WWE Raw live results: Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair
Date: October 18, 2021
Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA
The Big Takeaway —
The main event title match between Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair went 22 minutes and ended in a DQ.
Xavier Woods and Doudrop advanced to the finals in their respective tournaments.
Show Recap —
Charlotte Flair entered. She wondered why there was no celebration for her last night on Raw and why she’d instead have to defend her title against some rookie like Bianca Belair. She thought there was a conspiracy against her considering Belair isn’t technically part of Raw yet. People thought she was entitled when Belair was the one with two title shots this week.
Charlotte said Belair can’t beat her and told her to get to the back of the line. She went on for a little while longer until Belair interrupted. Belair got a good reaction.
Belair said this wasn’t a conspiracy or favouritism, this was deserved. Belair would have beaten Charlotte a few weeks ago if Becky Lynch didn’t get involved. Belair said she won’t be a problem for Charlotte soon because, after tonight, she doesn’t even go here anymore. Belair planned on having both belts in her arms the next time she’s on Raw.
Belair asked Charlotte how that sounded so Charlotte attacked her but Belair ended up knocking her off the apron.
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Xavier Woods told Kevin Patrick how important tonight was because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of such men as King Mabel, King Ken Shamrock and King Booker.
Kofi Kingston planned on being ringside tonight because they didn’t want Veer and Shanky to get involved as they did in his match last week. Kingston said it was Woods’ dream to be king. Woods said he planned on wearing the crown on Thursday. Kingston chanted “Hail King Woods” in the tune of “New Day Rocks.”
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There was a Seth Rollins video package.
Members of the Sacramento Kings were shown at ringside.
King of the Ring semifinal: Xavier Woods (w/Kofi Kingston) defeated Jinder Mahal (w/Veer & Shanky) (9:57)
Mahal took control before a break after dropping Woods on the steel steps. Mahal hit a gutbuster for two and maintained control until Woods hit a thrust kick before dropkicking Shanky off the apron.
Woods came off the top but Mahal caught him and hit a strange-looking Khallas. (Woods was trying to ensure he was close to the ropes upon landing.) Mahal made the cover but Woods grabbed the bottom rope.
Woods fought off Mahal and hit an impressive flying elbow drop for the pinfall win. The crowd was happy. Woods moves on to the final against Finn Bálor. Woods put on the robe after the match (but not the crown).
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Sarah Schreiber was interviewing Austin Theory when they were quickly interrupted by Reginald running away from Akira Tozawa, Drew Gulak and Drake Maverick. Reginald circled back around toward Theory where R-Truth was waiting for him. Before anything could happen, Theory split them because he was annoyed. Truth did some comedy which led to a match being made.
There was a video package for Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg. There will be some sort of “no holds barred interview” between the two men tonight.
Austin Theory defeated Jeff Hardy (7:06)
It was supposed to be Theory against Truth, but Truth entered and informed Theory that he didn’t accept the match for himself, he accepted it for his friend Jeff Hardy.
Theory hit a neckbreaker off the apron to the outside which led to break. Hardy mounted a comeback until Theory knocked him off and hit his finisher for the pinfall win. (The crowd seemed caught off guard because his finisher isn’t over.)
Theory took a selfie over Hardy’s body and continued to celebrate until Hardy popped to his feet and laid out Theory with a Twist of Fate. Hardy used Theory’s phone to take a selfie.
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Drew McIntyre approached Big E at Gorilla position. They basically tried reasoning with each other after getting into it last week. Big E suggested they tried coexisting before beating each other up on Thursday. Big E said, “may the best man win,” and McIntyre responded, “I will.” Big E did his big introduction on the microphone while staring at McIntyre.
Elsewhere, Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville were talking in their office until Charlotte interrupted. Charlotte complained about having to defend her title and again suggested there was a conspiracy. Deville assured her that was not the case.
(It was odd seeing Deville just having a normal meeting with Pearce after what she did to Naomi on Smackdown a few days ago. It’s like it didn’t happen.)
[Second Hour]
WWE Champion Big E & Drew McIntyre defeated Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode (12:50)
Ziggler tried a Fameasser on the outside but Big E hoisted him over the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. The distraction allowed Roode to chuck Big E into the steel steps. McIntyre tried encouraging Big E as they went to break.
The heels continued to work over Big E as Corey Graves suggested that McIntyre wasn’t helping because he wanted Big E softened up for Thursday. Big E finally did fight off Ziggler and tagged in McIntyre who suplexed Roode and Ziggler. McIntyre gave Roode a neckbreaker before giving Ziggler a reverse Alabama Slam on top of Roode.
Ziggler yanked Big E off the apron and the distraction allowed Roode to give McIntyre a spinebuster. Roode hoisted Ziggler in the air for an elevated Fameasser for two. Ziggler missed a Stinger splash and McIntyre headbutted Roode.
Big E hopped back on the apron, McIntyre tagged him in and he hit a Big Ending for the pinfall win.
Big E couldn’t celebrate for long because McIntyre grabbed him and offered a handshake. Big E shook his hand as they spoke about Thursday. McIntyre was about to leave but Big E grabbed him and they continued to talk trash.
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The Street Profits did a backstage promo. They spoke about being back on Raw and the match between RK-Bro and AJ Styles and Omos. They claimed Omos was the one doing all the work for their team.
Styles and Omos happened to be nearby and they interrupted. Styles said they would be the new champs after Thursday and if the Street Profits gave RK-Bro enough of a beating tonight, maybe they would be at the top of the list of new challengers. The Street Profits laughed in Styles’ face.
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There was a Kevin Owens video package.
