Here we are again, as every Tuesday, with the recap of what happened on the red show par excellence: Raw!!! We're in the episode after Summerslam, and trust me, it was one of the best ever! Another sold out for The Attitude Era!!
It starts with the arrival of two traitors embracing: who are they?! Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio! Is there a way to describe them? Yuck!! Other wrestlers arrive as well, including McIntyre, who is gloating like a child for having defeated CM Punk! And now, here comes another "too German" (sorry, I just don't like him at all, guys!! What can I do?). He presents the new World Heavyweight Champion: Gunther, The Ring General (imagine the German pronunciation, it's unbearable, haha). In summary, he defines himself as a Living Legend. Really?! What were the others then? I'm talking about The Undertaker, Triple H, The Rock, etc... I could go on, but the list would be as long as an encyclopedia!
Fortunately, the legendary Randy Orton arrives! The crowd goes wild, and rightly so! Randy tells him he wants a title match, and he gets it. He also reminds the "too German" that he is the legend killer! And it's official: there will be a match at Bash in Berlin, at Gunther's home! Will it already be the end of his reign? Let's hope so! Oh my, I don't know if everyone hopes so, but I do!
It's true that there's talk of Gunther's "reign" lasting a long time, but really? I've heard he might surpass Roman Reigns' reign, but seriously?! Let's not confuse wool with silk, please!!
The first match is between Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser. Sheamus faced Ludwig Kaiser in a very intense match. Kaiser, back from an injury, showed great determination. Despite Pete Dunne's interference attempts, Sheamus managed to prevail, winning the match after 11 minutes and 19 seconds. The rivalry between Sheamus and Kaiser has been very heated, with both wrestlers giving their all in the ring. Sheamus's victory was a key moment of the evening, demonstrating, once again, his strength and resilience.
What do you think of this rivalry? I find it a bit dull. I find the one between Sheamus and Pete more interesting, as they were friends before, and now, for no apparent reason after Sheamus's injury, Pete hates Sheamus! We'll see how it evolves!
A little curiosity: 100 million views on social media for Roman Reigns' return! And he made WWE 800 million!! He is undoubtedly the face of WWE!!
Now comes the moment of Damien Priest, who is so angry that his black shirt looks white! He obviously calls the traitor, Finn Balor, to the ring, whom he considered a brother... oh yes! He calls him a coward, but Finn doesn't show up. Instead, he plays a video message where he reveals his truth: in Judgment Day, there were supposed to be no leaders, and he will strike Damien when he has forgotten about him! But are you sure he will forget about you after you cost him the title? I see that as very unlikely!
And in the video, Finn also announces that he will have a match against JD McDonagh. He presents the new Judgment Day, which includes Finn Balor, Carlito, Dominik Mysterio, and Liv Morgan! Now, I may be biased, but really, Finn? You swap Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley, who are among the strongest wrestlers right now, for Liv? And the rest of the group? They're not exactly a powerhouse, are they? Definitely a silly move, in my opinion!
A beautiful moment came when Priest, who I love as a Face, calls the audience his family! The crowd goes wild, of course!
Moving on to the second match of the evening, which I honestly found uninteresting, between Lyra Valkyria and Shayna Baszler. Lyra Valkyria faced Shayna Baszler, accompanied by Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville, in a highly anticipated match—at least for some, I guess! Shayna, known for her submission skills, tried to dominate the match from the start. However, Lyra showed great resilience and skill, managing to hold her own against Baszler for most of the contest.
Despite Valkyria's efforts, Baszler secured the victory thanks to her experience and superior technique. The match was competitive and showcased the abilities of both wrestlers. A slightly more exciting moment came when Damage Control intervened, and a brawl broke out! A nice moment between the two factions!
CM Punk rolls in, and let me tell you, his speech was so intense and passionate it felt like we were witnessing a post-war rally! He kicks things off talking about his return to WWE and how tough the journey to get back in the ring has been. He gives a shout-out to the fans for their endless support and promises to show everyone he's still one of the best wrestlers around. And who wouldn’t know that? It’s CM Punk!
During his speech, he throws out an open challenge to anyone brave enough to step in his way. "I’m ready to fight anyone!" he declares. The crowd goes wild like he just announced free tickets for everyone! Punk’s speech was one of the night’s highlights, showcasing his passion and determination to dominate WWE. And even though he lost, he’s pumped because it means he’s back! He’s that classic “bad guy” you just can’t help but love!
Then Seth Rollins shows up, and I gotta say, he was dressed pretty chill, rocking a leather vest with fringes that looked like they were straight outta a western flick. With that serious look on his face, he seemed a bit off! The tension between these two is thick, like cat and mouse, and it looked like we were headed for an epic match. But, surprise, surprise—Drew McIntyre rolls in, dissing and provoking CM Punk. Of course, Punk ain't having any of that and ditches the match with Rollins. But trust me, these two are bound to throw down in the future!
