Results by Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
October 25, 2021
Houston, Texas (Toyota Center)
Commentary: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton
Quick Match Results
- #1 Contender Triple Threat Match: Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode defeated The Street Profits and Alpha Academy via Zig Zag / spinebuster combo on Dawkins
- Queen Zelina Vega defeated Doudrop via hitting her with her scepter when the ref wasn’t looking
- Damian Priest defeated T-Bar by disqualification when T-Bar threw a chair at him
- Carmella defeated Liv Morgan via sit-out facebuster
- Keith “Bearcat” Lee defeated Cedric Alexander via Big Bang Catastrophe
- Austin Theory defeated Dominik Mysterio via the ATL
- Raw Tag Team Championship: RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) (c) defeated Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode via roll up by Riddle on Ziggler
- #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match: Seth Rollins defeated Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor
In-Ring: Big E, Seth Rollins, Rey Mysterio, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Sonya Deville
WWE Champion Big E makes his way to the ring to a nice ovation. Big E welcomes everyone to the Season Premiere of Monday Night Raw. What better way to introduce a new era of WWE Raw than in a town like Houston, Texas? A “Let’s go Astros” chant picks up. The Houston Astros will battle the Atlanta Braves in the MLB World Series starting tomorrow. Big E says he would be remiss if he didn’t mention the brand new King of the Ring, his brother, and yours, Xavier Woods. Big E also tips his cap to Drew McIntyre. That man pushed Big E and sharpened his iron. That man is the reason Big E is better today than he was a week ago. There is no rest for the weary. As we have an influx of incredible talent from SmackDown to Raw, Big E asks, “Who?”
Seth Rollins’ music hits, and The Visionary makes his way to the ring. Rollins is wearing a ridiculous-looking overcoat as he dances his way to the ring. Big E dances in the ring. Rollins grabs a microphone and laughs into it. Rollins says Big E already knows why he’s out here. Big E says Rollins lost to Edge. Rollins looks upset but laughs. Rollins shouts that Edge isn’t here and he is, so he wants Big E’s title around his waist as soon as possible. Big E says Rollins lost to Edge, so that means he goes to the back of the line. Rollins says he’s had a long week. He went through hell on Thursday, but over the past year, he has earned his stripes. The Universal Champion is too afraid to give him an opportunity. Does Big E want to be like Roman Reigns or does he want to be a fighting champion? It’s the Season Premiere of Monday Night Raw. What better way to kick it off than Big E versus Seth Freakin’ Rollins for the WWE Championship?
Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and he comes out to the stage. Mysterio says clearly Rollins’ vision is impaired after having his head bashed in by Edge. It’s been a while since they’ve seen “eye to eye,” but if anyone deserves a WWE Championship match, it’s Mysterio. His resume speaks for itself. Mysterio is a former United States Champion, Intercontinental, Tag Team Champion, a 3-time World Heavyweight Champion, and a former WWE Champion. Mysterio is willing to do whatever it takes to win that championship one more time.
Finn Balor comes out to the ring. Balor says he has a lot of love for Mysterio, but he’s a 2-time NXT Champion, a 2-time Intercontinental Champion, and he was the first-ever Universal Champion. Balor looks right at Rollins, the person he beat to win the Universal Championship. There is one title he’s never held. Now that he’s on Raw, he wants the WWE Championship. Rollins begs Big E not to listen to Balor or Mysterio.
Kevin Owens now comes down to the ring. Owens says if we’re talking accolades, he’ll play. Owens is a former NXT Champion, former 3-time U.S. Champion, former 2-time Intercontinental Champion, and he won the title for the first time in Houston. Something else happened in Houston. He became Universal Champion in this building. The person he pinned for the title was Cruella DeVille, Rollins. Rollins attacks Owens and Mysterio. Balor and Rollins brawl, but Balor knocks him back. Rollins avoids a Stunner from Owens and gets out of the ring.
