Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 4/11/17: RAW Long Island Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Day one of Draft Day is upon us ladies and gents! No it's not the NFL Draft, it's the "Superstar Shakeup" WWE Draft! This week RAW was live in Long Island, New York and rumors have been circulating that they'll be some big names leaving Smackdown Live and coming over to RAW. Both RAW and Smackdown Live rosters were in the building tonight for the WWE Draft.

** This Weeks Card **
- The New Day battled The Revival.
- Austin Aries battled TJ Perkins.
- Charlotte battled Nia Jax.
- Finn Balor battled Jinder Mahal.
- Sami Zayn battled The Miz.
- Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Epico and Primo battled WWE RAW World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boys, Sheamus and Cesaro in an Eight Man Tag Team Match.
- WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens battled WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose in a non title match.

- Promos from: The Miz and Maryse, Curt Hawkins, Seth Rollins, Sasha Banks and WWE RAW Women's Champion Bayley.

- Michael Cole has a sit down interview with Roman Reigns.

- Day One of the "Superstar Shakup" WWE Draft took place.

** RAW **

- Earlier in the day it was announced that Apollo Crews had been drafted to RAW.

- The Miz and Maryse Promo: RAW kicks off with John Cena's music hitting....but....out comes Smackdown Live's The Miz and Maryse dressed as John Cena and Nikki Bella. Miz and Maryse are both announced as newly drafted RAW superstars. Miz and Maryse begin mocking the John Cena and Nikki Bella engagement that took place at Wrestlemania 33. Miz says the last time he seen the two of them they were headed to Hollywood, but news flash, Hollywood doesn't want them. Smackdown Live's Dean Ambrose suddenly interrupts and is introduced as a newly drafted RAW superstar. Ambrose plays along with Miz and Maryse, talks to them like they're really Cena and Nikki and mocks Miz and Maryse. Before Miz can stand up for the two of them, Ambrose lays Miz out with Dirty Deeds.

- Backstage, Kurt Angle is on the phone when Sami Zayn interrupts. Sami says many have said he should go to Smackdown Live. Angle says "It's True" Smackdown Live is very interested in Zayn for their show. Before Zayn can find out more answers from Angle, The Miz and Maryse interrupt. Miz is angry at what just happened and has words with Zayn. Angle books the two of them in a one on one match tonight.

- The New Day vs. The Revival: The match closes out with Woods hitting a top rope elbow drop on Dawson for a near fall. Woods sends Wilder to the floor and elbows Dawson. Woods and Big E go for Midnight Hour on Dawson, but Wilder saves the day. Big E gets shoved into the corner and Woods gets destroyed with the Shatter Machine giving The Revival the pinfall victory.
Winners: The Revival, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Neville states that Austin Aries doesn't deserve a rematch for his title when TJ Perkins interrupts. Perkins challenges Neville, but Neville says Perkins doesn't deserve a match either. Neville says Perkins is overlooked and is nothing but a joke now, but Neville respects him. Aries interrupts next and says that Neville is lying through his teeth and asks Perkins if he's buying this garbage. Perkins says nothing and walks off.

- Curt Hawkins Promo: Smackdown Live's Curt Hawkins is in the ring and he officially announces that he's back on RAW. Hawkins says we all need to face the facts, he's back on RAW and he wants to celebrate. Hawkins demands a welcome wagon for his return and out comes the Big Show. Show gets in Hawkins' face and then lays Hawkins out with the Knockout Punch.

- Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville was on commentary. The match closes out with Aries taking out Perkins on the floor and then taunts Neville. Neville gets up and Aries dares him to come to the ring. Aries gets back in the ring still eyeing Neville when Perkins gets the surprise rollup pinfall out of nowhere on Aries. After the match, Aries is shocked at what just happened and again dares Neville to come to the ring. Perkins suddenly attacks Aries from behind and lays Aries out with the Detonation Kick. Perkins stares down both Neville and Aries as he leaves the ring.
Winner: TJ Perkins, by pinfall.

- Seth Rollins Promo: Rollins talks about Wrestlemania 33, beating Triple H and thanking the fans for having his back. Rollins says he has unfinished business with Samoa Joe and with getting the WWE Universal Championship. Rollins jokes that he'll never be employee of the month and Stephanie McMahon will be reminded of going through a table and Triple H losing every time she sees Rollins. Rollins says that if Stephanie thinks that she's sending him to Smackdown Live then she better have an army because he's not leaving RAW. Kurt Angle interrupts Rollins and says that "It's True" Stephanie wants Rollins gone. Angle says he's not here to play politics, he's here to put on a great show and he can't do it without Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Angle and Rollins shake hands before Angle leaves. Samoa Joe suddenly attacks and beats down Rollins. Rollins fights back and delivers a super kick to Joe. Joe escapes as Angle returns and holds Rollins back.

