Raw Deal - Raw recap for December 11, 2017

Samoa Joe is in the ring to start tonight's show. He says everyone has heard of The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns) and their track record for dominance. He has seen them up close, and he is not impressed, especially after he snapped Rollins' leg his first night on the main roster. He is also not impressed with Dean Ambrose's pattern of avoiding him (calling him a "human cockroach"), nor is he impressed with Roman Reigns. Later tonight, he has a match with Ambrose, but he wants to finish what he started with Roman Reigns right now. He also tells Roman Reigns to come to the ring alone, saying he wants only him. Seth Rollins is watching from backstage, and Ambrose takes a look. Rollins tells Ambrose to get Roman as Samoa Joe continues to talk. As Joe brags about putting Roman Reigns in the Coaquina Clutch last week, he tells Roman he would have ended him if it were not for Jason Jordan. He also says Rollins and Ambrose are not Raw tag team champs because of him, and there is nothing Roman can do about it. He then tells Roman to come face him if he has a problem with anything he has to say about him, saying he can take him out on his own without anyone else as he can stand on his own too feet. Joe says if it weren't for The Shield, he would be nothing. Joe says that if Roman has a problem, he can face him in the ring. Roman is now looking at the television screen backstage. He tells Rollins and Ambrose he can take care of this as he heads to the ring. Roman Reigns heads to the ring alone, and he and Joe brawl in the ring. Cesaro and Sheamus get in the ring, and their distraction allows Joe to get the upper hand and put Roman in the Coaquina Clutch. Sheamus and Cesaro take the boots to Roman, but it is not long before Ambrose and Rollins run in to fight Sheamus and Cesaro at ringside. Ambrose and Rollins make quick work of the Raw tag team champions, but when they go for Joe, Sheamus and Cesaro quickly get in the ring and the numbers game catches up. Sheamus, Cesaro and Joe stand tall in the ring, then leave.

WWE's first women's match in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi between Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss is mentioned.

Before the next match, Paige says she had his first match in WWE in over a year and squashed a boss. Now the Absolution (Paige, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville) train will run past two more champs. Mandy says they will purge the Women's division of the feeble and unworthy. Sonya Deville tells them it is time to put their hair up and square up, for Absolution is a symphony of carnage and the music is about to start. Paige tells Mickie James, Bayley and Sasha Banks that Absolution is the future and that the ring is her house.

Absolution (Paige and Mandy Rose) beat Bayley and Mickie James.

Bray Wyatt is here. So is Matt Hardy, who says he is woken.

Bray Wyatt is on the TitanTron again. He says good has always battled evil and it is his favorite game. We then see Matt Hardy, who says the Great War has transcended space and time for eons, and now it continues in WWE. Bray says Matt Hardy is now "woken" and the yin to his yang, and that he has waited for him. Matt says darkness has fallen, but he will illuminate the masses. Bray says Matt is a modern day "golden cow" and a liar. Matt moos, then laughs. Bray says his words mean nothing. Matt says Sister Abigail has existed for eternity. They have met in the passed, but Sister Abigail has fallen victim to the darkness and now exists in the vessel known as Bray Wyatt. Bray asks why you would follow a jester when you can fight with a king. Matt says the "woken warriors" are preparing for the "Wyatt swarm" and that they are prepared to delete. Bray laughs, as does Matt.

Enzo Amore is talking to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship when he asks Drew Gulak what he can do for him. Gulak says Rich Swann's opportunity is revoked, and a second chance Fatal 4-Way will happen tonight where the winner faces Enzo. Enzo suddenly mentions Nia Jax by accident as he mentions potential contenders, and Drew Gulak says Enzo wants him to be prepared for any opponent after catching him out. Enzo pretends that they are on the same page to avoid embarrassment. (In reality, Rich Swann is indefinitely suspended following battery and false imprisonment charges following a fight between himself and his wife, independent wrestler Su Yung, in Gainesville, Florida.)

Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel laugh at Finn Balor before the next match. Curtis Axel rips the neck brace off, then hits Balor with a cheap shot. Bo Dallas also gets a few shots in as well.

