Monday Night Raw Results – August 17, 2015

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 17, 2015
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, Byron Saxton

It’s the go home show for Summerslam and we’re in Brock Lesnar’s hometown. Lesnar is in the house tonight for a showdown with the Undertaker, which is probably the best chance WWE will have at getting Undertaker booed in this whole story. Other than that we have another stare down between John Cena and Seth Rollins before their title for title match on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

With no opening sequence, here are HHH and Stephanie to get things going. Stephanie says this is like Christmas morning when you’re waiting to open your presents and they plug the $9.99 price tag for Sunday’s show. HHH runs through the card and Stephanie makes sure to call Cena and Rollins’ match from a month ago infamous. They throw in that Jon Stewart is the official host and we’re promised a big week and a big night so it’s time to start things up.

Randy Orton/Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens/Sheamus

Cesaro and Sheamus get things going but the fans want Orton instead. Fans: “YOU LOOK STUPID!” Sheamus rolls to the floor and says “respect the hawk!”  Back in and a shoulder sends Sheamus outside again as they aren’t in a hurry to get going. Owens gets his turn and cuts Orton off from making a tag. That earns him a clothesline and now Orton makes the tag (with a big windup), allowing Cesaro to come in for a delayed suplex. A running uppercut sends Owens to the floor and us to a break.

We come back with Owens hammering on Orton and sending him into Sheamus’ raised boot. Off to a chinlock for a bit before Orton throws Owens down and makes the hot tag to Cesaro. House is cleaned but Sheamus gets in a shot to slow Cesaro down. Sheamus goes up but dives into an uppercut for two but is still able to send Cesaro over the top and (eventually) out to the floor.

Orton is fine with that as he sneaks up on Sheamus for the hanging DDT. Owens tries to come in but…..doesn’t take the RKO as he tries to block it in an awkward looking sequence. Instead he shoves Orton into Sheamus, who takes the RKO for the pin at 13:30.

Result: Cesaro/Randy Orton b. Sheamus/Kevin Owens – RKO to Sheamus (13:30)

Video on Undertaker and Lesnar’s issues since Battleground.

Undertaker, covered in smoke and shadows, talks about the reaper calling your name, which means it’s over. The hounds are baying for Lesnar’s soul and the gates are opening to welcome him to his eternal punishment. Brock’s name has been called and he will never rest in peace.

We see Rollins breaking Cena’s nose a few weeks back.

Rollins says the contract signing tonight will seal the deal for Sunday. The Authority agrees, but Rollins has one more request. When he wins on Sunday and becomes the first double champion, he deserves a spot among the legends, like a statue. Stephanie agrees.

Roman Reigns vs. Luke Harper

Ambrose is on commentary. Reigns starts slugging away to start as Dean tries to figure out how Harper is part of Bray’s family. Byron asks Dean why the two families hate each other. Dean: “It’s like cats hating dogs. I don’t know why they hate each other either but we hate the Wyatts too.” Reigns kicks away at Harper and clotheslines him out to the floor, setting up the running apron boot as we take a break.

Back with Harper holding a chinlock and Dean keeping his eye on Bray. Reigns finally suplexes out but Harper kicks his head off with a big boot for two. Even Dean just went quiet when that connected. Reigns fights out of the Gator Roll and wins another slugout before mixing things up a bit with a t-bone suplex. They head outside for a nice clothesline off the apron to drop Harper but Roman can’t follow up. Back in and Reigns hits another clothesline, followed by a Samoan drop for two.

The Superman Punch is loaded up but Harper is smart enough to go outside, suckering Roman in for a superkick. Harper shrugs off a Superman Punch through the apron and grabs Winds of Change (called that by Cole) for two more. Another superkick sets up a sitout powerbomb but Reigns kicks out one more time. Reigns pops back up though and a second Superman Punch loads up the spear for the pin at 15:00.

Result: Roman Reigns b. Luke Harper – Spear (15:00)

Post match Bray grabs Harper’s head and says follow the buzzards.

Becky Lynch vs. Tamina

Tamina easily shoves Becky down to start and catches her in a swinging Rock Bottom for two. We’re in an early chinlock as the announcers talk about how awesome this revolution is. Becky fights up and springboards into a kick to the chest, followed by a missile dropkick for two. Tamina tries another slam, only to have Becky roll through into the Disarm-Her for the tap at 4:02.

Result: Becky Lynch b. Tamina – Disarm-Her (4:02)

Rusev vs. Mark Henry

Lana is on commentary. Henry comes out with the American flag and throws Rusev around to start with some powerslams for two. They head outside with Henry being sent into the post, setting up the superkick and Accolade for the submission at 2:48.

Result: Rusev b. Mark Henry – Accolade (2:48)

Post match Lana calls Summer in for a fight and slaps the taste out of her mouth. Now Lana wants Rusev but Dolph Ziggler returns to make the save. Ziggler cleans house with superkicks before posing with Lana.