Now, onto the bummer of the night: Bronson Reed shows up outta nowhere and totally wrecks Seth Rollins with multiple powerbombs from the corner of the ring. It was straight-up horror movie vibes, and after Seth doesn’t get back up, security rushes in. But Bronson Reed keeps going like he’s in a training session! Seriously, someone get him outta there! Don’t let him keep demolishing Seth like that! To paint the picture, Seth was bleeding and ended up in the hospital!
This was some unnecessary violence, especially since Adam Pearce didn’t even give him a match for the night. I think that’s a bit much! I’m with Michael Cole on this one: a big champion like Seth deserves better! Bronson Reed may be a beast, but he’s got zero personality! Let’s just hope Seth’s alright and back on the ring soon because we need the "Visionary" out there!
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are clearly fed up with Karrion Kross’s nonstop chatter about them, and they show it in this match where they try to highlight their bond as a tag team and the power of positivity that the Final Testament keeps throwing shade at. It’s no easy task, especially with Karrion Kross constantly interfering on behalf of Akam and Rezar. And to spice things up, Scarlett decides to join the fun, forcing the cavalry to step in and protect the New Day.
In comes Odissey Jones, the returning warrior who brings the right energy and distraction to help the New Day wrap up the match with a fantastic Inside Cradle. After the match, the Authors of Pain decide to target Xavier Woods, but Odissey Jones makes a spectacular debut and comes to the rescue. Sure, he gets hit with a Forearm Smash from Karrion Kross, but Jones bounces back quick and responds with a Bossman Slam. Victory for the New Day!
Let's move on to the most awaited match of the night, featuring JD McDonagh versus the photonic Damien Priest! Get ready, because all hell is about to break loose!
Here's what the two wrestlers had to say in their pre-match promos: The World Tag Team Champion JD McDonagh claims that his favorite part of SummerSlam was seeing Damien Priest's face when Finn Bálor betrayed him. Priest didn't realize he was only champion because Judgment Day allowed it. McDonagh has sacrificed his body to keep Priest at the top. Priest never wanted McDonagh in Judgment Day because he knew Bálor would listen to him more. McDonagh got his revenge: Priest is out of Judgment Day, while he’s in. McDonagh is a champion, and Priest has nothing. Tonight, Priest will rise for Judgment Day.
Damien Priest responds that the beatdown JD McDonagh is about to receive is something he's been waiting for. Priest didn’t want McDonagh in Judgment Day. Nobody did, except the guy who thought he was his brother until Saturday. With such a big head, McDonagh is too dumb to realize he’s already been betrayed. Finn Bálor is about to give Priest the first shot. Priest hopes McDonagh confessed his sins yesterday because he’s about to knock him out.
World Tag Team Champion JD McDonagh with Carlito vs. Damien Priest!
The bell rings, and Priest charges at him. McDonagh dodges and slaps him in the face. This gets Priest all riled up, and McDonagh follows up with a chop, but Priest doesn't budge. Priest hits McDonagh with a big kick to the head, followed by a stomp in the corner. He throws McDonagh into the corner and hits him with a flapjack. McDonagh tries to fight back, but Priest takes him down with a powerful forearm. Priest gets the crowd involved and goes for an avalanche, but McDonagh dodges and nails Priest in the ribs with a forearm.
The crowd chants, "JD sucks," and as I watched the episode, I joined in with "You suck, you suck!" McDonagh stomps on Priest's hand and slaps him a couple of times. Priest reacts, but McDonagh takes him down again. Priest decides to throw McDonagh out of the ring, but McDonagh slips and sends Priest crashing into the post. Then, boom! He executes a suicide dive, hitting the back of his head against the corner of the table!
After a commercial break, the referee checks on McDonagh, but he's ready to continue. McDonagh pushes Priest against the ring steps and gets back in the ring, choking Priest on the middle rope. Carlito, that sneaky rascal, hits Priest with a cheap shot. McDonagh keeps attacking, but Priest breaks free and smacks him in the ears. He looks for the South of Heaven, but McDonagh rolls through and hits him head-to-head!
McDonagh climbs to the top rope and hits a perfect moonsault for a near fall.
Another "JD sucks" chant erupts. McDonagh tries to whip Priest, but he doesn’t budge. Priest then pulls him in for a flatliner. McDonagh pops back up and slaps Priest, but this only fires him up, leading to a powerful forearm! Priest sets up in the corner and hits a back elbow in mid-air, then launches McDonagh with a Broken Arrow.
McDonagh rolls out of the ring to regroup, but Priest follows and slams him on the commentary table. He brings McDonagh back into the ring and lays him out with a clothesline. Carlito, of course, can't resist and hops onto the apron, only to get kicked by Priest.
