WWE Monday Night Raw: Braun Strowman fired - and rehired
Tuesday 16 January 2018 08:51, UK
Kurt Angle fired Braun Strowman on WWE Monday Night Raw but was made to rehire him on Stephanie McMahon's orders.
Raw general manager Angle made the decision to dispense with Strowman after his backstage rampage on last week's episode, which saw the Monster Among Men pull down a lighting rig onto Kane and Brock Lesnar.
WWE Late Night Raw
That action was too much for Angle, who axed Strowman and therefore eliminated him from the triple threat match for the WWE Universal title at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view later this month.
Enraged by the decision, Strowman embarked on another trail of destruction, this time turning over another vehicle - a production truck - after doing the same to an ambulance which contained Roman Reigns last year.
Strowman was about to inflict further damage on the Raw commentary team before Angle intervened with the news from McMahon that he had been rehired and reinstated in the title match.
That seems to soothe the Monster, who still threw lead commentator Michael Cole off the ramp and into a group of security guards for good measure.
Rollins scores big win over Balor
Seth Rollins brought out his old finisher to put away Finn Balor in a hard-hitting match which left the latter grounded in the ring for some time after the match finished.
There was also a curious moment during the match when Jason Jordan intervened on Rollins' behalf to trip Balor as he ran the ropes.
Sheamus and Cesaro also made a ringside appearance to battle with Jordan as the uneasy friendship between him and Rollins continues to bubble away.
Asuka's winning streak continues
Nia Jax hobbled away from her first main roster match against Asuka, whose winning streak was maintained by a victory by referee stoppage.
In a contest which featured several submission attempts by the Empress of Tomorrow and a pure power game by Jax, it was the former who emerged on top after Jax was unable to stand after a brutal kick to the knee.
In a reverse of last week's events, Jax was then consoled by Enzo Amore, whose company Jax selected ahead of that of her best friend, Alexa Bliss.
WWE Monday Night Raw is repeated in full on Tuesdays at 9pm on Sky Sports Arena.
