Date: 08/29	7:00 PM
Views: 1,356

Tonight's Raw features a Fatal 4 Way to crown the second-ever Universal Champion. Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Big Cass will battle for "Dude whose ring name ends in an S" supremacy, as well as the right to win the championship vacated by Finn Balor less than 24 hours after its debut. Meanwhile, will Bayley get her Women's Title Match? And are The New Day done with Gallows and Anderson?

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Raw opens with a tribute graphic for Mr. Fuji, then a video package setting up tonight's main event.

Raw proper then opens with the Universal Championship in the ring and all four challengers sitting around a table.

Corey Graves: "Welcome everyone to Monday Night Raw! I'm here in the ring surrounded by the four Superstars who will compete tonight to become the new WWE Universal Champion. Now each of them will have a chance to explain--"

Seth: "Thank you very much, Corey, but the real reason we're all in the ring is to talk about what really brought us here: Me. If I hadn't done what I did to Finn Balor, we wouldn't need to crown a new Universal Champion. But then we all know I'm the favourite, I'm the overall #1 Draft Pick, I'm the man. But I'd like to donate my time to someone who actually needs this chance to explain themselves. Eeny meeny miney Kevin Owens."

Owens: "Thank you, Seth! And Corey, may I say I really love your show on the WWE Network, Culture Shock, I watch it every night, helps me sleep. I don't know what's going to happen tonight, but boy it's exciting!"

Corey: "Thank you, but I was actually hoping to get your thoughts on why you would win."

Kevin: "Oh, that's what you want? You didn't want us to be nice to each other? Okay, you know why I'm going to win? Because with Sami Zayn out of the picture--"

Seth: "I did that."

Kevin: "Thank you. With Sami Zayn out of the picture, I'm focused. Seth, you talk a big game. Roman, you fight hard, I fight smart, and Cass, you're really tall. Think that actually counts for something?"

Cass: "Yes, it does."

Kevin: "See that? You can actually talk for yourself. I thought this was how it worked: That idiot Enzo pulls the string and you say 'How you doin'?' when he wants you to."

Cass: "That was good, did Jericho write that for you like he writes all your other stuff while you're shopping for scarves and the other ridiculous things you wear?"

Kevin: "That wasn't funny."

Cass: "I thought it was pretty funny. See, I know where I stand. I've only been here a few months, I've never even won a title. And that means I have nothing to lose. I'm not the underdog, I'm the biggest dog in the yard. And Seth, no matter what you've been saying all these years, size does matter."

Seth: "Shut up, shut up, all of you shut up! I'm glad this match tonight is under elimination rules, because Cass, I can take you out easy, Kevin, I can send you back to Jericho and your scarves, and Roman, well, there are three things certain in life: Death, taxes, and Seth Rollins beats Roman Reigns every time. Go ahead, Corey, do your job and ask Roman Reigns what he plans to do, how he's going to change up his game plan. Go ahead, ask him."

Corey: "Roman, to Seth's point, what are you going to do?"

Roman responds by punching Owens, Rollins tees off on Big Cass, who tosses him out of the ring. Roman and Cass stare each other down, Roman tosses Cass out of the ring, Superman punch to Rollins.

Match One: Neville vs. Chris Jericho

Before his entrance, Tom Phillips asks Jericho if he's prepared for what Neville might do after Jericho interfered in his qualifying match. Jericho says he was just offering moral support, but everyone knows what's going to happen just like everyone knows Owens is going to walk out Universal Champion. He asks Phillips if he knows what Neville's going to get, Phillips responds "It". Jericho says that doesn't make any sense, and responds that he's going to get the gift of Jericho.

Jericho opens the match with a shove to the back of the head, Neville with a punch, chops, running crossbody, clothesline, whip, reversed, blocks a Codebreaker into a catapult to the floor, goes for a suicide dive, Jericho gets out of the way, Neville flips back into the middle of the ring, Jericho gets into an argument with a fan, Neville taps him on the shoulder, kick to the got, toss to the apron, rolls him in the ring, goes up top, crossbody for two, Jericho grabs the referee around the waist to beg off, Neville goes for punches, ref forces a break, Neville with a thumb to the eye, mounted punches, commercial.

