Posted on 9/22/126 by Bob Magee
Live! From San Antonio, Texas.
Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett were on commentary.
— Solo Sikoa arrived in the building, and the 946 drove by
in the background and literally nobody noticed.
— Bayley was also walking around, and Iyo Sky was signing
merchandise to sell on eBay (probably).
Penta Opened the Show
As Penta made his way out to the ring, Tessitore put over
last week’s main event as an “instant classic” while Barrett
called Penta a “main eventer” even though he lost. Penta
talked about how last week’s Raw was one of the biggest
nights of his life. Penta said that Roman was the better man
that night, but this is not over. Penta asked Roman “for
another opportunity, another fight, and the WWE World
Heavyweight Championship.” Penta said this was only the
beginning. Before he could continue his promo in Spanish,
Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh made their way to the ring.
Dominik let Penta know that the fans didn’t want to hear
from someone who lost in Mexico City. McDonagh chimed in
that Penta lost last week and should go “to the back of the
line,” since Dominik is going to win Money in the Bank and
the title. Dominik told Penta that he was just a luchador,
while Dominik is the “King of the Luchadores.” Penta told
Dominik the only king of the luchadores was Rey Mysterio.
That was it for Penta, and the beatdown from Judgment Day
was on.
Dominik and McDonagh took Penta to the floor. McDonagh tried
to powerbomb Penta through the commentary table, but Penta
backdrop out of it, then took out Dominik with a superkick.
Penta threw them both back in the ring, then sent them
running after a top rope crossbody.
— The Usos want to jump the 946, but Jacob Fatu still
preaches restraint. Solo Sikoa came with in with the white
flag to negotiate a team up to go after the 946. Jey said
they could team up if Solo acknowledge Jimmy as Jey as
captains, then acknowledge Roman as the Tribal Chief. Solo
found that untenable and left. Jacob Fatu called that a
mistake.
La Catalina v. Roxanne Perez v. Iyo Sky in a Women’s Money
in the Bank Qualifying Match
Catalina is the new Reina de Reinas Champion and is hoping
to add a Money in the Bank briefcase to her list of
accomplishments. The three women go for a bunch of cradles
and near falls early on. In a clever bit, when Sky and
Catalina struggle over a backslide, Perez kicked their legs
out from them, then rolled them both up for a near fall. Sky
was the obvious crowd favorite.
Sky leveled Perez with a forearm as she tried a dive to the
floor. Sky hit Perez with an Asai Moonsault. Catalina came
off the top rope with a crossbody to both of her opponents.
Roxanne Perez dropped La Catalina with a DDT at the same
time she took out Sky with a Russian Legsweep. Sky dropped
Perez with a flapjack and a hook kick for a near fall. Perez
dodged a meteora in the corner, then caught Sky with a kick.
Catalina came off the top with a crossbody on Perez, then a
fisherperson’s suplex for a near fall.
Sky went for a shotei uppercut on Perez, but Perez ducked
and Sky hit Catalina. Perez went for her double jump
springboard moonsault, but Catalina got her knees up. Sky
hit Perez with a double stomp, but Catalina broke up that
pin attempt.
Sky hit Catalina with a backbreaker and went for the
moonsault, but Perez crotched Sky. Catalina caught Perez
with a small package for a near fall. Catalina went after
Sky on the top, but Perez pushed her down, then brought Sky
crashing down with a hurricanrana and all three women were
down.
There were dueling “Let’s Go Iyo/Let’s Go Roxanne!” chants.
All three women got back to their feet and started
exchanging forearms and kicks.
Perez knocked Sky to the floor. Catalina hit Perez with a
Gory Special for a near fall. Catalina and Perez held each
other open for a top rope shotgun dropkick from Sky, then
hit them both in the corner with a meteora. Sky went for a
top rope moonsault on both of them, but Perez rolled out of
the way and Catalina got the full brunt of the moonsault.
Perez then hit the Pop Rocks and got the huge upset victory.
Match Result: Roxanne Perez pinning Iko Sky to win a triple
threat match also involving La Catalina to qualify for the
Women’s Money in the Bank match (14:02).
This has been the best qualifying match on the women’s side
so far. I hope Catalina earned herself a main roster call-up
with her performance.
— In the back, Solo Sikoa prepared for his Money in the Bank
qualifying match, and LA Knight asked him if he was really
thinking about getting involved with The Bloodline again.
Also, when Knight wins the world title and Solo wins the
briefcase, Solo better not try to cash in on Knight.
LA Knight (YEAH!)
