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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Oct. 1, 2018) from the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington, featuring the go home show to the upcoming Super Show-Down event set for this coming Saturday in Melbourne, Australia..
Advertised for tonight: Shawn Michaels returns, Ronda Rousey takes on Ruby Riott, Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens, 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 OCT. 1
Don’t know who made this all come true, but now while you’re here you just gotta do what you gotta do. Now if I wasn’t such a weenie, do you think you’d still love me, pretending I’m an airplane on the living room floor? But like a lovely generator, you stand right by me and if words were wisdom I’d be talking even more, but for now, I’m just liveblogging this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with Dean Ambrose making his entrance.
He’s interviewed in the ring about the Dogs of War’s claims from last week and he says there’s truth to what they said last week, and a lot of it. Seth and Roman are both champions and he has nothing. He was a champion all on his own before, and when he got hurt and lost a year of his life and career, Rollins DID replace him pretty quickly with Jason Jordan.
And sure he’s thought about leaving the Shield. He thinks about a lot of things, and maybe he’s already given his notice and turned in his uniform. Maybe on the way here he ran Roman off the road and he won’t even be here tonight, there’s a lot of possibilities. He asks what kinda questions people are asking, if it’s like “why is he still in the Shield, is he going to abandon them, turn his back on them?” or “when’s he finally gonna snap, because he’s such a lunatic?”
Or maybe people are thinking that he’s just waiting for the perfect time when nobody’s looking and nobody’s watching, to slip the knife right in their back. They roll tape on Dean’s moment of truth from the end of the show last week when he returned to his brothers and partook in the Shield fist bump and he’s asked what was going through his mind. He asks if they want him to ask himself why he even came back to Raw to do nothing but clean up his brothers’ messes.
Or if they thought he was thinking he’s sick, tired, and over the Shield. But why not ask why he did what he always does, which is stand by his brothers. The Shield isn’t a business or a brand, it’s a brotherhood, and they will ALWAYS ride into battle together.
He goes to leave but is interrupted by acting general manager Baron Corbin. He says that was a really good story but all he hears is a bunch of whining and asks if something is gnawing at “that little lunatic brain” of his. Dean asks him if he’s a therapist now in addition to being the world’s largest substitute teacher, or if he’s salty because he hasn’t been able to put the Shield down.
Baron admits the Shield are tough and his team fell short, but the Shield weren’t causing chaos and no cops were caused, so he considers that a win, and he’s out here to give Ambrose an opportunity be judged by his actions, and he’s got three choices for matches tonight-- an Intercontinental Championship match against Seth Rollins, a Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns, or a straight singles against Braun Strowman.
Dean leans on the ropes and things for a moment before returning into the ring to give his answer. Corbin asks what’s it gonna be, his brothers or his career? Ambrose says he’s not gonna sing and dance and he wants secret option number four, a match against Baron right now! Corbin declines and picks for him-- Dean gets Braun right now!
Well, after the break.
Braun Strowman vs. Dean Ambrose
Circling, Ambrose with a low dropkick, following it with kicks to the knee but Strowman drops him with a headbutt! Off the ropes, running boot to the chest, drawing him up, whip into the corner and Dean takes the buckles hard. Following it up with a neck crank, Ambrose fights to his feet but gets clubbed right back down! Forcing his way to his feet, Braun stalks behind him, club to the chest, corner body avalanche follows and the monster is well in control at this point.
Back to the neck crank, shifting to a rear chinlock and almost hanging Dean by the head before slamming him down to the mat. Big slap across the face, Ambrose fills with fighting resolve and returns the slap only to get bieled across the ring for his trouble! The big man chokes him over the bottom rope, looking for a bear hug but Dean reverses to a guillotine choke!
Braun flags but doesn’t fails, back body drop, Ambrose trying a sunset flip, chop block, stomp the back of the knee, wrench the leg over the ropes and light him up with forearms, he charges in but Strowman swats him aside to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Braun sets Dean up top with the double choke, jockeying for position, crossface strikes, powerslam denied, Dirty Deeds denied and a low-bridge sends Strowman to the floor! Back in, Ambrose sidesteps a charge, running forearm, shotgun dropkick, duck a lariat, but he gets caught and swatted down! Out of the powerslam again... DIRTY DEEDS CONNECTS BUT HE’S TOO SLOW TO MAKE THE COVER AND THE MONSTER KICKS OUT!
To the floor, Dean sidesteps again, Braun eats the steps hard, Ambrose breaks referee John Cone’s count and the monster slips into the ring. Back in after him, a desperate powerslam connects but Strowman can’t cover him! Both men writhe in pain on the mat, Dean rolls to the floor and Strowman uses the ropes to rise to his feet. Stalking out after the lunatic, violence in his eyes... POUNCE!
