Fall is upon us and with that, we have a NEW Universal Champion. Kevin Owens won the title on last week’s Raw, defeating Big Cass, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins in a Four-Way Elimination Match, with the help of Triple H. What will the new champ have to say tonight? Why did “The Game” help Owens? How will Rollins, Reigns, and General Manager Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon react?

The Club are still going after The New Day’s Tag-Team Titles; what will be the next step in Luke Gallows’ and Karl Anderson’s pursuit of Big E., Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods?

Bayley has been featured in the Women’s Division since debuting on Raw two weeks ago; will she get her Women’s Championship shot at Charlotte soon? How will Dana Brooke factor?

All this and more, so read on!

Monday Night Raw TV Report for September 5th, 2016 – “The ‘Clash’ Begins!”

Introduction Segment: Video Promos

A recap of the Fatal-Four-Way Elimination Universal Championship Match from last week’s Raw is shown; a bunch of Twitter comments that read how surprised they were at the ending (with expertly-edited footage of just the wrestlers with their faces on it, so it didn’t reveal the ending) starts off the video.

Stephanie is now on her cell phone making demands for a celebration that Kevin Owens wants until Mick walks up. He is angry with her for Triple H’s action, insinuating she was in on it. He recalls when she was just a backstage person in 1998 and they had a nice exchange. Stephanie goes on about how was embarrassed by her husband, and as the leader of Raw too. Foley believes her and walks away.

The regular Raw video plays and then we are live in ….

Segment #2: Arena Promo

General Manager Mick Foley and Commissioner Stephanie McMahon are in the ring. She welcomes new Universal Champion Kevin Owens, who walks out to balloons and then stands on the turnbuckle while pyro goes off on the stage.

The crowd chants “you deserve it” and McMahon concurs. Owens puts himself over and berates the fans for “stealing” his time last week on Raw, when they chanted “you deserve it.” Kevin claims he knew that all along, and declares Raw “The Kevin Owens Show.”

Seth Rollins marches out and is furious with everyone else in the ring, especially Stephanie. After ranting a bit, Foley backs up Steph, and Owens gets in Rollins’ face. Seth responds with a punch and knocks Kevin to the floor. McMahon holds Rollins back verbally and suddenly suspends him indefinitely. Mick retracts that, and instead books Seth to challenge Owens for the championship at Clash of the Champions on September 25th!

Up next, Bayley will wrestle Women’s Champion Charlotte!

Commercials.

Segment #3: Backstage Promo

Mick and Stephanie are conversing about the Universal Championship scenario. Steph is not happy that Foley “overrode” her decision to suspend Rollins; Mick says he made the match so the people wouldn’t talk about McMahon “playing favorites.” Universal Champ Kevin Owens walks up and is enraged about Foley’s match-making, so Mick responds by forcing him to take on Sami Zayn. Jericho also walks up fuming, saying that the “longest-reigning WWE Universal Champion in history” doesn’t deserve that. He calls Mick a “stupid idiot,” which Stephanie takes umbrage with. Foley makes Jericho wrestle Seth tonight!

Match #1: Single – Women’s Champion Charlotte (with Dana Brooke) VS. Bayley (Non-Title)

They start out trading take-downs, and then Bayley hits a couple of armdrags, but Charlotte comes back with a knee. She rams Bayley’s head into the turnbuckle and poses, and then does the same to the other turnbuckle. Bayley gears up from this, and turns Charlotte around with numerous head-smashes into the top turnbuckle!

Charlotte goes to the floor and Bayley jumps and slides through the corner with a front-dropkick, but unfortunately, appears to have hurt her left leg. She follows the Women’s Champion o the floor again, but Charlotte pushes back.

Ads.

Charlotte is now in control with a Figure-Four necklock. She turns it into a pin combo, but Bayley kicks out! Bayley shoves Charlotte off and hits a crossbody for two! Charlotte runs in the corner, but Bayley boots back. She jumps on Charlotte, but Charlotte drives her into the corner and stomps onto her knee. Charlotte focuses on Bayley’s left knee with the help of the ring post. She drags her to the middle rope and tries the Figure-4, but Bayley kicks away. Charlotte turns Bayley over with a half-crab, but Bayley turns the move around.

