Posted on 8/20/124 by Bob Magee
Show Recap —
CM Punk, Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre, Pure Fusion Collective, Iyo
Sky & Kairi Sane, and Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley were shown
arriving. Michael Cole referred to Priest and Ripley as the
Terror Twins.
Randy Orton and Gunther segment
Orton entered to a big reaction and the crowd sang his song.
Cole spoke about how close he was to a historic 15th world
title reign. Orton welcomed us to Raw and said he would be a
15-time champion the next time he does that.
Orton said Gunther made things personal which just gave him
more of a reason to beat him up in Berlin. Gunther spoke
about his father and grandfather before turning his back so,
of course, Orton had to drop him with an RKO.
Gunther interrupted and received a lot of heat. Gunther said
Orton could go ahead and celebrate hitting an RKO last week
because that was the only celebrating he would do. The crowd
chanted “USA” so Gunther mocked them for only having three
brain cells. Gunther told Orton he would never hit him with
an RKO again. Gunther would leave him a bloody mess in
Berlin and expose him as a very successful, yet very
underachieving one-trick pony.
Orton warned Gunther he’d be on an eight-hour flight to
Berlin with a boot up his ass — a size 15, double extra wide
boot.
Gunther invited Orton to fight but it was a trap. Ludwig
Kaiser tried to attack Orton from behind but Orton fought
him off. Orton also fought off Gunther momentarily but
Kaiser chop-blocked him and Gunther dropped him with a
clothesline. Imperium stood tall.
********
Jackie Redmond interviewed Sheamus whose left hand was taped
up thanks to Pete Dunne. Sheamus said he would get
retribution over sneaky Pete. He was pumped up and asked
Fort Lauderdale if they were ready for a banger.
********
Orton will face Kaiser in tonight’s main event.
The announcers plugged NXT a bunch during this segment. Cole
also mentioned when Sheamus beat Daniel Bryan in 18 seconds
at WrestleMania 28 at the nearby Sun Life Stadium.
Sheamus defeated Pete Dunne (11:24)
I believe this was a first-time-ever match.
Dunne stomped Sheamus’ injured hand against the steel steps
ahead of a break. Dunne repeatedly smacked Sheaums who no-
sold it and asked for more. Sheamus fought back but Dunne
smacked him harder. Sheamus asked if he was butch or a bitch
so Dunne dropped him with forearm strikes.
Sheamus tried fighting back but Dunne targeted his hand and
hit ten beats of the Bodhrán. Dunne didn’t follow up so
Sheamus hit twenty beats of the Bodhrán. Dunne avoided a
Brogue Kick and tried a moonsault but Sheamus caught him
mid-air with a lifting knee for a nearfall. The crowd popped
for that. Dunne came back with a sit-out powerbomb for two.
Dunne trapped Sheamus’ hand inside the turnbuckle pad and
hammered away because Sheamus couldn’t protect himself.
Sheamus instead just ripped the turnbuckle pad off and
nailed a Brogue Kick for the pinfall win. This was a
typically good Sheamus match and the finish was awesome.
Despite the loss, Dunne looked pleased with the damage he
did to Sheamus’ hand.
********
New Day segment
Odyssey Jones warmed up with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
Jones left and Kingston spoke with Woods. Kingston noticed
Woods’ energy was off lately and wondered if it was because
of Karrion Kross. Woods said Kross wasn’t the issue.
Woods wished Kingston spoke to him about Jones because he
felt like Kingston was trying to replace Big E and he didn’t
like that. Kingston apologized (for not talking to him
first) and said they would never replace Big E.
Kingston recalled what it was like when they first started
New Day and how everyone made fun of them. It was hard but
they got through because they had each other and became one
of the greatest teams ever. They were family and that would
never change. Jones was in the same boat as they were back
then.
Kingston wanted to help Jones the same way he wished people
had helped them. Woods was agreeable. He smiled and said,
“You’re right. I’m the problem. I’ll fix it.” Jones re-
entered the locker room and gave Woods a big bear hug. Woods
faked a smile.
This was good.
*******
They aired clips from Fanatics Fest and all the celebrities
who received versions of WWE title belts.
There was a Bron Breakker video package.
********
Chad Gable and American Made officially welcomed Ivy Nile to
the team. He said he would change her life. Nile said she
tried to warn Maxxine Dupri and she was done letting Dupri
hold her back. Gable said they could focus on the Wyatt
Sicks and send them back to whatever swap they crawled out
of.
********
Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivy Nile
I don’t think this match ever officially started.
Dupri dropkicked Nile from behind and chucked her around
ringside. Nile fought her off and took her down when the
lights went off and the Wyatt music started.
American Made entered the ring to protect Nile. Nikki Cross
wildly attacked Nile while the male Wyatt members attacked
American Made. The Wyatts surrounded Gable who ate a Sister
Abigail by Uncle Howdy.
********
The spookiness ended and CM Punk was shown walking through
the back. He’s up next.
[SECOND HOUR]
There was a taped promo by the “Terror Twins,” Rhea Ripley
and Damian Priest. Priest said Liv Morgan and Dominik would
receive their punishment at Bash in Berlin. Ripley accused
Morgan of becoming a discount Rhea Ripley. The Terror Twins
would put them through the mat in Berlin.
CM Punk segment
Punk entered with a leather strap around his shoulders. He
started his promo the way I knew he would and congratulated
the Florida Panthers on winning the Stanley Cup. He
mentioned seeing Roberto Luongo earlier tonight. The crowd
chanted for the Panthers.
Punk mentioned Fanatics Fest. Someone there asked him about
the hot streak that he and the company were on. He said it
was all thanks to the fans. A fan in a wheelchair told him,
with tears in her eyes, that she just defeated cancer and
Punk was a source of strength for her. Punk thought about
his own friends battling cancer. A fan from Taiwan flew 15
hours just to take a picture with him. Another fan from
Jordan flew all the way there to meet him too.
It meant something to Punk because he missed them for ten
years. (The crowd chanted for Punk.) He pulled out a handful
of bracelets that fans gave him. He figured the bracelets
were a Taylor Swift thing but joked, “I’m Taylor Swift for
men.” The fans’ bracelets looked just like the bracelet Drew
McIntyre took off of his lifeless body in Chicago.
Punk said McIntyre thought he could wash his hands of him
after winning at SummerSlam but McIntyre made it personal.
McIntyre was obsessed with him. He wore the bracelet with
his beautiful wife’s name on it.
Punk had a gift for McIntyre: a big leather bracelet (the
strap). At Bash in Berlin, there would be a strap match as
long as McIntyre wasn’t too scared. They would be tethered
together and would have to touch each turnbuckle to win.
That’s not why Punk wanted a strap match, he wanted it to
whip that bitch. He wanted to leave lasting scars so
McIntyre would never forget his name.
McIntyre interrupted. McIntyre thought all week about the
violence he wanted to bring Punk and now Punk was
challenging him to a strap match. McIntyre wondered if Punk
started drinking. McIntyre added, “Have you seen me? A strap
match? I accept.”
McIntyre told him to drop the strap and they could give the
fans a teaser right now. Punk offered to give him the strap
but McIntyre just needed to give him the bracelet.
McIntyre laughed and said, “No.” McIntyre called Punk a
liar. McIntyre knew if he gave Punk the bracelet, Punk would
still whip him with the strap. (Punk didn’t deny it.)
McIntyre said April and Larry were safer at home with him.
Punk warned him that he would not be safe in Berlin because
“It’s not me who’s attached to you, it’s you that’s attached
to me.”
(This was fine but it petered out toward the end and it
didn’t help that Punk flubbed his final line. He didn’t
exactly have a lot of conviction when he warned McIntyre
they’d be tethered together.)
********
Morgan and Dom did a taped promo. Dom challenged Priest to a
match with no one at ringside. (The announcers figured
Morgan manipulated Dom into this.)
********
Roberto Luongo was shown in the crowd.
Six-man tag team match: Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods &
Odyssey Jones defeated Karrion Kross & AOP (w/Scarlett &
Paul Ellering) (7:59)
Excluding the Dupri/Nile match that never officially
started, about 45 minutes have elapsed since the end of the
Sheamus/Dunne segment and this match.
Woods was a bit perplexed when Kingston made a hot tag to
Jones instead of him, though Jones was closer. Everyone
traded moves and Woods did get involved by hitting a diving
elbow drop on Rezar. Jones hit Akam with a spinning side
slam for the pinfall win. Woods seemed in a better mood
after the win.
********
Ripley warned Priest that Dom’s challenge was probably a
trap. Priest figured it was but said it would be worth it to
get his hands on Dom. He said they shouldn’t stop until they
pass judgment on Judgment Day. Ripley liked the sound of
that.
********
They paid tribute to Afa Anoaʻi.
********
Cole announced a sold-out crowd of 13,718.
Robbie Lawler was shown in the front row.
********
Adam Pearce tried to talk Miz out of facing Bronson Reed.
Pearce was on the verge of suspending Reed but the only
thing stopping him was the fact that Miz asked for it.
Miz admitted he wasn’t sure he wanted this match but he
wanted payback for what Reed did to Truth. Miz didn’t have a
lot of friends in this industry but would fight for the ones
he did. Miz didn’t want to do this, he had to do this.
No disqualification match: Bronson Reed defeated The Miz
(8:16)
After a break, Miz hit Reed with a tornado DDT onto a steel
chair but he kicked out at one. Miz tried hitting his
finisher into a corner table but Reed blocked it and put Miz
through the table with a DVD. Reed followed with a Tsunami
for the pinfall win.
— Reed was about to hit another Tsunami but Braun Strowman
marched out to his music. They faced off but never touched.
Reed seemed excited.
********
Sheamus admitted to Redmond that his hand was hurting but it
was nothing a pint of Guinness couldn’t fix. Kaiser
interrupted and said Redmond should be interviewing him
instead. After all, he was in the main event, unlike Sheamus
who was in the opener. Kaiser threatened to go after Sheamus
once he was done with Orton. Sheamus knew they were 1-1 and
was happy to finish their trilogy. In the meantime, he’d be
at the bar watching Kaiser get an RKO.
********
[THIRD HOUR]
Bron Breakker interview
Cathy Kelley asked Bron Breakker what was next after beating
Sami Zayn. Bron was happy he went to a highly educated
university because he heard there would be a tournament
starting next week to determine his next challenger and that
was funny to him. He knew Pearce wanted to slow him down
because he was progressing too quickly.
Bron said it wasn’t his fault that he was a badass, it
wasn’t his fault he was a genetic freak more talented than
anyone in the locker room, and it wasn’t his fault that the
dogs were barking in every city that went to.
Bron earned the Intercontinental title and warned the
eventual tournament winner: “I’m going to spear you through
the floor and give you the beating of a lifetime — and that
will be my fault.”
********
Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio
This was another scheduled match that didn’t happen but this
at least led to a hot angle.
As Priest entered, he turned around and decked Carlito who
tried to attack from behind. He also knocked down JD
McDonagh and Finn Bálor. He was about to chokeslam Bálor but
Carlito saved him. Priest took out Carltio and McDonagh with
superkicks as Bálor bailed.
Ripley appeared behind Dom. Ripley headbutted him and Priest
dropped him with a right hand. Ripley cleared the announce
desk and set up Dom for Rip-tide but Morgan attacked her
from behind with a chair. Bálor and the rest of Judgment Day
swarmed Priest. Morgan taunted Priest as Judgment Day held
him down.
The crowd chanted “Yeet” and “We want Jey” as Morgan tossed
Ripley around ringside. Bálor hit Priest with Coup de Grace
and Morgan hit Ripley with Oblivion. Dom hit Priest with a
frog splash and the new Judgment Day stood tall.
This had lots of heat again.
After a break, Bálor said that was just a taste of what
would happen to Priest and Ripley in Berlin. Morgan said Dom
was all man and she would make Ripley her bitch in Berlin.
(The third time someone has been called a bitch tonight.)
********
Triple threat tag team match: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defeated
IYO SKY & Kairi Sane and Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark
(w/Sonya Deville) to retain the Women’s Tag Team
Championships (9:24)
This match was designed to make Sky and Sane look like the
best team by a lot. In fact, the finishing sequence may have
been the only offence the champs got in.
Each team got full entrances so they went to break 45
seconds into this title match. Sky made a hot tag and the
crowd got into her as she ran wild on everyone. Sane and Sky
hit Fyre with a superplex off the middle rope but Dawn broke
up the cover. They traded moves until Sane speared Fyre.
Deville kept getting involved so Sane knocked her off the
apron for a second time. The distraction allowed Baszler and
Stark to take over but Sane dropped them both with a flying
crossbody. Sane and Baszler exchanged strikes until Baszler
tried Kirifuda Clutch. Sane escaped and hit a back fist.
Sane went up for the Insane Elbow as Dawn tagged herself in
(which Sane didn’t notice). Baszler caught Sane in a
Kirifuda Clutch but Dawn hit her from behind with a
backstabber. Dawn held them in place as Fyre hit a senton
bomb. Fyre covered Baszler for the pinfall win.
********
Redmond interviewed Jey Uso about potentially reuniting with
Zayn as a team. Jey said Zayn was taking some time off to
clear his head. Zayn has been putting work in week after
week and he would be back with a vengeance. Before he left,
Zayn encouraged Jey to go for gold without him. Jey was
entering the IC title tournament and would have the title on
his shoulder the next time he was in your city. Yeet.
********
Cole announced that Pat McAfee would be gone for a few
months doing College GameDay. They aired a video package for
McAfee which made it seem like he was leaving forever.
McAfee sincerely thanked them for the video and spoke about
how much this job meant to him.
********
Next week on Raw in Providence, RI:
IC title tournament begins
Bronson Reed vs. Braun Strowman
Uncle Howdy vs. Chad Gable
********
Randy Orton defeated Ludwig Kaiser (14:25)
Kaiser chopped Orton so Orton launched him across the ring
with a big fallaway slam. Kaiser chopped him again outside
the ring so Orton dropped him with a chop of his own.
Orton was about to do a back suplex onto the announce table
but let go of Kaiser upon seeing Gunther in the timekeeper’s
area. Kaiser kicked Orton’s leg out of his leg and hit a
back suplex onto the table. As Orton leaned against the
steel steps, Kaiser ran around the ring and dropkicked his
knee into the steps.
Kaiser worked over Orton’s leg after a break. Kaiser tried
running around the ring again but Orton dropped him with a
clothesline and hit a back suplex on the table. Orton did it
three more times as he looked over at Gunther. Orton
followed with a powerslam but Kaiser blocked a draping DDT
and hit a leaping kick for two.
Orton responded with a superplex and a draping DDT. Kaiser
countered an RKO into a schoolboy for a nearfall. Orton
followed immediately with an RKO for the pinfall win.
— Orton invited Gunther into the ring which led to an odd
brawl. Gunther seemed out of place at times and the show
suddenly ended after Orton poked him in the eye. Either
Orton hit an RKO or he tried it and Gunther bailed.