Finn Balor makes quick work of Curtis Axel.

Backstage, Kane tells Braun Strowman that tonight, they will step into the abyss - a place normal men fear to tread. However, neither man is normal, and know what it is like to squeeze a man's throat until he loses the will to fight. He and Braun will step into the abyss, but only he will walk out, and when he does, he will face Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble and become the WWE Universal Champion.

Seth Rollins beats Sheamus despite the damage to his left knee during the match.

Renee Young interviews Dean Ambrose. Ambrose says he has to avoid being kicked in the face and being put in the Coaquina Clutch. He says Joe has gotten him worked up, and it's too much. He's ready for Samoa Joe.

Drew Gulak guests on commentary for the next match.

Cedric Alexander beats "The Premiere Athlete" Tony Nese, Mustafa Ali and Ariya Daivari in a "Second Chance" Fatal 4-Way Match to face Drew Gulak to decide a #1 contender for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship next week. Charly Caruso interviews Cedric after the match. He says this was his second chance, and he plans to take full advantage of it by beating Drew Gulak and Enzo Amore to become the Cruiserweight Champion.

Drew Gulak talks to Enzo Amore about his match with Cedric Alexander and how he will be Cruiserweight Champion afterwards. Enzo tells Drew they are not friends and that he works for him, and almost says his Powerpoint presentations are "sawft." Gulak says they are "informative." Enzo then meets a smiling Nia Jax. Nia is happy to see Enzo, and tells Drew he likes his Powerpoint presentation. She then tells Enzo they should talk when he's not busy.

Roman Reigns retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Cesaro.

Braun Strowman tells Kane he tried to crush his throat and end his career, but he sent him crawling out of the arena gasping for air with a taste of his own medicine. Tonight, Kane gets the full dose, because he wants another piece of Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble. Kane may be in his way, but not for long.

Before the next match, Absolution (Paige, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville) shows up instead of Alicia Fox. Paige reveals that Alicia Fox is hurt, and that a referee is checking on her backstage. Paige then says she respects Asuka and has heard about her, and has allowed her to walk away. She says that not even Asuka can stop Absolution. She tells Asuka to move out of the way, or else Absolution will make her. Asuka shakes her head "no." Asuka then starts fighting Absolution off, and she gets Paige in the arm bar. However, the numbers game takes over. Before Paige can hit Ram-Paige on Asuka, the entire Raw women's locker room goes after Absolution. Mandy Rose has to be dragged out of the ring by Paige and Sonya before the whole women's locker room can overwhelm her.

General Manager Kurt Angle asks for the ring to be reinforced, then Jason Jordan shows up and apologizes for last week, saying his intensity got the best of him. He keeps his cool, but he still wants a match with Samoa Joe after what he's done. Jason Jordan says he has held his own, but Kurt tells him he has not won yet and he will get the match when he says so. Jason gets ticked off with Angle and leaves.

Samoa Joe beats Dean Ambrose with the Coaquina Clutch following the constant interference from Jason Jordan, who shows up at the beginning of the match to watch the match from the stage.

Dana Brooke thanks Apollo Crews and Titus O'Neil for the opportunity to join Titus Worldwide as the head of "Research and Development." Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) show up and call them nerds. Suddenly, Braun Strowman shows up and scares everyone out of the way.

A ring crew is seen reinforcing the ring before the next match.

Next week: Brock Lesnar returns to Raw!

Kane vs. Braun Strowman ends in a double count-out. After the match, Braun Strowman goes after Kane. Eventually, both men have steel steps in their hands. Both sets run right into each other, then Braun tries to injure Kane's windpipe again. Kane fights out of it. Braun Strowman then pulls out a table from underneath the ring, but Kane reaches in there for a steel chair and whacks Strowman in the leg with it. Kane continues to punish Strowman with the steel chair, then sets up the table. Strowman hits a running clothesline, and both men are down. Kane gets back up, then looks at Strowman. Strowman also gets up in similar fashion and looks at Kane. Kane is taken aback, and he backs into the corner. Kane grabs a charging Strowman and almost choke slams him into the table, but Strowman breaks the hold and hits him with a running power slam through the table.

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