WWE Official Sonya Deville comes out to the stage to boos. If they want an opportunity for the WWE Championship, they’re in luck. They’ll have a Fatal 4-Way match later tonight. The winner will have that opportunity. Considering it’s the Season Premiere of Monday Night Raw, let’s raise the stakes. It’ll be a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match! Rollins flips out!
#1 Contender Triple Threat Match
The Street Profits vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode vs. Alpha Academy
The winners will face RK-Bro for the Raw Tag Team Championship later tonight.
Montez Ford starts again Chad Gable. Gable takes Ford down, but Ford soon wrenches the arm. Gable twists and kips up before hitting a drop-toe-hold. Gable taunts the crowd and applies a shoulder lock. Gable transitions into a front facelock. Ford fights up and whips him off, but Gable shoulder blocks him down. Gable hits the ropes again. Ford leapfrogs him and goes for another, but Gable catches him. Ford flips through a German Suplex and connects with a beautiful dropkick. Angelo Dawkins tags in and shoulder blocks Gable. Roode runs in, but The Street Profits hit a double-team hip toss. They then hit Dolph Ziggler with a double-team flapjack onto Roode! Otis gets in the ring, but The Street Profits knock him out of the ring.
Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro are shown watching backstage.
We come back from the break to see Roode beating on Ford. Ford fights Roode and Ziggler off before sending Roode out of the ring with a step-up enzuigiri. Ziggler tags in and quickly stops Ford from making a tag. Ziggler goes for a famouser, but Ford counters into a sit-out powerbomb. Otis runs in and drags Ziggler to his corner before tagging himself in. Otis attacks Ford and charges, but he hits the ring post shoulder-first when Ford moves. Gable tags in, but Ford kicks him away.
Angelo Dawkins tags in and knocks the Dirty Dawgs off the apron. Gable attacks Dawkins, but Dawkins fights back. Dawkins slams Roode and takes Gable and Ziggler down with exploders. Dawkins hits Gable with a Silencer, but Roode breaks up the pin. Otis attacks Dawkins and hits him as Gable hits a bridging German Suplex! Ford quickly flattens Gable with a Frog Splash! Otis charges Ford, but Ford pulls the top rope down and dropkicks him. Roode attacks Ford and sends him into the ropes. Ford hits Otis with a somersault senton to the floor! Dawkins hits Roode with a massive spinebuster. Ford goes to the top rope, but Omos makes his way to the ringside area. Ford jumps onto Omos, but Omos catches him and throws him into the barricade. Dawkins grabs Omos, but Omos punches him. Roode and Ziggler mistime a Double R Spinebuster/Zig-Zag combo on Dawkins for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: The Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode)
The Dirty Dawgs will face RK-Bro for the Raw Tag Team Championship later tonight.
In-Ring: Queen Zelina Vega’s Coronation
Zelina Vega is introduced to the ring. The ring has a throne and a crown in it with a red carpet. Vega says she will not take this disrespect any longer. She makes Mike Rome re-introduce her in a royal way. Rome obliges, and Vega puts her crown on. Queen Zelina says her greatness has always been underappreciated. None of the girls in the locker room had a chance. The Raw Women’s Locker Room is shown watching backstage. What kind of queen will she be? Loved? Feared? All of the above! If you are not the most powerful woman in the room, then you are nothing. Doudrop is a perfect example of what happens when you stand in her way. This crown is proof that she is the best of the best. You will all talk about her reign for years to come. She’ll be as iconic as Nefertiti, as ruthless as Cleopatra… no, she’ll be better. All hair Queen Zelina! Some cheesy royal music plays.
