WWE Raw
October 22, 2018
Dunkin Donuts Center
Providence, Rhode Island

You can follow me on Twitter @NotoriousJoshie

Transcription by Josh Lopez

Roman Reigns Announcement: 

Roman Reigns feels like he owes everyone an apology. For months he said a lot of things about being consistent, being a fighting champion and etc. That’s all lies. The reality is that his name is Joe and he has been living with leukemia for 11 years. Unfortunately the leukemia is back. Reigns will relinquish the WWE Universal Championship. Reigns will take every prayer coming his way, but he’s not looking for sympathy because he has faith.

When he was 22 years old, he was diagnosed with this disease and was able to put it in remission. He didn’t have the money at the time and he had a baby on the way. Football was done with him. The WWE gave him a chance. When he finally made it to the main roster, he was put in front of all of you and you have made his dreams come true. It didn’t matter if you cheered him or booed him, you reacted to him. That’s the most important thing and he thanks everyone.

Life is not fair and it is not all peaches and cream. Life can throw you a curve ball. Reigns is going home to focus on his health and his family. Don’t worry it’s not a retirement speech. After he’s done whooping leukemia’s ass, he is coming back home. It won’t be about winning titles and being on top. He will have a purpose. He wants to show the whole world, his family, his friends, his children, and his wife that he will swing for the fences every time. Reigns will beat this and he will be back. He loves the WWE Universe and you can believe that. Reigns lays the title flat in the center of the ring. We get a special Shield pose on the stage.

First Match: Bobby Lashley w/Lio Rush vs. Finn Balor 

Lio Rush is providing ringside commentary. Lashley kicks Balor in the gut. Lashley with a clubbing blow to Balor’s back. Lashley bodyslams Balor for a one count. Lashley is applying pressure to Balor’s neck. Lashley goes for a Running PowerSlam, but Balor lands back on his feet. Lashley starts choking Balor. Balor dropkicks Lashley. Balor is distracted by Rush. Balor chases Rush around the ringside area. Lashley clotheslines Balor on the floor.

Lashley applies a neck vice. Lashley drives his knee into the midsection of Balor. Lashley drops Balor with a straight right hand. Lashley is basking in his own glory. Lashley goes for The Dominator, but Balor blocks it. Lashley with a Back Body Drop. Balor responds with a Basement Dropkick. Balor kicks Lashley in the jaw. Balor ducks a clothesline from Lashley. Balor with a Flying Forearm Smash.

Balor with a double leg takedown. Balor follows that with a Standing Double Foot Stomp. Balor is fired up. Balor blasts Lashley with a knife edge chop. Lashley catches Balor in mid-air. Lashley connects with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Lashley goes for a Delayed Vertical Suplex, but Balor counters with a SlingBlade. Lashley avoids The Coupe De Grace. Lashley clotheslines Balor. Lashley goes for The Dominator, but Balor rolls him over to pickup the victory.

Winner: Finn Balor via Pinfall 

Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler Backstage Segment:

Second Match: Ruby Riott w/The Riott Squad vs. Sasha Banks w/Bayley and Natalya 

Feeling out process after the bell rings. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Ruby backs Sasha into the ropes. Sasha applies a waist lock. Ruby transitions into a side headlock. Ruby drops Sasha with a shoulder tackle. Ruby applies a wrist lock. Ruby stomps on the left boot of Sasha. Ruby goes back to the side headlock. Ruby and Sasha are running the ropes. Sasha with a shoulder tackle of her own. Sasha drop toe holds Ruby to the canvas. Sasha follows that with a Running Meteora for a two count. Sasha tugs on Ruby’s hair. Ruby kicks Sasha in the ribs. Ruby slams Sasha’s head on the canvas for a two count. Ruby pie faces Sasha. Ruby and Sasha are trading back and forth shots.

Ruby drives her knee into Sasha’s neck. Sasha slaps Ruby in the chest. Sasha with an Mexican Arm-Drag. Ruby decks Sasha with a Back Elbow Smash. Ruby wraps her legs around Sasha’s neck. Sasha launches Ruby to the ring apron. Sasha with a Jumping Knee Strike. Liv Morgan stops Sasha in her tracks. This leads us to a major standoff. Sasha rolls Ruby back into the ring. Ruby thrust kicks the left knee of Sasha. After the commercial break, Ruby is putting the boots to Sasha.