LA Knight came out to address the crowd. Knight acknowledged
that Penta and Roman Reigns tore the house down last week,
but now it’s time to move on to Money in the Bank. It’s been
three years since Roman and Knight last met in the ring, and
three years of Roman and everyone telling LA Knight he
wasn’t part of the plans, while for three years every crowd
was saying he was the uncrowned World Champion.
Maybe Roman’s parents didn’t pay enough attention to him,
since he’s always asking for acknowledgment. So Knight gave
Roman some acknowledgment: that Penta and Roman tore down
the house last week, that Roman won the match on his own
last week, and Roman is one of the greatest champions of
this generation (notably, the crowd booed this). Knight also
acknowledged that while the crowd wants LA Knight to be
champion, the crowd doesn’t believe that Knight can be
champion. And even while Knight was watching last week’s
main event, he wondered if anyone could beat Roman, and even
if he could beat Roman.
And while he was sitting with that thought, he realized that
last week on Raw, and at SummerSlam, and at WrestleMania,
there was no Bloodline in any of his matches. And while
Roman has beaten LA Knight in the past, Roman hasn’t beaten
Knight without the Bloodline’s help. Knight hasn’t needed
anyone’s help to beat anybody, and he’s the most “self-made
son of a b!tch” in this game. And at Money in the Bank, he’s
going to make his own opportunity and he’s going to beat
Roman Reigns on his own and win the only World Championship
that matters, Roman Reigns’ Championship.
This was a fantastic promo from LA Knight. He almost has to
win after that (which, he won’t).
— Byron Saxton interviewed Je’Von Evans and let him know
that he was the youngest wrestler to ever compete for a
Money in the Bank briefcase. The Vision came along to tell
Evans he has no chance. Evans challenged Bron Breakker to
match, even though it was 5-on-1. Evans made a point of
slapping Breakker while he was counting the Vision and ran
to the ring. Logan Paul wanted Breakker to give him chase,
but Breakker said it was time for them to start using their
heads. Evans came out to the ring so, maybe a match after
the break?
Bron Breakker (w The Vision) v. Je’Von Evans
So the upshot on commentary here was that Breakker was being
smarter by not just rushing after Evans, which made him more
calculating and dangerous.
Breakker sent Evans to the floor and hit him with a pair of
stiff knees. Breakker rammed Evans into the ring barricade.
The crowd chanted “Logan Sucks!” while Breakker mauled
Evans. Evans caught Breakker with a superkick, then hit a
dive to the floor.
Back in the ring, Evans mounted a brief comeback. Breakker
turned Evans around and shoulder blocked him in the corner.
Evans then turned around and did the same to Breakker. Evans
then sent Breakker to the floor with a single right hand.
Evans sent Breakker into the commentators’ desk headfirst.
While Theory distracted Evans, Breakker charged, but Evans
dodged him and Breakker flew into the ring announcer’s area.
Evans then ran around the ring and hit Breakker with a
crossbody.
During the split-screen break, they made it back in the
ring, and Breakker floored Evans with a clothesline.
Breakker dumped Evans to the mat with a gutwrench suplex.
Breakker caught Evans with a back elbow, then did some push-
ups instead of going for the cover.
Breakker hit the pop-up, top rope Frankensteiner to send
Evans crashing to the mat. Breakker charged into a superkick
from Evans and both guys were down.
Evans hit Breakker with a series of clotheslines that barely
moved Breakker. Evans sent Breakker into the turnbuckles,
then hit a springboard clothesline off the top. Evans
charged into a gorilla press, but Evans countered the slam
with a spinning DDT. Evans hit a standing Sliced Bread for a
near fall.
Breakker dropped to the floor to regroup. Evans went to
dive, but Maxxine Dupri jumped up on the apron to cut him
off. Austin Theory then dropped Evans with a right hand.
Breakker hit a spinning Black Hole Slam for a near fall.
Breakker should need no help from that geek Theory to beat
Evans.
Breakker went for the spear, but Evans dodged him and
Breakker hit the ringpost, then dropped to the floor. Evans
hit Theory, then took out Bronson Reed with a dive over the
ropes. Evans jumped back into the ring, then back out of the
ring with another dive on Breakker on the floor. Evans hit
the Red Dot. He went for the OG Cutter, but Theory tripped
up Evans right in front of the ref. Bron Breakker can’t
defeat Je’Von Evans?
Match Result: Je’Von Evas beat Bron Breakker by
disqualification (12:49).
So the smarter, more calculating version of Bron just lost
to a guy who spent the last month getting punked out by Big
Cass.
