WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Edge delivers epic promo, Rey Mysterio returns on 'Championship Monday
Edge, speaking while sitting inside a dark wrestling ring, announced his intentions to work his way into Orton's life and destroy it from the inside out before delivering a chilling message that Orton had resurrected "The Rated-R Superstar" with his actions. This all led up to Orton being interrupted by The Big Show while accepting the honor of "Greatest Wrestler Ever" from Ric Flair, possibly setting up the next step in Orton's walk down the familiar path of being "The Legend Killer."
You can see the full results and highlights below, including which of the four championships changed hands over the course of a meaningful edition of WWE's flagship weekly television program.
WWE Raw recap, grades
WWE champion Drew McIntyre's next challenger was revealed: Dolph Ziggler interrupted McIntyre's show-opening promo and announced he and Robert Roode were Raw's acquisitions from the trade sending AJ Styles to SmackDown. Ziggler took credit for McIntyre's championship reign before asking to be the challenger to the title at Extreme Rules. McIntyre responded by pointing out that Ziggler has been on the losing end of most matches since the two split up and said Ziggler has become "an entitled jackass." McIntyre told Ziggler to imagine what he would be willing to do to retain his championship before accepting the challenge and making the match for Extreme Rules official. Ziggler as an opponent is interesting in match quality, but this was a very quick shift in program for McIntyre and it's surprising they seem to have moved on from Bobby Lashley so quickly. Grade: B-Nia Jax and Charlotte Flair brawled: Jax came to the ring, sat in a chair and said it "must be Monday" because Charlotte Flair has been gifted a title shot despite her issues with Asuka in recent weeks. At that point, R-Truth's music hit, and he talked about his match later tonight with Akira Tozawa before accusing Jax of being Tozawa in disguise. The ring was then surrounded by Tozawa and ninjas, who chased Truth off, only for Flair's music to hit next. Flair said Jax dropped the ball in her two title matches and now was just throwing a "hissy fit." Jax said that she dominated Flair three years ago in the only one-on-one match they have had. Flair then punched Jax and the two began to brawl. Later in the show, Flair said she would not back out of the match with Asuka despite an injury to her shoulder. Grade: B
Raw Tag Team Championship -- The Street Profits (c) def. The Viking Raiders via pinfall to retain the titles: The teams faced off backstage before the match. The Raiders got off to a fast start, taking the fight right to the Profits. As the Profits tried to make their first comeback, a Montez Ford dive was caught by Erik and he was tossed onto Angelo Dawkins. After the Profits managed to make a comeback, they hit Erik with The Viking Experience, stealing the finisher for a near fall. A series of cartwheels from all four men came shortly before a finish with Ford hitting the frog splash on Erik for the victory. The two teams showed respect after the conclusion of the match. After the Raiders left, Andrade and Angel Garza ran in and attacked the Profits, laying them out before running off when the Raiders made the save. Later, Garza and Andrade made their intentions to go after the tag titles as a "united front" clear. The match went less than 10 minutes, several of them covered by a commercial break, which hardly felt like the right payoff to the teams finally having a match after weeks and weeks of silly angles. It wasn't bad, but didn't feel like the right way to end things. Grade: C
Raw Women's Championship -- Asuka (c) def. Charlotte Flair via submission to retain the title: The two women have always had wonderful chemistry, and that was on display again. Flair's taped up shoulder from her brawl with Nia Jax earlier in the night was a constant target for Asuka, including kicks and armbars. Flair continued firing back with her own big moves, including nearly scoring a pin with a high-impact spear. Flair hit a sit-out powerbomb out of a triangle choke attempt but Asuka managed to lock up an Asuka Lock to score the submission victory, finally getting a win over Flair and getting it clean on television. This wasn't the best match they've had and they gave Flair the clear out of having been injured coming in, but this was a well above average televised title match. After the match, Jax said it would be a "shame for someone to kick the queen while she's down." She would follow through on the threat later, attacking Flair as she was interviewed backstage, driving her shoulder into the ring post of a practice ring backstage. Grade: B+
Edge delivered a pre-taped promo addressing Randy Orton's attack on Christian last week: Edge say he felt the panic in Orton when he was about to lock in the Anti-Venom, when Orton "accidentally" hit him with a low blow. Edge said that he expects to beat Orton, unlike Orton, who treated the win like the biggest thing in his career -- and added that he's disappointed he didn't hit a low blow first. Edge said when Orton attacked Christian, he put the "Rated-PG Superstar" that had been walking around since his comeback to bed. "See, you woke up the side of me that will sink to any level to get what he wants," Edge said. "Who doesn't care how many backs he steps on and bruises to get to the top. I don't care about winning a wrestling match now, Randy. I'm going to embarrass you, emasculate you and make you wish Cowboy Bob was firing blanks on the night you were conceived." Edge then laid out his plan to infect Orton's life and tear it apart from the inside. He concluded by saying Orton "woke up the Rated-R Superstar." After the promo, Orton was interviewed and said that a snake, when feeling threatened, will strike wildly and sometimes blindly. Orton said that he just does what he has to survive. Orton said he doesn't care what Christian and Edge do, so long as they do it far away from him. These were brilliant promos, especially the one delivered by Edge. It may, in fact, be the promo of the year across all wrestling. Grade: A+
