Monday Night Raw
Date: May 19, 2025
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

We’re officially in Money In The Bank season, but before we get to that show, we have this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. That show alone should be quite the presentation, with a fairly stacked card already coming together. Other than that though, we need to get ready for the Money In The Bank ladder matches with some qualifying matches taking place this week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We look at the actions of Seth Rollins/Bron Breakker/Paul Heyman from last week.

Here is Logan Paul to get things going. He gets right to the point by saying he’ll be the next World Heavyweight Champion by beating Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event. After the YEET chants get on Paul’s nerves, Paul goes on about how he has knocked Uso out a few times and is ready to do it again. Cue Gunther to interrupt and Paul knows this isn’t good. Gunther thinks that Paul’s statements make him sound confident and that is what drives them in life.

The people here should show Paul (who looks very nervous) more respect. Gunther talks about all of Paul’s successes and says he could learn from Paul. That works for Paul, who is willing to talk to Gunther anytime. Gunther can imagine the headlines if Paul becomes the World Heavyweight Champion and Paul says Gunther knows business. Gunther says this may be business to Paul, but to Gunther, this is personal.

Taking the title from Uso is personal for Gunther and just ask Pat McAfee what he does to non-wrestlers. At least McAfee showed some heart, but if Paul wins the title, Gunther will eat him alive. Gunther goes to leave but Paul talks trash about him, only to get superkicked by an invading Jey Uso. This was a promo about making Paul feel like a bigger threat to win the title, which was needed after the Gunther title shot was announced.

We look at Giulia and Roxanne Perez splitting up after last week’s loss.

Perez is officially signed to Raw (as Giulia is officially signed to Smackdown).

We look back at NBA stars Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson getting into it last June on Smackdown before they play in the NBA Playoffs this week.

Jey Uso runs into Paul Heyman, who wants to give Uso some facts. Everyone says that Heyman betrayed CM Punk and Roman Reigns, which means stabbing them in the back. The fact is that Bron Breakker is facing Uso in a non-title match tonight because it isn’t about the title. Instead, Breakker is out to slow Uso down so Seth Rollins can win the title soon.

Penta/AJ Styles vs. Judgment Day

Styles sends McDonagh into the corner to start but misses the drop down dropkick. Not that it matters as Styles knocks him into the corner for some chops from Penta. Cue Balor, who is taken down as well with the villains being sent outside. Penta and Styles hit stereo dives and we take a break (with a great slow motion replay of the dives).

Back with Penta in trouble and being sent up top. McDonagh gets knocked down but Balor is right there to cut off the tag attempt. Penta fights out of trouble and hits the reverse Sling Blade on Balor, allowing the tag back to Styles. The Calf Crusher goes on so McDonagh tries to make the save, only to frog splash Balor by mistake. The belly to back faceplant gives Styles two and he hits the moonsault DDT on the floor. Carlito gets in a posting to cut Styles off though and we take a break.

Back again with Styles fighting out of trouble and handing it off to Penta, with McDonagh coming in as well but stumbling on the ropes. Penta superkicks an upside down McDonagh in the corner but charges into a Spanish Fly. Balor Sling Blades Penta, who is back up with another superkick. Carlito’s distraction earns him a shot from Styles and a Canadian Destroyer off the steps plants McDonagh on the floor. Cue El Grande Americano though with a headbutt to the back of Penta’s head and the Coup de Grace finishes him off at 17:08.

Rating: B. This was a match that I wouldn’t have expected much from and it wound up being a heck of a showdown. That’s quite the success for a match that shouldn’t have been much on paper and it even keeps El Grande Americano vs. Penta going. Good stuff here and a very nice surprise.

Iyo Sky is ready for anyone to win Money In The Bank so here is Becky Lynch to remind Sky that Sky has never beaten her. Sky is ready anyway.

Seth Rollins interrupts Logan Paul, who is trying to get out of this place. Rollins says Jey Uso is going to get hurt tonight and that means Paul has a real chance on Saturday. If Paul gets past Uso and Gunther, Rollins will be waiting for him. Maybe they run it back from Wrestlemania two years ago with the title on the line. Think about it.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Becky Lynch vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Natalya

Lynch tries to get the alliance going with Perez to start and then tries to throw her outside. It’s Lynch outside instead, leaving the other two inside. This time Lynch pulls Natalya outside for a ram into the barricade before coming back inside where Perez can get two off a rollup. Natalya suplexes Lynch for two but the Sharpshooter is countered into a Disarm-Her. Perez breaks that up but Natalya blocks the Manhandle Slam attempt. A basement superkick sends Perez outside, only for her to come back with a dive onto both of them.

We take a break and come back with Natalya discus lariating both of them but the double Sharpshooter doesn’t work. Everyone gets knocked down until Natalya and Lynch are back up to slug it out. Perez sunset flips Natalya to suplex Lynch at the same time, with Lynch having to jump back up for the save. Perez goes up but Natalya grabs a slingshot powerbomb to plant Lynch for two.

The Sharpshooter has Perez in trouble until Lynch makes the save. That earns Lynch a discus lariat and the double Sharpshooter sends Lynch and Perez to the ropes. The Manhandle Slam drops Perez but here is Lyra Valkyria to brawl with Lynch. A quick Pop Rox gives Perez the pin on Natalya at 14:35.

Rating: B. They got rolling here, even if Natalya was pretty clearly there to take the fall. The good thing is that while Natalya might be little more than a jobber to the stars, she can still do rather well in the ring. Putting her out there while Valkyria intercepted Lynch was a good way to go and I had fun with the match, despite Natalya’s obsession with the Sharpshooter.

Sami Zayn comes in to see Jey Uso, telling him to worry about Logan Paul. Zayn will deal with Seth Rollins and company and he has Uso’s back tonight if the numbers game comes up.

We look at John Cena beating Michael Cole on Raw in 2012. Cole: “Not quite as embarrassing as Heidenreich.”

Akira Tozawa gets to face Rusev next week. Chad Gable comes in to promise destruction and Tozawa (and Maxxine Dupri) leave. With them gone, Gable wants a Money In The Bank qualifying match for himself and Ivy Nile. New Day comes in (Pearce: “DOES ANYBODY KNOCK AROUND HERE???”) and isn’t thrilled with the Creed Brothers getting a title shot in a triple threat next week, also involving the War Raiders. Pearce throws them all out, with Xavier Woods saying it smells like a midlife crisis in here.

Sheamus vs. Grayson Waller

Austin Theory is here with Waller, who slaps Sheamus in the face to start. Sheamus works on the arm and it actually turns into a technical off on the mat. Back up and Sheamus goes with the power to send Waller flying a few times. Waller is sent outside but slides back in, where he hits a quick clothesline as we take a break. We come back with one heck of an AUSTIN THEORY chant going and Sheamus getting annoyed at Waller for hitting him in the chest. Sheamus pounds away (Theory winces) but gets caught in the rolling Downward Spiral for two.

Theory accidentally distracts Waller though and Sheamus hits a knee to the face. Sheamus grabs the Dublin Smile but a discus forearm puts him on the apron. For some reason Waller decides to try the ten forearms to the chest, which Sheamus reverses into…something that looked like White Noise onto the apron but was more Waller being dropped onto the rope. Waller tries to leave but Theory won’t let him, allowing Sheamus to hit the ten forearms. The Brogue Kick puts Waller away at 10:53.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t quite feeling this one, as the idea was that Waller didn’t want to do this but he wound up having a pretty competitive match against a monster like Sheamus. The good thing is that Theory seems to be taking a step towards having more of a personality, which could be interesting if he is given the chance. Theory has long since shown the talent to do something but it isn’t going to happen as he’s stuck with Waller.

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee make a bet on the NBA Eastern Conference Finals (if the Pacers win, Cole will call Raw in a tank top but if the Knicks win, McAfee will call Raw in a suit). They talk to Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who will be a playable character in WWE2K25. It’s a big rivalry with the Knicks and Haliburton is ready to go. Cole hypes up the Knicks (McAfee: “YOU BIASED PIECE OF TRASH!”) before Haliburton picks Jey Uso to beat Logan Paul. You can tell Haliburton is a big fan and the commentators being fans of the teams was a nice way to tie it together.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Gunther is interrupted by Seth Rollins, who says it’s been awhile. Rollins thanks Gunther for doing things with his title, but Gunther says the reality is Rollins is not the long term game around here. Rollins says that if Gunther gets in the way, he’ll make himself a target. Gunther says he is eagerly awaiting it.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Rhea Ripley vs. Zoey Stark vs. Kairi Sane

This is Sane’s first match in several months after a hand injury. Sane goes after Stark to start but gets caught with a nasty German suplex. Ripley gets sent into the ropes and Sane takes her down with a hurricanrana but Stark tries a missile dropkick…and may have blown her knee out. We pause for the doctor to check on Stark and the camera goes to the briefcases as we take a break.

Back with Stark gone and Ripley hitting a fall away slam on Sane. Ripley sends her flying again so the referee can talk to her a bit, likely as this is being called on the fly. Sane is back up to knock her into the corner for the running forearm and they slug it out from their knees. Ripley ducks a shot to the face and hits the headbutt, setting up Riptide for the pin at 9:25.

Rating: C+. There is a HUGE asterisk next to this one as it is pretty clear that Stark was there to take the fall but then got hurt. Ripley moving on is fine and it’s a shame to see Sane have to lose on her first night back, but the bigger story here is Stark. That looked absolutely terrible and hopefully Stark is able to come back WAY down the line.

Rusev is ready to destroy Akira Tozawa. Next week he will forgive Tozawa’s stupidity and forget his existence.

Finn Balor introduces Roxanne Perez as a potential member of the Judgment Day. She’s even got presents: chicken tenders for Dominik Mysterio and apples for Carlito! Raquel Rodriguez throws her out, saying Liv Morgan will not like this. Balor trying to appeal to Dominik’s sleaziest tendencies to get revenge on him is some brilliant stuff.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker

Non-title and Paul Heyman is here with Breakker. Some shoulders in the corner have Uso in early trouble but he’s right back to knock Breakker outside. The suicide dive connects and we take an early break. Back with Breakker running multiple ropes to hit a hard clothesline. Breakker powers him around and hits an overhead belly to belly, which doesn’t get all of the rotation. Uso fights up and knocks him into the corner for the running Umaga Attack and a near fall.

They fight out to the floor and Breakker hits the bulldog off the apron onto the announcers’ table. We take another break and come back with Uso fighting back, including a jumping enziguri. The pop up Samoan drop gets two but Uso gets caught on top, meaning it’s the super Frankensteiner for another near fall. A quick superkick gives Uso two so Breakker grabs a chair. Uso superkicks him down again but Heyman grabs Uso’s leg, allowing Seth Rollins to jump him from behind for the DQ at 14:58.

Rating: B-. As annoying as a DQ ending can be, they didn’t have a better option here with Breakker being an up and coming monster and Uso being the champion. Rollins has made it clear that this match is just about slowing Uso down anyway so it makes perfect sense for Rollins to jump him. These two have some chemistry together too so this worked well.

Post match the beatdown is on until Sami Zayn and CM Punk come in for the save. After the fans get done singing Cult Of Personality, the brawl is on. The fight heads into the crowd with Punk diving in with a double ax handle. The four of them go into the back…and Logan Paul knocks Uso out again to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was all about setting up Saturday Night’s Main Event and that was pretty well done. Paul vs. Uso got a nice boost, but there was also quite a bit of looking forward to other stuff. Not only did they set up some Money In The Bank participants, but you can see some title matches either already being announced or teased for down the line. This was the big preview night and that worked very well. The action was good too, but this was all about setting things up for later and that has me intrigued.

Results
Judgment Day b. Penta/AJ Styles – Coup de Grace to Penta
Roxanne Perez b. Natalya and Becky Lynch – Pop Rox to Natalya
Sheamus b. Grayson Waller – Brogue Kick
Rhea Ripley b. Zoey Stark and Kairi Sane – Riptide to Sane
Jey Uso b. Bron Breakker when Seth Rollins interfered

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: April 28, 2025
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

Now we’re in the weird part of the show, as Wrestlemania and the main fall out show are both over. That means it is time to start getting ready for everything else that matters, with the road to Backlash being less than two weeks away. That should make for an interesting show as we already have a main event set with John Cena set to defend against Randy Orton. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Nick Aldis is in charge tonight with Adam Pearce gone for a week. That could be interesting.

Commentary talks about Gunther attacking Pat McAfee last week, earning himself a fine and a suspension. Later tonight, McAfee gets to comment on the situation.

We look back at Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman gloating last week, with Bron Breakker joining up with them in a move that has all of the potential.

Here are Rollins, Heyman and Breakker for a chat. Rollins hits his catchphrase and talks about how it must be difficult for those of you who still want to chant for CM Punk or Roman Reigns. The future of this company isn’t John Cena, Jey Uso or anyone else, because it is Rollins himself.

Cue Sami Zayn to interrupt and Rollins doesn’t seem overly thrilled. Rollins welcomes him back to the show (where he was last week) and Zayn says they have known each other for a long time. This is a bunch of nonsense though, because Rollins and Zayn spent a lot of time talking about Punk and Reigns. What was the one thing those two had in common? It’s the guy who is now standing behind Rollins, which doesn’t work for Rollins. Zayn thinks Rollins might have been jealous of Punk for all that time because he just wanted to be in Punk’s position.

Rollins says this is the future and this is NOT the Bloodline, but Zayn says he’s looking at the Wise Man and the dog. By the way, if Breakker keeps looking at him like that, he’ll get his face kicked in. Rollins says Zayn is going to need to get out of the way or get beaten down, but maybe they can pull some strings and get him off Raw without any problem. They’ll need an answer by the end of the night.

We look back at Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer last week, with NXT’s Roxanne Perez and Giulia running in for the double beatdown. Rhea Ripley made the save.

Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez

They start slowly until Perez knocks her into the corner. Ripley gets a boot up but can’t get a Razor’s Edge. Instead Perez takes her down and starts in on the leg, even managing to kick her down. A dropkick sends Ripley to the floor but she’s fine enough to pull a suicide dive out of the air. Perez is right back up and wraps the leg around the post, only to have Ripley power out of a Russian legsweep back inside. A clothesline takes Perez down and we go to a break.

Back with Perez still working on the leg but Ripley fights up again. Now the toss Razor’s Edge connects and a running basement dropkick gives Ripley two (with the knee messing up the cover). Cue Giulia for a distraction, which allows Perez to try a failed Pop Rox. Instead Ripley knocks her down, setting up Riptide but Giulia runs in for the DQ at 11:48.

Rating: B-. This was a good showcase for Perez as WWE seems rather interested in showing what the NXT women can do on the main roster. That’s a good idea as the women are NXT’s strong suit and more than capable of hanging up here. It makes me wonder who is on their way up, though Perez is pretty much here already.

Post match the double beatdown is on but Iyo Sky runs in for the save.

