This week’s WWE Raw featured CM Punk starting the show, Roman Reigns ending it and a lot of action in between.
It’s WWE Monday Night Raw from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The commentary team was Michael Cole and Corey Graves. The ring announcer was Alicia Taylor.
CM Punk made his entrance and got a loud ovation as usual. CM Punk got in the ring and held the microphone in the air as the fans chanted his name. Punk said he was happy to be here. Punk talked about how his distractions are on the back burner, so he can focus on his goal of being the World Heavyweight Champion. Punk said he won the Gauntlet Match to earn a shot at Gunther’s World Title. Punk said that Gunther is one of the best in the world and he is looking forward to locking up with Gunther. Punk said he can’t promise a win, but he will promise you he’ll leave it all in the ring, he will not quit and he will give you everything he has. Punk mentioned Gunther is on his second run with the World Heavyweight Title. Punk said he only has two weeks to get ready for this beast, but Punk has been training for this his whole life and he is prepared because he is CM Punk. Punk said that he is not just any other challenger, Punk is the best in the world…and here comes Gunther.
The World Heavyweight Champion Gunther walked out dressed in black with the World Title around his waist. Gunther had a staredown with Punk in the ring. The fans booed before Gunther even said a word. Gunther tried to talk again, but there were more boos and “You tapped out” chants. Gunther said he didn’t come out here to throw insults at Punk. Gunther pointed out some similarities because they’re not there to make friends, but to win championships. Gunther said that Punk has a massive ego and Gunther has a massive ego. Gunther told Punk that his massive ego is justified, but it’s not based on what they think because that’s worthless. Gunther said that the best in the world is the man who holds the World Heavyweight Championship. Gunther said that he’s focused on what happens after the bell rings and when it does, he’ll make Punk regret he ever stepped into the ring. Gunther said he’s going to push him around, then he’ll wake up and realize Punk will never be a World Heavyweight Champion (again) and he’ll never be the Best in the World. Gunther said that at least Punk will have the fans chanting for him for the rest of his life. Gunther left.
Stephanie Vaquer was interviewed by Byron Saxton, who asked about Chelsea Green and Secret Hervice. Naomi interrupted as the Women’s World Champion, saying that after she wins at SummerSlam, she’ll face Vaquer at Clash in Paris. Vaquer said if Naomi survives. Naomi said when Vaquer faced Iyo Sky in the past, Iyo was walking Vaquer like a dog and she wouldn’t let that slide. Naomi said she’d see her in Paris and left with an evil laugh.
Match #1: Sheamus defeated Rusev by pinfall. Rusev applied the Accolade submission near the ropes, Sheamus was on his knees and Sheamus reached for the ropes, which he was able to get to force the break. The fans popped for that. Rusev stomped on Sheamus, so Sheamus told him to bring it. Rusev took off the light padding by the steel turnbuckle. Sheamus blocked it, and Sheamus sent Rusev into the exposed steel. Rusev got the shillelagh, Sheamus was ready, and Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick. The referee turned around from fixing the turnbuckle, and the referee counted the three to give Sheamus the win.
El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) was interviewed by Byron Saxton, so Grande spoke in a foreign language. Dragon Lee got in Grande’s face, saying he disrespected luchadores. They got into a fight, but officials broke it up.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria spoke backstage about their Women’s Tag Team Title match. Lyra wondered why Bayley wanted their tag team match tonight. Bayley said it’s because they didn’t get to team at WrestleMania, so they can do it now. Lyra mentioned beating Bayley’s ass last week and Bayley didn’t seem bothered by that. Bayley was excited about the match.
Match #2: A #1 Contenders Triple Threat Tag Team Match: LWO – Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro (w/Dragon Lee) defeated The New Day – Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods and The Creed Brothers – Julius & Brutus Creed (w/Ivy Nile) by pinfall. Wilde went up top, so Nile shoved him off and there’s no DQ’s in this match. Julius shoved Lee down on the floor, so Lee hit Julius with a superkick. Lee superkicked Brutus against the ropes. El Grande Americano showed up to beat up Lee with punches. Cruz jumped off the top with a corkscrew plancha onto the Creeds on the floor. Wilde sent Woods out of the ring and did a rollup with a lean on Kofi for the pinfall win.
Iyo Sky was in the locker room talking to The Kabuki Warriors about how they are all going to be champions. Sky is already the Women’s World Champion, so they said she would hold onto the title. The Kabuki Warriors left. Stephanie Vaquer walked up to Iyo Sky to talk about their past match on Raw. Sky claimed she had Vaquer beat. Vaquer said that they don’t have to wait until Clash in Paris. Sky said why don’t we find out in Houston? The fans popped huge. Vaquer said she accepted.
