WWE Raw: Big E defeats Austin Theory in main event

The WWE PPV of 2021 has come and gone. The biggest news stories out of Survivor Series are the fact that The Rock did not appear and that Vince McMahon lost a golden egg. While that may not be what brings fans to professional wrestling, it’s another Monday which means the next edition of WWE Monday Night Raw is set to build toward the end of the year and lead into 2022.

The night started out with McMahon berating Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville for the missing egg. McMahon said that whoever brings him information or the egg itself will get a shot at the WWE Championship that night.

Matt Riddle, doing his best Randy Orton impression, was out first to face Dolph Ziggler in a singles match.

Ziggler went to his amateur wrestling first to take Riddle down, but he quickly reversed the position. Ziggler rolled Riddle up for a cradle and a two-count. Ziggler landed the first offense of consequence, hitting a big dropkick for a two-count.

Riddle avoided a charging Ziggler in the corner, hitting a kick to the chest and followed that up with a spinning gut-wrench suplex. Ziggler rolled outside and Riddle tried to follow him, but Ziggler landed a big superkick that dropped him flat to the floor.

Back in the ring, it was Riddle in control. That was until Ziggler countered with an elbow, but Riddle answered with a big powerslam. He then went for the draping DDT, but Ziggler tossed him over the top. He scurried back into the ring, only to get caught with the Fame Asser instead for a two-count. Ziggler went for a superkick but Riddle answered with a pump knee to the jaw. He hit the RKO and then picked up the victory.

Matt Riddle defeated Dolph Ziggler via pinfall.

Becky Lynch was headed out to the ring next. She first spoke on her match with Charlotte Flair before turning her focus on the next contender, Liv Morgan.

Bianca Belair was out next to discuss her performance and her developing feud with Doudrop. Tamina then came to the ring for their singles match.

Belair was in control early, knocking Tamina down and hitting her handspring splash for a two-count. Tamina rebounded, hitting a superkick and a Samoan drop for a two-count. Tamina followed that up with attacks in the corner before another failed pin attempt. Belair fights back to her feet, only to take a stiff elbow to the face.

Tamina missed a shoulder charge in the corner, and Belair kicked her head into the post. That led to the KOD for the three-count and the win.

Bianca Belair defeated Tamina via pinfall.

Seth Rollins was out and he took on Finn Balor in a singles match. Before the match could start, Rollins attacked Balor, but Balor took the fight to him as well. The brawled in the ring and on the floor, with Rollins getting the upper hand. Rollins smashed Balor in the face with the steel steps. He tossed Balor back in the ring and finished him off with not just one, but two curb stomps.

The Street Profits were out next for tag team action against AJ Styles and Omos.

Styles and Ford started off the night, with Ford getting the early advantage before making a tag to Dawkins. They’d hit tandem offense on Styles, going back and forth against the former champion. However, the tide quickly changed when Omos was tagged in.

Back from the commercial, Styles and Dawkins were back in the ring. Dawkins was isolated in the ring, but found the opportunity to hit the Silencer on Styles before getting to the tag. Ford came in with some quick offense, and even avoided Styles’s combinations before hitting a moonsault or a two-count. Ford ate the Pele Kick and nearly went out before countering the Styles Clash.

Omos tagged in and Ford tried to charge into him to no avail. He landed a bunch of strikes before Omos ran through him with a clothesline. Dawkins pulled out a fire extinguisher and sprayed Omos in the face to draw the disqualification.

AJ Styles and Omos defeated The Street Profits via disqualification.

The Women’s Tag Team Titles were on the line next as Rhea Ripley and Nikki ASH defended the belts against Queen Zelina and Carmella.

Ripley and Carmella started the match off with Ripley easily overpowering the smaller woman. Zelina came into the ring and was tossed aside with ease as well. Zelina slapped Ripley in the face, eating a big headbutt for the action.

