Date: 07/03	7:00 PM
Views: 759

Our resident Raw recapper Ian Clark will bring you his WWE Raw recap later tonight at 8 PM ET - the fifth episode following the Extreme Rules PPV and the last one before the infamously named "Great Balls of Fire" PPV on July 9th! Please hit F5 or refresh while the show is in progress for the latest updates.

Raw begins with a recap of the Enzo/Cass fallout last week and the week before. This is heat, folks. This is how you do it, this is how you make it.

Enzo hits the ramp, still dancing around. They announce a match between the two of them for Great Balls of Fire.

"My name is Enzo Amore, and I am a certified G and a bona fide stud, and you can't teach that! Bada boom, realest guy in the room, how you doin'? Over this past year... I've been knocked out cold on Pay Per Views, beaten up in hallways, beaten in hotel rooms, forced into sensitivity classes, tossed off ladders, and tossed into concrete. And it all happened while you had my back! For five years, Cass, you stood behind me. And you watched! Because you were looking past me, because you knew your little buddy was a silver-tongue with a heart of gold, and I'm about to go platinum! Weel after week, I came out here, and I got beat up, and I got back up! You never had my back. So what are you and Connor McGregor for that matter going to do to me? Knock me out? Already been done! I might not be the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest guy to step through those ropes, but I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am one of the toughest guys in a long time! I may get knocked down, but I get back up every time, because I'm a certifed G and I'm certifiably me. Confidence is what I have, I'm confident in what I am, and what I am is grateful. I would push my dad down a wishing well before I joined the dark side. I'm grateful for every kid wearing a Certified G shirt, a chain, a wig, because it puts food on my table. I believe in myself! It's a belief, it's a mistake, it's something you just can't teach. I am living proof that my mouth has never dug a hole I couldn't climb myself out of. I'm going straight to the top, because I've called my way out of holes way bigger than seven feet! You know what you are, Cass? A seven foot catchphrase that I wrote! You said my mouth writes cheques I can't cash? I can tell you no one goes harder bouncing a damn cheque than Enzo Amore! You said you're where the money's at, my friend? Well don't be surprised when, next quarter, that merchandise cheque comes in and it says 'Zero dimes!' That is, of course, unless you start wearing a shirt that says 'Casshole'."

He walks off, then picks the mic back on. "Turn this back on, I ain't done, and I'll tell you why. Because you and I were brothers, we were ride or die! That part of me is now dead, and you know why? Because it ran down my face in one gangster tear. But that boot that hit my face? It was like CPR, it gave me new life! That's why my Tupac bandana, because I am an army of one, I am all I can be, and right now, it's all me!"

Big Cass is watching backstage. Charly Caruso asks for a reaction, Cass says Enzo didn't actually say anything. He says Enzo can talk the talk but he won't walk the walk when he's not walking anymore. Enzo attacks him from behind until trainers pull them apart.

Match One: Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Nia Jax and Women's Champion Alexa Bliss

Bayley and Nia start off, Nia goes to toss her to the corner, blocked, Bayley with forearms, Nia goes for a Samoan Drop, blocked, clothesline to the apron instead, stomps in the corner, Bayley with a dropkick, another, Nia with Snake Eyes, Bayley with a boot, Sasha in, stereo dropkick, Sasha with forearms, whip, blocked, leapfrogs, Nia catches her, body slam, blocked, Sasha tosses her to the corner, dropkicks her out of the ring, Nia lands on her feet, shoves Bayley off the apron, shoves Sasha, avalanche to Bayley across the barricade.

Back on air, Sasha elbows out of a Bliss headlock, hits a Thesz Press, punches, toss to the corner, foot choke, tosses her into the middle of the ring, covers for two, Bliss with a punch, whip, Sasha with a forearm to Nia, blocks a kick from Bliss, hits one, toss to the corner, misses an avalanche, Nia in, backbreaker, elbow, another for two, Bayley has been removed from the match, Bliss in, slap, leg choke in the ropes, Nia in, boot to the gut, stomp, Sasha with punches, Nia with an elbow, bear hug, Sasha eventually elbows her way out, Nia tosses her across the ring, misses an avalanche, hits the same part of her knee that hit the barricade earlier, limps, Bliss in, stands on her in the ropes for two, Sasha with a slap, Bliss with a boot to the knee, hair pull stand, break, stomp, misses knees, Sasha with a clothesline, hurricanrana, blocked, neckbreaker instead, superkick to Nia's leg, Bliss with a shot to the back, Banks into the Banks Statement for the tapout.

Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley

Backstage, Angle is having a clandestine conversation on the phone. Braun walks in and asks if Roman's going to show up at Great Balls of Fire. Angle says he will, Braun says he beat him up too badly. He demands competition, Angle says Roman will be at Great Balls of Fire, and no one wants to fight him tonight. Braun says he's going to the ring tonight.

They show a video package for Brock vs. Joe.

Match Two: Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar

Before the match, Cedric cuts a promo about how he's sick of doing this and he's going to send Dar to Fox in a matching brace.

Fox comes out in a neck brace.

Cedric with punches, kicks, punches in the corner, Dar tosses him to the apron, Cedric with a springboard clothesline, Fox gets in his face, Cedric ducks a clothesline, goes for a hurricanrana, blocked by a kick, Dar covers for two, stomp to the arm, elbow drop to the arm, kicks to the arm, arm drag, armbar with a fist dug into the shoulder, Cedric with punches, Dar with an arm breaker, boot, blocked, Cedric with an elbow, Fox with a distraction, Dar goes for a rollup, reversed into a Lumbar Check for three.

Winner: Cedric Alexander

After a commercial, MizTV is set up in the ring.

"Welcome to (etc.) MizTV! And must-see it is. Last week, I brought the ratings with my controversial interview with Lavar and Lonzo Ball. I exposed the Ball family for what they are: overhyped, overexposed, and soon to be forgotten. Mark my words: Lonzo Ball will be the biggest bust in NBA history. He'll let down more fans than Steve Nash ever did. I know talent, that's why I took Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas from supporting stars in Marine 5 to a-listers in the Miztourage. I know winners and I know losers, and there is no bigger loser than Lavar Ball. Taking his shirt off, raving like a lunatic, how embarrassing can you get? And he wants Dean Ambrose to represent the Big Baller Brand, all Dean Ambrose represents is wasted potential. When Dean Ambrose came to the ring, I, you, everyone in that locker room saw the promise. He had toughness in the ring, he had unconventional charisma, he was going to be the next Rowdy Roddy Piper, he was going to be the breakout star of the Shield. But then we got the wacky Dean Ambrose, the guy who would rather crack a joke than accept the real truth. The truth is that he can't handle success. You know why I say that? Because every time he got to be a top dog, he caved under the pressure. The pressure that I excel under! He can't beat a top guy like me, he can't make the Intercontinental Title relevant, because that's always been my job! You can laugh all you want at his jokes, but the biggest joke of all will be Dean Ambrose."

Ambrose hits the ramp. "After last week, I thought MizTV would be cancelled forever, thank god, but once again, here you are in the middle of the ring, talking about how great you are, even got your own little good squad, congratulations. But you said a lot of stuff about me, and it's all true. You've got me all figured out. Since you know me so well, you probably know that I don't care if you have two bodyguards, I'll kick your ass anyway. And you'll know that I want my rematch soon. And since I love jokes so much, you know what I think would be hilarious? If I came down there and had my rematch right now!"

Heath Slater and Rhyno come out.

Heath: "I don't mean to be rude or disrespectful, but the last man to beat The Miz in the ring wasn't Dean Ambrose, it was Heath Slater! And I've never had a shot, not even an opportunity. In fact, I've never had a shot at any singles title, and I've been here eight years! I have a family, I have kids. I'm tired of telling them that daddy's going to make it alright. I don't know if daddy's going to make it alright! The bottom line is, I need this opportunity, I want this opportunity, and I've earned this opportunity."

Dean: "You've got kids? When I was a kid, I learned a lesson about waiting my turn. Back of the line, sweet Charlie."

