8/27 WWE RAW RESULTS: Keller’s report on Reigns’s show-opening confrontation with Braun, Corbin vs. Balor, Dana Brooke vs. Sasha, Seth open challenge

Tonight after WWE Raw, join me live with guest cohost Rich Fann to break down the show with live callers, mailbag, and a live on-site correspondent from Toronto.

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[HOUR ONE]

-Roman Reigns’s music played and he walked out to an outburst of boos. The director found pro-Reigns fans holding up signs and cheering him. Cole called him the most polarizing WWE Superstar. When he raised his Universal Title belt, another surge of boos. He strode to the ring as the announcers recapped what happened last week with The Shield reuniting to beat up Braun Strowman before his cash-in. Graves noted the Money in the Bank cash-in didn’t count and Braun still holds the briefcase. Coach said, “When those three cats are on the same page and together, there is nothing you can do.” Cole noted that Strowman challenged Reigns to a face-to-face with him, and told him to come alone. Reigns wore a new t-shirt that said “Shield 2018 – Return – Justice – Toronto.”

Reigns soaked up some boos and looked around the crowd. He said he told Braun to show up at 8 p.m. and it’s “at least 8:05.” (Wrong. It was 8:04:50. Close, though.) He said he didn’t win the title to just stand in the ring and hold it. “I’m in the ring to defend it,” he said. “So if that Meat Shack don’t come out here ASAP, we’re going to turn this into the Shield Workhorse Open Challenge.” He told anyone to “step up and come get it.”

He paused. Then Braun’s music played and he came out to cheers. Coach said the WWE Universe has been waiting seven days to see Braun respond to last week. Fans chanted “Get These Hands!” Coach said the crowd is alive. Braun said: “Workhorse. Ha ha ha. You sure could have fooled me when you had to have your boys come out here and save you when I came calling last week.” Cheers. Reigns explained that Braun doesn’t get it because The Shield is a brotherhood of workhorses. Boos. He said nobody tells them what to do. “Not even me,” he said. He said Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose made the choice they made because they understand what it’s like to stand on top of the mountain, whereas Braun “has no clue.” He mocked Braun for just running around saying “get these hands.” He said it with a Southern twang. Fans chanted “Get These Hands!” louder. Reigns said the only thing he lifts with those hands are objects – cars, ambulances, stages – whereas his hands have lifted every WWE Championship there is to offer. Fans “ooooh’d.” Reigns said that’s why he runs the yard. He said if Braun wants to be at his level “son,” he needs to step up, act like a man, and cash in his MITB so they have their title match tonight. (Did he just call Braun Strowman “son”??!!!) Fans cheered the idea of a Universal Title match in Toronto.

Braun said, “I’m not cashing in tonight.” Burst of boos. “Because you and I and everyone inside this arena knows if I did, your little boys would come down and try to save you again.” Mixed reaction. He said he’s going make Reigns a deal. He said he won’t cash it in until Sept. 16, and he has to show up to the one place where his brothers can’t interfere when he takes his Universal Title. He said they’d go to war in a place they’ve never done it before – at Hell in a Cell. Reigns said he’s finally starting to sound like a monster. He offered a handshake. Braun shook his hand. Some boos.

Dolph Ziggler’s record-scratch noise sounded. He walked onto the stage with Drew McIntyre. He said it’s time to get down to the business of Summerslam, “the crime of the century.” He said Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose stole his Intercontinental Championship. He told Braun he has an issue with them, too. Reigns asked if Ziggler getting Curb Stomped and losing 1-2-3 is considered stealing. Ziggler said he’ll invoke his rematch and it’ll be awesome and it’ll start his seventh time he becomes IC Champion “but who’s counting.” He said it’ll be on their terms because he and Drew have proven themselves to the entire world.

