Monday, July 18, 2016

Raw Deal - Raw recap for July 18, 2016

The rules for the WWE Draft are announced: Raw has the first overall pick. For every two SmackDown picks, Raw gets three. (This is a reference to SmackDown's two hours compared to Raw's three.) Tag teams count as one pick unless a Commissioner/General Manager only wants one member only wants one member of the team. Six draft picks will be made off the NXT roster.

Stephanie McMahon shows up to start the show, but Shane McMahon joins in on the fun before she can utter more than a few words. After welcoming everyone to the show, Shane and Stephanie passive-aggressively insult each other before announcing that there will be a new Cruiserweight Division, and that it will be exclusive to Raw. Stephanie then says she will take Raw to the promised land, and announces that Raw's General Manager is none other than Mick Foley. Foley thanks Stephanie for the opportunity, then compares the new era to the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars. He says that he had an ember of an idea, but Stephanie's phone call turned it into a five-alarm fire. He plans to take Raw to the future and beyond much like he did for WWE when he put the final nail in the coffin for WCW. Shane congratulates Mick Foley, and gives credit to Stephanie where it's due, then announces the General Manager for SmackDown: Daniel Bryan. Daniel Bryan says the fans don't miss him half as much as he misses the fans. He says he wants to make SmackDown something awesome for the WWE Universe, and after getting the phone call from Shane about how SmackDown was the underdog in this new competition, and he realized that now was the time to come back. He says that his getting the match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for and winning the title at WrestleMania 30 was a fan effort, and with a fan effort, SmackDown can beat Raw every single week. After Stephanie calls Daniel Bryan "a B+ player for a B+ show," Shane thanks Stephanie for keeping D-Bry relevant, then Shane and D-Bry start a "Yes" chant.



Sami Zayn and Cesaro beat Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens after Sami Zayn reverses a roll-up from Chris Jericho into an inside cradle.



As Daniel Bryan gets a warm welcome from Goldust, R-Truth, Jack Swagger and Titus O'Neil, he talks to Stephanie McMahon backstage, and Stephanie decides to insult him so more. Daniel Bryan isn't having any of it.

The Miz and Maryse guest on commentary for the next match.

Darren Young beats Alberto Del Rio when The Miz's attempt to distract Darren Young backfires as the ref is too distracted with Miz to count Del Rio's schoolboy pin.



John Cena shows up. Cena mentions the WWE Draft and Battleground, then focuses on The Club (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson). He says they'll learn this Sunday that they can't see him because he has the Certified G's. Enzo Amore and Big Cass show up, and Enzo says that The Club are insecure before making fun of them. John Cena notices as Enzo is making fun of The Club that Enzo is spitting out punchlines, and it become evident that this is what Enzo does and that Cena is confused. They are, however, on the same page about The Club, and right after Big Cass calls them S-A-W-F-T, The Club shows up and decide to give them a taste of what to expect at Battleground, and Karl Anderson say that the three of them have no chemistry. As they talk about beating up Cena, Big Cass and Enzo, they also talk about beating up The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods). The New Day show up, not surprised at all with The Club. The Club mock them, but Xavier Woods say they are not just normal men, and at Battleground, they plan to prove why they are the tag team champs. They get in the ring, then explain the Enzo and Cass-isms to Cena before making a bunch of Pokemon Go references. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman) show up for the 12-man tag match also involving everyone else in the ring, which is happening next.



The Club (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson) and The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman) beat John Cena, Enzo Amore, Big Cass and The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods).



Stephanie and Mick Foley talk with Apollo Crews.

We see an interview with Seth Rollins from earlier today. He calls Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns pawns in his own game of winning the WWE Championship. He cut his losses when the time came, yet Roman Reigns also rose to the top. He says that Roman Reigns will never be the same, then continues to call Dean a thief for cashing in the Money In The Bank briefcase and winning the title off of him. Tonight, he plans to put an end to Dean and his championship reign, and walk in and out of Battleground proving he was always "The Man."



Mick Foley meets Breezango, then Shane congratulates Mick Foley on becoming Raw General Manager. Shane tells Mick that Stephanie she hired him because he relates to the fans. He tells Mick he's looking out for him, and Mick Foley says that he's got a front row seat to Stephanie's rise to power, but knows that she has the passion for the role of Commissioner.



Baron Corbin beats Sin Cara. During the match, it is announced that The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and Kalisto) have broken up so they can be drafted separately in the WWE Draft. After the match, Baron Corbin continues to attack Sin Cara, and when Kalisto shows up to make the save, Corbin attacks him too.



Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch beat Charlotte and Dana Brooke by disqualification after Natalya shows up and attacks Becky Lynch again. Charlotte and Dana attack Sasha after the match.



Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan talk to Kane.

Dean Ambrose cuts a Shield-style promo...almost. He talks about how he went from a member of The Shield to the WWE Championship. He knows what to expect from Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, and plans to leave Battleground as WWE Champion.



Rusev and Sheamus beat Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler with an Accolade on Ziggler.



We see a video package for Randy Orton's return against Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Randy Orton is scheduled to return at Battleground as the night's guest for Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel.



We see John Cena as emcee of The Espys.

As Mick Foley talks with The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), Daniel Bryan meets up with Mick Foley, telling him he just wants a good working relationship after all is said and done. Not surprisingly, D-Bry and Mick have a lot in common, but it soon becomes evident that they are rivals.

Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose ends with both men in an inside cradle with their shoulders down after a top rope superplex after the referee took a hit. Stephanie McMahon declares Rollins the winner, but the result of the match is still in doubt.



On the WWE Network, Shane McMahon declares Dean Ambrose the WWE Championship. The referee says something to Lillian Garcia, who then announces that the referee wants to see a replay. It becomes very apparent that both men had their shoulders on the mat at the same time. The referee says something to Lillian Garcia, who announces that Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose has ended in a draw, and that Dean Ambrose has retained the WWE Championship. Rollins then attacks Ambrose, then walks away with the WWE Championship before deciding to return to the ring to hit Ambrose with the championship. Ambrose ducks and hits Rollins with Dirty Deeds.



Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!

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