WWE RAW Results: October 17, 2016

Detailed Results

Less than two weeks before he defends the WWE Universal Championship against Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell at WWE Hell in a Cell, RAW kicks off with WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens and his best friend Chris Jericho, who make their way to the ring. The champion says that it’s clear that RAW General Manager Mick Foley has a “vendetta” against him, saying that’s the only reason that Foley would try to shorten his career by making him defend the WWE Universal Title against Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell. Jericho then says that Foley has a vendetta against the both of them, calling Hell in a Cell a “nail in the coffin”, saying that Hell in a Cell is “evil” and the fact that the GM put Owens in that type of match proves that Foley is a “stupid idiot”.

Owens then says that he’s a “thinking man’s champion”, saying that he will not let Hell in a Cell shorten his career before saying that, years from now, the fans will still be talking about the “hell” that he put Seth Rollins through and they will still be calling this “The Kevin Owens Show”. Jericho says that he should have been put in the Hell in a Cell match, saying that he’s beat countless legends such as Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio before reminding everyone that he beat The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in the same night to become the first ever WWE Undisputed Champion. Jericho continues, reminding everyone that he also beat The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title so he could easily beat Rollins in Hell in a Cell. Jericho then blames the referee of last week’s main event for him losing to Seth Rollins, putting the referee on the List of Jericho. The champion then says that he’s already replaced Seth Rollins as “the man” and, at WWE Hell in a Cell, he is going to “retire” Rollins.

This brings out the #1 Contender for the WWE Universal Title at WWE Hell in a Cell, Seth Rollins, who makes fun of Jericho’s scarf, tattoos, and haircut before calling Jericho “sparkle crotch” for his rhinestone trunks. Jericho then threatens to put Seth Rollins on the List of Jericho but Rollins argues that Jericho should put his friendship with Kevin Owens on the List of Jericho, pointing out that Owens just stood idly by the last two weeks as Jericho got laid out with the Pedigree in the middle of the ring. The champion responds by saying that Rollins doesn’t have “any friends at all” before saying that he and Jericho understand that one of them has to stay “strong” for the sake of the team. Rollins comments by saying that Jericho is “weak” but Jericho argues that he is a six-time former World Champion and there’s a reason that he has “G.O.A.T.” written on the back of his trunks, saying he could beat Rollins anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Rollins says that now is a good a time as any, saying that they should have a rematch right now!

However, Seth would be halfway down the ramp before asking Jericho where Kevin Owens is going to be, asking if the WWE Universal Champion is going to go to the back and let Jericho prove that he is good enough to beat him or if Owens is going to stay out there and be the “world’s ugliest cheerleader” and watch as Jericho gets the Pedigree for the third week in a row. This would spark a disagreement between Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho as Owens wants to stay at ringside while Jericho wants the champion to leave. Jericho says that he knows what happened the last couple of weeks and that is why he thinks Owens should leave right now! Jericho says that he knows what Owens is up to because he knows all the tricks in the book, but that doesn’t change the fact that Owens is his “best friend” and he has to remind Rollins and all of the fans around the world who they are dealing with. Owens then encourages Jericho to “do it” before the best friends embrace and Kevin Owens leaves the ring.

In a rematch from last week’s RAW, the opening match of the night would see the #1 Contender for the WWE Universal Title, Seth Rollins, go one-on-one with six-time former World Champion Chris Jericho and, per the request of Chris Jericho, WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens would not be at ringside. During the match, Seth Rollins would climb to the top rope and, despite what was decided moments earlier, WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens would come out. Owens would stand on the ramp as Rollins dives to the outside, taking out Chris Jericho. Back in the ring, Rollins would look for the Pedigree on Jericho, but Jericho would counter, locking Seth in the Walls of Jericho. Behind the back of the referee, Kevin Owens would pull the bottom rope away from Rollins before the referee would catch Owens and Seth was able to get to the bottom rope to break the hold. Jericho would then go for the Codebreaker, but Rollins would block the move before planting Jericho with the Pedigree, pinning Jericho to pick up a hard-fought win as Kevin Owens looks on.

Thirteen nights before they make history by becoming the first women in history to compete in the Hell in a Cell match for the RAW Women’s Championship at WWE Hell in a Cell, both RAW Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and former champion Charlotte would have exclusive interviews with WWE Hall of Famer Lita. In the first interview, the self-proclaimed “Queen” Charlotte would sit down with Lita as the WWE Hall of Famer brings up Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Triple H, and Mick Foley as the four legends most closely associated with Hell in a Cell before saying that Charlotte and Sasha Banks will be sitting alongside those bonified legends. Charlotte says that there’s a reason that she will be the first woman to step inside Hell in a Cell and that’s because no other woman’s name is “Charlotte Flair” before saying that she is the “greatest female or male Superstar in WWE”.

Lita then asks if Charlotte feels like she took advantage of Sasha at SummerSlam, bringing up that Sasha has been plagued with back issues in the past, suggesting that Sasha might have not been 100% when Charlotte beat her at SummerSlam. Charlotte says that she is “durable” and has never complained about being hurt, saying that “a win is a win”. Charlotte continues, saying that she is “always 100%” and, when she steps into the ring, everyone knows that she is “the woman”. Lita then brings up that the Hell in a Cell match for the RAW Women’s Championship will be in Sasha’s hometown of Boston. Charlotte says that she doesn’t need fans, commenting that she was “born for this”, saying that Sasha “needs” to face her in Sasha’s hometown. Charlotte then says that, at WWE Hell in a Cell, she will be a three-time RAW Women’s Champion and “nothing” will stop her.

After The Shining Stars and Titus O’Neil attempted to sell The Golden Truth and Mark Henry some counterfeit Rolex watches, RAW would see a 6-Man Tag match pitting the two unusual teams against each other with the stipulation that, if The Shining Stars and Titus O’Neil win, then The Golden Truth and Mark Henry will have to buy the watches. In the end, it was Mark Henry planting Titus O’Neil with the World’s Strongest Slam, pinning Titus to pick up the win for himself and The Golden Truth.

Backstage, problems would continue to mount between best friends Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho as Jericho says that he told Owens not to come down to ringside, having to stop himself from calling the WWE Universal Champion a “stupid idiot”. Jericho then says that he’s not Owens’ “lackey” before the two start shouting at each other. RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon then breaks it up, saying that, with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan challenging RAW to three interpromotional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Matches, she needs her two best “generals” to be on the same page. Stephanie says that she needs Owens and Jericho to be “smarter and stronger” than everyone else.

Just under two weeks before they challenge The New Day for the RAW Tag Team Titles at WWE Hell in a Cell, the unlikely team of Cesaro & Sheamus were on RAW as “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, with Cesaro opting to do a live interview at ringside on Facebook Live much like Sheamus did last week, would go one-on-one with RAW Tag Team Champion Big E, with Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston in his corner. During the match, Sheamus would decide to take Cesaro’s phone away from him and this would lead to an argument between Cesaro and Sheamus with Sheamus having Cesaro hold the phone for the “best Brogue Kick ever”. However, when Sheamus gets back into the ring, Big E surprises Sheamus with a roll-up and, with Cesaro streaming the whole thing on Facebook Live, Big E gets the three-count.

With Curtis Axel in his corner, Bo Dallas would go one-on-one with “The Man That Gravity Forgot” Neville on RAW. During the match, Bo Dallas would repeatedly avoid the Red Arrow before putting Neville away with the Roll of the Dice. After the match, Curtis Axel would celebrate with his friend, but when Axel turns his back, Bo Dallas would inexplicably attack his longtime ally, knocking Curtis out of the ring! Dallas would continue the attack on the outside, tossing Axel into the apron and twice into the ringside barricade before delivering a running knee to the head of Curtis Axel before leaving with his “Bo-lieve in Bo” sign.

After getting ambushed by Dana Brooke last week, Bayley would be looking for revenge as Bayley would go one-on-one with Dana Brooke on RAW. At the end of a hard-fought match, it was Dana Brooke sending Bayley shoulder-first into the ring post before dragging Bayley into the ring, pinning Bayley to pick up the win.

Appearing live from WWE Studios, Brock Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman would say that Brock Lesnar’s challenge to fight Goldberg last week was “rhetorical”, saying that Goldberg is going to say “yes” to Brock’s challenge when he appears on RAW. Heyman then says that Goldberg isn’t “worth the sweat off of Brock Lesnar’s tuchus”, saying that, if Goldberg agrees to fight Brock, it is going to “piss” Brock off. Heyman continues, saying that Lesnar is still bothered that Goldberg beat him twelve years ago and it still bothers Brock that Goldberg thinks that he can still beat “The Beast”. Heyman then warns Goldberg to not say “yes” tonight because, if he does, Goldberg will be “conquered” and “humiliated” by Brock Lesnar.

After again demanding tougher competition last week, Braun Strowman would face three local competitors calling themselves the Mile High Trio in a 3-on-1 Tornado Handicap Match on RAW. The scary and dominant monster would toss the three locals around in and around the ring before planting one of his three opponents with his running powerslam, stacking two of the three competitors up, pinning one-third of the Mile High Trio for another dominant victory. After the match, an unhappy Braun Strowman would again demand better competition, threatening to go to the back right now and take matters into his own hands. However, this is when Sami Zayn would come out to stand up to Braun Strowman! Although reluctant, Sami Zayn would enter the ring to go face-to-face with Braun before Strowman disrespectfully shoves Sami down before Braun walks to the back.