Back on air, Neville absorbs the impact from an unseen throw, Jericho with a top rope elbow for two, we see via replay that it was a blocked superplex, Jericho with a couple mounted punches, snapmare, chinlock, Neville with a punch, Jericho with a boot, Neville with a kick, spin kick, heel kick, Jericho with an elbow from the corner, Neville tosses him to the apron, Jericho goes up top, double axe handle blocked with a roundhouse kick, Neville with a standing shooting star for two, boot in the ropes, chop, whip, Jericho holds the ropes and rolls to the floor, Neville follows and hits a stiff kick from the apron, springboard moonsault, rolls Jericho into the ring, goes up top, Jericho crotches him, Neville lands on his feet, springboard dropkick for two, punches in the corner, whip, Jericho gets a boot up, bulldog blocked, Neville sends Jericho into the turnbuckle, Neville hits a running forearm to the back of the head, German suplex, reversed into the Walls of Jericho, reversed into a rollup for two, Jericho ducks a clothesline, goes for a Codebreaker, blocked, Neville with a superkick, goes up top, misses a Red Arrow, lands on his feet, hurricanrana, reversed into the Lion Tamer for the tapout.

Winner: Chris Jericho

They show an "Earlier today" of Bayley introducing herself to the production crew and hugging them, she runs into the New Day, they mark for each other. Dana Brooke walks in and says Bayley will never succeed. The New Day point out that she beat Dana last week. She threatens to find Gallows and Anderson, The New Day tell her to do it, and seem to propose a six-person tag. Dana says "Bring it", Bayley responds, "It's already been brought", prompting New Day to hoist her on their shoulders.

Match Two: Nia Jax vs. Hiyon

In a backstage interview, Hiyon says she's from Houston, and everything is bigger in Texas, including her heart.

Jax opens with a clothesline, misses an avalanche, hits a punch to the back of the head, tosses Hiya down, crossbody, press to the corner, shoulder tackles, tosses her across the ring by her hair, sonic ass attack, Fireman's Carry powerslam for three.

Winner: Nia Jax

Backstage, Gallows and Anderson brag about retiring the Dudley Boyz, saying they used to be doctors, but now they're in the retirement business. They say that New Day should be preparing for retirement as tag team champions. Dana Brooke then walks in as a nurse.

They show a video package for Seth Rollins.

Match Three: Sami Zayn vs. Jinder Mahal

Zayn's ankle is taped up.

Lockup, Mahal hooks the arm, arm twist, Zayn rolls through, reverses pressure, arm drag, armbar, transitions to a hammerlock, Mahal with a forearm, Zayn with a heel kick, chop in the corner, chop in the adjacent corner, Mahal bails, tries to pull Zayn out of the ring, Zayn with kicks, Mahal with a clothesline to the back of the head in the ring, punches, shove in the corner, break, punch, cover for one, chinlock, punch, body slam blocked, Zayn goes for a German, blocked, hits a clothesline instead, exploder suplex to the corner, Helluva Kick for three.

Winner: Sami Zayn

They show an update from the Raw pre-show where Lita interviews Sasha Banks, who says Charlotte tried to end her career, then vows to come back and take the title from Charlotte. At the commentary table, Charlotte points out that she was alone at Summerslam.

Match Four: WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day and Bayley vs. Gallows, Anderson, and Dana Brooke

Bayley and Dana start off, lockup, Dana with a punch, throw down, mounted punches, cover for two, Bayley with a jackknife for two, rollup for two, armbar, arm twist, Brooke with a knee, toss to the corner, another, Bayley hulks up, takes one more, tosses Dana into the turnbuckle repeatedly, Anderson in, Big E in with a belly to belly, Kofi in, running boot for two, arm twist, E in, Kofi tosses Anderson to the corner, E with an avalanche, Kofi with a leaping clothesline from the back of Big E, E with a belly to belly, Dana distracts the ref, Gallows with a punch, Anderson with a reverse avalanche, Gallows in, punches in the corner, uppercut, misses an elbow drop, Anderson in, Kofi in, top rope clothesline, pair of clotheslines, dropkick, leaping clothesline, Boom Drop, misses Trouble in Paradise, hits a spin kick, stomps in the corner, E in, stomps, Kofi in, stomps, E in, stomps, Kofi in, E whips him into Anderson, Bayley in, Kofi whips her into Anderson, tosses Dana to the floor, they celebrate as Raw goes to commercial.

