WWE
MONDAY NIGHT RAW
April 3rd, 2017
Amalie Arena - Tampa, FL
Attendance: 13.423
TV-Show on USA Network
Episode #1245
Video promo: WrestleMania recap
Tonight's episode of Monday Night RAW opens with a video that summarizes the results of WrestleMania and above all that a new season has just begun! From the announce table we receive greetings and welcomes from Byron Saxton and Michael Cole who comment on the Showcase of the Immortals, and then also announce that the WWE fans are eagerly awaiting what is to come: Stephanie McMahon's announcement which will be out tonight's main event.
Authority Books 1 vs. 1 vs. 1 Tonight
We are in Kurt Angle's office where the General Manager of RAW is with none other than Charlotte Flair! The Queen of WWE even if without her crown argues with the winner of the 1996 Olympic gold medal about the match that took place last night and asks for a one-on-one match against Bayley with the RAW Women's Title up for grabs. Angle wanna think about it, but Ric Flair’s daughter remembers him that she has been the last eliminated in the Four-Way Match. Kurt stares into the Queen's eyes then tells her he had a brilliant idea - Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax and Sasha Banks… all three in the same ring to determine the first contender for Bayley's Title… TONIGHT!
1vs1 Match: Rich Swann vs. Sami Zayn
A great match between two excellent performers who exchange actions that attract fans. The beginning of the match is more in favor of Swann who surprises Zayn thanks to his speed and his high agility, but then in the end of the match it is the Canadian who wins thanks to a Roll-Up pinfall after a very nice fight.
1vs1 Match: Samoa Joe vs. Sin Cara
A squash match in which the Samoan Submission Machine destroys his opponent and ends the match by his Coquina Clutch.
Interview: Curtis Axel
Curtis Axel is interviewed by Charly Caruso who would like to ask him a few questions, but Mr. Perfect's son proclaims himself as the "future brightest star in WWE" and, in doing so, openly challenges anyone who wants to prove him otherwise. Before saying goodbye to the beautiful Charly, the former Intercontinental Champion challenges Roman Reigns who defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania last night. So, will the Samoan answer the challenge?
2vs2 Match: Kevin Owens & Neville vs. Austin Aries & Chris Jericho
Another great match tonight on Monday Night RAW with four athletes who make fighting their best weapon, with a little exception for Chris Jericho for the simple reason that he is also phenomenal on the microphone. The match is very nice and lasts more than ten minutes, but the final is less "fair" than one might have imagined because Owens gets the better of Y2J thanks to a rope break that the referee doesn't regret and which is worth the pinfall in favor of the US champion.
Authority Books 2 vs. 2 Next Show
We return to Kurt Angle's office where the General Manager of RAW is talking on the phone with someone whose identity we do not know. The winner of the Olympic gold medal replies to the interlocutor that he likes the idea, therefore, at that very moment, he decides a match for next week: Hardy Boyz vs. Cesaro & Sheamus for the RAW Tag Team Titles!
#1 Contender for the RAW Women's Title
3-Way Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks
The giantess dominates much of the opening stages of the match, forcing the other two and the fans into a slow and often boring match. When Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks work together to knock out Jax, the match becomes more exciting and entertains the fans. For the record, for the stats and to find out who is the first title contender, the Queen takes advantage of the Bo$$ error to perform the Natural Selection and earn her Women's Title Match.
Arriving
We are in the parking lot of the Amalie Arena in Orlando when we see a limousine arrive! Who knows who's coming to Monday Night RAW? Fans wonder who it could be even if they are aware of the rumors that have begun to circulate in these hours following WrestleMania, the rumors regarding the presence of a woman tonight. The limousine parks and the driver goes to open the back door, one foot wearing a stiletto heel and then one leg comes out of the limousine, then the other leg too and finally we see the whole figure… It's STEPHANIE MCMAHON! Stephanie walks the meters that separate her from the Amalie Arena: the Commissioner is here!
1vs1 Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Not exactly an exciting match between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, a match that relies heavily on the physical clash between the two wanted by the Samoan rather than on the Architect's spectacular moves. This time we don't even have an authentic ending because someone interferes in the match: Samoa Joe attacks Seth Rollins who was about to win after performing the Curb Stomp! The Samoan Submission Machine pounces on Rollins and ends the match by disqualification. Following the match, Reigns helps Rollins to kick Joe out of the ring, as the fans cheer for the two favorites of the people.
Interview: Bayley
Interviewed by Charly Caruso, Bayley addresses Charlotte Flair directly, reminding her that if she goes over the list of eliminated during the RAW Women's Title at the Showcase of the Immortals, the name of the Queen of the WWE can also be found. Charly asks the champion when she would put her belt on the line, a question to which the Hugger replies with a laconic 'always' and then greets Caruso and the fans.
Stephanie McMahon’s big announcement
The same woman we have seen arriving in the parking lot in a limousine now making her way to the ring, dividing the fans in applause of approval and boos of disappointment. With her usual elegance, Stephanie McMahon orders the entire WWE roster to come out on the stage. Vince's daughter's order is satisfied and all the staff, both from RAW and SmackDown, immediately peep into the Amalie Arena. The beautiful Stephanie announces that next week, right here live on Monday Night RAW, there will be a historic event that hasn't been celebrated for too many years now. What does the Billion Dollar Princess mean? The WWE Draft! The always magnificent Stephanie McMahon also adds that this time there will be stakes to be respected for both General Managers, stakes that the daughter of the WWE owner is now going to list: the Draft will also involve the presence of the NXT Roster, there must be the same number of components for both brands and the number of components cannot exceed a maximum of 30, furthermore William Regal will pick for NXT from RAW and also from SmackDown, but he will not have limits regarding a number to respect. In short, let's go towards a total revolution of both brands! And the RAW and SmackDown General Managers will not choose on their own, but will be guided only by luck and, therefore, the Commissioner wishes them both the best of luck when they must pick for the Draft.