The Judgment Day is happy to have JD McDonagh back. Finn Balor goes to talk to him but Liv Morgan says they need to get ready for their match. It’s time to get into the Tag Team Title picture so she’s gotten them a match with the War Raiders. Balor is happy, but would like to be more in the loop.

Here is Logan Paul for a chat. He beat AJ Styles at Wrestlemania but some people still aren’t satisfied. There are people who do not recognize greatness and greatness does not look like Jey Uso. Paul has done everything in WWE except win a World Title, so Uso’s days are numbered. Cue Uso to interrupt, saying he’ snot about to just hand the title over. The fire that was lit inside him when he saw Gunther beat up his brother is never going out. If Paul wants the title, come take it. Paul calls him stupid and gets dropped with a superkick as Uso leaves. There are far worse options for Uso’s first opponent.

War Raiders vs. Judgment Day

New Day is on commentary and do not like all of the attention being paid to McDonagh when Woods’ recovery from injury didn’t get much praise. Erik gets knocked into the corner to start but fights out with a dropkick. Ivar comes in for some heavy knees and Judgment Day is sent outside. Ivar crashed into the side of the ring and we take a break with Erik looking concerned.

We take a break and come back with Erik hitting a heck of a right hand to drop McDonagh. That’s enough for the tag off to Ivar, who sits on Balor in the corner. A spinning kick to the head drops McDonagh but Ivar misses the Doomsault. Instead McDonagh hits his own moonsault for two on Ivar, who is back up to drop both villains. They go to the floor where the Raiders are launched into each other and Ivar takes out New Day. Carlito’s distraction lets McDonagh hit a jawbreaker on Erik but here is Penta to shove McDonagh off the top. The War Machine finishes McDonagh at 10:35.

Rating: C+. I like the War Raiders and odds are they’re getting a title shot out of this, but egads this division feels ice cold right now. It’s coming off more like the tag divisions of old and that’s a terrible thing to see. Maybe things can pick up, but for now, it feels like the titles have a grand total of no value and that’s never how things should be going.

Paul Heyman interrupts Sami Zayn and Otis, with the latter leaving. Heyman talks to Zayn about bringing up the Bloodline but moves on to Seth Rollins. Whether it’s true or not, Rollins sees himself as the future of wrestling. Bron Breakker is not happy either and is demanding a match with Zayn tonight.

That has to be respected because Breakker is the key to their plans. If Zayn is willing to move to Smackdown this week, the GM’s have guaranteed Zayn a WWE Title shot against the winner of John Cena and Randy Orton (that gets Zayn’s attention real fast). Heyman: “You can live in the future or you can die with the past.” Heyman goes to leave and Breakker is waiting at the door, where he looks pleased. Now that’s a good way to go, as it gives this some stakes that we know matter to Zayn

Here is Becky Lynch for an explanation of her attack on Lyra Valkyria last week. She stepped in to help Valkyria after Bayley was attacked just before Wrestlemania….and yeah of course she did it. Lynch does not want to hear the fans yelling at her because Bayley has attacked her over and over since 2019. Bayley has forgotten what this business is supposed to be because she’s out here dancing to wrestlers’ music and wearing their shirts while crying about not being a bigger star. Well Bayley got to see what a bigger star looks like when Lynch walked down the ramp at Wrestlemania.

As for Valkyria, she wouldn’t be in this business if not for Lynch. While Lynch was gone though, Valkyria buddied up with Bayley while Lynch wanted her to “ditch that b****.” It’s too late though because Valkyria is already a loser, but cue Valkyria , looking near tears, to interrupt. Valkyria says a lot of women in the back warned her about Lynch (Lynch: “I’ll bet they did!”) with Bayley being the first. She didn’t believe it though because she had this dream of winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles with her fellow Irishwoman.

Maybe it took all of the Manhandle Slams to get it through her head but Lynch bails from the threat of a fight. Valkyria brings up beating Lynch for the NXT Women’s Title and issues the challenge for tonight. Lynch isn’t wanting to fight in Kansas City so Valkyria issues the challenge for Backlash, and she’ll even put the Women’s Intercontinental Title on the line. Lynch is in but Valkyria says she’s already on the way to being a better woman than Lynch. She’s already a better wrestler, which sends Lynch into a rant.

Valkyria dropkicks her through the ropes and the beating is on with Lynch bailing. Valkyria goes to pose on the stage but Lynch jumps her from behind. They hit all of the notes here but I’m just not quite buying it from Valkyria. I can’t imagine Lynch doesn’t win the title, or at least beat the daylights out of Valkyria at Backlash, but that’s going to be a heck of a step back for Valkyria.

Nick Aldis comes up to Penta and understands that he wants Judgment Day but we can’t have that kind of violence. However, Aldis has made a match between Penta and JD McDonagh for next week. That’s good for Penta, but Chad Gable interrupts to mock Penta for losing at Wrestlemania. That wasn’t even his favorite part of Wrestlemania though, because that was seeing Rey Fenix lose to El Grande Americano. Penta kicks him in the face and hits the catchphrase.

Video on Rusev, who is ready to hurt people after finding himself.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Ivy Nile

Vaquer’s NXT Women’s Title isn’t on the line and Chad Gable is here with Nile. They to to the mat to start with Nile working on a front facelock but something like a European clutch gives Vaquer two. Back up and a spinning rollup gives Vaquer two more but the Devil’s Kiss is blocked. Vaquer shrugs that off and hits the Devil’s Kiss as we take a break.

Back with Vaquer hitting it again, followed by a running Meteora in the corner, with Gable putting the foot on the rope. Vaquer gets distracted, allowing Nile to suplex her down for two. Nile goes up but gets caught with some headbutts, setting up the superplex. The SVB (a butterfly backbreaker) is blocked and Nile plants her down for two more. A dragon screw out of the corner slows Nile down though and the SVB finishes for Vaquer at 9:32.

Rating: B-. They’re in a weird place with Vaquer, as she is already feeling like one of the best stars in all of the women’s division but she hasn’t been NXT Women’s Champion for very long. The problem is she’s a bigger star than pretty much anyone else in the NXT women’s division so I’m not sure how long she’ll be around there. She’s more than ready for the main roster, but dang I hope they don’t waste that momentum in NXT for much longer.

Nick Aldis meets with AJ Styles, who wants to get back in the ring. Cud Judgment Day to interrupt, with Liv Morgan saying she’ll need tome off to be in a Hollywood movie. Aldis agrees and says that’s been settled up, but doesn’t think the same of Dominik Mysterio’s request. When you’re a champion, you have to be here more often (as in a champion like….Morgan). Mysterio and Styles don’t think much of each other but the villains leave. Styles tells Aldis he has an idea, and Aldis seems to know it in advance.

Karrion Kross hopes Sami Zayn makes the right decision.

Michael Cole talks about last week when Gunther went after the commentary team. This led to a brawl between McAfee and Gunther, with Gunther choking him out. McAfee gets on the announcers’ table and sucks up to the fans a bit. He’s been on the commentary team for so long that he has forgotten who he was. McAfee is still the guy who born the son of a hard working truck driver but he wasn’t given much in this life. He went from an irrelevant bum to being known around the country.

There are a few things that he wants to be known for when he is gone, like being a hard worker. He wants to be seen as someone who gave back to various charities, but above all else, he wants to be remembered as a loyal mother******. You have to ride with those who ride for you and there is one man who has been with him since the day he got here. That man is Michael Cole so last week, McAfee had no choice but to help his friend.

Yeah he’s nuts to go after Gunther but if he dies, he dies. He wants “Smackdown’s version of Adam Pearce” to get out here so cue Nick Aldis, who wants to keep this professional. McAfee wants Gunther’s suspension lifted for the sake of a fight. Aldis says he can’t do that for a fight, but he can do it for the sake of a match. The match is made for Backlash. McAfee is annoying but he can still cut a good promo, which he did here.

We look back at the first John Cena vs. Randy Orton WWE Title match, which was all the way back at Summerslam 2007.

Jey Uso checks on Sami Zayn, and says he has his back no matter what decision he makes. Zayn leaves and Uso gets decked by Logan Paul.

Here is Seth Rollins for a chat. He wants Sami Zayn out here for his decision, so here is Zayn in person. Rollins gets that Zayn doesn’t like Breakker or Heyman, but Rollins and Zayn have known each other for twenty years. Last week, Rollins saw Zayn return and thought Zayn would show him the same respect.

Rollins believes that this is the way forward in WWE, but there is no one better to lead us into the future than Rollins himself. It hurts that Zayn doesn’t believe him but that is how the business works. Zayn is one of the few true friends Rollins has in wrestling. When Rollins became a father, Zayn was one of the first people he called because he had no idea what to do. Zayn gave him advice, and now Rollins is hoping Zayn will take the same advice.

Take whatever Heyman is offering him and go to Smackdown. Zayn says that everything Rollins has said about their friendship outside of the ring is true. Everything about what is going on in the ring though is Rollins playing games. He knows it’s a game because he has previously confided in Rollins that the one thing he wants more than anything is to be World Champion. When has Rollins ever known Zayn to run away? Zayn will not be threatened because he will become World Champion and he will do it the right way. That brings out Bron Breakker with Paul Heyman and we’re ready to go.

Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn

Heyman and Rollins are here with Breakker and Zayn is in street clothes. Breakker sends him flying with a suplex to start and rakes Zayn’s eyes over the top rope. An elbow to the face drops Zayn again and something like a powerslam gets two. Breakker takes him out tot he floor and hits the diving clothesline onto the announcers’ table.

We take a break and come back with Zayn hitting a sunset bomb. Zayn goes up but Breakker runs the corner for a super Frankensteiner. Breakker’s spear gets cut off with a shot to the face but the Super Spear knocks Zayn silly. Another Super Spear connects and Rollins tells Zayn to take the deal. Zayn tells Rollins where to go so it’s a third Super Spear. Medics come to check on Zayn so Rollins orders one more Super Spear, which is finally enough to stop the match at 12:32.

Rating: B-. Well if you want someone to take a heck of a beating and get all the sympathy in the world while making the new villain look like a monster, Zayn is the guy you call. That’s exactly what we had here, as Breakker wrecked Zayn and looked like a killer in the process. That’s what this needed to be and Breakker did his part about as perfectly as imaginable.

Post match the fans want one more spear but have to settle for a Stomp from Rollins instead. This was the next big beatdown as the team continues to knock off enemies.

Overall Rating: B. A lot of this show focused on the women and that was not a bad way to go. The two women’s matches and the Valkyria/Lynch segment worked, but the other big thing was that much better. The Zayn story was very good and they have a lot of options to pick from with the stories they are setting up. I liked what we got here well enough, but I’m more excited for where things are going and that is a good situation to have.

Results
Rhea Ripley b. Roxanne Perez via DQ when Giulia interfered
War Raiders b. Judgment Day – War Machine to McDonagh
Stephanie Vaquer b. Ivy Nile – SVB
Bron Breakker b. Sami Zayn via referee stoppage

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: March 17, 2025
Location: Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re still in Europe and that means the show is airing live around the world on Netflix. That makes for an interesting setup but there is something a bit more interesting than that on top. The big story this week is John Cena returning and hopefully explaining his attack on Cody Rhodes. The fact that Rhodes is here too should help so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Commentary hypes up the card and says we should give John Cena the chance to explain himself.

We look back at Cena’s heel turn with Cody Rhodes’ promo from last week narrating.

Here is Cena to get things going and the fans are not pleased with him. Cena has the regular gear on and holds up the Last Time Is Now towel but is much more stoic than usual with far less energy. The dueling chants begin and Cena takes the microphone, which he drops and teases leaving but stops. Cena finally gives a quote about how you shouldn’t have to look outside yourself for approval.

The fans keep booing and Cena says this is making it so easy for him. Cena says that for twenty five years, he has been in an abusive relationship. The people have spent all these years bullying him into being his puppet and expecting him to do it with a smile on his face. The fans are not pleased with this and let him know (the censoring takes a second to catch up), which Cena calls “so very classy”. Cena: “I am not a babyface. I am not a heel. I’m a human being.”

Everyone has been awful to him and it has been the same noise for twenty five years (eh more like twenty but close enough). The fans have let him know that he wasn’t worthy of his attention so he changed himself, but it wasn’t enough. Then he worked hard like he always did and he did nothing but win and they still didn’t like him. Cena says the only thing he can do is leave, which is something that has never been done before, which gets some cheers.

One last time, Cena tries to do something nice for them and YOU RUIN IT JUST LIKE YOU RUIN EVERYTHING. Just like tonight, it’s two seconds of being great but that’s never enough! The fans sing the Goodbye Song and Cena goes into a rant about how everything has always been about what the fans get. No one ever asked how he was feeling so they get what they deserve, which is NOTHING. The fans don’t get a new look or new music because the look is his, just like the voice on his theme song.

The only thing you get is a long look in the mirror to see how bad people have been to him for twenty five years. Cena mocks the WE WANT CODY chant before pointing out some LET’S GO CENA chanters. Those people are the worst of them all because they have done nothing but steal from him. You steal his moments and times and made him the punchline of a stupid invisible joke for FIFTEEN YEARS AND IT IS NOT FUNNY!

These people wear words like hustle, loyalty and respect but he lives them every day. You think you can buy the idea of “never give up”? He is the embodiment of the idea and these people use him as an excuse for their pathetic failures of a life. Each of them, including the kid in Cena gear in the front row, is part of a TOXIC RELATIONSHIP. Cena: “I’m breaking up with you. I’m done. I’m breaking up with every single person. You’re dumped. I don’t care about you and you don’t matter to me.”

Cue Cody Rhodes to an absolute roar, leaving Cena just shaking his head. Rhodes says everyone, including himself, was willing to hear Cena out. Cena said everyone gave him their worst but they have also given him their best for twenty five years. They did that because Cena could do that and carry it. Cena: “Listen kid…” Rhodes: “ENOUGH! It certainly isn’t kid. It’s WWE Champion.”

Rhodes was looking forward to going toe to toe to Cena week to week but this version better not show up at Wrestlemania. He already took Cena’s best shot so he’ll send Cena to retirement early. At Wrestlemania, he wants the real Cena, not this whiny b****. Rhodes leaves (no music) and poses on the stage with the title before leaving. Cena drops the mic and goes to leave, earning a reprise of the Goodbye Song. He goes up the aisle, teases a pose, and then walks away.

This went on for the better part of half an hour and it didn’t feel real. After so many years of the same kind of stuff from Cena, it was so strange to see him just unleashing all of this venom. It worked very well and told Cena’s story, with Cena intentionally talking down to everyone watching. That’s what it should have been and while it’s going to take some time to process, my goodness did it work well, with the fans being furious with him the whole time. Rhodes’ stuff was fine, but this was ALL about Cena, as fans have been waiting a very long time for this.

Michael Cole goes on a rant about what Cena just said and credits the fans for everything that Cena has. Cole: “Cena is an irrational p***k.” Corey Graves says we don’t have to like it but there’s going to be a fight at Wrestlemania.