The TNA World Champion Trick Williams was interviewed in the suite area by Vic Joseph, who is NXT’s lead announcer. Trick said that he is not worried about doubters or the fans. Trick said he’s worried about this gold. Trick is going to confront The Undertaker on NXT, so Trick said he had no problem with Taker. Trick said that Taker’s LFG boys got in his way, and Trick told them to move. Trick said he might just knock Undertaker’s ass out tomorrow. Trick warned Undertaker, saying it might be his last ride.
Dominik Mysterio was talking to Adam Pearce backstage. Pearce told Dominik to go to medical so he could get cleared. Dominik was stalling, and there was AJ Styles dressed as a janitor to continue stalking Dominik. The New Day walked up to Styles, who told them to be careful and not slip. The New Day complained about how they are the greatest tag team of all time. Kofi and Woods realized that they needed an advantage. Grayson Waller said that Austin Theory is injured, so he’s a free agent. Waller said he can be Big G. Waller said he’ll get the car and see them in the parking lot. Woods and Kofi wondered what he was talking about.
Becky Lynch made her entrance as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion. At SummerSlam, Lynch will defend the Women’s IC Title against Lyra Valkyria, the former champion. Lynch said she should be in New York at the premiere for her movie Happy Gilmore 2, but instead, she’s in Houston, Texas. Lynch talked about how, at Evolution, she had the slickest victory of all time. Lynch said that she won and held everybody down, but at least she was honest about it. Lynch said that Lyra Valkyria is bogarting the opportunities for this title. Lynch wondered how greedy Lyra could be and asked who needed two titles? That led to her bragging about being Becky Two Belts in the past. Lynch claimed that Lyra is being purely selfish. Lynch called out Lyra.
Lyra Valkyria joined Becky Lynch in the ring. Lynch said that they are 1-1 in singles competition. Lynch brought out the best in her and made her a star. Lynch said that when Lyra loses at SummerSlam, Lyra can never challenge Lynch for this title ever again. Lyra accepted Lynch’s terms. Lyra said no countouts, no disqualifications and there must be a winner. Lynch responded: “Fine…fine.” Lyra said that she’ll see her at SummerSlam. Lynch said that Lyra will respect Lynch and respect this title, so Lynch told Lyra to shake her hand. Lynch tried an attack, Lyra was ready and Lyra hit a Manhandle Slam. Lyra held up the Women’s IC Title while Lynch was down on the floor.
Match #3: Women’s Tag Team Championship: The Judgment Day – Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (w/Dominik Mysterio) defeated Bayley & Lyra Valkyria by pinfall. Dominik went on the apron to distract, Bayley looked at him and Perez got a rollup for two. Bayley hit a knee on Perez. Raquel accidentally kicked Dom after Lyra move. Raquel barely touched him, but Dom was selling it like it was a big kick. Lyra kicked Raquel on the floor. Bayley and Perez did a double hair pull takedown. The medical team checked on Dominik and it was AJ Styles. That was funny. Dominik ran away. Becky Lynch pulled Lyra off the apron and Lynch sent Lyra into the steel steps. Bayley never saw it. Bayley and Perez got pin attempts. Bayley hit Bayley to Belly on Perez, but Raquel made a blind tag. Raquel hit a Tejana Bomb on Bayley for the pinfall win.
Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage by Jackie Redmond, who said Zayn was supposed to be out indefinitely and asked if Zayn was sure he wanted to do this. Zayn said that this didn’t need to go on any longer. Zayn claimed he would have been in the Gauntlet Match last week, but Kross took it away from him. Zayn said they don’t need to wait another week because he is going to deal with this right now.
Match #4: Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett) defeated Sami Zayn by pinfall. Scarlett grabbed a steel pipe from under the ring and wanted to give it to Kross, but Zayn was back up. Zayn gave Kross an Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckle. Scarlett handed Kross the pipe while the referee looked at Zayn. Scarlett grabbed Zayn’s legs, the referee admonished her and Kross hit Zayn in the ribs with the pipe. Kross was bleeding from the nose or mouth. Kross covered Zayn for the pinfall win.
AJ Styles talked to Adam Pearce by the trainer’s room. A trainer said they had to finish some paperwork still. Dominik hit AJ in the back to knock him down and Dominik will defend the IC Title against Styles at SummerSlam.
