Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 7/4/17: RAW Phoenix Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

What's up wrestling fans, it's a new week and a new edition of Monday Night RAW was upon us! This week's RAW served it's go home show to this Sunday night's WWE Great Balls of Fire event on the WWE Network. What would RAW have in store for us this week as the final stop to the pay per view was live in Phoenix, Arizona.

** This Weeks Card **

- WWE RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax battled Sasha Banks and Bayley.
- Noam Dar battled Cedric Alexander.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz defended his title against Heath Slater.
- Seth Rollins battled Curt Hawkins.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville battled Mustafa Ali in a non title match.
- WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion Cesaro battled Finn Balor.
- Braun Strowman battled Apollo Crews.

- Enzo gives his thoughts on Big Cass as they now have a match officially signed for WWE Great Balls of Fire.

- WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz returns with another edition of Miz TV to discuss the controversial interview with the Ball Family last week and to mock Dean Ambrose.

- Goldust reveals his latest masterpiece, The Shattered Truth.

- Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe have a one on one interview before their match at WWE Great Balls of Fire.

** RAW **

- Enzo Promo: Enzo says he's not the biggest, but he's one of the toughest to get in the ring. Enzo says he's confident, grateful and is going straight to the top. Enzo says that he's where the money is and Big Cass is just a 7 foot catch phrase that Enzo wrote. Enzo says he and Cass were like brothers, but that part of his life is dead and it's all about Enzo now. 

- Backstage, Big Cass says that after Sunday, Enzo won't be able to walk the walk because he won't be able to walk anymore period. Enzo suddenly jumps Cass from behind and beats him down until officials grab Enzo.

- Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss: The match closes out with Sasha and Alexa trading shots as Alexa talks trash. Alexa misses a knee drop allowing Sasha to hit a running knee of her own. Sasha knocks Nia off the apron and then continues offense on Alexa. Sasha traps Alexa in the Banks Statement submission and Alexa taps out.
Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley, by submission.

- Backstage, Kurt Angle gets questioned by Braun Strowman about whether or not Roman Reigns is competing on Sunday. Angle says he heard for a fact that Reigns will be there to wrestle. Strowman says Angle is wrong and he's going to the ring so Angle better find him some good competition for tonight.

- Noam Dar vs. Cedric Alexander: The match closes out with Dar in control of Alexander until Alexander starts making a comeback. Alicia Fox gets on the apron and tries to distract Alexander. Dar tries to take advantage of the distraction, but Alexander catches Dar and hits the Lumbar Check for the pinfall.
Winner: Cedric Alexander, by pinfall.

- Miz TV with The Miz, Maryse, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas: Miz talks about the Ball Family, says Lonzo Ball will be a flop and then mocks Dean Ambrose, calling him a huge joke. Dean Ambrose interrupts and demands a rematch for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Heath Slater and Rhyno interrupt and Slater states that he was the last one to pin Miz so he deserves a title shot. Slater says he's got a family and kids, he needs this opportunity because he doesn't know how long he can keep lying to his family telling them everything's good. Ambrose agrees, but tells Slater he needs to get in line. Miz mocks Ambrose, Slater and Slater's West Virginian family. Kurt Angle interrupts, states that Miz doesn't decide who and when he defends his title. Angle announces that Slater gets his shot right now and the winner meets Dean Ambrose at WWE Great Balls of Fire.

- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": The Miz (c) vs. Heath Slater: The match closes out with Miz hitting the corner clothesline  and then climbs the ropes. Slater cuts off Miz and power slams him off the ropes. Curtis Axel tries to distract the referee, but Rhyno pulls him off. Rhyno goes after Dallas, almost hits Maryse and then gets beat down by Axel and Dallas. Slater gets distracted and gets hit with the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz covers, scores the pinfall and retains his title. After the match, Dean Ambrose hits the ring and goes for Dirty Deeds on Miz, but gets beat down by Axel and Dallas. Miz then lays Ambrose out with the Skull Crushing Finale.
Winner: The Miz, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

- Backstage, Titus O'Neil gets Apollo Crews pumped up for his match against Braun Strowman tonight.

