Acting Raw GM, Baron Corbin, starts off the broadcast by going full heel and he ultimately pays the price for it as worlds collide.
The worlds have two names, Braun Strowman, and Brock Lesnar.
On 10/29/18 in front of a packed house at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC, Flair Country if you will, Corbin states that last week was emotion, but when and if Roman Reigns does return, he hopes it isn’t to RAW. Classy statement right there, but heels will do heel things.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiMYb37HTCo&w=560&h=315]
“The Advocate” for the beast, Paul Heyman, alerts us all to a spoiler, his client, Brock Lesnar, will regain the Universal Title at Crown Jewel this Friday. Braun Strowman takes offense to this and it leads to a confrontation with Lesnar, who appears in front of the Charlotte crowd. Strowman states that Lesnar will get these hands, but alas, it’s Corbin who eats a running powerslam, not once, but twice, as Strowman shows Lesnar what he can do.
Lesnar isn’t amused and he instead hits a devastating F-5 that leaves Strowman flat in the ring as he makes his exit and the broadcast is underway.
Finn Balor defeats Bobby Lashley via DQ after interference from Lio Rush.
The annoying Rush stops a Coup De Grace from sending Balor to the pay window for the second week in a row as Lashley and Balor gets the crowd behind them with a competitive match. People hate Rush and it’s awesome. He’s doing his job.
After Rush causes the DQ, Lashley destroys Balor, running him into the barricade and then the ring apron before taking his leave.
In a world where Baron Corbin does things differently, he books Lashley in the World Cup tournament, stating that he earned it after what he just saw, despite taking the loss. Lashley will replace John Cena, who made no secret that he won’t appear at the show after recent controversies in Saudi Arabia.
It’ll be intriguing to see what route Smackdown goes with the world title match, which is also in jeopardy after Daniel Bryan stated that he won’t be making the trip either.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-N4rVIdrxY&w=560&h=315]
Our first Survivor Series match is booked and it’s a good one. In the recent champion vs. champion series, we’ll have Smackdown’s Becky Lynch against Raw’s Ronda Rousey, that should be a fantastic affair for fans of the sport.
Trish Stratus/Lita/Natalya/Bayley/Sasha Banks defeat Alicia Fox/The Riott Squad/Mickie James via submission after a Sharpshooter from Natalya on Fox.
A little treat for the Charlotte fans after last night’s “Evolution” broadcast as they blow off feuds with a fun ten women tag team match. The faces shine and we see all sorts of enjoyable spots including a double Twist of Fate from both Bayley and Lita that has Corey Graves telling us how “wonderful” it was. That was terrific.
Alicia Fox takes the loss for her team after Natalya slaps on the Sharpshooter to put this one away. Always good to have nostalgia with Trish Stratus and Lita as both are always a welcome sight on the broadcast.
Nia Jax talks about waiting for her shot against Rousey after Survivor Series and Ember Moon appears to talk about last night’s battle royale. She challenges Jax to a match later that she accepts.
We see the shocking turn from Dean Ambrose multiple times throughout the broadcast and Seth Rollins, the IC Champ, will call out his “brother” Dean Ambrose later in the broadcast for answers on why he did what he did last week.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgaucX5nZuY&w=560&h=315]
We “Walk With Elias” as the newly minted face declines a song from Dana Brooke, knocks on Acting GM Baron Corbin’s door and talks a little trash before he is assaulted by Jinder Mahal. Corbin states that Elias got what he deserved and they have a scheduled match up next.
Elias defeats Jinder Mahal via pin fall with Drift Away.
Mahal continues his attack from earlier and he is able to apply pressure for a time, but ultimately, Elias takes charge of the match and he fires off many a right and left. Mahal misses a corner spot and Drift Away sends Elias to the pay window.
We see a package highlighting Kurt Angle’s road to Crown Jewel and Angle says he’s in better shape than he’s ever been and he’s ready to prove that he’s the best in the world. It’s true, it’s damn true.
Bobby Roode and Chad Gable defeat The Ascension and AoP via pin fall after a German Suplex/Elbow Drop combo on Viktor.
