WWE RAW aired live from the ThunderDome in the Amway Center. It was the first episode of RAW following WWE Hell in a Cell. The build towards Survivor Series began tonight with several Qualifying Matches.
RAW Results (10/26)
- AJ Styles def. Jeff Hardy to qualify for RAW’s Survivor Series team
- Lucha House Party def. Drew Gulak & Akira Tozawa
- Keith Lee def. Elias to qualify for RAW’s Survivor Series team
- Hurt Business def. RETRIBUTION via DQ
- Drew McIntyre def. The Miz
- Lana def. Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, Lacey Evans to qualify for RAW’s Survivor Series team
- Sheamus def. Matt Riddle to qualify for RAW’s Survivor Series team
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
The Miz & Morrison Interrupted Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre kicked off this week’s show after losing the WWE Championship to Randy Orton last night at Hell in a Cell. McIntyre said he has no excuses for the loss last night but promised to become WWE Champion once again.
McIntyre stated that every time he gets knocked down he gets up twice as strong. The Miz and John Morrison interrupted and made their way to the entrance ramp. Miz showed off the MITB briefcase that he won off of Otis last night at the PPV.
The Miz and Morrison congratulated McIntyre on his great title reign and then Miz boasted about being a two time Mr. Money in the Bank. Miz stated that McIntyre doesn’t have to worry about facing Randy Orton for the WWE Championship anymore because he is Mr. Money in the Bank.
Miz noted that he cashed in on Randy Orton before right here in Orlando. The Miz pointed out that history might repeat itself tonight because Randy Orton is a guest tonight on A Moment of Bliss.
McIntyre leveled The Miz with a headbutt and then launched Morrison across the ring. The Miz hit McIntyre with a chop block and retreated up the ramp with Morrison. McIntyre stomped on The Miz’s sunglasses and said that he has an idea that he is going to run by management and it is going to be a bad night for Miz and Morrison.
AJ Styles Qualified For Team RAW
AJ Styles battled Jeff Hardy in a Survivor Series Qualifying match. Before the match, AJ Styles bragged about 2-0 on RAW and claimed that he was dominating everyone he steps in the ring with. Styles complained about having to win a match to qualify for RAW’s Survivor Series team. AJ stated that he should be the captain of Team RAW because he is the face that runs the place. Styles added that his associate (Jordan Omogbehin) doesn’t like to be looked at or talked to. AJ started complaining about Jeff Hardy using an illegal knee brace to take the IC Title from him before Hardy made his way to the ring.
Match Recap: Styles controlled the match early but Jeff rolled out of the ring. Styles went after him and Hardy caught him with a Dropkick to the midsection. Jeff went for a Crossbody but Jordan caught him as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Styles connected with a Brainbuster for a near fall. Jeff battled back and connected with a Russian Leg Sweep for a near fall. Hardy climbed to the top rope and hesitated as Jordan slowly walked towards him. AJ capitalized with a Pele Kick and then shoved Jeff into the ring post. Styles followed it up with the Phenomenal Forearm for the pinfall victory. AJ Styles qualified for Team RAW at Survivor Series.
After the match, Elias hit Jeff Hardy with his guitar. Hardy and Elias battled last night at Hell in a Cell. The match ended in a DQ after Jeff bashed Elias with the guitar.
Lucha House Party Picked Up A Win
Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa faced Lucha House Party tonight.
Match Recap: Tozawa and Gulak controlled the match early before 24/7 Champion R-Truth interrupted. R-Truth walked around the ring and Lince Dorado capitalized on the distraction and rolled up Gulak for the victory. Everyone then chased R-Truth backstage.
Alexa Bliss Poisoned Ramblin Rabbit
Bray Wyatt welcomed everyone to a tea party at the Firefly Fun House. Alexa Bliss showed up with tea and Bray & the puppets clapped. Abby the Witch said ”off with her head” as Bliss poured Ramblin Rabbit a cup. Bliss said there was a touch of strawberry, a touch of sugar, and a secret ingredient. Alexa then laughed and said it was arsenic and Ramblin Rabbit died.
Wyatt said that this is a very magical place and The Fiend protects them and there is only one thing they need to do. . Alexa’s eyes turned red after Bray put his ”Heal” hand on her forehead and she said ”let him in”. Bliss went back to normal and stated she gets to have a fun chat with new WWE Champion Randy Orton. Bray remembered Orton burning down his compound as Ramblin Rabbit came back to life. Bray then beat him to death as Alexa laughed.
Keith Lee Qualified For Team RAW
Elias faced Keith Lee tonight on RAW in a Survivor Series Qualifing match. Before the match, Elias promoted his new album that came out today and was about to perform a song but was interrupted by Keith Lee.
Match Recap: Keith Lee leveled Elias with a Crossbody and Elias retreated out of the ring. Lee bounced Elias’ face off the barricade and rolled him abck in the ring. Elias caught Keith Lee with a Dropkick that knocked him out of the ring. Keith Lee then sent Elias flying over the announce table as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Keith Lee was in control and had Elias in a submission hold in the middle of the ring. Lee went for the Spirit Bomb but Elias escaped and connected with a knee to the face. Keith hit Elias with a Powerslam and followed it up with a Splash in the corner. Elias connected with Drift Away and went for the cover but Lee kicked out at two.
Jeff Hardy’s music hit as Elias climbed to the top rope. Keith Lee capitalized on the distraction and slammed Elias to the canvas. Lee followed it up with a massive Spirit Bomb for the pinfall victory. Keith Lee and AJ Styles have qualified for Team RAW at Survivor Series.
After the match, Jeff Hardy got revenge and hit Elias with the guitar.