- Goldust Promo: Goldust thanks the little people and R-Truth for being naive, selfish and jealous. Goldust reveals his latest masterpiece The Shattered Truth on the big screen. Truth suddenly appears behind Goldust, throws popcorn at him and then beats Goldust down. Truth tosses Goldust outside and Goldust escapes.

- Backstage, Kurt Angle is reading another text message. Sheamus and Cesaro walk in and are told that they will face The Hardy Boys at WWE Great Balls of Fire in a 30 Minute Iron Man Match. Cesaro then asks for Finn Balor tonight and Angle makes it official.

- Seth Rollins vs. Curt Hawkins: The match closes out with Rollins interrupting Curt Hawkins' promo insulting the fans. Rollins quickly hits the knee to the face and scores the pinfall. After the match, Rollins says he'll prove at WWE Great Balls of Fire that Bray Wyatt isn't a God.
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall.

- One On One Interview With Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe: Samoa Joe is in one room and Lesnar and Paul Heyman are in a different room. Lesnar tells Joe that what happens on Sunday will be simple, he leaves with the WWE Universal Championship and Joe gets nothing. Joe says its funny that Lesnar doesn't fear Joe when they are in two separate rooms. Lesnar says that it's to protect Joe. Joe gets up, leaves the room and goes on a search for Lesnar and Heyman. Kurt Angle cuts off Samoa Joe with WWE Security. Joe shoves past security, opens Lesnar's door and tries to go after Lesnar, but Security pull Joe and Lesnar apart.

- Neville vs. Mustafa Ali: The match closes out with Neville working over Ali's head and neck area and then drops Ali on his face. Ali lands a strike and then dodges a Neville charge, causing Neville to hit the turnbuckle. Neville hits a clothesline on Ali and then makes him tap out to the Rings of Saturn submission.
Winner: Neville, by submission.

- Bray Wyatt is shown in the desert. Bray says his fire has been out of control since coming to RAW, he is Bray Wyatt and he's everywhere. Bray says that Seth Rollins will look into the eyes of God this Sunday and Rollins' eyes will burn.

- Backstage, Alexa Bliss says she's not worried about Sasha Banks and she let her win earlier. Alexa says it's all apart of her strategy and she's leaving Sunday still the WWE RAW Women's Champion.

- Finn Balor vs. Cesaro: The Hardy Boys are on commentary for this match. The match closes out with Elias Samson showing up at ringside. Sheamus distracts the referee as Sheamus trips Balor. Jeff Hardy attacks Samson as Matt Hardy goes after Sheamus. Balor flies outside and takes everyone out. Matt hits a Twist of Fate on Samson outside and then Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick. Jeff flies off the apron and takes out Sheamus and Cesaro hits a running uppercut on Jeff. Balor hits the Coup de Grace on Cesaro and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall.

- Braun Strowman Promo: Strowman arrives in an ambulance. Strowman says he loves hurting Reigns, Reigns is too stubborn to stay down and he almost put Reigns through the ambulance last week. Strowman says that if Reigns shows up on Sunday then Reigns is leaving in an ambulance permanently. Strowman demands Kurt Angle to send out his opponent because he's done talking. Titus O'Neil interrupts and says every man starts out with a big plan until they get punched in the mouth. Titus says on any other day he'd slap the taste out of Strowman's mouth, but he's going to let Apollo Crews do it tonight.

- Apollo Crews vs. Braun Strowman: The match closes out with Crews unloading on Strowman and getting him down to one knee. Crews takes down Strowman and goes for the standing moonsault, but Strowman blocks with knees up. Strowman kicks Crews across the ring and then hits the running power slam. Strowman hits a second running power slam, refuses to pin Crews and then hits a third running power slam finally for the pinfall.
Winner: Braun Strowman, by pinfall.

After the match, Strowman attempts a fourth running power slam, but Titus O'Neil stops him. Titus unloads on Strowman, but Strowman lays out Titus. Strowman tosses Crews over the barricade and then tosses him into the back of the ambulance. Roman Reigns pops out of the drivers side door and unloads on Strowman. Strowman fights back and tosses Reigns onto the RAW stage. Reigns counters another toss and sends Strowman into the LED board. Reigns spears Strowman off the RAW stage and onto a stack of boxes down below. Both Strowman and Reigns slowly get back up as RAW ends.