WWE Raw: Natalya and Tamina retain tag titles

Bobby Lashley remained the WWE champion but there was business to attend on another edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. Lashley was upset by Kofi Kingston last week, with the help of Drew McIntyre, but McIntyre felt like he was the man that should face Lashley. This led to a singles match being announced between the two men. That angle and much more were the focal points of another edition of the Red brand of the WWE.

The two former champions started out the night. McIntyre used his power to get out to an early lead, using his power to control the smaller man. That helped McIntyre early, but Kingston was able to get in his own offense in the form of a dropkick and modified Vader bomb. Kingston’s offense continued to roll until he was smashed face-first into the apron.

Back in the ring, McIntyre continued to stalk Kingston around the ring, hitting a snap suplex before another pin attempt. Kingston would fight back, even locking a front choke, but McIntyre countered into another suplex. They would end up on the top rope, where Kington knocked McIntyre off but was reversed once again when he jumped off into McIntyre’s arms and was planted with a Michinoku Driver.

The beating continued but Kingston kicked out again from a spinebuster and a powerbomb. Kingston had his own offense though, landing a Frog Splash on McIntyre’s back. Kingston sent McIntyre flying and then followed up with a big dive off the top. Lashley and MVP jumped into the ring and attacked both men, leading to a double disqualification.

Kofi Kingston versus Drew McIntyre ends in a double disqualification.

Nikki Cross talked her way into a match with WWE Raw Women’s champion, Rhea Ripley in a two-minute, beat-the-clock challenge.

Cross caught the champion with a stiff forearm, before landing a splash from the top rope. Ripley kicked out of the pin attempt and immediately took over, smashing Cross in the corner. She continued to pummel Cross in the corner until time would run out, meaning Cross survived and was declared the winner.

Nikki Cross defeated Rhea Ripley via a time-out in the beat-the-clock challenge.

Charlotte Flair and Asuka were paired against each other for another singles match.

The two women locked up and exchanged positions and holds to start the match. Flair had the first bout of offense with a head scissors, but Asuka fought out of the position, smashing Flair’s face into the turnbuckle. After a chop block to Asuka’s knee, Flair would focus on the knee and lower leg.

Flair continued the assault on Asuka’s knee, slowing down the former champion. Asuka took over after an armbar attempt, adding in some kicks to Flair’s back. Flair reversed the momentum, landing a shin breaker in return. Asuka rolled out of the way of a moonsault, landing a German Suplex. They continued to exchange offense, with neither lady being able to secure the victory.

Flair leveled Asuka with an elbow and went back to attacking the knee until Asuka countered with a head kick. After more exchanges, Asuka locked in the Asuka-lock only to see Flair roll through to pin Asuka’s shoulders clean.

Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka via pinfall.

Another rematch occurred, this time between Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander.

Benjamin was all over Alexander immediately to start the match. Alexander tried to fight out of the corner but was not able to get the space he needed. Benjamin had everything that Alexander had to offer scouted, but he did not keep Alexander from getting his own offense in partway through the match. He pulled Benjamin off the top rope with a Hurricanrana and continued to lay into Benjamin’s lower back.

All he ended up doing was causing Benjamin to get fired up, laying Alexander out with amazing offense. Alexander would need a thumb to the eyes before he could go into the Neurolizer to pick up the victory over Benjamin.

Cedric Alexander defeated Shelton Benjamin via pinfall.

Xavier Woods and Matt Riddle found themselves in singles action after their shoving from last week.

Riddle showed that he was far superior in the grappling department, even though Woods attempted to keep things on the floor. Riddle then switched over to gut-wrench suplexes, tossing Woods around the ring. Woods would respond with a nice suplex from off the ropes.

Riddle and Woods would end up throwing shots at each other, resulting in them both being flat on the mat. They would battle over the top rope, with Woods landing a Death Valley Driver onto Riddle, crashing into the ring apron.

Back in the ring, they resorted to exchanging blows once again with Woods getting the upper hand. Woods landed a stiff missile dropkick and both he and Riddle tried to hit piledrivers on each other. Woods hung Riddle up in the corner, before pressing him over his head into the gut buster. Riddle responded with a stiff German Suplex from outside the ring, into the ring. Woods looked like he was able to counter the Bro Derek, but Riddle hit the RKO on him to get the win.

Matt Riddle defeated Xavier Woods via pinfall.

AJ Styles and Jaxson Ryker were at it again, with another singles match. Styles got out to a fast start, but Ryker quickly took over with his power. Ryker knocked Styles from the ring and before Styles could get back into the ring, Elias landed a big knee. The move knocked Styles out and Ryker took advantage, hitting a sidewalk slam in the ring to pick up the win.

Jaxson Ryker defeated AJ Styles via pinfall.

Sheamus and Humberto Carrillo had another singles match on Raw. Sheamus came out pounding on Carrillo, landing stiff shot after stiff shot. Even after Carrillo tried to get some space, Sheamus squashed him with an elbow to the face.

Carrillo would knock Sheamus out of the ring, landing a suicide dive before coming off the top to drop the bigger man again. Carrillo tried to roll up Sheamus, but he countered, grabbing a handful of Carrillo’s tights, and getting the win.

Sheamus defeated Humberto Carrillo via pinfall.

The main event of the evening was a women’s tag team match with Natalya and Tamina defending against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

Natalya and Baszler started things off and Baszler was in control early. They exchanged attacks with Natalya going after the heel hook, but Basler locked in the Sharpshooter. Natalya was isolated on the challenger’s side of the ring, but Reggie coming down to the ring gave Natalya the space to escape. Baszler and Natalya continued to exchange holds with the champion attempting to fight out of a bad spot.

Jax and Tamina would enter the ring and the two big women would go out it. Jax was able to overpower Tamina, pushing her back into the corner. Tamina fought back out of the corner, landing a powerslam on Baszler and make the tag. They teamed up for the slingshot superkick but Jax made the save. Reginald ended up causing enough of a distraction to get on Baszler’s nerves. Baszler’s argument with Reggie gave Natalya the space to roll Baszler up and secure the win.

Natalya and Tamina defeated Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler via pinfall.