Raw Highlights – Three Circles of Hell

It was a transitional week for Raw, building up stories that would pay off at Hell in a Cell and likely even further down the line at Survivor Series. We got more confrontations between Universal Champ and challenger, as well as return to in-ring action for Seth Rollins after a brief injury.

The Universal Championship match was set for a Hell in a Cell stipulation. Tonight also brought us confirmation that Goldberg would be returning–next week–and a continued tease of his proposed match with Brock Lesnar.

But for my money, the biggest news was the final confirmation that Sasha Banks and Charlotte would have their Women’s Championship match inside Hell in a Cell. It’s a big step for the women’s division, and a final culmination of everything WWE has invested in their female talent. We’ve come a long way.

We’ve got full results below by our own Thomas Hall, as well as video highlights from the entire show.

Results
Kofi Kingston b. Cesaro – Small package
Bayley b. Cami Fields – Bayley to Belly
Sin Cara/Lince Dorado b. Drew Gulak/Tony Nese – Shooting star press to Nese
Sami Zayn/Neville b. Curtis Axel/Bo Dallas – Red Arrow to Axel
R-Truth b. Titus O’Neil – Rollup
Braun Strowman b. Splash Brothers – Reverse chokeslam to Steven
Sasha Banks/Roman Reigns b. Rusev/Charlotte – Bank Statement to Charlotte
TJ Perkins b. Ariya Daivari – Kneebar
Seth Rollins b. Chris Jericho – Small package

Monday Night Raw
Date: October 10, 2016
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

Here’s Sasha Banks to get things going. Sasha says she’s on top of the world right now and wishes Eddie Guerrero a happy birthday. She spent years watching Eddie lie, cheat and steal his way to the top. Last week she was in the main event of Raw, just like Trish Stratus and Lita were all those years ago. Sasha knows the rematch is coming at Hell in a Cell so let’s put it inside the Cell for the first time ever.

Cue Charlotte but Rusev (now with sideburns) and Lana of all people come out to interrupt. Rusev says no one cares about this women’s revolution but Charlotte takes the mic from him and, with Stephanie style tones, asks Rusev who he thinks he is. The match with Sasha is on inside the Cell.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=OyCyiwaf_vo

Rusev takes the mic back and says good for you but he wasn’t done. This time it’s Sasha taking the mic away and throwing it to the mat. Lana says Sasha and Charlotte need to learn their place because they’re whining like little girls. That earns Lana a shove down and Rusev gets dropkicked out to the floor. Roman Reigns comes out to prevent the male on female violence.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=23WZr4696II

Here’s New Day to talk about the history of sports in Oakland, including the Splash Brothers and the Bash Brothers. That brings them to the most famous friends though: Danny Tanner and Uncle Jesse. See, there’s about to be a full house because New Day is three of a kind and they’re about to deal with a pair in Cesaro and Sheamus. Kofi has a hot garbage sign to describe Sheamus and Woods says the title match at the pay per view will prove that New Day rocks.

Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=P-0wv1SQtCA

Cesaro shoulders him down to start as we hear about Demolition’s record again. Apparently Sheamus is on Facebook while he’s sitting on the steps, not watching the match. They head outside for a staredown as we take a break. Back with Kofi getting two off a middle rope crossbody as Sheamus is still on Facebook. Trouble in Paradise misses and it’s time for the Uppercut Train. Kofi escapes a Sharpshooter attempt but tweaks his leg on a springboard attempt. Sheamus decides to go after Francesca and the distraction lets Kofi small package Cesaro for the pin at 7:45.

Result: Kofi Kingston b. Cesaro – Small package (7:45)

Tonight it’s Charlotte/Rusev vs. Reigns/Banks.

We see Goldberg’s comments on “Sportscenter”, where he said he’d love to face Brock Lesnar again.

Bayley vs. Cami Fields

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=mhpj_dDY6yw

Cami starts fast with some shoulders in the corner and stomps her way out of a sunset flip attempt. That’s about it though as the Bayley to Belly finishes Fields at 2:19.