Nikki was tagged in and she went on a run against both women, knocking Carmella off the apron and dominating Zelina. Ripley chased Carmella outside the ring and barely made it into the ring to save Nikki from the pin attempt. Carmella super kicked Ripley again, causing her head to hit the post. Carmella and Zelina kept teaming up on her, allowing Zelina to hit the Code Red and pick up the victory.

Carmella and Zelina become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Cedric Alexander challenged Reggie for his 24/7 title. Reggie started out doing flips but Alexander slapped him in the mouth, stomping him to the ground in the corner. Reggie tried to fight back but took another big right hand to the face. He landed a Hurricanrana that nearly made the pin, but Alexander kicked out.

Reggie went for a spinning cross body but Cedric kicked him out of the air. He immediately hit the Lumbar Check and picked up the win to become the 24/7 Champion.

Cedric Alexander defeated Reggie to become the 24/7 Champion.

However, he turned around to Dana Brooke, hitting a blockbuster and picking up the title to become the new 24/7 Champion.

Bobby Lashley was out for a 2-on-1 handicap match as Bobby Lashley took on Dominick and Rey Mysterio.

Dominick was outclassed from the very start, thrown around with out and trouble. He made a way to tag to Rey, who tried to pick up the momentum, both men attacking him in the corner. It was working until Lashley caught Rey and hit him with a running powerslam. He attempted to lock in the Hurt Lock, but Dominick came off the top rope and knocked Lashley outside. The double teamed him, causing Lashley to run face first into the post.

Back in the ring, Lashley was firmly in control but Dominick refused to go away. They ended up back outside the ring, where Dominick’s head was bounced off the ring post. Rey continued to watch as Lashley assaulted his son.

Lashley went for the Dominator but Dominick landed on his feet and made the tag to Rey. Rey’s quickness was a problem but he and Dominick were able to team up to ground Lashley for a moment. They dropped Lashley across the ropes and went for a double 619. They then hit back-to-back splashes but still could not pin Lashley.

Lashley hit the spear on Rey and locked Dominick in the Hurt Lock to get the victory.

Bobby Lashley defeats Rey and Dominick Mysterio via submission.

Damian Priest was out next for an open challenge that was answered by Apollo Crews. But Crews was not there to fight, instead Sami Zayn answered that challenge.

The bell rung and Zayn tried to duck out the ring but Priest followed him to start the match. Zayn hit an exploder suplex into the barricade that left Priest laying in pain.

Coming back from commercial and Zayn was still in firm control of the match. He used a chin lock but Priest was still able to get back to his feet. He landed a bunch of offense before hitting Zayn with a splash in the corner. Zayn answered with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two-count.

Zayn went to the top rope but was caught with a kick, but Zayn was able to hit a sit-out powerbomb for another two-count. Zayn countered out of the Reckoning for a close pin attempt, but Priest stopped him. Zayn used the middle rope to choke Priest, before grabbing the title. But Priest turned it on from there and started to pummel the challenger.

Zayn was hit with The Reckoning and the pinfall came after, allowing Priest to remain the United States Champion.

Damian Priest defeated Sami Zayn via pinfall.

The main event of the evening was a title match between Big E and Austin Theory.

Theory tried to go for a surprise roll up early but Big E kicked out at one. Theory slapped Big E and the champion fired back with shots, dropping the challenger over and over. Big E pulled Theory to the apron and followed up with the splash on his chest.

Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins made their way down to the ring for the match.

Theory took advantage of the distraction, dropping Big E on his head, but again Big E kicked out at one. Theory landed a stiff dropkick to Big E on the floor, knocking him to his back.

Back from the commercial and Theory was still in control, planting Big E with a DDT. Theory ran right into a belly-to-belly, then took two more suplexes for his trouble. Theory fought out of the Big Ending and answered with a rolling dropkick for a two-count. Theory charged at Big E in the corner and was hit with the Uranage.

Rollins landed a cheap shot on Big E as he climbed back into the ring, causing Owens and Rollins to get into it outside the ring. Theory turned around into the Big Ending, allowing him to retain the title.

Big E defeated Austin Theory via pinfall to retain the WWE Championship.