Happy Monday, everyone. It is time for an action-packed edition of Raw. Tonight’s show starts with a look back at last week’s main event, which saw Jey Uso become the new Intercontinental Champion, overcoming Bron Breakker.

The new champ then made his way into the arena through the crowd with the gold in his hands and the crowd chanting “You deserve it!” He said this is his first singles champion and he plans to fight anybody who wants his title. It was a long road to get to this moment, his own family made it hard for him, Roman Reigns made it hard for him and his whole life he’s just been a twin. However, he is now more than that and everyone knows Jey Uso. He also shared a special message for his mother, but he was then interrupted by the former champ, Breakker.

Breakker wasn’t out to crash the party, he was there because of the respect he has for the Intercontinental title and after last week he has that same respect for Uso. Last Monday, Uso was the better man and Breakker offered a congratulatory handshake. Uso accepted the handshake and told Breakker there were some dogs in Indiana. A sign of respect between the two.

Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods

Woods has had a change in attitude recently and Mysterio was looking to teach him a lesson tonight. He hit Woods with two hurricanranas and a West Coast Pop off the apron to the floor. Mysterio followed that with a springboard moonsault to the outside and a springboard crossbody back in the ring. He then attempted the 619, but Woods ducked and they then had an exchange that ended with Mysterio’s mask coming off. Woods made it seem like an accident, but he quickly rolled up Mysterio to steal the win while he tried to cover his face.

Winner: Xavier Woods

Following the match, Kofi Kingston questioned if Woods pulled the mask intentionally, but Woods said absolutely not. Woods claimed he has too much respect for Mysterio and he was expecting a congratulations from Kingston. Kofi congratulated his friend and let Woods know that he got him an opportunity at Jey Uso’s Intercontinental title.

Another video aired on Raw tonight, previewing the return or debut of some new wrestlers. The video can be seen below:

Lyra Valkyria vs. Zoey Stark w/Pure Fusion Collective

Valkyria was all over Stark to begin this match with a flurry of strikes and a leaping dropkick through the ropes into Stark’s face. Valkyria continued her attack, but she was then greeted by a stiff kick from Stark and a springboard missile dropkick. She then attempted the Z360, but Valkyris reversed into a German suplex which drew in Pure Fusion Collective. Shayna Baszler distracted the referee while Sonya Devilled drilled Valkyria with a knee to the skull. Stark then hit the Z360 for the victory.

Winner: Zoey Stark

Pure Fusion Collective attempted to continue a three-on-one attack after the match, but Kayden Carter and Katana Chance made the save. They fought off Pure Fusion Collective and hit Deville and Stark with a Keg Stand.

The PLE, Bad Blood is just days away and the headlining match on the show will be CM Punk against Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell. Before Saturday, they would go face-to-face on Raw tonight, standing inside the cage. Adam Pearce stood in the ring to mediate with more than a dozen security guards to ensure no physical contact between Punk and McIntyre.

The two men were set to deliver some last words, McIntyre started things off by telling Punk he wore all black tonight out of respect for Punk’s wife because after Saturday she’ll most likely leave him. He also mentioned that it’s a tux because after Saturday Punk will be gone forever all thanks to him. For the last 10 months, Punk has been showing everyone his true colours, but the fans continue to chant his name. McIntyre hates Punk and he claims Punk taught him what hate really is, the type of hate that stays with you and after Saturday that hate will die with Punk.

It was now Punk’s turn to talk, he said tonight he is voiceless because he has nothing to say to a piece of garbage like Drew. There is so much rage inside of him because of Drew, he has been living in a hotel because he refused to show his wife what Drew has done to him. After Bad Blood, Punk wants to send McIntyre home to Scotland in a box. He also wants McIntyre to remember he prayed for this because on Saturday he will be crawling through Hell in a Cell when Punk will wipe the blood from his eyes. So, Drew can look up at him and realize he is not praying to God or the Devil, he will be praying to CM Punk.

Cathy Kelly met up with Sami Zayn backstage to discuss his recent interest in getting a World Heavyweight Championship match. Zayn said he is not mad about Gunther saying no to him getting a title match, but he is tired of the disrespect. Zayn knows how good he is and he promises that he will become a World Champion one day.

The Judgement Day (Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh & Carlito) w/Liv Morgan vs. The LWO (Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde) w/Zelina Vega

LWO was rocking early on, Wilde took down all three members of J-Day before all members of LWO took a dive onto one of their opponents. That sequence ended with Wilde flying from the top with a 450 splash onto Carlito. Lee then got into the action with a German suplex to Dom, a superkick to McDonagh and a springboard dropkick to Carlito. He then stacked all three members of J-Day in the corner and Toro dove across the ring with a Coast to Coast into them. LWO then dove through the ropes to the outside of the ring onto their opponents.

It seemed like LWO was closing in on the win when Liv Morgan got up on the apron distracting the referee. Finn Bálor then rushed out attacking Wilde from behind, Bálor wasn’t supposed to be at the arena. McDonagh then hit Wilde with the Devil Inside to steal the victory for Judgement Day.

Winners: The Judgement Day (Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh & Carlito)

Judgement Day remained in the ring celebrating their victory and Bálor addressed his opponent at Bad Blood, Damian Priest. He said Priest said he would rip his heart out, but Bálor doesn’t have a heart. Judgement Day never needed Priest, he needed them and that will be proved at Bad Blood. Liv Morgan wanted to send a message to her challenger Rhea Ripley as well, but Ripley quickly interrupted her.