The main event is for the Intercontinental Title so we look at some classic Wrestlemania matches, including Savage vs. Steamboat. Yeah that still holds up.

Penta vs. Ludwig Kaiser

No DQ and they slug it out to start until Penta knocks him to the floor. A missed charge sends Penta into the timekeeper’s area but Penta walks the barricade for a hurricanrana into the apron (thankfully Kaiser stood there while Penta was coming at him). Penta hits a big running flip dive over the top and they strike it out on the announcers’ table. Kaiser goes to the eyes and hits a Death Valley Driver onto the table as we take a break.

Back with Penta hitting a high crossbody and a Backstabber to put Kaiser down. Kaiser gets in another Death Valley Driver and they go outside, where Penta backdrops him onto the announcers’ table. Back in and they strike it out until Kaiser gets two off a neckbreaker. Kaiser demands that Penta fear him and hits a loud chair shot to the back. He demands that Penta say he’s scared but Penta reverses into the Sacrifice.

Penta grabs a chair so Kaiser backs off and says Penta wins. Then Kaiser rakes the eyes and takes the chair, only to get it superkicked into his face. Penta does it again and hits a middle rope Canadian Destroyer onto the chair (ignore that Penta landed on it instead of him), setting up the Penta Driver for the pin at 13:53.

Rating: B. The thing that catches my attention here is how few weapons they used here. Other than the announcers’ table, the chair was the only thing involved. Rather than using a bunch of weapons, they told a story with Kaiser becoming obsessed with breaking Penta but not being able to do it. Penta gets a big win and can move on, possibly into a title feud.

Post match Penta thanks the fans and says he’s coming for the Intercontinental Title. There you go.

Dakota Kai comes to the ring. Of note: Karrion Kross could be seen talking to Dominik Mysterio.

We go to the Judgment Day clubhouse where the team wishes each other luck when Dominik comes in. Balor thanks him for getting an Intercontinental Title shot tonight. Dominik has an idea of adding someone new to the team (Liv Morgan doesn’t think this is the right time) like say, Penta. Balor is NOT pleased and calls Dominik a snake. With Balor gone, Dominik says he didn’t know Penta wanted the Intercontinental Title. Carlito: “You don’t watch the show do you?” Points for a funny line.

Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile

Chad Gable and the rest of American Made are here too. Kai knocks her into the corner to start but what looks like an RKO is shoved away. Nile hammers away but charges into some shots to the face. Kai fights back with a boot in the corner and another out to the floor, only for Gable to offer a distraction. Back up and Nile hits something like a swinging Rock Bottom for two but here is the LWO to go after the Creeds. Gable is chased out of the arena and the running boot in the corner into the GTK finishes for Kai at 2:49.

Adam Pearce is here to emcee the contract signing between Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair. Sky says she won’t be disrespected again because she is the Women’s World Champion. She signs to get us halfway done. Belair says if Sky thought that was disrespectful, Sky doesn’t know her at all. Belair signs as well…and here is Rhea Ripley to interrupt.

Ripley gets in Belair’s face but says she’s just here to watch. Ripley isn’t pleased and gets shoved by Bianca, only for Ripley to put Belair on the table. A powerbomb sends Sky onto Belair….and Ripley signs the contract as well before taking it with her. This continues the wrestling tradition of THIS ISN’T HOW CONTRACTS WORK.

Jey Uso is ready to face Gunther….and then he runs into Gunther. Arguing and shoving ensues but security breaks it up.

Jey Uso vs. Austin Theory

Grayson Waller is here with Theory, who gets speared for the pin at 30 seconds.

Post match Uso tries a dive onto the villains but doesn’t quite clear the rope, thankfully being ok as he lands on the apron. Gunther comes in for the sleeper but Uso fights out and the brawl is on. Uso takes the title off of Gunther, who gets it back and bails. Yeeting ensues. Gunther continues to feel secondary to a lot of things around here and that’s not a great sign.

Video on Bron Breakker vs. Finn Balor.

Adam Pearce yells at Rhea Ripley about the contract, saying it’s like talking to a child. Ripley gives the contract back and wants in the match but here is Bianca Belair to jump her. Iyo Sky joins in and all three of them fight each other. Pearce and a single referee come in to break it up, which seems inefficient.

Creed Brothers vs. LWO

Brutus is knocked to the floor to start as Graves suggests that last week’s masked luchador could have been Del Wilkes or Tom Brandi. Julius comes in with a hard clothesline and we take a break. Back with Mysterio coming in to clean house but Julius gets in a backbreaker. Mysterio hits a DDT and Lee takes out Brutus, leaving Mysterio to hit a 619 into the springboard splash for the pin at 5:47. Not enough shown to rate but it was about getting Mysterio in the ring, which is fine.

Post match the masked luchador comes in to jump the LWO, including some German suplexes. Security chases him off.

We look back at last week’s main event with Roman Reigns attacking Seth Rollins, costing CM Punk a match. Reigns then took Punk out as well, mainly due to Paul Heyman checking on Punk.

Here is Rollins (in far more normal attire) for a chat. We get a VERY extended WHOA period from the crowd, Rollins hits his catchphrase and praises the people. The fans chant for CM Punk and then Roman Reigns but Rollins finds it impressive that Reigns still can’t come up with a plan without his Wise Man. Reigns had everything figured out but he forgot one more detail, with the fans against chanting for Punk.

Rollins says this is like the good old days, as he has to clean up Reigns’ mess. This Friday, they’ll be in the same place on Smackdown and he’ll get in between the two of them. That’s for a few days from now though, so how about the fans sing his song one more time before the main event? And they do. Rollins didn’t say much here but it was mainly about saying “we’ll do something that actually matters on Friday”.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

AJ Styles doesn’t think Logan Paul belongs around here but here are Karrion Kross and Scarlett to interrupt. Kross thinks Styles might be mad at himself so Styles goes to leave. Kross gets him to stay and asks how long Styles took to get to WWE. It didn’t take Paul 17 years to get to WWE, but Styles says this isn’t working. Kross, after Styles leaves: “I think it’s working.”

Bron Breakker stares down Penta in the back but nothing is said/done.

HHH Hall Of Fame video.

Intercontinental Title: Finn Balor vs. Bron Breakker

Breakker is defending. Balor’s headlock doesn’t get him very far to start as Breakker powers things into the corner without much trouble. They go to the floor with Breakker doing his big run around the ropes, only to get caught with the Sling Blade. We take a break and come back with Balor spinning into a Russian legsweep for two. Some trash talk gets Breakker mad and he snaps off a suplex. The suplex powerslam connects but here is the Judgment Day for a distraction.

Balor plants him for two but Breakker is right back up to knock him outside. The clothesline from the apron onto the announcers’ table crushes Balor, with Breakker staying down too. Back in and a Sling Blade drops Breakker again, with a dropkick into the corner, only to miss the Coup de Grace. The Super Spear hits the buckle but Breakker hits the gorilla press powerslam for two. Balor goes up top but gets crotched, only for the Judgment Day to offer a distraction. That’s broken up and it’s the super Frankensteiner into the Super Spear to retain the title at 12:32.

Rating: B. Balor not winning isn’t the biggest surprise as he just doesn’t do that in big matches. What matters the most here is that Breakker gets a nice win on his way to a potential Wrestlemania showdown with Penta. The Judgment Day’s woes continue and now we get to see where this goes as things keep falling apart. For now though, we have a Breakker vs. Penta match coming and that has me interested.

Post match Judgment Day goes after Breakker but Penta runs in for the save. Penta holds up the title but hands it to Breakker for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a rather unique show, with the one big thing dominating the rest, though most of the rest was good enough. That being said, this was ALL about the Cena segment, which fans have been waiting on and it certainly delivered (albeit going a bit long). The fans were invested though and that should make for a great Road To Wrestlemania on the way to the huge showdown. Cena sounded like a star and I want to see where it goes, which suggests that they’re doing something right.

Other than that, you have the rest of the show, with Penta of all people feeling like the biggest story. That’s a good sign, as Penta has not even been around for three months and is already in a prominent role. There is a good chance that he’ll get a title match either at or just before Wrestlemania, which opens up some interesting possibilities. The Women’s Title match is likely all but set as well, along with Jey Uso doing his thing. Naturally Cena was the big story here, but the rest held up well enough. Couple that with another red hot crowd and this was a rather nice show.

Results
Penta b. Ludwig Kaiser – Penta Driver
Dakota Kai b. Ivy Nile – GTK
Jey Uso b. Austin Theory – Spear
LWO b. Creed Brothers – Springboard splash to Julius
Bron Breakker b. Finn Balor – Super Spear

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: March 3, 2025
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

It’s the show after Elimination Chamber and that means there are no more major roadblocks on the Road To Wrestlemania. Tonight we have a Women’s Title match as Rhea Ripley defends against Iyo Sky, with the winner to defend against Bianca Belair at Wrestlemania. Oh and John Cena is now a villain. Let’s get to it.

Here is Elimination Chamber if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of Elimination Chamber, which really was an eventful show. Naturally the Cena moment gets the most attention.

Commentary makes it simple: Cena sold his soul to get one more World Title.

We run down the card.

A ticked off CM Punk arrives and storms the arena, even knocking down the Prime station. He stands on the announcers’ table and rants about how he might get us kicked off of Netflix. Allow him to address his enemies and since his name is CM Punk, that means everyone. Who is the first target tonight? Punk asks the fans to give him a name and Punk picks the Rock, getting right in the camera to call him a bald fraud. If Rock thinks he’s immune from criticism because he’s on the Board Of Directors, he has no idea who he’s dealing with here.

Mr. Midlife Crisis decides to come in whenever he feels like it but he hasn’t graced us with his presence tonight to do his bulls*** about having goosebumps. Punk has never been so desperate to wear a fake title and declare himself the people’s champion because he earns that right. He has never been so desperate to sell his soul, and that brings him to John Cena (the fans are interested). Now everyone can see right through Cena and Punk gave him the benefit of the doubt when Cena didn’t have to quality.

Twenty plus years of hustle, loyalty and respect and now Punk has been proven fight about everything Cena has been saying. Punk didn’t quit in the Elimination Chamber because Cena gave us on all of those kids. He’ll get his hands on Cena down the road and Cena will make a wish that it never happened. As for the person who has all of Punk’s attention, let’s talk about Seth Rollins. Becky Lynch better come get her man before Punk puts him in a wheelchair…and here is Rollins to interrupt.

They don’t waste time talking as Punk charges up the aisle and the brawl is on with agents and referees breaking it up. That doesn’t last long as they get at each other a few more times, including in the ring with about twenty people trying to hold them apart. It still doesn’t work as Rollins dives over the announcers’ table to stay on him. They’re FINALLY separated and we take a break after a red hot opening. Punk was bringing the fire with that promo and it felt like he was genuinely angry with everything he was saying, which is a great sign.

During the break, Punk and Rollins got into it again in the crowd. This was broken up quickly, but well done on making things feel more real.

We look back at Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles last week.

Judgment Day is happy with the title win, with Raquel Rodriguez teasing going after the Women’s Intercontinental Title. Finn Balor isn’t thrilled and brings up Liv Morgan losing in the Elimination Chamber, plus the team’s other losses. Dominik Mysterio again brings up adding another member, but Balor thinks the solution is he (as in Balor) beats up Bron Breakker tonight. With Balor gone, Morgan and Rodriguez say they still don’t know what happened with Jade Cargill in the Chamber.

Otis vs. Gunther

Non-title and the rest of the Alpha Academy is here too. Before the match, Gunther says he knows Otis is as strong as an ox but to Gunther, he’s just a freak. Otis is in the same category as Jey Uso, meaning he does not belong in Gunther’s ring. The reality is Gunther wears the World Heavyweight Title as a prize while Otis can’t find a belt that fits. Therefore, it’s time to teach him a lesson, just like he’ll do to Uso at Wrestlemania.

Gunther hits him before the bell and we start fast. Otis fights up and hammers away in the corner, only to get kicked in the leg. Some boots to the face put Otis on the floor but some slaps to the head wake him up. A fall away slam on the floor sends Gunther flying as commentary is impressed.

We take a break and come back with Gunther holding a crossface. Another boot to the face cuts off another Otis comeback attempt but Otis grabs a belly to back suplex for a needed breather. Back up and the chops wake Otis up so he chops right back until Otis drops him with a clothesline. Gunther charges into a slam and the Caterpillar gets two. Gunther’s dropkick puts Otis down but he’s right back up with another suplex. Some hard clotheslines put Otis down for two and Gunther is looking frustrated. The powerbomb puts Otis away at 9:41.

Rating: B. These guys had a hoss fight and that’s what it needed to be. Gunther was never going to be in serious damage against Otis, but Otis gave him a heck of a fight and struck away with everything he had. It was an entertaining fight and the two of them did about as well as could be expected here. Sometimes you need the champion to break a sweat in a match where he isn’t in much danger and Otis did just that.

Post match Gunther grabs a sleeper so Akira Tozawa comes in for a failed save attempt. Jey Uso (ROAR) makes the real save. With Gunther gone, A-Town Down Under runs in to jump Uso, who fights them off without much trouble. Then Gunther comes back in to choke Uso out. That was a lot and it made sense.

Video on Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky before their title match tonight.

There is a new Raw Recap show starting on Youtube tomorrow.

We see more reactions to Cena’s turn at Elimination Chamber, with promises of another look to come. We’ve already looked at it about four times.

AJ Styles is asked about what Cena did and says “wow”. He didn’t see it coming and here is Karrion Kross to put his arms around Cena and saying it makes sense. Styles cuts him off and says he isn’t Cena. Maybe the WWE Universe needs a reminder of who Styles is, so next week, he’ll call out Logan Paul in Madison Square Garden. He’s not interested in Kross’ help either, but after Styles leaves, Kross says “that was easy”.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Lyra Valkyria vs. Ivy Nile

Valkyria is defending and drives her into the corner to start. A hiptoss gives Valkyria one so Nile drops her with a clothesline. Valkyria dropkicks her to the floor but Nile is right back with a dragon screw legwhip out of the corner as we take a break. Back with Nile still working on the leg before she pulls a high crossbody out of the air.

A gutwrench powerbomb puts Nile down but Valkyria’s leg gives out. Nile gets caught with an enziguri but is fine enough to counter a tornado DDT into a suplex. Valkyria gets in a quick swinging neckbreaker, only for the leg to give out again. Nile’s sitout powerbomb gets two and she grabs the ankle lock. Valkyria avoids a boot in the corner and hits a backbreaker, setting up Nightwing to retain at 9:32.

Rating: B-. This was a good example of a match where they did everything right and told a nice story but the match just wasn’t very interesting. There wasn’t much of a spark here as they were just doing stuff until Valkyria retained. The title is still new, but it needs a hotter feud than this to get the interest going.

