[Raw opens. The crowd is electric, chanting Finn’s name. The lights dim, the familiar heartbeat hits, and Finn Balor walks out holding the brand-new Universal Championship. He steps into the ring, raises the belt, and takes a long look at the audience before speaking.]
FINN BALOR:
“Last night… was the biggest moment of my career.”
(Crowd pops)
“I walked into SummerSlam with an opportunity, and I walked out as the very first Universal Champion. But this…” (he lifts the title) “…this isn’t just mine. This belongs to every single one of you who believed in me long before I ever stepped through these ropes.”
“But tonight… tonight, I don’t want to talk about ‘The Demon.’ I don’t want to hide behind paint, smoke, or shadows. I want to show you who I truly am: Finn Balor, the man who came here to compete with the very best. The man who came here to fight. The man who came here to prove he deserves this.”
The crowd cheers, before Sami Zayn’s music hits. He walks out smiling, soaking in the positive reaction, mic in hand.
SAMI ZAYN:
“Finn… buddy… champ…” (he nods respectfully)
“I’ve known you a long time. Longer than most people here even realize. I’ve seen you fight in tiny halls in front of a hundred people, and I’ve seen you headline around the world. And watching you win that championship last night? Man, I was proud.”
The crowd cheers. Sami steps into the ring.
“But I also know something else about you, Finn. You’re not the type of champion who wants to wait around. You’re the type of champion who wants to defend that title. To test yourself. To show everyone exactly who you really are.”
Sami points to the Universal Championship.
“So how about… tonight… your first title defense… is against me?”
The crowd roars with a loud “YES! YES! YES!”
Finn grins.
FINN BALOR:
“Sami… you’re right. We’ve been through a lot. We’ve fought beside each other, and we’ve fought against each other. And if you want to be the first challenger…”
He steps forward, offering a hand.
“…then I accept.”
Huge crowd pop.
Sami shakes Finn’s hand, pulling him in close.
Finn nods, lifting the title with one hand while still shaking Sami’s with the other. The crowd explodes as the camera cuts to the commentators hyping the massive main event.
[Camera cuts from the handshake in the ring to the commentary desk. Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton sit at ringside, the arena buzzing behind them.]
MICHAEL COLE:
“Ladies and gentlemen, what a way to kick off Monday Night Raw! Finn Balor, the brand-new Universal Champion, putting his title on the line tonight against his longtime friend and rival, Sami Zayn!”
COREY GRAVES:
“I love it, Cole. That’s what a fighting champion looks like. Balor isn’t hiding behind celebrations or excuses—he’s going straight into the fire. But hey, let’s not forget: Sami Zayn is no warm-up match. Finn might have made history last night, but tonight? He might regret being that generous.”
BYRON SAXTON:
“Oh, come on, Corey! This is what Raw is all about competition, opportunity, and champions stepping up. And we’ve got a packed night ahead!”
MICHAEL COLE:
“That’s right, Byron. After the shocking confrontation at SummerSlam, Rusev will defend his United States Championship tonight against Roman Reigns!”
COREY GRAVES:
“Rusev is going to be in a foul mood after last night—Roman Reigns better be ready for a war.”
BYRON SAXTON:
“Plus, in an exciting match-up, Neville goes one-on-one with Chris Jericho. Two incredible athletes—this could easily steal the show.”
MICHAEL COLE:
“And the Best of Seven Series continues between Sheamus and Cesaro. Sheamus leads one-nil after his win on the SummerSlam Kickoff Show. Match two happens tonight.”
COREY GRAVES:
“Cesaro better get on the board, or this series could spiral fast.”
BYRON SAXTON:
“And finally, we’ll see Braun Strowman in action as he takes on Curtis Axel. Strowman has been on an absolute tear since the brand split.”
MICHAEL COLE:
“It’s a huge night here on Raw, ladies and gentlemen. And remember, our main event: Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn for the Universal Championship!”
