Monday Night Raw TV Report for July 4th, 2016

Introduction Segment: Backstage Promo

A lot of the roster is celebrating Independence Day, attired in red, white, and blue, and enjoying various foods. The Golden Truth – R-Truth and Goldust – are rapping on a mini-stage until The Vaudevillians stop them. Aiden English and Simon Gotch are not pleased with Golden’s musical skills, so Aiden decides to show his off by singing The Declaration of Independence. He is cut-off quickly by Bubba Ray Dudley and a handful of food; of course, a giant food-fight breaks out. Highlights include Kevin Owens hiding under the table and eating Lays potato chips; Bo Dallas getting punch dumped on his head after trying to pour it on somebody else; and Kane and Big Show grabbing each other’s throats and then deciding to double-chokeslam Heath Slater.

Kevin emerges after it is all over, and says “you know, this would never happen on Canada Day;” he turns around to have a cake pushed into his face. Owens screams in rage and tips over the remaining table(s) of food.

Segment #2: Video Promo and Welcoming

The regular Raw video plays, the pyro explodes in the arena, and Lillian Garcia sings the American National Anthem in honor of America’s birthday. The ring ropes are red, white, and blue too. (Which I think they should be from now on for the pay-per-views; I’m tired of the all-white ones every week. Raw then should go back to all red and Smackdown all blue.)

United States Champion Rusev and his real-life fiancée Lana make their entrance; Rusev will put his U.S. Title on the line, next!

Commercials.

Match #1: Single for the United States Championship – Rusev (Champion) (with Lana) VS. Titus O’Neil (Challenger)

Rusev punches and kicks away to start, but O’Neil comes back by hopping over Rusev from the turnbuckle and scoop-slamming him down. Titus continues to control with chops and punches in the corner, and then chucks him across the ring. Rusev kicks back and hurls him over the ropes to the floor!

Rusev throws O’Neil into the steps and lets referee Andrew count. Titus makes it back in but is punched at, and Rusev also hits a nice-looking dropkick! “The Bulgarian Brute” wears O’Neil down with a rear chinlock, but Titus powers out and knees Rusev in the gut. They both punch at each other, and then Titus gets the better with a running shoulder-block!

Titus has the momentum now with a powerbomb try, but Rusev drops out; Titus powerslams him and then plants him his “Clash of the Titus” sit-down-powerbomb finisher! 1 – 2 – Rusev raises his shoulder and grabs the bottom rope to break!

The U.S. Champ hits back and clamps on The Accolade – Camel Clutch – hold; Titus has to give up!

Winner via Submission and STILL United States Champion: Rusev (with Lana)

Post-match, Rusev clutches on The Accolade again, and then rips on the fans and America.

Later tonight, WWE Champion Dean Ambrose will wrestle Intercontinental Champion The Miz; and their will be an Eight-Man Tag-Team Elimination Match with Team U.S.A. taking on The Multi-National Alliance.

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Match #2: Tag-Team – The Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel) (with Social Outcast member Heath Slater) VS. Enzo Amore and Big Cass

Before this bout, The Outcasts are dressed as Revolutionary War participants; Heath is in an arm brace from his earlier chokeslam. As well, Enzo and Cass make fun of them, with Enzo impressively listing all 43 United States Presidents in order (my Dad said “good for him!”).

In short order, Amore and Big complete this one with their “Boom Shaka-Laka” Rocket Launcher Splash from the top turnbuckle!

Winner via Pinfall: Enzo Amore and Big Cass

Commercials.

Segment #3: Arena Promo

Women’s Champion Charlotte, and her friend Dana Brooke, are out. Charlotte berates the fans for cheering for Sasha Banks. “The Boss” joins them and goes up one side and down the other, declaring that she will “own” her when they wrestle one-on-one. Charlotte takes physical umbrage, but Banks capitalizes with her Banks Statement. Dana saves Charlotte and they leave.

WWE Champion Dean Ambrose is shown warming up backstage for his upcoming contest with Intercontinental Champion The Miz!

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Match #3: Single – Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) VS. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose (Non-Titles)

A waistlock begins, and Ambrose takes control with a hip-toss. He chops at Miz and then clotheslines him to the floor! He follows with a slingshot-plancha and chucks Miz into the barricade. Miz hits back and crotches Dean on the timekeeper’s area barricade, and then kisses Maryse.

Commercials.

Miz is still governing, kicking at Ambrose’s left knee. Miz tangles Dean in the Figure-4, but the WWE Champion struggles to hold the bottom rope for a break. Ambrose flings Miz to the outside, and recharges in the ring. he hits a running-clothesline, and props Miz up on the top turnbuckle shortly after. He goes for a superplex, but Miz stops him. The IC champ dives off with a double-axe-handle smash, but Dean kicks him and tries Dirty Deeds. Miz gets out of it, but Ambrose reverses into a small-package for a near-fall!