Hurt Business Defeated RETRIBUTION Via DQ
Hurt Business squared off against RETRIBUTION in an 8-man tag team elimination match tonight on RAW. Before the match, Hurt Business called RETRIBUTION a liability to RAW and they are going to eliminate them. MVP stated that he struck a deal with WWE management to take the fight to RETRIBUTION. Shelton Benjamin added that they want their payment in gold to end the promo. Reckoning (Mia Yim) was ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Bobby Lashley and T-Bar started off the match. T-Bar controlled the action early but Lashley battled back with a shoulder tackle. MVP tagged in and started taunting Mustafa Ali. T-Bar capitalized and caught MVP with a knee to the midsection. RETRIBUTION isolated MVP in the corner and took turns beating him down.
MVP connected with a Suplex on Slapjack and went for the cover but Ali broke it up. Reckoning rolled into the ring and started freaking out. Slapjack rolled up MVP to eliminate him.
Lashley eliminated Slapjack with a Spear. T-Bar and Lashley battled up the entrance ramp and both superstars were eliminated. Mace hit Cedric Alexander with a Splash in the corner of the ring. Mace was then eliminated and Mustafa Ali was the last member of RETRIBUTION remaining.
Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin beat Mustafa Ali down in the corner of the ring. Ali booted Benjamin off the apron but turned around into a massive Back Body Drop from Alexander. Cedric booted Ali out of the ring and Mustafa grabbed a chair. Ali hit Alexander with the sleel chair and the match ended in a DQ. Mustafa Ali then ran away as the rest of Hurt Business came back down to the ring.
Opinion: RETRIBUTION is just awful. I hope this ends soon because there are talented performers under the goofy masks they are wearing.
Drew McIntyre Dominated
Drew McIntyre faced The Miz to begin the third hour of RAW. John Morrison was ringside for the match.
Match Recap: The Miz sent Drew McIntyre into the steel steps and followed it up with some It Kicks in the corner of the ring. John Morrison hit McIntyre with a cheap shot while Miz distracted the referee. McIntyre connected with a Clothesline and then a Neckbreaker. The Miz sent McIntyre out of the ring and Morrison tried to hit him with the briefcase. McIntyre booted Morrison the floor and threw the MITB briefcase up the entrance ramp. Drew then got back into the ring and hit Miz with the Claymore for the pinfall victory. McIntyre then pointed to actor Matthew McConaughey who was watching with his sons in the ThunderDome.
Lana Qualified For Team RAW
Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke were announced for the RAW women’s team. Nia interrupted Adam Pearce and said that she was the team captain. Shayna argued that she was the team captain and should announce the final member of the team. Adam Pearce said the final superstar on Team RAW will be decided in a Fatal 4-Way match between Lana, Lacey Evans, Peyton Royce, and Nikki Cross.
Match Recap: Lana knocked Nikki Cross off the apron and onto Royce and Evans as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Nikki slammed Peyton’s head on the turnbuckle and hit Lana with a Crossbody outside the ring. Nikki hit Lacey Evans with a DDT and then made her way to the top rope. Nikki hit Peyton with a Crossbody for a near fall. Lacey Evans hit Nikki Cross with a Superplex but Lana pinned her. After the match, Nia Jax put Lana through the announce table for a 6th time.
Sheamus Qualified For Team RAW
Matt Riddle faced Sheamus in a Survivor Series Qualifying match.
Match Recap: Sheamus took Riddle down to the canvas and applied a Headlock. Riddle countered into a Triangle but Sheamus quickly escaped. Riddle connected with a Gutwrench Suplex and went for another one but Sheamus held onto the ropes. Sheamus hit the Irish Curse Backbreaker and then sent Riddle to the apron. Sheamus went for the 10 Beats of the Bodhran but Riddle blocked it. Riddle flipped onto Sheamus outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Sheamus hit another Backbreaker for a two count. Matt Riddle battled back and connected with the Broton for a two count. Sheamus leveled Riddle with a knee to the face for another near fall. Matt Riddle connected with an Exploder Suplex off the top rope and went for the cover but Sheamus was somehow able to kick out at two.
Riddle went for the Floating Bro but Sheamus got his knees up. Sheamus went for another Backbreaker but Riddle applied a Sleeper Hold. Sheamus broke the hold by slamming Riddle into the turnbuckle and went for the Brogue Kick but Matt got out of the way. Riddle planted Sheamus with a German Suplex for another near fall.
Randy Orton Brawled With McIntyre To Close The Show
Randy Orton was the guest on A Moment of Bliss in the final segment of the show. Alexa Bliss told Orton that he can take a seat and promised that she wont bite. Bliss then giggled into the microphone and Orton said he was fine standing. Alexa joked that Orton and McIntyre burned the house down last night and Orton said that he knows Bray Wyatt is close.
Orton asked Alexa where The Fiend was but Drew McIntyre’s music hit. McIntyre marched down the entrance ramp and traded punches with Orton in the ring. Alexa Bliss sat on the top rope and laughed as McIntyre stomped on Orton in the corner. McIntyre set up for the Claymore but the lights in the arena went out.
When the lights came back on, Orton was on the entrance ramp and McIntyre was alone in the ring. The Fiend was behind Randy but Orton didn’t look at him. Orton started walking back towards Drew McIntyre and the two started fighting again as The Fiend looked on. McIntyre launched Orton into the barricade but Randy slammed Drew on the announce table as RAW went off the air.
Opinion: Alexa Bliss is excellent in this role and has made The Fiend interesting again. Overall, RAW was an alright show. There were several matches that were tough to get invested in but Matt Riddle and Sheamus stole the show tonight.
