WWE Raw: Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles in main event

WWE Monday Night Raw hailed from Orlando, Florida as SummerSlam 2021 inched closer. Bobby Lashley was set to confront his challenger, Bill Goldberg, plus there was a lot of other action set to take place this week.

The night started with the return of Randy Orton who has not been on television for several weeks. Before he was able to get too much out of his mouth, he was joined by Matt Riddle. He was out to implore Orton to get the tag team back together, but Orton did not seem too interested in doing that. AJ Styles and Omos would then make their way down to the ring to accost both individuals.

The segment would end in an agreed match between Orton and Styles, with Omos flattening Riddle easily.

Baron Corbin was out next to take on Drew McIntyre in singles action.

Corbin tried to tell McIntyre it was all business, but that did not stop the former WWE Champion from laying into him early. Corbin kicks out of the first kickout, just to get knocked over the top rope. Corbin was able to get a little offense going, but McIntyre cut off his momentum with an overhead suplex into the barricade.

Corbin was not down forever, as he tossed McIntyre off the top and was able to get rolling until the Glasgow Kiss put a stop to that. McIntyre would then hit a series of suplexes on Corbin, finishing it off with a neck breaker. Corbin pleaded with McIntyre in the middle of the ring, but that resulted in Corbin eating the Claymore and getting pinned in the middle of the ring.

Drew McIntyre defeated Baron Corbin via pinfall.

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Jeff Hardy was out next for one-on-one action against Karrion Kross again.

Kross was all over Hardy from the very start. Hammering him in the corner then suplexing him back into the middle of the ring. They ended up outside of the ring where Hardy was able to take some opportunities to land his own offense on Kross.

Hardy went up to for the Swanton Bomb but Kross knocked him from the top. Hardy was able to rally in the middle of the ring to recover. Hardy covered Kross after a splash, but Kross still kicked out. Hardy countered with a double boot to the face out of the corner, and another splash off the second rope, but Kross once again kicked out.

Kross pulled Hardy off the top with a Saito Suplex, locking in the Kross Jacket to force Hardy to submit.

Karrion Kross defeated Jeff Hardy via submission.

Alexa Bliss was out next with her doll, Lily to take one Doudrop.

Alexa tried to attack Doudrop but was easily pushed to the mat. Bliss slipped behind Doudrop and was tossed to the mat. She avoided the Senton and landed some strikes, but Doudrop kicked out at one.

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Bliss was able to knock Doudrop down with a crossbody, but she kicked out again at one. Bliss tried to attack Eva Marie outside the ring. That allowed Doudrop to get to her from behind, throwing her into the barricade. Back in the ring, Doudrop continued to dominate. Doudrop would be distracted by a winking Lily and was pinned in the middle of the ring.

Alexa Bliss defeated Doudrop via pinfall.

Sheamus and Ricochet were up next in a championship contenders match.

Sheamus was over-powering Ricochet early in the match, snapping him over with a headlock takedown. Ricochet was able to pick up the win with a head scissors takedown and a drop kick that knocked Sheamus from the ring.

Sheamus returned to the ring and Ricochet continued the onslaught until Sheamus landed a stiff knee to the midsection. Ricochet did not back down, causing Sheamus to fall over the top rope and hitting him with a diving dropkick. He followed it up with a springboard cross body that sent both men crashing over the announce table.

Back in the ring Ricochet was landing some strikes, but Sheamus stopped hi with a backbreaker. Ricochet landed a great hurricane from the top, followed by a clothesline off the top and a springboard moonsault, but Sheamus kicked out at two.

Ricochet went to the top rope one too many times as he landed a headbutt to Sheamus that did not help. That resulted in him getting hit with a Brogue Kick and Sheamus picked up the victory.

Sheamus defeated Ricochet via pinfall.

Damian Priest and John Morrison were out immediately after for yet another rematch.

Morrison was out to an early advantage, grounding Morrison and switching up with some great submission work. Priest was able to fight off his back, overpowering the smaller man. Priest got back to his feet and laid into Morrison with knees and punches. Morrison fought back though, not backing down.

Morrison attempted to come off the top rope but leaped right into a counter from Priest. Priest then hit the Reckoning right in front of The Miz to defeat John Morrison again.

Damian Priest defeated John Morrison via pinfall.

T-Bar was accompanied for singles action against Mustafa Ali who also was not alone as Mansoor was ringside.

T-Bar tossed Ali into the corner before launching him with a high back body drop. Ali knocked T-Bar from the ring and went for a dive to the outside, but T-Bar caught him, driving a knee into his ribs before tossing him into the barricade.

Inside the ring Ali took the discuss big boot but kicked out at two. Ali went for a dive off the top and was caught, getting hit with a chokeslam into a backbreaker. Back in the ring, T-Bar went into another chokeslam but Ali countered, planting him with a DDT. Ali climbed to the top but T-Bar kicked his feet out, hitting him with the knee to face.

T-Bar defeated Mustafa Ali via pinfall.

Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H were set to face off in singles action.

Nikki was able to get the initial advantage in the match, holding on to a tight headlock. Ripley was eventually able to fight out by throwing Nikki flat onto her face. Ripley then bounced Nikki around the ring, from corner to corner. Nikki tried to fight out, but was overpowered immediately. Ripley continued to inflict punishment on Nikki, but the champion found a way to fight back.

Nikki was finally able to counter, landing a DDT on the bigger woman. She followed up with a head scissors into the corner and a roll up, but Ripley kicked out. Nikki countered out of the Riptide, falling on top of Ripley, but was unable to get the pin.

Ripley attempted to hit a Superplex, but Nikki fought back, causing Ripley to fall. Nikki was about to hit the splash but was attacked by Charlotte Flair.

Nikki A.S.H. defeated Rhea Ripley via disqualification.

The main event of the evening featured a singles match between Randy Orton and AJ Styles.

Orton started the match throwing shots to Styles, backing him into the corner. Styles tried to pick up the pace, only to get hit with an uppercut before being draped over the top rope. Orton then went to his vintage slow pace, stomping away on Styles. Orton sent Styles outside, but the looming presence of Omos allowed Styles to get the advantage, landing a forearm from inside the ring to out.

Styles and Orton were exchanging blows until Styles hit a dropkick and a sliding clothesline into the cover, but Orton kicked out at two. Styles locked in a chin lock, but Orton got out with a headbutt. Orton picked up momentum, hitting two clotheslines and a powerslam for a two-count. Orton attempted another pinfall after a stiff backbreaker, but Styles kicked out again.

Orton took Styles to the top, but Styles countered out. He then followed up with that calf crusher, but Orton was able to get to the bottom rope to break the hold. Styles called for the forearm, but Orton avoided it, landing a clothesline instead. He then followed up with a hanging DDT on Styles back into the ring. Before he could land the RKO, Omos pulled Styles to safety. That distraction was enough to give Styles the space to attack.

Matt Riddle ran out to support Omos but it took Omos a few seconds to smash him into the post. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Orton countered with the RKO.

Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles by pinfall.