Back on air, Anderson is beating Kofi atop the turnbuckle, Kofi shoves him down, boot to Gallows, springboard reversed into a spinebuster, mounted punches, Gallows in, sets him up in the tree of woe, running dropkick, back suplex for two, mounted elbows to the chest, chinlock, Kofi elbows his way out, Gallows with a clothesline, Anderson in, tosses Kofi's head into the mat, knee drop, another, pulls the knee pad down, misses a knee drop, Kofi tosses Gallows to the floor, dropkick to Anderson, goes for a tag to Big E, Gallows pulls Big E off the apron, Anderson pulls Kofi away from Bayley, Kofi hits a running double stomp, Bayley in, Dana in by extension, Bayley with a trio of clotheslines, toss to the corner with a shoulder tackle, running hip toss, suplex, goes up top, spinning elbow for two as Anderson pulls Dana out of the ring, Big E tackles him, Gallows tackles E, Kofi with a suicide dive, Dana with a rollup for two, Bayley hits the Belly to Bayley for three.

Winners: The New Day and Bayley

Tom Phillips asks Cesaro about the possibility of going down 0-2 in the Best of Seven series. Cesaro confirms that the winner gets a title shot, says any day in WWE is a good day, and no one actually likes Sheamus.

They show a video package for Big Cass.

Match Five: Best of Seven Series: Sheamus vs. Cesaro (Sheamus leads 1-0)

Before the match, Sheamus hijacks an interview with Byron. "That's right, Byron, I heard what the Swiss Miss said about me, but I know how he really feels: desperate. See, performing in this ring is all he has. He's not charming or witty like me, and he hasn't starred in a Hollywood blockbuster movie like me. See, Cesaro's been performing his whole life to be a WWE Champion. But how's it gonna feel, after everything he's done and everything he's laid on the line, to find out that I'm really and truly better?"

Lockup, Cesaro with a rear waistlock takedown, rollup for one, rear waistlock, Sheamus makes it to the ropes, rear waistlock, Cesaro shoots a leg, cover for one, press to the corner, Sheamus with a punch, snapmare, side headlock, Cesaro rolls him up for one but fails to break the hold, whips his way out, Sheamus with a shoulder tackle, Cesaro goes for a swing, blocked, hits a double foot stomp for two, Sheamus flees to the ropes, shoulder tackle, drops Cesaro across the ropes, Tem Beats blocked with an uppercut, Sheamus sells his elbow, Cesaro follows to the floor, European uppercut, then another, rolls Sheamus into the ring, Sheamus tries to beg off saying his elbow is hurt, the ref starts to check, Cesaro clubs the elbow, pair of arm breakers, arm wringer, drops Sheamus across the ropes, Sheamus with a punch, Cesaro with a boot, dropkick, clothesline over the top rope, big boot to the floor, commercial.

Back on air, Sheamus has Cesaro in a chinlock, Cesaro elbows his way out, Sheamus with a whip, Cesaro with a European Uppercut, Sheamus hits the Irish Curse for two, stomps to the chest, Cloverleaf, blocked, Cesaro powers out, kick to the face, rollup for two, Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick, Cesaro hits the springboard corkscrew European Uppercut, Cesaro Swing blocked by rope break, Cesaro turns it into a modified powerbomb for two, whip, reversed, Cesaro rolls to the apron, big boot, goes up top, crossbody, Sheamus rolls through, rollup with tights for two, Cesaro hits a pair of European uppercuts in the corner, whip, Sheamus with an elbow, rollup with his feet on the ropes for two, the ref scolds him, Cesaro with European uppercuts in the corner, Uppercut Train, one whip is reversed, Cesaro lifts Sheamus up into the corner, running big boot, charges, Sheamus tosses him into the ring post, rolls Cesaro into the ring, Cloverleaf, Cesaro taps.

Winner: Sheamus

Sheamus Leads Series 2-0

God I hope they're going somewhere with this.

They show a video package for Mr. Fuji. What a lesson in how to stay relevant for decades. Mr. Fuji is exactly what we need more of in pro wrestling.

They show a video package for Kevin Owens.

Match Six: Braun Strowman vs. Some Douchebag in a Bodysuit

Strowman clubs Douchebag from behind, toss to the corner, avalanche, body slam, reverse chokeslam.

Winner: Braun Strowman

Apparently Douchebag in a Body Suit is named Americano. Strowman rips the mask off.

