The John Report: WWE Raw Deal 09/02/24 Review
It’s WWE Raw featuring two big triple threat matches, Alpha Academy takes on American Made, and more.
The Bash in Berlin PLE took place this past Saturday and I thought it was a great show. On the Raw side, GUNTHER beat Randy Orton to retain the World Heavyweight Title, CM Punk got a victory over Drew McIntyre in a Strap Match and The Terror Twins (Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest) beat The Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio. Also, the team of Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill regained the Women’s Tag Team Titles so they can travel to any brand at any time. Normally they are Smackdown talent, but now as champions, they can come to Raw, so that’s some added star power to the women’s division.
This is the final Raw episode of 2024 that won’t have NFL Monday Night Football competition against it. The NFL season starts Thursday and that means Mondays will have NFL games on ESPN (for those of you in the US) for the rest of the year. When NFL season arrives, it also means I don’t do a live Raw review during the season. These Raw reviews will be more of a Tuesday morning thing for the rest of the year.
Tonight’s Raw is also the start of ESPN’s Joe Tessitore officially joining WWE as the play-by-play guy with Wade Barrett in the analyst role. That will be the team for the rest of the year while Smackdown will have Michael Cole and Corey Graves for the rest of the year.
It’s also the fourth straight night of live WWE shows that I am reviewing since there was Smackdown last Friday, Bash in Berlin on Saturday and NXT No Mercy on Sunday night. I’ll be honest in saying I’m a bit burned out in terms of reviewing live wrestling shows. NXT is also on Tuesday and I’ll review that, but I usually do that on Wednesday morning. Anyway, the good thing is that most of these shows in this era are very good or great, so that makes it easier. I just think it can be a lot of pro wrestling to watch and review.
This is the Raw Deal for episode #1633 of Monday Night Raw. It’s taking place at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
The Raw commentary team of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett were in the ring to welcome us to the show. Wade introduced Joe to the crowd and Joe spoke about how excited he was to join the WWE broadcast team while mentioning Pat McAfee, Corey Graves and Michael Cole. Joe sucked up to the fans saying that the European PLE crowds reminded him of a Denver Broncos crowd, so the fans cheered. Joe mentioned Bash in Berlin, so that led to a video package.
Analysis: I have been listening to Joe call major sports like college football and boxing a lot over the years. Joe was also the lead announcer on NFL Monday Night Football for a few years too. He is a lifelong WWE fan who worked with WWE’s director Lee Fitting at ESPN, so he should do fine.
A video package aired showing WWE Bash In Berlin highlights.
There were arrivals shown from earlier today including the World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER, CM Punk, and we saw the new Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill walking backstage.
Let’s Hear from Rhea Ripley
There was a huge pop for Rhea Ripley making her entrance for a show opening promo. Ripley welcomed us to “Monday Night Mami” and then mentioned Bash in Berlin when Ripley & Damian Priest brutalized Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio. There were “Mami” chants for Ripley. Ripley said they aren’t done destroying The Judgment Day because they are just getting started. Ripley reminded us that she pinned the Women’s World Champion at Bash in Berlin, so she wants to get back the thing she never left in reference to the title.
Dominik Mysterio interrupted the promo with a black eye around his left eye. The fans were booing Dom loudly as usual. Ripley told Dom to get his little girlfriend before Rhea gives him another black eye. Dominik claimed that Liv was still recovering from what Rhea did to her at Bash In Berlin. Dominik claimed they were jetlagged and didn’t get any sleep for many reasons, but he was there to let Ripley know that Liv will accept her challenge. Dominik was getting booed loudly again as he said that Liv wasn’t afraid Ripley. Dom said Liv beat Ripley before and she’ll beat her again. Ripley spoke in Spanish telling Dom he was stupid. Ripley said that she would face Liv any time and any place. That’s when Liv showed up for a cheap attack, but Ripley was ready with a back elbow that knocked Morgan down. Morgan hit Ripley from behind and Ripley’s left foot was caught between the ropes. Morgan kissed Ripley on the cheek. Damian Priest went down to the ring to help Ripley and then Dominik ran away with Liv in the back part of the arena. Ripley was selling the left leg injury.
