RAW: Shayna Baszler goes Underground; Asuka earns a title match at SummerSlam

Last week, WWE tried to shake things up on RAW by trying new things; RAW Underground for example. It was not good. Unfortunately, tonight’s show was taped immediately after last week’s. That means there will be no course correction, giving us more of the same. Although, SummerSlam is a week from Sunday and there hasn’t been much build outside of the tag team titles and Drew McIntyre versus Randy Orton. Hopefully, there isn’t much Retribution, tonight.

Samoa Joe is in the ring to moderate the contract signing between Seth Rollins and Dominic Mysterio, who will also be signing a WWE contract. Joe introduces Rollins to the ring, who has Murphy at his back. Dominic makes his entrance, armed with a kendo stick.  Seth berates Dom for bringing a weapon to the ring, so Joe takes it for safe keeping.

Rollins and Mysterio go back and forth on the microphone. Rollins wants Dominic to be on his knees thanking him. Seth has made him a WWE superstar. Dom had a dream of becoming a superstar, but now that dream is kicking Seth’s butt at SummerSlam. Rollins finds that amusing, telling him he can bring the kendo stick to SummerSlam.

Dominic signs his contracts. Rollins congratulates him but then tells Dom to get out of the ring, but stick around and take notes as he beats Humberto Carrillo.

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Seth Rollins w/Murphy vs. Humberto Carrillo w/Dominic Mysterio

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Humberto holds his own against the Monday Night Messiah, chasing him to the floor. Rollins turns the tables, slamming Carrillo into the security barrier. Dominic is able to keep Murphy at bay with the kendo stick. Carrillo fights off a superplex. Carrillo looks go up top, but Murphy leaps to the apron. Mysterio takes him down with a kendo stick shot to the legs. Carrillo goes for the moonsault, but Seth counters with a kick to the face. He follows with a super kick and uses the Black out to the pin, while staring down Mysterio.

Winner via pinfall: Seth Rollins

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Murphy jumps Dominic and Seth orders him rolled into the ring. The two put the boots to him. Dominic breaks free of Murphy to save Carrillo from another stomp, but Rollins and Murphy lay another beating on him. Murphy gets the kendo stick and Rollins goes to work. He pummels Dom with the weapon, while taunting him. They tie him up in the ropes with Rollins nailing Dom with the kendo stick. Murphy gets even more kendo stick from under the ring. Why are there so many? Who needs that many sticks? Rollins looks to deliver the Black out, but decides to show mercy.

The masked group that caused problems for RAW and Smackdown over the past week are calling themselves Retribution.

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Andrade w/Zelina Vega and Angel Garza vs. Angelo Dawkins

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Before the match, Vega addresses the rumors that she poisoned Montez Ford. She denies the allegations, claiming that she wouldn’t do anything to ruin the opportunities for Andrade and Garza.

The lights go out during Dawkins’ entrance, but he ignores it. The announcers make sure we know that Dawkins is all alone during this match. He suplexes Andrade, but misses the corkscrew splash in the corner. Andrade takes advantage with a double knee strike. Dawkins catches Andrade coming off the top rope with a right. Vega jumps to the apron, but Bianca Belair runs down and yanks her to the floor. Dawkins hits Andrade with the Cash Out and covers to get the win.

Winner via pinfall: Angelo Dawkins

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Belair rolls Vega into the ring. She scrambles away before Belair and dish out any punishment.

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Bianca Belair w/Angelo Dawkins vs. Zelina Vega w/Andrade and Angel Garza

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Vega looks for a crucifix pin early and is able to transition into a triangle choke. Belair breaks the hold with a power bomb. She unloads on Vega in the corner. A shot to the eye slows down Belair. Vega with a hip attack in the corner. Vega looks for a cross body, but Belair shows off her power by catching her and dropping her with a press slam. Vega dodges a spear; Belair catches all ring post. Vega mounts her in the corner, only to get power bombed. Belair keeps her grip and drops Zelina onto the turnbuckle. Bianca hits the KOD and gets the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Bianca Belair

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In the ring, Charly Caruso asks Bianca if she has evidence that Zelina poisoned her husband. Belair just knows she did. Angelo tells everyone that Montez will make the biggest party of the summer.

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MVP’s V*I*P Lounge

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MVP is not in a good mood, so no one is poppin’ bottle tonight. He wants to pop ligaments and tendons. He told us there was a conspiracy a foot. He’s still blaming his loss on some flickering lights. He actually blames the lights. Apollo Crews can’t believe what he is hearing, but is quite proud he has the title MVP paid for. MVP tells Crews he made another bad decision coming out here by himself. Apollo is going to put out MVP’s lights at SummerSlam. Lashley and Benjamin go after Crews, but the champ slips into the ring. He chases off MVP and throws and couch at them.

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Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin w/MVP and Bobby Lashley

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Got to love joining a match in progress. Benjamin avoids the toss power bomb, retreating to the corner. Benjamin with a kick to the knee and follows with a power bomb. Crews is sent out of the ring, where MVP and Lashley taunt him. Benjamin brings him back in the hard way. Crews shoots off the ropes, taking out Shelton with a cross body block. Crews hits an enziguri and drives Benjamin into the corner. Shelton avoids the toss power bomb, but runs into a power slam. Benjamin then kicks out of a pin after a standing moonsault. Lashley tries to trip Crews, who responds with a kick. The distraction allows Benjamin to strike from behind. He rolls Crews up and gets the pin.