Queen Zelina Vega vs. Doudrop
Doudrop blocks Zelina from attacking her with the scepter and takes her down. Doudrop tosses Zelina around before hitting a body slam. Doudrop hits the ropes and hits a senton splash. Doudrop goes for another scoop slam, but Zelina slides off and clubs her. Zelina begs her off and drops her into the turnbuckle. Zelina stomps and chokes Doudrop. Zelina takes her down and goes to the second rope for a flying double knee facebuster for a near fall. Zelina starts to untie the top turnbuckle, so the referee stops her and fixes it. Zelina hits Doudrop in the head with the scepter during the distraction to pick up the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Queen Zelina
In-Ring: Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch is in the ring, and she’s getting a much bigger reaction this week. The Man and the new Raw Women’s Champion and the new face of Monday Night Raw has come around to Houston. It feels good to get the title back on her shoulder. It’s a title she has never lost. She won it at WrestleMania 35 and was never beaten for it. Lynch will pick up where she left off. She’s only been back for two months, but she’s making history. In a groundbreaking match, she sent Bianca Belair packing with her braid between her legs. There’s a whole new crop of women chomping for the big time. Maybe they want to see her beat Rhea Ripley or Liv Morgan. You can’t always get what you want unless you are Becky Lynch.
Bianca Belair makes her way out to the ring. Belair says she walked out of Crown Jewel with a lot of feelings, but shame wasn’t one of them. Belair didn’t get pinned by Lynch. Belair says Lynch thinks she always gets what she wants, but she’s found every way to stay away from her. Belair beat Sasha Banks at WrestleMania, beat Bayley at Hell in a Cell, and last week she beat Charlotte Flair. That technically earns her a rematch with the Raw Women’s Champion, which just so happens to be Lynch. There is one thing that Lynch was right about. Raw does have a new face and it’s the E-S-T of WWE. Lynch shows a photo of her face after Crown Jewel. She then shows Belair’s face after losing at Crown Jewel. It’s a sad and grumpy face. That’s not the face of Monday Night Raw. It’s the face of a loser. Belair wants to talk about not facing adversity, but Lynch faced it down and slapped its face off. Belair has had a straight shot to the top, but that’s only because Lynch wasn’t around to stop her in her tracks. Since then, it’s been nothing but disappointment for Belair.
Belair says the only thing she’s disappointed about is not slapping that goofy smile off Lynch’s face to show everyone exactly who she is. All Lynch has done since coming back is hide her feelings that her return hasn’t gone how she has wanted. Lynch came back, but they’re still rooting for the rookie Belair. Behind all the catchphrases and personality, she has nothing. Lynch is nothing without the title. Lynch looks upset. Belair has shown everyone who she is without the title. She’s still the E-S-T. Lynch isn’t the strongest, fastest, or smartest in WWE. Lynch needs to shut up or run up because she wants her rematch for the Raw Women’s Championship tonight. Lynch says if Belair wants to go one more time to see who the woman really is. Lynch says, “Get to the back of the line, bitch.”
Belair attacks Lynch and stomps her in the corner. Belair connects with a big spinebuster, and Lynch rolls out of the ring. Belair sends her over the commentary table and spins her braid around. Lynch goes to attack her with a kendo stick, but Belair blocks it and knocks her into the ring. Belair attacks Lynch with the kendo stick a few times before Lynch kicks her in the midsection. Lynch grabs for the kendo stick, but Belair stops her and goes for a KOD. Lynch rakes the eyes and hits a side leg sweep with the kendo stick. Lynch leaves the ring. Lynch says if she wants a rematch, she’s got it… just not tonight! The crowd boos as she goes to the back.
Backstage: Finn Balor, Kevin Owens
A replay is shown of the opening segment that led to a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match.
Finn Balor is preparing backstage when Kevin Owens walks up to him. Owens says this is a big match and a big opportunity. They’ve known each other for a long time, but Owens has to win this tonight. It’s every man for himself. Owens needs to win this. Balor says every man for himself is just how he likes it.
Damian Priest vs. T-Bar
T-Bar forearms Priest in a face a few times. Priest quickly stops a whip and claps the ear. Priest sets up for The Reckoning, but T-Bar powers Priest up and kicks him down for a near fall. T-Bar attacks Priest’s spine, but Priest fights back. Priest sidesteps a kick and goes for a chokeslam. T-Bar fights it and elbows him. T-Bar hits a chokeslam backbreaker for a near fall. T-Bar goes to the top rope and connects with a moonsault for a two count. Priest soon responds with some forearms and knocks him back. Priest hits a running back elbow followed by a rough looking Broken Arrow. Priest clotheslines him out of the ring and goes outside to get him. T-Bar throws a commentator’s chair at Priest for the disqualification!
