Three alpha males, one ring
Raw comes from RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, which is why I gotta be up early on what should be a lazy Thanksgiving here in Canada. No rest for the wicked as the WWE finishes off its tour of Australia.
World Heavyweight Champion and new Crown Jewel Champion Seth Rollins and company open our show. Rollins looks like a life-sized version of MJF’s scarf.
The crowd begins calling Rollins a “wanker”. Netflix closed captioning claims they are chanting “This is awesome!”. Yeah, nice try, Netflix.
Rollins sings the praises of his fellow Vision members. The crowd chants “CM Punk!” just to piss Rollins off. Rollins calls himself the “greatest World Champion” and there is nobody on his level. As he stands in the ring with his minions, Rollins runs down Roman Reigns saying he always needed back-up to succeed. Fireworks go off to celebrating his Crown Jewel win.
Penta is backstage making his way to the ring. He is stopped by Rusev. Rusev reminds Penta he beat him and Dominik already. Rusev announced that GM Pearce promised him the winner of tonight’s match.
“And if it happens to be you, don’t think I have forgotten about that kick last week,” snarls Rusev.
Penta gives Rusev the ‘no fear’ sign. Dominik approaches, sees Rusev and backpedals.
Dominik Mysterio (c) versus Penta – WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Dominik charges at Penta. Penta just heaves him up into the air and he lands on the announce table. Dominik dives at Penta through the ropes. Instead of just splashing him he turns the dive into flying, running DDT. Nicely done.
Dominik dumps Penta over the barricade and into the front row. He then dumps him into the time keeper’s area. Penta leaps off the top of a steel post onto Dominik on the floor.
Rusev runs down to the ring. Penta leaps over the top rope onto Rusev. While the official’s back is turned Dominik swipes his title belt and the hammer from the time keeper. He leaves the belt in the middle of the ring so that the official has to remove it. He clobbers Penta in the knee with the hammer, hides it in his boot giving Penta a 619 with it. He pins Penta with his frog splash. Dominik returns the hammer as he leaves victorious.
Winner: …and still WWE Intercontinental Champion, Dominik Mysterio.
Jackie Redmond talks to LA Knight backstage about the triple threat match to determine the Number One Contender to Seth’s championship. Knight has to stop all of his back-patting when CM Punk shows up. Punk says Knight is wasting Jackie’s time.
Kairi Sane is biting her fingernails backstage. Asuka arrives ranting and raving about something. She chews Sane out for losing the match at Crown Jewel. Sane claims she can “fix things”.
“You need to fix the dishonor you caused me,” says Asuka correcting her.
Asuka says Sane will fight Ripley tonight and she’d “better win”.
Sane shows off a bruise to her forehead.
“This is because I tried to help you,” pleads Sane.
Asuka slaps her in the face.
Rhea Ripley versus Kairi Sane
This match goes on far, far too long. Iyo Sky accompanies Ripley to the ring. Asuka does the same for Kairi. Sane’s strategy is to duck and evade Rhea as she slaps her, angers her. Asuka leaps up on the apron. Rhea steps out to the floor. Asuka backs into Iyo Sky. Sane drop kicks Rhea weakly into the announce table. Iyo brawls with Asuka. Sane hits a flying forearm on Iyo from the apron. Asuka kicks Iyo in the face. Rhea runs at Sane who ducks. Rhea runs into a steel post and falls to the floor. Sane leaps off the top of a steel post onto Rhea with her flying elbow smash.
Asuka leaps onto the apron again. Iyo pulls her off. Rip Tide pins Sane. Asuka nails Iyo from behind as she celebrates. Rhea tries to Rip Tide Asuka through the announce table. Kairi nails Rhea with a kendo stick from behind. This allows Asuka to DDT Rhea on the announce table which doesn’t break.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
The Usos yack backstage. Jimmy is pissed that they tried to help Roman at Crown Jewel and he chewed them out. Jey responds that Roman always looks after himself and nobody else. “Maybe we should start doing the same?” says Jey. Jimmy and Jey get into an argument. Jimmy tells Jey to handle his own business and he storms out on Jey.
Bronson Reed versus Jimmy Uso
Jimmy doesn’t even wait for the bell to ring. He goes right after Reed. Reed attacks Jimmy’s taped up injured ribs. The fight goes to the floor. Jimmy shoves Reed into a steel post and the announce desk. Reed wins with a Tsunami. The announcers play it off that Jimmy and his “busted” ribs should have never accepted the match. Bron Breakker comes down to the ring to celebrate with Bron…and then spears Jimmy for fun. Reed holds Jimmy’s carcass up for another spear. Jey finally comes out to help his brother. He manages to fight them off. Jimmy reaches out to shake Jey’s hand. Jey leaves the ring to boos.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Bayley hypes Lyra Valkyria up backstage. Lyra isn’t sure she can trust Bayley as they have been a little off lately. Lyra wonders if tonight is a “one-time thing”. Bayley laughs it all off.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria versus The Judgment Day
Another match that goes far too long. Bayley goes nuts on the Day on the floor. Throwing Bayley into a steel post and into the time keeper’s area. Flying elbow and Rose Plant to Perez for the win.
Winners: Bayley and Lyra Valkyria
Seth Rollins confers with Paul Heyman backstage. He gives the Vision another TED Talk.
GM Pearce talks to Styles backstage. He praises Styles for his performance at Crown Jewel. Dominik mocks Styles. He doesn’t think he gets the respect he deserves. He complains about having to face Rusev next week. Dominik wonders why he is the only champion defending his title every week. Styles says “Cheater McGee” has a point. Styles challenges Finn Balor and JD McDonagh to a title match next week with Dragon Lee as his partner. Pearce likes the idea a lot. Pearce and Styles congratulate Dominik on coming up with the idea in the first place.
Jackie Redmond interviews Crown Jewel Champion and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez come out. Perez whines about not having a title shot. Vaquer tells her to basically “put up” or “shut up”.
Jey Uso versus CM Punk versus LA Knight – Number One Contender’s Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Knight fights out of a Go To Sleep and Jey super kicks Punk in the face. Punk heads to the floor to recover. Jey gains some speed to leap out onto the floor but Knight clotheslines him. Knight jumps through the rope kicking Punk. Jey leaps onto Knight. Everyone is down. Knight throws Punk into the first row. Punk hits a flying body press on both men. Knight escapes a Go To Sleep by DDTing Punk. Knight then DDTs Jey. He leaps off the top rope for double elbow drops but misses both men. The WWE makes matters worse by showing the botch in slow-mo before a commercial. Jey whips Knight into the steel ring steps. Jey leaps off the top rope for an Uso Splash but Punk gets his knees up. Go To Sleep. Punk wins.
Winner: CM Punk
Seth Rollins and The Vision arrive. Breakker spears Jey. Punk dares Breakker to come into the ring. Breakker spears Knight instead on the floor. Both Brons attack Punk. They throw him out of the ring so Rollins can stand tall.
As we go to credits, Breakker spears Rollins.
“What are you doing!” screams Heyman.
Bronson stares at Bron. Bronson climbs to the top rope and gives Rollins a Tsunami. Heyman raises the hands of the Brons.