Back from a break and Ziggler says he’s back to face Rusev.

Video on the Streak being broken. This aired on both Raw and Smackdown last week.

Ryback vs. Miz

Non-title with Big Show on commentary to hype up Summerslam and his new direct to DVD movie. Miz rips on Big Show’s acting and promises to win the title on Sunday. Some hard chops put Miz down but he goes after the leg. With that out of the way, Miz rips at Ryback’s face, earning himself a gorilla press into a powerslam. Miz makes the mistake of diving at Ryback, who catches him in midair and Shell Shocks him at 2:24.

Result: Ryback b. Miz – Shell Shock (2:24)

Ryback’s challenge to Big Show is declined.

It’s time for Cena and Rollins to sign the contract for Sunday. Rollins (whose NEVER SHUTS UP says “YOU CAN’T SEE KNEE” on the back), is out first to suck up to Stephanie before going after the Minnesota Twins for not being very good. He promises to be awesome on Sunday and signs his half. Seth brings up Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan and his song “The Times They Are A-Changin.”

For ten years, John Cena has been on the top, but the times are changing. Cena is a disease and Rollins goes on about how Cena won’t answer his challenge so here’s John in person to respond. Cena brings up the problem with Rollins’ arguments: Yeah half of the fans are saying let’s go Cena and half of them are chanting Cena sucks, but none of them are saying a word about Rollins. He calls Seth out for being a Cena ripoff who has all the talent in the world with HHH choosing him as proof. HHH even gave him the Pedigree to ensure that his own legacy lasts forever.

Last week Cena was stuck at home due to doctor’s orders, but he knew he’d be back. Then it hit him as clear as Rollins’ nose. Cena is a fifteen time champion and the back of his shirt says so. It didn’t occur to him that he was going to have another chance to win the title until HHH brought it up. This Sunday, Cena proves that Rollins is a footnote instead of the future. The difference between HHH and Rollins is HHH was never Ric Flair’s b#*$&. This Sunday, Cena is making Rollins his.

New Day/Los Matadores vs. Prime Time Players/Lucha Dragons

Titus throws Diego around to start but Woods and Torito get in a fight for a distraction, allowing Kalisto to hurricanrana Diego for the pin at 2:10.

Result: Prime Time Players/Lucha Dragons b. New Day/Los Matadores – Hurricanrana to Diego (2:10)

Ziggler vs. Rusev is official for Sunday.

Recap of last week with Stephen Amell and Stardust, leading to their tag match on Sunday.

Stardust and Barrett give us a public service announcement about destroying Amell and Neville this Sunday. Barrett is given some new armor and proclaims himself the Cosmic King.

Nikki Bella vs. Sasha Banks

Non-title. Nikki shoves her away for some jumping jacks before Sasha does the same. Byron brings up holding the gold and having the power, which immediately translates into what it means if the Bellas lose a non-title match on Sunday. We hit the chinlock on Sasha and finally hear something about Saturday’s Takeover. Sasha fights up and smashes Nikki in the face, followed by the double knees to the ribs for a nice reaction. Some pushups take us to a break.

Back with Sasha holding a chinlock until Nikki fights out and grabs an Alabama Slam for two. A loud WE WANT LESNAR chant starts up as Nikki powers up into an electric chair. The Rack Attack is loaded up but a Naomi distraction lets Banks roll through into the Bank Statement for the tap out at 10:41.

Result: Sasha Banks b. Nikki Bella – Bank Statement (10:41)

PCB says they’ll win on Sunday.

Another video of the Streak being broken.

Here’s Heyman to introduce Lesnar, whose music starts at 11:01. Confetti falls and Brock gets the hero’s welcome he rarely receives. Heyman sings: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the conqueror, my lord.” After his third chorus of GLORY GLORY BROCK LESNAR, the gong strikes. The lights come back up and there’s…..no Undertaker.

Heyman asks if Jedi mind tricks are the best Undertaker has. This Sunday, Brock will take God, the devil and the Undertaker to Suplex City. Paul goes over the Battleground story again but asks why Undertaker had to kick Brock low. Undertaker did it because he knew he couldn’t beat Brock, just like he never has before.

You can put Undertaker in the ring with anyone and Undertaker will have a tombstone waiting for them. However, Undertaker is in the ring with a Beast instead of a man. Heyman rants about Brock not respecting anything Undertaker has done and there go the lights again. This time it’s Undertaker in the ring and he kicks Brock low again. A chokeslam plants Brock and a tombstone does the same to end the show.

Results
Randy Orton/Cesaro b. Sheamus/Kevin Owens – RKO to Sheamus
Roman Reigns b. Luke Harper – Spear
Becky Lynch b. Tamina – Disarm-Her
Rusev b. Mark Henry – Accolade
Ryback b. Miz – Shell Shock
Lucha Dragons/Prime Time Players b. Los Matadores/New Day – Hurricanrana to Diego
Sasha Banks b. Nikki Bella – Bank Statement

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