Hey everyone! Here we are for another episode of our favorite red show: Raw! Today we're live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
The show kicks off with The Ring General himself, Gunther! Honestly, he doesn’t seem quite the same since losing to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel! Gunther says the only thing that matters is that he’s still the champ. He claims he doesn’t dwell on the past and only looks ahead to his next challenger, Damian Priest. He’s got a lot to say about Priest, but those comments will have to wait because Priest’s music hits, and he struts down to the ring.
Priest interrupts Gunther, calling him street trash, a worthless Latino, or just someone whose parents didn’t care about him while waiting for the call. He says the first time they locked eyes, he understood why people were scared of him. Priest believes he can beat Gunther, and that’s the truth. If it weren’t for his “brother” who betrayed him, that title wouldn’t be around Gunther’s waist. He claims Gunther’s aura has faded since he became champion, especially after getting pinned by Cody Rhodes.
Gunther yells back at Priest, who retorts that Gunther can’t talk because he’s full of doubt. That doubt comes from knowing he can’t beat Priest. He challenges Gunther to take a shot at him, saying if Gunther tries, he’ll put him down.
Ludwig Kaiser shows up and approaches the ring. What’s going on here? What’s Priest doing here? He reminds Priest that Gunther has already beaten him once and tells him to save himself by getting out of the ring. Priest doesn’t take kindly to that and knocks Kaiser over the top rope to the floor. Gunther leaves the ring, bickering with Kaiser as they head back up the ramp. Gunther’s attitude seems a bit off; is he turning face? I really think Priest can take him down! And honestly, I hope so!
Backstage:
Kofi Kingston is chilling backstage when R-Truth rolls up to greet him. Kofi thanks Truth for his help and apologizes for not backing him up since Woods didn’t want to step in. Just then, Xavier Woods arrives with Pete Dunne, who scolds Truth for calling him that name. Kofi steps in, and Dunne asks if he wants a problem. Woods says it’s not their business, but Kofi insists that if there’s an issue with Truth, it’s his too. Truth advises Kofi to worry about Butch since he’s facing Pete tonight.
Now, on to the first match: Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane, and Iyo Sky vs. Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, and Shayna Baszler.
Zoey and Iyo kick things off with a lock-up. Zoey gets a headlock, but Iyo escapes with some acrobatics. After a few exchanges, Sonya tags in and hits a neck breaker for a two-count. Kairi’s ready to jump in, but Shayna cuts her off with a clothesline.
After a quick commercial break, Sane finally makes the tag, but Shayna pulls her down from the apron. Dakota Kai rushes in, delivering kicks to Shayna and momentarily gaining the upper hand, but Zoey interrupts her momentum with a strike.
The action heats up with exchanges and flashy moves, but Iyo ultimately seals the deal with a moonsault on Shayna, leading Damage CTRL to victory! Winners: Damage CTRL! It was a decent match but not super exciting. I expected more from the Pure Fusion Collective, to be honest! A bit underwhelming!
Ah, here comes my favorite backstage segment! Sami and Jey are chilling backstage when Jimmy makes a grand entrance, asking if there are any problems. Sami downplays it, but Jey’s a bit less convinced. Jimmy suggests finding a fifth member for War Games, but Jey reminds him they don’t have friends on Raw or SmackDown. Sami, with a sly grin, says he has an idea.
For the second match: Kofi Kingston vs. Pete Dunne!
The crowd starts chanting Butch, Pete’s alter ego, and Kofi can’t stop smiling. They exchange blows, and after a series of spectacular maneuvers, Kofi tries to take control with a clothesline. But Pete’s not intimidated and counters with a cross arm breaker.
After another commercial break, Kofi regains control, but Pete keeps fighting back with targeted strikes. In the end, Kofi nails a Trouble in Paradise that sends Pete to the mat. But wait, it’s not over yet! With Woods’ help, Kofi tries to recover, but Pete hits a running knee and finishes it with a Bitter End!
Winner: Pete Dunne!
Kofi, furious, shoves Woods away as he tries to help him backstage. Woods, however, doesn’t back down and tells him to think of himself first. Ah, the friendship drama in wrestling: always complicated but never boring! They should be celebrating 10 years of The New Day soon! Will they make it? At this rate, I’m not so sure! The big question is: who’s gonna turn heel and who’s sticking as a face? I think Woods might take that heel turn! Kofi just doesn’t seem believable as a heel!
