WWE Monday Night RAW: Live Report from Toronto

The Big Takeaway

WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar made his presence felt as he lays out the Miztourage. Braun Strowman won the Last Man Standing match after Samoa Joe choked out Roman Reigns with the Coquina Clutch. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins continue to tease a mini Shield reunion.

WWE Raw Live Report from Toronto

MizTV with WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman

Miz was in the ring and called out Jason Jordan. However; Kurt Angle came out and received a huge reaction. Angle explained that Jordan was preparing for his match against Curtis Axel. So instead, Angle brought out Lesnar for a massive reaction. The Miz guaranteed Lesnar would lose at SummerSlam, saying it will be “good riddance to bad rubbish.” Heyman asked if he and Maryse were into role-playing? Heyman said Miz is Reigns, Dallas is Joe, and Axel is Strowman, and offered a preview of SummerSlam.Lesnar delivered a double clothsline, multiple German suplex and F5’s to Axel, Dallas and Miz.

• This segment was awesome live in person. Brock Lesnar is the best.

Sheamus def. Seth Rollins

Rollins came out and received a pretty good reaction. Highlights included Rollins delivering a top rope hurricanrana. Rollins delivered a sling blade and a knee lift but Sheamus kicked out. Rollins climbed to the top turnbuckle but was distracted as Cesaro jumped on the ring apron. Sheamus got the win with a schoolboy cradle.

Postmatch

After the match, Rollins delivered a suicide dive to both Cesaro and Sheamus on the floor. The heels ended up getting the advantage and delivered a double team White Noise from the middle rope. Crowd chanted “We want Ambrose” who never came out.

Backstage: Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins

Ambrose and Rollins argued backstage and called each other a jerk. Ambrose said he has a match with Cesaro and will fight him alone.

A doctor approached Angle and explained that Axel was in no condition to compete after Lesnar’s attack. Angle was forced to think on fly so he sent out a local enhancement talent who was hanging around backstage.

Jason Jordan def. Jean-Pierre Goulet

WWE Universe in Toronto loudly chanted “Let’s go Jobber!” Jordan won after delivering a jumping neck breaker.

• This was awesome to watch in person

In-Ring: Charly Caruso interviewed Bayley

Bayley came out and received a mild reaction. Caruso showed footage of Nia Jax injuring Bayley’s shoulder. Bayley said she had to finish the match or the crowd wouldn’t take her seriously. Some of the fans started to boo, so to quell that Bayley thanked the fans for the tweets. More fans started to boo. The segment ended with Bayley saying Sasha Banks will win her match and become the number one contender.

• I felt bad for Bayley and it was disappointing to hear the boos.

Sasha Banks def. Emma & Alicia Fox in a Triple Threat Match

Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss came out for commentary and received a huge reaction. Out of all participants in the match, Emma received the loudest reaction. After delivering the double knees to Fox, Emma tossed Banks aside and went for the cover. Fox kicked out after a 2.9 count as the crowd chanted “this ref sucks” Banks ended up winning the match after applying the Bank Statement to Emma.

Renee Young interviewed Braun Strowman

Strowman said The Big Dog was no more than a puppy and will be the last monster standing.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson def. Enzo Amore and The Big Show

Big Cass came out and caused a distraction. After blocking a Magic Killer attempt, Gallows delivered a big boot and pinned Enzo.

• Postmatch, Cass took out Big Show with a big boot and then attacked Amore. Cass chased Amore around the ring as the Big Show delivered the KO Punch. Cass sold this punch really well.

Bray Wyatt confronts Finn Balor

Balor came out and received a pretty big reaction. (Balor’s entrance is awesome in person) Balor said Toronto is “Balor Club” The crowd chanted “too sweet” Balor acknowledge the chant and said “Too sweet” Balor then cut a promo on Wyatt. The lights went out as Wyatt appeared. However, Balor was waiting for him, sitting atop the turnbuckle. Wyatt rushed at Balor, but Balor jumped over him. Balor gave Wyatt a sling blade as the lights went out again. Wyatt appeared on the TitanTron and cut a spooky promo.

• This was a fine segment and will lead to “Demon Balor” at SummerSlam 

Dean Ambrose def. Cesaro

A really good back-and-forth match. Highlights included Cesaro teasing a Superplex spot to the floor. Cesaro applying a sharpshooter to Ambrose which got a nice pop from the crowd. The crowd was split chanting “Let go Ambrose and Ambrose sucks”) Ambrose won after he pinned Cesaro with the schoolboy cradle.

Postmatch

Sheamus jumped Ambrose, Rollins came out for the save as he cleared the heels from the ring. After a long staredown, Ambrose held out his fist for a Shield salute. WWE Universe was going wild chanting “Yes” Rollins briefly smiled but shook his head and angrily walked away. The crowd booed because everyone wanted to see a Shield reunion.

• This segment was so awesome to watch in person.

Backstage: Titus Worldwide

Titus worldwide were celebrating Akira Tozawa’s win on 205 Live. Neville entered and cut a short heel promo and left.

Akira Tozawa def. Ariya Diavari

A short match as Tozawa won after delivering a top rope senton.

Renee Young interviewed Roman Reigns

Reigns said he didn’t watch the MizTV segment with Lesnar. Reigns said he retired the Undertaker at WrestleMania and doesn’t care if Lesnar leaves. He will beat Strowman tonight.

Nia Jax def. Dana Brooke & Mickie James in a Triple Threat Match

Bliss came out for commentary and received another nice reaction from the crowd. A short match as Jax won after delivering a leg drop to Brooke.

Vignette: Goldust

Goldust appeared on the Titantron and cut an old school promo.

Backstage: Big Cass & Kurt Angle

Big Cass said he wanted to face The Big Show at SummerSlam. Angle said the match will happen and Enzo Amore will be locked in a shark cage.

Braun Strowman def. Roman Reigns — Last Man Standing Match

Highlights included both Reigns and Strowman attacking each other with steel step shots. There was another nice spot when Reigns delivered a Samoan drop to Strowman through a table. Strowman also launched Reigns into the LED board. Reigns delivered a pair of Superman punches and then delivered a huge Spear to Strowman on the stage. Reigns had the match won, but Joe appeared from the crowd and applied the Coquina Clutch. WWE Universe in Toronto chanted “Thank you, Joe!” Strowman won after he got up at the count of eight.

• Really fun match as both Reigns and Strowman were great.

After Raw went off the air 

Overall

A really fun episode of Raw and was great to see live in person.

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Image Credit – WWE