Miz: "My hand goes up, your mouth goes shut. Dean, you will get your rematch when I say so. And Heath, touching story, I bet everyone in West Virginia is adjusting their rabbit ears hoping to see an IC Title match, but we have a 4th of July Party to get to in Hollywood, it starts at the stroke of--"

Kurt Angle comes out. "You don't say when you compete, I do."

Miz: "Are you kidding me? Go talk to Corey Graves about your personal problems and leave me alone."

Angle: "I'd watch my mouth if I were you."

Miz: "Or what? I'm your ratings spike, I'm your star. I'll tell you what: I'll defend my title at Great Balls of Fire, but all you have to do is tell me who I'm facing, Dean Ambrose or Heath Slater?"

Angle: "How about both? Ambrose will get his rematch at Great Balls of Fire, but you'll defend tonight against Heath Slater, and that starts right now!"

Match Three: Intercontinental Championship: The Miz (c) vs. Heath Slater

Ambrose is on commentary, Miz is still in his suit.

Lockup, Slater with a rollup for one, lockup, Miz with a rear waistlock, reversed, Slater with a front facelock, reversed into a hammerlock, Slater rolls through, arm drag for two, side headlock, Miz forces a rope break, boot to the gut, snapmare, side headlock, Slater whips his way out, Miz with a side headlock, Slater with a hip toss for two, side headlock, Miz whips his way out, Slater with a clothesline, Miz goes for a hip toss, reversed into a backslide for two, rollup for two, front facelock, side headlock, Miz whips his way out, hits a knee lift, misses a chop in the corner, Slater with punches, chop, toss to the corner, chop, toss to the adjacent corner, chop, jerseys Miz, punches, tosses the shirt to the floor, inverted atomic drop into a jackknife pin for two, Miz hits the floor, commercial.

Back on air, Miz hits a Miz Combo for two, trading punches, Slater gets the better of it, Miz with a boot to the leg, DDT for two, stomp, tosses Slater to the floor, Rhyno scares off the Miztourage, Miz tosses Slater into the barricade, rolls him into the ring, running boot to the face for two, roundhouse kicks, misses the last one, Slater hits a flapjack, Miz goes for a punch, Slater ducks, punches, repeat, repeat again, Slater with clotheslines, running knee lift, Miz presses him to the corner, Slater with a rollup for two, Miz goes for a Miz Combo, blocked, Slater hits a neckbreaker for two, misses an avalanche, Miz hits a hanging clothesline, goes up top, Slater hits a top rope powerslam, The Miztourage distract, Rhyno pulls Axel off the apron, they beat him down, Miz hits a Skull Crushing Finale in the confusion for three.

Winner and STILL Intercontinental Champion: The Miz

Miz tosses Slater to the floor where the Miztourage beat him down, Ambrose takes them out, goes for Dirty Deeds on Miz, blocked, Miz bails while his guys beat Ambrose down, hit an inverted 3D. Miz gets in his face, and they feed him Ambrose for a Skull Crushing Finale.

They show a replay of Braun tossing Roman in the ambulance last week. Backstage, Titus tells Crews he booked him to face Braun as a starmaking opportunity. He talks him into it.

Goldust is in the ring on a director's chair with a microphone. "Let the game begin. Saw, 2005. Welcome to the world premiere of my latest and greatest masterpiece, The Shattered Truth. But before I begin, I must thank so many people for making this film possible, I must thank so many of you little people, like you, and you over there. All of you here. But the one person I must thank the most is R-Truth. For without him being so naive, without his jealousy, without his selfishness, none of this would be possible. With this film, I do the one thing that R-Truth has never been able to do himself. I make him a star. And the only thing that shines brighter than a star is... gold. And that is the Shattered Truth. Projectionist, roll it!"

They play a moodily lit and moodily scored clip of Goldust beating down Truth, mostly from his cameraman's perspective. When it comes back, Truth is behind him with popcorn. He beats him around the ring, tosses him into the ring post, and sends him into retreat.