Ripley told Liv she was with Dom for a very long time and knows his secrets, like him being claustrophobic. This should cause a lot of issues for Dom when he is locked in the shark cage this Saturday during the Ripley and Morgan match. Ripley said Dom can be in tears panicking in that cage while Ripley proves to the world that Morgan is not as good as her. Ripley then said that is enough talking for tonight, as Priest was in the ring attacking J-Day from behind.

Priest began to beat down McDonagh, Carlito and Bálor while Ripley attacked Morgan and Dom. Ripley and Priest were doing well, but the numbers game caught up to them. Morgan attacked Ripley from behind and they brawled into the back. While Bálor, Dom, JD and Carlito attacked Priest four-on-one. They held Priest down so Bálor could hit him with three Coup de Graces and The Judgement Day stood tall.

Chad Gable w/American Made vs. Kofi Kingston w/Xavier Woods

Kingston was reversing everything Gable threw at him early, but Gable eventually caught him with a forearm and a German suplex on the outside. Gable continued his attack with an exploder suplex and he attempted the O’Connor Roll German suplex, but it was blocked. Both men then exchanged roll-ups and that ended with a Dominator from Gable.

Kingston came right back at him with an SOS and he then leaped off the steps onto all members of American Made. Woods now helped him on the outside taking out the Creed Brothers, but Woods then interfered in the match and somehow helped Gable avoid a Trouble in Paradise. Gable then hit Kingston with a Chaos Theory to get the win, thanks to Woods.

Winner: Chad Gable

We got another video from The Wyatt Sicks:

The World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther now graced us with his presence. He said life as the champion has been fantastic, but one thing he hates about his life is having to deal with Sami Zayn every week. Just like that Zayn’s music hit and he joined Gunther in the arena. Zayn told Gunther if he is so annoyed by him he can put an end to this by giving him a championship opportunity. He knows Gunther won’t do it and he wants Gunther to admit to everyone that he is afraid.

Gunther denied and told Zayn he is not on his level, but Zayn said if that is the case why is he the only person that has pinned Gunther? Zayn knows that drives Gunther crazy and Gunther is scared that he will lose again if he puts the World title on the line. Gunther told Zayn he is afraid, not of him, but for his reputation because after all the historical things he had done with the IC title losing to Zayn was the biggest embarrassment of his career.

He lost to Zayn in front of his entire family, and his father told him he flew from Vienna to watch him lose to a bum like Zayn. Gunther is the golden goose of his family and he is special, so his family expects him. Unlike Zayn with his own family, Gunther is something Zayn will never be, the World Champion. Zayn agreed that he had lost in front of his family many times, but every time he kept moving forward, unlike Gunther who was gone for months after losing at WrestleMania. Zayn then took things too far for Gunther saying his father must think he is a coward.

Zayn gets his match. Credit: WWE

Gunther attacked Zayn following that statement. He drilled him with a lariat, locked him into a sleeper and then power-bombed him into the mat. Gunther then picked up the microphone and told Zayn if he wants this so bad, he’s got his championship match.

The Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth) vs. Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar)

AOP was isolating Truth and he was getting beaten down and stuck on their side of the ring. Truth did get some reversals and tagged in Miz, however, as Miz entered the ring he turned and booted Truth in the face before walking out on his partner.

Truth was left alone to get hit with the suplex-powerbomb combination. Miz has finally snapped the way Karrion Kross wanted.

Winners: Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar)

They have my attention. Credit: WWE

Gunther was chatting backstage with Luwdwig Kaiser about defending his title against Zayn next Monday. Bron Breakker then approached Gunther and he told him he just wanted to get a closer look at the World Championship. Gunther told him he really is a badass, to which he responded that Gunther will find out soon enough. Now this has my attention.

Last Monster Standing Match: “Big” Bronson Reed vs. Braun Strowman

These monsters started battling as soon as they both reached the ring, Strowman started things by bringing the steel steps into the mix. He drilled Reed with the steps twice before choke slamming him from the top step through the announce table. However, Reed quickly returned to his feet only to be launched from the ring apron through a stack of chairs on the floor.

The fight now made its way up the ramp where Strowman would beat Reed with a steel chair. Both men battled up into the technical area and from there Reed got Strowman up and leaped off sending Strowman through two tables with a Death Valley Driver. Reed now charged Strowman through the barricade, not once but twice, the second time taking out the first row of fans.

The match finally returned to the ring where Reed dove from the top rope onto Strowman with a Tsunami. However, there was no referee to count to 10 as he was checking on the fans who got taken down by the barricade. So, Reed decided to hit Strowman with a second Tsunami before going to take out all the officials worried about the fans. Adam Pearce now got involved to stop Reed and a bunch of security guards jumped between the two. That is when Strowman returned to his feet and dove from the top rope to the outside taking out Reed and all the security.

When both men returned to their feet Strowman went back to the top rope, but he was met up there by Reed. Both men were now battling up top and Reed beat him down to deliver a superplex that caused the ring to collapse and explode! Both men were trying to return to their feet when Seth Rollins ran out stomping Reed into the steel steps! Seth Rollins is back and Braun Strowman got to his feet to be the last monster standing!

Winner: Braun Strowman