WWE Raw: Hurt Business reforms, Big E defeats Bobby Lashley in steel cage

WWE Extreme Rules has come and gone and even though there was not a lot of “extreme” action, there was plenty to take away after the show. Bobby Lashley and Big E have business to deal with, Charlotte Flair has an open challenge and a rematch between Sheamus and Damian Priest are on the docket for another edition of WWE Monday Night Raw.

The night kicked off with Big E defending his WWE Championship against Lashley.

The two big men immediately went to bumping meat, with Lashley getting the first advantage. That was until Big E slapped Lashley in his face, provoking Lashley to blast him with multiple shots. Lashley landed a snap suplex but Big E kicked out at one.

The match spilled outside where Lashley rammed Big E’s face into the post. He took too much time though, as Big E launched him over head with a belly-to-belly suplex. Lashley remained in control however, as they continued to brawl outside the ring. Big E tried to fight back but Lashley’s onslaught continued to overtake the current champion.

Lashley went for a Superplex but Big E was able to block the attack. That did not stop Lashley from hitting him with another big punch, dropping him outside the ring. They smashed into each other with double clotheslines, crawling back into the ring exchanging blows. Big E rallied back and nearly hit the Big Ending, but Lashley caught the top rope. Big E hit the charge outside the ring, landing at the feet of Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander.

Lashley hit a spear and was looking to win but The New Day ran out causing a brawl. The match ended in a disqualification but all six men continued to fight. Adam Pearce came out to reset the match inside a steel cage.

Erik of the Viking Raiders was up next for singles action against Angel Garza.

Erik went right to the power game and it was working early until Garza landed a knee to change the tide of the match. Erik launched Garza with an overhead throw, but Garza was right back in it with a kick to the stomach. He would take a stiff knee to the face, but the distraction by Humberto Carrillo allowed Garza to hit the Wing Clipper to get the win.

Angel Garza defeated Erik via pinfall.

Reginald was out next to defend the 24/7 Championship against Ricochet.

Ricochet starts out with a headlock and immediately shows Reginald that he can keep up with his moves. Reginald avoided Ricochet from the top rope but could not avoid his dive over the top. While they were outside the ring they were jumped by Drew Gulak, R-Truth, and Drake Maverick to end the match in a disqualification.

Ricochet versus Reginald ends in a disqualification.

Akira Tozawa was left in the ring demanding a match. Keith Lee answered the match.

Lee immediately flattened Tozawa, tossing him from the corner with ease. He then bounced Tozawa off the mat with the Big Bang Catastrophe and pinned him to pick up the quick victory.

Keith Lee defeated Akira Tozawa via pinfall.

Damian Priest was out next to defend the United States title against Sheamus in a no-disqualification match.

This match was as brutal as expected. They started out slowly with Priest going to a hammerlock. That was until Sheamus landed a stiff elbow and forearm blows. Priest recovered quickly and hit the Broken Arrow for a one count. They rolled outside the ring where Sheamus took over.

Sheamus brought out a table and bounced Priest off the steel steps, before rolling him back inside the ring. Priest tried to fight back but Sheamus landed the White Noise from the apron through the table. The weapons continued to come out with Sheamus assaulting him with a kendo stick. Even as Priest tried to fight back, Sheamus continued rolling, hitting a powerslam for a two count.

Sheamus made a major mistake coming off the top rope only to take a kendo stick to the ribs. Priest laid into the rest of his body, sending Sheamus out to the floor. Sheamus sent Priest into the ring post, followed by the barricade. Priest tried to pick up the pace but Sheamus rammed him into a chair and hit the Alabama Slam, only for a two count. Priest threw the chair into Sheamus’s face then hit the South of Heaven for a two count.

Priest faked a springboard to cause Sheamus to miss the Brogue Kick, landing on him instead. That did not stop Sheamus from landing a pump knee, dropping the champion but only for a two kick. Priest went for the Reckoning but the reversals ended up with Sheamus going through the table. He then hit the Reckoning to get the victory.

Damian Priest defeated Sheamus via pinfall.

Jeff Hardy teamed with Ali and Mansoor to take on Jinder Mahal, Veer, and Shanky in six-man action.

Ali started things off but was at a complete disadvantage against Veer. The same thing happened with Mansoor was brought in, getting flattened by a big elbow drop. He would drag Mansoor over to the corner for Shanky to make the tag. Mansoor got to Hardy while Mahal tagged in next, where Hardy went on a roll.