Corey and Byron nod as the camera pulls out, the crowd roaring while the show transitions to the first match of the night.
Match #1
Non-Title Match
New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E) vs The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley)
The match opens with Kofi Kingston and D-Von Dudley starting things off, exchanging fast-paced counters and quick tags. Kofi’s speed keeps D-Von off balance until Big E tags in and uses his power to dominate, driving D-Von into the corner with heavy strikes. The Dudleys eventually isolate Kofi, cutting him off from his corner with classic, gritty tag-team offense, quick tags, stomps in the corner, and a big suplex from Bubba Ray that slows the pace.
Around the halfway mark, Kofi slips out of a Bubba slam attempt and makes a hot tag to Big E, who storms the ring and wipes out both Dudleys with belly-to-belly suplexes. Big E sets up for the Big Ending, but Bubba rakes the eyes and tags D-Von back in, leading to a near-fall off their signature assisted neckbreaker.
The finish builds when all four men end up in the ring, chaos breaking out. Big E and D-Von spill to the floor as Bubba charges at Kofi. The referee is distracted by the action outside, yelling at Big E and D-Von, perfect timing for Xavier Woods to hop onto the apron.
As Bubba turns, Xavier cracks him across the back with his trombone, the crowd roaring. Kofi quickly capitalizes, hitting Trouble in Paradise, dropping Bubba flat. The referee turns just in time for the cover!
1… 2… 3!
Winners - New Day - 8:47
Kofi, Big E, and Xavier celebrate their victory, dancing and playing the trombone as the crowd cheers, until the arena abruptly shifts as Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows sprint down the ramp.
Before anyone can react, Gallows blasts Big E from behind with a huge boot, sending him crashing to the floor. Anderson charges into the ring and wipes out Kofi with a running knee to the jaw. Xavier swings his trombone in desperation, but Gallows yanks it from his hands and snaps it over his knee before leveling him with a clothesline.
The Dudley Boys, still recovering on the outside, try to intervene! Bubba grabs Gallows from behind, only to be spun around and dropped with the Boot of Doom. D-Von rushes in and eats a spinebuster from Anderson for his trouble.
Back in the ring, Kofi struggles to get up, only to be hoisted onto Anderson’s shoulders. Gallows joins him, and together they deliver The Magic Killer, planting Kofi hard in the center of the ring.
The crowd boos as Anderson and Gallows stand over the fallen bodies of New Day and the Dudleys, their message crystal clear: they run the tag team division now.
The segment ends with The Club standing tall, arms raised, cold expressions unmoved as carnage surrounds them.
The camera cuts backstage to the parking area as a black SUV door swings open. Kevin Owens steps out first, smirking, adjusting his T-shirt and rolling his shoulders. Right behind him, Chris Jericho hops out wearing one of his ridiculous scarves, looking pleased with himself. Both men high-five, clearly still riding the high of their win over Enzo and Cass the night before.
They stroll into the hallway, laughing, joking, Jericho bragging about how he “carried the team,” Owens rolling his eyes but playing along. They stop as Cathy Kelly approaches with a microphone.
CATHY KELLY:
“Kevin, Chris—congratulations on your victory last night at SummerSlam. How are you both feeling heading into Raw tonight?”
Jericho cuts in immediately.
CHRIS JERICHO:
“How are we feeling, Cathy? Fabulous. Magnificent. Better than everyone else on the roster, especially those two morons we beat last night. You know what that is, Cathy? That’s what happens when you put brilliance and greatness together. It’s called synergy.”
Owens nods, shrugging.
KEVIN OWENS:
“Look, we did exactly what we said we’d do. We won. Because of course we did. We’re professionals. Unlike Enzo and Cass, who spent more time talking than wrestling”
Jericho pats Owens on the back.
CHRIS JERICHO:
“And that’s why they made the list.”
Owens smirks—until Cathy shifts the topic.
CATHY KELLY:
“Speaking of big matches… Kevin, any thoughts on Sami Zayn getting a Universal Championship opportunity tonight against Finn Balor?”