Analysis: It was a good opening segment with the fans loving everything Rhea Ripley had to say and obviously hating Dominik Mysterio heavily. Ripley pinning Liv does mean that Ripley will likely get a Women’s World Title shot, but that might not happen until Bad Blood on October 5th, so there’s no rush to announce it. Liv showing up for the cheap attack and failing shows how strong Ripley is as a face. The spot with Ripley’s left foot getting caught in the ropes was well done and set up Priest to make the save so the heels could retreat.
A replay was shown of last week’s Raw when Uncle Howdy beat Chad Gable in the main event.
Chad Gable was backstage with his American Made stable (The Creed Brothers & Ivy Nile). Gable said that last week did not represent who they are as a team. Gable said they aren’t there to mess around this week. Gable said he needs to see that they are sick and tired of it too. Brutus Creed flipped over a table and Chad slapped Julius Creed. The group walked out to the arena for their match.
American Made entered the ring for their six-person mixed tag team match
A commercial aired saying that starting next week it’s WWE Week on USA Network with Raw, NXT and Smackdown all having limited commercial interruptions.
(Commercial)
Rhea Ripley was backstage selling her left leg injury. Priest said he’s going to find Raw GM Adam Pearce so he can face one of The Judgment Day fools. Priest told Ripley to let the medical team check her out and she agreed.
Alpha Academy – Otis, Akira Tozawa & Maxxine Dupri vs. American Made – Julius Creed, Brutus Creed & Ivy Nile (w/Chad Gable)
The ring announcer was Alicia Taylor instead of Samantha Irvin. Taylor did the announcing duties on NXT No Mercy in the same arena one night earlier.
American Made attacked Alpha Academy as soon as the bell rang. Brutus worked over Tozawa with punches. Tozawa hit a spinning kick on Julius. When Otis tagged in, Julius bailed to the floor. Otis ran over Brutus with a clothesline, but Julius was there with another running knee. Julius hit Otis with a knee to the chin. Julius jumped off the top, Otis caught him and Otis hit a front slam. Nile tagged in and slapped, so Dupri was legal and dropkicked Nile to knock her down. Otis was back in so he used Tozawa to knock down the Creed Brothers like it was an airplane spin. Dupri went onto the ring post and dove onto the three American Made wrestlers on the floor. That led to a break.
(Commercial)
American Made was in control of Tozawa with a slam. Brutus hit a springboard moonsault on Tozawa for two. Julius tagged in, but Tozawa came back with a jumping DDT to stop him. Otis was back in with spinning back elbow and a lefty clothesline. Otis hit a back body drop on Brutus and a back drop on Julius too. Otis hit a running splash on Julius. Otis did his Caterpillar into the elbow drop and the fans popped huge for it. Brutus tagged in and Otis hit a running body attack on him for two because Julius made the save. Tozawa saved Otis with a German Suplex and Tozawa sent Brutus out of the ring. Tozawa hit a suicide dive on Brutus. Julius caught a leaping Tozawa and suplexed Tozawa on the floor. Otis knocked Julius off the apron into the barricade. Brutus tagged in with a Brutus Ball on Otis. Dupri tagged in with a running knee on Nile and a suplex. Dupri hit a spinning kick Dupri did a reverse Worm and then kicked Gable off the apron. Nile was back up with a kick on Dupri. Nile applied a Dragon Sleeper on Dupri, who tapped out. It went about 10 minutes.
