Raw Deal - Raw recap for September 17, 2018

Roman Reigns shows up to start tonight's show. Roman says that last night was rough, brutal and did not go to plan. However, he is still WWE Universal Champion. He knew Brock Lesnar had his rematch, but he had no idea Lesnar would kick the cell door open and go on a decimation spree, and calls Lesnar out, saying if he wants his rematch, he's got it. Instead of getting Lesnar, however, he gets Braun Strowman. Strowman says Roman should be thankful Lesnar showed up, as he is the reason he is still Universal Champion. He says Lesnar screwed him out of the title twice, and there will not be a third time. He wants to get his hands on Lesnar, and when he's done, he's coming for Roman. Acting General Manager Baron Corbin shows up, saying there will not be a fight in the ring right now. He says nobody is more upset about what has happened than him, and is currently coming up with a solution to the problem. He comes up with one: at WWE Crown Jewel on Friday, November 2nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Roman will defend the WWE Universal Championship against Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat Match. Strowman says the match, Baron Corbin, Roman Reigns, the entire situation and the entire crowd all suck, and he is about to leave when Paul Heyman shows up with four backstage workers carrying out the kicked-open cell door from last night. Heyman introduces Lesnar as the man who kicked open the door to hell, conquered Strowman and Roman, and conquered Hell In A Cell as he announce he is here to teach a history lesson as well as "Brockanomics." He says that the bigger a star you are, the more money you are worth in UFC, and with that comes more power and the ability to make more money in WWE, especially with the Universal Championship. He says that WWE received a windfall of corporate success with Lesnar as Universal Champion until Strowman and Roman "conspired and double-teamed" to take the title away from him. Heyman says that because of this, Lesnar returned last night in an attempt to reclaim the WWE Universal Champion at WWE Crown Jewel to "become the champion of the flagship and the crown jewel of the WWE." Strowman chases Heyman to the back for this, leaving Corbin and Roman alone in the ring. Roman takes the microphone, but Corbin takes it back and tells Roman he may stand there and be big and bad, but as Acting General Manager, he is privy to a few things. One of those things is the injury report, and says that Roman is a "whining, hurting little puppy" after what happened at Hell In A Cell, and that Roman may not be champion when WWE Crown Jewel rolls around. Corbin then announces that Roman will be defening the WWE Universal Championship against him tonight, then leaves.

Before the next match, The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns) vs. Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman is announced for Super Show-Down.

Drew McIntyre beats Dean Ambrose with the Claymore after Ambrose runs back into the ring in time.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre is congratulated by Dolph Ziggler as well as Acting General Manager Baron Corbin, who says he will defeat Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship tonight. When asked if he is invoking his rematch clause for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, Ziggler says he is in no shape to wrestle, but Corbin tells him Seth Rollins is in no shape to compete, either. Corbin says that if Rollins does not show up, Ziggler will automatically be awarded the title without having to lift a finger. Ziggler tells Corbin to make the match, then he and McIntyre leave. Corbin then brags to a backstage worker about how good he is at his job.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey meets with Natalya and The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella) and asks how to make an open challenge for the WWE Raw Women's Championship. Natalya tells her to just go out there and make it, and that she will never know who answers the challenge.

Chad Gable beats Viktor with a German suplex bridge pin after Bobby Roode chases Konnor off the apron. After the match, Konnor attacks Roode and Gable from behind by shoving Gable into Roode.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton tells Seth Rollins that Dolph Ziggler is invoking his rematch clause for the WWE Intercontinental Championship and that the title will change hands in Seth cannot compete. Rollins says Baron Corbin may be Acting General Manager, but somebody needs to remind him that this is still "Monday Night Rollins."

The Undertaker shows up. 'Taker says they say that delusion is the final recourse for the damned, and that no man can spin a web of lies like a man that has a broken soul. He says that he has never seen anyone with a more broken soul than Triple H, and that last week, Triple H came out and told everyone that he had lost all his self-respect. He says that delusion will be Triple H's downfall, as there was a time with Triple H when he was wicked, savage, and a warrior, bu these days, he tends to play a more corporate game. He says that Triple H's battlefield is a boardroom, and his life is so filled with lies to the point that he cannot decipher truth. He says Triple H cannot see the fear in his own friends' eyes or his own demise. The Undertaker says he does not put stock in what any man thinks; only what he knows. He knows that when he faces Triple H for the last time, the result will be just like the first time and he will put him six feet under...game over. He says that Triple H will do whatever he can to outrace the Reaper, move Heaven and earth, and even enlist "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, and says to let Triple H have his delusion, deceit and his best friend Shawn. However, the devil will be in the details, and he knows that Shawn will be in Triple H's corner. He is okay with this, because standing in his corner will be his brother Kane. The Undertaker says that everyone knows that he took Shawn's career, and he plans to do the same to Triple H's career. However, he says that Triple H deserves far worse, and he plans to not only his career, but also his soul when he puts him down at Super Show-Down. There, Kane will be watching his back while Triple H rests in peace.

We see footage from earlier today in Children's Health in Dallas, Texas where sick kids get to become Superstars of the future as part of the Connor's Cure initiative. Sasha Banks and Bayley then bring out some of the kids from the Connor's Cure event from earlier today.