Charlotte goes back to the knee, but Bayley battles back. Charlotte props her up on the top turnbuckle, but Bayley punches back and dives off with a spinning-elbow. Bayley hits rapid-forearms, but is distracted by Dana. Charlotte takes advantage with an O’Connor roll-up, but Bayley shoves her off, into Brooke against the ropes. Bayley capitalizes with her Bayley-To-Belly Suplex and covers for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: Bayley

Later tonight, Sasha Banks returns and Rollins meets Jericho, and Zayn and Owens will wrestle again.

Segment #4: Video Promo

WWE’s setup of Connor’s Cure – a foundation to help battle childhood cancer in honor of Connor Michalek – is featured.

Commercials.

Segment #5: Locker Room Promo

Women’s Champion Charlotte is tearing Dana Brooke a new one. Dana begs for forgiveness, and Charlotte slaps her then walks away.

Match #2: Single – Kyle Roberts VS. Bo Dallas

“Don’t you know, you reap what you sow. Bo-lieve in Bo.” A new-attitude Bo rips apart Kyle, and finishes him with CrossRhodes.

Winner via Pinfall: Bo Dallas

Segment #6: Backstage Promo

Owens and Jericho are walking through the halls, discussing what Chris will do to Seth Rollins in their match. Kevin advises Chris to “go for his knee.”

Ads.

Match #3: Single – Chris Jericho VS. Seth Rollins

Jericho eggs on Rollins verbally, but Seth hits a dropkick and a flurry of punches and kicks to start out. Jericho slides out of the ring but Rollins follows with a dive-through-ropes. They fight on the outside a bit, and Chris gains an advantage. He brings Seth back into the ring and hits him in the corner, but Rollins regains control with a running-arm.

Seth tosses Jericho to the floor, and then whips him into the corner of the barricade. He sets up Chris on the mat and boots him from the floor. Jericho makes use of the referee, hitting a springboard dropkick that sends Seth to the mat.

Commercials.

“Y2J” is dominating, but “The Architect” battles back. He hits Slingblade and a couple of forearms. He leaps onto the second turnbuckle and dives over with a Blockbuster-neckbreaker. 1 – 2 – Jericho gets his shoulder up! They go-back-and-forth, with Rollins and Jericho both trying for their finishers. Seth springs off the top rope, but Jericho grabs him and manages to turn him into the Walls of Jericho. Seth crawls and clutches the bottom rope to break, and then hits an enziguri and kick-to-the-head, but only gets two!

Seth goes to the top turnbuckle, but Chris meet him up there. Rollins pushes him off and frog splashes, but Jericho moves and hits the springboard-Lionsault! 1 – 2 – Seth kicks out! He goes for the Codebreaker but Seth stops it and Pedigrees for the 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins

Up next, Sheamus and Cesaro will face in Match #3 in their Best-of-Seven series!

Ads.

Match #4: Single – Cesaro VS. Sheamus

(Note: Match 3 in Best-of-Seven Series; Sheamus leads 2 – 0)

Cesaro rolls-up Sheamus right off the bat for a one, and then hits a few uppercuts in the corner. He follows with punches and another fierce uppercut! Sheamus misses a running-boot in the corner, and Cesaro rolls him up again for a near-fall, and then hits a springboard crossbody! Sheamus counters with a back body-drop, but Cesaro clotheslines back on the floor!

Sheamus shoves Cesaro back-first into the ring apron, but Cesaro hits back. He climbs in the ring but is given a tilt-a-whirl-powerslam. 1 – 2 – Cesaro kicks out! Sheamus hits away and tries the Cloverleaf submission, but Cesaro fights him off. He hits back with more uppercuts, and tries a flapjack-uppercut, but Sheamus lands on his feet and drives him with four Irish-Curse Backbreakers! Cesaro still kicks out, but is dropped on to Sheamus’ knee with a Crucifix-Backbreaker. The referee checks on Cesaro, and Sheamus Brogue Kicks him promptly, and takes this!

Winner via Pinfall and LEADING 3 – 0: Sheamus

Commercials.

Match #5: Tag-Team – The Shining Stars (Primo and Epico) VS. Enzo Amore and Big Cass

Cass and Primo begin with Cass shoulder-blocking Primo. He tosses Epico over the top rope, and then does the same to Primo. Enzo follows with a dive-through-the-ropes!

Ads.