Match #5: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Iyo Sky by disqualification. Sky went up top, but Vaquer was up to trip Sky on the turnbuckle. Vaquer gave Sky a reverse superplex off the middle turnbuckle. That was an awesome move. The Secret Hervice duo of Piper Niven and Alba Fyre went to ringside. Vaquer knocked them off the apron. Chelsea Green went into the ring and hit Vaquer from behind. There’s the DQ.
The heels attacked Vaquer. Sky made the save with a missile dropkick. Sky and Vaquer dropkicked Niven out of the ring. Proceed with caution because Naomi was in the ring, and she shoved Sky into Vaquer, who bumped out of the ring. Secret Hervice beat up Vaquer on the floor. Rhea Ripley made the save by beating up Fyre and Niven on the floor. Ripley slammed Naomi face-first into the mat. Green was all alone, so Vaquer and Sky each hit kicks on her. Ripley hit a Riptide on Green. The fans loved that.
Who Happened In WWE Raw’s Main Event?
The trio of WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed walked down to the ring. Reed had the Money in the Bank briefcase belonging to their absent pal, Seth Rollins. Heyman said that he was with the future of the industry, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Heyman said before he comes out here, Paul has things to get off his chest. Here comes Roman!
Roman Reigns made his entrance wearing the “OTC1” shirt. The fans popped huge for The Tribal Chief as he made his slow walk down to the ring. Heyman told Reigns he didn’t want to be disrespectful or rude. The fans booed that. They chanted “OTC” at Heyman, as Reigns smiled about that. Heyman said that he didn’t ever want to be where it seems like he would be disrespectful or rude, like somebody born in Texas. Heyman claimed that Seth Rollins is going to be out of action for a long, long time (heels lie). Heyman said there’s a leadership void, so they can put this back together. Heyman told Reigns that they are better together than they are apart. Heyman said Reigns will always be his family because Heyman loves the Tribal Chief.
Reigns: “H-Town! Acknowledge me!” The fans cheered. Heyman held up a finger in the air. Reigns said that a few years ago, he’d say those were wise words from a Wise Man, but you’re not a Wise Man anymore because you’re just a dumbass. Heyman held Bron back. Reigns told Bron that Heyman will take all the credit when Bron is the man around here. That’s what Heyman did to Reigns. Reigns said that Heyman wasn’t the one who created The Tribal Chief. Reigns said he’s The Tribal Chief because the fans still acknowledge him. That led to another “OTC” chant. Reigns said he was the greatest champion to ever step foot in this ring, and this man had a part in that. Reigns said he didn’t have a part in him keeping that title. Reigns said that The Usos did (“Yeet” chants from the fans), Solo did, and Sami even helped out. Reigns said that he lost that title after four years. Reigns said he went home to continue the future Bloodline.
Reigns said that the dumbass here (Heyman) thought The Bloodline was some wrestling group. Reigns said that you can’t create The Bloodline because that was God’s work. Reigns told Bron to back up…son. Reigns said what really bothered him was that Heyman used to be just a friend to the family and a business partner. Reigns told Heyman that he was part of the family, he was chosen family and what did you do? Reigns said that Heyman threw it all away. Reigns said that he threw it away for Seth Rollins, a best friend. Reigns told Heyman that he didn’t ruin The Bloodline because it was this dumbass, Heyman, who did it. Bron stepped in front of Heyman again. Heyman handed Bron the microphone.
Bron Breakker said that they don’t want Roman Reigns here anymore. Bron said that Roman is yesterday’s news, he’s The Old Dog, he was relevant five years ago and he’s taking up a spot in Bron’s ring. Bron said he knows Heyman won’t stab him in the back because Bron holds value in this place. Bron told Reigns he was worthless. Bron said he’s The Big Dog, The Top Dog, the future of WWE and the man around here now. Bron told Roman to do what he does best…turn around and leave.
Reigns said that he didn’t hear any of that trash that Bron said. Reigns tossed the microphone at Bron and Reigns hit a Superman Punch on Bron. Reigns went after Reed with punches, but then Reed pushed Reigns away and Bron hit Roman with a Spear. Reed set up for a Tsunami, so here comes Jey Uso to save his cousin Roman.
Jey Uso went into the ring and hit superkicks on Bron and Reed. Jey hit a jumping kick on Reed. Jey punched Bron to knock him down. Reigns was back in as Jey and Reigns each hit Spears on the heels to clear the ring. Jey’s song hit and picked up Roman.
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso stood tall in the ring as they stared at Bron Breakker, Paul Heyman and Bronson Reed in the aisle. That was the end of the show.
This week’s Raw had a runtime of 2 hours and 43 minutes on Netflix.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.