Drew said Reigns and Braun is an entirely different story altogether. He said they need a new challenge and it’s them. Reigns laughed. Drew said they stand atop the Monday Night Raw mountain, which means the only way to go is tumbling on down. Ziggler said they’d be more than willing to do that for them tonight. Reigns said they sound tough from the stage, but they’re standing in the ring and ready for them. “Meat Shack agrees,” Reigns said. Braun doesn’t seem to mind the nick-name.

Constable Corbin walked out. He told everyone to slow down. He said Kurt Angle was sent on a vacation and Stephanie promoted him to “Acting General Manager” of Raw. Boos. He said his MITB cash-in has been approved for HIAC. No cheers. Corbin said he’s making a main event tonight that Angle couldn’t even dream of and one that none of them could’ve guessed which will take Raw to the next level. He announced Drew & Dolph vs. Braun & Roman. No crowd reaction. Braun turned to Reigns and he said at HIAC he’ll win the Universal Title, but tonight Dolph and Drew are going to get these hands.

(Keller’s Analysis: WWE didn’t try to tip fan reaction toward or away from either Braun or Reigns. This seems now to be a way for Reigns to score a big win over a big star and prove he’s a fighting champion at HIAC. It’s good for Braun that he is cashing in with advanced notice, which is the “babyface thing to do.” Reigns’s delivery of lines was a little clunky. I didn’t think there was nearly enough of a response by Braun after what happened last week to him.)

-Cole said it’s shaping up to be quite the night tonight. (The announcers are back on the stage, not at ringside, by the way.)

-Corbin interrupted the announcers from mid-ring. He said he’s making a match Angle didn’t have the guts to make. He said he’s booking himself against Finn Balor. He said he’s taken a week to prepare for the match, whereas Finn just found out. He said he always wanted to say this: “And that match starts right now!” Corbin asked where Balor is. “Put your little jacket on and get out here,” he said. As Corbin said Balor doesn’t have the guts, Balor’s music played and he came out.

(Keller’s Analysis: Corbin is an effective annoying pure heel.) [c]

(1) BARON CORBIN vs. FINN BALOR

Corbin scored a two count after an early flurry of offense. Graves complimented Corbin asserting his power like he is. He settled into a chinlock. Fans chanted “Corbin sucks!” Then “You can’t wrestle!” When Cole noted Balor took Reigns 30 minutes to the limit last week on Raw, Coach uttered, “Yeah, it was five-star.” After Corbin beat up Balor at ringside, Balor teased a comeback in the ring. Corbin stopped him with a punch. Cole noted he’s a former Golden Gloves boxer. Back at ringside, Balor caught Corbin with a surprise sling blade. They cut to a break. [c]

They showed that during the commercial Corbin knocked Balor out of mid-air with a punch. Corbin blocked an enzuigiri and then hit a Deep Six for a near fall. Balor ducked a clothesline and then clotheslined Corbin over the top rope. He flip dove onto him. Corbin picked up a chair. Balor knocked it out of his hand and threw him back into the ring. Coach asked why he’d need a chair if he thinks Balor is too small to be a threat. Balor went for his Coup de Grace, but Corbin moved and then he jabbed Balor in the gut with the chair. The ref called for the DQ.

Corbin told them immediately to stop the music. He said he forgot that this was a no-DQ match. Cole exclaimed that he’s just rewriting rules on the fly. Corbin hit Balor with a chair and then gave Balor an End of Days for the win.

WINNER: Corbin in 12:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: They are building up Corbin steadily here. Dominating most of the match against Balor shows they want him strong for an eventual match against a top level babyface. Balor played his role well taking a beating. The loss coming via Corbin’s new rule on the fly “protected” Balor to a degree, although he was made to look strong throughout.)

-The announcers hyped what’s coming up on Raw including the main event tag, Natalya vs. Alicia Fox, B-Team vs. The Revival, and Elias Performs. They had graphics for each on the screen at once. They also hyped the Super Show-Down coming up Oct. 6 with Undertaker vs. Triple H. He said WWE veterans would “weigh in next.” [c]

-A clip aired of Triple H’s promo last week. Graves said there’s little doubt Triple H is as ready as he’s ever been. Cole called it “one of the most anticipated matches in recent memory.” He threw to clips of legends and Hall of Famers weighing in. Selfie videos aired with Ric Flair, Christian, Mick Foley, Jeff Jarrett, and Kevin Nash. Nash actually just called in his pick. The rest were on selfie cam. There were votes for each.