Owens’ expression snaps from playful to furious instantly. His jaw tightens. He stares at Cathy like she’s personally insulted him.
KEVIN OWENS:
“You want to— you want to ask me that question? After everything I’ve done here? After everything I’ve proven? Sami Zayn”
Jericho quickly steps in, hand on Owens’ chest, soothing him.
CHRIS JERICHO:
“Kevin, Kevin… calm down. She doesn’t know any better. Cathy, you’re this close to making the list. You don’t want that.”
Owens is still seething.
KEVIN OWENS:
“He doesn’t deserve anything. Not a title shot. Not an opportunity. Not a mention of his name. I”
Jericho pulls him away before he escalates further.
CHRIS JERICHO:
“Let’s go, Kev. We’ve got better things to do than waste time on this amateur journalism.”
Still glaring at Cathy, Owens storms off with Jericho following closely behind, trying to keep him from exploding. Cathy watches them go, visibly relieved as the camera fades out.
Match #2
Singles Match
Best of Seven - Match #2
Sheamus (1) vs Cesaro (0)
The match begins with a tense lock-up, both men trying to assert early dominance after Sheamus’ victory in Match #1. Sheamus uses his power to bully Cesaro into the corner, landing heavy strikes and clubbing blows to the back. Cesaro fires back with sharp European uppercuts, picking up speed until Sheamus rolls to the outside to break the momentum.
Back in the ring, Sheamus slows things down, targeting Cesaro’s taped lower back, ramming him into the turnbuckles and hitting a backbreaker for a near fall. The middle portion of the match sees Sheamus grinding Cesaro down with holds and repeated knee drops, only for Cesaro to rally with his signature burst of athleticism, springboard uppercut, running uppercuts in the corner, and a smooth deadlift suplex that gets the crowd on their feet.
Around the 10-minute mark, Sheamus catches Cesaro mid-charge with the Irish Curse Backbreaker, nearly stealing it. He calls for the Brogue Kick, but Cesaro ducks, rolling Sheamus up for two. Sheamus pops up frustrated and smashes Cesaro with White Noise, another close near fall.
The final stretch is fast and intense. Cesaro traps Sheamus in the Swing—managing a shorter rotation due to the back damage, but it’s enough to follow with a sharp Sharpshooter attempt. Sheamus barely escapes, reaching the ropes.
The finish arrives after Sheamus goes for a desperate Brogue Kick. Cesaro sidesteps, sending Sheamus stumbling into the ropes. As Sheamus rebounds, Cesaro scoops him up, plants him with the Neutralizer, and covers:
1… 2… 3!
Winner - Cesaro - 14:22
The show cuts from ringside to a dramatic split-screen shot, each half showing one of the two men preparing for the upcoming United States Championship match.
On the left side:
Roman Reigns paces in his locker room, rolling his neck and shaking out his arms. His expression is locked-in and intense, the memory of last night’s wild brawl clearly fueling him. He straps on his gloves, slaps his fist into his palm, and stares straight ahead with focused determination.
On the right side:
Rusev, the United States Championship over his shoulder, sits stone-faced while Lana adjusts the title and gives him final words of motivation. Rusev stands, cracking his knuckles, his eyes burning with anger after being humiliated at SummerSlam. He points to the championship, vowing to keep it. Lana nods confidently, urging him to crush.
Both men take one last breath, intensity filling the screen.
MICHAEL COLE (voiceover):
“Roman Reigns… Rusev… the United States Championship on the line, and it’s happening, NEXT!”
The camera fades out as the stage is set for a huge confrontation.
Match #3
Singles Match
United States Championship
Rusev (c) w/Lana vs Roman Reigns
The bell rings and both men explode into the center of the ring, trading heavy shots. Rusev bullies Roman early, using his power to smash him into the corner and unleash stiff kicks to the ribs. Roman fires back with uppercuts, but Rusev shuts him down with a sudden spinning heel kick that sends Roman to the mat for the first near fall of the match.
