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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (July 19, 2021) from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, featuring all the fallout from the Money in the Bank pay-per-view (PPV) that went down just last night in Fort Worth.
Advertised for tonight: John Cena returns to the show — he’ll actually be kicking things off — to explain his motivations for returning to confront Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley is still WWE champion and is looking for his next title challenger, Nikki ASH is the women’s Money in the Bank contract holder, and more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the Raw live blog will kick 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 JULY 19
The ground starts to tremble beneath my feet, seems like my train is coming in. I can hear it screaming in the distance, my train is coming in. Eyes cast towards the heavens, they can tell my train is coming in. All hands, I have to liveblog this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with John Cena making his entrance.
He gets on the mic and talks up the crowd, including a kid who’s turning 11 and holding a sign saying as much. He says he missed us (we missed you too, John) and he missed this. He loves the confusion and the chaos and all the different chants and everyone is loud and everyone is here. The biggest superstar in WWE is the WWE Universe, and they’re not just loud in here, tonight is deafening and electric!
He knows what everyone is thinking, yes he’s gonna wear the Peacemaker suit to the Suicide Squad premiere. No, he knows everyone wants to know why he showed up and ruined Roman’s celebration. Who brought him back to WWE? He came back with the crowds, to be able to connect with everyone. And it was Reigns, which brings him to the what— he’s here for the WWE Universal Championship.
When? Five weeks from now at SummerSlam. Where? Las Vegas. Why? Here’s where it gets interesting— he could tell us about pageantry and main events and record-breaking title wins, but it’s not any of that, it’s because Roman Reigns is an asshole. (I think that’s what he said, they cut his mic.) And Cena believes he has to be knocked down a peg.
This pathetic Roman Reigns experience has gone on long enough, and he’s an arrogant, self-absorbed, overhyped, overprotected, overexposed gimmick who isn’t as over as he says he is. And that’s coming from John Cena! There’s a saying, if you’re good, you ask everyone to say you’re great, and he asks the crowd to demonstrate that.
...and if you’re great, they tell you. And he’ll be on SmackDown to confront Roman directly.
Matt Riddle makes his entrance.
Cena says he finally gets it, and they “bro” at each other for a minute before Cena leaves and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get some hype for a Bobby Lashley open challenge later tonight, as well as Charlotte Flair’s championship coronation.
AJ Styles, John Morrison, & Omos vs. Matt Riddle & Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar)
Riddle and Styles to start, side headlock, shot off, shoulder block, off the ropes, drop down, Matt plants him with a kick and a back body drop! AJ tags out to Morrison, Riddle with a LeBell Lock, John reverses, rolls under the kick, and plants him wtih elbows! Big knee into palm strikes from Deep Waters, backflip up and over, big exploder suplex... NOPE!
Ivar tags in, working Morrison over, quick tags, John gets away and tags Styles in! The match breaks down, vikings low-bridged to the floor, Morrison wants a Frankensteiner but the big men block and sandwich him! Omos tosses AJ in an assisted senton to the floor and we go to break!
Back from commercial, Omos is in control on Riddle, grinding him down and beating on him! Styles in, brainbuster for two, tag to Morrison, working Matt over at length. Eventually Erik tags in, AJ tries to keep him overwhelmed, blocks a suplex with a knee but the viking judo throws him into a knee! Styles returns the favor with a Pele kick and both men are down and out!
Tags made, Morrison and Ivar legal, Warbeard ducks a springboard kick and lays him out with the cartwheel lariat! Banzai Drop, headed up top... NOBODY HOME ON THE MOONSAULT! Johnny with the running knee, Starship Pain... NO WATER IN THE POOL! Riddle steals the drip stick and squirts Omos before leaving the toy with Miz and incriminating him!
Omos stalks after Miz, Morrison tries to help his friend but the big man throws him back in the ring! Vikings pop him up...
Matt Riddle & Viking Raiders win by pinfall with the Viking Experience from the Raiders on John Morrison.
Jaxson Ryker is staring into the camera backstage before we cut away to a recap of his strap match against Elias.
