Our WWE Raw results for tonight include the first round of the Last Time is Now Tournament kicking off with Shinsuke Nakamura taking on Sheamus, and Rusev clashing with Damian Priest, Stephanie Vaquer defending the Women’s World Championship against The Judgement Day’s Raquel Rodriguez, The Kabuki Warriors challenging Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss for the Women’s Tag Team Championships, and the legendary John Cena makes his final appearence in Boston. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
WWE Raw Card:
- John Cena’s Final Time in Boston
- Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss (c) vs. The Kabuki Warriors
- Women’s World Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
- Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus
- Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Rusev vs. Damian Priest
WWE Raw Results:
Bow Down To the King
The crowd cheers as Triple H notes that we live in a magical time where we can all exist in a moment like this. We live in a time where people don’t agree on much, especially when it comes to the wrestling business. Everyone has an opinion on who is the greatest of all time. Tonight may be one of those nights where everyone can agree on one thing. The crowd goes nuts. Triple H says there is one person at the top of the list. For Triple H, this man is the greatest of all time, and it’s his honor to bring him out for you now. The greatest of all time, John Cena! Cena runs his way to the ring and gets showered with a “thank you, Cena!” chant.
The Last Time is Now
Cena puts over the crowd and thanks them. This entire retirment tour, everyone has asked who he will face in his last match. This entire time, it’s been about giving back and leaving this place better than he found it. Another thing Cena wants to do is at SNME for his last match, it’s a night to close one chapter, and it will be a night of opportunity. At SNME in Washington, WWE Superstars will face NXT Superstars in exhibition matches because it’s about paving the way for the next generation. Cena wanted one last thing, and he admits this is selfish, but Cena wanted to come to Boston one last time. To feel the greatness in this building one last time.
To be able to stand in this ring and say thank you. Dominik Mysterio‘s music hits. The AAA Mega and WWE Intercontinental Champion slowly walks to the ring. Dominik gets in Triple H’s face and demands to know what he’s going to do about what happened last week. The greatest champion of all time was interrupted by some old deadbeat. Dominik is the one who interrupts old men’s celebrations, not the other way around. Cena welcomes Dominik to Boston, MA. Dominik says it isn’t about Cena or Boston. Cena needs to speak when spoken to, or Dominik promises to put Cena down. The crowd chants, “You f’d up!” at Dominik. Cena smiles and tells Dominik, “Fine speech”.
Read More: Shinsuke Nakamura Explains What It’d Mean To Be John Cena’s Final Opponent
Cena notes that in any other city, he’d give Dominik a chance, but not here. If Dominik’s next words are to pick a fight with Cena, Dominik will lose. Wrong place, wrong time, wrong guy. Cena tells Dominik that out of respect for Rey Mysterio, he’ll give Dominik one chance to walk out of here. Dominik responds that he’s not even at his peak yet, and he’s already better than Cena. Triple H steps in and says he agrees with the people of Boston. Triple H books Cena vs. Dominik… and it will be for the Intercontinental Championship, right here, right now against John Cena!
Grade: B+
Triple H started losing the crowd midway through, but actually bringing Cena out solved that. Cena delivered a hell of a farewell promo to his hometown crowd, including this writer. The Garden, in all its incarnations, is special to us Bostonians (I know Cena isn’t from Boston proper, but let’s just go with it). Cena said “fine speech”, but didn’t exactly light Dominik on fire here. That was odd, but it got us to the match everyone wanted to see. Can Cena capture the one title he’s never held?
Intercontinental Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. John Cena
Dominik jumped Cena during the introductions. Cena runs over Dominik. Dominik tries to take a walk. Cena drags Dominik back to the ring. Dominik reverses a whip, sending Cena into the steps. Dominik works over Cena. After the break, Cena fires up and lands a series of shoulder blocks. After the Proto-plex, Cena gives Dominik a five knuckle shuffle. Dominik escapes an AA and drives Cena into the ring post. Dominik removes a turnbuckle. While the referee fixes it, Dominik brings a chair into the ring, wacks the mat, and drops to the floor. Before the referee turns around, Cena drops to the floor too.
In the confusion, Cena picks up Dominik for an AA, but Dominik’s feet hit the referee. While the referee is down, Dominik taps. The referee is still down. Dominik brings the title into the ring. Cena hits an AA. A new referee runs down to the ring. Dominik kicks out! Dominik trips Cena and lands a 619. Cena is out on the mat. Dominik lands a frog splash, but Cena rolls through and hits a thunderous AA for the WIN!
Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion, John Cena!
Grade: B+
This is how you do it. Dominik did heel stuff. Cena went super Cena and ended the reign of the self-proclaimed greatest intercontinental Champion ever. This is brilliant. Cena is finally a Grand Slam champion, and on the way out the door, he not only gets to put over (hopefully) a new superstar, but also gets to be responsible for crowning the next IC champion. It’s unfortunate that Cena won’t have the time to elevate the IC title in the same manner he has the United States Championship. Either way, the John Cena rub will help whoever is next up. This writer is still manifesting Oba Femi as the person who finally puts Cena down.
Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Rusev vs. Damian Priest
Rusev floors Priest with a spinning heel kick. Priest and Rusev trade strikes. Priest tries to walk the ropes, but Rusev pulls Priest back to the mat and sends him flying with a fallaway slam.
