WWE Raw Results 8/22/16

(c) WWE

The show opened with Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon in the ring to introduce WWE Universal Champion Finn Bálor. Bálor thanked the crowd and relinquished the title due to injury. As Finn was leaving, Rollins made his entrance and assumed he would be crowned the true champion. Sami Zayn came out to disagree, as did Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Enzo Amore and Big Cass, and Roman Reigns. Foley announced there would be a series of matches tonight, leading up to crowning a new champion next week. It was later revealed the tournament final would be a Fatal 4-Way match.

1. Universal Championship Qualifier: Seth Rollins defeated Sami Zayn. Rollins advanced to the final when he was able to take advantage of Zayn “injuring” his ankle. Rollins countered a brainbuster attempt and hit the Pedigree for the pinfall victory.

2. Universal Championship Qualifier: Kevin Owens defeated Neville. Chris Jericho was at ringside and distracted the referee when Neville went for the Red Arrow. A short time later, Owens was able to hit the Argentine neckbreaker for the win.

3. Big E defeated Karl Anderson. Luke Gallows tried to interfere, but Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods overwhelmed him. Big E hit the Big Ending to get the pin.

— Titus O’Neil cut a promo blaming Bob Backlund for all his ills. Backlund finally came out and got laid out by Titus. Darren Young came to Backlund’s aid and got hit with Clash of the Titus.

— Backstage, Stephanie says Brock Lesnar crossed the line last night and there will be repercussions.

4. Universal Championship Qualifier: Big Cass defeated Rusev. Rusev was nursing bruised ribs following SummerSlam. After taking a beating from Cass, Rusev opted to take a countout loss.

— Charlotte and Dana Brooke came out to run down Sasha Banks and the women’s division. This led to Mick Foley congratulating her and introducing Bayley, who made her full-time main roster debut and challenged Charlotte for her women’s title.

5. Bayley defeated Dana Brooke. Bayley won a competitive match with the Bayley To Belly.

6. Braun Strowman defeated Johnny Knockout. Strowman won in short order with the reverse chokeslam, then beat up Knockout again and demanded the referee count a second pinfall.

— The Dudley Boyz came out to announce their retirement and thank the crowd. When they were done, the Shining Stars came out to insult them and present them with two tickets to Puerto Rico. The Dudleys beat them up in response. Anderson and Gallows then came out to blindside and beat down the Dudley Boyz, ending with putting D-Von through a table with the Magic Killer.

7. Universal Championship Qualifier: Roman Reigns defeated Chris Jericho. Owens attempted to interfere on Jericho’s behalf, but Reigns got the pin after a spear to become the fourth person in next week’s Fatal 4-Way to determine a new Universal Champion.