Sasha is displaying her fighting spirit. Ruby hits The STO for a two count. Ruby applies The Cravate. Sasha with an arm-drag takeover. Sasha sends Ruby face first to the middle turnbuckle. Sasha with multiple clotheslines. Sasha dropkicks Ruby. Sasha with a Flying Meteora. Sasha ducks a clothesline from Ruby. Sasha with a BackStabber. Sasha gets Ruby in position for The Bank Statement. Sarah Logan is running interference. Bayley and Natalya starts brawling with The Riott Squad. Sasha joins the melee on the outside. Ruby kicks Sasha into the steel ring post. Ruby lands The Riott Kick to pickup the victory.

Winner: Ruby Riott via Pinfall 

D-Generation X & The Brothers Of Destruction Segment: 

A lot of big words are being thrown around and one of them is fear. Fear that kept him from taking off the suit and leaving the boardroom. It was fear that kept Shawn Michaels from stepping out of retirement. It will take a lot more to instill fear in them than taking your lunch hour and grabbing a GoPro and walking down the stairs of Knoxville City Hall, putting on the mask and making an idle threat. No member of DX is running for mayor. Nostalgia has been thrown around. That doesn’t mean new merchandise, it means sentimentality. Nostalgia is a polite way of saying old. Speaking of nostalgia, there is a movie that came out 40 years ago called Halloween that is number one at the box office.

Two weeks ago we packed 70,000 in the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Maybe old is just a polite way of saying we’re better. The X in D-Generation X has been running for 22 years. When you see it, you knew that they were better than everybody else. Today, maybe this X is in the past, but there is another X that also says they’re better. There is another X that speaks to the future and the future is now. They’e running that too. DX is not going to Crown Jewel to make jokes. They are coming to kick The Brothers Of Destruction’s ass. If you are not down with that, they’ve got two words for ya.

The lights go out inside the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Brothers Of Destruction are in a graveyard. Pride goes before destruction. Arrogance proceeds the fall. DX’s reunion will be the vessel of their fall. They can bring their dreams and illusions to harness respect. Undertaker and Kane will bring their fear and unleash utter contempt. There’s tombstones for DX.  DX’s first match back will be their last match against anyone. Their bodies will rest here while they will own their souls for eternity. DX will deal with defeat in the deepest pits of hell. Just remember, DX will never, REST IN PEACE!!

Paul Heyman, Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre In-Ring Segment: 

Paul Heyman’s thoughts and prayers are with Roman Reigns. It’s humbling to be among the members of that locker room and be in the presence of such courage and greatness. What you saw was sacrifice. Roman Reigns sacrificed his career and aspirations because he could not fulfill the obligations of Universal Champion because the title deserves the best any champion has to offer it. You have the right to point at the Universal Champion and say that is the best and that is everything that this presentation and show and industry has to offer. That’s number one. Until 8:05 PM eastern, we had the right to brag that the best was the Universal Champion. Now, what do we do? Reigns would be the first person to say that the show must go on, and so it does.

At Crown Jewel, it will be Brock Lesnar versus Braun Strowman for the Vacated WWE Universal Championship. Only one can say that they can carry on the legacy of Roman Reigns. Only one can say that they are worthy of carrying the title and that is not Braun Strowman. There’s only one being in this match who is worthy of being your champion. The only one worthy of laying down that title in the octagon and show the sports world that he is the best that can be offered and his name is Brock Lesnar.

Braun Strowman can bill himself as a monster, but Brock doesn’t bill himself as a beast, he is a beast. Strowman is not in Brock’s league, category, or stratosphere. He cannot compare to Brock Lesnar. He’s not in the same stratosphere as Brock Lesnar. Braun Strowman comes out to interrupt Paul Heyman.  The only words that need to come out of Heyman’s mouth is that Strowman is going to beat Brock’s ass all over Crown Jewel. Strowman will bring the title back to Raw every Monday, instead of whenever he wants. When Roman Reigns beats leukemia, he will get the first title match. Brock Lesnar will most definitely get these hands. From behind, Drew McIntyre nails Strowman with The Claymore Kick.

Third Match: Elias vs. Apollo Crews 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Crews with a side headlock takeover. Crews drops Elias with a shoulder tackle. Crews leapfrogs over Elias. Crews dropkicks Elias. Crews with another side headlock takeover. Crews tosses Elias out of the ring. Crews goes for a SlingShot Crossbody Block, but Elias ducks out of the way. Crews ducks Elias in the gut. Crews delivers a MoonSault off the ring apron. Elias applies a rear chin lock. Crews gets back to a vertical base.

