Posted on 9/03/124 by Bob Magee
Date: September 2, 2024
Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO
**********
Show Recap —
Wade Barrett was in the ring and welcomed the Denver crowd
to Raw. Barrett introduced us to Joe Tessitore. He was
thrilled to be a member of the WWE broadcast team. He put
over the Denver fans by comparing them to the European
crowds they had over the last week. That was a transition
meant to send us to a recap of Bash in Berlin.
Gunther, CM Punk, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill were shown
arriving earlier today.
Opening segment
Rhea Ripley entered to start the show. She welcomed us to
Monday Night Mami. The crowd cheered as she spoke about her
win alongside Damian Priest over Liv Morgan and Dominik
Mysterio. They weren’t done yet and it was time for her to
regain what she never lost.
Dominik interrupted. He had a black eye. Ripley said nobody
wanted to hear him speak so he should get his little
girlfriend before she gives him another black eye.
Dom said Morgan was still recovering from what she did to
her in Berlin. The crowd told Dom he sucks. Dom said they
were taken advantage of in Berlin. They were jetlagged and
didn’t get much sleep — thanks to other reasons too. Dom
said Morgan wasn’t afraid of Ripley. Morgan beat Ripley
before and will beat her again. Dom would win the IC title
and they would both be champions.
Ripley, in Spanish, told Dom he was stupid. Ripley wanted
Dom to tell Morgan that she would fight her any time, any
place.
Morgan tried a cheap shot but Ripley saw it coming and
knocked her down. Ripley turned to Dom but the distraction
allowed Morgan to attack her from behind. Ripley wound up
caught upside down in between the ropes. Morgan booted her
leg before kissing her on the cheek.
Priest ran out to assist and the heels bailed. Ripley sold
her leg. (I don’t know if this was meant to happen or not
but they went with it.)
********
Chad Gable hyped up American Made backstage. He was sick of
the Wyatts. He told American Made they were the best
athletes to show up in WWE in ten years (Gable debuted about
ten years ago). He smacked Juilius Creed and they made their
entrance.
After a break, trainers tried checking on Ripley but she
screamed at them. Priest urged her to let the trainers
assist. Priest said he would talk to Adam Pearce so they
could deal with Judgment Day. Ripley agreed to let the
trainers assist.
********
Six-person tag team match: Ivy Nile & The Creed Brothers
(w/Chad Gable) defeated Maxxine Dupri, Otis & Akira Tozawa
(11:06)
Otis used Tozawa as a weapon against the Creeds. Dupri wiped
out American Made with a dive off the top and they went to
break. Despite what we just saw, American Made were in
control of Tozawa after the break. Tozawa hit a conveniently
timed DDT and made the hot tag to Otis who hit Julius with a
Caterpillar.
Otis just sort of threw himself at Brutus but Julius broke
up the cover. Tozawa gave Julius a German suplex and hit
Brutus with a suicide dive. He tried a dive on Julius but
Julius caught him and hit an overhead suplex. Otis knocked
Julius off the apron but Brutus knocked him down with a
Brutus bomb.
Dupri and Nile tagged in and Dupri gave Nile a Northern
Lights suplex. Gable tried distracting Dupri so she knocked
him off the apron. The distraction allowed Nile to lock her
in a dragon sleeper and Dupri tapped out.
— Gable said he should’ve had a one-on-one classic against
Uncle Howdy last week but Howdy used his freaks to get the
win. Gable knew what it would take to finish them so he
challenged them to an eight-person street fight next week.
American Made would get rid of the Wyatts, not just for the
fans and the locker room, but for America.
Uncle Howdy entered. His sanity crumbled a year ago. The
silence in his brain was deafening but he could still hear.
His life was no longer his. Gable was gambling his own
being, and the Wyatts would collect the debt. The Wyatt
Sicks appeared around Uncle Howdy until the lights went out.
(He accepted the challenge.)
