WWE RAW Results: October 3, 2016

Detailed Results

After his United States Title defense against former champion Rusev ended in a double count-out last week, RAW kicks off with United States Champion Roman Reigns. Roman says that his bloodline has been represented in WWE for a long time, but they’ve never had anyone win the United States Title until now. The champion then says that he is “the guy” before Reigns is interrupted by the arrival of Rusev’s wife Lana, who makes her way to the ring. Lana claims that Rusev doesn’t know that she’s out there before saying that “life is a negotiation” and revealing that her husband is challenging Roman to a rematch for the United States Title. Reigns responds by saying that it doesn’t sound like a challenge, it sounds like Rusev sent her out there to do his “dirty work”.

Lana says that Rusev is her “family” before saying that Roman has “zero respect” for family, calling the champion a “stupid boy”. Lana then vows that Rusev will “crush” Roman in front of these people, in front of the world, and in front of Roman’s family. The champion tells Lana to go in the back and give Rusev his “Bulgarian balls” and tell him to come out there himself and say it to his face. Clearly distraught by what Roman has to say, Lana tells the champion to “shut up” and says that he can’t talk about her husband that way, telling Roman to “go to hell”.

This brings out “The Bulgarian Brute” himself as Rusev marches towards the ring before Roman Reigns meets Rusev on the outside, sparking a brawl between the two that heads into the ring where Rusev takes control. Rusev would work over the mid-section of the champion with knees to the gut before hammering Reigns with right hands. Roman then catches Rusev with an uppercut that sends “The Bulgarian Brute” out of the ring before the champion goes for the Superman Punch, but Rusev counters with a kick to the throat of Reigns. Rusev follows this up by sending Roman into the steel steps before sizing Reigns up and blasting the champion in the face with the Bulgarian Boot, sending Reigns careening over the ringside barricade!

Rusev then grabs the United States Title belt, shouting that the title belongs to him before celebrating with the title that used to belong to him. However, this is when Roman Reigns would resurface on the stage, catching an unsuspecting Rusev with the Superman Punch! The champion would then pick up his title before telling Rusev, as well as Lana, that, if Lana wants him to “go to hell”, then he is taking Rusev with him because “The Bulgarian Brute” will get his rematch for the United States Title, but it will be inside Hell in a Cell in just under four weeks at WWE Hell in a Cell!

The opening match of the night would be a rematch from Clash of Champions as Cruiserweight Champion T.J. Perkins would go one-on-one with “The Wizard of Odd” Brian Kendrick in a non-title match. During the match, Brian Kendrick was quick to escape the knee bar before Kendrick connects with Sliced Bread #2, but T.J. Perkins would kick out before the challenger locks in the Captain’s Hook with TJP fighting out. The veteran would then lock in the Captain’s Hook again and, this time, Kendrick makes the champion tap out to pick up a big win and stake his claim on a rematch for the Cruiserweight Title!

In an exclusive sit-down interview with Seth Rollins from earlier that day, Michael Cole asks Rollins about his rib injury and Seth reveals that the doctors have cleared him to compete but advised him to rest and not come to RAW, but rest isn’t his “thing” so here they are in LA. Cole then starts to ask Seth about getting defeated by Kevin Owens the night Owens won the WWE Universal Title, but Rollins cuts Cole off. Seth says that Owens was “literally handed” the WWE Universal Title by Triple H on that night and, after what happened at Clash of Champions, there’s no doubt in his mind that he deserves a rematch for the WWE Universal Title.

Rollins says that he has “alienated” most of the people in the back and most of the fans, saying that he and Owens have had a lot of success in WWE but how they got there is two different stories. Seth continues, saying Owens is that guy at the office who does “half the work but still gets the promotions” and calling Owens a “teacher’s pet”. Rollins then says that, when he cashed in his Money-in-the-Bank contract and won the WWE Title at WrestleMania 31, there was nobody there to “hand” him the title, that moment was all him.

Cole then asks Seth how he feels about being “replaced” as Triple H’s protégé with saying that you can’t “replace” Seth Rollins, saying that Kevin Owens is just a “cog in the machine”. Seth then says that his eyes are wide open now and he sees things differently, stating that he’s going to tear the “machine” down piece-by-piece and it starts with Kevin Owens and the WWE Universal Championship. Seth continues, saying that he had Owens beat at Clash of Champions, but he’s not stupid, he knows how things work, saying that he can’t blame Owens because he probably would have done the same thing. Rollins then vows to “cancel the Kevin Owens Show” and prove to the world that he is still “the man”.