We cut back and he’s still staring, telling us to wait until what he does to Elias tonight, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a hype reel for WWE’s presence in Texas and reminding us that WrestleMania is going to be in Dallas next year.
Elias is in the ring to play us a song.
He plays us a lick and launches into his “walk with Elias” schtick.
Jaxson Ryker interrupts him from the tron, clearing his throat.
He says people are sick and tired of hearing him introduce himself over and over and over again, and that’s why after tonight, we’ll never hear the words “Hello, I am Elias” again.
Elias vs. Jaxson Ryker (Symphony of Destruction Match)
Ryker hot out the gates, trading punches, whip across, Elias with a front kick and he dumps him to the floor! Jaxson rams him with a keyboard before waffling him across the back with it and smashing his face into it! Cover for two, Elias blocks a cymbal shot and rams him with it instead! Ryker with punches, throwing the Drifter through a drum set and then smashing him face-first into the bass drum!
Guitar in hand, Jaxson goes up on the apron... ELIAS COUNTERS THE EL KABONG WITH A KNEE FOR TWO! Ryker gets the guitar back... El Kabong! And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, jockeying for position on the apron, back in the ring, Elias hits him with a trumpet and lays him out with a back elbow! Trading strikes, headed to the floor, the Drifter throws the whole-ass drum kit at him but Ryker keeps walking forward! Side headlock, taking him to the grand piano, Elias stops himself short and smashes Jaxson’s face into the cover!
They climb up on the piano and trade chops, nearfall on the piano! Elias goes and gets himself a cello and wallops Ryker with it! Cover... NO! Hammering him with elbows, beating him down, fired up, back inside but Ryker cuts him off in the turnbuckles! Jockeying for position... JAXSON RYKER SUPERPLEXES ELIAS OFF THE TOP AND THROUGH TWO TABLES! IT’S OVER!
Jaxson Ryker wins by pinfall with a superplex to the floor.
Backstage, five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville are chatting with Mansoor when Mustafa Ali rolls up.
Sonya says they’ve been discussing his request to team with Mansoor and they think it’s gonna happen. Ali protests and Mansoor says he’s heard all of Mustafa’s lessons and he thinks he’d best teach him from right beside him. Ali agrees but tells him it’s just this once and he better not screw it up.
Sheamus rolls up to complain about being forced to wrestle tonight after defending his title last week.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, Charlotte Flair makes her entrance.
She gets on the mic and talks about how proud she is to be your new Raw Women’s Champion. Rhea Ripley can do as many of her moves as she likes, but she’ll never live up to the original. She adds up all of her title reigns and proclaims herself the only 11-time women’s champion in the history of WWE. She goes on about beating Rhea—
Rhea Ripley makes her entrance.
Flair points out she left victorious with the title while Ripley was writhing in agony with her hurt knee like a little girl.
Five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville come down.
Deville congratulates Charlotte on being an 11-time champion and Pearce points out she just said she could beat Rhea any night of the week, and if Ripley is up for the challenge, then she should be too, so the match is official! Flair kicks Ripley’s leg out of her leg and storms off!
We get a recap of the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Alexa Bliss appears from her playground, and she’s super excited about her guest tonight.
Natalya and Tamina make their entrance to send us to break.
Natalya & Tamina vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
Match joined in progress, Baszler has a heel hook locked in on Natalya. Back and forth, Jax takes Tamina out on the floor, Shayna with a knee to Neidhart, cover for two! Working her over, stomping the bicep, Nattie gets a little bit of a comeback after Nia tags in but she can’t keep the rally rolling! Tag to Snuka, boot takes Jax off the apron!
Baszler with a kick combo, Tamina scoop and a slam, up top, Reginald gets involved, Snuka is ready...
Natalya & Tamina win by pinfall with a superkick from Tamina on Shayna Baszler.
Post-match, Baszler argues with Nia and tries to convince her that Reggie is the problem... AND SHE HEADBUTTS HER BOY!
Akira Tozawa runs away from the 24/7 Championship scene and laughs at them for stumbling on the ramp, he gets into it with Reginald, standing tornillo, cartwheel senton...
