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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Aug. 24, 2015) from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Night of Champions pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for next month in Houston.
Advertised for tonight: Sting is back to kick off the show, what's next for John Cena, a Divas Beat-the-Clock Challenge, Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler, and much, much more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the Raw live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
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WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR AUG. 31
BaconStrips here. It's showtime!
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WWE Signature and a recap of last weeks' main event angle leading up to Sting's surprise.
Raw intro and pyro
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Sting makes his way down to the ring.
Sting talks about the last time he competed in the ring against Triple H, and how he will always have some respect for him.
That was then, and this is now. Sting's next target is one Seth Rollins. Although Sting puts him over as being really good, he says that he is no Triple H.
Sting talks about how Rollins has been able to hang on to his WWE World Heavyweight Championship via dirty ways. He disses Rollins' gall to be compared to legends such as Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant, and Ultimate Warrior. Sting says that Rollins is only a legend in his mind.
Sting briefly touches upon his long career and many titles. However, one has eluded him: the WWE World Heavyweight Title. At Night of Champions, Sting vows to both win the WWE World Heavyweight Title and prove that Seth Rollins is half the man that Triple H is.
Buckle up, Rollins. It's gonna be a hell of a ride.
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Backstage, Seth Rollins is seething at Sting's words, calling it a spit in his face. Stephanie McMahon says that defeating Sting could be another major highlight of Rollins' career. After Rollins does his trademark complaining, Steph drops the bombshell by saying that he isn't half the man that Triple H is...yet. Rollins then brings up his statue, and Steph dismisses him by having him ask Sting for it.
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Rusev vs Dolph Ziggler
This match went pretty much the same as their SummerSlam match, so there was really nothing much to write home about. They teased a repeat of the double count-out finish, but both men did make it inside at 9. Rusev hit DAT KICK and started to go for The Accolade, but Ziggler wriggled out and hit a Zig Zag. Unfortunately, as he pinned Rusev, Hot Summer came in and start pulling Ziggler's hair, causing a DQ.
Dolph Ziggler def Rusev by DQ
Hot Summer kept on pulling Ziggler's hair until Lana tackled her and a catfight ensued. Ziggler pulled Lana off and the two left and made out on the ramp.
As if the direction for this weren't already obvious...
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Backstage, Dolph Ziggler and Lana are chatting when Renee Young comes in to congratulate Ziggler on his "win." Ziggler says that this definitely won't be the last we'll see of Rusev and Hot Summer
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Becky Lynch vs Alicia Fox (Beat the Clock Challenge)
Before the match, Nikki Bella cuts a promo talking about her Divas Title reign. She also rips off Curtis Axel by putting up a countdown until she's the longest reigning champion.
This was a pretty solid back-and-forth match between these two women. Becky submits Alicia with the Disarmer after reversing a roll-up.
Becky Lynch def Alicia Fox at 3:21
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Rich Brennan interviews Ryback about his upcoming Intercontinental Championship match. Ryback says that this match has been in the making before saying that the IC Title means the world to him.
As Ryback goes on, the camera swerves to Hot Summer running down the hall. Ziggler opens his locker room door clad in only a towel...yep.
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Big Show vs Ryback (Intercontinental Championship)
The Miz is on commentary because of course.
We've seen this match quite a few times, so there's nothing remarkable here. Ryback retained his title after hitting a Shellshock on Show after Miz provided a distraction.
Ryback def Big Show
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Charlotte vs Brie Bella
This was a very quick match that saw Charlotte get the win with Natural Selection. She also beat Becky's time with more to spare.
Charlotte def Brie Bella in 1:40
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Renee Young interviews The Dudley Boyz about their upcoming match (their first Raw match in over ten years). Bubba Ray says that they're here for two reasons: to put everyone through tables, and to become ten-time tag champions. How will they do this? By putting them through tables. Bubba tells D-Von to get the tables. D-Von gets the euphoric look before telling us to testify.
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Kevin Owens vs Cesaro
After a fairly lackluster Raw to this point, Cesaro and Owens completely tore the house down in a great back-and-forth match. Both men hit each other with some huge moves, but kept coming back for more. The end came when Owens knocked Cesaro off of the ring apron into the announce table. This gave Cesaro a rib injury, and Owens took advantage by superkicking the injured ribs and followed with a pop-up powerbomb for the win.