Stephanie McMahon hits the ring after a commercial. "Welcome to this historic edition of Monday Night Raw, where we are just moments away from crowning the first-ever WWE Universal Champion. But at Summerslam, Brock Lesnar crossed a line when he beat down Randy Orton and hit my brother with an F5. Now, some people have thought I welcome this attack because my brother and I happen to be in competition, but nothing could be further from the truth. No one messes with my family and--"

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name, as you know, is Paul Heyman. And if you may indulge me for a second--"

"Actually, I was hoping you would indulge me and get in here and apologize."

"Madame McMahon--"

"Don't call me Madame."

"I didn't want to be so presumptuous as to call you Stephanie. But when my client, Brock Lesnar, beat Randy Orton, that was a victory for your brand Monday Night Raw over your brother's, Smackdown Live. Raw won Summerslam thanks to Brock Lesnar. But I get it, when he put his hands on an official, he crossed a line. I begged him not to do it, I got on my knees to protect Shane McMahon, but I get it. And that's why I'm here to pay my client's most reasonable fine of five hundred dollars. (pulls out a stack of singles) One, two, three, four, five, six--"

Stephanie slaps the bills out of her hand. "I know that Brock Lesnar provides value, but what do you provide? Think about that the next time you have to tell your kids you can't provide for them because you decided to patronize me with singles. There is a storm coming, and it will come down your ugly way."

"And so the angel came down to threaten the advocate, 'You will not survive the storm', and I respond, my client, Brock Lesnar, is the storm. There is an apology due, but it's eight days too late, and my apology goes directly to Stephanie McMahon. See, I know the compromising position we put you in. You have to answer to your board of directors, the board you must answer to and will some day, despite your brother's stated intentions, you will dictate to. We understand how much of a compromising position we put you in with your father. We understand how far we set back your women's empowerment movement--"

"Women's empowerment? This is a women's revolution, and you are staring reality in the face."

"We understand the position we put the heir to the throne, as my client Brock Lesnar said, the only rightful heir to the throne. We understand, and I hope you take this as a fine paid, a message understood, and an apology most sincerely delivered."

"Apology accepted."

Stephanie drops the mic and walks out of the ring. Heyman smiles as she walks away.

They show a replay of Finn Balor popping his own shoulder back into the socket at Summerslam and continuing on. You know, to become the first ever Universal Champion. Not what they're doing tonight like Stephanie just said.

They show a video package for Roman Reigns. The whole thing is full of people cheering because the Raw brand is apparently being written by George Orwell.

Match Seven: Darren Young vs. Titus O'Neill

Young opens with punches, Titus with a knee, bails, calls for a time out, the ref starts counting him out, Titus climbs in the ring, Young with chops, whip, reversed, Young hits a shoulder tackle, neckbreaker, shove to the corner, punch, chop, whip, reversed, Young lands all the way on the floor, rolls Young back in the ring, bodyslam, chop, chinlock, wrenches the neck, Young with punches to the hamstring, Titus tosses him to the corner, Young with punches, Titus with a punch, pump handle slam, wrenches the neck, Young punches out via the hamstring again, Titus with a punch, clothesline for two, Young with a crucifix pin for three.

Winner: Darren Young

Young celebrates with Backlund, Titus attacks from behind, boot fot Backlund, Clash of the Titus for Young.

Backstage, Mick Foley tells Stephanie he should have been out there with her, Stephanie says she can handle herself. Mick proposes banning everyone from ringside, Stephanie doubles down on calling it the first ever Universal Championship match and agrees. Seth Rollins walks in and says he can get it done. Stephanie agrees and they share a hug.

Main Event: WWE Universal Championship: Elimination Match: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Big Cass (Title is Vacant)

Enzo comes out for Cass's entrance to cut their trademark entrance promo. "My name is Enzo Amore, and I am a certified G and a bona fide stud, and you can't teach that! This right here? This is Big Cass, and he's seven foot tall, and you can't teach that! Bada boom realest guys in the room, how you doin'?"

"Tonight, I shock the world and become the new WWE Universal Champion! And prove that for you three in the ring, there's only one word to describe you, and I'm gonna spell it out for you! S-A-W-F-T, SAWFT!"

