WWE Raw: Drew McIntyre earns a spot in Money in the Bank ladder match

WWE Money in the Bank is three weeks away and that is a major event for all performers looking to break through to the top of the roster. But before anyone could get there, they had to get through another episode of Monday Night Raw which featured the biggest names in the promotion and more.

The night started off with an over-the-top battle royale to determine who would join Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles later in the evening for a shot at the last spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Randy Orton was removed from the match, but Matt Riddle figured a way to convince Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce to let him compete in Orton’s place.

The action started with everyone in the ring battling for the final slot. Drew Gulak was the first man tossed over the top, eliminated by Shelton Benjamin. The bodies in the ring continued to thin out throughout the match. Shenanigans even happened outside the ring as both Gulak and R-Truth won the 24/7 title before Akira Tozawa took it back and escaped.

Omos made his presence known when he helped Jinder Mahal eliminate the Viking Raiders. The last five men in the ring were Cedric Alexander, Jeff Hardy, Damian Priest, Mahal, and Riddle. Priest eliminated Mahal. Alexander tossed Hardy out to counter the Twist of Fate before being eliminated himself by Priest. Riddle and Priest were the final two in the match.

Priest and Hardy exchange a series of kicks and punches before Riddle hits a German Suplex. Priest found himself locked into the Bromission, but Priest dropped Riddle onto the apron. They ended up back in the middle of the ring where Priest dropped Riddle with a clothesline. Riddle had Priest tied up in the ropes, eventually hitting him with a high knee to knock him off and to the ground. Riddle took the victory, allowing himself into the last chance triple threat against Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles.

Matt Riddle wins Last Chance Battle Royale to join the Money in the Bank triple threat opportunity.

The next match brought out Nikki Cross to take on Shayna Baszler in one-on-one action. However, it was not long before Alexa Bliss made her presence felt at ringside. Baszler remained in control for much of the action, but she continued to get distracted by Bliss on the outside of the ring.

Baszler was in firm control until Cross found a way to catch her in a cradle pinfall, defeating the former tag team champion in the middle of the ring.

Nikki Cross defeated Shayna Baszler via pinfall.

Women’s tag team action was up next as Naomi and Asuka competed against Eva Marie and Doudrop for the second time.

The bell rings and Doudrop immediately unloads the power game on Naomi. Naomi was able to roll out of the senton and tag in Asuka who dropped her with a missile dropkick. Asuka was rolling until she was flattened in the corner. Asuka attempted the Asuka-Lock but Doudrop fought out of the hold. As she went to tag in Eva, Eva hopped off the ring apron and left her in the ring.

Asuka and Naomi attempted to double team Doudrop, but they were both tossed aside, with Doudrop hitting a splash on Asuka for the victory.

Eva Marie and Doudrop defeated Asuka and Naomi via pinfall.

Ricochet met John Morrison for singles action in the next match.

Morrison secured the early advantage in the match before Ricochet landed some body shots and an elbow drop for a two count. Morrison had a pin attempt of his own after slowing Ricochet down, but he was able to kick out as well. They ended up outside the ring where Ricochet used The Miz’s wheelchair to land a Hurricanrana on Morrison, before breaking their last drip stick.

Morrison kept Ricochet isolated in the corner, hitting him with rights and lefts. Ricochet fought out of the corner but ate a leg sweep for his trouble. Morrison went for a springboard sunset flip, but Ricochet dodged and answered with his own crossbody. Morrison hit a rolling senton and a sliding knee, but Ricochet still kicked out at two. Morrison went for Starship Pain but missed, leading to Ricochet doing a springboard crossbody into the screen area over the barricade. That led to both men being counted out.

John Morrison versus Ricochet ends in a double count out.

A six-woman tag team match was up next. Charlotte Flair teamed with Natalya and Tamina to go against Rhea Ripley, Dana Brooke, and Mandy Rose.

The match erupted into a brawl from the very start, with all six women beating each other up around the ring. They battled until Ripley, Brooke and Rose were standing in the ring alone.

Rose and Natalya got things going when the match restarted, until Rose tagged out to Brooke. She was doing very well until she was double-teamed outside the ring. Flair got the tag and was in firm control, isolating Brooke on their side of the ring. Natalya and Charlotte took turns on Brooke, but she began to fight her way out of the corner. She made the tag to Ripley who went on a run against Flair.

Ripley landed a lot of offense on Flair but was unable to get the pinfall. Flair tagged out to Natalya who also found herself on the wrong end of a beating. Rose and Natalya continued to exchange moves but there was a tag that Rose did not see. Flair jumped back into the ring and landed a big boot on Rose and pinned her to get the victory.

Charlotte Flair, Tamina and Natalya defeated Rhea Ripley, Mandy Rose, and Dana Brooke.

Elias and Jaxson Ryker were pit against each other in a strap match.

Elias jumped Ryker right from the start of the match. Elias used the strap to batter Ryker in the body, handing him over the turnbuckle. But Ryker was able to turn things around and use the strap to his own bidding. Ryker was rolling until Elias landed a big knee, nearly pinning him. Ryker picked up the victory off a sidewalk slam.

Jaxson Ryker defeated Elias via pinfall.

The main event of the night was a triple threat match with the winner being added to the Money in the Bank ladder match. Drew McIntyre faced off against AJ Styles and Matt Riddle standing in for Randy Orton.

McIntyre started out in control of the match, beating on the two smaller men. Riddle had his own swell of offense until he was caught by McIntyre and tossed across the ring. Styles took the same treatment. McIntyre attempted to pin Styles off a big back drop but Styles kicked out. Outside the ring, McIntyre attempted to put Styles through the announced table but was unsuccessful. All three men were cooking outside the ring, with Styles and Riddle working together to put McIntyre through the table.

Styles and Riddle were in the ring trying to put each other away while McIntyre was down on the floor. Riddle landed a big knee that had Styles rocked, but he countered with the Pele Kick. Styles then went outside to stomp McIntyre into the ground. Styles looked like he was about to win but Riddle kept fighting out of bad positions.

Riddle landed the draping DDT and went for the RKO but Styles caught him for a modified Death Valley Driver. McIntyre got back into the ring and went on a rampage, smashing Styles into the post outside and hitting the Alabama Slam on Riddle inside. Outside the ring it would be Riddle who laid out both men until he slammed his knee and foot into the steel steps. Riddle would get helped to the back by officials.

McIntyre and Styles were left in the ring to go at it. McIntyre was in control but was favoring one of his legs after a neck breaker. Styles kicked out after a stiff Michinoku Driver, answering with a chop block to McIntyre’s leg. He rolled through into the Calf Crusher on the injured leg. Riddle limped his way back down to the ring to reenter the match. Styles came off the top rope with the Phenomenal Forearm but Riddle countered with a knee and the RKO. Omos saved Styles from eating the pin but Riddle turned around to take the Claymore, giving McIntyre the win.

Drew McIntyre defeated Matt Riddle and AJ Styles via pinfall.