WWE Raw: Seth and Punk reference Vince and AEW on a red-hot Raw

Thomas Starr

Punk and Rollins face off before their match next week
Punk and Rollins face off before their match next week

The crowd was red hot and so was the show. After phoning it in last week, WWE followed up with the best episode I have seen in years. That includes that fantastic show a couple of weeks ago with Rollins and Sami.

The wrestling on the show ended up being a highlight. Raw usually does paint-by-numbers matches, but not tonight. They all delivered, including Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky, which I have as a match of the year contender. It was that good.

The talking segments at the beginning and end of the show were the typical intense, well done long form promos. The Punk and Rollins segment though went to another level. The pacing of the show was perfect. Nothing overstayed its welcome and they left us wanting more.

Must-see moments:

Punk – Rollins

I am convinced that these two truly hate each other. The fire that both men showed burned through the screen. The lines referencing AEW, Colt Cabana, and even Vince McMahon, although none by name, were remarkable and the crowd ate it up. They perfectly skirted the line between insider remarks and remarks a casual could understand.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky

In my mind, this was a contender for match of the year. The level of execution was high and not just for the women’s division. They were stiff and looked like they were fighting with each other. I have been watching wrestling for 40 years and I got lost in this match. Excellent. Go out of your way to see it.

Jey Uso – The New Day

I want to emphasize this. Nothing happened. They did nothing and it was still fantastic. The crowd booed The New Day with such joy. Having Jey come out, who is as over as anyone in the company, was perfect given both how over he is and his history with them. WWE milked this without giving anything away. You do not have to give the audience everything everywhere all at once (cc: AEW).

McIntyre – Bloodline – Jey

WWE segued right to Jey, Bloodline, and Drew. McIntyre beat down Jey, which we have seen before. The crowd was really into it and the intensity was off the charts, so it worked. Bloodline’s involvement with Drew adds a dimension to this. The first 20 minutes of this show were a textbook.

Raw History Package

This was short, but fantastic.

Chronological recap:

Joe Tessitore mentions this is the last Raw on USA Network. That is incredible to consider. The relationship between USA and WWE continues with Smackdown, but outside of moving Raw to TNN Raw has been a staple on USA Network for an extraordinarily long time.

The New Day is out first. Hopefully, we do not have anyone’s mother on TV this week. The crowd is booing them out of the building. I have to say that segment with Big E was one of the best heel turns of modern wrestling.

After being booed unmercifully, Jey Uso interrupted the proceedings, and the crowd lost its mind. Jey Uso asked the crowd to let Woods talk, and they still boo him out of the building. They have done nothing in this segment, and it is fantastic.

Jey said they go way back. Then he said, “New…Day sucks!” That popped me as well as the crowd. Jey then called out McIntyre, but The Bloodline interrupted on the big screen. Solo hyped his match with Roman last week. Predictably, Drew attacked Jey from behind while he was watching the screen. The officials momentarily separated them, but Drew ran back and hit the claymore. Tessitore said Drew was upset with his “promotional push” for next week.

American Made talked about Gable’s match with Otis. I still cannot believe they are back to this feud after all these months. If the Wyatts do a run-in, I will leave.

Otis vs. Chad Gable

I adore Otis and so does the crowd. I have never understood why they have not done something more with him. Even with dumb comedy, give the guy a serious push. He is so uniquely shaped, the best way I can put it. Also, he is very charismatic. His offense is so barbaric too. He mostly throws himself into people. It is not refined, and I mean that as a compliment. Give me more Otis.

Everyone from American Made ran in, but because Otis beat them all up the ref just allowed it. That is so dumb. Then Gable made Otis tap to the anklelock. And that was it. The crowd died. Way to go, WWE. That was as flat a finish as you will see. Up until that it was a good match.

Winners: Chad Gable

They went to a Rhea-Liv package about their last woman standing match next week. Great intensity from both. The Netflix debut is one big hot shot, but considering the money they are paying WWE can you blame them?

In the back, Judgement Day is bickering. Again. This is every week, and it is so lame.

R-Truth comes out singing that same song he has sung for over a decade. He did change a lyric to “Butch” and of course Pete Dunne attacked him from behind.

We cannot worry too long, because we had to go to a Damage CTRL promo in the back. Dakota Kai talks about facing Iyo Sky in the final. She just wants one of them to have the Intercontinental Title.

Zoey Stark vs. Dakota Kai

Dakota woke the crowd up with a flurry of offense. They were behind her from that point on. Good match and the right finish. Dakota looked better than she has in a couple of years. I think injuries have taken a toll on her, but she looked great here.

Winner: Dakota Kai

An excellent Raw history package aired. One of the biggest surprises for me was Jericho being featured. He should be, but I am still getting used to them admitting people exist outside their roster.

Top of the hour

The Judgement Day vs. War Raiders and Damien Priest

Wade Barrett pitched to break by saying he expected “bloodshed.” What? In this match?

The War Raiders both had armbands that said, “Jax.” RIP Jax Dane.

Another good match. The crowd was red hot for the show. The ending sequence had that weasel Dominik get out of the South of Heaven chokeslam and turn it into a 619 attempt, but Damien reversed it into a South of Heaven chokeslam. Great sequence. That match was fire.

Winners: War Raiders and Damien Priest

Adam Pearce told Jey Uso he will face McIntyre next week on the Netflix debut. They have put together a WrestleMania for Netflix.

Ludwig Kaiser was in the ring after the break. Instead of introducing Gunther, he introduced himself. Kaiser called out Breakker, but instead Sheamus came out. Sheamus attacked Kaiser with some stiff shots. He even spit on his hand and rubbed it in Ludwig’s face. Ludwig then went to Sheamus’s eyes. Good segment.

The LWO gave a pep talk to Alpha Academy. The New Day made fun of them then asked them what the “locker room leader” was going to do about it. Rey challenged them to a match and The New Day snidely accepted.

Iyo Sky vs. Lyra Valkyria

This was fantastic. These two were stiff and intense. It felt and looked like a struggle and not just a series of moves. The crowd was really into the match too. Wow.

Winners: Lyra Valkyria

CM Punk – Seth Rollins confrontation

Seth said that if things do not go Punk’s way next week, Punk will quit like he always does. Specifically, he said Punk “took his ball and went home.”

Punk came out and he was furious about that line. He asked from whom he stole the line. It really hit a nerve with Punk. He even asked Rollins if his wife took her ball and went home. Rollins replied that she is home raising their children, which Punk would not know about.

Seth mentioned Punk going on Colt Cabana’s podcast to badmouth WWE. Then he said Punk went to the competition and asked, “How did that go?” The crowd ooh and ahhed both lines.

Punk said he did not leave because of the company, he left because of the guy who was in charge. Then he said that guy loved Rollins. Wow, he went there. He ended his diatribe by saying he will pull all the arrows he has in his back and “stuff them down your (Seth) corporate throat.”

More Reports