The dominant mastodon known as Braun Strowman was in action on RAW as Strowman would face local competitor Chase Silver. In what has become a trend on RAW, Braun Strowman would dominate Chase Silver, planting the local competitor with a running powerslam, pinning Silver for the win. In a rare occurrence, Braun Strowman is interviewed after the match as Strowman says that he is the “gift of destruction” and they are “wasting” his talent on these “weak fools”. Braun then tells Byron Saxton to tell RAW General Manager Mick Foley to get him some “real competition” next week, there might not be a “next week”!

Having heard what Seth Rollins had to say about him in his interview with Michael Cole earlier that day, WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens would appear on RAW to respond to Seth Rollins’ comments as Owens makes his way to the ring with his best friend Chris Jericho by his side. The champion says that, if Seth Rollins was “smart”, he would have listened to the doctors and stay home to recover, calling Seth a “stupid idiot”. Owens then asks what Seth has done to earn a rematch for the WWE Universal Title, saying that Rollins can “blame” whoever he wants for losing at Clash of Champions, but he still lost and he is the one who beat Rollins, stating that he is the one who is still in possession of the WWE Universal Championship.

Owens then says that he asked Chris Jericho to join him out there before saying that, if Seth “weasels” his way into getting a rematch for the WWE Universal Title, then they need a referee that can “handle anything” before saying that Jericho should be the referee! Jericho says that, while he does have experience as a referee and he does have the jersey for it, their win over Enzo & Big Cass last week made him realize that they are the “best tag team” in WWE. Jericho then proposes that they should challenge The New Day for the RAW Tag Team Titles! Owens says that Jericho’s idea sounds amazing before saying that Cesaro & Sheamus already have a shot at the RAW Tag Team Titles lined up.

Chris Jericho scoffs, saying that Cesaro & Sheamus aren’t even friends before saying that, if they beat The New Day for the RAW Tag Team Titles, they will make history because Owens would then be the WWE Universal Champion and one-half of the RAW Tag Team Champions. However, the champion argues that it seems like a “lot of work” before Jericho says that it’s not like he’s asking Owens for a shot at Owens’ WWE Universal Title. Jericho’s sudden interest in the WWE Universal Title makes Owens change his tune as the champion then readily agrees to try and take the RAW Tag Team Titles from The New Day. Naturally, this brings out the reigning RAW Tag Team Champions as The New Day comes out to the stage. Kofi Kingston says that they have the “best friendship” in WWE with Jericho responding by putting Kofi on the List of Jericho, joined shortly by Big E and Xavier Woods, who also make the list. Owens then says that, if The New Day aren’t going to put the titles on the line, then they should just leave so the real “most entertaining” tag team in WWE can do their thing.

The WWE Universal Champion then says that, together, The New Day has compromised the health of kids around the world by feeding them “questionable cereal”. Owens then says that, about seven months ago, The New Day “jumped the shark” together with Xavier responding by saying that they “don’t swim”. Woods then asks when the last time was that Owens “jumped over anything” with Owens responding by having Jericho put Xavier on the list again. Xavier then agrees to face Kevin Owens & Chris Jericho before vowing that Owens & Jericho will never beat them for the RAW Tag Team Titles.

In a one-on-one match, “The Underdog from the Underground” Sami Zayn would face Titus O’Neil on RAW. In the end, it was Sami Zayn connecting with the Helluva Kick, pinning Titus O’Neil to pick up the win.

After coming up short last week in their quest to take the RAW Tag Team Titles away from The New Day, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson would be looking to get back on track on RAW as Gallows & Anderson would face The Golden Truth in tag team action. In the end, it was Gallows & Anderson hitting the Magic Killer on R-Truth with Luke Gallows pinning R-Truth to pick up the win. After the match, Goldust would come into the ring to check on his tag team partner, but Gallows & Anderson would use Goldust to make a statement, hitting Goldust with the Magic Killer, as well, leaving both members of The Golden Truth laid out in the ring.