Priest lowers the straps, ready to seal the match, but... surprise surprise! Finn Bálor attacks him from behind! And with that, he hands the victory to Damien Priest by disqualification! But we all know he would’ve won anyway!
At this point, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and Women's World Champion Liv Morgan enter the ring. Bálor, Carlito, and Mysterio start a triple team on Priest. But Priest, with a masterful move, lifts McDonagh and throws him against Priest, managing to fend off Mysterio and Carlito before facing off with Bálor. But Bálor tries to bail, and Priest grabs him for a Razor’s Edge. Morgan, of course, steps in between.
And here’s where things heat up! Mami is here! Rhea Ripley rushes to the ring to save the day. She’s a force of nature! Morgan and Mysterio bail, but Ripley stops Morgan and throws her against the post TWICE with insane strength!
Ripley clears the commentary table and goes for a Razor’s Edge on Morgan, but Mysterio pulls her away. They flee, but in the ring, Ripley enters and hits McDonagh with a headbutt. Priest, not to be outdone, decimates McDonagh with a South of Heaven!
Priest and Ripley stand tall, embracing each other. And now, the war has officially
begun! It’s payback for the betrayal! This match was worth every penny of the Raw ticket! Absolutely stellar and mind-blowing! Damien lifted JD like he was a twig, and let me tell you, as faces, Damien and Rhea are simply phenomenal!
A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth)
The match kicks off with R-Truth going head-to-head with Austin Theory, applying a side headlock, because who doesn't love a little snooze during a wrestling match? Grayson Waller tags in, but R-Truth decides it’s time to show off his acrobatic skills with a back body drop and a double head-scissor takeover, sending A-Town Down Under for a spin outside the ring. The Awesome Truth boys take control, forcing their opponents to regroup like they’re in a condo meeting.
When we come back, R-Truth interrupts Waller’s pin attempt using the ropes, because obviously, his strategy is “take as much advantage as you can.” Theory enters the fray, and they attempt a double dropkick, but R-Truth, in a move worthy of an action movie, dodges it. Theory hits R-Truth, but surprise! The latter manages to escape like a ninja. Miz steps in and starts unleashing a series of clotheslines on Theory and Waller, showcasing his signature moves, including those IT Kicks that look more like a dance than an attack. The crowd goes wild as Miz nears victory with a roll-up and a DDT. But wait! Theory dodges a Skull Crushing Finale, and chaos erupts: R-Truth accidentally takes out Miz while executing an Attitude Adjustment on Waller. Theory finishes off R-Truth with the A-Town Down, sealing the win, while the crowd wonders if order will ever be restored.
Sonya Deville w/ Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark vs. IYO SKY w/ Kairi Sane
Deville starts off with the grit of a bulldozer, but Sky counters with a flurry of moves so fast it’ll make your head spin, including a head-scissor takeover and a baseball slide on Stark, who’s probably wondering if she walked into a baseball game or a wrestling match. After a commercial break, Deville keeps the pressure on Sky, but the latter pulls out a missile dropkick like a rocket launching into space. Sky ramps up the pace with a Tiger Driver, but Deville responds with a knee strike, because who doesn’t like a bit of pain? After a series of exchanges and interference from Stark, Sky finally nails her Over-the-Moonsault for the win, leaving the crowd applauding and wondering if she just took a leap into the void. IYO SKY wins by pinfall!
Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers (Brutus and Julius Creed) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, and Joe Gacy)
Gable strolls backstage with the Creed Brothers, setting the stage for a rivalry that feels like a B-horror movie against the Wyatt Sicks. The match kicks off with Gable squaring off against Lumis, leading to a brawl so chaotic that even cats would be scared. The Wyatt Sicks flex their power, with Rowan delivering a brutal powerbomb on Gable, while the Creed Brothers ponder whether they should’ve brought a fire extinguisher.
During a picture-in-picture commercial break, the Wyatt Sicks keep dominating while Gable desperately tries to apply a leglock on Gacy, like it’s some kind of science experiment. Back from the break, the action heats up with the Creed Brothers’ high-flying moves, but they struggle against the overwhelming strength of the Wyatt Sicks. After a series of near falls and tag team maneuvers, Lumis gets the win with a splash on Gable, leaving the crowd questioning if they ever really stood a chance.
The Wyatt Sicks celebrate their victory, solidifying their presence in the tag team division. As characters, the Wyatt Sicks are great, and they’re downright theatrical! Honestly, I gotta figure out if I like them or not!
And that’s a wrap for this episode of Raw! Catch you on Saturday for the Smackdown recap! Quick heads-up for anyone in NY on August 16 and 18 at the Javits Center: our faves will be at Fanatic Fest, where you can meet them, snap pics, and get autographs!
Here’s the link for ticket reservations! https://www.fanaticsevents.com
Later, xoxo Selena!
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