:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55437901/20170621_Raw_Brock__83e45f4a910b23fb0a3fffbe7ef5e55c.0.jpg)
WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (June 26, 2017) from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for early next month in Dallas, Texas.
Advertised for tonight: Brock Lesnar is back to raise some hell, whatever is next for Enzo Amore, 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.)
WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JUNE 26
Who gives you the right to come here and tell me I have to leave this place my home? To you it's a jungle, to me it's a kingdom where my people are free there to roam, and I'm here to liveblog this pro wrestling show, folks.
The show opens with Michael Cole welcoming us and Roman Reigns making his entrance.
He paces his yard a couple times and gets on the mic, saying he's gonna call it like it is, last week on Raw Samoa Joe finally put the Coquina Clutch on him and put him to sleep. And when he was done, Braun Strowman returned like a coward and picked the bones. He challenged the Big Dog to an ambulance match at Great Balls of Fire.
He's been in a lot of stipulation matches, but never that one, so he accepts, and he wants Braun to know that he's getting thrown in the back of the ambulance and Roman's gonna drive him straight to hell, because this is his yard and he makes the rules--
(Sirens blare.)
An ambulance backs into the arena by the entryway. Roman goes to investigate, opens the back, and Braun attacks from behind! A biel across the stage! Roman tries to fight back but Strowman catches the Superman Punch... HE THROWS HIM INTO THE SIDE OF THE AMBULANCE!
He chucks Reigns into the back and shuts the doors, just in case you needed another reminder of the rules of an ambulance match.
Commentary talks up how Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe are both here tonight before hyping a six-man tag for after the break.
Back from commercial we get a recap of what we just saw because Raw is a three hour show-- and to be fair, what we saw was pretty sweet.
The Drifter is here to sing us a song flanked by the Raw Tag Team Champions. He starts to play but is cut off by the Hardyz' music!
Cesaro, Elias Samson, & Sheamus vs. Finn Balor & Hardy Boyz (Jeff & Matt Hardy)
Matt and Sheamus to start, circling, collar and elbow, Celtic Warrior in with a knee, an uppercut, headbutts, backing Matt in the corner. Whip, Hardy back in with punches, tag to Jeff, Poetry in Motion connects, Cesaro runs in, double suplex, Samson in, Finn runs him off, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Sheamus tags Cesaro in to work Jeff over, and one of the stars of the new Transformers movie has joined the commentary desk for some reason. Hardyz putting a comeback together, Finn tags in, snapmare to slingshot stomps, sunset flip countered into a low dropkick, only two, Balor looking for 1916 but Cesaro drops him on the apron and tags Sheamus in.
Beats of the Bodhran, tag to Cesaro, working Finn over until they tag the Drifter in and the Irishman goes wild on him. Sheamus in, body slam, only two, Canadian backbreaker rack, Balor slips away and tags Jeff in. Manhattan Drop to the double leg drop, cover gets two, Hardy waiting for it, kick to the gut, Twist of Fate blocked, Sheamus eats ringpost on a charge!
Up top, Cesaro saves Sheamus so Jeff changes direction and wipes him out with a splash to the outside! Knee gets Sheamus a deep nearfall on Jeff and we go to break again.
Back from commercial, Samson is in putting it to Jeff Hardy and antagonizing Balor. Tag to the Celtic Warrior, stomp, top wristlock, Irish Curse gets two, Cesaro tags in. Diving double axehandle, another two count, Cesaro knocks Finn off the apron, back body drop, Sheamus tags in, running Brother Nero over, kick to the gut, Twist of Fate!
Tags made on both sides, Matt throwing forearms on Elias, smashing his face over and over into each turnbuckle in turn, Delete! lariat, running bulldog connects, Side Effect... SHEAMUS BREAKS IT UP! Cesaro puts Hardy into the post, Sheamus tags in, tag to Cesaro, the assisted spike White Noise... BALOR BREAKS IT UP!
Jawbreaker for separation, Balor tags in, house afire, Penalty Kick off the apron for Samson! Enzuigiri for Cesaro, a clothesline outside, dodge the Brogue Kick, clothesline Sheamus outside... TOPE CON GIRO! Rolling Cesaro back in, lying in wait, sling blade, shotgun dropkick, climbing up top, Matt stops Sheamus with a Twist of Fate, Jeff takes the Drifter out...
Finn Balor & the Hardy Boyz win by pinfall with Coup de Grace from Finn on Cesaro.
The babyfaces celebrate doing Finn's pose to his theme.