Winner via pinfall: Shelton Benjamin

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After the match, Lashley wants to lock in the full nelson. MVP puts a stop to that; he needs Crews healthy. Apollo thanks him with a kick to the face.

Retribution is out here tossing cinder blocks through windows.

Mickie James has returned to RAW. She is with Sarah Schreiber, telling her that she has gold on her mind. Lana and Natalya crash the interview and, awwwww, they are dressed alike. Mickie is surprised Natty has teamed up with Lana.

Ivar is in the back with a lady friend, who doesn’t think Erik is cute.

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The Viking Raiders, Ricochet and Cedric Alexander vs. Akira Tozawa and ninjas

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The first two ninjas get squashed. The third ninja is told to enter the ring, but he knows better. Ninja number two gets taken on the Viking Experience. Eric pins him to get the win.

Winners via pinfall: The Viking Raiders, Ricochet and Cedric Alexander

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Tozawa and his ninja head up the ramp, but the ninjas is calling for a ref. He rolls up Tozawa and gets the pin. The ninjas takes off his mask and it’s R TRUTH!

Winner … and new 24/7 Champion …via pinfall: R Truth

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Charly Caruso is with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, wanting to know if he stands by his words about Randy Orton. Drew said what he said, but he had a revelation. Orton has done everything he has done out of self preservation.

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Liv Morgan w/Ruby Riott vs. Peyton Royce w/Billie Kay

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Before the match, the IIconics cut a promo, trying to divide Liv and Ruby. Morgan goes off on the bell, pounding Royce into the mat. Peyton throws Liv to the floor. Morgan walks into a spin kick in the ring. Liv kicks Peyton out of the corner. Billie tries to interfere, but Ruby jumps to the apron to cut her off. The official admonishes Riott, allowing Royce to attack Liv from behind. She hits the Deja Vu and covers for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Peyton Royce

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After the match, Ruby tries to apologize.

So RAW Underground starts at ten o’clock, so we can pinpoint exactly when the ratings cratered.

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Asuka vs. Bayley w/Sasha Banks – Non Title Match

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Asuka needs to win this match to earn a RAW Women’s title match.  Asuka opens with a drop kick and a hip attack in the corner. The lights flicker several times during the match, leading to … nothing. Asuka hits a missile drop kick after the break. Sasha leaps the apron, distracting Asuka, allowing Bayley to slap on an ankle lock. Asuka breaks the hold by getting to the ropes. Bayley focuses on the ankle. She then distracts the ref, allowing Banks to take a cheap shot on the ankle.  Asuka gets a quick roll up and transition into an octopus and then an arm bar. Bayley counters into an Indian death lock. Asuka counters into a knee bar.

Bayley tries to escape and Asuka hits her with double knees. Another knee strike sends Bayley into the corner. Asuka sets her on the top turnbuckle, but Bayley shoves her to the mat and delivers the elbow drop. Asuka kicks out. A sunset bomb sends Asuka into the turnbuckle. Bayley mocks Kairi Sane, stomping around the ring. She looks to deliver the sliding elbow, but Asuka counters into the Asuka lock. Bayley taps out.

Winner via submission: Asuka

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Shayna Baszler has gone Underground; the problem is no one wants to fight her, so she pulls someone out of the crowd. She pummels this poor women, when she is grabbed from behind by another woman. She knocks her down, only to fight off another opponent. Shayna dominates the ring, making one opponent tap out. Shane implores us to tune in next week.

Retribution is destroying someone’s car. Come on, guys, that’s a rental.

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Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton w/Ric Flair

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Orton open with a shoulder block, sending KO to the mat. Owens responds in kind and Orton rolls to the floor. Owens attempts a stunner. Orton blocks. KO blocks an RKO, but connects with a super kick. He follows with cannonball. Orton goes to the floor, where Owens hits him with another cannonball.

Owens is dominating coming out of the break, so Orton rolls to the floor. He slams Owens into the ring steps and then the plexi-glass barrier, repeatedly. Orton resets the count and once again whips KO into the ring steps.  Back in the ring, Orton with a head lock. Ownes gets to his feet and the two trade chops. Owens with a senton. The fights spills to the floor and Owen misses with a wild haymaker. Orton drops him ont the announce table a with a belly to back suplex.

Owens is set atop the turnbuckle. He and Orton trade punches and Orton crashes to the mat after a head butt. Owens follows with a senton, but it’s not enough to get the pin. Owens looks for the stunner, but Orton counters with an RKO. Orton covers for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Randy Orton

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After the match, Orton wants Ric to stick around. He wants to celebrate the victory and they also need to talk.

Orton wants to be upset with Flair, but he ha every right to be. This match wasn’t necessary. Flair’s ego got Orton into this fight. Orton tells the Nature Boy that he doesn’t love or respect him anymore and calls him washed up.  Flair looks like he is about to cry and Orton tears into him even more. Orton calls out Flair for only worrying about himself.

Flair isn’t the person the person that Orton sought out in 2001. He wants to be part of the spotlight, even at 71 years old. Flair wants Orton to break his record. Flair pleads that he isn’t trying to take anything away from Orton. The two hug it out, only for Orton to strike with a low blow. The lights flicker again as Flair hits the mat. Orton whispers in his ear. The lights go out. When the lights come back on, Orton sets up the punt. The lights go out as Orton goes for the kick. Flair is laid out when the lights come back on.

Drew McIntyre runs Orton off and checks on Flair. WWE officials finally hit the ring as the show goes off the air. See you next week. Same SLAM! time, same SLAM! channel.