“The Lunatic Fringe” follows with a dive-to-the-outside, and reverses a Skull-Krushing Finale attempt into a victory roll for two! Miz misses a running-boot, and Dean drives Miz down with his Dirty Deeds DDT and then covers to receive the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: WWE Champion Dean Ambrose

Post-match as Ambrose is celebrating, Seth Rollins’ music plays. He walks out and glares at the WWE Champion. They meet at the bottom rope, and Dean pats Seth, who goes to the ring for a bout, next. Dean runs down like he’s going to attack, but hops out of the ring and sits at the Spanish announcer’s table!

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Match #4: Single – Seth Rollins VS. Dolph Ziggler

(Note: Ambrose is conversing with commentator Jerry Soto decently in Spanish; it is also announced that Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam opponent will be revealed this week on Smackdown!)

Dolph tries to takedown Seth with amateur moves, and upstages Rollins in doing so! Ziggler goes to the outside for a break and comes back in, where Seth baits him then kicks! Seth scoop-slams Dolph, but is hit with a dropkick as he ran off the ropes! “The Show-off” goes for a superkick, but Rollins drops and rolls to the floor. Ziggler climbs the turnbuckle but Seth enziguris him, and Dolph tumbles to the outside!

Commercials.

Ziggler punches back with furry, but Seth catches him and flatlines Dolph into the middle turnbuckle. He climbs the top turnbuckle, but Ziggler meets him up there and awkwardly brings him to the canvas with a sit-down facebuster. 1 – 2 – Seth gets his shoulder up. Ziggler’s knee appears to be injured, but he continues to work over Rollins! He almost takes this after an elbow drop, and then winds up Sweet Chin Music style! Seth counters and kicks him in the face; he covers and gets two! Rollins goes for the Pedigree, but Dolph reverses into a fireman’s-carry roll-up for a near-fall! Ziggler suddenly superkicks Seth and covers; 1 – 2 – Rollins just lifts his shoulder! Seth soon plants The Pedigree and takes this!

Winner via Pinfall: Seth Rollins

Post-match, Seth stands on the announce table and proclaims that he “will not have Roman Reigns tarnish my legacy.” He wants Reigns removed in the triple threat WWE Championship match at Battleground on Sunday, July 24th. He also demands Roman not be eligible for The Draft – on Smackdown!, Tuesday, July 19th – and berates Reigns for being a role model while being suspended for a Wellness Policy violation. He insults the fans about their jobs – or lack there of – until Dean stands on the announce table behind him; Rollins demands his title, and Ambrose throws it at him. “The Lunatic Fringe” Dirty Deeds DDT’s him on the Spanish Announcer’s Table.

Later tonight, John Cena will address his rivalry with The Club!

Segment #4: Video Promo

The Wyatt Family appear in their workshop; they preach about the difference between their world and Tag-Team Champion New Day’s. “This is an invitation;. So come on. Bring your sunshine, bring your laughter, bring your mendacity. And we will deliver you the truth. Because the ‘power of positivity’ is nothing more than a fairytale; a joke; a myth.” They dare Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E. to meet them there.

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Segment #5: Video Promo

A montage of Baron Corbin airs to rebuild his character.

Segment #6: Arena Promo

Former General Manager Vickie Guerrero walks out to the stage and makes her case as to why she should be rehired for Smackdown! on July 19th. Security soon takes her away.

Segment #7: Locker Room Promo

The Big Show delivers a Patriotic Speech to his teammates – Apollo Crews, Zack Ryder, Kane, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley, Mark Henry, and Jack Swagger for their Eight-Man Tag-Team Match.

Commercials.

Segment #8: Backstage Promo

Security is still hauling Vickie away when they walk into Dolph Ziggler; she want shim to vouch for who she is, but Ziggler takes the opposite route, saying “I’ve never seen this woman in my entire life!”

Match #5: Tag-Team – The Vaudevillians (Simon Gotch and Aiden English) VS. The Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth)

(Note: Breezango – Tyler Breeze and Fandango – are sitting beside the timekeeper’s/host’s area, secluded with a red velvet rope.)

The Golden Truth pick up a win after their powerbomb/Shattered Dreams combo, called Solid Gold!

Winners via Pinfall: The Golden Truth

Up next, John Cena talks about The Club!

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Segment #9: Video Promo

Bob Backlund is continuing to “make Darren Young great again,” by passing on his finisher – the Crossface Chicken Wing – to Darren.

Segment #10: Arena Promo

John Cena parades out and states that he and the fans are disappointed because A.J. Styles did not go it alone against him; he shows replays of Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and A.J. attacking him and planting him on the stage with the Magic Killer. Cena asserts “you want some, come get some!”