24/7 Championship -- Akira Tozawa def. R-Truth (c) via pinfall to win the title: Before the match could begin, Bobby Lashley and MVP made their way to ringside. They quickly attacked the ninjas at ringside while Tozawa escaped under the ring. Lashley entered the ring and locked Truth in a full nelson, delivering payback for Truth scoring the pin in last week's "winner take all" tag match. After Lashley left, Tozawa crawled out from under the ring and pinned Truth to win the 24/7 championship. Grade: C-
Natalya def. Liv Morgan via submission: Before the match, Natalya said she needed to make an announcement, but everyone would have to wait for her match with Liv Morgan. After the commercial break, Natalya walked to the ring with Lana in tow. Natalya went right at Morgan from the opening bell. Morgan made a brief comeback but was distracted by Lana, allowing Natalya to strike and lock up the Sharpshooter for a very quick win. Later in the show, Morgan ran into Ruby Riott backstage and told her she didn't need her making her feel any worse after everything has gone wrong for her lately. Morgan deserves better than this given her recent work, but this Natalya and Lana pairing seems to be a new spotlight angle. Grade: D+
Big Show interrupted Randy Orton and Ric Flair's "Greatest Wrestler Ever" ceremony: Before the segment, Show was asked about his return in helping the Viking Raiders and Street Profits beat up ninjas. He then said that he was really there tonight because of what happened to his friends last week and people tend to forget there's a heartless, angry giant that can come out from behind his friendly exterior. Before introducing Orton, Flair delivered a message to Nia Jax after seeing his daughter attacked earlier in the night. Flair called Orton the best performer ever before Orton claimed it was nostalgic to stand in the ring with Flair, just as it was nostalgic what the two did to Christian last week. Show's music cut off Orton before he walked to the ring, yelling that he'd heard enough. Show said Orton would pay for what he did to his friends. Show called Orton a parasite and said he was now feeding off of Flair, who is now someone he "used to respect." Show then said he was going to break every bone in Orton's body before Orton said that Show would have the same fate as Edge and Christian before rolling out of the ring rather than face Show. Orton then said what happens next would be on Show. Orton is so hot right now that every segment he is in feels important and whatever is going to happen with Show is immediately intriguing. Grade: B
Women's Tag Team Championship -- Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) def. The IIconics via submission to retain the titles: Another tag title match on the show, another fairly short match. Banks was shoved into Bayley, knocking the SmackDown women's champion off the canvas. Banks managed to fight off both members of the IIconics before locking in the Banks Statement for the win. Bayley tried to celebrate the win, but Banks said that every time Bayley says "Bayley Dos Straps," she gets jealous and wants to experience it for herself. Banks then called out her own partner for a title match. Banks then made a challenge to ... Asuka for the Raw women's championship. Asuka made her way to the ring and said that Banks is not her boss, before accepting the match. Bayley then blindsided Asuka and dropped her before Banks joined in the attack. Banks hit the Backstabber and then the Banks Statement to send a final message. The match was nothing at all of note, but Banks' tease of challenging Bayley and then the attack on Asuka was a good twist. Grade: B-
Apollo Crews (c) def. Shelton Benjamin via pinfall in a non-title match: Before the match, Crews was MVP's guest on the VIP Lounge. MVP told Crews he was done giving Crews chances to have him in his corner and was now setting his sights on the United States championship before providing a distraction so Benjamin could drive Crews' shoulder into the ring post. After the match began, Benjamin focused on Crews' injured arm. Crews managed to rebound and knock Benjamin from the ring before allowing Benjamin to drive himself into the ring post. They returned to the ring and Crews hit a powerbomb for the pin. MVP applauded from the top of the ramp after the match before trying to raise Crews' hand. As Crews told MVP to take his hands off him, Lashley attacked from behind, locking Crews in a full nelson. Another situation where the match didn't live up to the story surrounding it, but seeing Crews involved in a more fully fleshed out angle is very welcome. Grade: B-
Rey and Dominick Mysterio confronted Seth Rollins: Rey told Dominick one of the most frightening things for a parent is being unable to get in touch with your kid, which was the case last week. Rey said he w
as proud that Dominick got out of the three-on-one situation, but was also angry for what he put his parents through. Rey said that, no matter how big or strong Dominick gets, Dominick will always be his child. Rey then said he would fight for Dominick and said that he will take it from here, and would get revenge on Rollins for himself. Dominick took the microphone and told Rollins that the family wants a fight. Rollins then came out and asked if he should come to the ring and take out the father or the son. Rollins then said that it ultimately isn't up to him, it's all a matter of fate and destiny and that since they were at the same place at the same time, "two eyes are better than one." As Rollins walked to the ring, he stopped, dropped to his knees and Austin Theory and Murphy began walking to the ring before they were jumped from behind by Aleister Black and Humberto Carrillo. Carrillo, Black, Rey and Dominick took care of Rollins' disciples before Rey delivered a 619 to Rollins and the group attempted to take Rollins to the ring steps and drive his eye into the corner. Murphy and Theory made the save and Rollins grabbed Dominick, ready to blind him before Carrillo and Black ran the group off with chairs to bring the show to a close. This was a strong closing segment that continues to build on a tense situation involving the Mysterios and Rollins' group. Grade: B+
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