Now we head backstage to see Judgment Day, where Finn Balor is venting about not getting any title shots because of Dom. Damian Priest is getting closer, but Dom isn’t having it, claiming he didn’t get any support while Reed was attacking everyone. Finn tells him he did what Liv asked: stay out of it. Dom pushes back, saying he’s closer to the title than Finn. The tension rises, and they need to be separated. Finn reminds them that family looks out for each other, suggesting Dom and Carlito deal with the War Raiders. Dom makes it official, and Carlito chases after him. “Oh, happy family!” I have a different idea of a happy family, but hey, it’s subjective! What’s clear is Finn feels stifled in Judgment Day! What do you all think? Finn definitely deserves more than Dom when it comes to a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship! Rumors are flying about Finn turning face too?! I hope so; he’s been a heel for too long and maybe he’ll team up with Damian Priest?!
Next up, Bronson Reed makes his way to the ring. With an imposing presence, he declares that Seth Rollins is a great opponent, but he’s not just some competitor; he’s a monster! He complains about putting Seth, Priest, and Sheamus down last week and warns that anyone who gets in his way will be swept aside. Just then, Seth’s music hits, interrupting his speech, and Seth appears on the stage.
Seth charges the ring and attacks, but Reed counters with a devastating body block. They end up outside the ring, where Seth tries to smash Reed into the post, but Reed escapes and turns the tables. Seth starts setting up the announcer's table, but Reed stops him. At this point, security steps in, but their attempts to separate the two are about as effective as the Cowboys’ defense: a total disaster!
The brawl continues, with Seth throwing punches and Reed responding with brute force. Reed launches a suicide dive, taking out security while Seth fights off officials trying to restore order. It’s one of the most thrilling moments of the night! Watching these two powerhouses go at it is just awesome! Always and Forever Seth Freakin’ Rollins!!
After the break, we see Seth yelling at Pearce, insisting he wants his match. Pearce, looking exhausted, tells him he’ll get his shot next week and that’s that. Lately, Pearce seems more and more “burned out!”
Sami Zayn approaches Seth, asking him to be the fifth man for War Games. Sami emphasizes the connection between Seth and Roman Reigns, saying that despite the tensions, family ties never break. But Seth isn’t convinced. “You’re out of your mind, Sami!” Seth exclaims. “After everything I’ve done to take down Roman, now you want me to team up with him? No thanks!” Seth knows exactly who he’s dealing with and turns down the offer. The tension is thick, and the drama is far from over. Ah, life in wrestling: full of fragile alliances and plot twists! I really hope Seth will join the team for Survivor War Games!!
Now we’re set for the third match of the night: Damian Priest vs. Ludwig Kaiser!
Priest and Kaiser face off in a match that promises fireworks. At first, Priest pushes Kaiser into the turnbuckle, but the Austrian counters with a drop kick that shakes the ring. During the commercial break, we wonder if we’ll return to see a true clash of titans.
When we come back, Kaiser surprises Priest with a rolling Death Valley Driver, but it’s not enough! Our hero, Priest, fires back with a Broken Arrow and a flurry of strikes that make him more dangerous. As Priest looks to finish things with a Razor’s Edge, Kaiser manages to escape, but not for long! Priest lands the South of Heaven, sealing the victory.
But wait, it’s not over yet! After the match, Gunther appears on the stage like a creepy shadow, although a bit toned down! It was a solid match, definitely the highlight of the night!
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bron Breakker. The young wrestler feels ambitious and ready to snag the Speed Championship, but the veteran Sheamus isn’t having it and makes it clear not to underestimate him. The tension between the two is palpable, like a pressure cooker ready to blow!
Meanwhile, Miz is being chased by Kross and his goons, who aren’t shy about putting hands on him. Kross is determined to find out where the Wyatts are, while Miz is just trying to save his skin. In a twist, the Wyatts materialize in the ring, and chaos reigns, with Miz swinging a chair like it’s his secret weapon.
After the break, Seth Rollins gears up for a showdown with Bronson Reed, while Bron Breakker will defend his title against Sheamus. It’s gonna be another fiery night!
Next up, we have a tag match between Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Bianca flexes her power with a spinebuster, while Liv tries to fight back but ends up making a mess of things.
With Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton entering the fray, things get even crazier, but Iyo Sky isn’t one to wait and jumps in to sort things out her way. Ultimately, Bianca and Jade come out on top, while the chaos continues with surprise attacks and shifting alliances. They could be the first women’s team for Survivor War Games! Just missing Rhea! Did you notice that Bianca shook hands with Iyo Sky? Not that Iyo hasn’t taken her down before! Bayley is the only one who seems to have bad blood; it’s just pure antipathy! We’ll see if this team will end up facing Liv’s crew!
And so, with strikes, alliances, and a sprinkle of irony, we’ve reached the end of another episode! It was good, but not fantastic! Thankfully, we had The Usos in full force and Seth and Damian! Catch you on Saturday for my recap of SmackDown, and it’s gonna be a wild one!
Xoxo, Selena.
P.s."Sorry, but due to technical line issues, there are no photos or videos!"
Comentarios