Bayley beats Dana Brooke.

Backstage, 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick had to get Rezar to calm down and save his aggression for the ring when Rezar puts his hand on a backstage worker.

WWE 2K19 is available on October 9th. We see a trailer for the game. "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey and Rey Mysterio will be available with the pre-order of WWE 2K19.

The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) - now known simply as "AOP" - beat Gregory James and Barrett Brown.

Backstage, Dolph Ziggler and Acting General Manager Baron Corbin talk. Corbin says Rollins is worse than he feels he is, and that he and Ziggler will win their matches tonight. Suddenly, Rollins shows up. Rollins says he is not backing out and that he is ready for a fight.

We look back from last night's brawl on the cage wall between Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler at Hell In A Cell, courtesy of Progressive Auto Insurance.

Despite the pain from last night's match, Seth Rollins retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler.

Backstage, Charly Caruson interviews Roman Reigns, who says he does not consider himself the underdog unless he's facing Braun Strowman or Brock Lesnar. Tonight, he's just "The Big Dog" against Acting General Manager Baron Corbin, and he will still be Universal Champion.

WWE Superstars pay tribute to parents of Latinx ancestry, Latinx Superstars and Latinx sports stars as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey shows up. Ronda congratulates Alexa Bliss for putting up the finest performance she has ever seen from her, as she did not expect her to fight at a high level and push her to her limits, and showing her she is more of a champion than she ever thought she could be. Ronda says she wants to be the best champion she can be, like Bret "The Hit Man" Hart, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and because of that, she is issuing an open challenge to any woman in the back. The open challenge is answered by none other than Ronda's friend and training partner Natalya. Natalya's music is heard, but Natalya is dragged to the stage by The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan). Ruby says Ronda made them do it, and says they are here to "shut this little operation down." Ruby says The Riott Squad doesn't dislike her, but they don't like her, either, and she is accepting the open challenge. This leads to Ronda single-handedly fending off The Riott Squad, and that ends with a 3-on-1 assault after they target Ronda's hurt ribs. That ends quickly when The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella) rush in and even the odds.

Backstage, Acting General Manager Baron Corbin is met by Braun Strowman. He doesn't know why Corbin gave himself a shot at the Universal Championship, but he hopes Corbin wins tonight because he knows Corbin sucks and he can kill him.

Elias is in the ring. After playing guitar and asking who wants to walk with him, he says he knows how bad the show can be before he shows up and says that if he had it his way, it would be three hours of Elias, but he always gets interrupted by somebody due to jealousy. He says everybody wants in on what he does because what he does is special, but they eventually find out that WWE stands for "Walk With Elias." Tonight, he has to take care of Bobby Lashley. He admits Lashley looks great and has all the resources to succeed, but he is a disappointment who never wins when it matters like the Dallas Cowboys. Elias says the Cowboys fans are "proud to advertise failure," and says that his song for tonight will not disappoint unlike their favorite football team. He doesn't get to play for long when Lio Rush's music hits. Lio Rush says he is looking at a rock star in Elias, and tells them that instead of giving the people want they want, he is singing the same old song. Elias asks "Whose kid is this?" in response to Lio Rush showing up. Lio Rush re-introduces himself to the fans, but Elias says he does not even care who Lio is. Lio says that Bobby Lashley has some unfinished business with Elias, and that if he thinks Lashley is angry about Owens did to him two weeks ago, it will be nothing compared to what Lashley does to Elias.

Lio Rush guests on commentary for the next match.

Elias beats Bobby Lashley by disqualification. During the match, Kevin Owens shows up and goes after Lio Rush, who manages to outrun both Owens and Elias and fend the latter off. Owens grabs Lio Rush, but before he can hit Lio with a powerbomb onto the ring apron, Lashley yanks Lio out of harm's way before tossing Lio into both Owens and Elias, cementing a partnership between Lashley and Lio.

We hear from Alexa Bliss, who says it is time to elevate Mickie James and Alicia Fox in tag team competition against Ember Moon. Alicia and Mickie says that there is no way Ember Moon will find a partner.

We get a sneak peek at Season 8 of Total Divas, which premieres Wednesday night on E! Network at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central.

We look back on the WWE career of Trish Stratus, courtesy of Golden Corral.

Ember Moon's partner is revealed to be Nia Jax, who hasn't been seen in the last few weeks.

Ember Moon and Nia Jax beat Mickie James and Alicia Fox.

Backstage, Acting General Manager Baron Corbin asks the referee for his match with Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship to call the match down the middle, then insists he call him "Acting General Manager of Monday Night Raw."

WWE asks fans to text FLORENCE to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross of America to help those in need in the Carolinas affected by Hurricane/Tropical Depression Florence.

Roman Reigns retains the WWE Universal Championship against Baron Corbin by disqualification after Corbin throws a chair at Roman...almost. Corbin uses his powers as Acting General Manager to restart the match as a no-disqualification match, and soon after the match is restarted, Braun Strowman shows up to attack Roman. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre show up as well, but they are soon joined by Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, starting a three-on-three brawl that ends with Roman hitting a Spear on Baron Corbin to retain the WWE Universal Championship a second time, this time by pinfall.

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