Winners by submission: American Made – Julius Creed, Brutus Creed & Ivy Nile
Analysis: *** I thought it was a pretty good match with the babyface team of Alpha Academy getting a lot of crowd support to make it a fun match. Otis was beloved by the fans as usual. Dupri had some cool spots in the match and she is improving. The Creeds are terrific and Tozawa is always entertaining too. Gable getting on the apron led to Dupri hitting him, so Nile capitalized for the win. The right team got the win here.
Post match, Chad Gable wanted a round of applause for the greatest fighting family in all of WWE, American Made. Gable said last week was supposed to be a one-on-one match between him and Howdy, but he got his freakshow family involved. Gable said he knows what it takes to beat them. Gable said that they want an 8-man Tag Team Match. It should be 8-person, not 8-man, so he said it wrong. Gable wanted it to be a Street Fight. Chad told them to pick any four freaks you want.
The Wyatt Sicks group interrupted because the lights went out. Uncle Howdy said 375 days his sanity crumbled. Howdy said his path is in the void now. Howdy said that the silence was deafening, but he could still hear it. Howdy claimed that his life is no longer his, so who is he to neglect him in his undoing? Howdy said you gambled your very being and they will collect the debt. The rest of The Wyatt Sicks group appeared. Some Wyatt Sicks graphics were shown to end it.
Analysis: It’s a big match for next week since the story between American Made and the Wyatt Sicks has been going on for a long time, so next week’s match could be a feud-ender. I assume the Wyatt Sicks win that match.
The two triple threat matches are still to come.
This week on NXT: Trick Williams faces Pete Dunne and more of the fallout from NXT No Mercy.
(Commercial)
Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler (w/Sonya Deville & Zoey Stark)
Vega knocked down Baszler and tried to stomp on the arm, but Baszler avoided it. Vega avoided Baszler’s attack by the turnbuckle and Vega did a 619 kick to the shins. Vega dropkicked Baszler out of the ring.
(Commercial)
Baszler was in control when the match returned. Vega jumped off the turnbuckle, Baszler caught her, but Vega got out of it and then Vega hit a DDT. Vega went up top and jumped off with a moonsault for two. Vega kicked Stark in the back while she was on the apron and Vega jumped onto Deville on the floor. That allowed Baszler to kick Vega or maybe it was a knee and Baszler covered Vega for the win. It went about seven minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Shayna Baszler
Analysis: **1/2 It was one of those matches where Vega was given about 80% of the offense and then she lost to one move by Baszler. That was because Vega took her eye off her opponent and was too focused on the women on the floor. Anyway, we only saw about four minutes of action due to the commercial in the middle of the match.
After the match, the Pure Fusion Collective stomped on Vega, but Lyra Valkyria showed up for the save attempt. That didn’t work after Stark hit a superkick and Deville hit a reverse DDT with an elbow drop. Baszler nailed Vega with a rising knee to the jaw. Sonya Deville did a promo about how great it felt to see those women on the mat like that. Deville dared anybody to step up and shoot your shot.
Analysis: I think WWE has done a nice job of making the Pure Fusion Collective group look like a threat.
Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley were chatting backstage with a brace on her left knee along with a crutch. Ripley said she’ll be fine. Priest said Pearce told him that Finn Balor would only face in a tag team match, so Priest had a find a partner even though nobody liked him. Ripley said she’ll find him a partner and Priest said tell him what he says. Yeet.
CM Punk was shown walking backstage for a promo up next.
This Friday on SmackDown, Solo Sikoa is coming for Cody Rhodes. It’s the final Smackdown on Fox.
(Commercial)
Zelina Vega was backstage with Lyra Valkyria about how frustrated they are with the Pure Fusion Collective. Lyra said she had an idea while remarking they are in Calgary next week.
Analysis: That was Lyra teasing the return of Natalya, who grew up in Calgary and has been off for a few months. That means they’ll bring back Natalya next week to help Lyra & Zelina. I like that idea a lot.
