trying to expand the brand. He wanted to be the man behind the RAW Women’s Champion because he wants the women’s division to be the top part of the company. He goes on but Charlotte doesn’t see it the way he does. She accuses him of trying to take her spotlight and says she doesn’t find his antics funny. When she’s in the ring she’s out there to not prove she’s Ric Flair’s daughter, but that she’s Charlotte Flair. She says he’s still trying to be The Nature Boy on her time. She gets emotional and says she’s thankful for everything he’s done and the doors he has opened, but he needs to let Charlotte be herself. She tells Ric she loves him a few times and says that’s it. She walks off and RAW goes back to commercial.
– Back from the break and we get a replay showing how Randy Orton started choking on the black liquid during his earlier backstage promo.
Naomi and Lana vs. Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose
We go back to the ring and Naomi and Lana are in their corner. Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose are also out in the ring already. Naomi and Brooke lock up to start, going to the corner with Naomi in control.
Lana comes in for the double team. Lana then bulldogs Brooke for a 2 count. We see WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler watching backstage. Dana turns it around on Lana and in comes Rose. They double team Lana and Rose nails a running knee for a 2 count. Rose takes Lana to the corner and unloads with kicks to the gut.
Brooke tags in and hits the cartwheel back elbow into the corner. Lana avoids another double team. She reaches for a tag and finally gets it. Rose sends Lana into the corner but Lana knocks Brooke off the apron to the floor. Lana runs back over and helps Naomi drop Rose with a double team for the pin.
Winners: Lana and Naomi
– After the match, Naomi’s music hits as she and Lana celebrate, heading to the stage. Rose and Brooke are upset at ringside.
– We see Bobby Lashley backstage warming up for the main event.
AJ Styles vs. Ricochet
We go back to the ring and out comes AJ Styles with Omos. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and the Progressive Match Flo replay for this week shows recent highlights of Omos using his raw power. AJ and Omos wait together now as Ricochet makes his entrance to a pop.
The bell rings and they go at it. Ricochet knocks AJ to the floor early on. AJ runs right back in but Ricochet slams him and drops an elbow, then another for a 2 count. Ricochet has a suplex blocked. AJ kicks Ricochet’s knee out in the corner. AJ with a snap suplex into the turnbuckles now. AJ with a backbreaker for a 2 count.
AJ grounds Ricochet but he fights up and rocks AJ a few times. AJ comes right back with a dropkick. AJ keeps control with more offense. Ricochet counters and unloads with offense now. AJ slams Ricochet over the top rope. Ricochet comes back with a hurricanrana for a close 2 count. More back and forth now.
Ricochet rocks AJ and hits a German suplex with a 2 count. Ricochet can’t get the pin. Ricochet ends up going for the 630 but has to roll through. AJ ends up dropping Ricochet with a big knee to the face. AJ follows up with Styles Clash in the middle of the ring for the pin to win.
Winner: AJ Styles
– After the match, AJ stands tall as his music hits and we get replays. We come back and Omos has joined AJ in the ring now. Fans boo as Omos lifts Ricochet with ease, then drives him down into the mat. AJ stands tall with Omos again, looking down at Ricochet as fans continue to boo.
– Omos, AJ Styles, Lana, Naomi and Riddle are announced for RAW Talk.
– The Miz and John Morrison are backstage discussing who they should be rooting for in the main event. Braun Strowman walks up and stares at them both. They walk away in fear. Back to commercial.
#1 Contender’s Match: Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley
Back from the break and out first comes Braun Strowman as the smoke goes off on the ramp. Bobby Lashley is out next with MVP. If Strowman wins this match, he will be added to next week’s WWE Title match to make it a Triple Threat with Lashley and new WWE Champion The Miz.
Lashley enters the ring and poses in the corner as more pyro goes off. Strowman watches him, staring him down from behind. Before they can start the match, the music hits and out comes the new WWE Champion, still wearing a suit. The bell rings and they size each other up, then lock up and go to the corner. Lashley takes Strowman off his feet first and slams him. Miz has joined the announcers for commentary. Strowman comes back and slams Lashley for a 1 count. Strowman pounds on Lashley while he’s down now. Strowman whips Lashley into the turnbuckles as MVP barks orders.
Strowman works Lashley over and hits a running splash in the corner. Lashley tries to avoid a powerslam but Strowman just tosses him over the top rope to the floor. Strowman runs around the ring to level Lashley but Lashley moves and Strowman collides with the steel ring steps, going down. Lashley leaps off the steps to drop Strowman at ringside. Lashley brings it back in and ducks a clothesline, then dropkicks Strowman’s knee out. Lashley with a Flatliner to Strowman for a close 2 count.
Lashley pounds on Braun while he’s down. Lashley waits for Strowman to get up now. Lashley goes for The Hurt Lock but Strowman overpowers and fights him off. Lashley keeps fighting and goes for a big suplex but can only get him half way in the air. Strowman fights and levels Lashley with a big clothesline. Strowman with a splash in the corner.
Strowman with the running powerslam in the middle of the ring for a close 2 count. No one can believe it.
Lashley avoids another running powerslam and then hits a big Spinebuster. Lashley runs the ropes and hits a big Spear on the dazed Strowman. Lashley covers for the pin to win and keep Strowman out of next week’s WWE Title match.
Winner and New #1 Contender: Bobby Lashley
– After the match, Lashley stands tall as his music hits. Tom confirms Lashley vs. The Miz with the WWE Title on the line for next Monday. Lashley attacks Strowman and decks him to stop him from getting up. Lashley applies The Hurt Lock while Braun is on one knee. Fans boo. Strowman passes out. Miz tries to run in on Lashley but Lashley catches him and drives him into the mat with a big Spinebuster. MVP watches from the corner now, barking orders. Lashley waits for Miz to get back up, then delivers a big Spear. Lashley stands tall as his music starts back up and MVP raises his arm in the air. Strowman is down on the outside and the WWE Champion is flat on his back in the middle of the ring. Lashley poses in the corner as we go to replays. Lashley has the WWE Title belt now. He poses in the corner while raising the title in the air. Fans boo him as the post-Elimination Chamber edition of RAW goes off the air.
