Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 7/18/17: RAW Nashville Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

What's up gang?! Wrestling kicks off another exciting week with Monday Night RAW live in Nashville, Tennessee. Tonight we finally learned who has been behind the text messages that Kurt Angle has been receiving that could ruin his career as the RAW General Manager. Who did it turn out to be? Also, Roman Reigns battled Samoa Joe to determine just exactly who is going to WWE SummerSlam to battle WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. That and plenty more action as RAW moves ahead to WWE SummerSlam in August.

** This Weeks Card **

- WWE RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss battled Bayley in a non title match.
- Brian Kendrick and Drew Gulak battled Jack Gallagher and Mustafa Ali.
- Finn Balor battled Elias Samson.
- Akira Tozawa battled Ariya Daivari.
- The Hardy Boys battled The Revival.
- Roman Reigns battled Samoa Joe in a #1 Contenders Match for the WWE Universal Championship.

- Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins bring up the past face to face.

- Enzo and Big Show continue their feud with Big Cass.

- Kurt Angle finally reveals his secret that could cost him his job as General Manager of Monday Night RAW.

** RAW **

- Dean Ambrose Promo: Ambrose arrives with a steel chair and immediately calls out The Miz, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas. Seth Rollins interrupts instead and heads to the ring. Rollins says he appreciates Ambrose's toughness, but doesn't understand why he's fighting a battle he can't win without help. Ambrose brings up The Shield incident with Rollins turning and never being able to trust Rollins ever again. Rollins says it happened 3 years ago, it's time to move on, Rollins apologizes for doing it and offers Ambrose the chance to beat him down with the steel chair if that's what it'll take. The Miz, Axel and Dallas interrupt next all holding steel chairs and surround the ring, as Miz says this reunion is very touching just like a Nashville country song. Miz gets taken out by Ambrose as Axel and Dallas double team Rollins. Miz sends Ambrose into the steel steps and then helps 3 on 1 attack Rollins. Miz lays out Rollins with a Skull Crushing Finale right on a steel chair to end the segment.

- Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley: The match closes out with Bayley landing a back suplex and a elbow from the top rope. Alexa gets chased outside by Bayley, but Nia Jax is there for backup. Bayley gets distracted by Nia and gets a cheap shot from Alexa. Sasha Banks hits ringside and drop kicks Nia into the apron. Bayley gets a near fall rollup, but comes back with Bayley To Belly on Alexa, scoring the pinfall on the champ.
Winner: Bayley, by pinfall.

- We're at the commentators table and Corey Graves immediately jumps up from his seat with another text message arriving that he has to show Kurt Angle.

- Backstage, Kurt Angle and Corey Graves meet up. Angle is having second thoughts about going public with his secret. Graves reminds Angle that social media will leak it anyway, it's best to come clean. Angle agrees and thanks Graves for the friendship he's given him through this tough time.

- Backstage, Ariya Daivari interrupts Titus Worldwide and asks where Akira Tozawa's honor has gone. Daivari then challenges Tozawa to a rematch so he can finish what he started last week.

- Brian Kendrick and Drew Gulak vs. Jack Gallagher and Mustafa Ali: The match closes out with Gallagher tossing Gulak and then Kendrick tags in and attacks Gallagher. Gallagher shuts down Kendrick and hits a head butt. Ali tags in, hits the inverted 450 Splash on Kendrick and scores the pinfall.
Winners: Jack Gallagher and Mustafa Ali, by pinfall.

- Enzo Promo: Enzo says that he lost to Big Cass at WWE Great Balls of Fire, but he brought the fight to him. Enzo then mentions the fact that when someone the size of Cass gets in the ring with him like the Big Show did, Cass folds like a lawn chair. Cass suddenly interrupts and heads to the ring. Cass mocks Enzo for running his mouth again and is going to beat some sense into Enzo. Enzo escapes the ring and watches with a fan at ringside as Big Show arrives. Cass hits a boot, but Show returns with a head butt. Show beats on Cass and tosses him into the barricade repeatedly. Cass fights back with a punch and then sends Show into the barricade. Show tosses Cass into the apron and slams him on the floor. Show with chops, but Cass sends Show into the ringpost repeatedly. Cass finally gets Show down in the ring and ground and pounds him. Enzo tries to make the save, but gets laid out with a Cass big boot to end the segment.