(I was about to make a note that Otis has not won a match of
any kind since leaving Chad Gable. In fact, not including
Main Event, Otis has not won a televised match all year. Not
on Raw or NXT.)
********
(I don’t know if it’s his mic or the way he’s annunciating,
but Tessitore sounds like he’s speaking at a much lower
volume or frequency than the usual commentators.)
Shayna Baszler (w/Sonya Deville & Zoey Stark) defeated
Zelina Vega (6:34)
They went to break 90 seconds into the match. Vega hit a
moonsault after the break for two. She used a low 619 to
knock Stark off the apron and she used a dive to take out
Deville. The referee watched this all transpire. As Vega
reentered the ring, Baszler just gave her a normal-looking
kick and stacked her up for the pinfall win. This was a
waste of time.
— Pure Fusion Collective beat up Vega post-match. Lyra
Valkyria tried making the save but they laid her out too.
Deville grabbed a mic and said there was no one in the back
or in the crowd who could take them on. She dared anyone to
shoot their shot.
********
Ripley was in a knee brace and had a crutch but she told
Priest it was just a precaution and she would be fine.
Priest spoke to Pearce but was told Finn Bálor would only
face him in a tag match. He didn’t have any other friends
around here so he couldn’t have a match. The crowd chanted
“Yeet.” Ripley told Priest to tell Pearce she had someone in
mind. Priest smirked because it didn’t take him long to
figure out who she meant.
********
CM Punk walked through the back and glanced at some Colorado
Avalanche championship banners. He’s up next.
[SECOND HOUR]
Backstage, Vega and Valkyria were pissed, tired of Pure
Fusion Collective. They knew they needed a partner and
Valkyria noted they were in Calgary next week. She had an
idea.
CM Punk segment
Punk was happy to be in Denver. He couldn’t wait to get home
to his wife and dog in Chicago but he had to make a pit-stop
in Denver to celebrate with the fans. The strap match was
hell and one of the toughest matches he’s had. He meant what
he said: it was good to be alive in Denver.
It was good to be on the other side of a personal issue but
now it was time to get down to business. That’s what he was,
a businessman. He said it before: he wasn’t here to make
friends, he was there to make money. He’d take it in cash,
direct deposit, or like Patrick Roy in 1996, he’d take it in
gold.
Punk spoke about Gunther who put Randy Orton, one of the
best to ever do it, through hell. Nothing could replace the
chip on Punk’s shoulder other than the world title. It was
time for Punk to wake up as champion. The crowd chanted for
Punk.
Punk congratulated Gunther and told him to enjoy it. “We’re
gonna enjoy taking it off of you.” Punk added, “The goal is
gold, the target is Gunther.” Punk told Gunther to get used
to hearing Cult of Personality.
As Punk posed on the announce desk, he was tripped by Drew
McIntyre (in a hood). McIntyre slammed Punk’s head against
the table as Barrett got between them. Barrett tried
reasoning with him but McIntyre blew by him and hit Punk
with a Claymore Kick — knocking one of his Nike shoes off in
the process. McIntyre hit another Claymore in the ring.
McIntyre grabbed Punk by the arm and booted him in the head
as officials tried to stop him. McIntyre warned them to stay
away as he removed the bracelet from Punk’s wrist. McIntyre
ripped the bracelet apart and Tessitore said he crossed a
line we have yet to see. McIntyre shoved the beads from the
bracelet down Punk’s throat and hit another Claymore.
Officials finally removed McIntyre from the ring. Pearce
frantically called for medics and they brought a damn
stretcher to the ring.
— After a break, they carted Punk—now in a neck brace and
bleeding from the mouth—through the back on the stretcher
toward an ambulance. McIntyre appeared and hammered away at
Punk again until he was carried away by officials. Pearce
dramatically said to Punk, “Talk to me!” but he didn’t
respond.
********
IC title tournament triple threat match: Ilja Dragunov
defeated Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio (10:34)
After an early break, Carlito ran out to attack Dragon Lee.