Result: Bayley b. Cami Fields – Bayley to Belly (2:19)

Dana Brooke jumps Bayley post match.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=mE3zDZQu0_4

Chris Jericho is on the phone with someone and says he wants a pay day. R-Truth comes up and offers him a Payday candy bar.

Drew Gulak/Tony Nese vs. Sin Cara/Lince Dorado

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=XA3nIoONN8o

Gulak and Dorado start things off but an early headscissors means it’s off to Nese. Dorado gets taken into the wrong corner as the fans are dying by the second. A Gory Special has Dorado in trouble and it’s back to Nese for a chinlock. It’s back to Cara for a moonsault to both villains and a springboard crossbody for two on Gulak. Everything breaks down and Cara suicide dives onto Nese. Dorado hits a shooting star press to pin Gulak at 3:17.

Result: Sin Cara/Lince Dorado b. Tony Nese/Drew Gulak – Shooting star press to Nese (3:17)

Stephanie McMahon invites herself to join Mick Foley’s Cell address.

Here are the bosses with Stephanie making fun of Foley’s red flannel suit. Foley and Stephanie talk about the Women’s Title match being inside the Cell and confirm it for a second time tonight. But wait: there’s more. In a THIRD Cell match, Seth Rollins will be challenging for Kevin Owens’ Raw World Title as well.

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=oqRN8labx0k

This brings out Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens to say Mick has outdone himself this week. Owens doesn’t want to be in the Cell because he doesn’t want to be an old, broken down man like Foley. Jericho wants to know if he and Kevin can have their own private jet if Mick is just throwing out presents. The recklessness involved in putting Owens in the Cell means FOLEY JUST MADE THE LIST! Foley: “I started the List.” Jericho: “YOU JUST MADE THE LIST AGAIN!” Stephanie tells Jericho to show Foley respect so she has an idea: if Jericho can beat Rollins tonight, he’s in the title match as a triple threat.

Rollins says Stephanie loves to pull strings and is always five moves ahead. Tonight though, he’s going to ruin those plans by beating Jericho. Rollins wants to know what Owens is thinking though because Jericho might go into business for himself.

Curtis Axel/Bo Dallas vs. Enzo Amore/Big Cass

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=wPnsxA_t1hE

And never mind as Anderson and Gallows jump Enzo and Cass from behind before the match starts. No match.

After a break, Axel and Dallas say they want a tag match.

Curtis Axel/Bo Dallas vs. Sami Zayn/Neville

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=oGzgq_06BB4

Bo beats on Sami in the corner to start as we hear about Foley making three Cell matches. Well given that they were all challenges issues by wrestlers, that’s not the most impressive things in the world. Axel takes over on Sami and hits a good looking dropkick. Not that it matters as an exploder suplex sets up the Helluva Kick and the Red Arrow for the easy pin on Axel at 2:28.

Result: Sami Zayn/Neville b. Curtis Axel/Bo Dallas – Red Arrow to Axel (2:28)

Lana comes into Charlotte’s locker room and snipe at each other a bit.

R-Truth vs. Titus O’Neil

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=0V-vScUvHdI

Apparently Titus is mad about Truth getting the commercial for Payday earlier tonight. Titus throws Truth around to start as Graves plugs the Titus Brand. Goldust gets on the steps for a distraction and Truth grabs a rollup (with Titus’ feet in the ropes) for the pin at 2:12. That’s the second distraction finish tonight.

Result: R-Truth b. Titus O’Neil – Rollup (2:12)

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=W71wxL7PvdY

TJ Perkins comes in to see Brian Kendrick and talks about how Kendrick deserves another shot at the title. They shake hands but Kendrick goes after him, earning a right hand from the champ.

Braun Strowman vs. Splash Brothers

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=HTAJK1MCfOw

The Brothers are Steven and Clay. Strowman treats them like you would expect and splashes Steven while Clay is on Braun’s back. A double dropkick puts the Brothers down and it’s a running powerslam for Clay. Steven is reversed chokeslammed onto his brother for the pin at 59 seconds.

Result: Braun Strowman b. Splash Brothers – Reverse chokeslam to Steven (0:59)

Strowman wants better competition next week.

Roman Reigns and Sasha talk strategy.

