Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 4/18/17: RAW Columbus Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Happy day after Easter, hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday and didn't eat too much chocolate. I'm back at it this week for your RAW recap from Monday night's show. RAW was live this week just south of us down I-77, in Buckeye Country, Columbus, Ohio.

** This Weeks Card **
- Samoa Joe battled Chris Jericho.
- Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson battled Enzo and Big Cass.
- TJ Perkins battled Jack Gallagher.
- Sasha Banks battled Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss and Mickie James in a Fatal Four Way Match to determine a new #1 Contender.
- Finn Balor battled Curt Hawkins.
- WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy battled Cesaro.
- Big Show battled Braun Strowman. 

- Promos from: Braun Strowman

- Miz TV with The Miz and Maryse and their special guest WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose.

** RAW **

- Braun Strowman Promo: Strowman brags about the injuries he gave Roman Reigns last week, says Reigns won't be here tonight and puts the RAW locker room on notice. Kurt Angle interrupts and heads to the ring. Angle says that Strowman has done enough damage and is giving Reigns what he wanted....a one on one match with Strowman at WWE Payback. Angle gives Strowman the night off as punishment, but Strowman reminds Angle that Mick Foley tried controlling Strowman but it didn't work for him either. Angle dares Strowman to try something right now. Strowman stares down Angle before backing off and leaving the ring.

- Samoa Joe vs. Chris Jericho: Seth Rollins was on commentary for this match. The match closes out with Jericho dodging a Joe splash and locks Joe in the Walls of Jericho submission. Joe escapes, counters a second attempt at the Walls of Jericho, traps Jericho in the Coquina Clutch submission and gets Jericho to tap out. After the match, Joe reminds Rollins of the enjoyment Joe got when he tore Rollins' leg and promises that their match at WWE Payback will be very personal after what Rollins did to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Rollins remembers what Joe did to his leg, almost ending his career and promises Joe that at WWE Payback....payback will be a bitch. 
Winner: Samoa Joe, by submission.

- Backstage, Braun Strowman viciously attacks Goldust and R-Truth. Goldust gets tossed into a storage area and R-Truth gets beat down and kicked into a cart before WWE officials arrive.

- Backstage, a WWE official tells Braun Strowman that Kurt Angle gave him the night off and he should leave the building. Strowman stands up and says he'll leave when he wants to.

- Enzo and Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson: The match closes out with Cass hitting a side slam, the Empire Elbow and a big boot. Cass lands another big boot on Gallows and he and Gallows both flip over the ropes to the floor. Anderson catches a flying Enzo and tosses him into the turnbuckle to score the pinfall.
Winners: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, by pinfall.

- Miz TV With The Miz and Maryse: Dean Ambrose comes out and offers a truce to The Miz since they're both from Ohio. Miz asks if this is a joke and Ambrose jokes about Miz's suit and tie. Miz says he dresses like a professional superstar, walks the part, talks the part and is the part. Ambrose says he's not worried about that and he's not worried about being a brand because he's Dean Ambrose. Maryse calls Ambrose a dirty street rat and then Miz mocks Ambrose some more. Ambrose tackles Miz and unloads on Miz. Maryse hits Ambrose with her high heel getting his attention. Miz tries to take advantage, but gets beat down by Ambrose again until Miz escapes.

- Backstage, Braun Strowman is dragging a knocked out Kalisto around. Big Show shoves Strowman off Kalisto and dares him to pick on someone his own size. Strowman ends up walking off.

- TJ Perkins vs. Jack Gallagher: Neville and Austin Aries appear and stand at ringside. The match closes out with Gallagher getting shoved into Aries who's on the apron. Neville then knocks Aries off the apron from behind. Perkins lands a cheap shot on Gallagher, hits the Detonation Kick and scores the pinfall.
Winner: TJ Perkins, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Titus O'Neil asks Apollo Crews what he's going to do to make an impact on RAW. Titus then tries to get Crews to join the Titus Brand.

- Backstage, The Hardy's talk about their return. Sheamus and Cesaro interrupt welcome The Hardy's back and say it'll be an honor to win back the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship from them at WWE Payback.

- "#1 Contenders Fatal Four Way Match": Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James vs. Nia Jax: The match closes out with Sasha trapping Alexa in the Banks Statement submission, but Mickie breaks it up. Mickie and Sasha trade shots until Mickie drops Sasha and goes to the top rope. Sasha cuts off Mickie, but gets attacked by Nia. Nia uses Sasha to knock Mickie to the floor. Nia hits the Samoan Drop on Sasha, but gets drop kicked by Alexa. Alexa covers Sasha and steals the pinfall.
Winner: Alexa Bliss, by pinfall, to become the new #1 Contender.

- Backstage, Big Show says that Braun Strowman is getting a giant style dose of his own medicine.

- Finn Balor vs. Curt Hawkins: Balor makes quick work of Hawkins with a dropkick, Slingblade, another dropkick and Coup de Grace for the pinfall.
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Chris Jericho gives props to Samoa Joe, but can't wait to get his hands on Kevin Owens at WWE Payback because America deserves a better WWE United States Champion. Elias Samson walks past and Jericho adds him to The List.

- Backstage, Bray Wyatt says he doesn't bow down to fear, fear lives in his house, he knows Randy Orton is scared and all his fears will come to light in the House of Horrors Match at WWE Payback.

- Backstage, Emma gets Alicia Fox to turn on Dana Brooke by saying that Dana makes fun of Alicia behind her back. Dana says she's lying, but Alicia storms off mad.

- Jeff Hardy vs. Cesaro: The match closes out with Jeff hitting a drop kick on Cesaro but misses a boot. Cesaro goes for The Neutralizer, but Jeff counters with the Twist of Fate. Jeff hits the Swanton Bomb on Cesaro for the pinfall. After the match, both teams shake hands.
Winner: Jeff Hardy, by pinfall.

- Big Show vs. Braun Strowman: The match closes out with Show catching Strowman and getting a near fall choke slam. Strowman dodges the Knockout Punch and gets a near fall slam on Show. Strowman goes to the top rope, but Show meets him up top. Show gets crotched on the ropes by Strowman and goes to the mat. Strowman leaps off the top rope, but eats the Knockout Punch from Show in mid air for another near fall. Show now goes to the top rope, but Strowman meets him there. Strowman nails Show and then superplexes Show off the top rope. Show and Strowman land in the ring and the ring implodes out from under them. WWE Medical hit a the ring to check on both men as they lay unconscious in the destroyed ring. Strowman finally gets up and leaves Show laid out in the ring to end the show.
Winner: No Contest.