Backstage, Sheamus and Cesaro walk into Angle's office. He tells them that their tag team title match at Great Balls of Fire will be a 30-minute Ironman Match. Cesaro says he wants a match with Finn Balor tonight to tune up. Angle gives it to him. Then he kicks them out to take a call, but not before warning them "be careful what you wish for."

Seth Rollins hits the ring. Curt Hawkins is waiting.

Hawkins: "Well, uh, this is completely ridiculous. I should be having a match with Braun Strowman right now, and giving him a run for his money, might I add. Last week, the people of LA got it wrong. They didn't believe in me, and it hurt my feelings. So let's see if you dummies can get it right? Who here thinks I'm going to lose this match here tonight? And who here thinks I'm going--"

"Sorry to cut you off, but I have a question for these fine people here tonight. Who here thinks that Seth Rollins needs to shut his mouth? Me too."

Rollins punches Hawkins.

Match Four: Seth Rollins vs. Curt Hawkins

Rollins with punches, hits his finisher for three.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Rollins: "Well now that that's taken care of, Bray Wyatt! Last week, Bray, you said you were everywhere, maaaaan. Funny thing is, every time I'm looking for a fight, you're nowhere to be found. But since I know you're in a corner lurking somewhere, let me spit some truth on you. You talk about me, about these people like they need to be saved. We don't need to be saved. My sins, I embrace them. They are the scars that make me who I am today. You want to talk about my vanity? You better worry about my wrath, because there will be a cleansing, but it will not be of my soul, it will be of your mystique when I prove that you are not a god! And there will be one question: Are you a man, or are you just a coward?"

After a commercial, Michael Cole hosts an interview via satellite with Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar. Joe cuts him off and says he doesn't need to answer questions because all he's done since Extreme Rules is make statements. He asks Paul how getting choked out felt. Lesnar says he's fighting him, not Heyman. Joe says he'll get to it, Lesnar says he's the champ and Joe's not, and Joe will get nothing. Joe responds that Lesnar's done nothing. Lesnar calls him a coward. Lesnar says he gets what Joe is doing because it's his old bit. They start listing guys they've beaten. Joe takes off his headset and goes looking for him. Trainers and Angle try to talk him out of it, Joe finds Brock but they hold him back. Raw goes to commercial with Joe being held back.

Match Five: Cruiserweight Champion Neville vs. Mustafa Ali (non-title)

Neville with an overhead belly to back throw, Ali with a side headlock, Neville whips out, Ali with a shoulder tackle, Neville with a whip, Ali with a boot to the face, dropkick, hurricanrana, misses a boot, rolls through, springboard crossbody for two, front facelock, Neville tosses him, Ali with a boot, goes up top, Neville with a punch to the ass, back superplex, Ali lands on his feet, tornado DDT for two, goes up top, Neville tosses him to the floor where Ali hits the barricade, rolls Ali into the ring, stomps in the corner, running boot, knees to the back, leaping stomp, whip, flapjack, Ali with a boot, dodges an avalanche, roll-through neckbreaker, reversed with a clothesline, Rings of Saturn for the tapout.

Winner: Neville

Neville refuses to let go at first.

Bray Wyatt appears from the desert.

After a commercial, he says that he gave humans fire so that they wouldn't have to worship the sun. He takes credit for all the breakups on Raw and Brock being punked out by Joe, saying he made it that way. He says that he's everywhere, and calls out for Seth.

Backstage, Charly Caruso asks Alexa Bliss if she's concerned about Sasha making her tap tonight. She says she let Sasha win to give her a false sense of security. Caruso says no one believes that, Bliss says that's why she's holding a microphone and not the championship.

Match Six: Finn Balor vs. Cesaro

The Hardys come out before the bell to join the table.