Let’s Hear from CM Punk
CM Punk made his entrance to a huge ovation as usual. Punk took his time getting into the ring and he was in a great mood after his win at Bash In Berlin. Punk said that he can’t wait to get home to his lovely wife and dog, but he had to make a pit stop to celebrate with you. Punk asked who saw Bash In Berlin. Punk said that the Strap Match was one of the toughest matches he has been in. Punk said that it was a personal issue for him. Punk spoke about how now that that personal issue is away, we get to get down to business because he’s a business…man. Punk said he’s not here to make friends, he’s here to make money. Punk said he would take that money any way he could get it. Punk made a reference to Patrick Roy, a former Colorado Avalanche goalie.
Punk spoke about Gunther saying that he took Randy Orton to his limit and he went past it. Punk said that Gunther is the champion, so congratulations. Punk said that he put Drew McIntyre to sleep and it’s time that CM Punk woke up as champion. Punk told Gunther congratulations and told him to enjoy it because “we” are going to enjoy taking it off of you. Punk said that the goal is Gunther and we’re going to celebrate. Punk told them to hit his music. Punk went on top of the commentary table to celebrate, but that was a mistake because Drew McIntyre showed up to trip Punk on the commentary table. Drew had a hoodie on.
Drew McIntyre was ramming Punk’s head into the hood of the commentary table. Wade Barrett tried to calm Drew down because Wade is one of Drew’s best friends. Drew nailed Punk with a running Claymore Kick that knocked Punk off the commentary table. One of Punk’s shoes came off as well. Drew tossed Punk into the ring. Drew nailed Punk with another Claymore Kick in the ring. Drew told Punk that it would never be over. There were WWE Producers in the ring trying to calm Drew down. Drew took Punk’s beloved bracelet off his left wrist and Drew stared at the bracelet. Drew ripped the bracelet apart and he shoved the beads in Punk’s mouth. The WWE Producers trio of Jason Jordan, Ken Doane & Shawn Daivari tried to hold Drew back again. Drew hit Punk with another Claymore Kick. Adam Pearce and referees came out to try to stop Drew again. The EMTs went down to ringside with a stretcher for Punk as Drew was helped to the back.
Analysis: Great segment. I mentioned this in the Bash in Berlin review that I didn’t expect the Punk-McIntyre feud to be over just because Punk won a match, so this is what I expected to happen. I think we all assume that Punk and Drew are going to have a Hell in a Cell Match at the Bad Blood PLE on October 5th, which should be an incredible match when it happens. Drew ripping up the bracelet will make this personal rivalry even more personal and it also ends the bracelet story, but it will make Punk want to get revenge. Drew is performing at such a high level all the time as arguably the best performer in WWE right now. CM Punk being happy made sense, which made the cheap attack by Drew even better because it pissed off the fans so much. I thought this was very well done.
(Commercial)
CM Punk was on a stretcher and he was getting wheeled to the backstage area. They replayed what happened before the break. Punk was getting wheeled to the ambulance, but Drew McIntyre showed up to attack again. Punk was bleeding around the mouth. Referees got Drew out of there as they tried to get Punk into the stretcher.
Analysis: That’s a simple way to get more heat on Drew for doing a cheap attack like that.
Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament Semifinals: Dominik Mysterio vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Dragon Lee
Dominik tried to fight both guys, so Lee & Ilja tossed Dom from the ring easily. Lee hit a running hurricanrana on Ilja. Dom tripped up Lee and hit a senton splash on Lee. Dom kicked Ilja down. Dominik gave Lee a Michinoku Driver for two. Ilja chopped Dom down followed by Ilja giving Dom two German Suplexes and Dom held Lee so there was a double German Suplex and all three guys were down.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Ilja giving Lee a Powerbomb and an H-Bomb forearm, but Dominik was there to break up the pin with a Frog Splash. There were multiple nearfalls after that. Ilja blocked a 619 attempt from Dom followed by a kick to the sternum. Ilja gave Dom a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Lee jumped over the top leading to a hurricanrana on Ilja on the apron to the floor. Carlito shoved Lee down in this match with no disqualifications because it’s a triple threat. Damian Priest went down to the ring and he nailed Carlito with punches and kicks. Dominik kicked Priest, so Priest chased Dominik out of the back part of the arena. Ilja and Lee exchanged strikes followed by a jumping kick. Lee hit a kick and Ilja hit a jumping kick. Lee hit a sitout Powerbomb into a pin for two. Lee jumped off the top, Ilja elbowed him and Ilja slammed Lee into the turnbuckle for two. Ilja set up Lee on the top rope, but Lee put Ilja upside down leading to a double foot stomp. Lee hit a running dropkick. Ilja countered a move and got an inside cradle for two. Lee hit Ilja with a couple of jumping kicks followed by Ilja hitting the Torpedo Moscow uppercut for the pinfall win. Joe called Ilja’s final move a “big shoulder” since he doesn’t know the name most likely. Wade said the name after the match. Anyway, the match went about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ilja Dragunov
Analysis: ***1/4 The match was pretty good with Dominik getting some nearfalls early on before he ran away from Priest, which made this a singles match between Ilja and Lee. The crowd wasn’t into it that much early on, but then the action picked up with Lee getting in a lot of strikes. Ilja found a way to win with one power move.
Ilja Dragunov joins Jey Uso and Pete Dunne in the IC Title contender’s Fatal 4-Way match next week. The fourth wrestler in that match will be determined by a match later in the show.
A video package aired about last week’s chaotic Bronson Reed-Braun Strowman fight. It ended with Reed doing a Tsunami Splash onto Strowman on the top of a car.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was interviewed by Cathy Kelley about the replacement for Bronson Reed, who is not medically cleared because of illness (Bronson has the COVID-19 illness). Braun Strowman walked in favoring the left side of his body. Braun said that medical told him if feels he can go then he can be in a match. Braun said he can go and he wants this match tonight. Pearce said Braun is in.
Analysis: That’s an interesting choice for a replacement for Bronson Reed. It makes for an intriguing match later in the show.
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill entered as the Women’s Tag Team Champions to watch the next match.
(Commercial)
Damage CTRL – Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
This was called a number one contender’s match for a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Titles. The Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill were watching on chairs at ringside.
Sane with a headscissors to send Dawn out of the ring. Sane did a back fist to Fyre on the floor. Sky hit a moonsault off the ropes onto Fyre on the floor. They went to break about one minute into this match.
(Commercial)
Dawn was in control of Sky with a German Suplex and a splash against the turnbuckle. Fyre tried a suplex, but Sane countered with a DDT. Sky tagged in with uppercuts and a dropkick. Sky did an impressive backflip to avoid both opponents followed by a dropkick on both opponents. Sky hit a splash on Fyre for a two count. Sky hit a double underhook backbreaker on Fyre. Sky hit a bridging German Suplex for two because Dawn made the save. Sane sent Dawn out of the ring. Sane jumped off the top with the elbow, but Dawn pulled Belair in front of her, so Sane went crashing into the commentary table. Cargill punched Sane at ringside. Dawn did a cheap shot neck snap on the bottom rope that the referee didn’t see. Fyre and Dawn hit their Gory Special Facebuster combo move for the pinfall win. The match went about eight minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
Analysis: **3/4 It was a crafty win for the former champions Fyre & Dawn after the cheap attack that the referee didn’t see and then they hit their finisher after that. I thought Sane & Sky would win here, but I certainly don’t mind Fyre & Dawn picking up a win.
After the match, Belair & Cargill argued with Sane & Sky. Sane had a cut on her head, so she must have been cut open when she hit the table hard.
Kofi Kingston was talking to Raw GM Adam Pearce about how The Judgment Day hasn’t defend their Tag Team Titles in two months. Pearce said he knows and they don’t listen when he tries to talk to them. The World Heavyweight Champion Gunther walked by Kofi and Peace. There was a bit of a staredown between Gunther and Kofi. Gunther was up next for a promo segment.