The Vision went to beat down Evans, but Oba Femi ran in and
killed Theory like a geek, killed Breakker like a geek, and
killed Bronson Reed like a geek. Logan Paul tried to slide
in with a chair, but Oba Femi got the chair and used that to
destroy The Vision a second time. Oba then tossed Evans onto
the Vision guys on the floor.
— Mark Henry was shown in the crowd.
— Royce Keys FaceTimed in a promo from his car that nobody
is safe tonight.
— Joe Hendry sang with some fans in the arena and a JD Funko
Pop.
The Judgment Day
JD McDonagh started out by calling the crowd a bunch of ugly
losers who were projecting their own insecurities on
McDonagh’s giant head. Well, there’s enough room for them.
But while McDonagh isn’t bothered by this, his mother is, so
for the last time, McDonagh has a normal-sized head. Raquel
Rodriguez said she was embarrassed by her fellow Texans,
McDonagh “has the best head,” and Liv Morgan’s music video
was way better than Joe Hendry’s “ca-ca.”
Morgan took over the promo. Last week, the Judgment Day
proved they still Monday Night Raw when they embarrassed
Stephanie Vaquer, Rey Mysterio and the fake luchador El
Grande Americano. Vaquer can’t run from Liv Morgan forever
and both Vaquer and the crooked referee Becky Lynch were in
on the “ Santiago Screwjob.” Morgan wants her rematch for
the women’s world championship “right now” and invited
Vaquer down to the ring.
Instead, Becky Lynch came out through the crowd to cut a
promo while standing with the audience. First of all, Becky
Lynch has been on the phone with JD McDonagh and she is
embarrassed that her only son is dressed like a gang member
and getting owned by a Funko Pop. Also, Becky will stand for
no slander of “Referee Rebecca,” who is straight as an arrow
and maybe the best referee of all time. Becky told Liv it
was hard to hold onto the tile when you have to defend it.
Becky told Liv it was time for her to go to the back of
line, and Lynch is getting the next shot.
Stephanie Vaquer came out. Becky and Liv and argue all they
want, but Vaquer is still the champion. Morgan told Vaquer
that she would get a title shot. Lynch objected, but Vaquer
said she would talk to Adam Pearce and give Becky Lynch a
title shot as well. So it sounds like a Triple Threat match
coming soon.
— Lyra Valkyria lost a year of her career by teaming with
Bayley, so she dumped her. But why is Bayley still costing
Lyra opportunities? So tonight, Valkyria will take things
even further, and Bayley will wish that their last match was
her last match.
Bayley v. Lyra Valkyria
Bayley jumped Valkyria before the bell, then hit her with a
crossbody on the floor. When the match finally got in the
ring, Bayley draped Valkyria in the ropes and hit her with a
running knee. Bayley caught Lyra with a head and arm capture
suplex. Valkyria monkey-flipped Bayley into the ropes,
injuring her knee.
Valkyria caught Bayley with a leg lariat. Valkyria tried for
a superplex, but Bayley pushed her off and hit an elbow off
the top for a near fall. Bayley followed up with a series of
elbowdrops.
After a commercial, Lyra hit a tornado DDT, then missed a
moonsault. Bayley hit a shotgun dropkick. They battled back
to their feet. Lyra avoided Bayley with a cartwheel, then
hit her with an enziguri. Valkyria drove Bayley down hard
with a gutwrench powerbomb for a near fall.
Bayley hit a belly-to-belly suplex out of nowhere for a near
fall.
Lyra snuck up behind Bayley and went for a choke, but Bayley
escaped. Lyra escaped the Rose Plant and then fought to the
floor. Bayley sent Lyra over the ring announcer’s table.
Bayley cleared the table. Bayley set up Lyra for a powerbomb
on the table, but Lyra escaped and got back into the ring.
Back in the ring, Valkyria slipped under Bayley’s legs, then
rolled her up for the quick pinfall.
Match Result: Lyra Valkyria pinned Bayley (12:31).
This match had no heat and this feud isn’t really going
anywhere.
— Chad Gable wants to give Dragon Lee another match, but
Ethan Page still wants a title shot. Gable reminded Page
that he lost to Dragon Lee and tapped out to Gable, so if he
wants a title shot he should go out and earn it.
Lola Vice is Signed to Monday Night Raw
Adam Pearce announced that Lola Vice signed a contract today
to become the newest member of the Raw women’s roster. Then
why did they spend a month airing promos on Raw if she
wasn’t signed? Lola Vice put over her parents: her mother
who taught her dance, and her father who taught her how to
fight.
Roxanne Perez came out to interrupt and told Vice that no
one cares about Lola’s contract or her parents. At Money in
the Bank, Roxanne will show Vice that she is levels below
her. Of course, they shove each other around a bit, Vice
nearly catches Perez with a spinning back fist, and the
women have to be separated by Adam Pearce.