AoP, accompanied by Drake Maverick, is quickly eliminated from the triple threat match after the other two teams take their retribution for the attack that AoP inflicted on them last week.
A short match ensues and the Ascension are quickly sent to the shower as Roode and Gable come away with the victory following a double team maneuver.
Assuming the tag titles are held up following the turn by Ambrose last week, Roode and Gable seem to be in a good position to secure them, unless the rumors are true, and Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper happen upon the scene. We’ll see if that unfolds.
Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring, conflicted and saddened that on one of the most somber nights in the history of RAW, Ambrose chose to make things all about him. Rollins just wants to know why and he calls out Ambrose.
Dean’s music hits, but instead of coming down the ramp, he appears in the stands, Shield style. Rollins takes offense to this as he mocks the Shield now, at least in his eyes. He wants to know why, but as Ambrose presents a mic, Rollins calls him a true lunatic and a cold-hearted bastard. He says that if Ambrose won’t come to him, he’ll go to Ambrose.
As Rollins prepares to head into the stands, Ambrose walks away without giving an answer as to “why”. Rollins looks dejected and that’s that. We also find out that Bobby Lashley and Rollins will do battle in the first round, so it looks like Lashley will advance as stories surely have to continue between the two now formed “brothers”.
We then see a highlight video for the DX vs. Undertaker/Kane match and when we return, it’s the scheduled Nia Jax vs. Ember Moon match.
Nia Jax defeats Ember Moon via pin fall with a leg drop.
For some odd reason, we get to witness attempted Tamina push number 403 here as she makes her presence known during this contest, showing up to confront Jax. Instead of capitalizing, Moon just looks on and is flattened by Jax who puts her away with a leg drop.
It is what it is, but it looks like we’ll have Jax and Rousey down the line and Moon will continue in limbo as so many promising NXT talents have.
Tamina confronts Jax after the match and just smiles, backing down before the two engage one another.
“Lucha House Party” gets a promotional video as they make their Raw debut next against the Revival.
Kalisto/Lince Dorado defeat The Revival via pin fall after a Salida Del Sol.
While it’s great to see the 205 staples on RAW to help bolster a failing Raw tag division, the Revival, a once promising tandem, fall further down the card after taking another loss here tonight.
The crowd is behind the luchadors and after a miscommunication between members of the Revival, the Salida Del Sol is executed and after Dorado dumps Wilder, Dawson eats the three count.
Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre head to the ring and Ziggler feels bad for Kurt Angle, who he faces in the first round at this Friday’s world cup, he runs down his credentials and says that he, in fact, is the best in the world. Apollo Crews is out for singles action against Ziggler.
Dolph Ziggler defeats Apollo Crews via pin fall after a superkick.
The two have a competitive match, but after Crews misses a high risk maneuver, Ziggler capitalizes with a counter and then he nails a well-placed superkick that sends Crews packing and puts Ziggler on the road to the world cup tournament.
The Brothers of Destruction and DX will close the show up next with an in-ring confrontation.
Undertaker and Kane are out to a resounding reaction and they say for the first and last time, DX is in for a world of pain and it won’t be swift, it’ll be slow and agonizing. It won’t just be the “end of an era”, it will be the “end of your error”. The crowd boos, as Taker and Kane are full heel for this affair. They say that will take place Friday, but tonight, they are summoning DX to the ring here and now.
Taker says they will take their souls for eternity so they can never rest in peace. The music of DX hits and both Triple H and HBK oblige the request, heading to the ring for a confrontation before Crown Jewel.
Triple H appears on the ramp, but Shawn Michaels isn’t with him. Kane leaves the ring to confront Triple H, but HBK outsmarts Undertaker as the Deadman turns around and is played the sweet symphony known as Sweet Chin Music. Taker hits the mat as HBK takes his leave and joins Triple H.
The Deadman sits up and stares a hole through DX as the broadcast ends and Crown Jewel is hyped. It happens early Friday and should present some enjoyable matches including the tag team confrontation that ends the show.