Reginald wins the 24/7 Championship.
The 24/7 title scene gives chase as Reggie puts the title around his waist and backflips away!
Sheamus makes his entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get some hype for Karrion Kross’ Raw debut, tonight!
Humberto Carrillo vs. Sheamus
Carrillo lighting Sheamus up, strikes, double leg into punches and stomps, and the Celtic Warrior rolls to the floor! Slingshot crossbody follows it up, jockeying for position over the ropes, Humberto with a diving crossbody, only two! Clubbing blows, we see Damian Priest watching backstage as Carrillo keeps laying kicks in on Sheamus.
Celtic Warrior with an apron powerbomb and we go to break!
Back from commercial, Sheamus has a kneeling armbar locked in, he gets away, off the ropes, Irish Curse! Fishhooking his mouth, the Beats of the Bodhran follow, Humberto fires up, laying kicks in, Celtic Warrior with boots up in the corner, up top, jockeying for position, Carrillo snaps off an avalanche Frankensteiner!
Suicide dive follows, back inside, missile dropkick off the top... NOPE! Back and forth striking, Sheamus explodes off the ropes...
Sheamus wins by pinfall with the Brogue Kick.
Bobby Lashley makes his entrance, flanked by Montel Vontavious Porter, ready for his open challenge, and they send us to break.
Back from commercial, Bobby Lashley gets on the mic.
He says he did all the talking he needs to do when he destroyed Kofi Kingston last night. No more talking, he asks Montel Vontavious Porter to tell ‘em what’s up. MVP says everyone is lucky to be in attendance tonight, to bear witness to the All Mighty. He talks about the statement Bob made at Kofi’s expense, and admits he had to go do some serious introspection and admit that Kingston was right about Lashley losing his edge.
He apologizes to Lashley, that’s on him, but what Kofi didn’t realize was the inferno he lit in Bob’s heart, and going forward, anyone that steps in the ring with this man faces utter annihilation and decimation. No more bullshit, they are back to business, and everyone here gets to witness the most dominating WWE Champion in this history of this company.
Lashley asks who’s gonna accept the open challenge...
IT’S KEITH LEE!
Bobby Lashley vs. Keith Lee
Collar and elbow struggle early, Lee turning the speed up, big crossbody, trading strikes, off the ropes and he gets Bob up but the champ slips out and hits the reverse STO! Shoulder thrust in the corner, sending Keith to the floor! Lashley follows after him, Lee puts him into the post and then sandwiches him against it!
Bob recovers, big spear on the floor, back inside, grounded punches, lifting from behind for the Hurt Lock but Keith is too limitless for the Hurt Lock! Lashley hits a big chokeslam and lies in wait...
Bobby Lashley wins by pinfall with the spear.
Post-match... GOLDBERG IS HERE!
He strides to the ring and gets in Lashley’s face... HE’S NEXT! MVP pulls Bob away and barely manages to keep the champ back!
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, MVP and Bobby Lashley are interviewed backstage.
I miss the opening beat of the interview in the bathroom but as I sit back down they decline a question and leave.
Jinder Mahal is in the ring with Veer and Shanky.
It’s his birthday! He plays some footage of his little back and forth with Drew McIntyre over the last several weeks, saying that his interference in Money in the Bank last night was karma coming back around. He says he can buy ten new motorcycles, but Drew will never have another title shot as long as Bobby Lashley is champion.
He invites everyone to join in as Shanky sings him a happy birthday, but Drew McIntyre attacks with a chair and lays Veer and Jinder out! Shanky is left along with him, McIntyre opens his arms wide as if to back off in peace but instead wails on Shanky with the steel chair! The chair mangled, Drew throws it aside and takes his shirt off, leaving the ring for a fresh chair!
He hammers Shanky with more chairshots, the crowd counting along!
We get a Karrion Kross video package.
Kross appears on the stage, alone, bereft of Scarlett Bordeaux, and makes his entrance to send us to break.