For the next few minutes, Rusev controls the pace, grinding Roman down with a bear hug and repeated elbow drops. Each time Roman tries to rise, Rusev stomps him back down, making a point to hold the title high for the booing crowd.
Once Roman finally creates separation with a jumping clothesline, momentum shifts. Roman strings together a series of corner clotheslines and a big Samoan Drop for two. The crowd heats up as he gears for the Superman Punch, only for Lana to climb onto the apron, screaming and pointing at Roman to distract him.
The referee catches her and warns her, but Lana refuses to back down. Moments later, she blatantly grabs Roman’s foot as he hits the ropes. This time, the ref has had enough, he turns, sees it clearly, and ejects Lana from ringside to a huge pop. Lana throws a furious tantrum as security escorts her up the ramp.
The distraction allows Rusev to regroup. He crushes Roman with a superkick, followed by another close near fall. Rusev calls for the Accolade, pounding his chest, but as he goes for it, Roman powers to his feet and counters with a backdrop.
The final minutes are a battle of attrition. Rusev hits another superkick; Roman fires back with a Superman Punch. Both men are down, barely stirring. Slowly, Roman rises and sets up in the corner, waiting… stalking… calling for the end.
Rusev struggles up—and Roman explodes forward with a massive Spear, driving Rusev into the canvas.
1… 2… 3!
Winner - AND NEW United States Champion - Roman Reigns - 15:57
Roman rises to his feet, clutching the title as the crowd erupts. Rusev rolls to the apron in disbelief, reaching for the belt that is no longer his, while Roman poses on the turnbuckle—new champion, battle-worn, and standing tall.
The camera fades in to the backstage hallway as Charlotte Flair strides confidently toward the gorilla position, the WWE Women’s Championship glimmering over her shoulder. She runs a hand through her hair, a proud, almost smug smile etched across her face after reclaiming her title at SummerSlam.
Crew members step aside as she passes, her presence commanding the entire corridor. The camera walks backward in front of her as she adjusts the championship plate, admiring her reflection for a moment before continuing her march.
She pauses at the curtain, rolling her neck and stretching her arms, soaking in the sounds of the crowd buzzing on the other side.
Charlotte smirks.
Her music hits inside the arena.
Charlotte steps through, championship held high, as the show heads to commercial.
Charlotte Flair stands in the ring, WWE Women’s Championship draped over her shoulder. She soaks in the loud boos, pacing slowly as she circles the ring like she owns it.
CHARLOTTE FLAIR:
“Do you hear that? That noise? That’s not just jealousy… that’s recognition.”
She smirks, raising the title slightly.
“Because once again, the Queen is on top. I told all of you. I told everyone that it doesn’t matter who you put in front of me, Becky, Sasha, anyone—this division revolves around me.”
Charlotte runs a hand through her hair, smiling.
“At SummerSlam, I didn’t just win this championship back… I reclaimed my throne. And now? Now you all get to watch history repeat itself. Again. And again. And again.”
The crowd boos louder.
Before she can continue, Bayley’s music hits!
The crowd erupts as Bayley walks out, focused and serious, no smile—just purpose. She steps into the ring with a mic in hand, standing across from Charlotte.
BAYLEY:
“Charlotte… congratulations. You won the title back. Big deal.”
Charlotte rolls her eyes.
“But I didn’t come out here for you. I came out here for Sasha.”
The crowd reacts.
“Sasha Banks isn’t here tonight because of what you’ve done to her. And I’m not gonna sit back and let you keep calling yourself the best when all you do is tear everyone else down to stay on top.”
Bayley steps closer.
“So I’m not asking… I’m challenging you. Right here. Right now. Put that title on the line.”
The crowd pops huge.
Charlotte smirks, shaking her head.
CHARLOTTE FLAIR:
“You? Right now? Bayley, please. I’m not stupid.”
Boos erupt.
