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When they returned from commercial, Seth Rollins was on a stretcher but was asking the EMTs and the WWE officials to give him a minute so he could leave on his own. You could hear fans so concerned they were singing Happy Birthday to him. Rollins finally pulled himself up and was walked out with the assistance of Jamie Noble Goulet and Adam Pearce Garea.
A smiling WWE Raw Women's Champion Nia Jax made her way to the ring. As she got halfway there, out came Ronda Rousey, her challenger at the Money in the Bank. Rousey joined the announcers at their position. Jax entered the ring and took the mic. She said that she was happy Rousey came out for this exhibition so she can see firsthand what's going to happen to her at the PPV.
Jax said that her opponent, Michelle Webb, was going to demonstrate the move Rousey loves to use, the armbar. The woman locked it on but Jax powered up and powerbombed her. Jax wiped her out again and told Rousey that she could easily get the pin on Rousey at the PPV with that, but she's got more. She nailed a big legdrop and said after that, you could count to 30. She said Ronda has never faced anything like that in the UFC. She said her leg could crush a woman's chest...and so can this. She nalled a rolling senton. Nia said the woman needs some assistance, the type of assistance Rousey will need at MITB. She suggested Rousey to come to the ring and help Webb out. The referee went to help Webb but Jax told him no and said she wanted Rowdy Ronda Rousey to come down. Rousey made her way to the ring as Jax said she has to give the people what they want.
Ronda got into the ring and gave Jax the "look." Jax said this was the intimidating thing she's heard so much about, but Jax isn't intimidated. She said it's cute. She turned her back on Ronda and walked off. The idea was Jax was playing mind games and it was easily the best and most confident she ever came off on the mic.
Dana Brooke did a selfie promo in front of a bunch of of mathematical equations talking up how she was going to win tonight. Based on the build, the Gauntlet is closing the show.
WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt vs. The Ascension
They noted on commentary that Lord Wolfgang has challenged Michael Cole to a match. Cole referred to him at first as Maxwell, meaning Maxel. Matt and Bray traded tags while working over Viktor. Viktor nailed a nice looking leaping back elbow in a corner on Hardy. Konor tagged in and scored a two count on Matt before locking on a side chinlock.
Hardy fought back with shots to the mid-section but Konor maintained a side headlock and took Matt back to the mat. Bray finally made the tag and cleaned house on Viktor, but Konor broke up a pinfall. Matt nailed Viktor with a Twist of Fate and clotheslined Konor over the top. Bray and Hardy set up Viktor and nailed the Kiss of Deletion for the pin.
Your winners, WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt!
They announced it would be Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode later tonight.
Backstage, The B-Team were mocking the Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win. They wanted a Tag Team title shot and asked for one. Kurt said they have looked impressive the last few weeks but that doesn't mean they earned a title shot. He questioned what would the other tag teams wonder. Bo thought he meant that they had to get all the other teams' blessings. He said they had give them something. They decided they would invte everyone to to the B-Team Memorial Day BBQ tonight. Angle kept trying to tell them that he didn't mean any of that but they excitedly walked off. Okaaaaaaaaay.
The Riott Squad did a selfie promo, saying one way or another, the final spot in MITB belongs to them. Good promo from all three.
Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode.
Dueling chants. They had some nice back and forth exchanges early. Roode nailed a big clothesline on Owens, who was on the apron. He went to follow but was tripped on the apron. Owens tossed him into the barricade. Owens nailed a cannonball on the floor as they went to commercial. When they returned, Owens was in charge. Roode fired back but was nailed. Owens charged him in the corner but was nailed with an elbow and hit with a Blockbuster for a two count. Roode nailed a clothesline in the corner. He went for a neckbreaker but Owens countered. Roode finally nailed it for a two count.
Amazingly, Owens isnt concerned that Braun might be looking for him.
Roode went to the top but Owens nailed the ropes, crotching him. Owens climbed the ropes and set up for a superplex. Roode nailed him with several shots to the mid-section, sending Owens crashing down to the mat. Roode nailed him off the ropes. He set up for the Glorious DDT but Owens began walking up the aisle, trying to retreat. Roode caught him and nailed him. He tossed Owens back into the ring but was caught with a superkick. Roode avoided a pop-up powerbomb and went for a sunset flip but Owens dropped down and scored the pin.
Your winner, Kevin Owens!
As Owens left, Braun Strowman's music hit and Owens tried to back down the aisle. Owens was chased around the ring but his exit was blocked by Roode. Braun grabbed him and tossed Owens back into the ring, where he nailed the running powerslam. Roode was cheerleading Braun and called for another. I don't think this will end well for Roode. Braun nailed another powerslam, then grabbed Roode and powerslammed him as well.
Sami Zayn came out after the commercial break. The announcers said he was here to make a public apology for the awful Bobby Lashley segment last week. They should send Vince McMahon out for that.
Zayn took the mic and said that he wanted to get serious for a second. He said that last week didn't go as he had hoped and in retrospect it went too far. WWE management has been gracious enough to give him time to issue an official public apology. He read a statement and said he presented a segment that was inappropriate and in poor taste. He said that the reaction on social media was brutal and he was asked in endless texts and emails what he was doing. He was even asked by the man in Syracuse who was evicted by his own parents in a DM to ask him what he was thinking. Zayn said that this was simply his way of trying to entertain, not provoke and that these men were hired by him and were not his sisters. He said that he wanted to tell the WWE Universe and the Lashley family that he was...was...sorry.
That certainly read like WWE management wanted that said publicly after the backlash.
However....it should be noted that everything he said was true. It was actors playing his sisters, but his expose was rooted in reality, like all great art. He said that history will look back on last week's segment very favorably. Yeah, sure. Zayn said he was the one doing the right thing and trying to expose Lashley for being a bully and liar and asked why he was the one who was catching flack. He said that everyone should feel sorry for him and should be apologizing to him. Zayn said he deserves and deserves better. He should be in the MITB ladder match and should have been wrestling Seth Rollins for the IC title tonight, not issuing an apology in front of a group of disgusting fans in Richmond, VA.
Bobby Lashley came out to the ring. He took a mic and said that Memorial Day is a special day for families like him and said that to anyone who has loved ones who served in the military, he and his family salute you and thank you. He saluted a flag. The crowd chanted "USA." Lashley said it was good to see Sami. He said that his sisters, who Zayn never contacted, thought what happened last week was entertaining. Lashley said they obviously have an issue and challenged him to settle it in the ring at Money in the Bank. He told Zayn to back up the trash talk and offered him his hand to shake and seal the deal. Zayn took it and said that Lashley got what he wanted. He said he was going to Helluva kick the smile off Lashley's face. Lashley squeezed his hand and wouldn't let go,
Lashley said he had an apology of his own - he apologizes for everything he's going to do to Sami Zayn at Money in the Bank. He released his grip and walked off as Zayn sat there in the ring holding his hand.
Mickie James did a selfie promo. She said she wasn't a six-time Champion by accident. She knows how to seize the opportunity and she'll be the one walking into MITB.
Coverage continues on Page 3.
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