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Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of Raw from London, England at the 02 Arena. I am filling in this week for the vacationing Richard Trionfo!
Sami Zayn, Shane McMahon, The Vaudevillains and Enzo and Cass are already in the Raw opening, by the way.
We open with all the British pyro and ballyhoo as our announcers Michael Cole, JBL and Byron Saxton welcome us. They claim a crowd of 16 plus.
Dean Ambrose's music and The Lunatic Fringe makes his way to the ring. Nice reaction for Ambrose. They show clips of Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel being canceled last week. Ambrose says welcome to the Ambrose Asylum. He told some bad jokes about Braun Strowman being mistaken for a sea monster. The crowd still popped for it. He pointed out James Corden's parents in the front row and introduced Shane McMahon, noting he was "once again, in control of Monday Night Raw."
McMahon came out and danced the McMahon shuffle for the British fans. Big reaction for him. Ambrose thanked him for coming and said to have a seat. There were no chairs. The crowd chanted, "You still got it." Ugh. Ambrose said that everyone will agree and showed the footage of Shane diving off the Hell in A Cell at Wrestlemania 32. Ambrose put it over as a crazy stunt and Shane thanked him for the compliment.
Ambrose asked what's on Shane's agenda. He said that it was all about the fans and they deserve better. He said there is a new era and stars who never would have gotten a chance before are getting one, naming AJ Styles, Sasha Banks and Sami Zayn as examples. He said that the fans have been demanding it and that's why "we have arrived."
Out came Kevin Owens with a mic. He said that Shane can claim it's a new era, but he's not fooling anyone. He said it's the same crap he's been seeing for years - a McMahon drunk with power who has a personal vendetta against the biggest star - Kevin Owens. Shane said he doesn't have anything against Owens. Owens asked why he was kicked out of the building last week. Shane said he was going to try and ruin Sami Zayn's chance at the WWE World Heavyweight championship. Owens said he was being punished for being an honest man and saying what he was going to do. He said he was honest and that Zayn didn't deserve to be World champion and he's been hanging off Owens' coattails for over a decade.
Zayn's music hit and Sami came out. The crowd sang his theme song. That is never not awesome. Zayn questioned how he was riding Owens' coat tails when he was signed first. He said Owens never would have made it to WWE without him and Owens made a career stabbing his friends in the back, the way he did to Sami at NXT.
Out of nowhere, Chris Jericho's music hit. The announcers all went nuts for Jericho, making everyone else look less important, perhaps by accident. Jericho mouthed off at everyone and said Owens was right that Shane was drunk with power. He said that he didn't like Shane before he left and doesn't like him now. He reminded Shane that he is the best in the world at what he does and that includes everyone in the ring. He said Shane took the Highlight Reel away from him. Shane said it's about new opportunities, like Ambrose's Asylum, and invited him to go watch all the old Highlight Reel episodes on the WWE Network. Actually, that's a cool idea. They should do that, right after they add all the old Piper's Pits.
McMahon made matches for Owens vs. Zayn and Ambrose vs. Jericho at Payback on 5/1 in Chicago. McMahon said tensions are getting high, so he's going to step out of the ring. Dean asked him to hold his plant. He took off his jacket and nailed Owens. Zayn and Jericho brawled, Owens and Jericho were run out of the ring. The announcers said it's going to be an explosive night.
We found out during the commercial break that Shane McMahon made Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho for right now.
Zayn vs. Jericho
Jericho chopped away at Zayn, who came back with a series of deep armdrags. Jericho cut off Zayn but was sent to the floor. Zayn nailed an Arabian Press to the floor and tossed Jericho back into the ring. He continued working on Jericho but Jericho was able to crotch him when Sami tried to springboard on the ropes for a move.
Jericho took control and drilled Zayn with forearms in the corner and used his boot to choke him. Jericho tossed Zayn to the floor. They went to commercial.
When they returned, Jericho had just hit a suplex on Zayn on the floor. Zayn returned to the ring, where he was hit with another one for a near fall. Jericho began disrespecting Zayn, who made a comeback with a big clothesline. He hit a flying bodypress for a two count. Zayn nailed the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count.
Zayn went to the top but Jericho nailed a dropkick as he came down into the ring. Jericho turned him over into the Walls of Jericho, trying to force a submission. Zayn tried to force his way to the ropes and finally made it to the ropes. Jericho went to nail him but was sent over the top to the floor. Zayn teased a dive and went for it but Jericho moved out of the way. Zayn hit a tornado DDT through the ropes to the floor. Zayn was caught with the Codebreaker and pinned.
Your winner, Chris Jericho!
Good back and forth match.
Backstage, Mauro Ranallo (Raw debut!) interviewed AJ Styles. He was asked what led to his phenomenal rise in WWE. Styles was about to answer when he saw someone off screen. It was Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. Styles introduced them. Anderson made a "good brother" reference. That was quick. He thanked Styles for putting in a good word and helping them get in the door. He said he was working his entire life to get to WWE. Styles said they deserved it. Gallows said he was excited for AJ's title shot at Payback. They left together to catch up on some hazy nights in Roppongi. The announcers said they were back together after their days in New Japan.
Out came Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. They did their entire shtick. London loved it.
WWE Tag Team championship contender's tournament: Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady vs. The Dudley Boyz
Enzo cut an awesome promo about the Dudleys being Duds. He said they were like A-Cups, "real whether you like us or not." Tremendous. The Dudleys came out looking pissed.
D-Von worked over Enzo in the corner with right hands. Bubba Ray tagged in and killed him with a chop. He mouthed off with Cass as they went to commercial.
When they returned, Enzo was being his usual charming self but was drilled down with a big shoulderblock that Enzo bounced off like a beach ball. D-Von tagged in and the Dudleys worked over Enzo as Cass. Bubba beat him down and splashed Enzo for a two count. He went to the top and went for a back senton splash but Enzo moved out of the way.
Cas made the hot tag and slammed D-Von, nailing him with the Empire Elbow. He nailed a Stinger Splash in the corner but missed a second one. The Dudleys nailed their double-team suplex/neckbreaker variation. The Dudleys had a miscommunication.and Cas nailed a big boot. They used the Rocket Launcher and scored the pin.
Your winners, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.
Good back and forth match. Enzo and Cas came off great here.
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