We look back at the Seth Rollins/CM Punk brawl earlier tonight.

Rollins tries to leave the building and gets into it with Punk again. Adam Pearce runs in as Punk says he’ll kill Rollins.

Post break Rollins and Pearce yell at each other, with Rollins promising to take Punk out if Pearce doesn’t do something about this. Pearce is fine with that and makes a cage match for next week at Madison Square Garden. Works for Rollins, who is told to get on his bus, with security tasked with keeping him on it.

Here is Ludwig Kaiser for a chat. After demanding the fans’ appreciation, Kaiser talks about taking back the attention from Penta last week. The reality is he is a future World Champion and he is ready to take out Penta. While Penta may say he doesn’t know fear, Kaiser will teach him what it means. Cue Penta to interrupt for the brawl and Kaiser is knocked out to the floor for the running flip dive.

Bianca Belair is asked about Jade Cargill’s return to attack Naomi at Elimination Chamber. Out of respect to both of them, she won’t talk about it but she’s just as proud to go to Wrestlemania. Tonight, she finds out who she is going to be face. Natalya and Maxxine Dupri could be seen talking in the background in something that might not matter much.

We look at Cena’s heel turn again, with the commentary from different languages for an international flavor.

Chad Gable appears to be in Mexico and is asking people if they know someone whose picture he is carrying. Eventually he goes to a mystery man with a beard, who is apparently going to help him beat the luchadors. The man says Gable has to become lucha and gives him a box (in exchange for a good deal of money). Whatever is in the box (which we can’t see) will give him power beyond understanding. This is either going to be amazing or really stupid.

Raw Tag Team Titles: War Raiders vs. Creed Brothers

The Raiders are defending. Erik powers Julius back into the corner to start before Julius does it the same, with Brutus hammering away. Ivar comes in for the clotheslines, setting up a handspring double elbow. Erik slams Ivar onto Brutus, only for Julius to dropkick Ivar off the top and outside. A ram into the steps has Ivar in more trouble as we take a break.

Back with a double suplex getting two on Ivar but he gets in a sitdown splash out of the corner. It’s back to Erik who gets two clean house as the fans demand WAR. The pop up powerslam plants Julius but he gets in a knee to Erik. Ivar is sent into the post and Brutus adds a not so smooth 450 for two on Erik. Ivar tags himself back in and Erik gets superplexed down, only to avoid a moonsault. Brutus avoids Ivar’s moonsault and Julius hits a shooting star press for two of his own. The Brutus Ball misses Erik and the War Machine to Brutus retains the titles at 11:42.

Rating: B-. It was nice to see the Creeds getting to show what they could do for a change, but like the women’s match earlier, there was only so much fire in what they were doing. The Raiders were better, but I was only getting into this one so far. It’s nice to have the titles being defended though, as the Raiders are getting established as more of a dominant team for the time being.

We look at Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn wrecking each other at Elimination Chamber with Owens ending him with quite the beating. Then Randy Orton returned to go after Owens, which should be setting up a Wrestlemania fight.

The LWO isn’t happy with the New Day for beating them last week but you can never take their heart. Rey Mysterio returns and says New Day should have finished what they started. Next week, it’s a tornado tag match. You don’t get Mysterio being this serious very often and it worked fairly well.

We come back from a break with Finn Balor in the ring and arguing with Bron Breakker, who is in the crowd with Jackie Redmond. Breakker says he embarrassed the entire Judgment Day last week but Balor is ready to take the Intercontinental Title from him at anytime. That’s enough for Breakker, who comes to the ring, but has to take out Carlito and Dominik Mysterio. Balor gets in a Sling Blade, only for Breakker to take him down again. The super spear is loaded up but Judgment Day pulls Balor outside in time. Carlito gets speared down instead.

We get the long look at John Cena’s turn at Elimination Chamber.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

The Alpha Academy thanks Jey Uso for helping them earlier. With the team gone, Uso says he’s a bit thrown off by getting taken out by Gunther earlier. This is the wrong time to be shaken up though because every week he is told HE CAN’T DO IT. He feels like his back is against the wall and he can’t breathe but when Gunther put him to sleep, he woke up a sleeping beast. Uso is feeling these promos lately and I’m getting a lot more interested in the match.

Raw Women’s Title: Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky

Ripley is defending and Bianca Belair is at ringside. We do the Big Match Intros and Ripley gets one heck of a response. Ripley powers her around to start before hitting a running dropkick for one. A rollup gives Sky one and Ripley hits her in the face as a result. Sky gets smarter by kicking Ripley in the head but she misses the 619. They go outside for some swings into the apron before Ripley muscles her up for a nice suplex.

We take a break and come back with Ripley getting two off a missile dropkick but Sky grabs a Backstabber (not a Codebreaker Cole). Sky hits a running basement dropkick and then a missile dropkick to send Ripley into the corner. Back up and Ripley fires off some clotheslines but gets rolled into a double stomp (Belair approves) for two. They forearm it out until Ripley has to block a rollup, with a faceplant giving Ripley two more.

The Prism Trap is blocked and Sky snaps the arm down onto the apron, only to get booted in the face (with a good sell from Sky) for another near fall. Riptide is countered into a DDT though and Sky hits a running boot in the corner. The top rope elbow connects for two (with back to back Damage CTRL moves from Sky in a nice touch) and the Asuka Lock goes on to complete the team menu. Sky hits some running knees in the corner, only to get caught on top. A belly to back superplex gives Ripley two and it’s time to looked stunned.

Now the Prism Trap goes on, with Sky managing to send her into the post. Ripley gets back up and gets sunset bombed into the barricade to keep her in trouble. Over The Moonsault to the back gives Sky two, with Ripley getting a boot on the ropes. Ripley bails to the floor and gets taken out by a suicide dive but she cuts off what looked like a Lionsault.

Sky gets dropped face first onto various things, with Belair cheering both of them on as they get back inside. Ripley goes outside to yell at Belair (who has been completely neutral) and shoves her down. Belair shoves her back so the referee has to break it up. Back in and Ripley takes her up top, but stops to yell at Belair. That’s enough for Sky to grab a super hurricanrana and Over The Moonsault finishes Ripley for the title at 18:39.

Rating: B+. I was scared that they were going to have a lame DQ ending but instead they went with something interesting as Ripley’s own ego got in the way and cost her the title. Sky was bringing it to Ripley throughout here and it made for a heck of a fight, with the two of them feeling equal throughout. At some point you have to bring someone up to that main event level in the women’s division and this might have been Sky’s ticket there. Great match with an excellent story throughout.

Sky is shocked at the win while Belair’s face says “well ok then”. Ripley is furious to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The opening segment brought the emotion and the main event was one of the better Raw matches in a good while. The rest of the show set up some things going forward and next week’s Raw is looking like a big one. Finally you have the focus on the Cena situation, which is going to lead to some of the biggest reactions you’ll see in a long time. Good show here, with the main event being more than worth a look.

Results
Gunther b. Otis – Powerbomb
Lyra Valkyria b. Ivy Nile – Nightwing
War Raiders b. Creed Brothers – War Machine to Brutus
Iyo Sky b. Rhea Ripley – Over The Moonsault

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: February 24, 2025
Location: Heritage Bank Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole

It’s the last Raw before the Elimination Chamber and that is going to make things a bit complicated this week. The problem with this show is that Elimination Chamber is set up and that isn’t going to leave much to accomplish this week. In addition, there is a Women’s Title match to build towards next week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

A bunch of people came to work today.

Here is Logan Paul to get things going. Paul talks about how much he hates this city and how he knows what a pathetic place this is. He was flying in today and told his pilot to turn around so he could go home to Cleveland, but then he decided to perform for these losers because he is humble. The last time Paul was on Raw, he beat Rey Mysterio to make it to the Elimination Chamber and this Saturday, he will punch his ticket to Wrestlemania.

Cue CM Punk (in a Chicago Teachers Union shirt) to interrupt, with McAfee telling a story of Punk trapping him in a portable toilet earlier today. Paul doesn’t get why neither the fans nor Punk don’t like him. He thinks Punk might be jealous, but Punk talks about how Paul is nothing but a bunch of one liners to incite a reaction. The fans deserve better than that, which Paul finds funny. Paul talks about Punk coming back in a great moment (Punk: “Yep.”) and then he tore his wittle tricep.

Now the fans are chanting for Paul, with Punk admitting that the names do change. The names Paul has been mocking, including himself, are legends and history makers. Paul is a flash in the pan and the people aren’t going to remember who he is. On Saturday, Punk will go on to win the Elimination Chamber and go on to Wrestlemania where he will make history. On the other hand, Paul will be history. They go face to face and Paul gets in a slap before bailing to the floor. Paul feigns innocence, but Punk tells him to run while he can. This was two talented talkers going after each other and it worked well.

We look at Penta dealing with Ludwig Kaiser and Pete Dunne, who are now fighting each other over wanting to fight Penta.

Ludwig Kaiser vs. Pete Dunne vs. Penta

Dunne kicks Kaiser to the floor to start but Kaiser is back in, where Penta hits a Backstabber out of the corner. Penta’s dive is teased but Kaiser gets out of the way, allowing Dunne to hit a knee off the apron to take him down. Penta dives onto both of them and we take an early break.

Back with a Tower Of Doom, leaving Penta to chop them into reverse Sling Blades. Kaiser and Dunne are sent outside and taken out with a dive each, leaving Dunne to make the save back inside. The Bitter End gets two on Penta with Kaiser making the save. Penta is back up and gives Penta the Sacrifice but Kaiser breaks up the Penta Driver. Kaiser hits the wind up DDT to pin Dunne at 7:22.

Rating: B-. This was about putting some good wrestlers with different styles in a match and letting them do their thing. Penta not taking the fall is a good thing to see and the ending might set up Kaiser vs. Penta down the line. It was a good way to go here and they crammed a lot into the time they had.

Video on John Cena wanting to win the Elimination Chamber so he can go on to win his 17th World Title.

Here is Rhea Ripley for a chat in the crowd. In theory she is going to defend the title against the winner of the Elimination Chamber at Wrestlemania, but she has to face Iyo Sky next week. They haven’t faced each other in five years and Ripley has gotten a lot better since then. We hear some of the names Ripley has beaten but here is Sky to say she’ll beat Ripley again and go on to Wrestlemania. Respectful staring ensues.

The Road Dogg will be on LFG this Sunday.

New Day vs. LWO

Before the match, New Day brags about how the fans should be glad they’re here but the LWO comes out to cut them off. Wilde stomps on Woods in the corner and grabs an upside down choke in the ropes. A springboard missile dropkick pulls Woods down again and it’s off to Del Toro for a kick to the head in the corner.

The springboard hurricanrana drops Woods again but Kingston low bridges him to the floor to take over. The alternating stomps in the corner sets up a running dropkick to give Woods two. Del Toro gets away and brings in Wilde to pick up the pace, including a tornado DDT to Woods. Kingston breaks up what looks like a Doomsday Device though and a backbreaker/top rope double stomp combination finishes at 5:28.

Rating: B-. Another match with good action and New Day gets a win to let them look strong. They still have their heat but they are going to need to do something bigger than beating up the LWO. I’m not sure if winning the titles again will matter as this is still all about Big E. and the reaction, though that is only going to get them so far without Big E. himself being around.

Post match the beatdown stays on until Dragon Lee runs in for the save. New Day beats him down as well.

We go to the Judgment Day clubhouse where Finn Balor is yelling at Dominik Mysterio, with Carlito trying to call him off. Mysterio calls out Balor for losing last week as well and again suggests another new member. That’s still not happening and Balor still says he’ll fix this. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez comes in to say things will look up tonight after they win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Balor says he’s happy with anyone winning but aren’t they worried after what they did to Jade Cargill? Morgan says they didn’t do it and they both agree to handle their own business. Carlito is happy with finding a yellow apple.

We see wrestlers opening Topps cards and being rather excited about what they’re finding.

Here is Gunther for a chat. Gunther understands that the fans are excited to see him because he is going to wrestle tonight. Before we get there though, he wants to talk about facing Jey Uso at Wrestlemania. As the weeks go by, he is warming up to the idea because he will get the chance to humiliate Jey and end the Yeet circus for good. That’s why today, he offered Adam Pearce the chance to have the World Heavyweight Champion in action tonight against a handpicked opponent.

Gunther vs. Akira Tozawa

Non-title. Before the match, Gunther points out that he came into the building and saw the Alpha Academy doing a TikTok dance for the people (which we saw as the show opened for a nice bit of continuity). They have a few things in common, such as picking up their lives to come to America and wrestle for WWE. Tozawa has wasted his chance, just like Jey Uso is going to do at Wrestlemania. Last week, Pat McAfee said anything can happen on one night and tonight, Tozawa has the chance to do that as well.

Gunther tells him to earn respect so Tozawa strikes away, only to get kicked in the face. Cole references WKRP In Cincinnati as Gunther just obliterates Tozawa with a chop. Tozawa slips out of the powerbomb and hits a spinning kick to the head. That earns him a dropkick in the corner but Tozawa reverses the powerbomb into a sunset flip for two.

A missile dropkick is countered into the Boston crab but Tozawa makes the rope. Another chop sets up the powerbomb but Gunther pulls him up at two. The sleeper, with Tozawa lifted into the air, finishes for Gunther at 2:48. They were going for something like HHH vs. Taka Michinoku from 2000 and while it wasn’t quite to that level, Tozawa was trying here and it fit the story well.

Post match Gunther goes after Tozawa again but Otis makes the save. Gunther sleepers Otis as well but here is Jey Uso (to a ROAR) for the save.

We see a clip of Michael Cole on the ImPaulsive podcast and talking about his chemistry with Pat McAfee.

Back in the arena and McAfee praises Cole for everything he has done…but then he mocks Cole’s clothes on the podcast, with his shirt being unbuttoned and accidentally showing his stomach.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Dakota Kai vs. Lyra Valkyria

Valkyria is defending in a rematch from the match for the inaugural title. They start fast and go to the apron with Kai knocking her to the floor and hitting a flip dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Valkyria fighting out of the Tree Of Woe. A delayed superplex drops Kai but Valkyria is banged up as well. They strike it out until Kai hits a scorpion kick but Valkyria muscles her up with a powerbomb for two. Kai is back up with the Kairopractor for the same, only for Valkyria to grab Nightwing to retain at 7:40.

Rating: B-. This was good enough, though Valkyria is going to need a bigger challenger going forward. That’s one of the bigger dangers of a new title, as you can only do so much with something that fresh. It’s good to see Valkyria as a champion, but facing the same person twice for the title is only going to get her so far.

Post match respect is shown but Ivy Nile runs in to jump both of them.

Video on Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn, showing just how long this story has gone.

We get a sitdown interview with Sami Zayn from earlier today and he reveals that something else happened over the weekend. A somewhat shaken Zayn says he went to Owens’ house and no one was home but he did run into Owens’ mom. They caught up a bit and had a nice chat but when he got home, he was ashamed of himself for going over there in the first place.

