Our WWE Raw results for tonight include Roman Reigns addressing Paul Heyman, CM Punk returns, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defending against Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, Sami Zayn battling Karrion Kross, Rusev clashing with Sheamus, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch has a SummerSlam Proposal for number one contender Lyra Valkyria, and The New Day taking on The Creed Brothers and The LWO in a World Tag Team Championship number one Contenders match. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
WWE Raw Card:
- CM Punk Returns
- Roman Reigns Addresses Paul Heyman
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
- Becky Lynch has a SummerSlam Proposal for Lyra Valkyria
- Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
- Rusev vs. Sheamus
- World Tag Team Championship Number One Contenders Match: The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) vs. The Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) vs. The LWO
WWE Raw Results:
The Judgement Day and several other Superstars are shown arriving for the show.
The Number One Contender
CM Punk notes that he is the number one contender, and he promises to leave it all in the ring at SummerSlam. Punk puts over the current World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther, as a beast and notes that he will win the championship because Punk is the best in the world. Gunther interrupts. Punk and Gunther stare daggers at each other while the crowd alternates between cheering for Punk and booing Gunther. As Gunther speaks, the crowd drowns him out with boos and “you tapped out chants.”
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Gunther says he didn’t come out here to throw insults at Punk or create drama. Gunther notes that they are similar in many ways. They both have massive egos, but Gunther’s is justified. Gunther’s ego isn’t based on what the WWE Universe thinks; that’s useless. His ego is based on accomplishments and reality. Gunther promises to drop Punk like a wet towel. Punk will never be the champion or the best in the world. At least Punk will have these degenerates chanting for Punk for the rest of his life. Gunther drops the mic and walks away.
Grade: B-
Punk wasn’t exactly hitting on all cylinders tonight, stumbling a bit while kicking off his promo. When Gunther hit the ring, business picked up, and Gunther dropped the mic on Punk. Punk looked on like a proud dad as Gunther walked away, leaving flame footprints.
Rusev vs. Sheamus
Sheamus attempts the Brogue Kick as soon as the bell rings. Rusev avoids it, and the fight spills out of the ring. Sheamus and Rusev pound on each other out on the floor. The fight transitions back into the ring, and Rusev lands a suplex. Rusev works over Sheamus. Sheamus fires up and sends Rusev over the top. Sheamus lands a diving shoulder block off the apron. Rusev responds with a fallaway slam on the commentary desk. After the break, Sheamus lands an Irish cursebreaker. Ten beats of the Bohdren by Sheamus. Sheamus calls for the Brogue Kick. Rusev counters with a powerbomb. Sheamus kicks out. Rusev calls for the Machka Kick. Sheamus counters with the kneecapper. Rusev kicks at two.
Sheamus flips up to the top rope. Rusev cuts Sheamus off with Kobashi-esque machine gun chops. Sheamus pushes Rusev off the top. Sheamus dives into a Machka Kick! Rusev traps the Celtic Warrior in the Accolade. Sheamus desperately reaches for the rope. Sheamus manages to reach the bottom rope. Rusev is irate, yelling at Sheamus to just quit. Sheamus begs for Rusev to hit him. Rusev stomps Sheamus out. Rusev removes the turnbuckle pad. Sheamus blocks Rusev’s attempt to post him and drives Rusev’s head into the exposed turnbuckle. While the referee replaces the turnbuckle pad, Rusev grabs Sheamus’ Shelalgiegh. Before Rusev can strike, Sheamus lands a Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner- Sheamus
Grade: B
These two beat the crap out of each other. This was a fun watch, but not as interesting as Sheamus and Rusev’s match a few weeks ago. Hopefully, this will not be the last time these two beasts attempt to murder each other live on Netflix.
World Tag Team Championship Number One Contenders Match: The New Day vs. The Creed Brothers vs. The LWO
Julius suplexes Woods and Wilde at the same time. Kingston and Woods Unicorn Stampede Del Toro. After the break, everyone lands a big move, leading to a series of hot tags. Wilde clears the ring. Wilde rolls up both members of New Day, but Woods and Kingston both kick out. Nile pushes Wilde off the top before he can land a dive. Dragon Lee attacks the Creeds. El Grande Americano attacks Lee. The Creeds yell at Americano. Del Toro lands a corkscrew dive. Wilde rolls up Kingston for the win.
Winners- The LWO
Grade: B
Fun tag match with an unpredictable ending. It would be nice to see someone with the tag titles not named The Judgement Day or New Day. Maybe, just maybe. It’s the LWO’s time. What do you all think? Let us know in the comments!
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer gets into it with IYO SKY, leading to SKY challenging Vaquer to a match tonight.
Backstage, Grayson Waller tells Kingston and Woods that since Austin Theory is injured, he is free of the dead weight and can offer his services to them. Kingston and Woods aren’t exactly thrilled, but they accept his offer to at least go get the car.
Becky Lynch suggests that if Lyra Valkyria loses at SummerSlam, she can never challenge for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship again. Valkryia says she hasn’t taken this thing far enough, so she agrees, but the match must be no disqualification; there has to be a winner. Lynch demands a handshake. Valkyria Manhandle Slams Lynch.
Grade: C+
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
Bayley tries to solve Rodriguez to no avail. Bayley aggressively tags in Valkyria, who lands a flurry of offense on Rodriguez. After a bit of back and forth. Bayley tags back in and asks Valkyria to help her with a suplex. Rodriguez suplexes Bayley and Valkyria at the same time. Rodriguez and Perez work over Valkyria. After the break, Bayley gets the tag and clears the ring. Perez and Rodriguez double team Bayley. Perez tries a double jump moonsault, but Bayley gets her knees up. Bayley manages to tag in Valkyria, who lands a leg drop off the top.