Kevin Owens def Cesaro
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Backstage, Dolph Ziggler and Lana are awkwardly standing together. Ziggler explains that he was in his locker room showering when Hot Summer entered with a dumb grin. Ziggler chased her off, and that was that. More awkwardness ensues, then Lana leaves.
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Dean Ambrose vs Braun Strowman
(ThingsandStuff, if you're reading along, now is the time to avert your eyes)
Before the match, Bray Wyatt thanks Sister Abigail for giving him her Black Sheep, Braun Strowman. Wyatt calls tonight Strowman's moment. After more talking, Wyatt hands the mic to Strowman, who calls this the apocalypse.
Also, as Ambrose is entering, Roman Reigns makes his way through the crowd for backup (as if that'll work).
Strowman has one role to play as destruction personified, and by god he plays that role very well as he stalks Ambrose and throws him like a rag doll throughout this match. Strowman gets a DQ win when Roman Reigns attacks him after a shove.
Braun Strowman def Dean Ambrose by DQ
After the DQ, Strowman destroys Ambreigns, and Wyatt follows with Sister Abigail to Reigns
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Renee Young interviews Seth Rollins about Sting's words from the beginning of the show. Rollins starts by saying that Sting disrespected all of the legends when he stole Rollins' title. Rollins says that he's gonna call out Sting to return his statue.
Renee goes on to ask about Sting's words about Rollins not being a Triple H, and Rollins responds by telling Sting to subscribe to the WWE Network before putting himself over as usual.
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Paige vs Sasha Banks
Obviously, with this being only 1:40, this had to be a very quick match, but it was good for what it was. There was a good exchange with Paige hitting some good moves, but she couldn't take advantage of a Ram-Paige as Sasha was pulled to the outside. Paige ran out of time as she tried to lock in the scorpion crosslock.
No finish; Paige ran out of time
Team Bella comes out and stares down Charlotte
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Renee Young interviews Lana about the whole Hot Summer/Dolph Ziggler mess. After we get an insight into Hot Summer's side (which involves a long, lust-filled story), a tearful Lana just walks off.
Can we just get Jerry Springer in here and end this mess?
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The New Day vs The Dudley Boyz
Before the match, each of The New Day members talk about The Dudley Boyz being absolute menaces to various tables all around the world. The New Day then unveils their special, bubble-wrap covered table that The New Day will do anything to protect. They start a "save the tables" chant to the tune of the "New Day Rocks(Sucks)" chant.
The Primetime Players are on commentary for this
This was a fun match as you would expect. The Dudleys did their usual tricks minus the WASSSSSSSSSUP, which was interrupted by Kofi Kingston. Big E eats a 3D for the pin.
The Dudley Boyz def The New Day
After the match, The Dudleys tease 3Ding Big E, but Xavier Woods pulls him out of danger.
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Seth Rollins comes out to end the show.
He wants to make something clear: Rollins had no problem with Sting until last week. In fact, Rollins revered him until he hijacked his statue dedication.
Rollins says that he's a real man that doesn't hide in the shadows. Instead, he's in the middle of the ring to call Sting out for two things: to take back the fact that Triple H is better than Rollins, and to return Rollins' statue.
As Rollins waits for Sting, Stephanie McMahon comes out, and she doesn't look happy.
Steph tells Rollins to stop comparing himself to Trips, and Rollins responds by comparing his situation to the one Trips was in when he headed Evolution. Rollins goes on before Steph reviews his accomplishments and calls him the man. A rejuvenated Rollins calls Sting out again.
Who comes out now? John Cena.
Rollins tells Cena that he has no business to be in the ring. Cena counters this by saying that Rollins is more expendable than he things. Instead, Cena says that Steph is going to make Rollins' life miserable. Cena puts Rollins over a bit before calling him a conceded egomaniac.
After Rollins tells Cena to get to the point, Cena tells Rollins that The Authority is going to do what's best for business, no matter what it means for their man. Cena tells Rollins that he's just buying The Authority's crap, and Rollins is gonna hate The Authority for what is going to happen next.
As you would guess, John Cena is going to invoke his rematch clause for the United States Championship at Night of Champions.
Cena asks Stephanie for her blessing for the US Title match, and Steph hesitantly tells him yes.
John Cena walks out in triumph as Rollins argues to Stephanie. As Cena is in front of the Titantron, Sting comes out to stare down Rollins to end the show.