Ringside Intel brings you live play-by-play, results and viewing party for tonight’s WWE Monday Night Raw (10/22/2018) broadcast. Pre-show starts at 7:50 pm EST and the main show at 8 pm EST. D-Generation X returns to Raw. Tweet and follow @RingsideIntel on Twitter.

Monday Night Raw: 8 pm EST

Show opens up and Universal Champion Roman Reigns comes out to the ring. He says he told the fans he’d be a fighting champion and a workhorse… but that’s all lies. That’s all lies because his real name is Joe and he’s been living with leukaemia for years. And because of that leukaemia he won’t be able to be that fighting champion and fulfil his role. When he was 22 years old he was diagnosed with this. He was quickly able to put it in remission but he was then surrounded by obstacles.

It was the WWE that gave him a chance. They put him in front of the WWE Universe and they have made his life a dream come true. Reigns thanks everyone so much for always giving him the most of their energies. The crowd starts a clap and a chant of “Thank you Roman!” He says he must go home now and focus on his family and his health. An emotional Reigns clarifies that this is not a retirement speech. After he whoops leukaemia’s ass again he’ll be coming back because he wants to show everyone that when life throws a curveball at him, he will wind up and swing for the fences every time. Reigns says he will beat this and everyone will see him again very soon.

The crowd chants Reigns’ name and gives him all their thanks as he lays the title belt in the middle of the ring.

As Reigns gets to the main stage, his Shield brothers Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose come out to console him. They all have saddened and emotional looks on their faces as they touch fists, their music starting to play at that moment.

***

Singles Match: Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley (with Lio Rush)

Rush does a heel promo and then the match starts. Lashley takes control early. Balor tries to get back in it but Rush distracts him. Balor ends up chasing Rush around the ring but runs into a big shot from Lashley that levels him on the floor. Commercial break.

Balor mounts a comeback and they have some back and forth exchanges. Lashley hits a Samoan drop but then Balor levels Lashley. Balor goes for a Coup De Grace but Lashley moves and clobbers Balor. Lashley signals for the end but Balor sneaks a quick rollup for the victory.

Winner: Finn Balor

Lashley is furious after the match as he paces angrily around the ring, with Balor celebrating on the main stage.

***

Singles Match: Sasha Banks (with Bayley & Natalya) vs. Ruby Riott (with the Riott Squad)

Match begins and Banks gains the advantage as Ruby scampers into the ropes for salvation. Ruby seizes an opening and takes control of the match and she bullies Banks around. Commercial break.

Back again and Ruby is still dominating. She hits an STO and gets a near-fall. Ruby shows her annoyance and then puts Banks in a submission. Banks finally starts to comeback and she lands a series of dropkicks. She nails Ruby with Meteora and then hits a Backstabber into Bank Statement. Sarah Logan tries to run in but Bayley runs in and stops her. A brawl ensues on the outside and Banks comes out and swings on the Riott Squad. As banks gets back in the ring, Ruby hits the Riott Kick for the win.

Winner: Ruby Riott (with the Riott Squad)

***

The Brothers of Destruction cut a promo on DX.

***

D-Generation X comes out to the ring. They cut a promo on the brothers of destruction ahead of their match at Crown Jewel. They’re about to say “Suck it” when the Brothers of Destruction come on the big screen and cut another promo.

***

Paul Heyman is in the ring. He has a serious and emotional look on his face, as he prepares to address Roman Reigns’ remarks from earlier. He says his thoughts and his prayers are with the champion known as Roman Reigns. It is humbling to be amongst the members of the locker room tonight, and to have been in the presence of such courage and such greatness, says Heyman. Heyman says he has to explain to his children tonight something about this industry. What everyone witnessed was not just courage, but sacrifice.

He says Reigns sacrificed his aspirations as a champion because he couldn’t fulfil his own demands. That’s exactly what the title deserves. Every fan has a right to point at that title and say the man that holds it is the best. And until earlier tonight, the WWE Universe got to brag that Roman Reigns was that man. But Reigns would be the first to say the show must go on. And so it will at Crown Jewel. Only Braun Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar. And they will both show up to determine the new best and that sure won’t be Strowman, says Heyman.

Heyman goes off saying how Strowman isn’t in Lesnar’s league, not even the same stratusphere, or species. But then Strowman’s music hits and he comes out to the main stage. Strowman eyes Heyman down and tells Heyman to tells Lesnar he’s going to beat his ass all over Crown Jewel. And then he’s bringing the Universal Championship back to Raw every single Monday. Strowman says Lesnar will “Get these hands”. Drew McIntyre suddenly blindsides Strowman and lays him out with a Claymore in the aisle.