Zayn and Owens have a long history and this is the first time that family has gotten involved. That has Zayn wondering what the two of them are capable of right now and while people are looking forward to the match, they should be worried about what Owens is going to go through. This was really intense stuff despite Zayn staying relatively quiet. They’re selling this as a personal feud and that’s exactly what it is.

Bianca Belair and Naomi are ready to beat up Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.

We look at Bron Breakker and AJ Styles brawling last week.

Bron Breakker vs. Dominik Mysterio

Non-title and Judgment Day is here with Mysterio. Breakker wastes no time in tossing him outside, followed by a clothesline back inside as Mysterio is in big trouble. Mysterio wins a chase and stomps away, only to get suplexed down. Carlito’s distraction lets Mysterio hit a dive and another distraction sets up the 619. Breakker breaks up the frog splash though and hits the super Frankensteiner. That’s enough for Judgment Day to grab Breakker for the DQ at 3:13.

Rating: C+. Breakker was smashing him when things were fair but Mysterio got in some offense when his friends interfered. That’s all this needed to be as Breakker is getting to smash through someone and the fans are still liking what he’s doing. They didn’t have much time here, but Breakker looked like a monster throughout.

Post match the beatdown is on but Breakker fights back and hits a super spear on Carlito. Breakker and Balor have a staredown as we might have both a face turn (it wasn’t far from happening anyway) and a new challenger. Along with AJ Styles that is.

We look back at Rock’s really long speech on Smackdown, where he tries to get Cody Rhodes to go corporate. How in the world Rhodes could be MORE corporate is beyond me.

Ivy Nile is ready to take out Lyra Valkyria and the Creed Brothers want the Tag Team Titles. The War Raiders run in to brawl with the Creeds.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. He talks about the Rock offering him to join forces at Elimination Chamber and that’s a complicated situation. It isn’t just about him either, as he has his wife, his daughter, and his various family members. On top of that, he has the legacy of his father…and here is Seth Rollins to interrupt.

Rollins says he would love to welcome Rhodes back to his show with open arms and congratulate him on his success and get ready to face him at Wrestlemania. He can’t do that though, as he has to ask Rhodes what he’s thinking. A year ago, they were getting ready to face the Rock and Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania and now Rhodes is considering this?

The fact that Rhodes didn’t slap Rock in the face on Smackdown is an insult to Rollins. What does Rhodes get out of this? Bit parts in movies and social media followers? If being WWE Champion is that much of a burden on Rhodes, it’s not too much of a burden on Rollins. Rhodes says Rock asked him for his soul because Rollins’ might already be compromised.

We hear about Rollins’ history of turning on people, but he was also Rhodes’ shield at Wrestlemania. With one leg and a scrambled back, Rollins was the MVP of Wrestlemania XL and helped the Rhodes Family achieve their greatest victory. Rollins seems a bit taken aback and says that he has made some mistakes, which can eat you up with hate. He does not want to hate Rhodes so don’t make him do it.

At the end of the day, Rhodes can make his own decision but Rollins wants to face the Rhodes that has beaten him so many times. He wants to face the Rhodes that he helped crown as WWE Champion last year. Rollins isn’t coming for his soul, but he’s coming for the title. Good stuff here, but it’s making me wonder who is going to turn, because it’s hard to imagine Rhodes being the one to do so.

We get a preview of an interview with Logan Paul which will air in full on the Elimination Chamber Kickoff Show.

Elimination Chamber rundown.

We look back at Jade Cargill being attacked, resulting in Naomi getting her share of the Women’s Tag Team Titles. There is a chance that Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez did it, though they’ve denied any involvement. Either way, they get the title match tonight.

Jey Uso checks on Akira Tozawa in the trainer’s room and runs into A-Town Down Under. They mock him for his friends getting hurt over and over so Jey goes to leave, only to have them mock the Yeeting. Jey tries to leave again, only for Waller to say Gunther is going to destroy him at Wrestlemania. Jey promises to win at Wrestlemania and even Theory gets in on the Yeeting. Then Jey superkicks Waller.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez vs. Naomi/Bianca Belair

Naomi and Belair are defending. The brawl is on before the bell with the challengers being rammed into/over the barricade and it’s Morgan coming in to officially start. A double hiptoss sets up the standing moonsault/legdrop combination for two as Morgan is in trouble early. Rodriguez is back up to pull Belair outside though and we take a break. Back with Naomi coming in to clean house, including a slingshot X Factor for two on Rodriguez. The Blockbuster puts Rodriguez down again and Belair drops a 450 for two more.

Back up and Rodriguez books Naomi off the apron before breaking out of the KOD attempt. Something like a super Shatter Machine gets two on Belair (that’s the second time they’ve ever sued that move and the second time it’s only been good for two). Cue Dominik Mysterio for a distraction to break up the double KOD but the Tejana Bomb into Oblivion gets two with Naomi making the save.

A spear drops Rodriguez and everyone needs a breather. Morgan reverses a suplex into a small package for two on Belair, who is back with the KOD. Rodriguez makes another save so Naomi gives her a hanging Pedigree on the apron. The double KOD kind of hits so Mysterio puts the foot on the ropes. Rodriguez drops Belair onto the announcers’ table so Naomi takes her down with a dive. Back in and Oblivion is blocked, only for Morgan to roll Naomi up for two. The Rear View hits Morgan but Naomi has to go after Mysterio, allowing Rodriguez to post her so Morgan can get the pin and the titles at 12:12.

Rating: B+. There was a lot of interference here but they were rolling by the end and the fans were going insane with the near falls and even bigger with the title change. It’s also the right move to make, as Naomi and Belair didn’t exactly feel like the most serious champions. It felt like they were more interested in wearing matching outfits and “having fun Maggle” than being champions and that got a bit annoying. They can move on to the Cargill mystery now anyway so this helps in multiple ways.

The champs and Mysterio celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Rather good show here as they are making Elimination Chamber, and ultimately Wrestlemania, feel so important. That’s what you need to do with a show like this and it worked well here. I had a good time with this show and the talking was right there to back up the action. Much like last year, they are hitting their stride at the most important time and if they can keep that going for several weeks, we should be in for a heck of a Wrestlemania season.

Results
Ludwig Kaiser b. Pete Dunne and Penta – Wind up DDT to Dunne
New Day b. LWO – Backbreaker/Top rope double stomp to Del Toro
Gunther b. Akira Tozawa – Sleeper
Lyra Valkyria b. Dakota Kai – Nightwing
Bron Breakker b. Dominik Mysterio via DQ when Judgment Day interfered
Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez b. Naomi/Bianca Belair – Morgan pinned Naomi after Rodriguez sent her into the post

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: February 17, 2025
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole

We’re closing in on Elimination Chamber and tonight will see the final spot in the men’s match determined as Seth Rollins faces Finn Balor. Other than that, we should be seeing more in the bigger stories taking place, including Jey Uso challenging Gunther for the Raw World Title at Wrestlemania, plus Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

After seeing a bunch of people come to work today (including AJ Styles, who came in via the Daytona 500 winner’s car), we get a recap of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’ most recent issues.

Here is Zayn for a chat, starting with a thank you for the warm reception. He’s been thinking about his history with Owens, starting in pool halls in Montreal, working their way through the ranks and then headlining Wrestlemania together. A story that long has a lot of betrayals involved and this time, Zayn won’t forgive and forget. Owens tried to end Zayn’s career but he didn’t get the job done. His neck isn’t good but he’s ready to fight Owens again.

Cue Adam Pearce to say Zayn isn’t medically cleared to compete so the match cannot be made. Pearce goes to leave but Zayn says Pearce knows him better than that. Zayn wants the fight, with Pearce agreeing that it’s unsanctioned, meaning Owens can do anything he wants, including all the piledrivers he wants. It could mean the last match of Zayn’s career.

With the fans chanting LET THEM FIGHT, Zayn goes up the aisle to go face to face with Pearce to say he can do everything Pearce suggested Owens could do to Zayn himself. After thinking a bit, Pearce makes the match, which will be unsanctioned. Zayn vs. Owens is one of those pairings that will always work and having them beat each other up for fifteen minutes should be a good addition to the show.

Pat McAfee is very excited about the match being made.

We look at a clip from Smackdown, where Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were shown near Jade Cargill’s attack. Naomi and Bianca Belair are here to deal with it.

Dominik Mysterio is worried about Morgan, who isn’t worried about anything else. Mysterio is also a bit tired of Finn Balor getting on his case. Cue Balor, who says after tonight, there will be three members of the Judgment Day at Elimination Chamber. Assuming Raquel Rodriguez wins that is. They both agree to handle their business, with Balor insisting that there are no new members to the team. Then Carlito seems to forget to go to the ring.

We look at Bron Breakker spearing IShowSpeed at the Royal Rumble, leaving Speed rather banged up.

AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio

Styles works on a headlock to start before pulling him over with a German suplex. Mysterio’s kicks to the face just earn him a dropkick, which McAfee refers to as a TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION dropkick. Carlito low bridges Styles out to the floor though and we take a break. Back with Mysterio getting two off a slingshot hilo and a 619 connects. The frog splash misses and Styles strikes away, setting up the Styles Clash for the pin at 8:52.

Rating: C+. This was just a way for Styles to get his feet wet and that worked out well. Mysterio continues to be one of the easiest people in all of WWE to want to see get beaten up and he was doing it again here. Styles seems set for a showdown with Bron Breakker in the near future and that has some potential, as Styles looked good again here.

Post match Bron Breakker runs in and tries a spear but hits Mysterio instead. Breakker is sent outside and throws his shirt inside, where Styles easily catches it.

We look at the Creed Brothers getting disqualified last week against the War Raiders.

Ivy Nile is ready to get some gold but Dakota Kai comes in. Kai doesn’t want to hear about Nile’s plans and will see her in the ring.

Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile

For a future title shot against Lyra Valkyria, who is at ringside. Feeling out process to start until Nile takes her into the corner. Kai gets tied in the Tree Of Woe for a running kick to the knee in the corner, followed by a quickly broken ankle lock. That’s broken up and a quick Kairopractor gives Kai two but Nile powerbombs her out of the corner. The ankle lock, this time with a grapevine, goes on again but Kai gets out again. A swinging Rock Bottom gives Nile two and she grabs a German suplex. Another ankle lock is broken up and the GTK finishes Nile off at 6:45.

Rating: C. They were trying here and I like Kai but it wasn’t clicking for some reason. Nile isn’t overly interesting in the ring most of the time and Kai is only able to get her that much higher up the ladder. Valkyria needs someone to challenge her and I’m not sure a rematch with Kai is going to be the best choice.

We get a quick look at the upcoming Evolve series.

We look at Jey Uso challenging Gunther for Wrestlemania last week.

Gunther is in the concourse ala Jey Uso and walks into the arena. Gunther does a bit of the YEET Dance before saying that he gets why the fans like Jey so much. Gunther performing for the wrestlers is like reading Shakespeare to a dog. He is tired of stepping into the ring with people who can’t lace his boots.

The problem is that the match at Wrestlemania will take place in the ring. Gunther gets to ringside and wants a professional opinion about what to expect at Wrestlemania. He asks commentary for their “supposed professional opinion” and throws a mic to McAfee, who drops it. Does McAfee think Uso can beat Gunther? Yeah, he hopes Uso can.

Cole doesn’t think that was a good idea and Gunther takes his jacket off but here is Uso to interrupt. With McAfee on the announcers’ table for the YEET Dance, Uso breaks through security and goes after Gunther, who gets the sleeper. That’s broken up and Gunther is cleared out so YEETing can ensue. This was a solid promo from Gunther as it laid out the story perfectly well. You can see the two of them coming from different sides of the situation and that is how you set up a showdown for the title at Wrestlemania.

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez don’t like being accused of attacking Jade Cargill but know that Rodriguez is ready for her Elimination Chamber qualifying match tonight. They don’t actually deny attacking Cargill.

We look back at the Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens match being set.

Pete Dunne vs. Penta

Penta grabs a headlock to start before grabbing a running hurricanrana. Dunne is back up with a dropkick though before taking off Penta’s glove to bend the fingers. Back up and Dunne hits a running corner clothesline but Penta Backstabs him out of the corner. Another snap of the fingers slows Penta down though and Dunne grabs a slingshot plant onto the apron. Cue Ludwig Kaiser at ringside and we take a break.

Back with Penta hitting a spinning Death Valley Driver for a breather. Dunne powerbombs him out of the corner, only to get caught with a Canadian Destroyer to send Dunne outside. Kaiser offers a distraction but Dunne can only get two. Penta sends them into each other and finishes with the Penta Driver at 10:05.

Rating: C+. Penta comes in, he looks cool, he has solid matches, he doesn’t lose matches, he gets over. This isn’t a complicated idea and yet for some reason it doesn’t happen very often. He hasn’t even been around for six weeks yet and he’s one of the hottest stars in all of WWE. That’s a nice way to go and I’m wanting to see what is next for him in the coming weeks.

Post match the beatdown is on but Penta knocks them both outside and hits a big running flip dive.

Jey Uso is tired of being told he can’t do it and he’s ready to prove everyone wrong. He is nailing these promos lately and while it’s hard to imagine him winning the title, I’m starting to believe it might happen.

We look at Bayley in the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game.

Video on Roxanne Perez.

The War Raiders want another shot at the Creed Brothers.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Roxanne Perez vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Liv Morgan is here with Rodriguez. The much smaller Perez gets thrown down to start so Perez slaps her in the face and throws in a bit of a bow. That earns her a shot to the face and Rodriguez throws her into the corner for a crash. A fireman’s carry faceplant drops Perez again but she slips out of a powerslam. That just earns her a swinging front facelock as it’s all Rodriguez to start.

The buckle bomb is countered with a hurricanrana and a rollup gets two. The fall away slam sends Perez flying and the Vader Bomb elbow connects for another near fall. Rodriguez misses a charge into the post though and Perez grabs a spinning DDT. A double springboard moonsault gets two but Rodriguez boots her in the face for the same….and here are Naomi and Bianca Belair. They take out Morgan and a springboard Pop Rox finishes for Perez at 7:32.

Rating: B-. The ending was all about Naomi and Belair (who were so mad that they got matching cheerleader outfits made) but they were having a pretty good match on the way there. Perez was fighting against the bigger star and making it work, with Rodriguez using her power to throw Perez around. I could have gone for more from them, as Perez is already fitting in well on the main roster.

Post match Rodriguez has to save Morgan from Belair and Naomi.

Seth Rollins is ready to win tonight and go on to Wrestlemania.

Karrion Kross is glad to see Sami Zayn coming to reality but if he thinks he can beat Kevin Owens, he’s insane.

Iyo Sky is underwater and talks about how she is going to take the Women’s Title from Rhea Ripley and go on to Wrestlemania. We see Sky beating Ripley in NXT as she promises to do it again in two weeks. Good promo here, with the water stuff being…I think cool?

