What happens overseas, stays overseas. And by that I mean with Clash in Paris taking place this past weekend, it was only natural that WWE would stay in the City of Lights for Raw as well.
Also there’s an Eiffel Tower on the stage for the entrance, so you know it’s in France. Tonight/this afternoon’s episode kicks off with the requisite look back at Clash in Paris, where the crowd was absolutely insane. Remember when European crowds were mostly known for going into business for themselves? A good argument can be made that they are better than most North American crowds now.
Anyway, we see all the high points from the card, including WWE doing the obvious thing they have avoided doing and having Becky Lynch work with Seth Rollins. On that note, we flip the script to live action and see CM Punk telling Adam Pearce he wants to wait to catch Rollins entering the arena. Hard to argue with that logic.
Jey Uso, LA Knight need to set aside their enmity with each other to deal with The Vision
It was a tough one for the O.G. Bloodline at Clash in Paris, given the way Roman Reigns got beaten up after his match and Jey Uso failed to win back the world championship. Not like it hurt his popularity with the fans even a bit, given the reaction he receives as he hits the ring for some microphone time.
Jey says we aren’t going to run it back since he was supposed to be here tonight with the championship around his waist. He is, however, running it back in his mind, wondering if he might have won his match if he would have stayed out of Roman’s match. But Uso doesn’t play when it comes to his family, and since Reigns is “laid up in the hospital,” he calls out all of The Vision because “it’s go time.”
It isn’t any of Rollins’ gang but LA Knight who enters to the strains of his theme. Knight says he believed he could win at Clash in Paris but instead stands in front of everyone tonight a loser. Most of what he wants to do now is blame Uso for spoiling his chances to defeat Rollins. And just as they are about to clear the air a bit more with each other, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed come to the stage.
Knight and Breakker mock each other before Bron expresses his anger about Roman putting Paul Heyman in the hospital. That brings “OTC” chants from the fans along with chants for Reigns that keep Breakker from speaking for a hot second. Those get even louder when Reed starts speaking, making the person on the censor button work hard to try to beep some of the more profane words.
Eventually we get to the point, which comes when Reed insults our heroes’ manhood (“maybe you’re all yeet, no skeet”), leading them to eagerly accept a challenge for a tag team match tonight.
Iyo Sky apologizes to the Kabuki Warriors and gets a surprisingly pleasant reaction. They do decline her offer of help with The Judgment Day, and Kairi Sane assures Iyo everything will be OK. Maybe.
Kabuki Warriors vs. The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez)
Michael Cole discusses the lengthy history between Asuka and Iyo, some of which Asuka discussed in a video she posted last week. That’s perhaps not relevant to this match, but maybe it will be later.
Rodriguez and Perez seem to work better together every time we see them, both in terms of in-ring chemistry and storyline coherence. Sane pulls off a cool counter to the Tejana Bomb over by the ropes, and Asuka has Perez in trouble with submission holds, and despite some interruptions, stays at it and manages to get the Prodigy to tap.
Winners: Kabuki Warriors by submission
Pearce addresses the Women’s World Championship situation, explaining why both Stephanie Vaquer and Sky deserve opportunities. That being the case, they will meet each other for the vacant title at Wrestlepalooza.
Punk is shown still waiting for Rollins to arrive.
Finn Balor vs. Dragon Lee
Balor looks content to match Lee on the mat early on, which is something he can do. The question here is whether Dominik Mysterio will show up to help Balor and whether that help will actually work if he does. I guess that’s two questions.
The crowd is eating up Lee’s aerial offense, especially his dive to the floor before the commercial break.
JD tries to interfere. Lee takes him down. Lee is pulled off the top rope by Balor. Coup de Grace for the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
Iyo and Nikki Bella run into each other in the back. Iyo is hopeful Nikki will get a rematch against Lynch. Asuka and Iyo argue. Kairi wants to make nice but Asuka drags her away.
New Day gets booed.
Finn and JD question Dom. They want to know where he has been tonight? GM Pearce bans Finn and Balor from Dom’s match.
The New Day and Grayson Waller versus Penta and The Viking Raiders
Woods takes a Fallout and a Destroyer.
Winners: Penta and The Viking Raiders
Rhea speaks to Cathy. She wants whomever wins between Vaquer and Iyo. Asuka and Kairi arrive on the scene. Asuka tells Rhea to watch what she says.
Roxanne and Raquel complain to GM Pearce. They want a rematch. Lyra wants to speak to Pearce too. Lyra wants Bayley or Lynch in the ring.
AJ Styles versus Dominik Mysterio – Intercontinental Championship Match
El Grande Americano shows up. While the official is distracted by Dom, he nails AJ with his head butt and the steel plate in his mask. Dom pins him with the frog splash.
Winner: …and still Intercontinental Champion…Dominik Mysterio.
Jackie interviews LA Knight. He just wants to survive the night with Jey, even if he isn’t sure they can trust each other.
CM Punk and Rhea chat. Rhea is pissed about how Lynch screwed him. Punk continues his search for Rollins.
We get a video from The New Day:
Rusev claims he isn’t a bully like Sheamus said. He is the light for everyone in the WWE.
CM Punk heads down to the ring. Lynch interrupts him. Lynch is tired of the lies Punk has been spouting about her family. Lynch eventually punches Punk in the face laughing at him. An irate Punk runs into Peach in the back. Pearce tells him Smackdown is in Chicago. Punk’s eyes light up.
Jey Uso and LA Knight versus Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker
Uso takes down Reed with a spear. Uso nails a frog splash but is pinned by Bron’s spear.
Winners: Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker
Knight and Uso are pummeled by the Brons but Jimmy Uso fights them off, steel chair in hand.