(Keller’s Analysis: I like the concept of having veterans from the Triple H-Undertaker era give their point of view on the match. It makes the match feel important and connects it with other big stars of that generation.)

-Graves said Shawn Michael will return to Raw next week to address the Taker-Triple H match. (Could this be the start of a path to Michaels making a one-time comeback match he’s said he’s now open to?)

-Backstage, Lana and Apollo Crews talked about career strategy. Dana said she deserves to be on Evolution. In walked Titus O’Neal who said she has a match tonight and it’s next. Apollo said it’s against “Toronto’s finest.” Titus said it’s against Sasha Banks. Dana was a little nervous, but then talked up her chances. She left. Apollo asked Titus what he’s thinking because she’s had one singles match in nine months. Titus was confident she’d be fine.

-Sasha Banks made her ring entrance with Bayley. [c]

(2) SASHA BANKS (w/Bayley) vs. DANA BROOKE (w/Titus O’Neal, Apollo Crews)

Dana flipped and then landed an enzuigiri early. Dana mounted Sasha and pounded her in the head. Graves said Sasha was in trouble early. She landed a springboard back elbow. Sasha avoided a second elbow and then landed her double-knees off the top rope for a two count. Seconds later Sasha applied the Bank Statement for the win. Crews and Titus were shown discussing the outcome at ringside.

WINNER: Banks in 3:00.

-They showed Seth and Dean chatting backstage. After a fistbump, Seth walked away. [c]

-Backstage Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh approached Dean. Jinder said he senses he’s out of balance since his return, and he can help guide him to spirituality instead of brutality. Jinder asked Dean to breath and tell him what he sees. Dean took a deep breath. Jinder asked what he sees. Dean said he sees Jinder and himself. “I see myself kicking you in the teeth and I see myself breaking your face, breaking your ribs, you are crying, you are in great pain. Now get out of my face.” He turned to Jinder as he said that. Jinder took a deep breath, smiled, repeated an incantation, and walked away.

[HOUR TWO]

-Seth Rollins came out to his music. Coach talked about his confidence and swag. He said he’s enjoying himself as much as anyone on the WWE roster. Cole said he’s one of the hottest Superstars in WWE today, proud to be a fighting champion. Seth said last week was about taking care of some family business. He looked down at his Shield t-shirt. He said they pride themselves on being workhorses and fighting champions, so this week is about IC Title business. He said he thought he’d have to deal with Drew or Dolph, but since they already have plans, his dance card is wide open. He issued an open challenge. Fans cheered.

Out came Kevin Owens. Big cheers for the Canadian. He said he’s really glad Seth is so happy with his family back together, the IC Title, and Crossfit. He said his life has been a living hell lately. He said every week he was on Smackdown, he wished he could be back on Raw, but things aren’t great. He said Seth had his best friend at his side at Summerslam. He said if he had Sami Zayn by his side, he would have beaten Braun and cashed in the MITB contract. He said tonight he’d be the Universal Champion if that happened. Cheers from crowd. He said Sami is at home because he was injured by some brute. He his said terrible summer ends tonight, and he’s not leaving the building tonight without a title. He told Seth, “This is Toronto, Ontario, Canada” and got big cheers. He said he couldn’t think of a better place, but then said he could – Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The crowd booed. Owens broke into French. More intense boos. Seth cleared his ear with his finger. Owens said Seth didn’t understand any of that, and it doesn’t matter. Owens entered the ring and formal ring introductions took place.