We get a video promo from Goldust, he says there's something truly magical in the air and asks if we can feel it, if we can taste it, if we're on the edge of our seats. The anticipation makes him tingle, and tonight the Shattered Truth hits Hollywood. Don't worry, Truth, he understands if he's nervous, and even the biggest stars suffer from a little stage fright.
But when the red light goes on, you must perform, you must bring your A game, you must shine like gold. After all, it's their grand finale, and tonight he puts the finishing touches on his masterpiece. Don't you just love a happy ending? The Golden Age is back, and we're going to break.
Back from commercial in time for entrances for Goldust vs. R-Truth.
But Goldust clocks R-Truth before the bell because Truth is messing with his personal cameraman and he beats the two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion down! Drawing him in the corner, yanking him into the post, and the match is off.
Paul Heyman is interviewed backstage and he runs down all the things his client Brock Lesnar will be doing tonight when Samoa Joe comes from behind! He makes like he's going to choke him out, but Joe tells him it's not meant for him and it's not going to be wasted tonight, because that Coquina Clutch is for his client. He tells Paul he looks good and sends him on his way.
MizTV with the Ball family will be up next, after the break.
Back from commercial we get a bumper telling us how important Stephanie McMahon is, and we then get a recap of the singular women's segment from last week and some hype for tonight's gauntlet match.
Backstage Kurt Angle is turning a tumbler full of numbers for the gauntlet and Bayley picks hers.
Miz makes his entrance, flanked by Maryse as always. She seems happy to be here but balks when he goes for a kiss.
Miz says now that he's exposed Dean Ambrose for the fool that he is, he and his wife are quite happy, but again she balks on the kiss. So it's time to look to the future, and since they're in his adopted home town, he has an announcement that will change things forever. Just like he regained the Intercontinental Championship, his guest willed his goal into existence this past Thursday at the NBA draft.
He introduces LaVar and LaMelo Ball. LaVar introduces another of his sons, Lonzo Ball, and the five of them sit awkwardly for a minute. Miz congratulates Lonzo and LaVar on their accomplishments and talks up what an honor it is to partner with the Big Baller Brand, but LaVar cuts him off, saying he's not here for a partnership.
He was thinking higher, and Miz is a little too low for them right now. Miz takes offense and points out that he's a proven champion, asking how many LaVar and Lonzo won, and they claim five between them. LaVar says Miz stands for Misinterpreted Zone or Million Zippers and tells him to zip it.
LaVar says there are only two dudes better than him and he's both of them? He calls LaMelo in to handle it and is threatening to unleash... the balls? I'm sorry folks, I am so far out of my depth here, I have no idea what any of this is. LaVar says the hunt is on and shakes, telling Miz to put his clothes back on after he takes his jacket off.
Enter Dean Ambrose as LaVar Ball does a little tai chi? LaVar dances around the ring as Dean informs Miz that he is actually the one that Big Baller Brand chose to represent them at Great Balls of Fire, and ain't nobody has bigger balls than Dean Ambrose, plus he likes free t-shirts.
We're going to break, I hope.
Back from commercial in time for the bell to ring.
Beauty and the Man-Beast (Heath Slater & Rhyno) & Dean Ambrose vs. Miz & the Miztourage (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel)
Dean and Miz to start, Miz running away repeatedly so Ambrose settles for chopping Axel a bunch. Tag to Slater, arm wringer and wrenches, tag to Rhyno, double whip into a back elbow, short-arm headbutts, Curtis gets a few clubbing blows in, backs him in the corner, tag to Miz.
Left hands, big chop in the ropes, hammer whip, choking the Man-Beast in the corner before tagging Bo in to put boots to him. Quick tag to Axel, keeping the heat on but Rhyno fights a headlock with body blows. Whip to the corner, back elbow up, falling lariat connects and the ECW star tags Ambrose in.
Duck a lariat, throwing his own, snap swinging neckbreaker to fend Miz off, corner lariat to a bulldog / clothesline combination! Clothesline takes Axel outside, Miz from behind, hooked for Dirty Deeds, escape, Beauty and the Man-Beast dump him outside onto his Miztourage and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Curtis is in control on Heath, dropping him with a northern lariat for a two count. Tag to Bo, choke in the corner, tag to Miz for the Awesome Clothesline, Daniel Bryan chest kicks, taunting Dean, Slater ducks the buzzsaw finish and plants him with a flapjack. Tag denied, Dallas in, choking and throwing crossface strikes, tag to Axel.
Snapmare, blockbuster, Heath fighting desperately, Miller's Crossing! Miz tags in, cutting the tag off again but Slater gets a heel kick in... tags to Rhyno and Bo! Rhyno running Dallas over, putting him in the corner, shoulder thrust, Bo blocks a belly-to-belly with headbutts but gets caught by the spinebuster and Miz breaks the pin up.
Dean chases the A-Lister around the ring, Axel paintbrushes Rhyno...
Miz & the Miztourage win by pinfall with a schoolboy pin from Bo Dallas on Rhyno.
Paul Heyman is pacing backstage waiting for Brock Lesnar.
We get a video package recapping the Enzo & Big Cass tragedy, and Enzo is walking backstage. He'll be up after the break.
Back from commercial, Enzo Amore makes his entrance, he does the deal.
He says he's not doing too good, but this isn't about him, it's about the realest guys, plural, in the room. He takes his jacket off and says he's called Cass all week, texted him, left voicemails, even got in touch with his mother, but nothing. He wants to handle it man to man, and he's done plenty of stupid things, and it ain't the first or the last time for that.
Big Cass makes his entrance, somewhat awkwardly still to Enzo's theme. The crowd boos him and Enzo says he knows he hears that reaction, and what he knows is that hurts Cass, because he knows Cass better than anybody. That reaction hurts him just like Big hurt him, and he's already bled out deep.
Cass said a lot of hurtful things, and you know what? He was right about a lot of those things. Enzo knows he's not the biggest and sometimes he bites off more than he can chew, but that was okay because he had Cass, and everything they ate, they ate together, like family. He says Cass was his brother, and last week he might have broke his heart and nearly broke his face, but that's a bond he refuses to let him break.
He can't explain how much pride he took when Cass hit the gas and he was sitting shotgun, and that journey ain't over. What happened was in the past, and he doesn't have time to dwell on the dead, and he saw all manner of emotion in Big's eyes, and he knows Cass saw the same passion roll down his cheek, and the last time he felt that was when he was knocked out on pay-per-view and woke up in the hospital.
No time to dwell on the dead, Enzo has to focus on the future and he refuses to break that bond before they become tag team champions. Big steps forward and Amore shrinks before Cass makes it clear he wants the mic. He says Enzo never knows when to shut up, but he has to be honest; after what he did last week he's never been so ashamed in his life.
Yeah, Enzo's annoying, loud, he constantly runs his mouth, but that's him and he accepts Enzo for who he is and he knows neither of them can change the other. Like he said, they're brothers, so in front of the world, he wants to tell his brother he's sorry for everything he's said and did, the past five weeks, and he asks Enzo to accept his apology.
His hand outstretched, the crowd begs Enzo to turn him down but Enzo is telling him they have a future, they're family, all riffs on the stuff he was saying before, and they shake hands. Cass pulls him in for a hug and holds him tight, slapping his shoulders. Big says if anybody thought they were gonna throw a lifetime of friendship away, there's only one word to describe them...
They leave, dancing up the ring like everything's normal... until Cass lays Amore out with a lariat on the stage! He draws Enzo back up, telling the crowd if they want him, they're gonna get him... PRESS SLAM DOWN THE RAMP!
Seth Rollins is up after the break.
Back from commercial, we get some hype for the women's gauntlet match by way of Sasha Banks.
Big Cass comes to the announce table and says he should snap Corey Graves' neck for what he did last week, but Kurt Angle said he can't touch him. He warns Corey to stay out of his business.
Curt Hawkins vs. Seth Rollins
Curt Hawkins polls the crowd as to who thinks he's going to win right here, right now. (Van Halen is kicking ass in America?)
Hawkins in with a knee, punching away, whip across, lariat gets one, mounted punches, back suplex, one more. Knee to the back, drawing him up, smashing the Kingslayer's face into the corner, stomp, straight suplex, this has all been Curt Hawkins so far. Cutthroat choke, Rollins struggling to his feet, out with body blows, off the ropes, leaping the trip, enzuigiri knocks Curt off the apron!
Off the ropes, suicide dive connects, back in the ring, sling blade, whip reversed, mule kick, diving blockbuster, springboard clothesline, Avada Kedavra blocked on the first try but connects on the second, lying in wait...
Seth Rollins wins by pinfall with the ripcord knee strike.
(Wyatt noise.)
Bray Wyatt is in the black room, saying last week Seth took a leap of faith. It seems that he's under the impression that because mankind has forgiven him, his soul is clean. (What does Mick Foley have to do with this?) He walks around wearing the filth of vanity like a suit of armor, waving the corporate flag and telling the people to be like no one, but if you blindly lead these ignorant people to a place of a no return...
If he values his redemption, he'll give in to his true self, and Bray is here to help him, to melt the lies away with fire. He should be glad, about to be cleansed with the flame of a true god. Be careful what you think, what you wish for, because Wyatt is inside his mind, everywhere, and July 9 will be the date of his reclamation.
Give in to your true self or you will burn.
(Wyatt noise.)
Backstage, Kurt Angle is on his phone and Mickie James and Dana Brooke are drawing their numbers.
Paul Heyman is waiting for Brock to show up, and a black SUV rolls up. Sure enough, the Beast himself gets out and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Sasha Banks is drawing her number for the gauntlet match. She seems pleased.
Paul Heyman is in the ring to do his usual introductory schtick. He continues talking about how Joe doesn't fear Brock. Samoa Joe stepped into the ring and pulled a cheap shot on Lesnar-- if Paul were to start a fight, not that he wants to, he would do a cheap shot too, knowing the locker room would pile on and separate.
And with everyone holding Brock back, Joe hit cheap shot number two and kicked Lesnar in the face. This just proves that Samoa Joe is a Samoan dumbass, and we all know that Joe isn't burdened with great intelligence. It takes a smart man to know when to fear, and now is the time for Samoa to start being afraid of Brock Lesnar.
The bathroom break is over, hit record, this is the moment we'll all be talking about tomorrow, because ladies and gentleman, he's here to introduce to us the Beast, the conqueror, who will call Samoa Joe to the ring for a fight, Brock Lesnar.
Enter, logically enough, Brock Lesnar. SAMOA JOE ATTACKS FROM BEHIND! THE COQUINA CLUTCH IS ON! TAKING BROCK TO ONE KNEE! LESNAR TURNS HIM AROUND AND PUTS HIM INTO THE LED SCREEN! JOE'S NOT LETTING GO, HE GOES BACK IN THE SCREEN BUT PUTS THE COQUINA CLUTCH BACK ON! BROCK IS FADING!
The Revival and Karl Anderson pull Joe off of Brock! Referees help Brock as he comes back to life and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get a recap of what we just saw because it was AWESOME. (And also Raw is three hours long.)
Lince Dorado (MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!) has a match, and again Akira Tozawa has been set up ringside by the Titus Brand, er, Titus Worldwide.
Lince Dorado vs. Neville
Circling, Neville in with a kick, sending Dorado face first into the turnbuckles before choking him against them. Hard whip, just smashing Lince's face from corner to corner, but the cat man blocks one and throws hands, leading to a side headlock takeover and the King locking him down.
Out, throwing chops, rolling solebutt from the champ, dropkick sends him to the apron, another kick knocks him down, Dorado with a tope con giro! Diving crossbody gets two and Neville comes in with more kicks to lay him out...
Neville wins by submission with the Rings of Saturn neck crank.
Tozawa takes his jacket off and rolls his shirt up and gets in the ring with the champion, but Titus O'Neil interrupts. He asks why they'd fight for free, especially considering he just finalized a match for them to get it on at Great Balls of Fire. Neville will defend the title against the newest superstar under contract with Titus Worldwide!
So we're gonna find out real soon if the Neville Level has anything to compare to the Power of Tozawa.
Emma is backstage picking her number for the gauntlet match, and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get a recap of the opening segment because Raw is three hours long.
Paul Heyman runs into an interview and he says this proves everything he said about Samoa Joe is true. Samoans are proud warriors who take that fight straight to your face, but Joe sneaks up from behind and applies the Coquina Clutch. Don't get him wrong, in thirteen days if the Coquina Clutch takes hold, he'll have a problem.
As a promoter he's loving every minute of this, because his client has his back up against the wall, where he has to have it so he doesn't get jumped again. This will be down and dirty, ugly and nasty, fought to the brutal finish, and Brock will finally take Joe to Suplex City and hit the F-5.
When they're waking Samoa up in the trainer's room he's gonna say "Oh dear God, is that what it's like to fight the Beast? Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"
Nia Jax is leaving Kurt Angle's office and Alexa Bliss rolls up asking what number she got. Jax doesn't share and Bliss tries to pitch her on an alliance, talking about how alike they are and saying her own mother laughed when she signed her contract, betting that Jax went through similar stuff.
It's not easy being judged, so tonight wherever she goes out, she wants Nia to know that no other woman in the match can drag her down. Alexa wishes her luck even though she doesn't need it, and Jax says she doesn't need it, and is going to win and get the title shot at Great Balls of Fire.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial in time for entrances.
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke vs. Emma vs. Mickie James vs. Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks (WWE Raw Women's Championship #1 Contender's Gauntlet Match)
Bayley and Nia to start, the Hugger approaches with trepidation, Jax shoving her, and Bayley stamps Nia's foot! Off the ropes with forearms, Jax picks her up and throws her in the corner before running her over with a lariat. Bayley throws a back elbow up, takes a couple shoulder thrusts in return, and Nia puts her hip through her head before wrenching her neck over the middle rope.
Body blows beget a headbutt, the Hugger stumbles away, more shoulder thrusts, sidestep a charge, overhead elbows, a running knee and Bayley's back in it! Climbing the turnbuckles, diving elbow across the back of Nia's neck... NO GOOD! Bayley peppering her with kicks, trying to take her legs out from under her but Jax launches her hard into the corner.
Dropkick in the corner, climbing again and Nia cuts her right down to the mat. Fireman's carry...
Nia Jax eliminates Bayley by pinfall with the Samoan drop.
Mickie James is up next, but first we're taking a break.
Back from commercial, Nia biels Mickie across the ring. Punishment in the corner, James trying to fight back and she just earns a bear hug. I can hardly bear it! Headbutts to escape, Mickie goes low but Jax gets a handful of hair, going for a lift, James counters with a dropkick, trying to cut her down with kicks, whip denied!
To the corner, boots up, climbing the turnbuckles, diving Lou Thesz Press but it only gets a two count. Shove, Mick Kick connects but Nia stays on her feet, thinking Mickie-DT, Jax reverses, runs Mickie over...
Nia Jax eliminates Mickie James by pinfall.
Dana Brooke out next, right into a shoving match, or well, that's what she wants but Nia biels her. Cartwheel offense, Jax just shoves her away, off the ropes...
Nia Jax eliminates Dana Brooke by pinfall with a running leg drop.
Emma up next, she comes in snapping Jax across the top rope, basement dropkick, off the ropes, another, cover only gets two! Emma climbing, diving crossbody caught, Nia pops her up...
Nia Jax eliminates Emma by pinfall with the Samoan drop.
Last but not least, Sasha Banks!
Charging in with forearms, Nia shoves her away but she gets right back in time and again. Shifting to slaps, jawbreaker connects, huge slap to the face and the Boss beckons her over. Low bridge, off the ropes, suicide dive, Jax catches her! Fireman's carry, Banks slips out and puts her into the post... METEORA OFF THE APRON!
Off to break we go!
Back from commercial and Nia has Sasha in a reverse chinlock but the Boss gets to her feet, so Jax throws her outside, happy to take the countout victory. Banks back in, Nia throws her in the corner but runs into boots. Corner knees, again, caught on the third try, Jax throws her into the ropes and runs her over... NOPE!
Chucking Sasha outside again, Jax demands referee Chad Patton hurry up and count her out. Banks crawls her way back in and breaks the count, throwing wild punches but a single shot to the back puts her on the mat and Nia walks literally all over her. Disdainful kicks, wristlock, drawing her up, scoop and a slam, elbow drop, only a nearfall.
Again throwing the Boss outside like a sack of potatoes, but Sasha comes back and catches her in the ropes. Forearms, Jax runs her over, clobbers her against the ropes and settles in for a rear chinlock over the bottom rope. Cover made, only a nearfall and Nia throws headbutt on headbutt, leg drop to the leg and Banks is in pain as Jax dumps her outside through the bottom rope this time.
But Sasha won't die and gets back in, so it's the bear hug again! Unbearable! Going for a cover in the hug! Banks reverses to a guillotine choke, Nia re-reverses and drops her to the mat! Suplex lift, the Boss blocks the first try, up in the vertical, she slips out, rolling away from the leg drop! Sliding knee strike and both women are laid out!
Both desperate, clambering to their feet, Banks in, tilt-a-whirl into a standing Bank Statement crossface! Jax throws her off and connects with the Samoan drop but Sasha rolls to the apron! Upkicks, fighting as hard as she can, Nia shakes her by the head, picks her up for the Samoan drop, Sasha takes her back and grabs a crossface! Elbows to the face, an arm trapped, Jax is fading!
On her knees! Reclining! The Boss wrenches it in! NIA TAPS! IT'S OVER!
Sasha Banks wins, last eliminating Nia Jax by submission with a reclining crossface and becoming #1 contender to the Raw Women's Championship!
Kurt Angle comes to the ring to raise Sasha's hand in victory.
Enter Alexa Bliss. She gets in Sasha's face and raises the title up... Banks with a dropkick! She takes the title and kicks Alexa out of the ring, raising it high! Bliss tries to snatch it back but backs off.
That's the show, folks.