MAY 13 2018 ~ VENGEANCE (presented by RAW)
Vengeance begins with a huge set of pyro to hype the crowd in attendance! As the commentary trio briefly highlight the big ticket matches, fans get excited for Hell in a Cell's return, the Intercontinental Title showdown between Neville and Finn Balor, while we crown a new WWE Champion at the end of the tournament. But up first, Baron Corbin and Daniel Bryan have been placed in preliminary matches prior to the main event. Up first, it's Daniel Bryan and Kane. As Bryan enters the ring first and awaits his opponent, Vince McMahon's music hits instead!
"Why is Vince out here now? He was scheduled to appear later tonight!" - Tyson Kidd
Vince gets to the ring and tells Daniel Bryan he didn't see Daniel Bryan ever competing for the WWE Championship, and then WrestleMania 30 happened. Mr. McMahon said he wasn't a believer, especially coming back from a neck injury last year, but now he's in the main event once again for the title. Vince wishes him luck, and cancels his match against Kane next. Vince tells Bryan to get out before he changes his mind, so Bryan heads to the back. Vince also cancels Brock Lesnar versus Baron Corbin, as Corbin and Bryan need to focus on their WWE Championship match. Stephanie's music hit and she tells her dad the matches are still on because she's running the show, and Vince bluntly told her she wasn't doing a good job at it. Vince says he partook in a board meeting a couple weeks ago and they agreed there needs to be a new direction for the WWE, and it's not The Authority. Vince announces a WWE Draft taking place next week on May 21st, 22nd, and 23rd with Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Raw and SmackDown will be used to draft the current main roster, while NXT will be used to draft prospects and acquire free agents. Vince officially tells Stephanie she will no longer be needed after this week. Stephanie is furious but leaves to a 'Yes' chant from the crowd. Vince says since he's canceled two matches, up first is the WWE Tag Team Championships triple threat match!
Vince heads to the back and lets The Usos and Depths of Despair walk out. Backstage, Vince runs into The Revival who aren't ready and throwing their boots on. Wilder and Dawson blame Vince, as they aren't ready to defend their titles an hour earlier than scheduled. Vince shrugged and told them to go out there or forfeit their titles.
The Revival(c) vs. Depths of Despair vs. The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Championships
The Revival were still lacing their boots and taping their wrists to the ring, and their lack of prep time hurt them greatly. The Revival were either attacked by The Usos or DoD or they cowered away trying to their bearings. Depths of Despair looked good, but against two of the best and more experienced teams, they had their moments of weakness. The Usos gave it their all but Akam and Rezar took over, and with no Revival in sight, DoD looks to win the titles with a Super Collider on The Usos! But as soon as Jey and Jimmy hit the mat, Dawson and Wilder snuck in and struck low-blows on Akam and Rezar respectively. Dawson and Wilder then shoved them out of the ring and pinned The Usos to retain the titles!
The Revival escape and immediately go for their titles as they run up the ramp, knowing they stole one to keep their titles, ones they've held all-but-six-days since October.
The commentary team highlights what was shown on the kickoff earlier tonight. Scarstruck comes into the arena and is told by Stephanie they'll have a tag team match tonight against Charlotte and Nikki Cross. When they were opposed to it, Stephanie says the winner faces Paige in a triple threat tomorrow night for the Women's Championship.
Up to tonight, Charlotte arrives in a bad mood and Nikki Cross runs up to her partner. Charlotte tells Nikki Cross the only reason she's here is to regain her Women's Championship and tells Nikki to stay out of her way tonight.
Cesaro vs. Emperor Roman Reigns
This match between two powerhouses was hard-hitting and The Emperor even got a bloody nose because of a stiff punch, that further irritated Reigns. Towards the end, The Emperor has Cesaro where he wants him, on the mat, as he continues to push his face down. Cesaro then sweeps the feet out from under Reigns and begins a Cesaro Swing! Cesaro finally lets up and catches his own balance before he cranks his neck and goes for the Neutralizer, but Reigns counters in a back-body drop. Cesaro gets up and hit straight with an Emperor Punch that rocks him and Reigns finishes him off with a Spear before counting 3.
After the match, Emperor Roman Reigns admires his work and kneels before Cesaro, holding up a "1."