Priest entered to his music and went after Carlito. Dom
tried to attack Priest but quickly regretted his decision
and bailed through the crowd as Priest chased him. So Dom
willingly gave up on a potential IC title shot.
That left Dragon Lee and Dragunov who had a good back-and-
forth exchange for a couple of minutes until Dragunov hit
Torpedo Moscow for the pinfall win.
Draugnov joins Jey Uso and Pete Dunne in the fatal four-way
number one contender’s match.
********
There was a video package of Bronson Reed (out tonight due
to Covid) giving Braun Strowman a Tsunami onto a car last
week.
Cathy Kelley asked Pearce about Bronson Reed’s replacement
in the IC title tournament. Strowman entered and said he
wanted in the match. Pearce said he shouldn’t even be here
after what Reed did to him.
Strowman admitted he was banged up (he dramatically raised
his shirt to show the ‘damage’ done by Reed but was only
partially covered in athletic tape and had no bruising) but
medical told him he could go if he wanted to. Pearce was
fine with that if Strowman thought he was good to go.
Strowman thanked him.
(This was silly. Strowman should have been ruled out, and
Pearce even told Kelley there was a locker room full of
people who wanted in the match.)
********
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill entered to watch the upcoming
match. They went to break, the teams entered for the match,
and they went to break again 70 seconds after it started.
Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre defeated Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane to
become number one contenders for the Women’s Tag Team
Championships (8:07)
Like the opening match, the babyfaces were in control before
the break but the heels were in control with no explanation
after the break.
Sane tried to hit Dawn with a diving elbow outside the ring
but Dawn pulled Belair in front of her. Sane practically
flew past her and crashed into the announce table. Cargill
gave Sane a forearm anyway moments later (because that was
the planned spot).
Sky fought on her own in the ring but Dawn gave her a cheap
shot when the ref wasn’t looking. Dawn and Fyre gave Sky a
double-team Gory bomb/flatliner for the pinfall win. This
was another nothing match.
— Sane and Sky had a confrontation with the champs post-
match.
Sane’s eye was completely red and she was busted open pretty
bad. She brushed it off and rubbed the blood around like it
was nothing while facing off with Belair and Cargill.
(They advertised a title celebration for Belair and Cargill
but that never happened.)
********
Kofi Kingston met with Pearce backstage. He noted that
Judgment Day haven’t defended the tag titles in two months
and he had a proposition involving him and Xavier Woods.
Gunther appeared. He and Kingston gave each other a look
before Gunther walked off.
[THIRD HOUR]
Priest asked Ripley for an update on his potential partner
for tonight. Priest asked if he said yes. She said no — he
said, “Yeet.” Priest was pleased but still wanted to talk to
him first.
Gunther and Sami Zayn segment
Gunther entered. He took credit for Bash in Berlin setting
an arena gate record. He beat the greatest version of Randy
Orton and the great weekend was just another chapter in his
legacy.
Sami Zayn interrupted and he entered to a big reaction. (I
haven’t mentioned the crowd much tonight because it feels
like the audio has been off but Zayn entered to an
unquestionably strong reaction.)
Zayn said people talk about the IC title as the great
workhorse title. What people often don’t talk about is that
the true greats—Randy Savage, Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple
H, Shawn Michaels, and his hero Bret Hart—all won the IC
title before winning the world title. That’s exactly what
Gunther did, “And now, that’s exactly what I am going to
do.” Gunther smiled.
Zayn wanted the one title that had eluded him his entire
career. He wanted the World Heavyweight title.
Gunther said Zayn was right. Gunther and all of those men
stepped up and won the world title. But Zayn stepped down.
Zayn was not on that list of great men. That’s why the
people liked him. When Zayn was knocked down, he picked
himself up and returned to the ring. Gunther was impressed
that Zayn was challenging him. He saw the fire in his eyes.
He told Zayn that if he really wanted this more than
anything else: his answer was no.