Crews side steps Elias into the turnbuckles. Crews is throwing haymakers at Elias. Crews with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Crews thrust kicks the midsection of Elias. Crews with a Jumping Clothesline. Crews is fired up. Crews with a Standing MoonSault for a two count. Crews ducks a clothesline from Elias. Crews connects with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Elias uses the top rope for leverage. Elias with a Jumping Knee Strike. Elias plants Crews with Drift Away to pickup the victory.

Winner: Elias via Pinfall 

Kurt Angle Promo: 

It’s hard to be in the ring when you can’t do what you did in your prime. Angle never thought he would have a chance to win the World Cup, but it will be tough. He may have to face Seth Rollins and he will pull out everything in his arsenal to do what it takes to win. Jeff Hardy has never met a risk he would not take. He has overcome more in life than anyone else in this tournament.  Some say all Miz does it talk and talk, but Miz wins and wins. Miz still has a chip on his shoulder.

Rey Mysterio is not someone to underestimate because he will take your title if you do. Dolph Ziggler has a long resume and winning will validate what he has been saying. Randy Orton has always been unhinged but he is more dangerous than ever.  John Cena proved that he had ruthless aggression. Don’t let the bright colors fool you, Cena will be a future WWE Hall of Famer.  This is is an opportunity to prove that he is the best in the world. Angle conquered the world in the olympics He might not be the same man he was 15 years ago, but on this night he can do it. Oh it’s true, it’s damn true.

Elias & Constable Baron Corbin Segment: 

Ronda Rousey & Nikki Bella’s WWE Evolution Contract Signing: 

We all know that Ronda Rousey is looking for a fight and that’s not what The Bella Twins are looking for. Why would she fight in Providence, Rhode Island. Rousey is not here to fight. She wants to make sure that Nikki signs the contract so she will be there on Sunday for their fight. She won’t lay a finger on Nikki and her word is her bond. Her mother would be embarrassed if The Bella’s hurt her with arms tied behind her back. We have to sell the PPV that’s the point of the contract signing.

The Bellas finally enter the ring. Did Rousey promised her mother that she would win in the Olympics and win the World Championships, just like she did? Didn’t she tell her mother that she wouldn’t get hurt in the octagon and retire undefeated? Rousey mother is already ashamed of her. What will her mother think when a Diva takes her daughters title at WWE Evolution?  Nikki signs the contract. Nikki proceeds to slap Rousey in the face. Rousey is pissed and she signs the contract. Come Sunday, she will end Nikki.

Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins Backstage Interview: 

Fourth Match: Nia Jax vs. Ember Moon vs. Dana Brooke vs. Tamina in a Fatal Four Way Match 

Moon thrust kicks the midsection of Tamina. Jax launches Brooke to the corner. Moon with multiple shoulder blocks. Jax pulls Moon off of Tamina. Moon and Brooke dropkicks Tamina and Jax. This lead us to a standoff in the center of the ring. Brooke rolls Moon over for a one count. Moon shoves Brooke. Brooke with a Knee Lift. Brooke with a rapid fire forearms. Jax bodyslams Brooke.

Jax drops Moon with a Body Avalanche. Jax follows that with a SomerSault Senton. Jax drives Tamina back first into the turnbuckles. Jax is fired up. Tamina starts teeing off on Jax. Jax levels Tamina with a Body Avalanche. Jax goes for a Samoan Drop, but Tamina lands back on her feet. Tamina SuperKicks Jax. Moon plants Tamina with The Eclipse to pickup the victory.

Winner: Ember Moon via Pinfall 

WWE Crown Jewel Match Card

1.) Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman vs. Braun Strowman For The Vacated WWE Universal Championship

2.) AJ Styles (c) vs. Daniel Bryan For The WWE Championship

3.) D-Generation X vs. The Brothers Of Destruction

4.) John Cena, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler, Rey Mysterio and The Miz will compete in the Inaugural WWE World Cup Tournament To Determine The Best In The World

WWE Evolution Match Card

1.) Tamina, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Ember Moon, Nia Jax, Alicia Fox, Dana Brooke, Asuka, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Carmella, Lana, Naomi, Torrie Wilson, Michelle McCool, Alundra Blayze, Ivory, Kelly Kelly, Maria Kanellis, Molly Holly, and Zelina Vega will compete in a Women’s Battle Royal. The Winner Will Get A Future Women’s Title Opportunity

2.) Rhea Ripley (c) vs. TBD For The WWE NXT UK Women’s Championship

3.) Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm In The Finals Of The 2018 WWE Mae Young Classic Tournament

