WWE Monday Night Raw 8/12/2024

WWE Monday Night Raw 8/12/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/08/wwe-monday-night-raw-852024.html

We see various wrestlers arrive.

Rhea Ripley arrives. She says she's p!ssed. She says Dom stabbed her in the back but didn't stab her deep enough. She says it's time she reminds Liv and Dom who she is.

Dom and Liv are in the crowd. Dom says Rhea tried to change him instead of letting him be him. He says it was embarrassing that Rhea bossed him around him and made him call her "mami". He says he has a girl who calls him "daddy". He says she gives him tendies and lets him play video games any time he wants. She said Liv also finally helped Dom beat her deadbeat dad. Rhea says she wanted Dom to beat Rey on his own so there would be no excuses. Rhea said she should be proud of him for making decisions as a man but says it'll be the last decision he makes.

Liv says Dom is a man and is all hers. Liv says Rhea has nothing. Liv says Dom is hers and the women's title is hers. She says the women's division is hers too. She says everything Rhea loves is hers.

Rhea says she will go through Liv and says she will have to kill her to stop her. Damian Priest then shows up behind Liv and Dom. He grabs Dom and fires away. They fight in the concession area and Liv gets on Priest's back. Rhea chases Liv away and Priest beats Dom down the steps. They head down to the ring. Dom hits a big forearm then Carlito hits Priest from behind. Priest lariats Carlito over the top. We then go to break.

Thoughts: It was a fun segment here that helped tie together The Judgment Day split. 

Damian Priest vs Carlito

This started during the break. DP hits shots the pops him up and drops him down. Carlito slides out and DP goes after him. Carlito is caught going in. Priest uppercuts Carlito and superkicks him in the gut.

Carlito ddt's Priest for 1. DP ear claps him and has a small cut on his head. DP lifting flatliners him for 2. Priest is crotched up top. Carlito superplexes him.

We go to break and return. Carlito neckbreakers him and hits punches. Priest spinning heel kicks him. Priest hits forearms and hits a broken arrow for 2. Priest pump kicks him then hits a big rebound lariat. Priest hits a south of heaven chokeslam and wins.

Thoughts: The match was anything special and Priest won as expected. I was hoping for a little more aggression from Priest here.

JD McDonaugh jumps Priest after. Priest fights back and the rest of Judgment Day joins in. Rhea comes in and kicks Carlito in the nuts. Finn is caught between Priest and Rhea then JD takes a superkick for Finn. Priest chokeslams JD. 

Priest and Rhea hug. Dom jumps off the top onto them, gets caught and Rhea beats up Dom. Rhea goes for riptide and Liv saves Dom.

Alpha Academy are in the back. Ivy Nile tells Maxxine not to go out there tonight. Max says she has to be out there. Ivy says she can talk to Chad about Max joining her group. Max says she needs to stay with her family.

Bo Dallas talks about The Wyatt's debut last week. He says something big is happening as he watches clips of it. He starts repeating "my life, for you".

The New Day and Odyssey Jones talk in the back. Kofi says Odyssey Jones had their backs last week and they can return the favor in Jones' debut. Kofi asks if he's wearing the shirt he has on and points to a new shirt Jones is wearing.

Odyssey Jones vs Vincent Winey

They say Vince is from the Performance Center and he has not appeared on WWE TV yet. Vince attacks him in the corner and gets his own graphic.

OJ splashes him then throws him. Jones hits corner lariats. Jones slams him then rolling sentons him. Vince takes a blackhole slam and OJ wins.

Thoughts: It was a quick squash here as expected. OJ looked good and it's good to finally see him back.

The Final Testament come out. Kross says Kofi is using Jones to replace Big E. Woods asks if Kross is tired of this and says driving a wedge between them won't work. Woods goes to suggest something and Kofi cuts him off. Kofi says whoever isn't involved will get involved, so let's make it a 6-man. He says let's make it a 6-man tag. Kross says the devil's work is never done and says he accepts the challenge. Kofi calls them "The Final Testicle" and sets up the match for next week.

Adam Pearce talks on the phone in the back. Drew McIntyre comes in. Adam says Punk isn't here and he doesn't have time for this. Drew says Punk is in the past. He wants to know why Orton is fighting for the title. Drew says it's because Orton got screwed but said he got screwed many times. Drew says he will take care of this and says to trust him. He says he will be on his best behavior.

Texas Tornado Match - Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) vs American Made (Julius Creed and Brutus Creed)

Chad does a promo from Paris, where he is at for The Olympics. He said he's there to do recruiting of his own and says he has unfinished business with The Wyatt's. He says he will always be American Made.

They all fight to start. JC is lariated over the top. Otis backdrops BC. JC catches Toz's tope and suplexes him on the floor. Otis clubs on BC then is double teamed. JC hits corner punches on Otis. Toz hits a top rope double crossbody. Toz is used as a weapon on The Creed's while on Otis' shoulders. Otis gorilla press Toz out on The Creed's.