He throws Dean into the barricade, puts boots to him and tosses him back in the ring. Braun in after him, he draws him up... RUNNING POWERSLAM! He ain’t done yet, and goes to drag him up... ROMAN REIGNS MAKES THE SAVE! The Big Dog gets in the ring... SUPERMAN PUNCH! John Cone’s got no choice but to throw it out...
Braun Strowman wins by disqualification.
Jockeying for position, Reigns with a boot, Seth Rollins in with a diving lariat and they run the monster among men off!
Braun backs his way up the ramp and his partners the Dogs of War show up to back him up. Baron Corbin comes out and says this isn’t the Shield show, it’s his show, and since they can’t let Dean fight his own battles, they’ll get their own, Rollins vs. McIntyre later and Reigns vs. Ziggler... right now!
Or well, after the break.
Back from commercial, Dean is getting iced up by a trainer when Seth Rollins comes to check on him. Ambrose throws the ice in anger and Rollins says it’s about the war, not the battle, and Roman came out when he had to. Dean says it’s funny, because he could be Intercontinental Champion right now, and he stalks off.
Baron comes out again and angrily says he runs the show and Roman doesn’t get to defend his title whenever he likes, so this is non-title, as is Seth’s match later. In fact, Reigns won’t defend the title until Crown Jewel in November!
Dolph Ziggler vs. Roman Reigns
Ziggler right at it, beating the Big Dog down in the corner, scraping his face across the top rope but Reigns throws him into the corner and pops him with a right hand! Dolph with a jawbreaker and a big dropkick for two before grabbing a bodyscissors reverse chinlock. Roman fights to his feet but Ziggler slams him down to the mat, Heartstopper elbow... NOPE!
Pass into the post, Reigns falls out to the floor. Big DDT from Dolph, referee Shawn Bennett counting but Ziggler breaks the count and throws Roman back into the ring. Fameasser connects... NOPE! And we go to break on that note.
Back from commercial, Ziggler has a reverse chinlock applied but Reigns struggles to his feet and fights out with right hands. Staggered, stumbling, Dolph ducks a lariat and grabs the sleeper hold! Flagging but not failing, the Big Dog rams him into the corner to reverse. Snapmare, back elbow on the charge, the lariat combo follows, whip reversed into the leaping lariat!
Corner lariats to follow it up, calling for it... Superman Punch sidestepped, schoolboy with a handful of tights... NO! Superkick caught, firemans carry fought out of with a rake of the eyes, Zig Zag... BUT THE BIG DOG AIN’T NO OL’ YELLER! Ziggler tuning up the band... HE GETS CAUGHT BY THE SUPERMAN PUNCH BUT KICKS OUT! A pause as he thinks about what’s next, into the corner, howling mad... COUNTERED INTO A SUNSET FLIP FOR TWO!
Headbutt connects but Roman comes charging off the ropes...
Roman Reigns wins by pinfall with the spear.
The Bella Twins are shown meeting up with Natalya and Ronda Rousey backstage, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, the Bella Twins make their entrance to be in Ronda Rousey’s corner.
The Riott Squad get a handcam promo decrying conventional beauty and talking about the unconventional things they find beautiful, like watching Rousey crumble after losing tonight.
Ronda Rousey vs. Ruby Riott
Riott keeping her distance early, collar and elbow, Rousey backs her in the ropes and gets the arm drag! Another one, judo throw, and Ruby heads to the floor into the arms of her stablemates. Referee Rod Zapata counting, Riott returns, knee to the midsection, clubbing blow, Ronda gets a wristlock takedown and follows Ruby to the floor.
Ruby cuts her off on her return and puts her into the post and the barricade before throwing her back into the ring. Cover made, only one, wrenching Rousey’s hair over the ropes, clubbing blow, and the action heads back outside for a moment. Riott smashing Ronda into the apron, back inside, cover comes up empty, a wristlock while kneeling on the back of the champion’s head and she drops the knee for another cover.
Again using the hair to wrench Rousey’s neck over the ropes, fishhooking her mouth with a chickenwing applied and she follows it up with a stiff forearm... NOPE! Choking her over the ropes, again going after the hair, again a cover comes up empty. Headbutt, the standing STO, together only good for two and Ruby’s starting to get hot and shouting. Wristlock stomps to the head like she’s kickstarting a lawnmower engine, Riott Kick... COUNTERED INTO A CAPTURE SUPLEX!
Ronda fired up, right hands, gutwrench... DELAYED DOCTOR BOMB! Nailing Sarah Logan with a kick, Ruby capitalizes... STILL NO! Fireman’s carry from the champion, swinging Death Valley Driver...
Ronda Rousey wins by submission with the cross armbar.
Commentary tosses to a video package covering the Becky Lynch / Charlotte Flair feud of late before hyping up Rollins vs McIntyre for later in the show.
Bobby Roode and Chad Gable make their entrance to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Roode gets a picture-in-picture promo about how he’s beaten big guys like Konnor before
Konnor also gets a picture-in-picture promo where he talks about how the mentor will fall like he student.
Bobby Roode vs. Konnor
Leg kicks, chops, basement dropkick, chipping away but Konnor rams Roode in the corner when he goes for the Glorious DDT. Up and over, the wastelander freight trains him! Not enough to put Bobby away, so he goes to the reverse chinlock. Elbows to break but Konnor clubs him down, off the ropes for an elbow drop but Roo rolls away! Drop toehold into the turnbuckles, perched up top, diving lariat and Bobby’s fired up!
Leg kicks and chops, backing Konnor into the ropes, whip reversed, flying forearm, corner lariat, whip reversed, boot up in the corner, diving blockbuster and at last the wastelander’s taken off his feet! Calling for it, he gets distracted when Viktor blasts Gable on the floor, Konnor capitalizes...
Konnor wins by pinfall with the Dominator.
We get a Moment of Bliss where she talks about how we all have heroes, including the heroes like her. Her hero growing up was Trish Stratus, and she still can’t believe she’ll be wrestling her at Evolution, but there’s something else she can’t believe, when she first met Trish at the age of seven. She was standing outside the arena, shivering in the cold, and there she was, her hero.
She remembers gazing up at her wrinkly eyes and introducing herself, asking for an autograph, and she’ll never forget that Trish burped in her face and told her it’d be fifty bucks. Alexa said she was seven and her autograph book was her most prized possession. Stratus ripped the book, stepped on her foot, and Bliss cried the whole night, and learned that when it comes to your heroes, Stratusfaction is NOT guaranteed.
The B-Team make their entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial and the match is in progress!
B-Team (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel) vs. the Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson)
Dawson in control on Axel, dissecting his arm with repeated knees and a top wristlock. Really cranking it in, tagging Wilder in, and he goes right to work with a seated armbar, drop toehold, blocking Axel from the tag before locking the top wristlock back on. Struggling to his feet, Curtis puts Wilder into the corner... TAGS MADE! Dallas in hot, running Scott over with a boot and an elbow, but Dash runs interference and Dawson takes advantage to hit a spinebuster... NOPE!
Rocket Launcher... BO GETS THE KNEES UP! IT’S OVER!
B-Team win by pinfall with a lateral press after Bo Dallas countered a Rocket Launcher with his knees up.
THE AUTHORS OF PAIN ATTACK THE B-TEAM AS THEY CELEBRATE, BEATING THEM DOWN AND THROWING THEM INTO THE APRON! Into the ring... SUPER COLLIDER!
Roman Reigns rolls up backstage to check on Dean, saying he just wants to know if he’s alright. Ambrose fumes, unresponsive, before saying he’s fine and they’re all good. He opens up and says he had Strowman and was gonna put him away, to which Roman says he was worried about him getting hurt and not being able to make Australia, to which Dean says if he wasn’t such a nice guy, he’d be Universal Champion right now.
Commentary hypes up our festivities, including Shawn Michaels’ appearance, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Baron Corbin is meeting with the Authors of Pain and DRAKE MAVERICK backstage.
He puts them over for their attack on the B-Team and takes his leave.
Charly Caruso is in the ring to put over WWE’s partnership with Susan G. Komen for breast cancer awareness, and we get a video package for the same. She then introduces some special guests who all agree that breast cancer is unacceptable, Dana Warrior, Dr. Candice Grzelak, Patty Bulger, and Jennifer Teeler, all positioned at ringside. before exhorting people to support the campaign.
Backstage, Dolph Ziggler is telling the other Dogs of War that this could be the Shield’s very last night together, he can feel it. Braun puts Dean over as a tough bastard who’d fit in with them as a winner, and he needs Drew McIntyre to go win against Rollins tonight. He says they don’t need any weak links, with a pointed stare at Ziggler, and leaves.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial in time for McIntyre to make his entrance.
Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins
Collar and elbow, McIntyre bringing his strenght to bear and backing Rollins into the corner until referee John Cone forces the break. Back to the lockup, again in the corner and this time he breaks dirty with a slap. Iron resolve fills Seth’s face and he turns him around to hammer him with punches! Cone pulling him back, whip reversed, up and over, duck the lariat, single leg dropkick and clothesline sends Drew to the floor... SUICIDE DIVE!
