Our WWE Raw results for tonight include John Cena returning to Raw, Lyra Valkyria clashing with Roxanne Perez, and CM Punk and AJ Lee going face-to-face with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
WWE Raw Card:
- CM Punk and AJ Lee – Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch face-to-face
- John Cena Returns to Raw
- Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez
WWE Raw Results:
As the show begins, Jimmy and Jey Uso walk into the arena. LA Knight charges in and gets into it with Jey. As Knight and Jey argue, Raw GM Adam Pearce walks in and tells both Knight and Jey to go to his office. Jey refuses. Pearce tells Jey that if he doesn’t, he can call his accountant to find out why his next check is so light.
The Champ is Here!
The crowd cheers as Cena puts them over. Cena notes that the younger fans in the crowd may not know Cena played football a few miles away from Springfield. Cena puts over his college and remarks that the school prepared him for WWE. Cena’s friends and family are here tonight. The crowd cheers as Cena puts them over. Cena notes that the younger fans in the crowd may not know Cena played football a few miles away from Springfield. Cena puts over his college and remarks that the school prepared him for WWE. Cena’s friends and family are here tonight. After more cheers, Cena notes that he is the last real champion, and at Wrestlepalooza, Brock Lesnar looks to end the last real champion.
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Cena notes that yet again, Lesnar has returned to WWE and made a target out of him. This time, why doesn’t Cena just say no? The crowd chants for Cena to kick Lesnar’s @$$. Saying no would be safe and easy. The crowd chants, “Thank you, Cena!” Cena quips that’s the reason he says yes. He is the last real champion. The last real champion never takes his ball and goes home. Is Cena afraid of Brock Lesnar? Yes, he is. Could Cena fail? Yes, he could. Will he back down or give up? Hell no. WE (who’s we??) will take the fight to the Beas. This is the final showdown of two titans.
Grade: B+
Cena is a master on the mic. Nothing more to add here other than at this point, Cena is in the Captain America/Optimus Prime-level of promoing.
Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez w/Raquel Rodriguez
Valkyria takes Perez down. Perez pie faces Valkyria. Valkyria and Perex trade takedowns. Rolling prawn hold by Valkyria. Perez kicks out. Dropkick by Valkyria. Rodriguez trips Valkyria. The referee sees it and ejects Rodriguez. Rodriguez hops up on the apron and argues with the referee. Back in the ring, Perez has Valkyria rolled up. The referee finally makes the count, but Valkyria kicks out.
Valkyria lands a flurry and goes up top. Perez trips Valkyria off the top. Valkyria’s head hits the turnbuckle on the way down. After the break, Valkyria and Perez trade pins. Gut-wrench powerbomb hold by Valkyria. Perez kicks at two. Perez sends Valkyria flying with a rana. Cartwheel knee strike by Perez. Valkyria kicks out. Crossface by Perez. Valkyria reverses it into Nightwing for the win.
Winner- Lyra Valkyria
After the match, Rodriguez runs down the ramp and attacks Valkyria from behind. Perez and Rodriguez beat down Valkyria. Bayley’s music hits. Bayley hits the ring and makes the save. After posting Rodriguez, Bayley does the hugger elbow to Perez and drops her with a Bayley-to-Belly. Valkyria looks confused. Bayley seems to have a mini meltdown in the ring, holding her temples as if the voices are talking to her. Bayley rolls out of the ring and starts hugging the commentary team, the ring crew, the fans, everyone.
Grade: C+
The match wasn’t one of Perez or Valkyria’s best. Though it went over a break, it still seemed as though they didn’t get to tell much of a story during the match. Granted, the real story was the post-match bit with Bayley-Two-Face. Bayley finally has something interesting to sink her teeth into. This is going to be fun.
Kofi Kingston w/Xavier Woods and Grayson Waller vs. Penta
Kingston runs away. Penta gives chase. Woods tries to get in the way. Penta eventually surprises Kingston with a dive. Penta tries a springboard. Kingston trips Penta on the ropes. Penta falls to the floor. Kingston lands a frog splash to Penta’s back.
