WWE Monday Night Raw 9/2/2024

WWE Monday Night Raw 9/2/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/08/wwe-monday-night-raw-8262024.html

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are the commentators today. This is Joe's first show as a commentator. Wade Barrett is in the ring and welcomes us to the show, then introduces Joe, who gets in the ring with him. Joe says this reminds him of a Denver Broncos crowd.

We see various wrestlers arrive.

Rhea Ripley comes out to talk. She said her and Priest brutalized Liv and Dom. She says they are just getting started with Judgment Day. She said she pinned the women's champ and it's time to get back what she lost.

Dominik Mysterio comes out. Dom says him and Liv were jetlagged in Berlin and says Liv will accept her title match challenge. Dom says Liv beat her before and will beat her again. Dom says they will both have gold when he wins the IC Title. Rhea says she will face Liv anytime and any place. Liv then goes to attack Rhea and gets hit. Rhea grabs Dom, gets tied up in the ropes and hangs upside down. Liv boots her. Damian Priest then comes out to save Rhea. 

American Made talk in the back. Chad says he's tired of losing to The Wyatt's. He said last week doesn't represent what they are as a team. He says they aren't here to mess around this week. He tells them they are American Made and to go out and show them. He then slaps Julius and they head to the ring.

Rhea's leg is being checked out in the back. Priest says to give her some space. Priest says he will try to get a match with Judgment Day as pain needs to come. He says he needs Rhea healthy.

Mixed Tag Match - Alpha Academy (Otis, Maxxine Duprii and Akira Tozawa) vs American Made (The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile)

Julius Creed = JC, Brutus Creed = BC

They all fight in the ring. BC hits mounted shots on Akira. Akira takes a double gutbuster. Akira spin kicks BC then corkscrew kicks him. Otis lariats BC outside then takes a flying knee from JC. JC goes for a top rope crossbody and Otis slams him down. Max jumps on Ivy and hits mounted punches. Max dropkicks her.  

Otis double shoulders The Creed's. Otis puts Akira on his shoulders and swings Akira at them. Max his a top rope plancha off the top onto everyone then Alpha Academy poses.

We go to break and return. Ivy throws Max into the rails and JC blocks a tag. BC samoan drops Akira then asai moonsaults him. Akira ddt's JC. Otis gets the tag in. He lariats and spinning back elbows JC. Otis then lariats JC. Otis back body drops BC and JC. Oits splashes JC. Otis hits a caterpillar elbow on JC then cannonballs BC.

Akira pulls BC over the top then topes him. Akira topes JC but is caught and belly to belly suplexed on the floor. JC is knocked off the apron into the rails. BC top rope brutusballs Otis. Max and Ivy go at it. Max flying knees Ivy then release fisherman suplexes her. Max corner spin kicks Ivy. Max then does a reverse caterpillar.

Chad Gable distracts Max on the apron and high kicks him. Ivy puts a dragon sleeper on Max and submits her.

Thoughts: As usual, it became an intergender match half-way through with the ref helpless to do anything about it and the men not being smart enough to go after the women. I felt like The Creed's did some different stuff here from usual. These are odd matches because when it's two matches in one with the women vs women and the men vs men and it's hard to make them flow together and build a story with it.

Chad asks for a moment of applause for the greatest fighting family in the business. Chad says he has seen what it takes to beat Uncle Howdy and says he has it right here. Chad says they want an 8-man tag next week. He says he wants it to be a streetfight and says they will get rid of The Wyatt' s for America.

Uncle Howdy comes out. He says his sanity crumbled and his past is in the void now.  He says the silence is deafening but he can still hear "it". He says his life is no longer his. He says they will collect the dead then the rest of The Wyatt's come out. 

Thoughts: It was the usual nonsense from Howdy here that was hard to understand and follow. 

Zelina Vega vs Shayna Baszler

Vega slaps her, runs out of the ring, gets back in and boots SB. Vega armdrags her then armdrags her off the casadora. SB is on the 2nd rope and Vega 619's her.

We go to break and return. Vega is caught off the 2nd rope but stunners SB. Vega his clotheslines then ddt's SB and hits a top rope moonsault for 2. SB attacks Pure Fusion Collective on the apron. Vega kicks her as she comes back in and pins her.

Thoughts: This was a short and totally nothing match.

Vega is beaten up after by PFC and Lyra comes out to help Vega. Lyra gets beaten up too. Sonya says them being on the ground shows how pathetic everyone is. Sonya says there's not a man who can take them home or a woman who can take them out.

Priest and Rhea talk in the back. Rhea says she will be okay. Priest says Finn Balor will only face him in a tag match but he doesn't have any friends around here to team with. Rhea says she has someone in mind.

Zelina Vega and Lyra complain about Pure Fusion Collective in the back. Lyra says it's time to fight back. Vega wants to take them back. Lyra says they are in Calgary next week and she has an idea.