Winner by Disqualification: WWE United States Champion Damian Priest
Priest is infuriated and turns T-Bar inside out with a clothesline. Priest slams the chair down onto him and throws him into the barricade. Priest throws T-Bar hard into the ring post, and he falls onto the ring steps. Priest spikes T-Bar in the ring with The Reckoning.
Carmella vs. Liv Morgan
Carmella is backstage holding a jewel-encrusted face mask. Carmella says the only thing more beautiful than that is her. She’s surrounded by haters like Liv Morgan, who followed her to try to destroy her face and deny WWE her beauty.
Carmella makes her way to the ring. At ringside, some assistants are primping Carmella’s hair. She turns around and we see the ridiculous face mask.
Carmella takes it to Morgan to start the match. Morgan fights back, but Carmella boots her down. Carmella applies a chin lock and says Morgan is jealous of her. Carmella knees her in the midsection as Morgan fights up. Carmella says Morgan is so jealous that it’s disgusting. Morgan fights back and hits an enzuigiri. Morgan continues to attack, but Carmella soon cuts her off. Morgan hangs her on the ropes and stomps her down for a two count. Carmella rolls out of the ring to recover. Morgan attacks and tries to catapult her onto the commentary table, but Carmella puts the brakes on. Morgan slams Carmella’s face off the table and puts her in the ring. Corey Graves is not happy. Morgan rolls Carmella up for a near fall. Carmella quickly comes back with a sit-out facebuster for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Carmella
Keith “Bearcat” Lee vs. Cedric Alexander
Lee immediately throws Alexander across the ring. Alexander rolls out of the ring to recover and hear some advice from Shelton Benjamin. Alexander attacks Lee, but Lee shakes it off and slams him down. Lee punches him in the midsection and tosses him aside. Lee avalanches him in the corner and throws him down. Alexander avoids another avalanche and starts attacking the legs. Lee quickly avalanches him down and hits a short-arm clothesline. Lee powers Alexander up to his shoulders and hits a Big Bang Catastrophe for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Keith “Bearcat” Lee
Shelton Benjamin gets in the ring and stares at Lee. Lee prepares to fight, but Benjamin backs away and leaves the ring.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Austin Theory
Earlier tonight, Rey and Dominik Mysterio were talking about Rey’s Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match when Austin Theory walked in. Theory wanted a selfie with Rey but then said Dominik could just take it. Dominik says he’s not a photographer and this isn’t Theory’s locker room. Theory challenged him to a match, which Dominik accepted. Rey showed respect to his son.
In the ring, they lock up, and Theory knees him in the midsection. Mysterio reverses a whip to the corner, but Theory slingshots over him and dropkicks him down. Theory mocks Eddie Guerrero’s taunt. Mysterio gets to his feet and looks upset. They lock up, and Mysterio forearms him in the face. Mysterio wrenches the arm, scales the ropes, and hits an arm drag. Mysterio does the Eddie Guerrero taunt. Theory quickly kicks him in the midsection and sends him into the ropes, but Mysterio comes back with a hurricanrana. Theory quickly attacks Mysterio and goes for a suplex, but Mysterio counters out. Mysterio goes for a wheelbarrow maneuver, but Theory counters into a full nelson spinebuster for a near fall. Theory continues to mock Dominik and goes for a suplex, but Mysterio counters into an inside cradle for a near fall. Mysterio boots Theory and sidesteps an avalanche. Mysterio hits a running elbow and comes off the second rope with a bulldog. Mysterio goes for a monkey flip, but Theory drops him on the top rope. Theory hits the ATL for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Austin Theory
Theory takes a selfie with a fallen Mysterio and an irate referee.