- Backstage, Roman Reigns says he'll beat Samoa Joe tonight because Reigns is at his best when the stakes are high.

- Backstage, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins are arguing with each other. Kurt Angle interrupts and says they can fight two of the three men in the Miztourage next week. Ambrose and Rollins accept, but they want all three members in a handicap match.

- Elias Samson vs. Finn Balor: The match closes out with Balor unloading on Samson and sending him outside. Balor follows and looks to continue the offense. Samson suddenly grabs his guitar and busts it over Balor, DQ'ing Samson.
Winner: Finn Balor, by DQ.

- After the match, Bray Wyatt appears on the TitanTron laughing. Bray says he needs to satisfy his soul, inflict pain on Balor and punish Balor.

- Backstage, Bayley and Sasha Banks ask Kurt Angle to decide who the #1 Contender is between the two of them. Angle announces Bayley vs. Banks next week in a #1 Contenders Match.

- Backstage, The Revival brag about jumping The Hardy Boys last week and promise to do it again this week.

- Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari: The match closes out with Daivari attacking Tozawa's shoulder. Daivari hits a running knee on Tozawa and again beats on the shoulder. Titus O'Neil suddenly jumps on the apron and tells the referee that Tozawa forfeits the match.
Winner: Ariya Daivari, by Forfeit.

- After the match, Tozawa argues with the referee for stopping the match, argues with Titus O'Neil for telling the referee to stop the match and then walks out.

- Kurt Angle Promo: Angle apologizes for the issues he's caused the past month with his recent serious consequence. Angle says that his family is 100% supportive of his secret as is the WWE. Angle says he dated a girl in college and recently found out that they had a child together that he never knew about. Angle says his son was put up for adoption and raised by a wholesome family with American values. Angle says his son was great at sports, wrestled in college and is a current WWE Superstar. Angle introduces his son........Jason Jordan. Jordan arrives and hugs Angle to end the segment.

- The Revival vs. The Hardy Boys: The match closes out with Matt tossing Wilder outside as Jeff hits Whisper in the Wind on Dawson. Jeff goes for the Swanton Bomb, but gets shoved off the ropes by Wilder. Dawson covers Jeff, grabs the pants and scores the pinfall.
Winners: The Revival, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Samoa Joe says he's proved that he doesn't fear Brock Lesnar and warns Roman Reigns that Joe is a force of nature. Joe says his third time against Reigns tonight will be the charm.

- Backstage, Titus O'Neil apologizes to Akira Tozawa for costing him his match earlier, but says he was looking out for Tozawa's future. Tozawa tells Titus to get him a rematch with Ariya Daivari for this week's 205 Live.

- "#1 Contenders Match": Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe: The match closes out with Joe hitting a series of head butts. Reigns comes back and plants Joe with a Samoan Drop. Reigns counters the Uranage from Joe and nails the Superman Punch. Both men are down when suddenly Braun Strowman hits the ring, getting the match thrown out.
Winner: No Contest.

- After the match, Reigns lands a punch and a boot on Strowman. Strowman sends Reigns into the barricade then tosses him in between the ropes back into the ring. Joe and Strowman unload on each other until Strowman drops Joe. Strowman corner splashes Reigns and then pounds him into the corner. Reigns hits a big boot on Strowman sending him into Joe who applies the Coquina Clutch submission on Strowman. Reigns plants a Superman Punch, dropping both Strowman and Joe. Strowman counters another Superman Punch with a mid air spine buster on Reigns. Strowman plants Joe with a running power slam and then plants Reigns with two running power slams to end the show.