CM Punk comes out to talk. He said it's good to be alive after the rough strap match. He said the match was a personal issue for him and said we now get to get down to business. He says he's a businessman. He syas he's not here to make friends but money.

He brings up Gunther. He said he took Orton to his limit and went past it. He said he put Drew to sleep and said it's time CM Punk woke up as champ. He tells Gunther to enjoy the title as he will enjoy taking it off of him. Punk tells Gunther to get used to hearing Cult of Personality.

Punk poses on the commentary table and Drew McIntyre knocks him down. Drew pounds on him and bangs Punk's head off the commentary table. Wade Barrett tries to break it up and Drew hits a claymore kick on Punk. Punk loses one of his shoes after taking the kick.

Punk is thrown in the ring and takes another claymore kick. Drew stomps his head then Daivari and Jason jordan try to stop him. Drew then takes the bracelet back from Punk and breaks it. Drew puts the beads in Punk's mouth then claymore kicks him. Adam Pearce then comes down to try and stop it. The stretcher is then brought out for Punk.

Thoughts: If they were continuing this feud, they shouldn't have done so much to make it seem over at the PPV. I'm not really sure where else this needs to go or what's left to explore at this point as we have seen it all with these two.

Punk is wheeled backstage on the stretcher. Drew attacks Punk on the stretcher and Punk's mouth is bleeding.

#1 Contender's Tournament Match for the Intercontinental Title - Ilja Dragunov vs Dominik Mysterio vs Dragon Lee

Lee has a new dragon entrance outfit with wings that looks cool. Dom takes shots from both opponents then is thrown over the top. Ilja shoulders him over then Lee flying headscissors him. Dom trips Lee then slingshot swantons him. Dom michinoku drivers Lee for 2. 

Ilja hits germans then we get a double german suplex spot. We go to break and return. Dom and Lee fight up top then Ilja powerbombs Lee. Ilja goes for the pin and Dom frogsplashes them. Ilja blocks a Dom 619. Ilja death valley drivers Dom on the apron. Lee jumps over the top rope and hurricanrana's Ilja to the floor. Carlito comes down and pushes Lee off the top rope. Priest then comes down and fights Carlito. Dom dropkicks Priest through the ropes and Priest runs around the arena to get him.

Ilja and Lee trade. They each hit facekicks and Lee germans him. Lee superkicks him then Ilja enzugiri's him. They botch a spot and Lee sitout powerbombs him for 2. Lee comes off the top and takes a chop. Ilja death valley drivers him in the corner. Ilja is in tree of woe and Lee top rope double stomps him. Lee basement dropkicks Ilja then Ilja cradles him for 2.

Lee pumping knees and superkicks him then Ilja flying headbutts him for the win.

Thoughts: It was your usual three way and was a high speed match with big moves. I didn't think it was anything special but at least they tied the Priest/Judgment Day feud into this.

Adam Pearce is interviewed about Bronson Reed being out of the triple threat tonight. Braun Strowman walks in and is all taped up and sore. He wants in and said he was told it's up to him if he can go. Pearce says he will put him in if he says he can go. 

WWE Women's Tag Titles #1 Contender - Damage Ctrl (Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane) vs Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn

Bianca and Jade come down to watch this. Alba foots Sane then Isla slaps Sane. Sane uses the ropes and headscissors Isla. Sane flying forearms Isla off the apron. Sane urakens Alba then Iyo asai moonsaults Alba.

We go to break and return. Isla backrops Sane. Alba boots Sane and Sane ddt's her out of a suplex attempt. Iyo comes in and hits shots on Alba. She swings Alba's foot into Isla. Iyo hits a double dropkick. Iyo double underhook backbreakers Alba then germans her for 2.

Sane jumps off the top outside and nails Bianca when Isla pulls Bianca into it. Iyo slaps Alba and Bianca forearms Sane, which should be a DQ. Iyo stomps on Alba then Isla pulls Iyo's throat down over the bottom rope. Iyo takes a gori special flatliner and is pinned.

Thoughts: It was a disaster for the most part. They just had a bunch of awkward moments here where it didn't look like anyone knew what was going on. Sane's face got all busted up off the dive to the outside. I don't get why they are going to do Alba/Isla vs Jade/Bianca again.

Kofi Kingston talks to Adam Pearce in the back. He says Judgment Day hasn't defended their titles in 2 months and he has a proposition for him. Gunther walks past them and smirks.

Thoughts: Odyssey Jones has been with The New Day for the last few weeks and has not been on TV for the last two weeks. There's been rumors all day that he may be gone from WWE and his profile was removed from their website. It seems like something is up.

Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley talk in the back. Priest asks about Rhea finding a partner. She says the person didn't say yes, but he said yeet. 

Gunther comes out to talk. He talks about Bash at Berlin being a success and says he's responsible for it. He says he beat the greatest version of Randy Orton. Gunther says he's the greatest champ in history. Sami Zayn comes out.