Ali tagged in and faceplanted Mahal, but the pinfall was interrupted. Hardy was tossed outside the ring where Shanky attacked him, but Mansoor made the save. Inside the ring, Veer ran through Ali then blasted him with a lariat to get the victory.

Veer, Shanky, and Jinder Mahal defeated Ali, Mansoor, and Jeff Hardy via pinfall.

Jaxson Ryker and Karrion Kross were out for a singles contest.

Kross dominated Ryker for majority of the match, throwing him overhead with a suplex. Ryker was fighting back but he was planted on his head once again, which followed up with the Cross Jacket for the submission win.

Karrion Kross defeated Jaxson Ryker via submission.

Matt Riddle was up next against AJ Styles.

Riddle got to the ground first but backing into the corner allowed Styles to land an elbow. Riddle responded with kicks and Styles did the same. Riddle responded, dropping Styles with a kick to the chest and following up with a Broton. Riddle went into the rolling gut wrench suplexes, hitting three in a row.

Styles charged out of the corner and ran right into a knee. Styles was staggered but hit Riddle coming out of the corner, before dumping him hard to the floor. Riddle returned to the ring where Styles continued to stalk him, hitting a backbreaker in the middle of the ring.

Riddle landed a stiff kick off his back, picking up momentum along the way. Styles dodged some of his offense, using the knees to avoid the Broton. Styles and Riddle exchanged strikes with Riddle hitting a knee into a German Suplex for a two count. Riddle went for a clothesline which was countered with a Pele Kick.

Riddle hit a Ripcord Knee and both men slumped to the floor. Styles countered a kick into a pump handle gut buster. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Riddle kicked him off, following with a plancha to the floor. Riddle went for the Floating Bro but Styles countered into the Calf Crusher. Riddle crawled to the ropes to escape. Styles slid into a knee and Riddle called for the RKO. Styles countered with the Burning Hammer and the Styles Clash for the win.

AJ Styles defeated Matt Riddle via pinfall.

Charlotte Flair was out for an open challenge against Doudrop.

The two women lock up in the middle of the ring and the shoulder block from Doudrop knocks Flair to her butt. Doudrop knocked Flair down again and landed a senton on the champion. Eva Marie came out to the ring for the distraction, allowing Flair to hit the Natural Selection for the victory.

Charlotte Flair defeated Doudrop to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Title.

Eva Marie had some words about disrespect in the ring and that brought out Shayna Baszler. Marie tried to run but Baszler locked in the Kirifuda Clutch, putting Marie to sleep.

The main event of the evening was Lashley versus Big E in the steel cage, but the brawl started before both men could get into the cage.

Lashley nearly destroyed Big E outside the ring, ramming his face into the steel cage. He then went to the steel steps to use those as a weapon against the champion, hitting him in the back.

The action finally entered the ring and Big E took advantage of Lashley rushing in to hit a Uranage. The momentum swung toward the champion momentarily, until Lashley hit a clothesline out of the corner. Big E used the cage against Lashley, throwing him into it twice. Lashley fought out of the Big Ending and attempted the Hurt Lock, but Big E fought that off. He could not fight off the suplex that followed, where Lashley earned a two count.

Lashley attempted to climb out of the cage but used that opportunity to nearly choke Big E out cold over the top rope. Lashley and Big E stood on the top rope, at least until Big E bounced Lashley’s face off it and he fell back into the ring.

Big E attempted to climb out of the cage but the rest of the Hurt Business ran out to make the save. That brought out The New Day and a brawl occurred between the two teams outside the ring. Kofi Kingston ended it all with a trust fall off the top of the cage onto Benjamin and Alexander.

Lashley and Big E continued to battle in the cage, with Lashley hitting a Superplex to bring Big E back into the ring. Big E responded with multiple suplexes, dropping the former champion in the center of the ring. Lashley answered with a spear, but Big E kicked out at two.

Lashley continued to roll, having answers for everything Big E threw his way. He went to walk out of the cage but Big E stopped him to keep the match going. Big E would hit the Big Ending, but Lashley kicked out at two. Big E tried to walk out but Lashley stopped him this time around, dropping him with a spinebuster. Lashley again tried to climb out of the ring but was stopped. This time, Big E hits the Big Ending off the top rope, pinning Lashley for the victory.

Big E defeated Bobby Lashley via pinfall to retain the WWE Championship.