— In the back, Paul Heyman reminded Bron Breakker that Oba
Femi is still breathing, which is “bad, bad, bad for the
Vision.” Bron told Paul “I’m still breathing, which is bad,
bad, bad for everyone.” “Everyone?” “Everyone.”
— Tonight’s Fact of the Night: 20 out of 26 Men’s Money in
the Bank cash-ins have been successful, which is a 76.92%
success rate.
— In the parking lot, the 946 has beaten up Solo Sikoa. They
load him into their SVU, and drive off as they’re being
chased by The Usos and Jacob Fatu. The Uso and Fatu argued,
and LA Knight ran in wanting to know what happened to Solo.
It occured to me here that I don’t think the 946 has ever
attacked Jacob Fatu. I find that… curious.
— Before Tessitore threw to a replay of the kidnapping, he
calmly read off a DoorDash ad. Wrestling is weird. Dominik
Mysterio thought that with Solo kidnapped, he was getting a
free pass into the Money in the Bank match. Annoyed, Adam
Pearce sent him to the ring anyway.
Dominik Mysterio v. Dragon Lee v. Penta in a Men’s Money in
the Bank Qualifier
It looks like the match will be Mysterio v. Lee one-on-one.
But, before the match can get underway, Adam Pearce
announced that they advertised a triple threat, and they’ll
deliver a triple threat, then brought Penta out to be the
third man in the match.
Penta hit a dive on Mysterio just before a commercial break.
After the break, Mysterio and Lee were in the ring without
Penta, who was taken out by Mysterio during the break
(according to the commentary). Penta tried to get back into
the match, but Lee dropped him with a German suplex. Lee hit
a dive to the floor on Penta.
Lee hit Mysterio with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
He tried to set Mysterio up for a Styles Clash, but Penta
broke that up with a superkick. Mysterio hit Penta with a
superkick.
Lee wound up perched on the top turnbuckle, and he fought
Mysterio, then Penta, then Mysterio again while he was up
there. Lee finally hung up Mysterio, then hit him with a
double stomp. Lee sent Mysterio into Penta with a shotgun
dropkick.
Penta hit a backstabber on Lee, but Mysterio broke up the
cover. Mysterio hit a series of slingshot sentons on Penta,
then popped up into a superkick from Dragon Lee.
Despite having Penta and Mysterio, this match doesn’t have
much crowd heat.
Mysterio wound up slumped in the corner and got hit with
Penta’s handstand dropkick and Lee’s pendulum dropkick. Lee
followed up with a diving dropkick on Mysterio, then jumped
over the ropes and hit a rana on Penta.
Lee got back in the ring and started to run the ropes for a
dive onto Penta, but Dominik hit him in mid-air with a 619,
then rolled him up after a Michinoku Driver for the near
fall.
Penta got back in the ring and hit both guys with chops, hit
a DDT on Dragon Lee and a Penta Driver on Mysterio for a
near fall.
Lee hit Penta with a tornado DDT. He hit a flying elbow
(like a Hidden Blade… steal from the best, I guess) for a
near fall. Mysterio went for the Three Amigos, but Lee
countered and hit another flying elbow. Lee hit Operation
Dragon (his finisher, to hardly any heat) for a near fall,
broken up by Penta.
There’s a weak “This is awesome” chant.
Lee ran into a superkick from Penta. Lee came back with a
poison rana. Lee went to the top, but Dominik pushed him off
the ropes. Dominik went for a frog splash, but Penta got his
knees up. Lee then his Dominik with a Styles Clash for a
near fall, broken up by Penta.
The crowd started to get more Ito the match. Penta hit Lee
with a springboard Mexican Destroyer on the apron. Dominik
hit Penta with a 619, then hit a Frog Splash for a near fall
that finally got a big pop from the crowd.
Dominik exposed one of the turnbuckle hooks. He picked up
Penta by his mask, but Penta reversed and sent Dominik
headfirst into the steel. Penta then hit a springboard
Mexican Destroyer and got the pinfall.
Match Result: Penta pinned Dominik Mysterio to win a triple
threat match also involving Dragon Lee to qualify for the
Men’s Money in the Bank match (18:52).
The crowd finally got into the main event in the end, but I
think the heat was hurt for most of the match because once
Penta was added, it was clear he was winning. Penta probably
becomes the odds-on favorite to win the Money in the Bank
match.
The two Money in the Bank qualifiers are worth checking out,
LA Knight’s in-ring promo was very good, the rest of the
show was pretty mid.