We are one week removed since King & Queen of The Ring, and things have only gotten spicier. Last week, Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio’s lips met, and today, we’ll see what she had to say about the whole thing.
Judgement Day and L.W.O. continue to face off, and we’ll see more build-up between Sheamus and Imperium. Many more things are brewing this time, and its unfolding in Hershey, PA.
To open the show, the WWE Women’s World Champion, Liv Morgan, enters the squared circle. She says she did something no one else could, such as taking out Rhea Ripley. She mentions that kissing Dominik Mysterio was the cherry on top. Before she can continue to ramble on, ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio shows up.
In classic fashion, the crowd doesn’t let him speak for a while. Morgan tells Dominik that she wasn’t helping Rhea Ripley, but he was there for Morgan. The WWE Women’s World Champion says she was literal when saying she was taking everything away from Ripley. That’s when Morgan starts feeling up on Dominik before Finn Balor comes to save the day.
Balor says Dominik doesn’t want anything to do with Morgan, but she counters by saying what if he does? She then makes her exit.
Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser
Jackie Redmond interviews Sheamus before his match; he says he was excited and goes off on Ludwig Kaiser’s character. He makes his entrance but is then attacked from behind by Kaiser. He undercuts Sheamus’ injured leg and is then pulled away from the officials.
The match does take place. A pissed-off Sheamus goes off and shows the skill difference between him and Kaiser. ‘The Celtic Warrior’ also shows the power difference as the two go back and forth with chops. Kaiser wisely takes advantage of Sheamus’ injured knee.
The match continues outside the ring, and Kaiser starts using the metal staircase against his opponent, similar to what he did to Giovanni Vinci. He continues to give a wrestling clinic to the former champion.
Struggling to get a rally, Sheamus gets a small boost of adrenaline and starts putting in work. It was short-lived when Kaiser re-injures the knee of ‘The Celtic Warrior,’ almost forcing the official to stop the match. But Sheamus stops it. He taunts Kaiser and starts to regain momentum with a barrage of chops.
With Sheamus back in the driver’s seat, he goes for ‘White Noise’ on the top rope, but Kaiser escapes and kicks Sheamus down in the knee, ending the match.
Winner: Ludwig Kaiser via pinfall
Back in the Judgment Day hideout, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damien Priest speaks with the team and tells them to show the WWE world who they are.
Dragon Lee vs. Finn Balor
Ilja Dragunov and Ricochet chat behind the scenes. Dragunov wishes him good luck and warns him.
Back to the match. Finn Balor and Dragon Lee have a quick back-and-forth before Lee takes control. However, that is also short-lived as Balor chops him so loud that you can hear it from Saturn.
The luchador then gets some more momentum as he suicide dives into Balor. JD McDonagh comes to the scene and helps out his peer. He distracts Lee, leading to Balor head locking Lee in the ring.
Lee then uses a backflip to powerbomb Balor and almost ends the match. McDonagh tries to distract Lee again, but the luchador takes him out. Carlito then shows up and almost costs Lee the match.
Lee takes Carlito and McDonagh out once more until Balor takes advantage and sets up Dragon Lee’s end. He hits Lee with a ‘Coup De Grace,’ and the match is concluded.
Winner: Finn Balor via pinfall
After the match is concluded, Carlito continues to beat Lee, that is, until Rey Mysterio shows up with Braun Strowman. To borrow the words of Pat McAfee, he is a ‘mean son of a bitch.’ Strowman takes out all of Judgment Day.
Priest then tells Carlito to speak to Adam Pearce to set up a match with Strowman. Carlito is left speechless. Incomes ‘Awesome Truth’, and yes, they make us laugh once again. R- Truth left The Miz speechless. He said being on Judgment Day was the best time of his life, and he must remember things entirely differently.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring. He begs Alpha Academy to stand up to Chad Gable. The comes in the Alpha Academy without Gable. Maxxine Dupri delivers a message from him to Zayn. In the message, he insults the members and demands a title match with Zayn. The champion obliges and will give Gable a shot this Saturday. But he doesn’t care about it.
He wants what is best for the Alpha Academy members; he gives them a monologue until Gable strikes him from behind. Gable then demands Otis to hit Zayn. However, Otis doesn’t, leading to him getting slapped and assaulted. Akira Tozawa and Dupri try to help Otis out but are kicked out by Gable. That’s when Otis stands up for them.
Gable then gaslights Otis into thinking Zayn will take out the other Alpha Academy members. Otis then slams Zayn and makes his exit.
Ricochet vs. Bron Breakker
Backstage, Pearce and Bron Breakker’s conversation reminds Pearce that he doesn’t own Breakker. In my opinion, this rivalry can become something special.