(3) SETH ROLLINS vs. KEVIN OWENS – Intercontinental Title match

Cole said the last time a WWE title changes hands in Toronto was eight years ago when Bret Hart won the U.S. Title. Coach said he’s never heard someone go into a French accent and suddenly everyone booed. (He spoke French, not just a French accent.) Owens went on a flurry of offense early. Seth fought back at 2:00 with a clothesline out of the corner. Seth went after KO at ringside, ramming him into the ring apron and throwing him into the ring. Seth then guillotine leg dropped KO, knocking him through the ropes to the floor. KO gave Seth a throat strike and whipped him toward the stairs, but Seth leaped over them and then leaped back at KO with a clothesline. [c]

KO had Seth in a chinlock after the break. They showed KO took control with a DDT for a two count during the break. Cole said KO is desperate tonight to turn his career around, and “desperate means dangerous.” KO landed a senton back splash on Seth’s arm. Coach called it a “backdrop.” Owens locked on an armbar afterward. Seth ducked a charging Owens, but Owens yanked Seth to the floor and threw him into the barricade quickly. Then he went for a cannonball, but Seth moved and Owens landed on his head. The crowd counted along. The wrestlers returned to the ring before seven. Seth went on the attack. Seth landed a dive through the ropes to the floor. He went for a second one and landed it. On the third, KO hit him with an elbow as he flew through the ropes. Seth recovered, though, and hit a third dive successfully. They cut to another break at 12:00. [c]

Back from the break Seth landed a frog splash for a near fall. Great timing. Fans chanted “This is awesome!” When Seth went for a Stomp, KO rolled out of the way and then snapped Seth’s arm over the top rope and threw him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Seth up-kicked KO, but KO quickly put Seth in a crossface center-ring. Seth eventually put his foot on the bottom rope to force a break at 17:00. Seth came back and went for a Pedigree, but Owens escaped. Seth kicked him in the face, but KO hit a sudden stunner for a believable near fall that popped the crowd. “Holy sh–!” chanted the crowd. “This arena has come alive,” said Graves. They replayed the near fall as Owens gathered himself after his disappointment at the kickout. Coach said somewhere “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is saluting KO.

Seth went for a top rope sunset flip. KO held on, so Seth turned it into a buckle bomb in the opposite corner. KO fired back with a sudden superkick for a near fall. The cut to fans gasping and cheering. KO took his time and climbed to the top rope. Seth got up and knocked KO off balance. Coach said KO’s recent bad stretch would be a memory suddenly if he won the IC Title tonight. Cole noted that Pat Patterson was there tonight watching the match. Seth climbed to the top, but KO knocked Seth off balance and Seth fell on the shoulder Owens was working on. Owens went for a springboard turning moonsault, but Seth avoided it and then hit the Stomp. Fans booed immediately, knowing that was it for their Canadian (who dissed them earlier, but they’re a forgiving country). Seth got the pin and the crowd applauded the match. Graves said Owens went for the “home run, the walk off” when he went for that big springboard moonsault, but it didn’t work out. Seth looked down at KO with a look of respect, which Graves acknowledged.

WINNER: Rollins in 23:00 to retain the IC Title.

(Keller’s Analysis: Stellar match. One of the better WWE TV matches of the year.)

-The announcers talked about Corbin taking over for Kurt Angle. They showed an Instagram Tweet from Angle that said he doesn’t know if his absence is temporary or permanent.

-They aired highlights of the Reigns/Strowman segment earlier.

-Backstage Corbin was texting when Braun walked up to him. They stared at each other. Braun handed Corbin the Money in the Bank briefcase and told him to be sure to bring it to Hell in a Cell. Cole said that makes it official. [c]

-They plugged that the Mae Young Classic begins next week.

-They went to the ring where KO sat on a chair in dismay. Fans chanted “Kevin Owens!” He shook his head and seemed nearly distraught. He put the mic up to his mouth and took a deep breath and said, “I quit.” He dropped the mic and walked away. He walked past fans and didn’t pay attention to their comments.