Backstage, Charly Caruso catches Baron Corbin and asks the Lone Wolf about his match against Brock Lesnar being canceled. Corbin shrugs and says he has fought in the Tournament of Opportunity and he knows Lesnar is upset about not being in the match, but he's had his opportunity. Corbin mentions if Lesnar never got his opportunity against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 19, he wouldn't be Brock Lesnar. Corbin says it's his time. Charly asks his thoughts about Daniel Bryan, and Corbin gives Bryan credit for defying the odds at WrestleMania 30, but he hasn't got back to the top for a reason, and he'll be the reason tonight. Caruso thanks Corbin for his time and he starts to walk away when he's blindsided from the other side... it's Brock Lesnar! Lesnar throws Corbin around, hitting wall to wall, crate to crate, and hits a series of German Suplexes as backstage crew are afraid to get in Lesnar's way. Lesnar then hits an F-5 onto a crate, hitting Corbin right in the ribs, leaving one-half of tonight's main event holding their ribs on the backstage floor.
Charlotte and Nikki Cross vs. Scarstruck
Charlotte has much of the match under control and is taking care of business on her own until she has Billie Kay in the Figure Eight but Peyton Royce dropkicks Charlotte in the face. Nikki Cross goes off on Peyton Royce as Charlotte holds her face but Billie Kay tries rolling Charlotte up, which Charlotte kicks out. Charlotte then hits a Big Boot on Billie Kay and backs up for Natural Selection, but Nikki Cross tags herself in! Cross climbs on the top rope and hits a crossbody on Billie Kay and transitions into a double underhook crossface, calling it Cross-Eye, and Billie Kay taps!
After Nikki Cross gets the win, Charlotte attacks her partner. Charlotte hits the Natural Selection and lays Nikki Cross out in the ring, signaling a title around her waist as she eyes the Women's Championship again.
Charly Caruso provides an update outside the trainer's room that Baron Corbin is being evaluated now and his status for tonight's WWE Championship main event is uncertain.
A quick recap of how we got to the next match, the Intercontinental Championship, is shown with a newfound attitude Neville returning to Raw after a torn Achilles and eyeing Balor's title.
Finn Balor(c) vs. Neville for the Intercontinental Championship
Balor and Neville put on a wrestling clinic and this was not for the feint of heart either as Neville introduced hard-hitting to the match and Balor was rattled. Balor was on a streak with a Slingblade and a dropkick before going up to the top rope and trying for the Coup de Grace, but Neville rolls out of the way and as Balor sets up on the other side of the ring, Neville hits a corner dropkick of his own! Neville goes up and tries for the Black Arrow but Balor also moves out of the way and both collide at the center of the ring. Balor then hits a Pele Kick that drops Neville on his back and Balor goes for another Coup de Grace but Neville rolls out of the way a second time and locks in the Rings of Saturn. Neville wrenches and as Balor is almost at the ropes, Neville readjusts and gets further away from the ropes. Balor fights and wills himself but he loses consciousness... the official calls for the bell!
A NEW Intercontinental Champion! Neville sits next to Balor until he's handed the Intercontinental Championship. Neville stands up and goes to the ropes taunting fans in the front about his newly won title, one that hasn't been let out of Balor's hands for a near 6 months. The official tries helping Balor come to after passing out in the submission hold and Balor doesn't understand what's going on while Neville celebrates.
A promo is aired for the next Raw-exclusive event Extreme Rules next month on June 24th. The commentary trio of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Tyson Kidd mention that the landscape of Raw will look different by then due to the Draft announcement earlier this evening by Vince McMahon, and they mention themselves might not be on Monday nights after!
A recap is shown of Paige winning a title rebranded as the Women's Championship and introduced Rubi Riot for a new women's era, which the Bella Twins took exception to as they ran the Divas Era. Mentioned is Paige has a title defense tomorrow night against Nikki Cross and Charlotte, but now has a tag team match.
Bella Twins vs. Paige and Rubi Riot
This match doesn't take long and everyone's shocked by how quickly Paige and Rubi Riot are flustering the Bella Twins with a new arsenal of moves they have no answer for. Rubi hits a Riot Kick on Brie, as Paige follows with a Paige Turner on Nikki to win this match in under 6 minutes.
Afterward, Paige and Rubi Riot celebrate after a dominant win over the Bella Twins while Charlotte's music hit and Charlotte comes to the stage to signify she'll be the Women's Champion tomorrow night on Raw as a result to the triple threat tomorrow.
Headed to the first Hell in a Cell Match in three years, we take a look at the rivalry between John Cena and Randy Orton that comes to an end tonight, one month after John Cena's triumph at WrestleMania for his 17th world championship.