Enzo and Epico are in the ring, with Epico governing with triple backdrop suplexes! He tags in Primo, who runs at Enzi a bit later but misses. Amore makes the hot-tag to Big, who cleans house on the Stars. He drops the Empire Elbow on Epico and splashes him in the corner, and then boots him to the canvas. He switches with Enzo, but Primo stops their finisher. Enzo crossbodies off the top rope on to Primo, but Epico rolls up Enzo and holds the tights for the W!

Winners via Pinfall: The Shining Stars

Commercials.

Segment #7: Backstage Promo

Tom Phillips interviews Sami Zayn about taking on Universal Champion Kevin Owens later tonight. He says that he thought he’d be satisfied with winning over Owens at Battleground in July, but since then, he hasn’t done anything significant. He admits some jealousy and Owens walks up, interjecting. He retorts about being “jealous” when Sami made it to WWE first, but reiterates that the Universal Championship is “the finish line,” which he “won the race.”

Kevin claims that Zayn only had accomplishments when he was backed up by Owens. Sami vows to win the WWE Universal Championship too, and digs at Kevin for getting help from Triple H!

Match #6: Single – Ann Esposito VS. Nia Jax

Ann puts up a little fight, but Nia finishes her with a powerslam!

Winner via Pinfall: Nia Jax

Ads.

Segment #8: Arena Promo

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows announce themselves as “Retirement Specialists,” and want to do that to Tag-Team Champions The New Day. They present “The Old Day,” who are three people dressed as The New Day if they were eighty. Gallows and Anderson make fun of the trio, complete with a walker, scooter, and canes.

The real Tag-Team Champions strut out, detesting the antics and clearing the ring. it is announced that The Club will challenge The New Day for the Tag-Team Championships at Clash of the Champions.

Commercials.

Match #7: Single – Jinder Mahal VS. Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)

(Note: Titus O’Neil is on commentary.) Darren works over Jinder immediately, but is stun-gunned on the ropes. Mahal kicks Darren in the back of the head, and then drops a knee. He wears Young down with a grounding rear-chinlock, but Darren gets out of it.

O’Neil charges to the ring, but Darren is not phased, countering Jinder and finishing with his Gut-check!

Winner via Pinfall: Darren Young (with Bob Backlund)

Post-match, Titus and Darren engage in a brawl that has to be split by referees.

Segment #9: Backstage Promo

Alicia Fox walks out of the training room where Nia approaches her. She cockily asks how Fox’s friend is, since Jax defeated her earlier tonight. Nia gives Fox advice about how WWE really works, which infuriates Alicia. She gets in Nia’s face and throws multiple objects at her. Nia walks away as Fox screams.

Ads.

Match #8: Single – Braun Strowman VS. Sin Cara

Cara tries a bit, but Braun is too strong. He yanks Sin out of the ring and slides back in himself before ten.

Winner via Count-Out: Braun Strowman

Post-match, Braun hits Cara again with a shoulder-block and yells “get out of my ring!”

Up next, “The Boss” is back!

Commercials.

Segment #10: Arena Promo

Sasha talks about the Women’s Revolution, tracing it back to the late-greats Mae Yong and “Fabulous” Moolah. She also mentions Alundra Blaze, Trish Stratus, and Lita, who wrestled actual matches. She acknowledges Stephanie for bringing her, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte to Raw last year, and being recognized as “superstars.”

However, during her match at SummerSlam with Charlotte, her back got injured. She says she visited with her doctors, but before she can go further, Dana Brooke interrupts. She throws the mic at Sasha but Sasha hits the Banks Statement. Sasha then grabs the mic and announced that the bad news was for Charlotte, because at Clash of Champions, the title is going back to her.

Ads.

Match #9: Single – Sami Zayn VS. Universal Champion Kevin Owens (Non-Title)

Both slug away at each other, and then Owens kicks and fights on Sami on the outside. He punches Zayn in the ring, but Sami punches back. Kevin lands a chest-chop and whips him into the ropes, and follows with a shoulder-block. He whips Zayn again, but Sami backward-leapfrogs over and hits a jumping calf-kick! He goes to run, but Owens holds onto his leg and pulls him out of the ring. He runs him into the corner barricade, but Zayn counters by hopping on it and moonsaulting-back!

Commercials.