“I just got this championship back. I’m not going to risk it against someone who’s still trying to figure out if she belongs in this conversation.”
Bayley looks frustrated, gripping the mic tighter.
Suddenly, Mick Foley’s music hits.
The Raw General Manager walks out to a huge pop, mic in hand, looking serious.
MICK FOLEY:
“Ladies, ladies… I’ve heard enough.”
Foley steps into the ring.
“Charlotte, you may not be stupid—but you’re also not untouchable. And Bayley, you’ve made your intentions very clear.”
The crowd buzzes.
“So here’s what’s going to happen…”
A pause.
“Next week on Monday Night Raw… Charlotte Flair will defend the WWE Women’s Championship… against Bayley!”
Massive crowd reaction.
Charlotte looks stunned, furious. Bayley nods, focused and ready, pointing at the title as she stares down the champion.
Foley drops the mic and exits as Charlotte and Bayley stand face-to-face, the championship raised between them as the segment ends.
Match #4
Singles Match
Curtis Axel vs Braun Strowman
The bell rings and Curtis Axel barely has time to settle before Braun Strowman storms across the ring like a freight train. Axel tries to fire off a few quick strikes, but they barely register as Strowman shoves him down with one hand.
Axel scrambles to his feet—only to be immediately crushed with a running shoulder tackle that flips him inside out. Strowman roars, pacing the ring as the crowd builds in volume.
Axel attempts to retreat into the corner, but Strowman follows and delivers a series of brutal corner splashes, each one shaking the ring. Axel stumbles forward in a daze, and Strowman effortlessly hoists him up.
With no hesitation, Strowman drives him down with a devastating Running Powerslam in the center of the ring.
1… 2… 3.
Winner - Braun Strowman - 1:47
Strowman stands over Curtis Axel for a moment longer than necessary, chest heaving as the crowd reacts to the sheer destruction in the ring. He doesn’t celebrate, he simply turns, exits the ring, and begins his slow, intimidating walk up the ramp.
As Braun reaches the top of the stage, the mood shifts. The camera catches movement from the opposite side, Mark Henry steps out from backstage, calm and composed, locking eyes with Strowman from a distance. The arena noise rises as both men stop, standing face-to-face across the stage. No words are exchanged. Just a tense stare-down between two powerhouses.
Henry gives a subtle nod, not backing down. Strowman snarls slightly but continues forward, brushing past him without breaking stride. Henry watches him go, expression unreadable, before turning and heading backstage.
The camera follows briefly as Strowman disappears behind the curtain
We transition to two separate backstage shots: on one side, Chris Jericho is seen stretching and loosening up, smirking to himself as he adjusts his gear and mutters confidently. On the other, Neville is focused and silent, bouncing lightly on his feet, eyes locked ahead as he prepares for his upcoming match.
The tension builds as both men finish their final preparations, the camera lingering on their contrasting energy before Raw moves on.
Match #5
Singles Match
Neville vs Chris Jericho
Neville starts fast, using his speed and agility to overwhelm Jericho early. He connects with quick kicks and a sharp springboard moonsault attempt that forces Jericho to roll outside to regroup. Jericho, frustrated, slows the pace once back inside, targeting Neville’s legs to cut off his aerial offense.
Midway through the match, Jericho gains control with methodical strikes and a bulldog for a near fall. He mocks Neville, soaking in the boos before trying to lock in the Walls of Jericho, but Neville counters and creates separation with a sudden enzuigiri, shifting momentum back in his favor.
Neville rallies with a flurry, standing shooting star press, followed by a red arrow setup, but Jericho barely gets a boot up to stop him. Both men are down as the crowd builds toward the finish.
Neville climbs the ropes again, ready to finish it, until Kevin Owens appears at ringside, distracting the referee. Jericho struggles to his feet just as Neville dives!
Owens yanks Neville off course at the last second, causing him to crash hard to the mat. The referee misses the full interaction but sees Neville down and disoriented.
Jericho quickly capitalizes, hitting a Codebreaker out of nowhere.
1… 2… 3.
Winner - Chris Jericho - 8:31
Chris Jericho wins, clearly assisted by Kevin Owens’ interference. Jericho smirks as Owens enters the ring, raising Jericho’s arm as Neville recovers on the floor, furious at the stolen victory.
The screen fades in to dramatic orchestral music as the SummerSlam 2016 logo flashes on screen. Quick cuts begin rolling, highlighting the biggest moments from the Raw roster’s night of chaos and history.
Narrator (voiceover):
“Last night… WWE SummerSlam delivered a night that changed everything.”
We see highlights of the heated tag team clash as Enzo Amore and Big Cass come up short against the calculated teamwork of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho, Owens sealing the win with a smirk as Jericho celebrates beside him.
Narrator:
“Friendship was tested… and alliances proved stronger than pride.”
The footage shifts to the brutal confrontation between Rusev and Roman Reigns, showing their ringside brawl spilling into chaos, security rushing in as both men refuse to be separated.
Narrator:
“Some battles couldn’t be contained…”
The tone intensifies as clips show Sheamus vs. Cesaro – Match #1 of the Best of 7 Series, with Sheamus standing tall after a hard-fought victory, staring down a frustrated Cesaro.
Narrator:
“And rivalries only grew more personal…”
The music builds as we cut to the emotional high point of the night, Finn Balor defeating Seth Rollins to become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion. Confetti falls as Balor holds the title high, overwhelmed by the moment.
Narrator (rising in intensity):
“But history was made…”
The final montage shows Charlotte Flair reclaiming the WWE Women’s Championship, standing tall in the ring as the crowd reacts, her expression cold and confident as she raises the title once more.
Narrator:
“New champions were crowned… old rivalries reignited… and Raw was changed forever.”
The screen fades to black as the SummerSlam logo lingers one final time.
“AND THE NIGHT AFTER… EVERYTHING CONTINUES.”
Match #6
WWE Universal Championship
Singles Match
Finn Balor (c) vs Sami Zayn
The match starts with a respectful but intense feeling-out process. Balor and Zayn exchange technical holds and counters, neither man willing to give an inch. Zayn surprises the champion early with quick offense, including a springboard crossbody and a sharp DDT for a near fall that shocks the crowd.
Balor regains control with precision strikes and stiff kicks, targeting Zayn’s midsection to slow him down. He connects with a running dropkick into the corner and nearly ends it with a Coup de Grâce attempt, but Zayn rolls out of the way at the last second.
Midway through the match, momentum swings back and forth. Zayn hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a dramatic two-count, while Balor responds with a Sling Blade and shotgun dropkick combo. Both men are visibly wearing down as the pace becomes more desperate and emotional.
In the final stretch, Zayn climbs the ropes, attempting a high-risk move, but Balor counters into a superplex. Both men crash hard and are left down for several moments. Slowly, they rise, trading exhausted strikes in the center of the ring. Zayn hits an exploder into the corner, followed by a Helluva Kick setup—only for Balor to collapse out of the way at the last second.
Both men are now completely spent, crawling toward each other as the crowd rises. Neither can fully capitalize—
Suddenly, Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho sprint down to the ring.
Owens slides in and immediately attacks Zayn, while Jericho goes after Balor. The referee calls for the bell as chaos erupts—this match is ruled a no contest.
Winner - No Contest - 19:11
Owens and Jericho continue the assault, until,
Neville’s music hits!
The crowd erupts as Neville rushes down and dives into the ring, taking out Owens with a flying kick and forcing Jericho to retreat. Neville stands alongside Balor and Zayn as all three regroup in the ring.
Balor, Zayn, and Neville stand united, staring down Owens and Jericho at ringside. The two heels back up the ramp, shouting threats but refusing to re-enter the ring.
The show ends with the three babyfaces standing tall in the ring, united as Owens and Jericho retreat at the top of the stage, tensions at a breaking point as we go off the air!
|