4.) Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match

5.) Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler For The WWE NXT Women’s Championship

6.) Trish Stratus & Lita vs. Alexa Bliss & Mickie James

7.) Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella w/Brie Bella For The WWE Raw Women’s Championship

8.) Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing Match For The WWE SmackDown Live Women’s Championship

Lita, Trish Stratus, Mickie James and Alicia Fox Backstage Segment: 

Fifth Match: Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose For The WWE Raw Tag Team Championship 

McIntyre and Ambrose will start things off. McIntyre kicks Ambrose in the gut. McIntyre with a clubbing blow to Ambrose back. Ambrose tags in Rollins. The Shield are double teaming McIntyre. Double Vertical Suplex to Ziggler. Ambrose clotheslines McIntyre over the top rope. Ziggler applies a front face lock. Ambrose drives his knee into the midsection of Ziggler. Ambrose catches Ziggler in mid-air. Ambrose dumps Ziggler on the top rope. Ambrose tags in Rollins. Rollins hits The SlingBlade. Rollins knocks McIntyre off the ring apron. Rollins kicks Ziggler in the jaw. Rollins dives over Ziggler. Rollins ducks a clothesline from Ziggler. Rollins lands a Suicide Dive. Rollins catapults Ziggler to the outside. Rollins follows that with another Suicide Dive.

Rollins brings Ziggler back into the ring. McIntyre launches Rollins off the top turnbuckle. Ziggler with a Famouser for a two count. Ziggler pulls Rollins to the corner. Ziggler tags in McIntyre. McIntyre is putting the boots to Rollins. McIntyre talks smack to Ambrose. McIntyre kicks Rollins in the face. McIntyre and Ziggler are cutting the ring in half. Ziggler is trying to rile up Ambrose. Ziggler applies a rear chin lock. Rollins gets back to a vertical base. Rollins creates distance with a Belly to Back Suplex. Ziggler tags in McIntyre. McIntyre goes for a Back Body Drop, but Rollins lands back on his feet. Rollins blasts McIntyre with a knife edge chop. Rollins drops McIntyre with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Rollins tosses Ziggler out of the ring.

Rollins ducks a clothesline from McIntyre. Rollins SuperKicks McIntyre. Ziggler prevents Rollins from making the tag to Ambrose. Ambrose chases Ziggler around the ringside area. McIntyre with a big haymaker. Rollins goes for The BlackOut, but McIntyre counters with a Back Elbow Smash. McIntyre with a Reverse Alabama Slam for a two count. Coming out of the commercial break, Ambrose has McIntyre perched on the top turnbuckle. McIntyre goes for a Diving Clothesline, but Ambrose ducks out of the way. Ambrose tags in Rollins. Ambrose with a NeckBreaker. Rollins follows that with a Frog Splash. Ambrose takes out Ziggler with a Suicide Dive. Rollins with the cover for a two count.

McIntyre goes for an Avalanche Belly to Back Suplex, but Rollins blocks it. Rollins with three sharp elbow strikes. McIntyre is tied in the tree of woe. McIntyre with a Desperation OverHead Belly to Belly Suplex. Ambrose responds with a Hesitation Dropkick. Ziggler sends Ambrose back first to the ringside barricade. Rollins with a SuperPlex. Rollins connects with a Falcon Arrow for a two count. Rollins is burning it down. Rollins thrust kicks the midsection of Ziggler. Ziggler avoids The Blackout. Rollins goes for a Roll Through Black Out, but McIntyre gets in the way. Rollins ducks a clothesline from McIntyre. Ambrose goes for Dirty Deeds, but McIntyre counters with The ClayMore. Rollins launches McIntyre over the top rope.

Ziggler drives Rollins shoulder first into the steel ring post. Ziggler hits The Zig Zag for a two count. Ziggler and McIntyre goes for their Zig Zag/ClayMore Combination, but Ambrose drags him out of the ring. Braun Strowman comes out. Strowman and McIntyre are brawling all over the Dunkin Donuts Center. Rollins rolls Ziggler over for a two count. Rollins inadvertently knocks down the referee. Ambrose snatches the Raw Tag Team Title from Ziggler. Rollins connects with The BlackOut to pickup the victory. After the match, Ambrose plants Rollins with The Dirty Deeds. Ambrose continues to beat down Rollins to close the show.

Winner: New WWE Raw Tag Team Champions, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose via Pinfall 

Check Out Episode 128 of The Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast