WWE Raw results, live blog (July 18, 2016): Draft go home show

WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (July 18, 2016) from the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Battleground pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for later this month in Washington D.C.

Advertised for tonight: Dean Ambrose defends the WWE championship against Seth Rollins, Shane and Stephanie McMahon choose General Managers for Raw and SmackDown, Sasha Banks finds a tag team partner, and 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 JULY 18

Chris here. GM announcements, title matches, and NXT talent? Oh my!

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WWE Signature and Raw intro

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Stephanie McMahon comes out to start this show.

Steph tries to introduce us to Raw, but Shane McMahon interrupts because SmackDown or something.

Steps tells Shane that she's not going to miss his pandering. Shane panders by welcoming us to Raw, and Steph says that this will be his very last night on Raw. After all, he IS the commissioner of SmackDown now,

The usual bantering ensues with some slap talk and genital facts.

Oh wait, BOMBSHELLS!!! Raw is going to take exclusive ownership of the main roster CRUISERWEIGHT DIVISION!!!

Other stuff happens, and Steph announces the general manager of Raw as....MICK FOLEY?!?!?

Foley thanks Steph for naming him the Raw GM before dropping a Foley Cheap Pop. He then talks about the Attitude Era and how the climate now reminds him of the Monday Night Wars.

He tells us that he's willing to take Raw to the future with the same passion that he used when he helped shut down WCW.

Shane applauds Steph's choice for Foley as GM. As for Shane, he introduces his GM: DANIEL BRYAN. Note that the crowd absolutely goes berserk. He shakes Shane's and Foley's hand, but not Steph because continuity.

The crowd chants Bryan's name, and he asks if they've missed them. The obvious answer is chanted. Bryan says that he's missed them more than they've missed him.

Steph and Bryan banter a bit before saying that he never thought that he would be in a WWE ring again until Shane called with the offer for SmackDown.

Bryan say that he needed to come back because SmackDown is the underdog against the Raw juggernaut. Like before, he isn't going to do this thing alone; he's going to do it together with the WWE Universe. Therefore, SD is gonna beat Raw every single week.

Of course, Steph gets some cheap heat by knocking Bryan's underdog status and B+ player and all that. Shane and Steph then banter before Shane makes a dig at Steph having to marry Triple H to stay relevant.

Bryan and Shane vow to take SmackDown and beat Raw. Yes, they can!

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Sami Zayn and Cesaro vs Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho

This was a pretty fun match that featured the usual spots and a couple close call wins for the heel team. At the end, Zayn reversed a Jericho roll-up into his own roll-up to win.

Sami Zayn and Cesaro def Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho

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Backstage, Daniel Bryan is talking with various people until he bumps into Steph. They banter about insults before the segment ends.

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Darren Young vs Alberto Del Rio

The Miz and Maryse bless us on commentary.

This happened. Darren won when Miz attempted a distraction to allow Del Rio to get the cheap roll-up. It backfired and Darren got the roll-up instead.

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John Cena, Enzo & Cass, and The New Day vs The Wyatt Family and The Club

Holla holla holla holla holla.

Before the match, Cena hypes the Draft tomorrow night and Battleground for Sunday. He talks about how The Club is about to realize that they can't see him because he's got the Certified Gs. On cue, Enzo & Cass come out and rip The Club quite a bit - Enzo is absolute white fire tonight - so much so that Cena is taken off guard and corpses quite a bit before asking what the hell's going on. He tells them to get serious, and they say that they will.

The Club also cuts a response promo saying that they are gonna give the faces a taste of their own medicine. They also talk about their own chemistry and #BeatUpJohnCena and #BeatUpEnzo and #BeatUpCass and all of New Day.

The New Day come out now and rip The Club. AJ Styles responds by trying to startle Xavier Woods. It doesn't work, but Xavier admits that they should be scared of The Wyatts' mind game. However, The New Day are not normal men. They enter the ring and jump on John Cena not understand Enzo's mad rhymes. Xavier starts naming Pokemon before Old Man Cena tries to get them at attention.

This was fun albeit an absolute match as you would expect with lots of fun spots. In the end, New Day and The Wyatts fought to the back, leaving The Club and John Cena and Enzo/Cass in the ring. AJ went for a Styles Clash, but Enzo escaped and tried to hit AJ with an elbow, but AJ dodged and Enzo hit Cena. This moment allowed AJ to hit a kick followed by the Styles Clash to win.

The Club and The Wyatt Family def John Cena, Enzo & Cass, and The New Day

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We get a segment where Seth Rollins comes out to an empty arena reminiscing his days with The Shield, calling Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns pawns in his game of becoming The Guy. When his time came, he took the WWE Championship.

After Seth's knee buckled due to carrying the company, Roman Reigns rose to take his spot. Now? Roman Reigns returns on Sunday, and he will never be the same.

As for Ambrose, he is a thief and coward for stealing the title at Money in the Bank after Seth worked so hard to get it.

Tonight, Seth vows to be the one to end Ambrose's run at WWE Champion. Seth will pick up the title and reassert that he was always the man.

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Backstage, Shane and Mick Foley chat about why Stephanie REALLY hired Foley (to connect with the crowd and so Steph has someone to manipulate). Foley instead saw a woman with passion about wrestling and wanted to take advantage.

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Baron Corbin vs Sin Cara

Squash. Corbin wins.

Baron Corbin def Sin Cara

After, Corbin beats down Sin Cara until Kalisto makes the save. Corbin leaves the ring as Kalisto tends to Sin Cara. Corbin takes advantage by ripping Kalisto out of the ring and destroying him.

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Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch vs Charlotte and Dana Brooke

Very quick one. Stuff happened until Natalya came down to attack Becky Lynch to cause a DQ.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch def Charlotte and Dana Brooke by DQ

Sasha gets laid out by Charlotte and Dana as Becky sells somewhere.

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Backstage, Dean Ambrose cuts a handheld camera promo a la the old Shield days. Ambrose expects to retain his title despite an angry Roman Reigns returning on Sunday.

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Rusev and Sheamus vs Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder

This happened. Rusev submitted Ziggler with the Accolade.

Rusev and Sheamus def Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder

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A video package for Randy Orton plays

Backstage, The Ascension tries to sell the Wasteland to Mick Foley when Daniel Bryan interrupts. They briefly banter before talking about their respective rises and their common ability to overcome the impossible. They then make their rivalry official. May the best brand win.

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Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins (WWE Championship)

• Alright, you know the drill. We have a WWE Championship match, and full blog mode ensues.
• I will note that Stephanie, Mick Foley, Shane, and Daniel Bryan are at ringside for this.
• After the bell and some dueling chants, Rollins and Ambrose start with some chain wrestling before Ambrose gets the upper hand, causing Rollins to roll to the apron.
• Rollins reenters and we go back to chain wrestling as the dueling chants get louder and louder. Ambrose gets the upper hand again, and this time Rollins rolls to the floor for a break.
• This time Rollins reenters and immediately takes control with the kick to the midsection. Rollins tries to get control with some strikes, but Ambrose is still too much and clotheslines Rollins outside. Ambrose follows and gets some offense on Rollins, who tries to defend himself but can't. We go to break after Ambrose hits an elbow from the apron.
• We come back from break and Rollins is in control and stomps Ambrose's hand after whipping him hard into the corner. More finger working ensues as Rollins keeps the ground game strong. Every time Ambrose tries to get up, Rollins has an answer, including a corner STO for two.
• Eventually Ambrose is able to make it up after a cobra clutch from Rollins. Rollins tries to get Ambrose back down by converting the clutch into a Rainmaker, but Ambrose ducks and a double cross body ensues, knocking both down.
• Ambrose makes it up first and hits a comeback, hitting a PerfectPlex for two. Ambrose and Rollins soon start quickly exchanging roll-up combinations until Ambrose hits a neckbreaker for two.
• Rollins goes for a Pedigree, but Ambrose counters. Soon after, Ambrose is sent outside and Rollins tries to follow with a dive only to meet a forearm. Ambrose gets in the ring, dumps Rollins outside, and delivers a suicide dive of his own. Ambrose parades Rollins  around for a moment until the latter is able to get control and hits a barricade powerbomb.
• After the powerbomb, Rollins quickly rolls Ambrose back in the ring and hits a huge frog splash for two. We go to break right after.
• Back from break and Ambrose counters a buckle bomb into a hurricanrana against Rollins into the corner. Rollins soon finds his way to the apron where he hits a flying knee into Ambrose. Rollins tries to follow with a second frog splash, but eats mat as Ambrose rolls out of the way.
• Both men struggle to their feet, but Rollins is able to force Ambrose into the corner where he delivers a couple forearms. Ambrose follows Rollins to the opposite corner with a forearm of his own. Both men get out of the corner where a flurry of strikes ensue. Ambrose eats an enziguiri, but goes for a rebound clothesline.
• Rollins counters the rebound clothesline with a buckle bomb but WAIT A MINUTE, AMBROSE COMES RIGHT OUT OF THE CORNER WITH DIRTY DEEDS. ONE...TWO....ROLLINS GETS HIS FOOT ON THE ROPES. THIS IS STILL GOING ON!
• As Rollins sells on the outside, Ambrose comes out and clears off the Spanish table as management skedaddles. Ambrose goes for an elbow as Rollins lies on the table, but Rollins rolls off and back into the ring. Ambrose follows and gets back in the ring after Rollins tries to interfere. Ambrose goes for an axe handle off the top, but ROLLINS IS WAITING AND DELIVERS A PEDIGREE. ONE...TWO...AMBROSE KICKS OUT!!!
• An angry Rollins gets Ambrose to his feet for a second Pedigree. Ambrose counters and tries for the jackknife pin to no avail. Rollins hits a strike, allowing Ambrose to hit the rebound clothesline.
• Ambrose gets on top for an elbow, but Rollins hops up to go for a superplex. Ambrose knocks Rollins off, and Rollins falls into the referee. Rollins hops up and does deliver a superplex, but Ambrose holds Rollins in a pin cover for the three count. Slight problem: both Ambrose and Rollins had their shoulders down.
• Confusion ensues in the ring as both men think that they've won. As all four members of management get in the ring, Stephanie eventually leaves the ring, gets the title and mic from Lillian Garcia, and proclaims Rollins the new champion.

Seth Rollins def Dean Ambrose, becomes new WWE Champion

Well.......that was something.