Of all things, we get the Rumble by the Numbers video. Tickets go on sale soon.

Charlotte/Rusev vs. Roman Reigns/Sasha Banks

httpss://youtube.com/watch?v=QUdL8JBo0Vk

The genders have to match so we start with multiple tags before any contact. Rusev punches Reigns to start and a clothesline gets two. Reigns starts a comeback as the fans want Sasha. The villains are knocked to the floor and we take a break. Back with Reigns caught in a chinlock and more WE WANT SASHA chants. A Superman Punch allows the tag to Charlotte, meaning it’s off to Sasha to clean house. The double knees in the corner get two on Charlotte and the Bank Statement makes her tap at 9:48.

Result: Roman Reigns/Sasha Banks b. Charlotte/Rusev – Bank Statement to Charlotte (9:48)

Tom Phillips asks Jericho and Owens about the possible change to the title match at the pay per view. Jericho: “That’s a stupid idiom.” Jericho says if one of them is champion, both of them are champion. Owens throws Phillips out but since Tom doesn’t get out fast enough, HE MAKES THE LIST, under the name Felipe Thomastein.

We see the Goldberg clip again.

Here’s Paul Heyman to discuss said Goldberg comments but first we get another WWE2K17 video, this time of Lesnar vs. Goldberg. Heyman has heard people whispering about Goldberg returning for years now because they want one more spear and Jackhammer. You still hear the chants today and there they go again.

httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785671565073522689

Everyone that got in the same ring as Goldberg was conquered while he was running parallel to Brock Lesnar. It keeps Heyman up at night that Goldberg is one up on Brock so as of tonight, Goldberg is officially challenged to a fight any place anytime. Goldberg can either live in the past or step in this ring and be conquered. In Suplex City, Goldberg is next.

Emmalina video.

TJ Perkins vs. Ariya Daivari

httpss://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/785670919414882304

Non-title with Brian Kendrick on commentary. Daivari has to go to the ropes to get out of an early kneebar and we hit the chinlock on Perkins. A neckbreaker gets two on TJ but he comes right back with one of his own. The slingshot dropkick sets up the kneebar to make Daivari tap at 5:14.

Result: TJ Perkins b. Ariya Daivari – Kneebar (5:14)

httpss://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/785671580458233858

Jericho and Stephanie run into each other with Chris saying he thought about putting her on the list. Stephanie is cool with that though, as long as the Raw triple threat beats Smackdown’s triple threat. Jericho needs to remember that Stephanie can’t help him inside the Cell. Owens comes up and asks what that was about but Jericho just says friendship.

Hispanic Heritage Month video on Tito Santana.

A Tweet from Goldberg says he’ll be on Raw next week.

httpss://twitter.com/Goldberg/status/785669767667474432

Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho

httpss://twitter.com/WWEUniverse/status/785674660968923136

If Jericho wins, the Universal Title match becomes a triple threat. Rollins doesn’t care for having a toothpick thrown in his face so he smacks Jericho around. A Blockbuster gets two for Seth and Jericho bails to the floor, only to get caught by a slingshot dropkick. Cue Owens for a distraction so Jericho can take over and we take a break.

Back with Jericho kicking Rollins off the top and slapping on an abdominal stretch. Rollins sends him face first into the middle turnbuckle and gets two off a Sling Blade. Seth goes up top and slams Jericho off, only to have his crossbody dropkicked out of the air. The low superkick gets two on Jericho but Owens offers a distraction, allowing Jericho to grab the Walls.

httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785677804113309696

A belt shot from Owens gets the same and Rollins takes him down with a suicide dive. The springboard knee to the head gets two on Jericho but he avoids the frog splash. A Lionsault gives Jericho a near fall of his own but he misses a high crossbody. Jericho reverses the Pedigree into another Walls attempt, only to get small packaged for the pin at 19:14.

Result: Seth Rollins b. Chris Jericho – Small package (19:14)

Post match Owens and Jericho beat on Seth but Rollins fights back and gives Jericho a Pedigree as Owens bails to end the show.

httpss://twitter.com/WWE/status/785679177886289921