Analysis: The staredown with Gunther and Kofi could be a tease for a future match. I wouldn’t mind it since Kofi is a former WWE Champion, so it would be a guy for Gunther to beat.
(Commercial)
Rhea Ripley had a smile on her face when Damian Priest showed up to ask if he said yes. Ripley said no because he said “Yeet.” Priest said thanks and he had to go talk to him, referring to Jey Uso.
Let’s Hear from GUNTHER
The World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER walked out with the championship on his right shoulder. Gunther had a confident look on his face as he stood in the ring as a proud champion.
Gunther said that Bash in Berlin was the highest-grossing gate for an arena show in WWE history. Gunther said that you degenerates have the honor of looking at the man responsible for it. Gunther said he beat one of the greatest legends that this business has ever seen. Gunther bragged about how he has beaten the greatest version of Randy Orton. Gunther said that big weekend was just another chapter in the legacy of the greatest World Champion in history.
Sami Zayn showed up for the interruption as Joe asked who was the last guy to beat Gunther? It was Sami Zayn, who was greeted by the fans singing his song and Zayn went into the ring with Gunther.
Zayn said it’s crazy to him to hear Gunther talking about legacy. Zayn said he’s taken a couple of weeks to think about his recent reign as Intercontinental Champion. Zayn spoke about the workhorses that have held that title. Zayn said that the true greats like Randy Savage, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart all won the Intercontinental Title first as a stepping stone to the next level to win a World Championship. Zayn said that’s what Gunther did. Zayn said that’s exactly what he is going to do. Zayn said that he’s coming after the one championship that has eluded him his entire career because he wants the World Heavyweight Title.
Gunther told Zayn that he was right because all those guys including him used the IC Title as a stepping stone and then they stepped up. Gunther told Zayn that his name is not on the list of impressive legends. Gunther spoke about how Zayn gets back up after he gets knocked down and he returns to the ring. Gunther thinks it’s impressive for Zayn to challenge Gunther. Gunther said if you really want a shot at this World Heavyweight Championship, Gunther’s answer is no. The fans booed that. Gunther left as his music played.
Zayn was still in the ring. Zayn said he’s never seen Gunther back down from a fight. Zayn wondered why Gunther was backing down from his fight. Zayn said that he thinks for as great as Gunther has been, Zayn pointed out that he’s the only guy who has beaten Gunther in the middle of this ring since Gunther has been in the ring (on the main roster). Zayn told Gunther he is coming for him and Zayn claimed he will be a World Heavyweight Champion. Gunther smiled and left.
Analysis: I assume we get Gunther against Sami Zayn at Bad Blood on October 5th. The story writes itself since Zayn beat Gunther at WrestleMania, so Zayn can keep saying he knows how to beat Gunther and Gunther can respond that he’s going to avenge that loss. Gunther should win the title match, but I am looking forward to it.
The main event tag team match on Raw is Damian Priest & Jey Uso against World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & JD McDonagh of The Judgment Day.
Jey Uso was interviewed by Jackie Redmond backstage. Jey kept saying “Yeet” repeatedly. Bron Breakker interrupted saying that nobody from Jey’s family beat up a member of Bron’s family and Jey won’t be the one to do it. Bron told Jey to walk away and drop out of the tournament. Bron mocked Jey for chasing after Dominik Mysterio’s sloppy seconds. Bron told Jey if he comes after the IC Title, he’s going to lose. Jey thanked the “rookie” for the advice. Jey said he’s going to get Mami. Jey said that he’s going to win this IC Title tournament, win the IC Title, and beat Bron’s ass while he does it….yeet.
Analysis: I don’t think Jey Uso will beat Bron Breakker for the IC Title if it happens, but it should be a great match. I think Breakker will have a long title run.