Lockup, Finn with a side headlock, Cesaro tries to suplex out, NOPE! Finally, he whips his way out, Finn with a dropkick to the knee, kick, another, punches, side headlock, Cesaro whips his way out, catches a leaping Finn for a backbreaker, punch in the corner, toss to the adjacent corner, punch, toss to the adjacent corner from that one, European uppercut, Finn with punches, whip, reversed, Cesaro with a clothesline for one, armbar, whip, reversed, Cesaro with a sunset flip, reversed into a dropkick, Finn with a chop, whip, chop, whip, reversed, Finn floats over, chop, another, punch in the ropes, kick, trip, leaping stomp, another, more, Sheamus interjects, the ref urges him away, Cesaro drops Finn into the bottom turnbuckle, stomps, chops, Finn with chops, Cesaro with a European uppercut, Finn with chops, Cesaro tosses him to the floor, commercial.

Back on air, Balor with a sunset flip for two, Cesaro with a hip toss for two, gutwrench suplex for two, keylock, double keylock, Balor with punches, whip, reversed, Balor ducks an avalanche, hits a kick, springboard, reversed into a vertical suplex for two, running European uppercut for two, Neutralizer, reversed into a leaping double stomp, Balor with a boot from the corner, pair of clotheslines, dropkick, baseball slide, running kick from the apron, rolls him back in the ring, Slingblade, calls for a running dropkick, Elias Samson hits ringside, Very European Uppercut for two, running European uppercut in the corner, another European uppercut, Balor kicks Cesaro to the floor, Sheamus distracts, Samson with a trip, The Hardys hit ringside and brawl with Sheamus and Samson, Balor presses Cesaro to the floor, suicide dive to everyone, Cesaro drops him across the apron, Matt hits Elias with a Twist of Fate, eats a Brogue Kick, Jeff with a clothesline to Sheamus, Cesaro with a running European Uppercut to Jeff, Cesaro with a running dropkick, rolls him into the ring, Coup de Gras for three.

Winner: Finn Balor

Braun Strowman hits the ring. "There are few things in this world that I like more than hurting Roman Reigns. I like hurting Roman Reigns and the fact that he's just too stubborn to stay down, so I get to keep knocking him back down. Hell, last week I nearly put him through the ambulance and he still thinks he can take more of me. Kurt, if you're right and Roman is as stubborn as you say and he shows up on Sunday, he's going to leave Great Balls of Fire the same way he left last week: in an ambulance. As for tonight, I still want competition, so send 'em out right now!"

Titus comes out. "Braun Strowman, you're a big man with a big plan, but you know what they say: everyone starts off with a plan until they get punched in the mouth. You say you want competition, well most weeks I would have no problem slapping the taste out of your mouth. But tonight it's goint to be more competition than you can handle. He is talented, he is hungry, he's a first-time father and he's going to show the world that monsters can be defeated! Representing Titus Brand Worldwide, Apollo Crews!"

Main Event: Braun Strowman vs. Apollo Crews

Crews opens with punches, Strowman with a shove, Crews with punches, Strowman tosses him to the corner, Crews dodges his way out, rear waistlock, side headlock, Strowman with a whip, big boot, tosses Crews to the floor, Crews rolls in at 7, Strowman stomps him, wrenches his neck, crossface punches, wrenches his neck again, Crews punches his way out, Strowman with an Eye of the Hurricane, tosses Crews to the floor, Titus psyches him up, Crews with a slap, drops him across the top rope, spin kick, another spin kick, running dropkick, another, standing moonsault, blocked with boots, Strowman kicks Crews halfway across the ring and on the top of his head with those boots, running powerslam for two, breaks the count himself, hits another running powerslam for two, again breaking hte count himself, hits a third, this time covers for three.

Winner: Braun Strowman

He goes for a fourth after the bell, Titus pulls Crews out of the ring, staredown, Titus with punches, Strowman with a shove, clothesline, powerslam, leaves the ring, takes Crews with him, tosses him across the barricade, then into the ambulance, which he starts to send off, but it doesn't go, so he slaps it on the back again and it still doesn't go. He tries a third time. He peers into the driver's seat, then opens it up, at which point Roman is revealed to be the driver. Roman punches him, Braun tosses him into the ambulance door, then into the barricade, then across the stage, Roman with a punch, Strowman with punches, kicks, Roman tosses Braun into the LED screens, spears him off the stage into a pile of tables. After a replay, Strowman is back on his feet and walking off as Raw goes off the air.