The Club joins on stage, speaking out against Cena, and that they “will run WWE.” A.J. says that “no WWE Superstar coming out to help you. You got nobody to help you. You want to know why, John? Because it’s you! You put yourself on an island most WWE Superstars can’t relate to.” Styles warns Cena that “every week you come here, we’re going to beat you up.” They all say that they will “beat up John Cena” through the end of the year on every special occasion, including today.

The Club surround the ring and all lay in kicks and punches, until Enzo and Cass give aide; they and Cena clear The Club!

Commercials.

Segment #11: Video Promo

The Shining Stars – Primo and Epico – put themselves over with American flags in their hands.

Match #6: Single – Summer Rae VS. Becky Lynch

(Note: It is announced that Becky will wrestle Natalya at Battleground!)

Summer gains control quickly with stomps and stretching Becky with the ropes; she spin-kicks Lynch for a two-count, and then clutches on a rear chinlock/armlock combo. Becky fights out, but is slammed to the mat by her hair. Summer uncomfortably suplexes Lynch, but Becky soon gets momentum. She forces Rae to tap to her Disarmer!

Winner via Submission: Becky Lynch

Segment #12: Locker Room Promo

Chris Jericho is trying to give his teammates of The Multi-National Alliance – Sami Zayn, Cesaro, The Lucha Dragons, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, and Kevin Owens – a pep talk but Del Rio argues who is the “captain.” Kevin pipes up and yells at everyone to “stay on the same page” to defeat “some idiot Americans.” He walks away, as Jericho echoes him, and Cesaro, Sami, and The Luchas are left. They agree to stay together, and speculate that the others will argue.

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Segment #13: Arena Promo

Tag-Team Champions The New Day prance to the ring; Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E. insinuate that The Wyatt Family are incestuous. Erik, Braun, and Bray appear on the Titantron in their workshop. They challenge The New Day again to meet them there. Back in the ring, Big and Kofi accept and are happy about it but Xavier is much more reserved.

Woods tells his “brothers” that The Wyatts are not to be messed with and to take them more seriously. He walks away with a questionable look on his face.

Commercials.

Michael Cole and Byron Saxton tell us that The Club will wrestle John Cena, Enzo Amore, and Big Cass at Battleground; as well Sami Zayn wrestles Kevin Owens there too!

Match #7: Eight-Man Elimination Tag-Team – The Multi-National Alliance (Cesaro, The Lucha Dragons [Kalisto and Sin Cara], Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, and Kevin Owens) VS. Team U.S.A. (The Big Show,

Sin is out first after a 3-D, then Bubba following a Brogue Kick from Sheamus and springboard Frogsplash by Kalisto!

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D-Von is eliminated next after a Big Swing by Cesaro and The Sharpshooter! Swagger comes in and he and Cesaro signal “we the people” together, then wrestle for a little. Jericho is now in and dominated by Jack until he eats double-boots and a Codebreaker! Swagger is ejected.

As Jericho raises his arms, Kane grabs both him and Kalisto by their throats. The rest of the teams enter and everyone brawls!

Commercials.

Apollo and Del Rio are going at it, with Crews countering a dive with a dropkick! He crawls for the tag and slaps hands with Henry! Alberto kicks Mark and tags in Kalisto, but “The World’s Strongest Man” World’s Strongest Slams Kalisto to take him out!

Owens follows up by Pop-Up powerbombing Henry and eliminating him! He then throws Ryder into Zayn, who then comes back in and punches at Kevin! Kane is in and tries a Chokeslam on Sami, but Owens re-enters and slams a chair against Zayn’s back, causing himself to be DQ’ed and eliminated! Kane then hits Kevin with the chair, and is thrown out by referee Charles “Little ‘Naitch” Robinson! Kane Chokeslams Sami still to make a point.

Apollo enters and standing-moonsaults Zayn and collects the 1 – 2 – 3 to exit Sami! Sheamus quickly Brogue Kicks Crews and pins him! We are left with Big Show and Zack Ryder against Cesaro, Chris Jericho, Alberto Del Rio, and Sheamus.

Cesaro soon goes against his own team, uppercutting them until he is small-packaged by Ryder to send him to the back! Ryder reverses a suplex on Sheamus into a neckbreaker, and then makes the hot-tag to Show, who cleans house!

Big hits the Knockout Punch on Jericho and deports him; then does the same to Alberto after a Chokeslam! Sheamus is left, and Show works him over until Sheamus hops out of a Chokeslam and low-dropkicks his knee. Show switches with Zack, but “Long Island Iced-Z” is quickly slammed. Sheamus goes after Big, but is clutched by his throat and turned around into a RoughRyder Leg-Lariat! Ryder covers and receives the victory!

Winners via Pinfall and Elimination: Team U.S.A.

Post-match, Ryder and Show celebrate, and pyro goes off around the Titantron as Cole wish a “Happy Fourth of July” to close the show.

End of Raw.

Until Smackdown! Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans, and Happy Independence Day to my American Readers!