WWE Raw report: John Cena makes impact in front of Triple H on Monday night

A star-studded Highlight Reel led to a monumental main event on Monday’s episode of Raw.

Chris Jericho thought he was welcoming only Randy Orton onto his oft-controversial talk show in Des Moines, Iowa, but was also confronted by The Viper’s cronies, Triple H, Kane and Seth Rollins.

Jericho launched plenty of insults towards his guests, in particular to Triple H, but chat soon turned to the WWE World Heavyweight Title, with The Game revealing that he was having second thoughts about letting John Cena battle Brock Lesnar at Night of Champions.

Cena, who was crushed by Lesnar at SummerSlam, took umbrage at Triple H’s comments and vowed to reclaim sports entertainment’s ultimate prize on September 21 – and sue The Cerebral Assassin if he denied him his mandatory rematch.

Tensions on the Highlight Reel, which Roman Reigns also decided to attend, cranked up and finally Triple H pitted Orton, Kane and Rollins against Cena, Jericho and Reigns in a colossal six-man tag tussle later in the night to decide which Superstar was fit to combat Lesnar.

Unfortunately for WWE’s Chief Operating Officer, that Superstar looks like Cena.

The Chain Gang Soldier – despite being told by Paul Heyman that he would be smashed by Lesnar should the two cross paths later this month in Nashville – hit Kane with an Attitude Adjustment right in front of Triple H, allowing Reigns to record the pinfall.

The next challenger for Paige’s Divas Championship remains a mystery, with THREE potential opponents rearing their heads on Monday night: Brie and Nikki Bella and AJ Lee.

Nikki’s continued insistence that she grew up alongside an evil twin sister in Brie encouraged Stephanie McMahon to nominate the Arizona-born grappler as Paige’s newest rival.

Brie was annoyed at this news, though, and decided to respond by attacking her sibling and knocking her into Paige, who had wandered to the ring to air her feelings on the title situation.

The Brit lost grip of her belt and it was swiftly picked up by Lee, the Diva Paige overcame at SummerSlam, with the Black Widow gazing intently at the strap before handing it over to McMahon.

Goldust and Stardust, meanwhile, remain keen to fight for the WWE Tag Team Championships once again and made a statement on Raw at the expense of current titlists The Usos.

Goldust vanquished Jimmy Uso in singles action courtesy of The Final Cut, and The Bizarre One and his even more bizarre brother then attacked Jey Uso’s injured leg with a steel chair.

Elsewhere, Rusev interfered in Mark Henry and Big Show’s tag encounter with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, kicking Henry in the skull to ensure the heavyweight contest ended prematurely.

The World’s Strongest Man was always going to seek revenge and attempted to after Rusev had squashed Zack Ryder, though The Super Athlete fled before Henry could wallop him.

Jack Swagger’s rivalry with Bo Dallas also intensified, with The Real American – having defeated Curtis Axel – seeing his ‘inspirational’ foe roll out a number of folk who had supposedly been let down by Swagger’s loss to Rusev at SummerSlam.

Plus, The Miz and his stunt double, Damien Miz-Dow, teamed up to beat United States Champion Sheamus and Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler in a high-octane brawl, while Adam Rose bested Titus O’Neil – and then helped his bunny send Heath Slater crashing into the steel steps.

Watch WWE Night of Champions, live on Sky Sports 3 on Sunday, September 21.