-Backstage Renee Young interviewed Drew and Dolph. Ziggler said they’re moving to the top of the food chain tonight. Ziggler said there is no way Braun and Reigns are going to be on the same page. Drew said they are wounded animals, ready for slaughter.

(4) B-TEAM (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) vs. THE REVIVAL (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson)

B-Team came out to their ring entrance. Fans were into it. The Revival came out second. They showed Dawson posting on Twitter an apology to Jim Cornette and The Midnight Express for B-Team representing and regressing the tag division as champions on Raw. Graves said they see themselves as a tag team of legendary stature. Cole noted that Kevin Owens was trending on Twitter. Graves said he hopes it was just an emotional reaction in a high-stress moment. B-Team threw Revival out of the ring a couple minutes in. They cut to a break. [c]

Back live the Revival were in control thanks to Dawson interfering from ringside. Dash cut off Bo from hot-tagging Curtis after tagged in. Bo came back with a neckbreaker off the ropes and then finally made the save. Dawson also tagged in, but missed with a flying kick. Curtis went after Dawson and tried to get a B-Team chant going, but the crowd was fatigued or not into them at this point. Curtis went for a PerfectPlex, but Dawson avoided it. Curtis small packaged Dawson, but Wilder turned the small package in favor of Dash. Chaos ensued and Curtis ended up on top, but it was good for only a two count. Curtis scored a two count with a backslide. Dash snuck in a tag and gave Curtis the Shatter Machine for the win.

WINNERS: The Revival in 9:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: The match was solid, so not sure why they lost the crowd so badly after they were into the B-Team entrance. I liked that they teased another fluke happenstance win for B-Team before Revival survived it and won.)

-Afterward, Revival attacked B-Team and then asked where their championship belts were. They walked over and took the belts from the “time keepers.” They entered the ring. Dawson said the whole Raw tag division has been a joke lately “due to these two morons.” He listed The Road Warriors and Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard as top tag teams. Dash said they’re tired of the morons on B-Team making a mockery of the sacred history of tag teams in wrestling. Dawson said B-Team should keep the belts clean because they proved they can take them away from B-Team whenever they want. Dawson closed with: “Top guys, out.” They dropped the belts and left.

-They showed Elias giving a backstage worker on headsets a hard time about his stool.

-An NXT TV ad aired hyping Undisputed Era vs. Pete Dunne & Ricochet. [c]

-Cole noted that Summerslam will be in Toronto next year.

[HOUR THREE]

-Elias sat mid-ring and played his guitar for a bit. He lost himself in his song and the crowd began to clap along. He said they are gathered to answer a question he has for everyone. The crowd cheered “Walk With Elias” and he smiled. He said they will be tested and it will get tough. He told them not to lose faith because the universal truth is WWE stands for “Walk With Elias!” The crowd said it loudly twice. He smiled. Fans chanted “Walk With Elias.” He said it is time for him to sing his greatest song. He stopped and said he just had an epiphany. He said when Drake said he started from the bottom, “he was literally talking about here.” He said there was no city more bottom-feeding or lower than this god-forsaken hole known as Toronto. Boos. He said he was just in New York last week and there’s no bigger disappointment in life than going from New York to Toronto. Elias said he speaks the truth. Trish Stratus’s music interrupted.

Truth came out. Cole noted she is from Toronto. After a pause when Trish entered the ring, a small “Holy sh–” chant broke out. Elias introduced her. He said it’s nice she took a minute away from changing diapers “to come do something important.” He said since she left, a lot has changed “and I’m kind of a big deal now.” Trish said she’s a fan of his music. “They are toe-tappers, catchy tunes.” She said when you run your mouth about her hometown, though, she has to ask him silence your cell phone, hold your applause, and more importantly shut your mouth. Elias smiled. Fans chanted “Yes! Yes!” He said he just speaks the truth. He said an Elias performance in Toronto is like the Stanley Cup – they’ll never see it in their lifetime. Trish: “Kind of like you winning a WWE championship.” The crowd roared.

Trish said he is right about one thing, a lot of thing have changed since she retired. She said she’d have never imagined there would be a first-ever women’s only WWE PPV. She said she’ll lace up her boots again in a few short months to face Alexa Bliss. Elias interrupted and said that will be like a swimsuit model pillow fight, right? He said he’s been looking forward to that for years. Trish laughed and said that was clever. She told him to pack up his guitar and walk himself that way to the back. Cheers. Elias said they should cut to the chase and get right down to it. He said she, like thousands of other women, want to Walk with Elias. He said, “I have to break it to you, Trish. I don’t date women in their 60s.” Trish slapped him Ronda Rousey’s music played and she marched out with her WWE Raw Women’s Title. Then Natalya joined her on stage after her music played. The announcers hyped Alicia Fox vs. Natalya was up next. [c]

-Alexa Bliss stepped onto the stage with Fox. She said it’s quite a historic moment seeing those three in the ring together. “Or as I like to call them, Miss Underwhelming, Miss Overhyped, and Miss Completely Irrelevant.” She waved at Trish and said she looks great and her Stratosphere Yoga is working out great. “Take some advice from the person who replaced you, all the meditating and yoga stretching won’t protect you from the beating I’m going to give you at Evolution.” She said she’s there to talk to Rousey. She said she failed to break her arm so she wouldn’t have to face her again. She said she’s not an average woman, she’s the Goddess, and she’s invoking her rematch clause at the HIAC PPV. Fans booed. She mocked the fans for thinking she’d invoke her clause in Canada. She said their accents freak her out. She said tonight is about Fox, not her. Bliss said they have friends, too, including one Trish knows “all too well.” Out came Mickie James to her music. Cole called it one of the all-time great rivalries in WWE history. Mickie skipped to the ring with Fox and Bliss.

(Keller’s Analysis: That was a lot of fun. Trish has a different cadence to how she partakes in exchanges like this, a half-second off the usual rhythm, but it still worked well and she totally took command of Elias. Having Rousey and Natalya out there with Trish was cool, as was the return of Mickie.)

(5) NATALYA (w/Ronda Rousey, Trish Stratus) vs. ALICIA FOX (w/Alexa Bliss, Mickie James)

Natalya fended off Fox and hit a discus clothesline and got a tapout with a sharpshooter. Cole mentioned her father, the late Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.

WINNER: Natalya in 2:00.

-Another plug for the main event and the Undertaker-Triple H match. [c]

-The Bellas hugged Trish, Natalya, and Rousey backstage. Nikki said they are so proud Rousey is representing the WWE Women’s Division. They revealed that next week they’re back in action on Raw. They all took a selfie together. Natalya said, “Now this is what an evolution is all about!”

-They went to the announcers. Graves picked on Nikki for saying “like” before everything she says. Coach said he’s excited to see them back in action.

-Another video package aired with legends and Hall of Famers discussing Undertaker vs. Triple H. This group of selfie videos included “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Booker T, Big Show, and DDP. DDP picked Taker. Booker picked Taker. Show picked Undertaker. Austin picked Triple H.

-Backstage Corbin asked for a masseuse and then called in Bobby Lashley. Corbin said he has a match for him tonight, but he can’t remember his opponent’s name. He said it is next, though. Lashley patronized Corbin, saying, “Look at you, acting general manager making matches and stuff.” He smiled and patted him on the shoulder. [c]

-A commercial aired for Smackdown tomorrow night hyping New Day’s tag team title win celebration, plus Charlotte defending against Carmella.

(6) BOBBY LASHLEY vs. THE ASCENSION

Before the match Corbin said he realized he couldn’t remember his opponent’s name because it’s two opponents – The Ascension. The Ascension got in offense in the first couple minutes, but Lashley came back with his finisher on Viktor.

WINNER: Lashley in 3:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Not good for Ascension, but a good segment for Lashley to get an impressive win and show off his signature moves and also build tension between him and Corbin.)