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After the break, Penta lands a flurry of Penta offense. Kingston fires back and gets a near fall after the SOS. After a strike exchange, Penta calls for the Mexican Destroyer. Woods hops on the apron. Waller tries to attack Penta from behind, but Penta catches Waller with a superkick. Kingston attempts a roll up. Penta escapes and springboards off the ropes into a beautiful Mexican Destroyer. Penta pins Kingston.
Winner- Penta
Grade: B-
Standard TV match wth an excellent finish. Not sure where this war with Penta and New Day is going, unless this is what leads to Penta finally teaming with his brother Rey Fenix in WWE.
The Vision
The World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and his wife, the Women’s Intercontinental Champion Beck Lynch, get drowned out with “CM Punk” chants. Rollins notes he’s not going to address the ignorant people in the building; he’ll address the people at home. Rollins puts over Lynch. As Lynch starts to speak, the crowd chants for AJ Lee. Lynch says she wants to say what she has to say to Punk’s face. AJ Lee’s music hits. Lee and Punk join Lynch and Rollins in the ring. Punk grabs a mic and announces himself as AJ’s husband. The crowd cheers. Punk notes that he doesn’t need to give his wife an overblown, overcompensating introduction. Punk asks who is the team leader is for Rollins and Lynch.
Rollins goes off. Punk notes that Rollins and Lynch aren’t on the same page. While chuckling, Punk points out that he had to listen to two crappy songs just now because Rollins and Lynch clearly aren’t on the same page. You see, Punk had no problem putting Cult of Personality aside so his wife could light it up. Rollins says he’s going to give Punk some credit. Rollins points at AJ and says that she is the best decision Punk has made in his personal life. As far as business is concerned, inserting AJ into “this” is a mistake Punk will regret for the rest of his days. AJ responds that the mistake was Rollins; the only reason AJ is here is because Rollins used his wife as a human shield. Lynch says that’s not true. AJ points out that Rollins is literally standing behind Lynch.
The Voices of the Voiceless Face-to-Face with
Lynch tells AJ that she’s read AJ’s book and asks how AJ’s neck is feeling these days. Lynch points out that Punk got into a blood feud over a bracelet with AJ’s name on it. How is Punk going to feel when Lynch is punching AJ’s face in? Lynch proclaims that AJ isn’t an asset; she’s a liability. AJ thanks Lynch for reading her book; AJ didn’t read Lynch’s book. With that, AJ says she doesn’t know how her neck will hold up. The crowd is LOUD for AJ. AJ reminds Lynch that AJ won two titles with her damaged neck and she’s a Puerto Rican from New Jersey, so sometimes she’ll shank a chick. AJ tells Rollins that he can’t handle or predict what she will do.
Rollins says AJ may be right. Rollins gets close to AJ and tells her that her husband has a nasty habit of leaving things when they let him down. At Wrestlepalooza, AJ better hope to god that Punk doesn’t leave her, too. AJ slaps Rollins in the face so hard his soul ended up in the third row. Rollins says he’s never put his hands on a lady, but thankfully, he has someone who will. Lynch looks around, wondering who Rollins is talking about. Rollins is confused. Lynch and Rollins argue. Rollins tells Lynch this is her fault. Lynch walks away. Rollins mushes Punk and runs away. As Punk gives chase, Lynch rolls back in and destroys AJ with a Manhandle Slam. Punk checks on AJ. Lynch slaps Punk.
Grade: B+
Heck of a segment. Everyone was on fire, and the subtefudge by Rollins and Lynch was executed to perfection. This is the most excited this writer has been for a match involving Lynch for ages. This match should be the main event of Wrestlepalooza.
El Grande Americano vs. Dragon Lee
Americano ends up on the apron. Lee sends Americano flying off the apron with a rana. Americano lies on the commentary desk. Lee rolls back in the ring and crushes Americano with a diving suicide senton through the ropes that sends both men crashing into the desk. Americano ends up on the apron. Lee sends Americano flying off the apron with a rana. Americano lies on the commentary desk. Lee rolls back in the ring and crushes Americano with a diving suicide senton through the ropes that sends both men crashing into the desk.
