In a 2-on-3 handicap match against AoP and Drake Maverick, Bobby Roode and Chad Gable - sporting new matching gear - won the Raw tag team championships by rolling up an overconfident Maverick in the blink of an eye. Any change is likely a move in the right direction for the previously listless (but talent-rich) Raw tag team division, but this is a tough moment for AoP. For all we know, however, this could be a title flip-flop set up for TLC. Time will tell.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com1d ago

Everything is set to come to a head at TLC, but for at least one more week, Baron Corbin's ironclad grip on Monday Night Raw was felt throughout the night. There were only six matches over the course of the night; in addition to the Raw tag team title change, Ember Moon took care of Tamina with Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax in opposite corners, and Bayley got the best of Alicia Fox with help from Sasha Banks and Apollo Crews. Corbin's hand was directly involved in the rest of the night's action. Drew McIntyre wrestled a predictably entertaining match against Dolph Ziggler, which ultimately led to several crazy near-falls and an excellently set up Claymore kick from out of nowhere for the McIntyre win. Post-match, McIntyre continued his attack with a second Claymore on the outside that looked like it could have taken Ziggler's head clean off.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com1d ago

After Seth Rollins opened the night with an impassioned promo that blamed all of Raw's problems -- in storyline and in real life -- on Baron Corbin, a TLC match was set for Monday night's main event. Corbin manipulated newly-minted referee Heath Slater throughout the night, first putting Slater in a spot to help Lio Rush get a win over Elias despite blatant interference from Bobby Lashley. Once the main event rolled around, Slater was once again in position to try to help Corbin; Slater was used throughout the match to help Corbin, and he even pushed the ladder open when Rollins appeared ready to win the match, but Rollins eventually overcame the odds and walked out with championship intact. Corbin will eventually have to pay for these sins, and whether it's Sunday night against Braun Strowman or sometime down the line, despite everything else that may be tough to swallow, Corbin has undeniably benefited on an individual basis from his time as GM.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com1d ago

Aleister Black interrupted NXT champion Tommaso Ciampa's promo on this week's episode of NXT TV and invoked his NXT championship rematch clause for TakeOver: Phoenix. Johnny Gargano interrupted and insisted he and Black weren't finished. After a Ciampa recommendation, Gargano and Black will finish their story inside of a steel cage in two weeks. Gargano escaped a Black Mass kick, but Ciampa wasn't so lucky. NXT women's champion Shayna Baszler defeated Dakota Kai. As Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir continued the post match assault, Io Shirai made the save. In other action, the Forgotten Sons beat Raul Mendoza and Humberto Carrillo while Matt Riddle defeated the debuting Punishment Martinez. Following the win, Kassius Ohno blindsided Riddle with a spinning elbow.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com6d ago

The Lucha House Party picked up a win over TJP/Mike Kanellis in a pinata-heavy 205 Live main event (trust me). We've come a long way from thumbtacks in the ring. The Brian Kendrick also picked up a DQ win over Drew Gulak, but Gulak and Gentleman Jack Gallagher got the best of Kendrick and Akira Tozawa. Next week, the champ and number 1 contender get warm-up matches, as Buddy Murphy takes on Noam Dar, and Cedric Alexander tries for vengeance on Tony Nese. (Photo from @WWE205Live)

Matt Willis, ESPN Staff Writer6d ago

It was an all-around solid two hours of SmackDown Live, thanks to some hostile rhetoric, including Samoa Joe, who from inside a bar, taunted Jeff Hardy during his match against Randy Orton (leading to The Viper’s win) and superior action, including Jey Uso’s triple-threat win versus Xavier Woods and Cesaro. And once again, we were given the best seven seconds of WWE television a week, when R-Truth and Carmella made their way from the backstage area for a much-needed dance break.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com7d ago

Daniel Bryan played the heel card brilliantly Tuesday on Miz TV by continuously disparaging the crowd. “If you want to count sins, I kicked one man in groin one time and these people commit countless atrocities to the earth every single day, every single week, every single month.” Bryan and Miz even worked together to take out AJ Styles, who had rushed the ring to get his hands on Bryan. Later, in the main event, Styles defeated Miz before a brutal assault from Bryan on Styles. No question heel Daniel Bryan is more intriguing than the beloved version.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com7d ago

Solid opening promo by Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Asuka, who will compete for the SmackDown women’s championship at TLC in a couple of weeks. But I was even more impressed by the ensuing tag-team match between Charlotte/Asuka and Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose, with the latter two coming out on top. How huge would it be for the women’s division if they could finally elevate themselves to main-event material?

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com7d ago

Raw was once again focused around Baron Corbin's growing power grab as the GM in waiting. This week was slightly less successful, as his Drew McIntyre appreciation night turned into Finn Balor embarrassing McIntyre by helping Dolph Ziggler beat him. Just moments later, Balor fed Lio Rush directly into a guitar shot from Elias, and Balor later defeated Jinder Mahal. Balor couldn't quite escape unscathed, however, as McIntyre found him and through him into a gigantic pile of empty beer kegs backstage. Finally, Dean Ambrose won another round in his battle with Seth Rollins. After making an entrance to air raid sirens with an entourage of gas masks, Ambrose flexed his vocal muscles and goaded Rollins out once more. The action spilled out into the crowd, but Ambrose once again got the last laugh with multiple Dirty Deeds.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com8d ago

Any hope that AoP's ascension to the top of the Raw tag team division would start the Raw tag team division has thus far been unfounded. The tag team champions were used in a bait-and-switch that turned a Bobby Roode vs. Drake Maverick match into a 3-on-2 handicap match -- with Maverick ultimately embarrassing Roode by picking up the pin. The Revival once again served as cannon fodder for the Lucha House Party, which inexplicably got a 3-on-1 handicap match against Scott Dawson (and predictably won). Finally, the former SmackDown tag team champions, Heath Slater & Rhyno, were forced to face off with their jobs on the line; Slater won, and was promptly handed a referee's shirt by Baron Corbin. Oh, and Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre officially broke up, had a match and Ziggler won.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com8d ago

Even amidst the relative lack of forward momentum heading towards TLC, there was a lot to like from the women of Raw on Monday. The Riott Squad short-circuited the opening tag team match by putting Natalya through a table, and while they were thrown out of the building, Ronda Rousey found a new partner in Ember Moon and that match became the main event. Moon hit an Eclipse on Tamina, and Rousey finished it off with an armbar. Bayley and Sasha Banks verbalized for the first time on air that they wanted to be the first ever WWE women's tag team champions, and then went out and beat Mickie James and Alicia Fox. And, in what can only be described as the most interesting wrinkle of the night, Renee Young pushed back against Corey Graves' inquiries into her marriage with Dean Ambrose and any insights she might have into Ambrose's state of mind. It was only getting more and more awkward avoiding the topic, and giving the announcers more backstory and character depth is a welcome move.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com8d ago

At TLC, Becky Lynch and Charolotte Flair will have to deal with more than each other for the women’s SmackDown championship. Asuka won a battle royal Tuesday, a victory that propelled her into what will now be a triple-threat tables, ladders and chairs match. This dynamic with three women, none of whom like each other, and their all-around appeal and ability could very steal the show in the final PPV event of 2018.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com14d ago

Congratulations to Jeff Hardy for his 20 years of service in the WWE. On Tuesday, he was feted with video package that showcased his career highlights. But with most of the SmackDown roster looking on, Samoa Joe emerged from the locker room and mocked some of Hardy’s personal shortcomings. An outraged Hardy challenged Joe to a match, but the villain turned around and walked away. Nonetheless, while an anticlimactic ending, the daredevil Hardy deserves props for not only lasting, but thriving, in the business as long as he has.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com14d ago

So what was the point of Shinsuke Nakamura’s premature attack on Rusev? They were scheduled for a one-on-one match before the United States champ’s Kinshasa and subsequent assault. Perhaps this is the start of another brief feud leading into a title match at TLC, which would be terrific. But doesn’t it seem like too little, too late for the Bulgarian Brute? Since his split with Aiden English, Rusev has been little more than an afterthought.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com14d ago

Soon to be called up Lars Sullivan defeated NXT newcomer Keith Lee in this week’s NXT TV main event with his Freak Accident slam. In tag team action, Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan defeated The Mighty, but The Mighty responded with a post-match attack. To round out the show, Mia Yim beat Vanessa Borne and EC3 picked up a win over Marcel Barthel. After his victory, EC3 claimed that he’d seek revenge on Bobby Fish of the Undisputed Era for injuring his leg last month.