After the break, Priest fires up, but runs into a boot from Rusev. Rusev rants about wanting to destroy Cena. After a strike exchange, Priest lands a crossbody off the top. Rusev gouges Priest’s injured eye to avoid South of Heaven and hits a Machka Kick for the win.
Winner- Rusev
Grade: C
Something seemed off in this one. Clash of styles, maybe, but these two had little to no chemistry. This one was a slog to get through.
The Voice of the Voiceless
The World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk says he’s pissed off. Punk isn’t waiting to be interrupted by a piece of garbage. Punk goes off on Logan Paul for being a POS. He’s not going to give Paul his belt; he’s going to put his boot on Paul’s neck. Punk wants Paul now. Logan Paul saunters out on the stage and asks Punk why he’s so mad. Paul says Punk is mad that Paul is smarter than him. Last week, Paul got crushed by Bronson Reed. Punk says he didn’t come to Boston to talk, he’s here to fight.
Paul knows that if he doesn’t fall in line, he’ll get cracked by The Vision every week. After taking that Tsunami, his eyes have been opened to a whole new vision. Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker join Paul on the stage. Heyman tells Punk he doesn’t have friends because he betrays his friends. Heyman quips that Punk wasn’t any more unlikeable, Punk would be AJ Lee. Punk says if Lee were here, she’d leave Heyman in a pool of his own blood and piss.
Since Lee isn’t here, Punk will do it instead. Punk proclaims he’ll take them all on. The Vision surrounds the ring. Jey Uso hops the barricade and stands with Punk. Cody Rhodes‘ music hits, and he joins Punk and Jey in the ring. Punk, Rhodes, and Jey clear the ring.
Women’s World Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) w/Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez w/Roxanne Perez
Rodriguez floors Vaquer with a shoulder block. Vaquer manages a roll up for a near fall. A head scissors from Vaquer sends Rodriguez flying. Rodriguez counters the Devil’s Kiss into an electric chair drop into the top turnbuckle. Vaquer kicks out. After the break, Vaquer lands a flurry. Top rope crossbody by Vaquer. Bullet Train attack by Vaquer. Rodriguez kicks out. Vaquer sets up the SVB. Rodriguez powers out.
Read More: Update On Bianca Belair’s WWE Status — Report
Vaquer tries a spinning DDT, but Rodriguez counters with a suplex. Running boot by Rodriguez. Kick out by Vaquer. A frustrated Rodriguez sets up her finish. Vaquer counters with another Metora, but Rodriguez counters with a powerbomb. Vaquer kicks out yet again. Perez tries to get involved, but Bella sends Perez into the apron. Vaquer avoids a modified Vader Bomb. Devil’s Kiss by Vaquer. Vaquer lands a Devil’s Horns Press for the win.
Winner and STILL Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer!
After the match, Bella and Vaquer fight off Perez and Rodriguez. After clearing the ring, Bella hits Vaquer in the head with the Women’s World Championship. Bella storms off.
Grade: B-
This one started off slow, but picked up midway through. Rodriguez is really coming into her own as a monster. Vaquer vs. Bella isn’t something this writer wants, but at the very least Bella’s heel turn was handled well. Who saw that coming?
Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus
Nakamura and Sheamus trade takedowns and strikes. Good vibrations by Nakamura. Sheamus tosses Nakamura clear across the ring. Nakamura lands a diving knee to the back of Sheamus’ head. After the break, both men land a flurry of big moves. Sheamus drops Nakamura with a Brogue Kick out of nowhere for the win.
Winner- Sheamus
Grade: B
Fun match. Hell of a finish.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss (c) vs. The Kabuki Warriors
This one starts off hot, with a four-way brawl. Flair and Asuka trade pin attempts and strikes. Asuka escapes a suplex but misses a hip attack. Sane takes Flair out with a flying forearm after a blind tag. Sane takes Bliss out with a dive off the apron. After the break, Flair lights up Sane and Asuka with chops. Flair lands a moonsault on Sane and Asuka simultaneously. Asuka kicks out. Flair traps Asuka in the Figure Eight. Sane dives off the top into a Sister Abigail DDT. While the referee is distracted, Lash Legend and Nia Jax break up Flair’s submission. Jax and Legend send Bliss over the commentary desk. Sane crushes Flair with an InSANE Elbow for the win.
Winners and NEW Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Kabuki Warriors!
After the match, Legend, Jax, Asuka, and Sane beat down Flair and Bliss. IYO SKY tries to make the save, but ends up getting her head taken off by a right hand from Legend. Rhea Ripley hits the ring in a face mask and clears the ring. Ripley grabs a mic and yells WarGames.
Grade: C+
Standard TV stuff here, but the title chain was shocking. Flair and Bliss have been on a good run. The Kabuki Warriors may be the greatest women’s tag team in WWE history at this point. Just put their photos on the titles at this point. The rumored women’s WarGames match came together here, and the teams are pretty random. There doesn’t seem to be a real need for this match, but at this point, who cares? Let’s just sit back and be sports-entertained.
WWE Review:
Tonight’s show had a lot of highs; the Cena promo and match were the obvious highlights. We finally have our two WarGames matches set up, though it was haphazardly done on the women’s side of things; both matches are intriguing and will most likely lead to all of us being sport entertained, and that’s all that matters.
Grade: B-
WrestleZone features weekly audio and video content on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcast apps like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe now for hours of exciting wrestling content, including exclusive interviews, previews, reviews, and more!