Jeff Hardy vs. Karrion Kross
Hardy with a side headlock, shot off, Kross cuts him off and puts boots to him! Drawing him back up, exploder suplex, another one, fired up, charging in but Hardy sidesteps and he eats post! Front kick, Twist of Fate, headed up top... NOBODY HOME ON THE SWANTON BOMB! Winding his arm up, Jeff goes behind, Karrion backs him into the corner, elbows, climbing up, Hardy with a folding press and his feet on the ropes...
Jeff Hardy wins by pinfall with a folding press and his feet on the ropes.
Post-match, Kross is interviewed in the ring.
He says Jeff Hardy just made the biggest mistake of his life, because in the end, everyone will fall and pray.
Alexa Bliss is in her playground and she admits to being a little sore today but that’s okay because she’s got a very special guest, fresh out of time out... Lily!
She says Lily promises to beon her best behaviour this time when Eva Marie and Doudrop roll up in matching leopard print.
Eva says she didn’t appreciate being treated like an afterthought but here’s Alexa ignoring her again in favor of a creepy doll. Bliss says if Eva insists on coming to her playground, it’s a bad idea to say anything mean about Lily. Eva jokes about telling Doudrop to toss her creepy little doll in the trash where it belongs and Alexa says that’s a bad idea and she wants to put Doudrop in time out for a minute, just so everybody can see how it feels and how Eva Marie does by herself.
Eva says she doesn’t want to waste any more time with either of them and she goes to leave but trips and falls. Doudrop helps her up and they run off to send us to break.
Back from commercial, commentary announces a tag title rematch for Viking Raiders next week.
We get entrances for our main event and go to break.
Back from commercial, we get some hype for tonight’s episode of Raw Talk.
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
Ripley ducks a lariat, big lifting facebuster into grounded punches, Flair gets away and kicks her in the midsection for some breathing room! Whip to the corner, charging in, sidestepped, Stinger Splash from Rhea sets up shoulder thrusts! Slugging it out in a wristlock, punches give way to a big knee from the champ, whip to the corner, Rhea explodes out with a dropkick for two!
Cravate applied, Charlotte slips out and smashes her face into the turnbuckles before hammering her with a hard chop! Smashing her into the turnbuckles, suplex reversed into an inside cradle... NO! Front chancery, suplex lift, Flair floats over, Rhea ducks a lariat and hits a German suplex! Off the ropes, basement dropkick, cover for two!
Hard whip, clothesline to the floor, Ripley back up on the apron but Charlotte targets the injured leg to kick her back to the floor! Sliding out after her, charging... CHOP BLOCK! Rhea writhes in agony clutching her knee, Flair throws her back inside, but referee Chad Patton backs her off so he can check on her leg as we go to break.
Back from commercial, Flair is working Ripley’s leg in the corner, wrenching it over the ropes and dropping a knee across it! Putting boots to the knee, spinning toehold, kicked into the corner and Charlotte is staggered on the turnbuckles! Short German suplex, Rhea slow to capitalize from her injured leg! Flair hammering her with forearms, Ripley catches her with a series of short-arm lariats ending with the ripcord kick!
Bridging northern lights suplex... NOPE! STO backbreaker out of the corner, Charlotte follows it with a big boot! Moving her into position, Flair goes up top, hits the moonsault... THE KNEES ARE UP! Ripley slaps some life back into her knee, spinning toehold into the figure four leglock! Flair rolls over and reverses the pressure!
Putting boots to Rhea after the break, chops back her into the corner, Ripley kicks her away, kick to the midsection, pumphandle... RIPTIDE BUT SHE’S TOO CLOSE TO THE ROPES AND FLAIR GETS A BOOT ON THEM! Charlotte grabs her title and decides she’s just walking, Ripley gives chase, Flair blasts her with the belt...
Rhea Ripley wins by disqualification.
Post-match, Rhea attacks Flair and they brawl around ringside! Riptide, Ripley throws Charlotte in the ring, Nikki ASH is here!
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Nikki ASH (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
ASH perches and dives...
Nikki ASH wins by pinfall with a diving crossbody to become the new WWE Raw Women’s Champion.
Nikki celebrates in the crowd.
That’s the show, folks.