Braun Strowman made his entrance while favoring his left side. Braun had kinesio tape all over the left side of his upper body.
(Commercial)
Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament Semifinals: Braun Strowman vs. Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser
Sheamus and Kaiser brawled to start the match and the fight left the ring. Braun charged at both guys to knock them down with a running shoulder tackle. Braun sent Sheamus into the ring post. Braun charged at Kaiser, who moved and Braun went crashing through the barricade. Braun was selling his sore ribs as the show went to break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Sheamus going for a charging attack, Kaiser moved and Sheamus went shoulder-first into the ring post. Kaiser dropkicked Zayn out of the ring. Kaiser ran around the ring to attack Sheamus, but Braun threw a chair at Kaiser, so Braun was back into it. Back in the ring, Braun clotheslined Sheamus and Braun hit a Chokeslam for two. Braun charged, Sheamus avoided that and Sheamus hit a knee to the lower back to send Braun to the apron. Sheamus hit the ten beats forearms to the chest of Braun. Sheamus hit a jumping knee to knock Braun off the apron to the floor. Kaiser hit a Kaiser Roll slam on Sheamus for two. Kaiser hit a step up kick. Kaiser bounced off the ropes going for more, but Sheamus hit him with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus covered Kaiser, Pete Dunne showed up and broke up that pin attempt. Dunne hit Sheamus with a shillelagh to knock Sheamus down on the floor. Braun was back in the ring with a splash on Kaiser. Braun hit a running powerslam on Kaiser for the pinfall win after nine minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Braun Strowman
Analysis: *** It was the second triple threat match of the night that had interference in it. This one was more chaotic with Braun taking himself out by going through the barricade, yet he was able to overcome that and pick up the win. I thought Sheamus was going to win after Braun was taken out, but I don’t mind the result of this match.
That match means the Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way Match next week on Raw is Jey Uso vs. Pete Dunne vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Braun Strowman.
Damian Priest approached Jey Uso in the locker room. Jey said he used to be him since he lost friends and lost his family, but Jey still respects Priest. Plus, Jey isn’t going to say no to Rhea. Priest said that this beating they are going to give The Judgment Day is for real and Priest said “yeet” to end it.
(Commercial)
Pete Dunne was interviewed by Jackie Redmond backstage, who asked Dunne why he did what he did. Dunne said it was a message from an old friend and now he’s off to NXT to beat Trick Williams. Jackie asked if she should tell Sheamus it was a message from Butch? Dunne told her don’t call him Butch.
Next Monday on Raw in Calgary is the “Season Premiere” episode. Here’s what WWE is advertising so far:
* Jey Uso vs. Pete Dunne vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Braun Strowman – The winner will receive an Intercontinental Title match.
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
* 8-Person Mixed Tag Team Street Fight: Wyatt Sicks vs. American Made
Analysis: I think Jey Uso will win that four-way to earn an IC Title match.
Damian Priest made his entrance first for his team and was cheered. Jey Uso got a huge ovation from the fans with the “Yeet” chants while Jey did the arm-swinging gesture that the fans love. The main event match was after a break.
(Commercial)
The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor & JD McDonagh made their entrance as the World Tag Team Champions.
Jey Uso & Damian Priest vs. The Judgment Day – Finn Balor & JD McDonagh
This is not a title match. Balor tagged out instead of facing Priest. JD tried to punch Priest, so Priest kicked JD out of the ring and that was a great bump by JD. Balor ran away from Priest again as Priest hit a jumping elbow. Jey hit a back splash on JD and a jumping kick to the head for two. JD hit a jawbreaker on Jey leading to Balor tagging in with some punches on Jey. JD tripped up Jey leading to a leg drop to the back. Balor set up Jey on the ropes leading to JD hitting a leg drop on Jey’s head. Jey tossed Balor out of the ring and a back body drop sent JD out of the ring. Jey ran the ropes, Priest pulled down the top rope and Jey jumped over the top with a dive onto both opponents on the floor. That led to a break.