Owens has Sami locked in a grounding chinlock, which Sami hits out of. Kevin counters with a sling suplex and a senton splash for two! He slaps Zayn, but Sami slaps back. Owens runs, but Sami pulls the top rope down and then follows with an over-the-ropes swanton! He does it again to Kevin on the opposite side, and then almost gets this after a Blue-Thunder Bomb!

Owens fights back, but Zayn catches him in an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles! He runs for the Helluva Kick, but Kevin moves. The Universal Champion tries to powerbomb Sami on the apron, but Zayn fights out and tries a nelson. Owens elbows out and jawbreaks Sami with the top rope. He sets Zayn up in the corner and hits him with the Cannonball-Splash! He goes for the Pop-Up powerbomb, but Sami leaps out of it and brings Owens backwards with a half-nelson suplex! 1 – 2 – Kevin kicks out!

Zayn kicks and springs off the top rope, but Kevin hits him down. Sami appears to have hurt his ankle. As the referee checked on Zayn, Owens goes for another powerbomb onto the apron, but Sami again counters and again brings him backward with a half-nelson suplex on the floor!

In the ring, Sami tries another Helluva Kick, but his ankle prevents, and Kevin powerbombs him and covers for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: Universal Champion Kevin Owens

Post-match, Owens has no time to celebrate as Roman Reigns confronts him! Owens backs out to the ring apron, and then Jericho walks down for backup against Reigns. GM Foley comes to the stage and sees the situation. He gives Reigns a chance, booking him against Kevin Owens; if Roman wins, he will be added to Rollins and Owens for the Universal Championship at Clash of the Champions.

Kevin leaves and Chris goes to attack Reigns, but Roman ducks and spears. He smiles at Owens, who backs up the ramp to close the show.

End of Raw.

Reporter’s Rumblings

This was an ok Raw; some great action, but I felt a letdown as the show went in regarding the Universal Championship picture. Onto the analysis:

Excellence: promos by Mick, Stephanie, Owens, Rollins, Jericho, Dana, Charlotte, Titus on commentary, Alicia, and Sasha. Matches between Bayley/Charlotte, Rollins/Jericho, Cesaro/Sheamus, and Owens/Sami.

Love that Owens is continuing his own attitude and even ripping on the fans for being “too loving” of him; great way to stay a heel! The opening part of Raw’s recap was fantastic, as for those who didn’t know about last week, would’ve have really believed something huge. (No disrespect to Owens intended, but there have been bigger moments on Raw; the way the video was put together though, made it be like the hugest moment and that is complimentary!) Mick and Steph’s interactions were awesome tonight! Love to see that side of both!

Dana has really improved on the mike and she can be a great personality if given more time. Nice to see Alicia featured again and get her “personality” back; also finally a challenger for Nia – was getting tired of the weekly squashes.

Was a little surprise, and now reflecting I’m happy with that, that Sheamus has picked up 3 – 0! It’ll put some suspense into their rivalry and make each match a must-see now!

Very happy that Sasha did not have to retire; was a bit worried there that she was going that way, but as soon as Brooke came out, I knew she was ok.

Bogus: promos by The Shining Stars, Gallows/Anderson/New Day, and Enzo/Cass (kinda didn’t make sense/usual). Matches between Enzo/Cass/Shining Stars, Nia/Ann, Jinder/Young, and Braun/Cara.

Again, why bring back Jinder for him to job every week. I thought that he got a good chance the first time with a win over Heath and they might push him, but since then, all he’s done is lost. He’s got a good chance at being a good heel if they give him a ball to run with.

Much like Nia, getting bored of the Braun squashes. Let’s bring in a new challenger that can measure up! Where was Neville tonight? So not interested in Darren/Titus, but Titus has potential if used right, as he was pretty-good on commentary.

After last week’s ending, was really disappointed that Triple H was not a part of Raw; he should’ve been to play off of it and make it another one to talk about the next day. I also thought they ripped off Smackdown! blatantly with the booking of Owens/Reigns and their stipulation; Reigns should’ve been involved in the segment with Owens/Mick/Steph/Rollins right away.

I really hope both Bayley and Sami are going to be ok!

Lastly, I’m on the fence about the “new” Bo Dallas. Love the aggression, but I think he still needs an overall personality change; no more “Bo-lieve” gigs.

Until tomorrow’s Smackdown!, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans!