WWE Raw: AJ Styles becomes No. 1 contender, will face Drew McIntyre

December 1 (UPI) – AJ Styles became the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship on Raw and will face Drew McIntyre for the title at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event on December 20.

Styles, who was joined by his towering bodyguard Omos, earned his chance to win the championship on Monday after competing in a Triple Threat match against former Survivor Series teammates Keith Lee and Riddle.

Lee used his superior strength to dominate parts of the match and even used Riddle’s body as a weapon to attack Styles.

Riddle gave Styles the opening he needed when The Original Bro took Lee out with a series of knee strikes. Styles then leapt into the air and took out Riddle with the Phenomenal Forearm to win the victory and a match for the WWE Championship.

McIntyre competed in the main event with his friend Sheamus against Mr. Money in the Bank The Miz and John Morrison. Styles joined the announcer’s desk as a guest commentator.

The Phenomenal One had met with The Miz before and had come up with a plan to help The A-lister cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase on McIntyre to become the new WWE Champion. Styles was open to the idea as he saw The Miz as an easier opponent to face in TLC.

Morrison was able to throw Sheamus over the railing during the fight, prompting Styles to step into the fray to take out McIntyre with a phenomenal forearm. The act gave McIntyre and Sheamus the victory as The Miz debated Styles with the use of his Money in the Bank briefcase.

The Miz, after multiple attacks on McIntyre, decided to cash in, but the champion stood up. McIntyre threw Morrison out of the ring and nailed The Miz with a Claymore, stopping the cash in his tracks. Styles escaped unscathed when Omos picked up his client and took him to safety.

Alexa Bliss kicked off Raw by hosting her talk show A Moment of Bliss. Randy Orton was the special guest to discuss his rivalry with Bliss’ new partner, The Fiend Bray Wyatt.

Viper mentioned that it is similar to The Fiend and said that it burned the remains of Wyatt’s mentor, Sister Abigail, years ago as it was Wyatt’s greatest vulnerability.

Orton said that Bliss is Wyatt’s most recent soft spot when the arena lights went out and The Fiend made an appearance. Orton was holding Bliss when the lights came back on, prompting The Fiend to ask for her back. Orton placed Bliss in The Fiend’s arms and was able to quickly exit the ring.

Other Raw moments included Jeff Hardy defeating Elias in a violent Symphony of Destruction match; Slapjack of Retribution defeating Ricochet; Cedric Alexander of The Hurt Business defeating Raw Tag Team Champion Xavier Woods of The New Day; Dana Brooke defeating Reckoning of Retribution in Reckoning’s first match; and Raw Women’s Champion Asuka teamed up with Lana to defeat Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

Lana pinned Baszler to win the match after Asuka knocked her out with a slide kick. Asuka had attacked Baszler while applying the Kirifuda Clutch to Lana.