Matt Willis, ESPN Staff Writer13d ago

Cedric Alexander picked up a big win on this week's 205 Live, pinning cruiserweight champ Buddy Murphy in a tag team match (with Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese). It seems like Alexander is on his way to a rematch with Murphy. Elsewhere, Ariya Daivari made a surprise return, coming to support Hideo Itami, telling him he respects him. Big show ahead next week, with a tornado tag match pitting TJP/Mike Kanellis vs the Lucha House Party, and Drew Gulak vs. The Brian Kendrick

Matt Willis, ESPN Staff Writer13d ago

Baron Corbin made Monday Night Raw all about his major flex on Braun Strowman last week, and anyone else who would challenge his path to a permanent GM role. He, Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre laid waste to Elias to open the show, and treated Finn Balor the same at show's close. The WWE is playing up this injury angle hard with Strowman, and with Corbin flexing his power so brazenly, something will have to give. It seems likely that Strowman will win with one arm, or the terms of the match will change. For now, the triumvirate of destruction isn't a bad way to carry Raw for the next few weeks, at least.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com15d ago

Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler are basically incapable of having a bad match. The Intercontinental open challenge was another stellar showing from both men, and the superplex into Falcon Arrow as a finish after a grueling match was a unique touch. Rollins' chief rival Dean Ambrose wasn't in the building, but Ambrose reminded us all of his tremendous promo skills as he sat in a doctor's office and got himself "immunized" from all of the fans he'll have to deal with next week in Houston and beyond. As funny as it was to get a doctor involved, Ambrose predictably turned his barbs towards Rollins in the end. "No shower can wash away your sins. No medicine to cure your sickness... I'm going to do the decent and merciful thing, and put you out of your misery for good."

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com15d ago

WWE keeps going back to the well by appealing to lowest common denominator humor, and this Drake Maverick/urination angle shows no signs of slowing down. If WWE feels like that's what's going to appeal most to its audience, then so be it. What was turning into a decent tag team title match between AoP and Bobby Roode & Chad Gable got short circuited as Roode's robe fell victim to a Maverick bathroom break. Rounding out the show: Lucha House party beat The Revival 3-on-2; Ember Moon defeated Alicia Fox and gave her new Mixed Match Challenge partner Curt Hawkins hope of ending his absurdly long win streak tomorrow night; and Jinder Mahal beat No Way Jose in a fairly one-sided contest. Nia Jax continued to try to get heat from the Becky Lynch situation in a verbal confrontation with Ronda Rousey, but when Natalya stepped in to even things up, she got blindsided by the Riott Squad and the confrontation between Raw women's champion and challenger at TLC got pushed off for at least a week.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com15d ago

Randy Orton hit an RKO on an airborne Rey Mysterio on the outside of the ring, followed up with a second RKO for the pinball, and then claimed Mysterio's mask as SmackDown went off the air. They had some battles more than a decade ago on SmackDown, but it seems as though this is just the start of renewed tensions. On the flip side, Charlotte Flair defeated Billie Kay to open SmackDown and had Peyton Royce beat in a second match. Though that one ended in DQ, Flair continued the path of destruction that began at Survivor Series against Ronda Rousey.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com21d ago

By this picture, you can pretty easily figure out how the "Thanksgiving Feast" fight played out. The New Day put Big Show and Sheamus through tables on the way to a victory over the SmackDown tag team champions. After the match, New Day covered Cesar's in a variety of Thanksgiving-themed foods.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com21d ago

Daniel Bryan pronounced the "Yes" movement dead, in a promo clearly designed to cement his heel turn. He spent most of his speech talking in the third person, and wrapped it all up by calling himself the "new" Daniel Bryan. Rounding out the show, The Miz insisted an uprepared Shane McMahon tag with him, which led to Miz getting rolled up by one of the local enhancement talents labeled the Bryant brothers. Finally, Naomi and Asuka (in matching gear, which can only fuel speculation of a women's tag team title to come) defeated Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com21d ago

Brock Lesnar (Universal Champion) defeats Daniel Bryan (WWE Champion) to give Raw a clean sweep over SmackDown, 6-0, at Survivor Series.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer23d ago

Enzo Amore bought a ticket to Survivor Series and tried to steal the show by standing on his chair, dancing and cutting a promo as the crowd cheered before he got kicked out.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer23d ago

If you missed the first hour of Monday Night Raw, you missed a lot of Braun Strowman and Baron Corbin. Shortly after Commissioner Stephanie McMahon announced the two would go head-to-head at TLC next month -- with Strowman getting Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble if he wins and Corbin solidifying his standing at general manager if he wins -- they went at it in a three-on-three elimination match. In the end, Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley pummeled Strowman, notably tying him up with a belt outside the ring and crushing him with chairs and stairs. Strowman walked away on his own two feet, but later, we were told he suffered a shattered elbow.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com22d ago

Battered and beaten the night before by a completely unraveled Charlotte Flair, Ronda Rousey made an appearance Monday, but she found herself in the tricky position of addressing her Survivor Series fallout, looking ahead to Nia Jax at TLC and putting on a solid performance that night against Mickie James, whom the champ beat in just a few minutes. Rousey was solid in intertwining all the simultaneous storylines, but the real question still remains: What’s next between her and Charlotte, especially considering they are on different shows?