-They went to Dean backstage who took a guy’s water bottle and drank from it, then threw it at another guy backstage. [c]

(7) JINDER MAHAL (w/Sunil Singh) vs. DEAN AMBROSE

The very end of Jinder’s entrance played after the break. Then Dean came out to a nice reception. Dean tore off his t-shirt and showed off his new physique and clean shaven torso. He controlled Jinder on the mat and then clotheslined him to the floor. He chopped away at him at ringside and then threw him back into the ring. He gave Singh a hard shove. Jinder, though, caught Dean with a knee to the chest as he entered the ring. Jinder landed a knee drop for a near fall. Graves said Dean has lived a rough live with experiences that would be difficult for anyone to recover from. Jinder threw some weak knee drives to Ambrose’s arm area while holding onto the top rope, then celebrated. That gave Dean a chance to recover and hit some clotheslines and a back elbow to the jaw. Jinder came back with a high knee for a two count. Ambrose came back with a Dirty Deeds for the win seconds later.

WINNER: Ambrose in 4:00.

-Backstage Braun told Reigns he doesn’t like him and he knows Reigns doesn’t like him, either. He said the only thing that’s getting slaughtered tonight is Dolph and Drew, and then Reigns will have 20 days to think about how he’ll destroy him inside Hell in a Cell. Reigns said the day after HIAC he’ll wake up and realize he just couldn’t get the job done. [c]

-They announced that B-Team would defend next week against The Revival, plus Michaels would give his take on Undertaker vs. Triple H.

(8) ROMAN REIGNS & BRAUN STROWMAN vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER & DREW MCINTYRE

Reigns came out to a smaller reaction overall. He posed with the belt, got some boos, and hung the belt over his shoulder and strode to the ring. Strowman then came out to a positive response.

[OVERRUN]

Roman got in some early offense against Zigger, including at ringside. Drew kicked Reigns at ringside and threw him into the ring. Ziggler gave Reigns a leaping DDT for a two count. Strowman broke up the pin attempt. Drew and Dolph tagged in and out against Reigns. Ziggler applied a sleeper. They had Reigns come close to tags, but come up short over and over. Eventually he hit the Superman Punch and hot-tagged Strowman. Strowman paused before entering and stared down Drew. Cole said it’s a form of intimidation. Drew and Dolph yanked Reigns back into the ring and stomped away at him. Braun stood and watched the two-on-one attack. Drew and Dolph weren’t sure what to think. The ref called for the bell.

WINNERS: Strowman & Reigns via DQ in 8:00.

-Graves said Dolph and Drew weren’t breaking any rules. Strowman then climbed into the ring and stared at Drew and Dolph. Cole asked, “What is going on?” Strowman looked down at Reigns and then picked him up and headbutted him. “I told you I’m not finished with you!” he yelled. He picked him up and threw him hard into the corner. Strowman nodded to Drew and Dolph. Ambrose charged out to his music. He was beaten down in a three-on-one attack. Seth came out to his music. He was favoring his left arm from the match earlier. He was triple-teamed, too, and given a running powerslam. The crowd didn’t like that. He gave Dean a running powerslam, too. Drew lifted Reigns as a wide-eyed Strowman nodded. Cole said Reigns is helpless and defenseless. Strowman gave him a powerslam. Coach said he never thought he’d see Drew and Dolph teaming with Strowman. Cole said whether it was planned earlier or just happened on the spot, it’s a game-changer. They stood mid-ring and raised each other’s arms. The fans booed.

(Keller’s Analysis: The crowd didn’t pop for Strowman attacking Reigns, which was interesting. There were actually scattered boos. Yet Strowman did the honorable thing earlier and turned in the MITB and gave advanced notice for his cash-in. And what he did this week wasn’t different than what The Shield did last week.)

Tonight after WWE Raw, join me live with guest cohost Rich Fann to break down the show with live callers, mailbag, and a live on-site correspondent from Toronto.

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