Video Package: Veer
A video package airs hyping up Veer, who they say is coming to Raw despite the fact that he has almost exclusively performed on Raw.
Raw Tag Team Championship
RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Raw Tag Team Champions Riddle and Randy Orton are backstage. Riddle is wondering what they should wear for Halloween. Orton says they’ll talk about Halloween until they’re blue in the face after this match, but they need to concentrate. Riddle says they’ll clean up the Dirty Dawgs.
In the ring, Riddle and Dolph Ziggler start the match. They trade roll-ups, but neither gets an advantage. Robert Roode tags in, and Riddle gets the crowd going for Orton. Randy Orton tags in to a nice ovation. Orton and Roode lock up. Roode applies a waistlock, but Orton executes a standing switch. Roode elbows Orton in the face and chops him in the corner. Roode whips Orton to the corner, but Orton pops out and goes for an RKO. Roode pushes him off and gets out of the ring to recover. Orton signals that he almost had Roode and smiles. Roode gets in the ring, and Orton kicks him in the midsection. Orton uppercuts him down and stomps the midsection. Riddle tags in and hits an assisted twisting splash on Roode for a near fall. Riddle kicks away at Roode in the corner. Roode rolls out of the ring. Riddle gets on the apron to kick him, but Roode blocks it and viciously takes him down.
We come back from the break to see Ziggler punching away at Riddle in the corner. Roode tags in and bounces Riddle in the corner. Roode whips Riddle to the corner, but Riddle avoids a bronco buster. Orton tags in and clotheslines Roode twice before hitting a snap powerslam. Orton grabs Roode and sets up for a hanging DDT, but Ziggler distracts him. Roode snaps Orton off the top rope. Roode pulls Orton out of the ring and sends him into the timekeeper’s area. Ziggler tags in and grabs Orton to put him in the ring. Ziggler covers for a near fall. Ziggler goes for a crossface, but Orton fights it. Roode tags in and applies a sleeper hold, but Orton counters out with a back suplex.
Riddle and Ziggler tag in. Riddle attacks Ziggler and hits an exploder before hitting Roode with an exploder. Riddle hits them with Brotons and kicks Ziggler, but Roode breaks up the pin. Orton runs in and hits Roode with an RKO. Ziggler superkicks Orton down, so Riddle rolls him up. They trade roll-ups with Riddle ultimately coming out on top!
Winners by Pinfall and still Raw Tag Team Champions: RK-Bro
Backstage: Seth Rollins
An irate Seth Rollins is shown backstage when Kevin Patrick comes up to him. Rollins is asked about competing in Hell in a Cell and now a Ladder Match. Does Rollins have a target on his back? Rollins says he is the biggest threat to the WWE Champion. The champion knows it, as does everyone in this Ladder Match. Rollins is in suffering and pain. Rollins shouldn’t have to deal with this match. He should be the number one contender. Rollins will put that all behind him because he is visionary and a revolutionary. He is Seth Freakin’ Rollins and he is the next WWE Champion.
Next week on Raw, Becky Lynch will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair.
#1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins
The winner becomes the #1 Contender for Big E’s WWE Championship.
The bell rings, and Mysterio attacks Rollins’ legs. All three gang up on Rollins and knock him out of the ring. Owens attacks Rollins at ringside, while Mysterio and Balor battle in the ring. Balor reverses a whip, but Mysterio goes for a sunset flip. Balor rolls through and dropkicks Mysterio. Balor goes outside and grabs a ladder. Rollins attacks Balor from behind and bounces him off the barricade. Mysterio reaches over the top rope and grabs Rollins, but Rollins snaps him off the top rope. Owens grabs Rollins and attacks him before putting the ladder into the ring. Rollins goes to hit Owens with another ladder, but Owens cuts him off. Owens grabs the ladder and hits Rollins and Balor with it. Mysterio goes for a plancha, but Owens swats him out of midair.
WWE Champion Big E is shown watching this match from a very unnatural angle.
