Booking WWE Monday Night Raw 10.03.16

* From Los Angeles, California, this will be Monday Night Raw.

* Raw General Manager Mick Foley stands in the center of the ring, and promises a night of revelry with the appearance of actors Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson. However, there is also serious business that needs attention. He asks that Roman Reigns and Rusev join him in the ring, and notes that the two men have made mayhem for many months…including last week. It is his duty to preserve the safety of Raw’s superstars, and as such, he has instituted a non-contact policy between the two men. However, he knows better than anyone about such heated rivalries–and he knows better than anyone where they must end: inside Hell in a Cell. Until then, the men cannot lay a hand on each other. But on the thirtieth of October, he invites them to unleash hell. Reigns is pleased, but Rusev and Lana are not. Rusev declares that he is not an animal to be caged, but Foley does not relent. Fuming, Rusev delivers a kick to Foley’s face, rendering him unconscious. Out of instinct, Reigns spears Rusev. However, as he departs to the backstage area, the expression on his bearded visage makes clear he realizes he has mistakenly violated Foley’s edict.

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* In her office, Stephanie McMahon dresses down Reigns for his attack on Rusev. She is of the mind to strip him of his championship, or fine him, or bar him from the premises. Instead, she will force him to face Kevin Owens tonight in a No Disqualification match. She will not plainly encourage Owens’s friend Chris Jericho to interfere, but she does note that unlike Owens, Reigns certainly cannot boast many friends, and so she does not like his chances in his match tonight.

* In a Raw Women’s Championship match, Sasha Banks defeats Charlotte by disqualification following interference by Dana Brooke. After the match, Banks and Charlotte do battle throughout the arena until they are restrained by security.

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* Backstage, Cesaro and Sheamus argue over who deserves credit for their first victory as a tag team last week. The two warriors, of course, decide that it is an argument that can only be resolved in the squared circle. However, Stephanie arrives to say they have fought each other too often in one-on-one competition. That does not mean, though, they will not face off tonight, as they will see action against each other, teaming with superstars she will reveal later.

* Kutcher and Masterson arrive as Cesaro and Sheamus leave, and they note to Stephanie the similarities between their Netflix series “The Ranch” and the McMahon family. For instance, the father of their show is a bitter, temperamental man who took over the family business. Kutcher’s character is a golden boy recently returned to the family, while Masterson’s is the sibling often overlooked despite the fact that he never left his father’s side. “Basically, Ashton plays your brother Shane, and I play you,” Masterson clarifies for Stephanie. She does not take kindly to being portrayed as overlooked, and evicts them from her office.

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* Sheamus arrives in the ring to learn that his partners are…Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows. Cesaro arrives next, where he finds that his partners are…the New Day. They are excited to welcome him as an honorary member of their group, but he refuses to partake in their antics, and insists on starting the match…

…wherein Sheamus and Anderson & Gallows pin the New Day and Cesaro after Cesaro attacks Kofi Kingston, allowing the high-flying fan favorite to be pinned. As Cesaro departs up the ramp, the New Day appear confused…but not as confused as Sheamus.

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* Backstage, Cesaro explains his earlier actions by asking, rhetorically, why he would team with his enemy. Sheamus arrives as Cesaro leaves, and is forced to wonder whether the Swiss Superman was referring to the New Day…or to him.

* Elsewhere, TJ Perkins says he has no issue giving Brian Kendrick another opportunity to face him tonight, but Kendrick should know that tonight marks his last chance, as there are many other cruiserweights still waiting for their opportunity. Indeed, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano arrive and tell Perkins just how correct he is.

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* In short order, Bayley defeats local talent Tiffany McPherson. After the match, Paige attacks Bayley.

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* Backstage, Enzo & Big Cass confer with Kutcher & Masterson about the similarities between Kutcher’s “Punk’d” and WWE’s “Swerved.” Their discussion is interrupted by the Shining Stars, who admonish Enzo & Cass that they should be more worried about winning matches, as they lost last week, and have yet to best the Stars themselves. Enzo & Cass excuse them from their conversion, and proceed to pull Kutcher & Masterson into a huddle to plan mischief.

* Brian Kendrick cheats to pin TJ Perkins, earning a future shot at Perkins’s Cruiserweight Championship.

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* Kutcher & Masterson explain that their main reason for visiting Raw tonight is to help Jericho with his wardrobe. Jericho is not swayed, of course, but their criticism persists until he seems poised to assault them. It is at this moment when Seth Rollins storms into the ring and attacks Jericho, leaving him a lifeless heap. He explains that, like Jericho, he has a list–and Jericho was only the first person on it. He vows not to stop until he can also cross off the names of Owens, Stephanie…and Triple H. He then exits through the audience.

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* Stephanie has Rollins removed from the arena, and tells her security detail to keep an eye out to make sure he cannot get back in. She reminds them that he used to be a member of the Shield, who made a habit of arriving when and how they wanted.

* In short order, Braun Strowman defeats local talent Marty Jennings.

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* Paige definitely explains that she attacked Bayley because she cannot stand the perky young superstar. Definitely.

* Sami Zayn defeats Jinder Mahal.

* Backstage, the Shining Stars take a phone call asserting that they have won an all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica. The Stars gush over how much they have always wanted to visit Jamaica, which is far more exotic and far more beautiful than Puerto Rico. A limousine is waiting outside the arena to pick them up, and as they rush to it, we see Enzo hiding behind a crate on his cellular phone. It was, after all, he who informed the Stars of their “prize.” Kutcher & Masterson arrive and laugh at the Stars’ gullibility–but the laughing stops when Stephanie shows up. She orders security to remove them from the building. However, as they are escorted to the exit…Seth Rollins enters behind their backs.

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* Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano pin Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander.

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* Roman Reigns defeats Kevin Owens when Seth Rollins attacks Owens, allowing Reigns to spear his opponent for the victory. After the match, Rusev seeks to take advantage of the melee by attacking Reigns, but he, too, is soon overcome by the reunited members of the Shield. Indeed, before the show ends, Reigns and Rollins propel Rusev through the announce table. Owens, for his part, escapes backstage before he can meet the same fate.

* It all leads to the following matches at the Hell in a Cell event on 30 October:

– Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship inside Hell in a Cell
– Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte for the Raw Women’s Championship inside Hell in a Cell
– TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick for the Cruiserweight Championship
– The New Day vs. Cesaro & Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Championships
– Roman Reigns vs. Rusev for the United States Championship inside Hell in a Cell
– Enzo & Big Cass vs. Anderson & Gallows
– Bayley vs. Paige

And with that, I am certain I will see all of you next week. In the meantime, congratulations to New York Giants fans.