WWE Monday Night Raw: Charlotte Flair defeats Asuka

WWE Monday Night Raw go home edition comes before WWE Backlash.

A few short days remain before the next WWE PPV, Backlash, which is set for this Sunday. With multiple title matches and several other editions, this looks to be a solid card. The “go home” edition of Monday Night Raw helped further all those angles heading into the event.

The ladies of the WWE started the night off once again as Asuka, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Bayley and the IIconics found themselves face-to-face in the middle of the ring. As is customary within the WWE, the fact that these groups do not see eye-to-eye led to a triple-threat match between the teams.

Even though Charlotte Flair and Asuka have a heated rivalry a year over, they would find success as a pair when Asuka forced Billie Kay to tap out to the Asuka lock. That victory was not enough to stop Flair from getting the upper hand as she would attack Asuka after the match, leading into their one-on-one showcase later in the evening.

Seth Rollins continued to take shots at Rey Mysterio after attempting to injure him a few weeks ago. Aleister Black attempted to make the save by attacking Rollins while he spoke to Mysterio, who was at home. Austin Theory and Murphy would come out to help Rollins, which would lead to another tag team match. Black paired with Humberto Carrillo and they were once again victorious over the team of Theory and Murphy. Still, Rollins and his crew would jump the duo with Rollins focusing on Black to deliver his message.

Apollo Crews is looking for a No. 1 contender for his United States title and that was to be decided by a triple-threat match featuring Kevin Owens, Andrade and Angel Garza. Garza and Andrade jumped Owens from the very start until things predictably broke down. Each man was looking out for his own best interests and an opportunity to compete for a title at Backlash. Garza and Andrade got into a pushing match outside the ring and they knocked Vega over, forcing her to be escorted to the back.

The match would restart as each man fought valiantly for the victory. The finish came when Owens hit a stunner on Garza but before he could go for the pin, Andrade knocked him away and pinned his tag team partner, getting the victory for himself. Now that sets the stage for Andrade to challenge the man who beat him for the United States title on the PPV this Sunday.

Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre set for massive showdown

Lashley is ready for his title shot against Drew McIntyre at Backlash, but before he could do that, he and MVP teamed to face off against the Viking Raiders. McIntyre and the Street Profits were ringside as they had a vested interest in all aspects of this match.

This was a competitive contest as both teams had their moments. But the finish would come with Lashley locked in the Full Nelson on Erik and forced the former tag team champion to tap out. The intensity was there between Lashley and McIntyre, and they would have a brief exchange when McIntyre hit Lashley with the Claymore to get him to release Ivar from the Full Nelson.

Asuka and Flair have had one of the best WWE rivalries in recent memory. That continued when they faced off in the main event of the evening. The women’s tag team champions wanted to get a closer look at the action as Banks and Bayley joined at ringside. They would heckle the action in the ring until the IIconics would attack them, getting them from commentary and out of the limelight.

In the ring, Asuka and Flair had another one of their hard-hitting, back-and-forth matches. They exchanged a high volume of strikes and holds to show off their technical acumen. These two women hit each other with all they could from start to finish but could not put each other away. The finish would come with Nia Jax making an appearance to distract Asuka, creating enough room for Flair to get the drop on the champion for the win, bouncing back from losing the WWE NXT title the night before.

WWE Backlash is five days away and all the Monday Night Raw angles are set. Asuka, Crews and McIntyre are heading into the event as champions, but there is no telling what direction WWE will go in once the PPV kicks off. Tune in Sunday to find out.

WWE Monday Night Raw results for June 8

• Charlotte and Asuka defeat the IIconics and Sasha Banks and Bayley in a tag team triple-threat match
• Aleister Black and Humberto Carrillo defeat Austin Theory and Murphy
• Andrade defeats Angel Garza and Kevin Owens for a shot at the United States Title
• Bobby Lashley and MVP defeat the Viking Raiders
• Charlotte Flair defeats Asuka