(Commercial)
Balor worked over Jey with repeated shoulder tackles to the ribs. Balor and JD made quick tags including JD hitting a springboard moonsault on Balor for two. Jey made a comeback with punches, JD used his giant bobblehead to headbutt Jey and then Jey hit an enziguri kick. Priest got the hot tag against Balor. Priest kicked Balor in the body along with a forearm to the head. Priest hit back splashes on both opponents. Balor got a rollup for two. Balor hit a Slingblade, but Priest came back with a jumping kick. Priest ran over Balor with a clothesline. Balor countered a move into a rollup. Priest hit a back elbow, JD hit a necksnap across the top rope and Balor hit an elbow smash slam for a two count. Priest broke free leading to a double clothesline. Jey tagged in and he hit a double cross body block on both opponents. Jey hit superkicks along with a Spear on JD. No pin attempt. Jey went up top and Liv Morgan tripped up Jey on the top turnbuckle while Balor distracted the referee. Balor hit a Slingblade on Jey followed by a dropkick into the turnbuckle. Balor went up top and hit Coup de Grace. JD jumped off the top with a moonsault for two because Priest made the save. Liv was on the apron, so here comes Rhea Ripley to a huge pop. Ripley was limping and favoring her injured left leg. Morgan mocked Ripley, who revealed she wasn’t really hurt and Ripley hit Liv with Ripley’s crutch. Liv ran away. Priest knocked JD out of the ring. Priest picked up Balor, JD saved Balor and Jey hit a Spear on Balor. Priest hit a Razor’s Edge on JD. Jey went up top and hit an Uso Splash for the pinfall win after 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Jey Uso & Damian Priest
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a solid main event tag team match. I think most of us watching this expected the babyfaces to win and that’s what happened. I liked how Liv was there to prevent Jey from hitting the Uso Splash earlier because then it brought out Ripley, which really fired up the crowd. It was all over after that with Priest & Jey working well together as a team. This could lead to Jey & Priest getting a World Tag Team Title Match, but I’m not sure if that’s the plan.
After the match, the babyface trio of Jey Uso, Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley celebrated in the ring with the fans cheering them. That was the end of Raw.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Drew McIntyre/CM Punk
- Braun Strowman, Ilja Dragunov
- Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley & Jey Uso
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The Scoreboard
7.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2024 Average: 7.60
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Final Thoughts on WWE Raw
It was a pretty good Raw. I thought the Drew McIntyre attack on CM Punk, which I predicted two days earlier, was very well done and left no doubt that we’re going to get another match between them, which will likely be in a Hell in a Cell match. I also liked Sami Zayn confronting Gunther for a World Title shot since Zayn beat Gunther earlier this year at WrestleMania 40, so it makes sense as a World Title feud while Gunther goes to avenge that loss with a victory.
The two triple threat matches were okay, but sometimes they overbook these things by taking guys out of the match due to interference. It just felt repetitive seeing it twice in the same night. Damian Priest & Jey Uso beating The Judgment Day was fine as a main event. The fans in Denver were certainly into it. I think the Rhea Ripley-Liv Morgan feud certainly has a lot of life to it as well.
I thought new Raw announcer Joe Tessitore did fairly well in his first show. Yes, he messed up some move names, but I’m sure he’ll get better in that regard. Wade Barrett is so good as a color analyst that he’ll help a lot too. Joe’s enthusiasm is very strong, so that’s a good thing he has going for him. Fans will be hard on him because wrestling fans demand perfection immediately, but I hope people realize he’s going to need to learn on the job even with decades of big time sports experience as his job. Pro wrestling is a different beast, as we know.
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Thanks for reading. Please check out my reviews of every WWE PPV ever listed in order. Go Los Angeles Rams. My contact info is below.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X @johnreport