We go to break and return. Otis is sent into the rail and Toz is powerbombed into the rails by JC. Toz is popped up and hits a double ddt inside. Otis double shoulders The Creed's. He splashes BC in the corner. Otis hits the caterpillar elbow drop on JC.

Otis lariats BC. JC jumping knees Otis then BC standing moonsaults Oits. JC standing ssp's Otis. Toz 2nd rope hurricanrana's BC. Toz corkscrew kicks JC then tries to tope him but trips on the ropes. Otis is on JC's shoulders and suplexes BC. TOz hits a top rope swanton.

Ivy Nile hits Max from behind and bangs her head off the commentary table. Ivy drops her on the table and dragon sleepers her. BC rolls up Toz, JC helps out and Toz is pinned.

Thoughts: Max getting turned on by Ivy is the big news here. It was an entertaining tag match as expected. 

We see a Pete Dunne interview from earlier in the day. He says he was never under Sheamus' wing. He said Sheamus held him down and said he elevated Shemaus. He says if Shemaus was on his side then what happened to Ridge? Pete says he never wants to be called Butch again. He said he's Pete Dunne, an 18 year vet. He says he will shut Sheamus up to never hear that name again if he has to.

We get a video on Bronson Reed.

Bronson Reed talks to Adam Pearce in the back. Adam says he doesn't know how long Seth will be out due to his attack. Reed said he warned him since he couldn't get an opportunity. He said Adam can give him a second chance by finding him an opponent or he will go find his next victim.

Damage Ctrl talks. Iyo says everyone forgot who they were. She says they control the future and are the most dominant force in the history of the women's division. Sane says Sonya's crew is confused. She says what they did to Sonya will be repaid tenfold. She says they will take something from Sonya's crew and will take away her dreams. Iyo says they will never achieve glory as long as they run Raw.

Sonya Deville says they run Raw now and will destroy. They say show us respect and get ready. Shayna says they should be women's tag champs. She said they ripped through the division once and will do it again one by one. Sonya says to shoot your shot if you want to step up.

They had a graphic for Kevin Sullivan.

Women's Tag Titles #1 Contenders Match - Damage Ctrl (Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane) vs The Pure Fusion Collective (Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler)

SB = Shayn Baszler

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn are watching at rinside as is Candice Michelle. Candice didn't get any reaction but it was kind of how they did it and it's been a long time since she has been on TV. Sonya's crew's new name is The Pure Fusion Collective and that doesn't sound good. It's too long of a name and doesn't identify them well.

Iyo headscissors SB. Iyo trips her and SB takes a double basement dropkick. Sane top rope flying forearms SB. Sane is backdropped into a lariat. We go to break and return. SB blocks a tag and Sane hits a ddt off a suplex attempt. Iyo is tagged in and dropkicks Zoey. Iyo hits a double springboard dropkick and corner meteora's Zoey for 2. Zoey germans Iyo. ZB sliding kicks Iyo. Sane is pulled out. Iyo backbreakers Zoey. Zoey is dropkicked off the apron and she superkicks Alba on accident. Iyo uppercuts Zoey. Iyo top rope moonsaults Zoey then Isla Dawn interferes and causes a DQ/No Contest.

Alba and Isla then beat up on the other girls. Sane is put on Isla's knees and takes a top rope swanton from Alba.

Thoughts: The match didn't really get enough time and was a bit rushed. Damage Ctrl worked face here which was interesting but I don't know if it really caught on. At least the finish is leading to something.

Awesome Truth is in the back. Miz is down. Truth says he will cheer him up. He says he got him an IC Title match against Bron Breakker. Truth shows him this on the TV and it's Bronson Reed. Miz isn't happy. Randy Orton comes in. He says Miz has got this. Miz gets hyped up and says he got this. Truth asks if Orton believes this and Orton says no.

Randy Orton comes out to talk. Orton said he won the world title for the first time 20 years ago. He says history will repeat itself and he will become a 15x world champ.

Gunther comes out. Orton says he will beat Gunther and says Raw will be his new home after. Gunther says Orton's one of the greatest of all time but should be the greatest of all time. He said Orton wasted his unlimited potential and natural gifts. Gunther says this is his era and there's no room for people who waste their potential. He says Orton won't play a role in his era.

Orton said he made a lot of mistakes but owned up to them and changed course. Orton puts himself over. He says he did things his way. He says he has 5 kids at home (4 aren't his) and says he has a hot wife. He says he has done good for himself.

Gunther says Orton isn't unpredictable. He says he predicts he will give him the beating of a lifetime and says Orton will never be champ again because of it. He says Orton always screws it up when it matters. He says Orton's grandfather was a screw-up and says his father was one too. He says he's the biggest screw-up of them all.

Drew's music hits. Gunther looks at him then takes an RKO. Cole says, "Gunther just screwed up". Drew takes off his shirt and CM Punk comes in and hits Drew. Drew headbutts him. Drew grabs his belt. Punk hits more punches and hits him in the gut and back with the belt. Punk whips him with the belt and Drew runs.