Gunther left as his music played but Zayn cut it off. Zayn
wondered why Gunther was finally backing down from a fight.
Zayn said Gunther knew full well that Zayn was the only
person who had beaten him in WWE. “I am coming for you and I
will be a World Heavyweight Champion.” Gunther left.
(This was a good and logical first step to set up a world
title match between these two.)
********
(Damian Priest and Jey Uso against Finn Bálor and JD
McDonagh was made official for tonight.)
Jackie Redmond interviewed Jey Uso. Jey was in the midst of
cutting his usual promo when Bron Breakker interrupted. Bron
reiterated that a member of Jey’s family would never beat a
member of his. Bron was giving him one opportunity to walk
away and go after Dom’s sloppy seconds instead. If Jey went
after his title, he would lose.
Jey responded, “Thanks for the advice, rookie.” Jey said
Bron had his attention now. Jey would win the tournament,
win the title, and beat Bron’s ass.
********
IC title tournament triple threat match: Braun Strowman
defeated Ludwig Kaiser and Sheamus (7:32)
Sheamus and Kaiser went at it outside the ring so Strowman
ran them over. He ran after Kaiser but he moved and Strowman
crashed through the barricade which led to a break 60
seconds in the match.
Kaiser ran around the ring but Strowman chucked a heavy
leather chair at his face. Strowman hit Sheamus with a
chokeslam for two. Sheamus fought back by targeting
Strowman’s injured midsection. Sheamus hit ten beats but
Kaiser hit him with a Finlay roll for two. Kaiser hit an
enziguri but Sheamus came right back with a Brogue Kick.
Pete Dunne (who is on Raw, NXT and Speed) attacked Sheamus
again with a shillelagh. Strowman gave Kaiser a powerslam
for the pinfall win.
The IC title number one contender’s fatal four-way match
will be Strowman vs. Jey vs. Dunne vs. Dragunov.
********
Priest met with Jey backstage. Jey knew what it was like to
be Priest. No friends, lost family. But Jey still respected
him. Plus, he couldn’t say ‘no’ to Ripley. Priest laughed.
Priest and Jey agreed to give Judgment Day a beating for
Rhea.
********
Redmond approached Dunne who was very proud of himself.
Redmond asked about what he did to Sheamus. Dunne said she
could tell him it was just a message from an old friend. Now
he was off to NXT to smash Trick Williams. Redmond asked,
“Wait, so I’ll tell him it’s from ‘Butch’?” Dunne told her
not to call him that. (Either Redmond was playing dumb or
just very dumb.)
********
Damian Priest & Jey Uso defeated World Tag Team Champions
Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh in a non-title match (14:24)
Believe it or not, Jey hit a dive but was getting beat up
anyway after a break. Jey fought back to the sound of “Yeet”
and made the hot tag to Priest who went to town on McDonagh
and Bálor. Priest knocked McDonagh out of the ring so Bálor
hit a slingblade but Priest came back with a thrust kick and
clothesline. Bálor countered a chokeslam into a cradle for
two.
A cheap shot by McDonagh allowed Judgment Day to take over
but Jey made a blind tag. Priest hit a double clothesline
and Jey hit a double flying crossbody. Jey superkicked both
men and speared McDonagh.
Jey went up for an Uso Splash but Morgan suddenly appeared
and crotched Jey on the ropes. Bálor tagged in and hit Jey
with a slingblade, dropkick and Coup de Grace. McDonagh
tagged in and hit a moonsault but Priest broke up the cover.
Morgan got on the apron to complain and Ripley chose this
moment to enter (to her music). Ripley entered with her
crutch. Ripley smirked and used the crutch as a weapon.
Morgan escaped through the crowd as Ripley chased her away
(still limping).
Jey speared Bálor and Priest gave McDonagh a Razor’s Edge.
Jey hit McDonagh with an Uso Splash for the pinfall win. Jey
posed with Priest and Ripley as the show ended.