Ricochet uses his flexibility to get an early lead on his opponent in a classic match-up of finesse vs. power. However, Bron Breakker gets his momentum with displaying his speed and power. He clotheslines Ricochet and drops him on the barricade.
This match has become a clinic in favour of Bron Breakker. He punishes Ricochet while taunting Samantha Irvin. Ricochet counters Breakker with a DDT and a Moonsault. He then boots Breakker and hits him with a Recoil.
1-2-NO!
Ricochet tries to set himself up for a splash, but Breakker counters and splits Ricochet once again with a spear.
Winner: Bron Breakker via pinfall
Breakker then tries to continue punishing Ricochet, but the officials and Ilja Dragunov come to aid Ricochet.
Natalya vs. Kiana James
Kiana James finally gets his in-ring debut on Monday Night Raw against Canada’s Natalya. This one starts off quickly with Natalya showing her experience, almost ending the match twice. She even gets James in an armbar. Natalya has been in the driver’s seat most of the match.
Natalya continues to put in work as she tries to set up a ‘Sharpshooter’ with a German suplex, but James creates space and pulls off a 401K, ending the match,
Winner: Kiana James via pinfall
Carlito vs. Braun Strowman
A last-minute match demanded by Priest is here and ready to go. ‘The Cool Guy’ vs. ‘The Big Guy.’
This battle starts before the bell is rung. Although Carlito was able to get a few shots in, Strowman’s size and strength appear to be too much. Strowman tosses Carlito around and even takes out Balor and McDonagh, who try to help Carlito.
Strowman ends the fight early with a face-first slam.
Winner: Braun Strowman via pinfall
McDonagh and Balor then try to take out Strowman but are steamrolled. Dominik Mysterio tries to help Carlito as well. Dominik tries to hit Strowman with a chair but is slapped away. Dominik runs, but Strowman follows. Before Strowman can get his hands on ‘Dirty’ Dominik, Liv Morgan shows up and stops the big man.
The tide turns, and Strowman is beaten to the ground.
Things continue to be built between Morgan and Mysterio, but Balor stops them once again.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair (c) vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill make their way to the squared circle. The two call out Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark to come and say what they have to say to their face.
Before the two tag teams got to scrapping without the titles on the line, Pearce made it official and put the titles on the line.
Belair and Baszler then go back and forth, but Belair displays some serious power. Cargill and Belair also display a beautiful tandem and continuously beat on Stark.
The two continue to dominate as the tag team champions slam Baszler and Stark simultaneously and flex their muscles to the crowd.
Baszler and Stark do make it a fight as they have their own run against the champions off-air. However, Belair shuts off the faucet and starts her own run.
The match was then stopped as Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn interrupted it. Baszler, Stark, Dawn, and Fyre then continued to beat the tag team champions.
Winner: N/A
Fan Favorite Jey Uso then makes his appearance and enters through the crowd entrances — he’s really embracing the love from the WWE world. He makes it clear that Money In The Bank will be his.
Backstage, Iyo Sky attacks Lyra Valkyria during her interview. This has continued to build since the Queen of The Ring tournament.
The New Day vs. The Authors of Pain
Xavier Woods took control of the flow to start, but Rezar and Akam were too much, and the match ended quickly as the distracted Kofi Kingston cost New Day the match.
Winner: The Authors of Pain via pinfall
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damien Priest vs. Rey Mysterio
Backstage, Priest and Drew McIntyre meet and have a nice chat to build up their rivalry.
The former three-time world champion takes a boot from the current world champion to open the match.
Mysterio then takes the driver’s seat with a springboard moonsault. It was short-lived, though, as, like previous matches, the strength difference has been the determining factor. Priest stomps on Mysterio, making hold of his ribcage.
The Judgment Day leader continues to build momentum as he side-slams the luchador. But, the former champion continues to show that he is ready for a scrap and hit Preist with a DDT.
Classic Mysterio continues to display perfect body control. But it was a strength that made the difference once again.
From the second row of ropes, Priest tries one of his signature moves, but Mr.619 sets him for a 619. HE CONNECTS!
Is it enough? 1-2-NO!
Judgment Day, Carlito and Dragon Lee face off outside the ring, but it comes at a cost. Mysterio gets hit with a ‘South of Heaven,’ ending the match.
Winner: Damien Priest via pinfall
As Priest celebrates, McIintyre comes from behind and hits him with a Future Shock. In an attempt to hit Priest with a Claymore, he takes out all of Judgment Day.
McIntyre then sets up to slam Priest through the commentary table, but Priest finds an opening and chokeslams him through the table, ending the show.
Overall, tonight Raw was fun, but I’ve definitely seen better matches. In terms of names, it was one of the best; the performance could’ve been much better.
TOP PHOTO: Liv Morgan touching up Dominik Mysterio, photo credit: WWE