Thoughts: I didn't like the Gunther/Orton section much. Orton won more titles than Gunther so the screw-up line didn't really work. It was too meta and they could have came up with something better. Punk vs Drew continues on.

Sheamus is interviewed in the back. Sheamus wonders why everyone has so much beef with him. He says he just tried to raise Pete Dunne up. He says everyone tries to make themselves relevant off his name. Ludwig Kaiser comes in with an injured eye. He says this is far from over. Sheamus goes to reply and is attacked by Pete Dunne. Kaiser backs off as Pete hits Sheamus with a shilelagh. Sheamus takes a shilelah shot to the hand while it's on a production box.

CM Punk walks around backstage. Gunther knocks stuff off a table as he leaves. Punk is interviewed. Jackie says she sat next to Punk and there were no travel issues on the plane. Punk says it was a lie to get his hands on Drew. He says Drew has his bracelet. He says Drew can keep the bracelet but he's not allowed to speak his wife or dog's name without consequences. He says he won't stop to get his hands on him. He says he's glad he showed up in Boston and shows a belt, saying he found a way to make everyone happy.

We see Mark Henry and his son, who just got signed, Jacob Henry. 

The Miz vs Bronson Reed

Reed throws Miz. Miz hits shots in the corner. Miz goes up and over then Reed bodyblocks him. Reed elbow drops him then rolling sentons him. Reed shoulders Miz off the apron. We go to break and return.

Miz throws Reed out and dropkicks him through the ropes. Miz plancha's him. Miz hits a ddt for 2. Miz hits kicks to the chest. Miz corner lariats him and head kicks him. Reed catches him off the ropes and death valley drivers him. Reed top rope splashes him and wins.

Reed goes for another splash off the top after. Truth moves Miz out of the the way and Reed crossbodies him. Reed then hits a top rope splash on Truth. Reed hits more top rope splashes as security, refs and Pearce try to stop him. Pearce yells at Reed and tells him to get out. Reed walks to the other side of the ring and splashes Truth again. Pearce yells at him more. Reed teases leaving but splashes Truth again.

Thoughts: Reed won as expected here. Miz got a little before being put down and it was a short match. It was fine for what it was but nothing of note.

Jey Uso hypes up Sami Zayn in the back. He tells him to be himself and get his title back. Sami says it won't be easy. Jey says he will beat him and they will get the tag titles off Judgment Day. Jey asks him if he's ready.

Priest and Rhea vs Dom and Liv is made for The Bash in Berlin.

Judgment Day do a video in the back. They say they have no leaders. Dom says Priest and Rhea are a joke and says no couple compares to him and Liv. Liv says they will make them pay at The Bash. Finn tells Priest to watch out for Backstabber Balor.

Bron Breakker heads to the ring and talks. He says it's not his style to talk about how great he is. He says actions speak louder than words. He says he's a bad @ss and says he does what bad @sses do. He asks Pat McAfee if we got any dogs barking in Houston.

WWE Intercontinental Title - 2/3 Falls - Bron Breakker (c) vs Sami Zayn

1st Fall - Bron knees Sami in the gut and hits corner spears. Sami hits punches. Sami throws Bron over the top then tope con hilos him. We go to break and return. Bron gets a 2 count on Sami and talks trash. Sami leapfrogs and is caught with a powerslam. Sami walks up the buckles and tornado ddt's Bron down for 2.

Sami back springboards and is caught with a german. Bron corner lariats him. Sami corner facekicks him and wins the first fall.

2nd Fall - Sami goes for a moonsault off the rails but is caught and thrown over the timekeeper rail. We go to break and return.

They fight on the buckles. Bron walks up the buckles and frankensteiners him for 2. Bron gorilla press powerslams him. Bron hits a big spear then hits another. Bron wins the fall.

3rd Fall - Sami crucifixes him for 2. Bron uppercuts him. Bron jumps off the apron and lariats him on the commentary table. Sami beats the count in. Sami sunset bombs him off the buckles for 2. Sami takes an overhead belly to belly suplex. Sami leapfrogs Bron, sending him into the buckles and rolls him up. Bron jumping knees him. Bron runs into a facekick for 2. Sami comes off the buckles and takes a spear. Bron picks up he win.

Thoughts: Commercials really cut this one up and it's hard to know how good this really was. What we got looked good but I really feel like we missed a lot. Sami took a wild throw over the timekeeper's rail and the finish was nice here. I'm curious as to what is next for both of these guys.

Overall thoughts: It was okay but not a great Raw. There were no truly great matches. We didn't see The Wyatt's outside of a Bo Dallas segment. Shayna's crew has a horrible new name that sounds like a vegetable juicer. Gunther/Orton didn't get off to a hot start and Punk/Drew is clearly continuing. WWE's also rapidly killing off Jey Uso's popularity by not featuring him and needs to get to fixing that pronto. While things weren't great here, everything made sense and that was welcomed.