With a Hell in a Cell match against Roman Reigns for the United States Championship coming up at WWE Hell in a Cell, “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev, along with his wife Lana, would make an appearance on RAW to address Roman Reigns. Rusev says that, in two weeks, he has the chance to “crush” Roman Reigns inside Hell in a Cell before saying that, unlike Reigns, his family is “civilized”. Rusev then shows pictures of his family, “The Rusevs”, including Rusev’s mother, father, brother, and even his family dog, taking time to compliment his family on their many accomplishments.

This is when the United States Champion interrupts as Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring, making comparisons between Rusev and his family dog. Roman says that Rusev can call whoever he wants because, after he gets through with Rusev inside Hell in a Cell, Rusev will only need “911”. This would lead to Lana slapping Roman across the face before Rusev catches the United States Champion with a kick to the face. Then, on the outside, Rusev would pick up the steel steps, ramming them into the head of Reigns. “The Bulgarian Brute” then sends Roman back into the ring before sliding the larger half of the steel steps into the ring. The champion would try to fight back, but Rusev would catch Reigns with another kick to the face before slamming Roman into the steps. Rusev then puts Reigns on the steel steps before locking in the Accolade on the champion, leaving Reigns laid out in the ring.

After they were attacked by Gallows & Anderson last week, Big Cass, with Enzo Amore in his corner, would go one-on-one with Karl Anderson, with Luke Gallows in his corner. During the match, Big Cass would aid Enzo Amore in taking Luke Gallows out on the outside before Big Cass hits the East River Crossing, pinning Karl Anderson for the win.

RAW Women’s Champion Sasha Banks would then have her sit down interview with WWE Hall of Famer Lita regarding Sasha’s Hell in a Cell match for the RAW Women’s Championship against Charlotte at WWE Hell in a Cell. The champion says that she does “respect” Charlotte, but she is going to prove at WWE Hell in a Cell that she is the “best”. Sasha then says that she’s making history in her hometown of Boston at WWE Hell in a Cell, saying that she can’t believe she is going to be making history again when she steps inside Hell in a Cell. Lita then asks “The Boss” about her back issues with Sasha commenting that she is 100% and ready to go in two weeks. Sasha then says that she’s the one who wanted the match to be inside Hell in a Cell, saying that she has been trying to mentally prepare herself and “fear” is not an option at WWE Hell in a Cell. The champion concludes that she’s “The Boss” and she’s going to make history in Boston.

With their match for the Cruiserweight Championship coming up at WWE Hell in a Cell, Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins would join forces with Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander to face the #1 Contender for the Cruiserweight Title Brian Kendrick, Tony Nese, & Drew Gulak in a 6-Man Tag match. In the end, it was Brian Kendrick locking in the Captain’s Hook on Rich Swann and, with Tony Nese keeping Perkins from breaking up the submission, Swann would have no choice but to tap out as Kendrick picks up the win for his team.

Then it was time for an unforgettable moment twelve years in the making as the most dominant competitor in WCW history and two-time former World Champion Goldberg would make his much-anticipated return to WWE. Before bringing Goldberg out, Michael Cole would recap everyone on what Goldberg had to say two weeks ago on SportsCenter as well as what Paul Heyman had to say on last week’s RAW where, on behalf of his client Brock Lesnar, Heyman would challenge Goldberg to a fight. Then the unreal moment would become reality as, in classic Goldberg fashion, the legendary competitor would walk through the backstage area and, with crew members and WWE Superstars alike applauding the returning legend, Goldberg would march out to the stage. Breathing smoke and with pyro erupting around him, Goldberg would make his way to the ring, taking the time to soak up his return to WWE as the crowd welcomes Goldberg back with various chants supporting the return of the legend.

Visibly emotional after such an overwhelming response from the crowd, Goldberg would address the fans, saying “never say never”. Goldberg then thanks the fans for their humble response before pointing out his wife and son in the crowd, who are seeing him live in WWE for the first time ever. The former World Champion continues, saying that one of the biggest things he misses about the wrestling business is being a “super hero” for the kids and being a part of WWE 2K17 allowed him to do that again. Goldberg says that he met kids all around the world and, when he looked into their eyes, he knew that they saw Goldberg.

Goldberg says that, somewhere along the way, he created some “drama” in WWE before saying that, maybe, it’s better to “leave it alone” and keep it in the video game. However, Goldberg says that was before Brock Lesnar challenged him to a fight last week, commenting that Brock didn’t have the “balls” to challenge him in person, he had his “fat little stooge” Paul Heyman do it for him. Goldberg then states that, maybe, he’s got “one more ass-kicking” left in him and, maybe, he’s got “one last devastating Jackhammer” in him. The former World Champion then tells Brock Lesnar not only that Brock is “next”, but telling Lesnar, “you’re last”! Greeting the fans at ringside with his son on his shoulder as his wife records the whole thing on her phone with tears in her eyes, Goldberg would make his rounds around the ring, having made his grand return to WWE and leaving no doubt that he’s got one more fight left in him and that fight will be against “The Beast” Brock Lesnar.

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