After a strike exchange, Lee counters Americano into a Ligerbomb hold for a near fall. Americano gets trapped in the tree of woe. Lee dives off the ring post and double stomps Americano. A second Americano appears and attacks Lee. Americano hits a diving blockbuster. Lee kicks out. AJ Styles marches down to ringside and attacks Americano 2. A 3rd Americano appears and takes out Styles and attacks Lee. Americano 1 traps Lee in a submission hold. Lee taps out.
Winner- El Grande Americano
Grade: C+
This one was all over the place. Way too much interference got in the way of a fun wrestling match.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Kairi Sane w/Asuka
Vaquer and Sane trade submission attempts and strikes. Sane gives Vaquer a show of respect. Asuka goes off on Sane at ringside. Sane lands a flurry that ends with a slingshot head scissors. Sane sends Vaquer out to the apron. Vaquer gets to her feet. Sane tries a powerbomb. Vaquer hooks the ropes and drops a knee on Sane’s jaw. That was NASTY.
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After the break, Sane and Vaquer trade big moves. Sane reverses a suplex into a stiff DDT. Sane goes up top. Vaquer cuts Sane off. Sane drops Vaquer into a tree of woe. Sane lands a double stomp. Vaquer kicks at two. Sane lands two spinning backfists. Sane gets caught in the ropes. Corner dragon screw by Vaquer. Sane rolls out. Vaquer takes out Sane and Asuka with a dive. Devil’s Kiss by Vaquer. Vaquer hits a butterfly lungblower for the win.
Winner- Stephanie Vaquer
After the match, Asuka gets in Vaquer’s face. IYO SKY runs down to the ring and argues with Asuka. SKY seems to be trying to calm Asuka down. Asuka eventually walks away. SKY and Vaquer have a stare-down before shaking hands.
Grade: B
Match of the night. Vaquer and Sane were totally locked in tonight. So many stiff strikes and big moves led to some nail-biting nearfalls. It’s a welcome change for the villain’s second to not actually have any effect on the finish here. Despite Asuka barking orders, this one had a finish as clean as a white sheet. Considering how interference-heavy every WWE show has been, this was a welcome change.
Backstage, Asuka and SKY argue. SKY tells Asuka she has to do this on her own. Asuka storms off. Sane follows.
Jimmy Uso and LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
Breakker runs over Jimmy. Reed tags in and works over Jimmy. Jimmy manages to tag in Knight, who lands a few strikes. Knight tries to suplex Reed. Reed powers out. Reed misses a corner spear. Knight stomps Reed in the corner. Running knee by Knight. Hip attack by Jimmy. Jimmy and Knight clear the ring. After the break, Reed and Breakker are working over Jimmy. Jimmy manages to tag in Knight.
Knight lands a flurry on Reed and Breakker. Knight gets blasted by a running knee from Breakker. Reed catches Knight, but before he can land a DVD, Knight counters with a reverse DDT. LA Elbow by Knight. Jimmy follows that with a Uso Splash. Breakker breaks up the pin. Jimmy sends Reed over the top. Jimmy Spears Reed and goes up top. Breakker lays out Knight with a running shoulder block. Breakker crotches Jimmy up top. Reed hits the Jagged Edge on Jimmy for the win.
Winners- Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
After the match, Reed and Breakker beat down Jimmy. Jey makes the save with a steel chair. Jey checks on Jimmy. Knight picks up the chair and threatens to hit Jey with it. Jey offers Knight a handshake. Knight accepts and drops Jey with the BFT.
Grade: B-
This writer is a fan of Breakker and Reed, but we need to move away from having them main event Raw in tag matches. This is getting old quickly. That said, this was a fun, semi-PLE quality match. The bit at the end with Knight and Jey was predictable but well done.
WWE Raw Review:
Tonight’s show managed to have matches that didn’t end in a disqualification or interference. That in itself is a victory. With all the solid matches (highlighted by the Sane/Vaquer contest) and solid promo segments (Cena, Punk, Rollins, AJ, and Lynch all threw heat tonight), Raw actually served as a decent go-home show for the Wrestlepalooza PLE. What do you all think? What was the match of the night? Are you excited for Wrestlepalooza? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: B-
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