Mansoor defeated Cedric Alexander (w/Shelton Benjamin) (3:44)
They had a nice match for the time they had and Mansoor won with a slingshot neckbreaker.
Mustafa Ali entered and issued a warning to Mansoor for Thursday. Mansoor told him to shut up and cut a passionate promo saying he would prove Ali was a pathetic excuse of a man. Ali acted like he was caught off guard by Mansoor’s sudden confidence.
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Naomi, The Miz, Maryse, and Drew McIntyre will be guests on Top Chef: Family Style on Peacock.
Bobby Lashley/Goldberg interview
The interview took place with each man appearing on video in separate rooms. Goldberg threatened Lashley who pointed out that his threats were criminal and he was doing it on live TV. Lashley was going to let Goldberg talk because Lashley was untouchable in the ring. Lashley wondered what Goldberg’s son would tell his friends.
Goldberg warned him that the more he says about his family, the more he’ll make him suffer. Lashley said Goldberg can only hope to survive and he would be begging him for forgiveness. Goldberg wondered if Lashley even believed what he was saying. Lashley took off his mic and left. Goldberg’s last line was “Safe travels. Kill ya Thursday, Bobby.”
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Riddle spoke to Randy Orton in the back. He was impressed that Orton pretended not to have a plan last week and was worried for a moment that Orton wouldn’t save him. Orton assured him that he did not have a plan. Riddle didn’t believe him. Riddle said the Street Profits saying they want the smoke gave him a lot of ideas. Orton cut him off and said he did have a plan: to win tonight and win on Thursday. Riddle was pumped.
There was a video package for Keith Bearcat Lee. The graphic said “Bearcat Lee” but Graves still called him Keith. (They added a roaring noise to the end of the video package. I think it was a bear.)
Non-title match: Raw Tag Team Champions Randy Orton & Riddle defeated The Street Profits via DQ (10:23)
Riddle wiped out Angelo Dawkins with a dive before Montez Ford wiped out both Riddle and Orton with a big flip dive. This led to break.
Orton knocked down Ford with a clothesline and Riddle followed with a spinning gutwrench slam (which could become a new regular spot for Riddle — even Orton was impressed). Dawkins tagged in and ran wild on Riddle, hitting a double underhook neckbreaker for two. Orton made a hot tag and gave Ford a draping DDT.
Orton set up for an RKO but was distracted by Styles’ music. Orton looked to the stage to see Omos but turned around and ate a Phenomenal forearm by Styles for the DQ. Styles and Omos laid out both teams as the crowd booed. Orton got back to his feet so Omos knocked him down with his infamous roundhouse kick.
They were having a fun match before the finish.
(They crossed into the third hour during this match.)
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There was a Becky Lynch video package.
Doudrop did another cringy pre-taped promo. Zelina Vega entered to watch from the stage. She put on the crown.
Queen’s Crown semifinal: Doudrop defeated Shayna Baszler (2:47)
I rounded up to get the match time to 2:47.
Baszler used kicks until Doudrop nailed a back suplex and followed with a cannonball. Baszler applied the Kirifuda Clutch but Doudrop managed to escape. She tried a running crossbody but Baszler avoided it and applied the submission again. The move was in for a while until Doudrop fell back into a cover for the pinfall win. Baszler was stunned.
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Nikki ASH and Rhea Ripley approached Belair in the back to welcome her to Raw. Nikki gave her a red Raw-branded baseball hat.
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Finn Bálor defeated Mace (2:45)
Bálor won a nothing match with the Coup de Grace.
Xavier Woods was watching from the platform on the stage and mocked Bálor’s entrance as his music played after the match. Bálor was unamused. Woods pointed the scepter at him so Bálor yanked it away which caused him to trip off the platform (he landed on his feet). They got in each others’ faces as Kingston came out to make sure nothing happened. They talked about Thursday. (Woods did most of the talking.) This bit was good.
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John Morrison was meditating backstage when he was once again rudely interrupted, this time by the Viking Raiders. They did some comedy until the Raiders left and Morrison returned to meditating.
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The announcers ran down Thursday’s card.
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair defeated Charlotte Flair via DQ (21:45)
Belair had the early edge until Charlotte yanked her out of the ring and chucked her over the announce table which led to break two minutes into the match.
Belair was actually on offense after the break until Charlotte cut her off and hit a back suplex. Charlotte tried to do Belair’s handspring moonsault but Belair got her knees up and did the move herself. Belair followed with a delayed vertical suplex for two. Belair tried a splash but Charlotte got her knees up and followed with a deadlift powerbomb for two.
Charlotte (who was bleeding from the mouth) hit a moonsault for two. A series of counters led to Belair hitting a spinebuster but Charlotte rolled out of the ring. Charlotte wouldn’t get back in the ring so Belair went after her and chucked her over the announce table which led to break.
During the break, Charlotte hit a slingshot dive and a series of counters after the break led to Charlotte hitting (missing) a boot. Charlotte knocked Belair out of the ring and hit a moonsault off the top. She tried Natural Selection but Belair countered into a backslide for two.
They exchanged counters again until Charlotte hit a spear for a nearfall. Charlotte yanked Belair to the corner using her braid. Charlotte missed a moonsault and Belair hit a release German suplex for a nearfall. They battled on the top turnbuckle until Belair hit a sunset flip powerbomb.
Charlotte suddenly hit Belair with a chair for the DQ, bringing this match to a screeching halt. Belair grabbed the chair and hit Charlotte.
This was a pretty good match until the finish. The crowd was really into it but it was hard to tell how they liked the finish because they abruptly went off the air.