- Backstage, Kevin Owens says that it doesn't matter how the Shakeup will affect him tonight and maybe we should go ask Chris Jericho how it'll affect him. Owens says he's the WWE United States Champion which makes him #1 in America. Owens then says that the newest RAW draft choice Dean Ambrose better remember his place because the United States Champion is far more superior than the Intercontinental Champion.

- Charlotte vs. Nia Jax: The match closes out with Charlotte getting a near fall on Nia with Natural Selection. The battle goes outside where Charlotte sends Nia into the ring post and then hits a moonsault off the top rope onto Nia, sending her into the barricade. Back in the ring, Charlotte goes for the Figure Four leglock submission, but Nia counters and sends Charlotte into the corner. Nia hits a corner splash on Charlotte and then the Samoan Drop to score the pinfall.
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall.

- Finn Balor vs. Jinder Mahal: The match closes out with Mahal landing a forearm, but Balor comes back with a overhead kick on Mahal. Balor connects with Sling Blade and then drop kicks Mahal into the corner. Balor hits Coup de Grace off the top rope on Mahal and scores the pinfall. After the match, the lights go out and Bray Wyatt appears on the TitanTron. Bray says that he's been drafted to RAW and tells Balor to watch himself because Bray will be watching.
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall.

- Sami Zayn vs. The Miz: The match closes out with Zayn getting a near fall Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn goes for the Helluva Kick, but Miz gets pulled outside by Maryse. Zayn chases Miz back into the ring, but gets grabbed by Maryse. Miz goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Zayn counters and scores the rollup pinfall.
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall.

- Sitdown Interview With Roman Reigns: Reigns tells Michael Cole about how he beat The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 33 and the ring being his yard now. Braun Strowman suddenly interrupts and attacks Reigns. Strowman beats down Reigns and chases away officials trying to stop him. Strowman slams Reigns on a production case and then shoves another case into Reigns squashing Reigns into the wall. Strowman finally leaves as paramedics assist Reigns. Reigns gets loaded onto a stretcher when Strowman suddenly returns and shoves Reigns off the loading dock. Strowman again returns as Reigns is loaded into an ambulance and beats on Reigns inside the ambulance. Strowman tips the ambulance over with Reigns inside and finally ends the assault.

- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Primo and Epico vs. Cesaro, Sheamus, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy: The match closes out with Matt tagging in to "Delete" chants. Matt unloads on Epico and then hits the Side Effect on Primo. Jeff sends Epico outside and then hits Poetry In Motion on Gallows, Anderson and Epico. Matt hits the Twist of Fate on Primo and then Jeff with the Swanton Bomb for the pinfall.
Winners: The Hardy Boys, Sheamus and Cesaro, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Emma takes credit for Dana Brooke being on RAW. Emma says she's here to pick up the pieces after Charlotte dumped Dana. Dana says that while Emma was having her identity crisis Dana's improved. Dana says that as of now she's on her own and needs no one's help. 

- Sasha Banks and Bayley Promo: Sasha Banks is out first, says she has unfinished business and introduces Bayley. Bayley thanks Sasha and the fans for helping her get her Wrestlemania moment. Sasha congratulates Bayley, but says that it's now time to get down to business. Before Sasha can challenge Bayley, Smackdown Live's Alexa Bliss interrupts and announces that she's now on RAW. Alexa says she's the only one here that deserves recognition and she's here to win and dominate. Smackdown Live's Mickie James suddenly interrupts and announces that she's now on RAW. Mickie cuts a promo, but gets jumped from behind by Nia Jax. Alexa shoves Sasha into Nia, forcing Nia to dump Sasha to the floor. Nia hits the Samoan Drop on Bayley as all the other ladies run. Nia holds Bayley's title and says that it belongs to her. Nia then stares down Alexa before leaving.

- Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose: The match closes out with Ambrose flying and hitting an elbow on Owens outside. Back in the ring, Ambrose flies off the top rope again, but catches a boot to the gut by Owens. Owens with a near fall sit down power bomb. Ambrose counters the Pop Up Power Bomb and Owens counters Dirty Deeds. Owens counters a clothesline and plants a super kick on Ambrose. Ambrose and Owens trade more offense until Ambrose finally hits Dirty Deeds to score the pinfall. After the match, Chris Jericho hits the ring and lays out Owens with a Code Breaker to end the show.
Winner: Dean Ambrose, by pinfall.