Here is New Day for a chat. Well in theory at least as the fans are booing them out of the building. They don’t understand why people are made at them for attacking Rey Mysterio. Is Mysterio supposed to be some legend because of what he’s done? Kingston has won more titles and has been here longer than Mysterio because he has never left. If anyone should be the locker room leader, it should be Kingston.

Last week they smashed Mysterio’s ankle with a chair but it could have been worse. The fans really should be more grateful that they didn’t give him the Old Yeller treatment. Cue the LWO to interrupt so Dragon Lee can throw out some insults in Spanish. He makes it clear that NEW DAY SUCKS and the brawl is on. New Day bails before Lee can hit the big dive. New Day has great heat, but do something with it already.

Bianca Belair and Naomi are ready to defend the Women’s Tag Team Titles against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez next week.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor

Balor jumps him before the bell but Rollins says ring the bell anyway. Rollins can’t hit a Pedigree early on as Balor reverses into a double stomp and hits his own Pedigree for two. It’s too early for the Coup de Grace so Balor manages a clothesline instead. Rollins comes back with a boot to the face and a backbreaker sets up a missed Lionsault. Balor gets knocked outside for a suicide dive and a springboard knee to the face catches him back inside.

The Stomp misses and Balor is back with the Sling Blade, only to have his leg kicked out. Rollins stays on said leg but Balor gets in a shot to the ribs to bang him up as well. A kick to said ribs is countered into a knee first toss onto the announcers’ table and we slow down a bit. The Stomp onto the steps misses and Balor sends him into the post as we take a break.

Back with Balor hammering away in the corner before they trade shots to the head. The fans have their phones out in a mini Fireflies moment for some reason as Rollins knees him in the head and gets two off a Lionsault. The frog splash hits raised knees though and Balor gets a rollup for two.

Balor’s shotgun dropkick is countered into the Sharpshooter before Rollins hits a Pedigree for…well it seemed to be three as Balor kicked out VERY late and the referee had to pull back on the count. Balor knocks him off the top and hits the Coup de Grace before grabbing a crossface. That’s broken up as well and Rollins hits the Stomp for the pin at 18:52.

Rating: B+. These guys work well together and it’s a match that works pretty much every time they’re out there together. It helps that Balor is just a big enough name that you could imagine him going into the Chamber as well so there was a bit of drama here. Rollins going forward makes sense though as he has multiple stories waiting for him in the Chamber.

Overall Rating: B-. This show had a very good main event but it was more about setting things up for the future. We have two title matches set up for next week and the final two entrants for the Elimination Chamber matches. I liked the show, and while it could have used some more solid action, it did what it needed to do with the big show still being a little ways off.

Results
AJ Styles b. Dominik Mysterio – Styles Clash
Dakota Kai b. Ivy Nile – GTK
Penta b. Pete Dunne – Penta Driver
Roxanne Perez b. Raquel Rodriguez – Springboard Pop Rox
Seth Rollins b. Finn Balor – Stomp

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: December 9, 2024
Location: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We are closing in on the end of the year and that means we should be in for some interesting things. This is also the last Raw before Saturday Night’s Main Event and the show could use a bit more build. The big story coming out of last week was the New Day’s split, with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods turning their backs on Big E., meaning fallout will ensue. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Gunther (looking almost weird in a sweater and jeans instead of a suit) to say he isn’t happy with Finn Balor for attacking him last week. Now Balor has his undivided attention so here are Balor and the Judgment Day to interrupt. Balor again takes credit for Gunther being the World heavyweight Champion and promises to win the title on Saturday. Gunther says Balor’s audacity got him a title shot and yes, when Balor won the Universal Title eight years ago, Gunther looked up to him.

Now things are different though, as Balor is now hanging out with weirdos in the clubhouse and taking shortcuts. Eight years ago, Balor was the best in the world for one night. Gunther is the best in the world for a long time to come and the reality is Balor is not on his level. The team is ready to fight but Damian Priest interrupts for the save…but Gunther beats him up as well. Gunther loads up the powerbomb through the announcers’ table, only to get Sling Bladed by Balor.

The Coup de Grace connects off the apron and Judgment Day beats Priest down. A trio of Coup de Graces leave Priest laying and Judgment Day stands tall. I’m glad Gunther jumped Priest as having them be some kind of weird friends so quickly would have been a stretch. Gunther is leaning towards the good side but he’s not ready to go full blast yet.

Post break Adam Pearce isn’t happy with Judgment Day and adds Priest to the title match on Saturday. Balor isn’t happy but says it’ll be more satisfying when he wins the title. That’s fine with Pearce, who makes Balor/McDonagh vs. the War Raiders next week with the Judgment Day barred from ringside. Balor needs a minute. That makes sense as it would have been weird to do that big brawl with Priest and then just not have him on Saturday’s show.

Wyatt Sicks vs. Final Testament/The Miz

The Wyatts clear the ring to start and Miz has to save Kross from an early Sister Abigail. We take a break and come back with Rezar beating on Gacy, who hits his handspring clothesline for a breather. Miz comes in to get beaten down by Rowan, with a suplex into a cutter getting two.

Everything breaks down and Gacy and Lumis both hit dives to the floor. Howdy gets the tag and gets to clean house but Scarlett trips him up. Cue Nikki Cross to jump on her, leaving Howdy to get the Mandible Claw. Paul Ellering returns though and throws powder in his face, meaning it’s the Final Prayer to give Kross the pin on Howdy at 9:01.

Rating: B-. It was a nice brawl but it’s a bit of a surprise to see the Wyatts lose. They couldn’t stay undefeated forever but I’m surprised to see them lose so soon. This feud seems likely to continue though, with Howdy probably getting a singles match with Kross next. That’s not a bad idea either, as Kross has been doing some of the best work of his career in recent weeks.

We get a sitdown interview with CM Punk from earlier today. Punk is immediately asked about the favor with Paul Heyman but he’s going to keep that to himself. As for Seth Rollins, he is willing to fight but more confused by the hatred the two have. Rollins asked Punk to train him as a wrestler for free.

At one point, Rollins was on the list to be fired from this company but Punk shielded (nice choice of word) him from that. If he had to live in his own shadow, he would hate himself too. Punk is better than him in every way and now that the starter is back, the second string has to sit on the bench. That’s a nice insult to get us closer to the match, which should be good.

We recap Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan attacking Rhea Ripley.

Dakota Kai vs. Liv Morgan

Non-title. Kai takes her down to start for an early Hennig necksnap but Morgan gets in a toss over the top for a nasty crash as we take a break. Back with Pure Fusion Collective coming to the ring as Kai sends her into the corner for a running knee. A scorpion kick staggers Morgan but the Collective’s distraction gives her a breather. Morgan gets powerbombed out of the corner but avoids the big running boot. Oblivion finishes Kai at 7:22.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time to do anything here with the break in the middle of a match which wasn’t that long in the first place. You can only get so much out of that short of a match but Kai was showing more energy than usual. She’s had a nice comeback since her injury and if she can keep that up, it could be the start of a nice run. Morgan is already on the run of a lifetime for her and that very well may continue on Saturday.

Post match the Collective comes in but Damage CTRL makes the save. Morgan gets in an Oblivion to drop Iyo Sky before leaving.

Drew McIntyre talks about being gone due to injuries and having to be with his family in Scotland. Then he saw CM Punk, Sami Zayn and the Usos standing tall with Roman Reigns. At least Punk took a bribe, but the other three just did what Reigns told them. That’s why he took out Jey and Sami last week and now he’s coming for more revenge. Jey is not medically cleared to be in the ring just yet.

We look back at last week’s heartbreaking New Day’s split, with Big E. looking crushed.

Cody Rhodes leaves Adam Pearce’s office (remember the transfer window) and runs into New Day, who should be ashamed of themselves.

Here is Seth Rollins for a chat (with a nice graphic showing the titles he’s won in WWE). Rollins talks about how CM Punk loves to play the victim because he is a con man. Yes he did go to Punk for his initial training and Punk helped him get a foot in the door around here. If that was the end of the story, Rollins’ actions wouldn’t make any sense. Ten years ago, Punk walked out of WWE and he cut Rollins off.

If you weren’t on team Punk, he didn’t have time for you. For ten years, Punk took shots at WWE and then failed at everything else. Now though, he’s back because the money was right. At one point, Rollins wanted to be just like Punk, but now he wants to be better. Rollins brings up getting to main event Wrestlemania, which Punk never did, but here is Sami Zayn, in a YEET shirt, to interrupt.

Rollins says if Zayn is here to defend Punk again, they’re going to be fighting again. Zayn apologizes for assuming that Rollins jumped Jey Uso last week but Rollins wants to know why Zayn thought it was him. Zayn talks about how Rollins was going nuts last week, even sounding like Drew McIntyre.

This thing with Punk brings out the worst with Rollins and Zayn is going to stay out of it. That’s what Rollins wanted and yes, they’re good, but Rollins thinks Zayn needs to deal with McIntyre. Rollins leaves and Zayn says he’s going to face McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event, with the match already being made. As Zayn goes to leave, McIntyre jumps him with referees having to break it up. Good stuff here, with people having (mostly) normal emotions about situations going on around them.

Women’s Intercontinental Title Tournament First Round: Zelina Vega vs. Ivy Nile vs. Lyra Valkyria

Nile wastes no time in planting Valkyria for an early two and we take a break. Back with Valkyria hitting a tornado DDT for two with Nile having to make the save. Nile’s cross armbreaker is broken up but Vega flip dives onto both of them for two each. Vega’s Meteora gets two and Valkyria has to make the save this time. Everyone is down until Nile rolls some German suplexes on Valkyria before German suplexing both of them at the same time (because she can do that). Vega is back up with a Code Red for to on Nile but Valkyria breaks it up and hits Nightwing to pin Nile at 7:44.

Rating: B-. I can go for having Valkyria getting a better run around here as she is talented enough to do some good things around here. I’m not sure if she is going to win the title but at least she did something here for a change. Other than that, Vega was her usual energetic self and Nile was showing off the power, making for a nice showing from all three.

Damian Priest tells Rhea Ripley to eradicate Raquel Rodriguez.

New Day doesn’t like being asked about turning on Big E. because it’s a biased interview. They’re going to go talk to the people…and Xavier Woods steals the camera as Kofi Kingston walks into the arena. They get in the ring and Woods gives the camera back and Kingston can barely get in a word out. Kingston is annoyed that after ten years, the people have turned on them after what they did for one day. The fans want Big E. and won’t let the two of them say much of anything. That’s enough for New Day and they leave after some of the best heat anything has drawn in WWE in a LONG time.

Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Anything goes. It’s a brawl to start with Ripley running up the ramp to start fast. They fight around ringside and then go inside (which Ripley filled with weapons while waiting on Rodriguez) for a missile dropkick to Rodriguez. A dropkick through the ropes staggers Rodriguez again but she sends Ripley over the announcers’ table as we take a break.

Back with stereo big boots putting both of them down. Ripley gets back up with a chair shot for two but here is Liv Morgan before Riptide can connect. The distraction lets Rodriguez plant Ripley onto a chair for two but the Tejana Bomb is escaped. Morgan breaks up another Riptide attempt and Oblivion connects. Cue Iyo Sky to take Morgan out and Rodriguez gets two. The table is set up but Ripley slips out of the Tejana Bomb again. Rodriguez goes into the chair in the corner and Riptide through the table gives Ripley the pin at 8:09.

Rating: B. I love a match where the interference is timed well and makes perfect sense. That was the case here, as it tied into both this match as well as the Women’s Title match on Saturday. This was a match where two women got to beat the fire out of each other for a bit and Ripley gets some momentum back after a hit and miss series of singles matches lately. She’ll get back to the title picture sooner than later, but I’m not sure how much there is left in her feud with Morgan.

Ripley and Sky both pick up the title to end the show. That’s interesting.

Overall Rating: B. Raw has a lot of good things going on right now, with New Day’s rather incredible heat leading the way. You also have Gunther/Balor/Priest for the title, which has potential, and everything with Punk/Rollins and McIntyre/Zayn. Raw is rolling right now and I want to see where they go, which is the best thing that can be said about a wrestling show. If their half of Saturday Night’s Main Event can live up to the hype, we could be in for a heck of a start to the Road To Wrestlemania and that is great to see.

Results
Final Testament/Miz b. Wyatt Sicks – Final Prayer to Howdy
Liv Morgan b. Dakota Kai – Oblivion
Lyra Valkyria b. Zelina Vega and Ivy Nile – Nightwing to Nile
Rhea Ripley b. Raquel Rodriguez – Riptide through a table

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: November 4, 2024
Location: Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re in Saudi Arabia for the first time ever with a taped show as we are fresh off of Crown Jewel. There wasn’t much in the way of development there as neither of the top titles were on the line. We’re also less than a month away from Survivor Series and that means the card is going to need to start coming together. Let’s get to it.

Here is Crown Jewel if you need a recap.

Long Crown Jewel recap.

Here is Judgment Day to get things going, with commentary already pointing out that Liv Morgan won the Crown Jewel Title on Saturday but only gets to keep the ring. The Revenge Tour is over and it’s time to start the World Tour. Morgan lists off her recent accomplishments but here are Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair to cut off Dominik Mysterio. Belair brags about their success “last night” but Morgan isn’t impressed.

Morgan points out that Belair and Cargill both think they’re the best, unlike herself and Raquel Rodriguez, who are real friends. Belair issues the challenge for the tag match but Adam Pearce interrupts and says not so fast. Morgan keeps talking and the fight is on, only for Pearce to say there’s a battle royal to crown a new #1 contender. Belair and Cargill are included and it starts right now.

Battle Royal

Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Natalya, Lyra Valkyria, Sonya Deville, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, Shayna Baszler, Isla Dawn, Alba Fyre, Maxxine Dupri, Ivy Nile, Zoey Stark, Zelina Vega

For a shot at Liv Morgan’s Title. Carter and Chance waste no time in diving off the top onto a bunch of people, setting up some catapult cannonballs in the corner. Dawn is knocked out and Deville gets rid of Carter shortly thereafter. Dupri busts out an inverted Worm but gets knocked out without too much trouble. Vega 619s Nile out and we take a break.

Back with Damage CTRL hitting a double dropkick on Natalya as we apparently missed Chance walking on her hands to avoid an elimination. Then she was eliminated shortly thereafter. Sane and Natalya are knocked out, as are Deville and Baszler. We’re down to Valkyria, Belair, Cargill and Sky, with the fans rather impressed.

Belair and Cargill send the other two to the apron before staring each other down. Valkyria and Sky come back in but get planted with some finishers. Morgan and Rodriguez get involved though, with Belair being pulled out BY THE HAIR (GEEZ), with Cargill falling out with her. That leaves Sky and Valkyria to fight to the apron with Sky stomping her down. Sky snaps off a German suplex to eliminate Valkyria for the win at 12:48.

Rating: C+. With Ripley hurt, this is as logical of a move as you can have. Sky is someone with the experience and success to be a threat to anyone and she’s been treated as a major star. It’s a fast way to set up a title match and that’s a good thing to see. Throw in Belair and Cargill having issues with Morgan and Rodriguez and things are even more interesting.

New Day isn’t happy with losing last week, with Xavier Woods blaming Kofi Kingston for the loss. The Wyatt Sicks hack the feed and show a kidnapped Miz, who says he isn’t part of the Final Testament. Bo Dallas says there is no mistake because they want him, not the Final Testament.

We look at Goldberg announcing his retirement match for 2025, though no details are set.

New Day vs. War Raiders

Erik wastes no time in sending Woods outside, where Ivar gets in some shots of his own. A half nelson backbreaker plants Kingston and we take a break. Back with Woods fighting out of trouble but getting knocked down again for a quick two. A jumping enziguri and superkick get Woods out of trouble and it’s back to Kingston to pick up the pace. The big running flip dive to the floor hits Ivar and Trouble In Paradise connects. Woods tags himself in to hit the Limit Break, only to get caught with the War Machine for the pin at 9:09.

Rating: C. The issues continue and the #1 contenders get a win over a still rather efficient team. It feels like they’re dragging this out for the big tenth anniversary of the New Day though and that almost has to mean Big E. showing up. If he’s the thing that brings them back together and gives them the titles back, I could think of far worse ideas.

We look at the European tour coming next spring, including Raw and Smackdown. Cool.

Here is Sami Zayn for a chat. Zayn speaks (I believe) Arabic and is very happy to be here but cue Jey Uso to interrupt. Jey gets right to the point: did Zayn kick Roman Reigns in the face on purpose at Crown Jewel? Cue Jimmy Uso to interrupt before Jey can respond, asking what Jey is thinking. Of course Zayn kicked Reigns in the face on purpose!

Zayn says Jimmy isn’t exactly trustworthy but he’s not a bad guy. He’s just someone who has made bad choices. Zayn liked the minute that felt like old times, but he’s not going to do this again. Jey asks a departing Zayn to come to Smackdown and deal with this like family. Jimmy says Zayn isn’t family, but Jey disagrees, dubbing him Sami Uso. Zayn doesn’t give an answer but appears to be thinking about it. The saga continues, but you can see the WarGames teams coming from here and with 26 days to go, that’s a good place to be.

Seth Rollins is ready to get back to the World Title picture. He and Bronson Reed can pick that up again later.

Dragon Lee vs. Chad Gable

Zelina Vega and Ivy Nile are here too. Gable throws him down to start and the referee has to check on Lee, who landed on his head. Back up and Gable does it again but Lee fights out of a headlock and snaps Gable’s singlet against his chest. A high crossbody gives Lee two and they go to the apron, where Lee hits a nasty knee. Gable is fine enough to hit a backdrop to the floor, which has commentary panicking as we take an early break.

Back with Lee hitting his top rope double stomp but Gable suplexes him into the corner. Lee fights up and they trade forearms until Lee snaps off a scary German suplex. Gable hits one of his own as commentary isn’t sure what they’re seeing with this kind of intensity. Gable’s rolling German suplexes have Lee in trouble but he’s fine enough to hit a running powerbomb. Gable is back with a Dominator into a DDT but Vega shoves his feet off the ropes to break up the pin. Nile chokes Vega out so here is Rey Mysterio, which is enough of a distraction for Operation Dragon to give Lee the pin at 12:30.

Rating: B. Well they weren’t taking it easy here. This was a surprisingly hard hitting match with both of them trying rather hard. It’s still disappointing to see Gable lose AGAIN though as that has happened far too often. We’re reaching the point where it just isn’t going to happen with him and that was on full display here. As for Lee, I’m not sure I can see it with him either, but he’s in a better place than Gable at the moment.

Gunther, with Ludwig Kaiser, is ready for any opponent after tonight’s four way #1 contenders match. They both have to do better though.

Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins

For a future shot at Gunther. As you might expect, Dominik gets beaten up to start but Rollins breaks it up. Rollins knocks Sheamus and Priest outside for the big dive and we take an early break. Back with Dominik hammering on Priest, who fights back up with a lifting Downward Spiral.

Sheamus is back in with the Irish Curse to Priest and another to Rollins and Mysterio. Sheamus goes up top and drops a knee on Dominik but Rollins makes the save. Priest and Rollins kick each other down and we take another break. Back again with Dominik’s 619 being broken up by a Sheamus powerslam.

Rollins scores with a Pedigree but cue Bronson Reed to wreck Sheamus and Rollins as well. Reed hits a Death Valley Driver into the Tsunami on Priest and then another to Sheamus. A third Tsunami sends Rollins through the announcers’ table and Reed is gone. Dominik tries to steal the pin on Sheamus but gets caught with South Of Heaven to give Priest the pin and the title shot at 17:40.

Rating: B-. The good thing about this match is you could have had it go multiple ways. Rollins is always an option, there was a slim chance of Mysterio stealing it to set up his pure destruction, and Sheamus has enough of a history with Gunther to be at least a slim hope. That being said, Priest was the right call here due to how Gunther got the title, as a rematch is not an unreasonable thing. Reed interfering helped as well and made sense, as he and Rollins aren’t done.

Overall Rating: B-. The important aspect of this show is they actually got some stuff done. I’m not sure why Sky vs. Morgan and Gunther vs. Priest are going to happen, but they are officially ready to go at some point and that’s more interesting than the Crown Jewel Titles. Survivor Series can start getting set up in the near future and there is a good chance that we started setting that come together here. Not a great show, but more engaging than what they’ve been doing in recent weeks.

Results
Iyo Sky won a battle royal last eliminating Lyra Valkyria
War Raiders b. New Day – War Machine to Woods
Dragon Lee b. Chad Gable – Operation Dragon
Damian Priest b. Dominik Mysterio, Sheamus and Seth Rollins – South Of Heaven to Mysterio

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Monday Night Raw
Date: August 19, 2024
Location: FLA Live Arena, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole

We’re on the way to Bash In Berlin and that should make for a big show this week. There is a good chance that we will be getting more from Gunther vs. Randy Orton, which is set for the pay per view World Title match. Other than that, Bron Breakker is going to need a new challenger for the Intercontinental Title. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Randy Orton to get things going. He hasn’t opened the show in awhile but the next time he does, he will be a fifteen time World Champion. That’s after he drops Gunther with an RKO in Berlin, so here is Gunther to interrupt, telling these Florida rednecks to shut up. He isn’t sure what Orton is celebrating but gets annoyed at the USA chants.

Orton is never going to RKO him again, so Gunther will just have to leave Orton a bloody mess. Gunther will reveal him as a one trick pony, which has Orton saying it’s going to be a long flight after losing the title. Cue Ludwig Kaiser to jump Orton (who comes up holding his arm despite being chop blocked) and the beatdown is on.

We look at Pete Dunne attacking Sheamus last week.

Sheamus is ready to beat Dunne up, despite having a bad hand thanks to Dunne.

Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne

Sheamus has a bad hand/wrist coming in. The Brogue Kick misses early and Sheamus hits a clothesline, only to get hit in the face a few times. An Alabama Slam puts Dunne back down but he comes right back with a DDT. Sheamus is fine enough to knock him off the apron and into the announcers’ table but stops to say something to McAfee, allowing McAfee to stomp the bad hand on the steps.

We take a break and come back with Dunne slapping Sheamus in the face, which has Sheamus calling him a b****. Dunne hammers away, only to get clotheslined in the corner. A powerslam plants Dunne but he’s right back with his own ten forearms. You do not do that to Sheamus, who is right back with the real forearms.

The Brogue Kick is cut off by an enziguri but Sheamus knees a moonsault out of the air (possibly low) for two. A super White Noise is loaded up, only for Dunne to reverse into a sitout powerbomb to leave both of them down. Dunne gets creative and ties the hand in the turnbuckle for a running kick, only to have Sheamus rip the turnbuckle off. The Brogue Kick finishes Dunne at 11:23.

Rating: B-. As usual, you can tell how much Sheamus is doing in a match based on how sweaty his hair gets and he was hitting the higher levels this week. The ending was a bit different but I can go with cool power displays before kicking someone in the face. Maybe not someone in a #1 contenders match for the NXT Title tomorrow night, but that’s a bit beside the point.

Kofi Kingston asks Xavier Woods if everything has been ok for the last few weeks. Woods says he’s ok about the Karrion Kross stuff but does wish that Kingston talked to him more about bringing Odyssey Jones in. Woods says it feels like Kofi is trying to replace Big E. but Kingston apologizes and says he was hoping to bring Jones in just like was done to them back in the day. Woods can go with that and seems a bit better with the whole thing.

Video on Bron Breakker.

We look back at Ivy Nile turning on Maxxine Dupri last week.

Chad Gable welcomes Nile to the team and says they’re still coming for the Wyatt Sicks.

Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivy Nile

Chad Gable, American Made and the Alpha Academy are here too. Dupri jumps her from behind to start and they head outside, where Nile throws Dupri over the announcers’ table. Back in and…we’ve got Wyatts, with Nile looking scared by the smoke. Gable and American Made get in the ring for the brawl as we’ll say the match is thrown out at about 1:30. American Made is laid out and Gable gets hit with Sister Abigail.

Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley still want to destroy the Judgment Day.

Here is CM Punk, with a leather strap around his neck, for a chat. After praising the Florida Panthers for winning the Stanley Cup, Punk talks about being asked about the hot streak WWE has been on for months. Punk credits the fans, a lot of whom he met at Fanatics Fest over the weekend. The first fan he met was a girl who beat cancer and said Punk was an inspiration while she was fighting. Then a fan from Taiwan said she had flown fifteen hours to meet him. He hasn’t stood in this ring in Florida in a very long time and fans like these drive him.

We pause for the CM PUNK chants before he pulls out a handful of bracelets that fans have made for him. Punk says they might be a Taylor Swift thing, but he’s Taylor Swift for men. We’ve covered the love, so now let’s move on to the hatred, like the kind he has with Drew McIntyre. Punk has a bracelet for McIntyre in the form of this strap, and if McIntyre agrees, they’re in for a strap match at Bash In Berlin.

That’s what Punk wants so he can hurt McIntyre, who comes out to respond. McIntyre asks if Punk has started drinking, because Punk should know what McIntyre is like in this kind of a match. The match is on but McIntyre wants to fight right now, if Punk drops the strap. Punk will do it in exchange for the bracelet (which I believe he said he didn’t care about last week). McIntyre says no, but Punk says McIntyre will be attached to him in Berlin. This was missing a certain spark and while the strap match is fine, they lost me around the bracelet for the strap line. Not the best work from either of them here but the match is made.

Dominik Mysterio wants Damian Priest tonight, one on one. He’ll even leave Liv Morgan in the back.

Final Testament vs. New Day/Odyssey Jones

Scarlett and Paul Ellering are here too. Kingston sends Kross into the corner for some running clotheslines to start but Scarlett offers a distraction. Akam comes in for a Death Valley Driver into the corner and we take a break. Back with Kingston still in trouble, only to fight out of the corner. The hot tag brings in Jones and Woods is almost incensed. Jones cleans house but gets taken down by Kross. Kingston hits Trouble In Paradise and Kingston adds the Limit Breaker, leaving Jones to hit the Boss Man Slam to finish Rezar at 7:55.

Rating: C+. The action got better at the end, but this is all about that look of shock from Woods. I won’t believe it until I see it, but they might actually be splitting New Day up. That’s hard to fathom, as they’ve been together or so long that you can’t imagine them arguing. Woods is being a bit unreasonable, but that’s kind of the point of any heel turn. Assuming they actually pull the trigger, which I almost can’t believe is possible.

Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley are ready for more violence.

Afa tribute video.

Miz is ready to fight Bronson Reed to stand up for one of his few friends in R-Truth. He isn’t sure if he wants to do this, but he has to. That’s one of the best Miz promos ever, mainly because he sounded like a normal person for once.

Miz vs. Bronson Reed

No DQ. Miz hammers away to start and manages to drop the monster, meaning it’s time for the weapons. That’s broken up with Reed snapping the kendo stick and stepping on Miz’s head as we take a break. Back with Miz hitting a tornado DDT onto a chair but Reed is right back up. Reed’s Death Valley Driver is escaped but he’s right back with a clothesline to cut Miz off. The Death Valley Driver sends Miz through the able and the Tsunami finishes at 8:11.

Rating: C. It’s weird that a match that didn’t even break ten minutes probably went about as long as it should have. Miz was fighting for a purpose and is a crafty wrestler, but at the end of the day, he’s up against a monster here and there wasn’t much he could do about it. That’s how to make Reed a force and it worked well here.

Post match Reed loads up another Tsunami but Braun Strowman returns for the staredown. See, that’s a logical way to go as Strowman is a perfect choice to be fed to Reed here.

Ludwig Kaiser mocks Sheamus, who is ready to see Kaiser take an RKO.

Bron Breakker, who went to a highly educated university, is ready for a tournament next week to crown a new #1 contender to the Intercontinental Title. It’s not his fault that he’s a genetic freak but he’s going to spear the winner through the floor.

Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio

Hold on though as here is Judgment Day to go after Priest before the bell. Priest clears the ring and it’s Rhea Ripley in behind Dominik. Priest is in as well and it’s a headbutt from Ripley into the right hand from Priest. The announcers’ table is loaded up but Liv Morgan runs in with a chair to break up Riptide. The rest of Judgment Day is up to beat on Priest and Ripley gets posted over and over. The Coup de grace and Oblivion set up Dominik’s frog splash as the villains get to stand tall. No match.

Post break, Judgment Day says that’s just a preview of what happens at Bash In Berlin. Liv Morgan promises to make Rhea Ripley her b****.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre vs. Pure Fusion Collective vs. Damage CTRL

Dawn and Fyre are defending. The brawl is on before the bell, with the referee just kind of standing around waiting for the wrestlers to calm down. Damage CTRL clears the ring to start and hit a pair of dives (with Sky being bounced onto the top into a flip, which might not have been a botch but she made it work) as we take an early break.

Back with Sane hitting a DDT, allowing her to awkwardly pause in front of Sky until Baszler can be kicked away, allowing the real tag. Sky gets to clean house, including the running knees in the corner, with Sane tagging herself back in for a double superplex to Fyre. Baszler is back in and strikes away on Sane, who drops Baszler anyway. Dawn tags herself back in though as Sane hits the Insane Elbow. That means a Backstabber into a Swanton from Dawn can retain the titles at 9:23.

Rating: C. They’re trying with Dawn and Fyre but it still feels like they’re afterthoughts despite being champions for a few months now. The titles just do not seem that important and almost nothing that has been done in their history has changed that. I like that there are a few teams going for the belts, but dang nothing is really making them feel big and that’s a long term problem.

