Our WWE Raw Results for tonight include The Vision kicking off Raw, Austin Theory battling Rey Mysterio, Stephanie Vauqer defending the Women’s World Championship in a triple threat match against Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez, and The Usos challenging AJ Styles and Dragon Lee for the World Tag Team Championship. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WWE Raw Card:
- World Tag Team Championship Match: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (c) vs. The Usos
- Women’s World Championship Match: Stephanie Vauqer (c) vs. Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez
- Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio
- The Vision (Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman) kick off Raw
WWE Raw Results:
Highlights from last week show remind us that the Vision stood tall at the end of Monday Night Raw last week.
Paul Heyman’s Vision
As Heyman tries to speak, the crowd drowns him out with CM Punk chants. A livid Heyman tells the crowd that if Punk weren’t such an idiot, he could be standing in the ring with him right now. Heyman says every man in the ring will be a main eventer. As the crowd boos, Heyman announces Austin Theory as the new member of The Vision. Heyman gives Theory the mic. Theory says he’s been waiting for this moment his whole life. The World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk, interrupts. Punk hams it up with the crowd as they sing his theme.
Another loud CM Punk chant breaks out. Punk wants to look the kid in the eye. Bron Breakker tells Punk to join him in the ring. The rest of the Vision steps out. Breakker and Punk go back and forth. Punk tells Breakker that Breakker is more than ready to be champion. The problem is, Punk isn’t ready. Punk lays down his championship in the middle of the ring and dares Breakker to pick it up. Punk says someday, someone will beat him for this championship, but it won’t be Breakker.
Grade: C+
This one started rough. Even Heyman seemed to be running in place here. Punk and Breakker brought it home in the end, but it took 20 minutes to get there. This was a waste of time.
Women’s World Championship Match: Stephanie Vauqer (c) vs. Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez
The fight spills out of the ring. After a long set up, Vaquer avoids a charging Bella, who runs into a boot from Rodriguez. Rodriguez traps Vaquer in a Gory Special that she turns into a pin. Bella breaks up the next fall. Rodriguez stops Vaquer’s Devil’s Kiss. Bella and Rodriguez trade submissions. Vaquer steps in and crushes Rodriguez with the Devil’s Kiss. Bella eats a dragon screw out of the corner from Vaquer.
Vaquer sends Rodriguez flying with a corner dragon screw. Rodriguez sets Bella and Vaquer up for a double powerbomb. Vaquer slips out, and Bella eats the powerbomb. Before Rodriguez can go for a pin, Vaquer sends her flying out of the ring with a schoolboy. Vaquer pins Bella.
Winner and STILL Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer!
Grade: C
This would have been better as a single match between Vaquer and either of the challenges. This one was disjointed and had little to no heat, which is odd considering everyone involved. Credit to Vaquer for her creative way of getting Rodriguez out of the way to steal the pin.
Kabuki
Asuka and Kairi Sane call IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley Baka. Baka Baka Baka. They aren’t ready for the Kabuki Warriors. SKY and Ripley interrupt and a brawl breaks out. Sane sends SKY into the commentary desk, back-first. SKY screams in pain as she is still dealing with a severe back injury. SKY saves Ripley from the Kabuki Warrior’s finish. Ripley and SKY clear the ring.
Grade: C
As much as this writer loves Asuka and Kairi Sane… this was just bad. Why do they insist on forcing these in-ring promo segments? It didn’t help anyone. This brawl could have happened backstage.
Gunther vs. R-Truth
Truth attacks Gunther as soon as the bell rings. Gunther fires back and obliterates Truth with a chop. Gunther beats down Truth. While Truth is down, Gunther sets up a five knuckle shuffle. Truth cuts Gunther off with a series of shoulder blocks. Gunther floors Truth with a big boot. Powerbomb by Gunther. Before the three count, Gunther lifts Truth’s head off the mat to break the count. Gunther traps Truth in a sleeper hold. Truth taps out.
Winner- Gunther
Grade: B-
Standard squash match stuff. Fun to watch nonetheless.
Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio
Logan Paul joins Theory at ringside. Theory avoids a 619. Mysterio tries a dive, but gets slammed into the ring post. After the break, Mysterio sets up a 619. Paul trips Mysterio, causing a DQ.
Winner- Rey Mysterio
After the match, Paul and Theory beat down Mysterio. Penta makes the save.
Grade: B-
Theory looked good here. Not much to say, we’ve seen these two wrestle a ton over the years. This was standard stuff from them.
Dupri!
Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri says she is a proud champion. The former champion Becky Lynch interrupts. Lynch says she didn’t tap out. Dupri threatens to break Lynch’s arm. Lynch stumbles around giving Dupri credit. After a bit of bickering, Lynch promises to welcome Dupri to the big time during their title match next week.
Grade: B
Solid promos from both women. This feud is becoming one of the most interesting things on Raw. Not sure if that’s a good thing or…
World Tag Team Championship Match: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (c) vs. The Usos
Jey starts off the match with Styles. After an exchange, Lee and Styles clear the ring. After the break, Styles and Lee are working over Jimmy. Jey cheapshots Styles behind the referee’s back. Styles manages to tag in Lee. Lee lands a flurry of dropkicks. Outside the ring, Jimmy sends Lee into the ring steps. Styles lands a dive. Jey lands a dive. Everyone is down. After the break, Lee lands a double stomp.
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Lee manages to tag in Styles. Styles lights both Usos up with strikes. After a series of reversals, Jey Spears Styles. Jimmy lands the Uso Splash! Styles kicks out! Dragon Lee lands a crazy suicide dive that sends Jimmy over the commentary desk. Styles hits the Styles Clash! Jey kicks out! Lee and Styles set up the double stomp Styles Clash. Jimmy breaks it up with a superkick. Styles tries a springboard but ends up eating a double superkick. Jey and Jimmy hit Lee with the 1D for the win!
Winners and NEW World Tag Team Champions, The Usos!
Grade: B
This one started off hot and finished hotter. Both teams built to so many insanely close nearfalls. It’s hard not to get invested when it seems the match could end at any moment. For a Raw that was the definition of meh, this match gave us a small taste of what the show could be if WWE weren’t obsessed with talky-talky segments.
WWE Raw Review:
See above. Less talky-talky, more punchy-kicky!
Rating: C-
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