Sami said he has thought about his IC Title reign the last few weeks and where he has been and where he's headed. He said everyone calls the IC Title the workhorse title but says the true greats used the IC Title to win the World Title. Sami says that's what Gunther did and says that's what he will do. He says he's coming after the title.

Gunther says he's right and says Sami's name is on the list of legends who held the title. He said Sami gets up and brushes it off when things don't go well. Gunther says no to Sami's title shot and leaves.

Sami tells him to hold on. Sami said he has never seen Gunther back down from a fight. He says Gunther knows Sami is the only guy who has beaten him in WWE (not true). Sami says he's coming for him and be a world champ.

Thoughts: I'm kind of Gunther's side here. Sami hasn't done much but lose lately.

Jey Uso is interviewed in the back. He says yeet a bunch of times and Bron Breakker comes in. He says no member of Jeys' family has beaten up a member of his and he won't be the first to do it. He tells him to keep chasing mami and Judgment Day. He says he will give him one chance to walk away. Bron says Jey will lose if he comes after his title. Jey says "thanks for the advice, rookie". Jey says Bron has his attention. He says he will win the tournament and the IC Title and beat his @ss while he does it.

#1 Contender's Tournament Match for the Intercontinental Title - Sheamus vs Ludwig Kaiser vs Braun Strowman

Kaiser slides out. Sheamus goes after him and they fight outside. Braun running shoulderblocks them over. Sheamus is sent into the post. Braun charges at Kaiser and is sent through the timekeeper's rail.

We go to break and return. Sheamus spears the post when Kaiser moves. Sheamus takes a dropkick out. Kaiser runs around the ring at him but Braun throws a rolling chair at his head out of nowhere. Braun hits lariats on Sheamus then uranage's him for 2. Sheamus pumping knees Bruan in the back then clubs his chest.

Sheamus pumping knees Braun off the apron. Kaiser rolling death valley drivers Sheamus for 2. Sheamus pump kicks Kaiser and Pete Dunne breaks the pin up. Pete hits Sheamus with a shillelagh. Braun corner splashes Kaiser then powerslams him. Braun then gets the win.

Thoughts: Braun getting the win was an upset. I would have had him pin Sheamus instead of Kaiser. It was fine but it was on the shorter end of things and was nothing memorable. Braun should not have been wrestling here though after being splashed on a car just last week.

Jey Uso and Damian Priest talk in the back. Jey says he used to be Priest without friends and family. He says he respects him and says he won't say no to Rhea. Priest says the beating of Judgment Day tonight is for Rhea.

Pete Dunne is interviewed in the back. He says what he did to Sheamus was a message for an old friend and says he will smash Trick tomorrow. Jackie asks if she should tell Sheamus that it was from Butch. Pete says not to call him Butch.

Damian Priest and Jey Uso vs Judgment Day (Finn Balor and JD McDonaugh)

Finn avoids DP. DP push kicks JD out of the ring then throws Finn in. JD hits leg kicks on DP. DP flying back elbows JD. Jey enzugiri's JD for 2. JD jawbreakers Jey. Jey is double teamed in the corner. JD trips and legdrops Jey.

Finn pounds on Jey. Jey throws Finn out then back body drops JD out. Jey then suicide dives both outside. We go to break and return. Jey fights out of the corner and Finn corner spears Jey. JD seated moonsaults Jey then armbars him.

They trade shots. JD headbutts him then Jey enzugiri's him. DP gets the hot tag in and beats up his opponents. He drops Finn with a forearm then hits flying back elbows on both. DP superkicks Finn then rebound lariats him.

JD pulls DP's throat down over the top and Finn elbow slices DP. DP hits a flying double clothesline and Jey hits a top rope double crossbody. Jey hits superkicks on his opponents then spears JD. Liv Morgan comes down and crotches Jey on top. Finn slingblades Jey then john woo's him. Finn top rope double stomps Jey then JD top rope moonsaults Jey for 2.

Liv gets on the apron and the ref is distracted. Rhea Ripley then comes down on a crutch. Liv laughs and mocks her. Liv talks trash and Rhea swings the crutch at her. Liv then escapes. Jey spears Finn then DP hits a razor's edge on JD. Jey hits a top rope splash and wins.

Thoughts: It was fine but nothing memorable. I don't like Jey being all buddy-buddy with Priest after their history though they did try to explain it. I didn't live Liv running from a one-legged Rhea either. Judgment Day lost as expected and they really could use a win.

Rhea does Jey's dance and sings his song after.

Overall thoughts: The show was nothing special and not that interesting. There's just nothing that new going on. We've seen Drew/Punk, Sami/Gunther, American Made/The Wyatt's and Ex-Judgment Day vs Judgment Day already. Bron is really the only somewhat new and exciting thing happening right now and it's not enough. I'm not a fan of Joe Tessitore so far as he sounds like a football announcer and does not have a lot of personality to him. I didn't like the IC Title Tournament being all three-ways as three-ways are a type of match that doesn't produce greatness. I didn't like this show that much.