Jey Uso says Sami Zayn is taking some time off to clear his head. If Zayn can’t be champion, Jey can be, so he’s in the tournament for the Intercontinental Title shot. Good choice.

Michael Cole announces that Pat McAfee is leaving for college football season and we look at some McAfee highlights from the year. He’ll be back in January.

Randy Orton vs. Ludwig Kaiser

Orton shoulders him down to start and hammers away, setting up a heck of a fall away slam. They head outside to load up the announcers’ table but cue Gunther for a distraction. Kaiser goes after the knee (which he attacked earlier in the night) and drops Orton onto the table as we take a break.

Back with Kaiser staying on the knee until Orton kicks him out to the floor. Now the suplex drop can send Kaiser onto the table…and then does it four more times. Back in and Kaiser blocks the hanging DDT but gets superplexed down. Now the hanging DDT can connect and, after Kaiser gets a rollup for two, the RKO finishes at 14:27.

Rating: C+. This is booking 101, as Orton shrugs off trouble and beats the lackey clean to set him up for next weekend’s title match. That’s all it needed to be and they made it work here. Orton isn’t someone who needs to be reheated for very long as the RKO is one of the most over finishers ever. Throw in Kaiser getting a bit of a boost in status in recent weeks and this helped even more.

Gunther and Orton brawl to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was missing a little something and there is a good chance that it was due to the Democratic National Convention. It felt like they were doing a show where they knew it wouldn’t draw a lot of attention, which isn’t the worst idea. The strap match being announced was the biggest thing and that was all but guaranteed last week. Bash In Berlin is mostly set anyway and this show, while not exactly must see, was far from bad. Not a show you needed to see, but there were worse ways to spend an evening.

Results
Sheamus b. Pete Dunne – Brogue Kick
Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivy Nile went to a no contest when the Wyatt Sicks interfered
New Day/Odyssey Jones b. Final Testament – Boss Man Slam to Rezar
Bronson Reed b. Miz – Tsunami
Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre b. Pure Fusion Collective and Damage CTRL – Swanton to Baszler
Randy Orton b. Ludwig Kaiser – RKO

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Monday Night Raw
Date: August 12, 2024
Location: Moody Center, Austin, Texas
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

We are less than three weeks away from Bash In Berlin and the main event seems to have been set as Gunther will be defending the Raw World Title against Randy Orton. Other than that, there is a good chance we are on the way to a mixed tag between Damian Priest/Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio/Liv Morgan. Odds are we see more of both of those feuds this -week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Judgment Day splitting, with Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest seemingly being ready to destroy the new version of the team.

Here is Ripley to get things going. She has gone through every feeling imaginable since Summerslam but now she is just mad. Dominik stabbed her in the back, but in something he’s probably heard before, it just wasn’t deep enough (McAfee: “GEEZ!”). As for Liv, she’s run away with the title but you can’t run far enough. Dominik and Liv pop up in the crowd, with Liv saying Dominik has something to get off his chest.

Dominik talks about how he is a man and deserves to be treated like one. Now he has a woman who calls him daddy and lets him eat tendies and play video games whenever he wants, but she also finally helped him beat his dad. Ripley says she’s proud of Dominik because seeing him grow up is one of her greatest accomplishments. She wanted to see Dominik beat Rey Mysterio on his own but now he’s made the wrong decision. It’s just the last decision he’s ever going to make. Liv says Dominik is all his and she took Rhea’s family away, along with her title. Ripley: “Are you done?”

Ripley says Liv made the mistake of leaving her standing and it’s a good thing Liv loves to talk so much, because now we know where she is. Damian Priest pops up behind them and brawls with Dominik into the concourse. Ripley charges after them and goes after Liv, with the guys going down to ringside. Cue Carlito (with one shoe on) for the save, allowing Dominik to escape. This was laying everything out and odds are the mixed tag is coming.

Damian Priest vs. Carlito

Carlito is still in one shoe and this was scheduled for later tonight. Priest faceplants him to start but it’s too early for the Razor’s Edge. A DDT gives Carlito two and a suplex puts Priest down again as we take a break. Back with Carlito hitting a swinging neckbreaker for two but Priest snaps off a spinwheel kick. The Broken Arrow sends Carlito flying and South Of Heaven finishes him off at 9:19.

Rating: C+. Carlito got in some shots here but Priest gets the win that he should be getting on the way to whatever is waiting on him in Berlin. Priest has become one of the biggest stars on the show and having him march through Judgment Day to get to Finn Balor is a fine way to go. Carlito might not be a huge star but he’s good enough to make Priest look like ore of a star on the way there.

Post match Judgment Day runs in for the beatdown but Rhea Ripley makes the save and takes out JD McDonagh. For some reason Dominik Mysterio comes after Ripley but Liv Morgan has to save him from Riptide.

Ivy Nile tells Maxxine Dupri to be careful tonight and maybe not be at ringside. Dupri is going to be there with her friends.

Bo Dallas talks about how everything came full circle last week when the Wyatt Sicks had their in-ring debut where the Wyatt Family made their debut eleven years ago. Bray Wyatt was there and now something big is going to happen. Dallas keeps saying “my life for you”.

Kofi Kingston is fired up for Odyssey Jones’ debut but Xavier Woods isn’t quite as enthusiastic.

Odyssey Jones vs. Vincent Winey

Jones throws him around to start, shrugs off some forearms, and grabs a swinging Boss Man Slam for the pin at 1:35.

Post match the Final Testament comes out and Karrion Kross says that while the obvious suggestion would be Odyssey Jones is replacing Big E., but the reality is Kofi Kingston is using Jones to replace Xavier Woods. That has Woods issuing the challenge for a tag match but Kofi says we should make it a six man (Woods again doesn’t look sure) and it seems to be on.

Drew McIntyre comes in to see Adam Pearce and asks why Randy Orton is getting the World Title shot. Don’t worry though because McIntyre will take care of things and stay on his best behavior.

Chad Gable is still in Paris and says he’s not done with the Wyatt Sicks.

Alpha Academy vs. Creed Brothers

Texas Tornado rules with Maxxine Dupri here with the Academy. The Creeds start fast and take Tozawa to the floor, leaving Otis to be whipped hard into the corner. Otis shoves his way out of said corner and Tozawa hits a big dive off the top. Tozawa gets launched over the top onto the Creeds and we take a break. Back with Tozawa being powerbombed into the barricade for two as Otis is still down on the floor. Tozawa’s double DDT puts the Creeds down as Otis is back up.

The Caterpillar hits Brutus for two as Cole calls Otis a “heavy machinery” type competitor. Julius knees Otis down and Brutus hits a standing moonsault into Julius’ shooting star for two. A superbomb is countered into a hurricanrana and Tozawa’s suicide dive….gets caught in the ropes and barely makes any contact whatsoever. Julius electric chairs Otis, who superplexes Brutus, allowing Tozawa to hit a top rope backsplash for the big knockdown. Cue Ivy Nile to jump Dupri, with the distraction letting the Creeds roll Tozawa up for the pin at 11:59.

Rating: B. This was a lot better than I was expecting and allowed Tozawa to showcase himself in the ring a lot more than usual. That’s a good thing to see as the team has long since been the Otis/Chad Gable show and Tozawa adds a different side to the whole thing. The ending is good as well, as there was little reason to keep Dupri and Nile on the same page given everything else that was going on.

Earlier today, Pete Dunne was in the mostly empty arena and says Sheamus was under his wing, not the other way around. Sheamus went on a great run with Dunne in his corner, while Dunne just had a stupid name. So what happened to the Brawling Brutes while Sheamus became a bigger star? Dunne never wants to hear the name “Butch” again because he is an eighteen year veteran and the Bruiserweight.

We look at Bronson Reed wrecking Seth Rollins last week, complete with breakdowns of the physics involved.

Reed tells Adam Pearce to give him an opponent tonight or he’ll find a new victim.

Damage CTRL is ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles back.

Sonya Deville and company seems to imply that their collection name is the “Pure Fusion Collective” and they want the titles as well. If that’s their name….my goodness just release them already.

Candice Michelle is here.

Damage CTRL vs. Pure Fusion Collective

For a future shot at Alba Fyre/Isla Dawn (at ringside). Sky strikes away at Baszler to start and a double dropkick puts her down again. Sane adds her sliding clothesline in the corner but Baszler is back with a backbreaker for a breather. Stark comes in and the champs aren’t impressed as we take a break. Back with Sky coming in to clean house, including the running knees to Stark in the corner. A butterfly backbreaker looks to set up Over The Moonsault but Sonya Deville offers a distraction. Sky accidentally superkicks Dawn, which is enough to draw Dawn in for the DQ (by hitting Sky) at 9:22.

Rating: C+. The action was good, but there were two things here. First and foremost is the name, which even commentary was mocking because not only is it a really dumb name that no one would give themselves, but it’s hard to remember because NO ONE TALKS LIKE THIS. Second is the ending, which is going to be a no contest to set up a triple threat, even though that’s just not what happened but they’ll do it anyway because having Dawn and Fyre jump one member of each team at the same time was too much to ask.

Post match the champs lay out both teams. Cole makes it clear that we have no #1 contenders, which is nonsense as Dawn only hit Sky, meaning it should be a DQ with Damage CTRL winning, but for some reason that’s not what we’re getting.

Miz is upset when R-Truth comes in. R-Truth asks about various bad things that have been happening to Miz as of late, but he’s gotten Miz an Intercontinental Title match with Bron tonight. Miz: “Doesn’t he have a match with Sami Zayn?” Truth points him to the graphic….and it’s Miz against Bronson Reed. Truth: “Isn’t that the guy who killed Seth Rollins last week?” Randy Orton comes in and asks if Reed is the guy who killed Seth Rollins last week. Orton fires Miz up….but realizes he has no chance.

Randy Orton threw out the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game.

Here is Orton for a chat. He talks about winning the World Title for the first time twenty two years ago and promises to win it for the fifteenth time at Bash In Berlin…and cue Gunther to interrupt. Orton says he’s coming to win the title but Gunther says Orton wastes his potential. There isn’t room for that kind of person in Gunther’s era, but Orton says he has owned up to his mistakes over the years.

Orton is a legend with five kids and a hot wife at home before he becomes a fifteen time World Champion, so he has done pretty good for himself. Gunther calls Orton predictable and says all three generations of his family have been screwups. Cue Drew McIntyre to interrupt….and the distraction lets Orton hit the RKO. Cue CM Punk to jump McIntyre, even beating him with his own belt, sending McIntyre running. A strap match between those two has potential.

Sheamus is interested in mysteries but the biggest of them all is how Pete Dunne’s failures are his fault. Ludwig Kaiser comes in to say it’s not over between them…and here is Dunne to jump Sheamus with a shillelagh, including a shot to his exposed hand.

CM Punk, who was said to not have been here due to travel issues, says he was lying to lure Drew McIntyre in. Punk can keep the bracelet but keep his wife and dog’s name out of McIntyre’s mouth. Punk mentions being attached to McIntyre and says the belt he’s holding gives him an idea.

Mark Henry and his son are here.

Miz vs. Bronson Reed

R-Truth is here with Miz. Reed charges into a boot to start but runs him over without much trouble. Miz is sent outside and dropped with a running shoulder off the apron as we take a break. Back with Miz fighting back and managing a tornado DDT for one. Reed isn’t having that and hits a Death Valley Driver, setting up the Tsunami for the pin at 6:39.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here due to the break that Reed shouldn’t be in long matches right now anyway. The point is to get Reed over as a monster and having him make short work of an established name is going to do just that. At the same time, Miz and R-Truth’s issues intensify as R-Truth got him into this mess in the first place. Not a particularly good match, but rather nice storytelling.

Post match Reed tries another Tsunami but R-Truth gets in his way, earning himself a high crossbody. Reed hits a pair of Tsunamis on R-Truth (Cole: “TRUTH IS A D*** NATIONAL TREASURE!”) and then adds two more until Adam Pearce and security cut Reed off. That just causes Reed to go to another corner to hit a fifth Tsunami, even with Pearce yelling at him. Then Reed goes back to hit a sixth Tsunami.

Jey Uso fires Sami Zayn up before his Intercontinental Title match. Then they’re getting the Tag Team Titles.

Rhea Ripley/Damian Priest vs. Liv Morgan/Dominik Mysterio is set for Bash In Berlin. Makes sense.

Video on the new Judgment Day.

Bron Breakker says he’s going to do bada** things.

Intercontinental Title: Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn

Breakker is defending and this is 2/3 falls. Zayn starts fast and knocks him outside, setting up the big running flip dive as we take an early break. Back with Breakker hitting his Rick Steiner style powerslam for two but Zayn walks the corner for a tornado DDT. Breakker hits some running corner clotheslines but Zayn is right back with the Helluva Kick for the first fall at 6:55.

They had outside with Breakker catching a moonsaulting Zayn and powerslamming him over the barricade. We take a break and come back with Breakker running the corner for a super Frankensteiner, setting up the gorilla press powerslam. A pair of spears gives Breakker the second fall at 12:34 total.

Breakker goes with a rather lackadaisical cover and gets rolled up for two, meaning it’s time to send Zayn outside again. Zayn gets sat on the announcers’ table for a huge clothesline from the apron for a nine count. Back in and Zayn manages a sunset bomb for two but has to avoid a spear. Breakker hits a jumping knee but Zayn hits a running boot for two. Zayn goes up again, only to dive into a spear to give Breakker the win at 17:33 overall.

Rating: B+. This was a hard hitting match but it was also a heck of a story with Zayn trying to outsmart Breakker and having to take chances. The big chance at the end is what cost him the match as Breakker was too strong and powerful for the underdog style to overcome. That’s what they’ve been doing for their matches so far and the idea of Breakker getting smarter is a scary proposition. Awesome match here.

Overall Rating: B. The more I watch Raw, and almost any other WWE programming at the moment, the more of a flow they seem to be in. This show had the same vibe as a classic NXT, where not only did they have stuff they needed to do but they made it feel important. It would have been the Creeds vs. the Alpha Academy or the #1 contenders match for the Women’s Tag Team Titles or the main event, but the show made it feel like it mattered. That is such a huge boost for any show and it was on full display here. Rather good show and the three hours flew by.

Sidenote: the graphics that WWE has been putting up during its shows are outstanding features. Stuff like “here’s a recap of what you’ve missed tonight” and “these are your announcers” and “these are the people involved with their names and faces in case you’re not familiar.” It’s so simple and helps catch new fans up really fast while not being a distraction. I love that kind of stuff and it makes the show feel so much more polished and fan friendly.

Results
Damian Priest b. Carlito – South Of Heaven
Odyssey Jones b. Vincent Winey – Swinging Boss Man Slam
Creed Brothers b. Alpha Academy – Rollup to Tozawa
Damage CTRL vs. Pure Fusion Collective went to a no contest when Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn interfered
Bronson Reed b. Miz – Tsunami
Bron Breakker b. Sami Zayn 2-1

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