The latest episode of WWE "Raw" came from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. It featured the final build-up towards this Sunday's "Great Balls of Fire" 2017 pay-per-view. Early on in the night, fans heard from Enzo Amore, who had finally had enough of his former tag team partner Big Cass. Enzo delivered a fired up promo in the ring and talked about the match he'll have against Cass at Sunday's PPV. Cass was interviewed backstage after watching Enzo on the monitor, but Enzo attacked him, leading to a brief brawl. That set the stage for the rest of the WWE "Raw" results which featured matches and other highlights of note.

Match results

A women's tag match opened the show with Sasha Banks and Bayley teaming against women's champ Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax. Before a commercial break, Nia did damage to Bayley throwing her off the apron into the barricade and then hitting a running knee on her. Once "Raw" returned, it was revealed that Bayley was helped backstage, leaving Sasha on her own. "The Boss" managed to kick Jax off the apron late and put the Bank Statement on Alexa Bliss, forcing her to tap ahead of their "Raw" women's title match on Sunday.

The WWE Cruiserweights were in action as Noam Dar competed against Cedric Alexander. Alicia Fox was ringside for her man Noam, but she had to watch as her boyfriend was pinned after Alexander hit the Lumbar Check.

There was a Miz segment in the ring with The Miz, Maryse, Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas. Miz talked up how he exposed the Ball Family for what they were: overrated and overhyped. He proclaimed Lonzo Ball will be the biggest bust in draft history and let the Lakers down like Steven Nash did to Phoenix. He ran down Dean Ambrose for supporting the Big Baller Brand.

Dean Ambrose came out to demand an IC title rematch. Heath Slater and Rhyno came out with Slater saying he's the last guy to defeat Miz in the ring and said he should get a title shot. Kurt Angle came out and told Miz he'd defend the title tonight against Slater and on Sunday against Ambrose. In a match that lasted over 13 minutes, Miz defeated Slater via pinfall thanks to Skullcrushing Finale and some distraction on the outside as Rhyno and Axel fought.

Post-match saw the heels gang up on Slater with Ambrose going for a save, only to get hit by Skullcrushing Finale.

There was an in-ring segment with Goldust showing off "movie footage" of his attack on R-Truth in the ring last week. As the video clip ended, Truth had got into the ring and was standing behind Goldust eating popcorn. He attacked Goldust, ran him through the ropes, and then into a ring post. Goldust eventually fled by backing up the ramp.

Sheamus and Cesaro met with "Raw" GM Kurt Angle backstage. He told them they would compete in a 30-minute Iron Match match against the Hardy Boyz at the PPV. The tag team champs agreed. Cesaro asked for some competition tonight and told Angle he wanted Finn Balor.

Seth Rollins defeated Curt Hawkins via pinfall in nine seconds after connecting on his finisher. Rollins cut a promo after the match promising to reveal Wyatt as not being a god. He said the question will be if Wyatt is a man or a coward?

They had backstage side-by-side interviews with Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe. Cole tried to ask questions but Joe told him he'd ask the questions to Lesnar. Things got heated in the verbal sparring, and Joe got up from his interview room to go look for Lesnar. He found the room Lesnar and Heyman were in and tried to get through the door but was stopped by security and WWE personnel. Brock said calmly for him to "Come on, Joe." Joe yelled he would put Lesnar down on Sunday.

The Cruiserweight Champion Neville was in action in a non-title bout against Mustafa Ali. Neville picked up the win in just over six minutes after hitting a clothesline and then locking on Rings of Saturn to make Ali tap out.

Finn Balor defeated Cesaro via pinfall in a match that lasted 15 minutes. The close saw Elias Samson come to ringside with his guitar. The Hardy Boyz came to the ring area to fight with Samson and Sheamus. Balor hit a running dropkick on Cesaro and then the Coup de Grace inside the ring for the pin.

Braun's main event match

Earlier in the night, the monstrous Braun Strowman had demanded some competition tonight on "Raw" from GM Kurt Angle. He told the GM that he didn't think Roman Reigns would be medically able to compete on Sunday.

Angle assured Strowman Reigns would be there and that everyone was booked tonight. However, Titus O'Neil talked his client Apollo Crews into fighting Strowman.

Unfortunately for Crews and the Titus Brand, things didn't go their way. There was an ambulance already parked near the stage ahead of the match. After a four-minute bout, Strowman grabbed the win by power slamming Crews. Post-match, he went for another slam but Titus got in the ring. Strowman and Titus trash-talked a bit and then Titus tried to punch Braun, only to get power slammed down. From there, Strowman brought Crews up to the ambulance near the stage and tossed Apollo in the back.

He slammed the door shut and slapped the back of the ambulance for it to leave. It didn't. He slapped it again and the siren went off but it didn't leave. After slapping the ambulance a third, time the siren went silent.

Strowman went to the cab to look in the driver's door and Roman Reigns came out with a punch. The two fought a bit on stage, but Reigns got the upper hand. He hit a huge spear to take Strowman off the stage through a table with boxes on it. Kurt Angle and referees came out to check on both guys. Eventually, Strowman got up and leaned against the ambulance. Reigns knelt on one knee on the stage. The commentators wondered if Reigns would have anything left to give at Sunday's PPV.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED