The new face of Raw will be decided Sunday, Aug. 21, at SummerSlam, when Finn Bálor and Seth Rollins compete to become the inaugural WWE Universal Champion.

 

The historic matchup — Bálor’s debut on WWE pay-per-view — was made official on July 25, the same night that Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon revealed plans to introduce the Universal Title. According to Raw management, the newly sanctioned championship will eventually outstrip SmackDown Live’s WWE Championship in importance.

 

Rollins, who was selected No. 1 overall in the WWE Brand Extension Draft, was entered into contention by Stephanie. The announcement came less than 24 hours after The Architect failed to win the WWE Championship from Dean Ambrose at WWE Battleground, though it was Roman Reigns — the other participant in the championship Triple Threat Match — that lost the deciding fall, not Rollins.

Before facing Roman Reigns in a high-stakes main event, Finn Bàlor sends an intense message to anyone that doubts him.

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Foley says tonight’s episode of RAW will feature two Fatal Four-Way matches. The winners of those two matches will face each other in the main event of RAW. The winner of that main event match will go on to face Seth Rollins at SummerSlam for the brand new championship title. Foley says the championship title is named for everyone in the WWE Universe. They have decided to call it the WWE Universal Championship. Foley says they’re going to begin with Sami Zayn. The crowd gives him a good hand.

 

Sheamus will also take part in the qualifying matches, as will Chris Jericho. Cesaro will be in it along with Roman Reigns, who gets heavily booed. The United States Champion Rusev will participate. Kevin Owens will be in it as well. The eighth slot goes to their draft pick from NXT, Finn Bálor. Bálor steps out to the center to a great ovation from the crowd. Today is Finn Bálor’s 35th birthday.

Cesaro vs. Rusev vs. Kevin Owens vs. Finn Bálor

The bell rings, and Bálor immediately goes after Owens while Cesaro squares off against Rusev. Owens clubs Bálor back, but Bálor starts punching away at him in the corner. Cesaro floors Rusev with a running uppercut that takes him out of the ring. Owens chops Bálor’s chest and applies a side headlock. Rusev punches away at Cesaro at ringside. In the ring, Bálor whips Owens off, but Owens shoulder blocks him down. Owens hits the ropes, but Bálor leapfrogs him and takes him down with a dropkick. Cesaro sends Rusev hard into the barricade and wipes him out with a summersault senton off the apron.

 

We come back from the break to see Owens and Rusev stomping Bálor. During the commercial break, Cesaro and Bálor gave Owens and Rusev a double suplex. Owens chokes Bálor in the corner while Rusev punches Cesaro on the apron. Owens taunts the crowd, but Bálor begins to fight back. Bálor hits the ropes, but Owens back elbows him down. Rusev then walks up and gives Bálor a suplex. Owens claps for Rusev before connecting with a suplex of his own on Bálor. Rusev grabs Bálor and gives him a German Suplex before getting in Owens’ face. Owens grabs Bálor and goes for a German Suplex, but Bálor fights back. Owens quickly clubs him in the back of the head before bowing for the crowd. Owens picks up a near fall. On the apron, Cesaro starts punching away at Rusev. Owens quickly comes in and makes the save by punching him. Rusev throws Bálor out of the ring and turns back to Cesaro. Owens and Rusev then suplex Cesaro into the ring. Rusev covers Cesaro, but Owens breaks it up and yells at him. Owens tries to talk strategy. Owens catches Cesaro with a senton splash and tells Rusev to “do that flip.” Rusev gives Cesaro a summersault senton splash.

 

Bálor gets in the ring and starts punching away at Owens and Rusev. Bálor hits the ropes, ducks a clothesline, and goes for a running cross-body block, but Owens catches him and gives him reverse powerslam. Rusev breaks up the pin and gives Owens a back suplex. Rusev goes to the second rope for a diving head-butt, but Owens rolls out of the way. Owens and Rusev punch away at each other before Cesaro takes them both out with a cross-body block. Cesaro gets to his feet and starts the uppercut train on Rusev and Owens before giving one to Bálor to be fair. Cesaro showcases his amazing cardio before going for the Cesaro Swing on Owens, but Rusev puts a stop to it. Rusev sends him into the ropes, but Cesaro hangs on and boots him in the face. Cesaro then gives Rusev a hip toss over the top rope and goes over with him. Bálor teases a plancha, but Owens stops it. Bálor gives him a back body drop before giving him a low dropkick to the face. Owens rolls out of the ring to recover. Bálor then takes out his three opponents with a summersault plancha!

 

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The NXT factor

The WWE Draft saw the much-anticipated summons of Finn Bálor from WWE NXT, as well as the unexpected selection of Nia Jax, the powerhouse of the Women’s division. The WWE Universe will watch tonight’s to see if these dynamic competitors will make their first appearances as Raw Superstars. If they do, look for Bálor’s athleticism and Jax’s unparalleled power to make a big, big impression on the WWE Universe and the locker room alike.

The Demon rises from WWE NXT to Raw, courtesy of WWE Network.

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Finn Bálor vs Shinsuke Nakamura

 

Finn Balor makes his entrance to a big pop. Balor is not coming in as “the demon” tonight, but in his normal leather jacket and all black gear. Balor still has one of the better entrances in recent memory in NXT or WWE. Speaking of pops and great entrances, out comes Shinsuke Nakamura. As Balor reveals a smile at Nakamura’s popularity, we head to break before the bell rings. This show has done a fantastic job of making this feel like a huge match.

 

A “this is awesome” chant breaks out as we return. The lights lower and we get full blown ring announcements for both competitors.

 

Balor and Nakamura trade lockups as they feel each other out early. Nakamura rests his head on Balor. Finn doesn’t take it lightly and does “too sweet” right in Shinsuke’s face. Lots of stiff kicks and strikes from both men as the pace remains methodical to this point. We head to break.

 

We return to a quick two count cover. Finn Balor takes out the left knee of Nakamura. Balor continues to work the knee with a submission. Nakamura fights out but eats a front drop kick from Balor for a two count. Big chops from Balor to Nakamura in each corner of the ring. Another big blow to the knee and goes into a modified surfboard. Balor uses the double stomp for a two count. Finn stays in control with a heel hook but Shinsuke makes it to the ropes. They trade strikes but Nakamura uses the injured knee for a reverse strike that takes down both wrestlers. Nakamura strikes Balor repeatedly with the injured left knee and takes down Balor. Nakamura delivers the patented knee lift to Balor for a two. Balor hits a shot that sends Nakamura to the outside. Balor sends a swift kick to Nakamura’s face as we head to break.

 

We return with Balor delivering a double stomp for a two count. Balor applies another submission to Nakamura’s left leg but reverses. Nakamura sneaks into an arm bar and then a triangle choke! Balor gets his leg to the rope to break the hold. Nakamura gets in a flurry of strikes to weaken Balor. Balor recovers and does a reverse version of his “1916” for a 2! Nakamura regains control and lines up the “kinshasa” but Balor counters with a double stomp. The crowd begins chanting “fight forever,” and well they should. They trade extremely stiff shots in the center of the ring and Balor hits a slingblade! Balor kicks Nakamura do the corner to set up the “Coup De Grace,” but misses. Nakamura delivers a big knee from the second rope. Nakamura lines up Balor and hits “Kinshasa”! One, two, and three! Nakamura defeats Finn Balor in the battle of NXT icons.

 

Winner via Pinfall: Shinsuke Nakamura (Kinshasa)

 

Both men show each other respect after the match. You can feel a passing of the torch if Nakamura remains in NXT after the brand extension. Nakamura celebrates in the ring as we go off the air.

 

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