Bell rings, and Owens bails to the floor. Cass and Reigns tee off on Rollins, Cass clotheslines him over the top rope, staredown with Reigns. Rollins attacks Cass, Owens attacks Reigns, the faces rebound in stereo pummel their opponents to the floor, Cass follows Rollins, eventually Reigns follows Owens, Cass rolls Rollins back into the ring, punches in the corner, Rollins goes for a suplex, blocked, reversed for two, Cass punches Rollins in the corner, Reigns rolls Owens into the ring, Reigns with stomps, Rollins with punches, punches in the corner, whip, reversed, Rollins with a boot, Cass slaps him out of the ring, Cass and Reigns stare each other down again, trading punches, Cass gets the better of it, Reigns whips his way out, leaping clothesline, Superman Punch blocked, Reigns with elbows, misses a clothesline, Cass boots him to the floor, the momentum follows him and they both tumble, Rollins with a suicide dive to Cass, Owens hits a Fireman's Carry toss to Rollins into the barricade, Reigns with a suicide dive to Cass and Owens, commercial.

Back on air, everyone is on the floor, Owens goes after Big Cass, punches him, the other two are down, Owens with an elbow drop from the apron, Rollins attacks Owens, rolls Cass into the ring and covers for two, chinlock, Owens mulls over what to do then punches Rollins, tosses him to the floor, clothesline to Big Cass, punch to Reigns on the apron, running cannonball to Cass for two, punch, pulls him up by the hair, punch in the adjacent corner, Cass with punches, Owens blocks a kick, sets Cass's leg up in the ropes, kick, goes for a cannonball, Seth Rollins pulls him out of the ring and tosses him to the floor, STO to the middle turnbuckle to Cass, running knee lift, Reigns with a clothesline to Rollins, then another, whip, reversed, Reigns with a leaping clothesline, hits one to Owens, Cass with a big boot, tackles for Rollins and Owens, whips Rollins into Owens in the corner, avalanche, whip to Rollins, avalanche to both of them, tosses Owens to the floor, big boot, Rollins with a rollup for two, Cass with a body slam, Empire Elbow, fallaway slam reversed into a Superman Punch by the interloping Reigns, Rollins tosses Reigns into the ring post, superkick to Cass for two, Owens hits Cass with a frog splash for three.

Big Cass Eliminated

Commercial.

Back on air, Rollins is blocking an Owens superplex with punches. It does not work, and Reigns turns it into a tower of doom, covers Owens for two, covers Rollins for two, Rollins makes it to his feet in the corner, Reigns with clotheslines in the corner, Rollins misses a boot, Reigns with a clothesline, Superman Punch blocked, Rollins goes for a German, blocked, tosses Reigns to the floor, suicide dive, blocked with a punch, Superman Punch reversed into a Falcon Arrow for two, Pedigree reversed into a back body drop to the apron, Rollins with an enziguri, goes off the top rope, Reigns catches him with a Superman Punch for two, calls for a spear, Rollins with a boot, enziguri, Owens floors Rollins with a superkick, cannonball to Reigns, then to Rollins, Reigns hits him with a Superman Punch for two, spear reversed into a superkick, Pop-Up Powerbomb reversed into a Superman Punch, Owens bails, Pedigree to Reigns reversed into a rollup powerbomb for two, Rollins crawls to the ropes, Reigns hits a Drive-By, Superman Punch to Owens on the floor, spear to Rollins on the floor, Triple H comes through the crowd and floors Reigns with a Pedigree! He rolls Reigns into the ring, rolls Rollins into the ring, cover for three!

Roman Reigns Eliminated

There is a god, and his name is HHH! He rolls Owens into the ring, hey, technically there should be DQs for interference when it's down to the final two. HHH then drops Rollins with a Pedigree as Owens stares on in shock. He covers for three!

Winner and NEW WWE Universal Champion: Kevin Owens

The era of Owens has begun! HHH grabs the title from Foley and hands it to Owens, who still has no idea what's going on. He celebrates with the title, one he richly deserves even if the circumstances are questionable. Mick Foley looks furious as Stephanie just looks confused and a little bit distraught.

You know, it's weird, but in all the times I've fantasy booked when I'm out for a run, Kevin Owens taking the world title from Rollins after an Authority double-cross factored into, like, half of them. Even before 'Mania.

Raw goes off the air to a "You Deserve It" chant. Yes, he does. Now please let him have it the way he deserves.