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Valkyria tags in Bayley, who lands a diving elbow drop. Rodriguez breaks up the pin. Dominik gets into it with Valkyria. Rodriguez accidentally boots Dominik in the face while trying to hit Valkyria. The medical team comes to check on Dominik. It’s AJ Styles! Dominik runs away. Becky Lynch appears and attacks Valkyria. In the confusion, Rodriguez gets a blind tag and suprises Bayley with a powerbomb for the win.
Winners and STILL WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez!
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross w/Scarlett
Kross is in control early, working over Zayn’s injured ribs. Zayn lands a flurry of punches in the corner. Zayn clotheslines Kross over the top. Arabian press by Zayn. Scarlett kicks Zayn in the ribs as he attempts to get back into the ring. After the break, Kross continues his assault on Zayn’s ribs. Zayn surprises Kross with a lariat. Rope walk DDT by Zayn. Zayn sends Kross into the corner with an exploder. Scarlett distracts the referee. Zayn charges in with the Helluva Kick, Kross hits Zayn in the gut with the pipe. Kross pins Zayn.
Winner- Karrion Kross
Grade: B-
Fun TV match. Zayn and Kross’s feud has been entertaining, and seeing Kross get the win is a welcome change. Also, extra points for Scarlett getting involved for the finish.
IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
SKY and Vaquer trade submission holds and pin attempts. Neither woman can get the advantage, leading to a stalemate. Vaquer sets up the Devil’s Kiss, but SKY counters with a roll up for a near fall. SKY sends Vaquer out of the ring. Suicide dive by SKY. SKY misses an Asai moonsault. Vaquer superkicks SKY. Waquer lands a springboard crossbody to the floor. After the break, Vaquer lands a double underhook lungblower. SKY traps Vaquer in a crossface. Vaquer gets to the ropes and rolls out. Asai moonsault by SKY. Missile dropkick by SKY. The fight spills out to the apron.
SKY tries a sunset flip bomb. Vaquer puts on the brakes and drops a knee on SKY’s throat. That was vicious. Devil’s Kiss out on the apron by Vaquer. Vaquer rolls SKY into the ring and hits another Devil’s Kiss. SKY avoids the SVB and drops Vaquer with a double underhook backbreaker. Bullet train by SKY. SKY goes up top. Vaquer crotches SKY on the top. Inverted superplex by Vaquer. Both women are down. Piper Niven and Alba Fyre walk down to the ring. Vaquer knocks both women off the apron. Chelsea Green appears in the ring and attacks Vaquer from behind, causing a disqualification.
Winner- Stephanie Vaquer
After the match, Vaquer and SKY clear the ring. Naomi hops the barricade and pushes SKY into Vaquer. Naomi beats down SKY. Rhea Ripley makes the save. Green eats a Riptide for her troubles.
Grade: A
This was the match of the night. SKY and Vaquer’s chemistry is insane. They counter each other effortlessly, and each near fall was more harrowing than the next. It’s a shame that we got another screwy finish, but at least it made sense.
His Name is Paul Heyman
“The Oracle,” Paul Heyman puts over Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. Heyman notes that before “he” comes to the ring, Heyman has a bunch to get off his chest. Roman Reigns’ music hit, giving Heyman no time to filibuster. Reigns stares a hole through Heyman as the crowd chants, “OTC!” Heyman doesn’t want to be disrespectful or rude, like someone born in Texas. Heyman says Rollins is going to be out of action for a long time, so that means there is a leadership void. Reigns scoffs. Heyman tells Reigns to look who comes with him (Reed/Breakker) if Reigns agrees. Heyman notes that they are better together than apart, and he loves his Tribal Chief. Reigns tells Heyman to hold that thought and tells the crowd to acknowledge him.
Heyman puts up a one. Reigns laughs. A few years ago, Reigns would have said what Heyman just said were wise words from a wiseman, but Heyman isn’t a wiseman. Heyman is a dumbass. Breakker bows up. Heyman holds Breakker back. Reigns tells, “Jr,” to simmer down. Reigns tells Breakker that in a few years, when Breakker is the man, Heyman will do the same thing to Breakker that he did to Reigns. Reigns says Heyman will try to take all the credit, but he didn’t help Reigns keep the championship. It was The Usos, Solo Sikoa, and even Sami Zayn who helped out. Reigns notes that Heyman thought the Bloodline was just some faction he could create, but the Bloodline is family. Only god can create that.
The thing that really bothers Reigns is that Heyman was just a friend of the family, but Reigns made him a part of the family. Reigns didn’t ruin the Bloodline, this dumbass did (points at Heyman). Breakker steps up, and Heyman hands him a mic. Breakker tells Reigns to look around because they don’t want or need him anymore. Breakker runs down Reigns. Breakker says he knows Heyman won’t stab him in the back, because he has value. Reigns is worthless. Breakker is the man now, dawg.
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Breakker tells Reigns to do what he does best: turn around and leave. Reigns says he has to be honest, he didn’t hear anything Breakker just said. Reigns tells Breakker to say it all again and use his mic. Reigns floors Breakker with a Superman punch after tossing his mic at him. Reigns ends up getting Speared by Breakker. Breakker holds Reigns in place for a Tsunami, but Jey Uso makes the save.
Grade: B
Solid segment, but a bit on the long side. They could have gotten to the brawl with just half of all that dialogue.
WWE Raw Review:
Tonight’s show featured solid in-ring action, with Stephanie Vaquer vs. IYO SKY getting match of the night honors despite its screwy finish. The closing promo tonight from Roman Reigns was long, but solid. The build to SummerSlam is happening at a breakneck pace, as the show is just two weeks away. Some of this feels rushed, but the quality of the promos and matches has gotten consistently better over the last few weeks. What do you all think? Let us know in the comments below!
Rating: B
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