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com22d ago

‘Tis the season of dragging out storylines. Survivor Series is in the rearview mirror, and TLC, which is nearly a month away, appears to be little more than a buffer between now and the Royal Rumble. But after a game of cat and mouse all night between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, there was at least a little advancement in the saga. As Ambrose maligned Rollins, Roman Reigns and all the “dirty little children” in the crowd, Rollins ran to the ring, but was ultimately beaten down by Ambrose, thanks to a low blow, which led to two Dirty Deeds. The physiological battle was intriguing, but the truth is, the storyline feels like it’s going to get worn fast considering the payoff won’t come until TLC.

Matt Wilansky, ESPN.com22d ago

Both Keith Lee and Lars Sullivan picked up wins on this week’s episode of NXT TV in matches taped prior to TakeOver: War Games II in Los Angeles this past weekend. Following Sullivan’s win, he continued to do more damage to his incapacitated opponent. Lee had seen enough, interrupted and delivered a running shoulder block to Sullivan. Sullivan, who will graduate to the main roster soon, as evidenced by promos that aired this week, will attempt to seek retribution next week in a match against Lee. This week’s main event saw Nikki Cross pick up a win over Candice LeRae.

Sean Coyle, ESPN20d ago

It was probably the best match we've seen from Gran Metallik since the Cruiserweight Classic, as he picked up the victory over TJP in a solid 205 Live main event. But a distraction from Maria Kanellis allowed Mike Kanellis to attack the Lucha House Party with a chair to further their feud. Elsewhere on 205 Live, Tony Nese got a win over Noam Dar and set up a tag team match next week with Nese-Buddy Murphy against Mustafa Ali-Cedric Alexander. (Photo from @WWE205Live)

Matt Willis, ESPN Staff Writer20d ago

Pete Dunne, Ricochet, and War Raiders (Hanson and Rowe) defeated The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong) in War Games.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer24d ago

Tommaso Ciampa defeated Velveteen Dream to retain the NXT Championship.,

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer24d ago

Aleister Black defeated Johnny Gargano in a match that was (as usual) as good as advertised.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer24d ago

Fans at NXT TakeOver: WarGames in Los Angeles are all getting these wristbands that will light up during the show.

Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer25d ago

With Seth Rollins forced to defend the Raw tag team championships by himself, the Authors of Pain defeated him two-on-one to win the titles. Dean Ambrose showed up post-match, attacked Rollins and offered no explanation for his motives. Other highlights from Raw include a few rematches, as Nia Jax defeated Ember Moon and, following a post-match attack on Moon, Jax aligned herself in a partnership with Tamina. A six-woman tag team rematch from Evolution was strangely and abruptly ended when Ruby Riott destroyed a pair of the late Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart's sunglasses that Natalya has worn to the ring. Bobby Lashley also finally got the better of Finn Balor.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com36d ago

A good chunk of Raw was dedicated to Baron Corbin fleeing an incensed Braun Strowman after the former cost the latter the Universal title at Crown Jewel. A scheduled Corbin-Kurt Angle match for the captainship of Raw's men's Survivor Series team was abandoned when Corbin fled the arena in a speeding car; Drew McIntyre took his place, getting the spotlight of a first-of-its-kind main event against Angle. McIntyre embarrassed Angle in a narrative-heavy match, ultimately finishing off the WWE Hall of Famer with Angle's own pair of signature moves. Rounding out Raw, Ronda Rousey responded to Becky Lynch with a solid promo of her own. We also got the crystallization of Elias' face turn with an embrace of local Manchester heroes Oasis and a big win over Dolph Ziggler. Apollo Crews also picked up a win, over Jinder Mahal.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com36d ago

Shayna Baszler is a two-time NXT women's champion, after what could easily be called the match of the night thus far at Evolution, against Kairi Sane. Late in the match, Sane sent Baszler flying into the crowd -- right into Baszler's friends Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke. Shafir and Duke got involved with the finish, attacking Sane while the ref was otherwise occupied -- allowing Baszler to pick up the submission win. On a night where Ronda Rousey -- the fourth member of that quartet known as the 4 Horsewomen of MMA -- is also in action, it's worth keeping an eye on later in the night.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com44d ago

Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya bested the Riott Squad in a really fun six-woman tag team match. When Banks stepped up to the top rope and hit a frog splash for the victory, the crowd got as loud as it's been all night inside of the Nassau Coliseum.

Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com44d ago