With RAW Guest Stars Ashton Kutcher & Danny Masterson guests on commentary, WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens and his best friend Chris Jericho would face RAW Tag Team Champions Big E & Xavier Woods, with Kofi Kingston in their corner, in a non-title match. During the match, Kevin Owens had control of the match before Seth Rollins comes out to the stage, distracting the WWE Universal Champion long enough for Xavier Woods to capitalize with an enziguiri. Shortly after this, the match would break down before Chris Jericho locks in the Liontamer on Xavier Woods, but Seth Rollins would get involved again, allowing Big E & Xavier Woods to hit the Midnight Hour with Big E pinning Jericho for the win. After the match, Seth Rollins would dare Kevin Owens to come down to the ring and check on his best friend, but the WWE Universal Champion would remain on the ramp, watching as Rollins picks Jericho and plants “Y2J” with the Pedigree in the middle of the ring! Seth Rollins then celebrates with The New Day in the ring as Kevin Owens begrudgingly walks to the back.

Backstage, RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon confronts Seth Rollins over Seth’s involvement in the tag match moments earlier, saying Seth put himself at risk by going out there. Rollins says that Stephanie doesn’t tell him what to do anymore and Owens & Jericho’s “fairytale ending” isn’t going to happen with him around. Stephanie tells Seth that he is “all alone” for the first time in his WWE career, saying that, with The Authority, he at least stood a chance before saying Rollins is “replaceable” just like everybody else. Rollins says that Stephanie doesn’t get to tell him how things work around here anymore, saying the Commissioner lost that privilege when her husband, Triple H, made the “second worst decision” of his life, saying Triple H’s first worst decision was marrying Stephanie! Seth then demands that Stephanie give him his rematch for the WWE Universal Title or he will make Stephanie’s life a “living hell” and he will burn RAW “to the ground”, taking Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho with him! Rollins then walks away as a sneaky smile creeps across Stephanie’s face.

In a Cruiserweight Division match, the fun-loving and exciting Rich Swann would go one-on-one with the self-proclaimed “premier athlete” Tony Nese. In the end, it was Tony Nese picking up an impressive win, hitting Rich Swann with a sitout pumphandle slam, pinning Swann for the win.

Still bickering despite being on the same side, “The Swiss Superman” Cesaro and “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus would be forced to team together again as they would face local competitors Raul White & Mike Carridy. Throughout the match, Cesaro & Sheamus would continue to argue but, despite their differences, the unusual team would emerge victorious as Sheamus hits Mike Carridy with the Brogue Kick, pinning Carridy to pick up the win for the team.

Backstage, RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte and her protégé Dana Brooke are on their way out to the ring for the main event when Charlotte spots Bayley backstage. The champion decides to mock Bayley, saying that, someday, Bayley is going to “grow up” and become a main eventer just like her. Charlotte then exits, leaving Dana Brooke to continue the taunting, telling Bayley not to “cry”, patting Bayley on the head and saying “playtime is over”. Bayley shoves Dana’s hand to the side and Dana takes great offense to this, pushing Bayley up against the wall, but Bayley fires back, tossing the protégé into a nearby anvil case, leaving Dana on the floor, clutching her knee.

Then it was time for a personally charged main event as it would be the culmination of a rivalry dating back to NXT as, in a rematch from SummerSlam, Charlotte, without her protégé Dana Brooke in her corner following the backstage confrontation with Bayley, would defend the RAW Women’s Championship against “The Boss” Sasha Banks! Early on in the match, Charlotte would target the previously injured back of Sasha Banks, looking to exploit the weakness of the challenger. Despite this, Sasha would continue to fight back before Charlotte drops “The Boss” on the top rope before blasting Sasha with a big boot, but the challenger kicks out. Charlotte then positions Sasha on the top rope, looking for a superplex, but “The Boss” blocks, fighting the champion off before scoring with the double knees to the face of Charlotte, but the champion is barely able to kick out. Charlotte then clings to the second rope to fend off the Back Stabber, sending Sasha to the outside before climbing to the top rope to hit an awe-inspiring corkscrew moonsault to the outside, taking down “The Boss”!

Back in the ring, Charlotte would hit Sasha with Natural Selection, but “The Boss” is somehow able to kick out again! The frustrated champion then repeatedly slaps Sasha, screaming at the challenger to “stay down” before Sasha fights back, locking in the Bank Statement on Charlotte. Charlotte then tries to counter the Bank Statement into a pinning predicament like she did at SummerSlam, but the challenger had that well-scouted as Sasha would roll through the pinfall attempt, keeping the Bank Statement locked in as Charlotte has no choice but to tap out as Sasha Banks becomes the brand new RAW Women’s Champion for the second time in her career! Now the former champion, Charlotte leaves the ring with tears in her eyes still claiming that the title belongs to her as Sasha Banks stands tall in the ring, proudly holding the RAW Women’s Title over her head as “The Boss” is once again on top of the RAW Women’s Division.

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