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The main story ahead of this week’s WWE Raw was a gauntlet match for the final spot in Sunday’s Money in the Bank ladder match. The place had previously been occupied by Apollo Crews before Andrade took it out last week. The last participant in the glove match was a shock when AJ Styles returned for the first time since he was buried by The Undertaker in a Boneyard Match at WrestleMania 36.
Styles was able to defeat Humberto Carrillo, who had already fought with three men, to win the match and cement his place as the favorite to win the ladder match. But that wasn’t the only big moment that led to Sunday’s pay-per-view event. WWE champion Drew McIntyre faced Murphy, the “disciple” of Seth Rollins, who disputes the title on Sunday, in the main event of the night. With Rollins watching, McIntyre brutally destroyed his protégé.
However, that was not the end, as Rollins would blind McIntyre with an attack. Before he could finish delivering a message with one of his patented stomps, he was hit with a header from the champion and thrown out of the ring when McIntyre got the last job before their matchup.
Let’s take a look at everything that happened in the Money in the Bank edition of Raw.
WWE Raw results, ratings
Raw opened with a special edition of the MVP VIP Lounge. After MVP’s attempt to host the established Raw men for the Money in the Bank ladder match ended in a fight last week, it attempted to welcome Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax and Asuka, the participants. Raw women in combat. After Baszler and Asuka started swapping jobs and faced off face to face, they both shifted their gaze to Jax. When Jax realized what was happening, she started to stand up, only to be kicked out of the ring by both women who then had to be separated by MVP when the segment came to an end on a loud note without much unnecessary fluff. Grade B-
AJ Styles def. Humberto Carrillo through submission to win a glove match and qualify for Money in the Bank. Lashley dominated the early stages of the match with victories over Titus O’Neil and Akira Tozawa before losing his cool against Humberto Carrillo and being disqualified. Carrillo managed to fight for the victories over Angel Garza and Austin Theory, who had Zelina Vega with them at ringside, but AJ Styles’ shocking return was the story that came out of the game when he returned for the first time since he was buried by The Undertaker at the Boneyard Match at WrestleMania. Styles ended Carrillo’s career with a Calf Crusher performance to end a lengthy gauntlet game on one of the biggest possible notes, even as Vega’s crew continues to struggle it’s still a waste of a potentially large heel heel . Grade: B +
AJ Styles cut a promotion after his victory. After brutalizing Carillo and attacking his knee, Styles admitted that he had been buried by The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but ruled out any meaning at the time. “They buried me,” Styles said. “So what? I admit it. I get it. But that doesn’t mean I lost. There are no rules in a Boneyard Match. There are no rules at all. That was then, and this is now. I’ve taken an opportunity. You look, now I’m in the most unique and worth the Money in the Bank ladder match. In fact, I’m going to do anything, and anything, to get that Money in the Bank contract. If that means shooting Rey, Mysterio or Aleister Black on top of WWE headquarters? So be it. “
Seth Rollins participated in an interview sitting in the ring. Rollins admitted that McIntyre is a dominant champion, a fighter, a warrior, and an honorable man before again insisting that McIntyre is not a leader and not destined to lead WWE in the future. Rollins put forward his theory that being a champion means being responsible for one generation and the entire company and that only he is capable of bearing that burden. Rollins’ promotional work during this show has been consistently strong, even if he’s conveying the same message every week, and this interview was no different, as his intensity and delusions of his own importance were well manifested. Grade: B +
Brendan Vink and Shane Thorne were shown behind the scenes preparing for their match with Cedric Alexander and Ricochet when the MVP gave them final words of encouragement. MVP organized the match last week, bringing Vink and Thorne of NXT improvement talent to a real show.
Murphy was interviewed behind the scenes. He was asked why he has been so loyal to Seth Rollins. Murphy said he needed Rollins and Rollins needed him. Now, he has learned and developed and one day he can be as good, or better, than Rollins.
Brendan Vink and Shane Thorne def. Ricochet and Cedric Alexander via pinfall after a great Vink boot at Ricochet. This was a fairly short match where the size and strength of the upstarts managed by MVP managed to elicit a huge surprise. It’s a bit disappointing that Ricochet and Alexander continue to have a reduced momentum for losses as they have proven to be a very promising tag team. But clearly there is something WWE sees in Vink and Thorne, combining them with MVP and putting them in this match. The match itself was solid, even if the result was confusing. Grade B-
The Viking Raiders def. The Street Profits via pinfall in an untitled match after hitting the Viking Experience at Angelo Dawkins. Before the game, Dawkins and Montez Ford cut a promotion talking about how the Performance Center is where they met and where The Street Profits were formed. But, they said, it wasn’t all good because they haven’t been able to beat the Viking Raiders since they were signed. The Raiders dominated Ford early, but Dawkins’ size even helped improve things in the center section of the game. Throughout the stretch, the Profits managed to cut an attempt on the Viking Experience. That allowed earnings to hit retirement, but Erik managed to make a save to keep the game alive. Moments later, the Raiders hit the Viking Experience at Dawkins to the count of three in a very solid tag fight, keeping alive their dominance over the Raw tag champions. Grade b
Drew McIntyre was interviewed behind the scenes and asked about Murphy saying he “knows” that he can beat McIntyre earlier in the night. McIntyre said Murphy is a “very confused young man” and the type Rollins eats. McIntyre said he will not deny people a “good traditional slaughter.”
After their victory, the Viking Raiders were interviewed. They said they demonstrated “The raid is on” before saying they extinguished “the smoke.”
Aleister Black promo issued where he told AJ Styles that if he followed through on his threat to dump him from the top of WWE offices, he better hope Black doesn’t get up or that Styles wishes he had been buried more than six feet deep.
Rey Mysterio did a promotion behind the scenes. Mysterio spoke about Money in the Bank’s next ladder game. Mysterio said it would be the riskiest game of his career, but winning the contract was too attractive a possibility to pass up as the end of his career approached.
Charlotte Flair cut a promotion in the ring promoting their next match with Io Shirai this Wednesday on NXT. Flair called herself “the hardest working woman in any industry.” Liv Morgan finally interrupted Flair, who asked Flair if she remembered who she was before saying that she didn’t need Flair’s approval as she realizes who he is and who she wants to be while saying that Flair was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, of which Flair admitted to be proud. Morgan then challenged Flair to a match and asked for a referee to go to the ring.
Charlotte Flair def. Liv Morgan by submission with figure eight. Morgan was able to hang out early, and continued to show improvement as a performer in the ring. Flair took over with a mid-dominant stretch of the match, but Morgan roared with a strong comeback. In the end, Flair was too much for Morgan, who continues to run with the trick that he still doesn’t know who he is as a person. Flair countered Morgan’s attempt to hit Oblivion in a Figure Eight for the submission victory. He was given more time than expected and it really helped Morgan to become a legitimate player. Grade: B +
Drew McIntyre def. Murphy via pinfall after a Claymore kick. Murphy quickly encountered McIntyre, catching an early beating from the WWE champion. Murphy attempted to climb the entrance ramp to Seth Rollins, who was watching from the stage, but that only resulted in more violence at ringside. Murphy had the advantage briefly, but his kicks only served to piss McIntyre off and led to a Glasgow Kiss header. Murphy managed a late burst, culminating in a power bomb at McIntyre that only resulted in a count. Murphy tried to steal McIntyre’s 3-2-1 count from Claymore Kick, but ate one in exchange for the crash in a short but effective game. Rollins then started entering the ring, but when McIntyre begged him to enter the ring and fight, Rollins jumped out of the ring and walked to the back, but ran into the ring and stunned McIntyre with a super kick. Rollins yelled that the situation was bigger than either of them, but he missed a stomp and head-butted and ran out of the ring before McIntyre could land a Claymore. Grade: B +
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