Balor attacks Owens in the ring as he lifts the ladder, leaning it into the ropes. Owens fights back and powerbombs Balor onto the ladder! Owens attacks Rollins getting in the ring and puts him on the ladder. Owens goes for a Swanton Bomb, but Rollins moves! Owens crashes and burns into the ladder!
We come back from the break to see Rollins slamming the point of a ladder into Balor, Owens, and Mysterio. Rollins shouts that he shouldn’t even be in this match. Balor takes Rollins down and double stomps the ladder into Rollins’ midsection. Owens grabs Balor for a powerbomb, but Balor hits Owens with a back body drop onto the ladder on top of Rollins! Balor climbs the ladder and grabs the contract, but Mysterio cuts him off. They exchange punches before Owens tips the ladder over. Owens hits Balor with a German Suplex. Mysterio boots Owens back, but Owens quickly swings him around and hits a driver. Owens starts to climb, but Rollins pulls him down and hits a Buckle Bomb. Owens quickly comes back with a superkick on Rollins!
Owens climbs the ladder again and grabs the contract. Owens starts to unhook it, but Mysterio grabs Owens’ ankles and pulls him down. Owens sends Mysterio facefirst into the ladder. Mysterio rolls out of the ring. Owens goes outside and drives Mysterio into the barricade. Owens grabs the ladder and drives it into Balor and Mysterio. Owens goes around ringside and hits Rollins in the ribs with the ladder. Owens walks around for a moment before going under the ring and grabbing a table. Owens sets it up at ringside. Rollins takes Owens and Balor out with a suicide dive. Rollins gets in the ring with Mysterio and attacks him. Mysterio fights back with a wheelbarrow bulldog. Owens grabs Mysterio, but Mysterio fights him off and hits the ropes. Rollins sweeps Mysterio’s feet and gets in the ring. Mysterio sends Rollins out of the ring. Owens grabs a ladder at ringside, but Mysterio hits a 619 to knock it into his face! Mysterio then rides the ladder down onto Owens with a modified sit-out senton! Rollins and Mysterio battle at ringside before Balor wipes them out with a somersault senton.
We come back from the final break of the evening to see Rollins and Owens battling before Rollins hits him with a DDT. Mysterio climbs the ladder and goes for the contract, but Rollins knocks the ladder over. Rollins leans the ladder in the corner and kicks Mysterio out of the ring. Rollins grabs Balor and whips him into the ladder in the corner. Rollins charges, but Balor hits a Sling Blade. Owens superkicks Balor, but Balor comes back with a dropkick on Rollins into the ladder. Mysterio takes Balor down and charges Owens. Owens counters a Mysterio head-scissor into a front slam!
Rollins grabs a giant 14-foot ladder, but Balor attacks him and sends him over the commentary table. Balor takes that ladder and makes a ladder bridge. Rollins attacks Balor, but Balor hits him with a Sling Blade on the floor. Balor runs into the ring and attacks Mysterio climbing the ladder. Owens grabs Balor and hits a Stunner. Owens grabs Mysterio, but Mysterio hits a hurricanrana over the top rope. Mysterio goes for a seated seton on Owens, but Owens counters into a powerbomb through that table set up at ringside.
Owens climbs the ladder in the ring, but Rollins grabs him from behind. Rollins goes for a powerbomb, but Owens blocks it. Owens goes for a powerbomb over the top rope onto the ladder bridge, but Rollins stops it. Rollins hits Owens with a back body drop over the top rope through the ladder bridge! The ladder collapses!
Balor climbs the ladder, but Rollins cuts him off and hits him with a Stomp! Rollins climbs the ladder and retrieves the contract!
Winner: Seth Rollins
WWE Champion Big E comes out to face-off with Seth Rollins. Rollins says he’ll do whatever it takes to get that title back. Rollins goes backstage.
Backstage: Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins is backstage with Sarah Schreiber. Rollins says this is his show and he’s back and better than ever. Rollins says he is the next WWE Champion because he is a visionary and a revolutionary. He is Seth Freakin’ Rollins.
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