John Cena vs. Randy Orton inside Hell in a Cell
Cena and Orton gave it their all in this devastating match. Orton begins the match very methodical and vindictive, even having a gruesome moment of putting the backside of a hammer across the face of Cena. It didn't take long for Orton to get busted open when Cena tapped into another gear and Orton got hit just right with the steel steps. Towards the end, Orton had Ce-Nation over with as he gets Cena in the ring after just throwing Cena off the top rope and through a table on the outside. Orton picks Cena up and on the bottom half of the steps in the ring, Orton hits an RKO on top of it! Rather going for the pin, Orton stalks Cena and decides to put Cena over with a Punt Kick, but Cena moves out of the way and locks in the STF! Orton tries getting to the ropes, but Cena reaches for a nearby crowbar and uses that as leverage. Orton pushes against the crowbar and rolls out of the STF. Cena and Orton get to their feet and Orton charges for Cena, who lifts him up on his shoulders for an AA on the bottom steps, but as Cena puts the AA in motion, Orton counters into an RKO! The arena hears Cena's skull crashing on the steel and just falling right beside it. Orton shoves the steps out of the way and pulls Cena's arm in from the ropes and hooks the outside leg and the official counts the 3 right next to the ropes.
Randy Orton's music hits and The Viper sits beside his handiwork and scoots in the corner by Cena as the Hell in a Cell is raised. Orton walks slowly to the back, feeling the effects but also soaking in the moment. However, Cena is helped to the back by a couple people letting Cena walk out with assistance.
Michael Cole, Tyson Kidd, and Corey Graves recap what happened earlier this evening with Baron Corbin's match against Brock Lesnar and Daniel Bryan's match against Kane being scrapped from the card due to Vince McMahon, which preluded a big WWE Draft announcement. They then show where Lesnar attacked Corbin and now, he is scheduled to face off in the main event for the WWE Championship, concluding the Tournament of Opportunity. Highlights show what Bryan and Corbin had to go through, including Corbin defeating Emperor Reigns and Bryan defeating Big Show, who replaced Braun Strowman, in the semifinals. Bryan heads to the ring first and awaits his opponent, who doesn't come out on the bike, but limps out with his ribs taped up from the assault from Brock Lesnar earlier.
Baron Corbin vs. Daniel Bryan for the vacant WWE Championship
Bryan's conflicted most of this match, knowing his opponent is hurting from Brock Lesnar's attack earlier, but understanding what's at stake for the WWE Championship - a title he hasn't held in four years. Bryan's working on the ribs and using striking kicks and submission moves to target the weak area, while Corbin is displaying strength and resilience to figure out what it takes to become champion. Bryan has Corbin in position for the Yes kicks and lands a few before Corbin catches Bryan, stands up, and pulls Bryan in for a clothesline. Corbin goes off on Bryan and looks to put Bryan away with the End of Days, but Bryan counters in the Yes Lock. Bryan can't get it all the way in before Corbin extends his leg for the ropes. Bryan lets go as Corbin slides on the outside and Bryan tries a suicide dive, but is caught with a forearm strike. Corbin then wraps himself around the ring post and comes back in for a clothesline, but Bryan ducks it and Bryan utilizes the arm drag. Bryan then gets in position for a Knee-Plus, but Corbin counters into a Deep Six! Bryan rolls outside and Corbin can't make the cover, but he holds his ribs trying to catch his breath.
Stephanie McMahon comes out to the stage with a microphone in hand. Stephanie announces she is still in charge and made a signing this afternoon for an in-ring talent. In that person's contract, it states he has one obligated world title opportunity whenever he chooses. As a future Hall of Famer, it's her husband, TRIPLE H! Triple H makes his way out dressed for action and this match is restarted as a triple threat, and there must be a winner.
Triple H heads down and throws Bryan into the steel steps and stomps away before looking inside at Baron Corbin. Triple H grabs a sledgehammer from underneath the ring and goes inside and Corbin tries fighting him off, but Triple H picks the sledgehammer back up and nails Corbin in the ribs with no disqualification. Triple H lays a few more in the back before picking Corbin up and landing a Spinebuster. The fans are booing at this point and a couple fans threw trash in the ring that the official has to clear up. Triple H goes for the Pedigree on Corbin, but Daniel Bryan rushes in and hits a Knee-Plus! Triple H drops and rolls to the outside, trying to figure out where he is when Bryan tries a suicide dive and as he comes back, Baron Corbin catches Bryan with the End of Days! Corbin hooks the leg and Triple H pulls the official out of the ring at two and decks him. Corbin stands up with a hand on his ribs and Triple H goes in and knees him right in the ribs before hitting a Pedigree. Stephanie emerges back at the stage and rushes an official to the ring as Triple H gets a deep pin with both legs hooked and the official counts three.
Triple H's music hits but you can hear the boos trying to compete. Triple H has stolen the WWE Championship with no remorse. And a sight not seen in nearly a decade is shown, The Game on top of the world as Vengeance comes to a close.