Springboard leapfrog back in, big chops, whip reversed, up and over but this time McIntyre cracks a kick into his ribs and follows it up with a kneeling armbar, scraping the bones of his forearm across the Architect’s face. Seth to his feet, McIntyre switches it up, back suplex, Rollins lands on his feet, to the apron, back body drop, jockeying for position, Seth thinking powerbomb but Drew puts him into the post and knocks him to the floor!
McIntyre with a side slam into the apron and we go to break!
Back from commercial, both men are down and out and dragging themselves to their feet. Rollins blocks a punch, throwing chops and forearms, whip reversed, duck the lariat, Sling Blade connects! Boot up in the corner, to the second, diving blockbuster... only a nearfall! Back body drop puts Seth on the apron, enzugiri connects, springboard northern lariat... STILL NO!
Rollins reverses the inverted Alabama Slam into a victory roll, another nearfally, Blackout denied, Seth floats over into the Falcon Arrow! Seeing the opportunity, Rollins heads up top but Drew cuts him off! Big chop, climbing to join him, jockeying for position... ROLLINS TAKES HIM ACROSS THE RING FOR THE BUCKLE BOMB! AVADA KEDAVRA CONNECTS, FIRED UP, TUNING UP THE BAND BUT DOLPH ZIGGLER RUNS DOWN FOR THE SAVE! THE DISTRACTION IS ENOUGH...
Drew McIntyre wins by pinfall with Claymore!
Ziggler immediately starts beating Seth down and McIntyre joins him. ROMAN REIGNS MAKES THE SAVE! Right hands, a whirlwind...
(RRROOOAAARRR!)
Here comes Braun Strowman and the Dogs of War turn the tide! DEAN AMBROSE JOINS THE FRAY! Dogs of War take him out too, they set Roman up... RUNNING POWERSLAM!
Commentary throws to a video package covering the AJ Styles / Samoa Joe feud before hyping the Australia show up.
We go backstage with Elias, tuning his guitar before Kevin Owens rolls up. Elias goes through his rider, his triangle of waters, all his spinach and his cashews... except he asked for almonds. He throws the bowl of cashews in a crew member’s face and offers KO a water to send us to break.
Back from commercial, commentary tosses to a sneak peak of WWE 2K19.
Elias is in the ring to sing us a song, joined by Kevin Owens. He plays a few bars and launches into his usual spiel, with KO raising his hand when he asks who wants to walk with him. The Drifter puts KO over as a big fan and a friend of his, and Kev thanks him for the intro, saying he’ll walk with him anytime, especially on Saturday in Australia when they fight Bobby Lashley and John Cena.
Their team makes sense, because they have similar likes and dislikes and they’re a couple of great guys. What doesn’t make sense is Cena and Lashley teaming, much like having a basketball team in Seattle. This, uh, this provokes a stronger negative reaction than the usual sports reference I don’t understand, for whatever that’s worth. Fighting against the massive crowd noise, KO runs Cena down for not being around, and Elias says he’ll never forgive John for ruining his WrestleMania moment.
But he can’t ruin their Saturday, because they’re smart and they’ve figured it out-- Elias interrupts, screaming at the tech crew to lower the lights because he’s sick of looking at Seattle. KO continues and says they say nobody’s had more big matches than Big Match John, but that’s only because his ego is so big and he won’t allow himself to perform unless he’s on a certain level of excellence.
They continue, saying that to be the best, you have to beat the best, and they’re the absolute best, which is why Lashley and Cena have no chance on Saturday. Speaking of the best, Elias is the best and he has to give encores all the time, but on Saturday night KO’s gonna do the encore when he powerbombs John into the apron!
Enter Lio Rush. He says they’re completely justified in recognizing just how important their match Saturday is, and some people call John Cena the greatest of all time, but Big Kev better not overlook his match tonight because if he does, he’s about as foolish as Lio’s been making him look these past two weeks. So stop all the chit-chat and prepare yourself, because tonight he’s got the heavyweight that’s back to dominate and ready to do battle right here in Seattle.
Bobby Lashley makes his entrance, but we go to break before the match can begin.
Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens
Collar and elbow, Lashley shoves Owens to the mat and he bails right to the floor, regrouping with Elias. Back in, waistlock, standing switch, a takedown, another one, Bob with the waistlock for a third time but KO gets to the ropes and grabs a side headlock takeover to follow it up. Lashley to his feet, shot off, drop down, shoulder block and again Owens hits the floor to regroup with his partner.
Back inside, a lariat takes Kev out and Bob beats on him in the corner, punches and kicks, to the next corner and the one after, smashing his face into the turnbuckles and posing. Fourth corner, Owens gets a boot up to block at first but Bob puts him into it anyway. Trading punches against the ropes, referee Rod Zapata warns them off. Lashley with the whip, KO with a kick but Bob snaps a scoop powerslam off on him!
Fireman’s carry, Owens fights out with elbows and sidesteps the charge, putting Lashley hard into the post! KO fired up and taunting and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Lashley is down and out on the floor and Elias is jawing at him. Owens heads back out after him and smashes his hand into the steel steps before throwing him back in the ring and hitting the senton for two. Keylock applied, Bob fights to his feet but KO trips him and takes him right back down! Jawing at Lashley, mocking Lio Rush for cheering his man on, and Bob starts to fire up and gets to his feet.
Right hands, off the ropes, leapfrog and he takes Kev out with a lariat! Rolling solebutt, off the ropes, northern lariat and a normal lariat! Charging in, boot up, but he counters a lariat into a reverse STO! Fired up, charging lariat, shoulder thrust, delayed vertical but Owens fights out, so Lashley hits him with the spinebuster! Elias and Rush getting into it, Lio using his speed but the Drifter catches him with a full nelson and KO takes advantage of the distraction...
Kevin Owens wins by pinfall with a schoolboy pin.
Bob beats Kev down post-match but Elias runs in and puts boots to Walking Armageddon. KO joins the fun, Lio off the top with a crossbody... ELIAS SWATS HIM OUT OF MID-AIR! The Drifter throws Bob into Kev’s waiting arms... POP-UP POWERBOMB!
Commentary hypes up Alicia Fox vs. Bayley and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a hype reel for tomorrow night’s Mixed Match Challenge.
Commentary then explains how to watch Mixed Match Challenge.
Alicia Fox gets a picture-in-picture promo saying she’ll right the ship and reclaim her place as captain.
Alicia Fox vs. Bayley
Fox rushes Bayley into the corner, shoving her, but the Hugger turns it around for the mounted punches. Alicia with a neck snap, big facebuster, only two and she grabs a reverse chinlock to follow it up. Shifting, looking for the northern lights suplex but Bayley slips away, blocks the leg pick and comes off the second with the elbow for two.
Knee from Foxy, arm wringer, that beautiful northern lights suplex into the bridge... NOPE! Back to the reverse chinlock, shaking her around in it, whip to the corner but Bayley catches her and flapjacks her into the turnbuckles! Boot up in the opposite corner, lariat connects, another one, to the apron for the Stunner through the ropes! Too Sweets up, squaring Alicia up, fending off interference from Jinder, she wrecks him with a dropkick and Balor follows with a Sling Blade!
Fox rushes in, Bayley is ready...
Bayley wins by pinfall with the Bayley-to-Belly.
Commentary hypes HBK up and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Shawn Michaels makes his entrance.
He tells the crowd they make it feel good to come home again and he says you have to imagine what it’s like going into something as intimidating as Super Show-Down, where even before it happens you feel the gamut of emotions and now it’s time. The last time ever, Triple H vs. the Undertaker one-on-one, that’s happening. Several months ago when it was first mooted, he pried his wallet open and booked a flight to Melbourne because he knew it was going to be a historic event.
And he was asked who he thought was going to win, and for the love of god, he’s got nothing but the utmost respect for the Undertaker, but any day of the week he’ll pick his best friend over ANYBODY on the face of the earth. And for one reason or another, that upset Taker, but he made it personal and now it is. His brother Kane’s in his corner, so HBK has news for him, HHH has his brother in his corner.
Shawn tells Kane to understand that if he or anybody else tries to crowd the ring, god as his witness, he’ll brush him back courtesy of some Sweet Chin Music!
Enter Kane! In the ring, behind HBK! Michaels turns around and gets pasted with the big slicing right!
(DONG.)
TAKER’S IN THE RING TOO! He slashes his throat with his thumb and hoists Shawn up for the Tomstone... TRIPLE H IS HERE TO MAKE THE SAVE! RIGHT HANDS! KANE PULLS HIM OFF AND TAKES SOME OF THE PAIN AS WELL! Goozle but HBK pulls the Big Red Machine off! The Brothers of Destruction set them up... STEREO CHOKESLAMS ON DX!
Triple stumbles to his feet, the Deadman catches him... TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER! HBK crawling, reaching, but he’s so worn out that the Brothers of Destruction leave him crawling and head up the ramp.
They pose with fists up and lightning on the stage.
That’s the show, folks.