Show Recap --
Seth Rollins entered as a video package aired recapping his
night last week. Rollins said he barely escaped with the
United States title and ran down all the guys who wanted a
shot at his belt.
Rollins mentioned Austin Theory’s failed cash-in attempt and
the crowd chanted, “that was stupid.†He encouraged them to
chant that later when Theory was there.
Rollins said the US title was the most sought-after belt and
the top prize on Raw because he was the champion. He plugged
his main event title defence tonight against Finn Bálor.
Bobby Lashley interrupted. He warned Rollins that the
beatings would continue until he got the title back. Rollins
reminded Lashley that he lost to Brock Lesnar at Crown
Jewel. (Lashley still has a large gash on his chest from
last week.)
Mustafa Ali interrupted and a referee followed him out,
encouraging him to return to the back. (This never happens
but I guess the officials think Ali is too weak to confront
anyone alone.)
Lashley also warned him to leave. Ali went into the ring but
Lashley easily chucked him out of it. Ali jumped Lashley
when he turned his attention to Rollins but Lashley dumped
him out of the ring again. Lashley wondered if Ali was
stupid but offered to fight.
********
Bobby Lashley defeated Mustafa Ali (4:20)
Ali took a Dominator and the referee offered to stop the
match — two minutes into it. Ali said no. Lashley hit
consecutive chokeslams but Ali wouldn’t stay down. Ali came
back with a tornado DDT but Lashley turned him inside out
with a spear. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock and Ali passed
out.
********
Cathy Kelley interviewed AJ Styles, Mia Yim and the OC.
Styles said he’s had enough of Judgment Day and challenged
Finn Bálor to a match at Survivor Series so he can put an
end to this.
Luke Gallows thought he should get credit for bringing in
Yim because he was so good with the ladies. Karl Anderson
called Yim the toughest woman in the room and called her
“michin.†Kelley didn’t know what that meant so Yim told her
it was “crazy†in Korean. She told OC to have beers ready on
ice after her match. They all did the “too sweet†thing.
********
Mia Yim defeated Tamina (1:57)
Tamina decked Yim as the match started because she was
distracted by Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio sauntering
down the aisle. Yim dodged a splash, hit a few strikes and
hit Eat Defeat for the pinfall win.
Yim invited Ripley into the ring and Ripley teased getting
in before backing off. (The crowd was quiet for the match
but woke up when they thought Ripley might face off with
Yim.)
********
Kelley asked Riddle about Elias’ whereabouts. Riddle claimed
Elias was out trying to get a gig booked for them. Alpha
Academy interrupted. Chad Gable thought the idea of Riddle
and Elias as a team was even more ridiculous than them as a
band. Otis called them a clown show. (Riddle was unbothered
by Gable but was hurt that Otis insulted him.) Gable said
he’d see Riddle in the ring. Riddle played his bongos.
********
Damage CTRL approached Yim in the back. They were impressed
by her win and offered her a spot on their team at Survivor
Series. Yim turned them down. IYO SKY seemed to threaten her
before OC showed up. Damage CTRL backed off.
Chad Gable (w/Otis) defeated Riddle (9:47)
Riddle went to the top but Otis distracted him so Gable
brought him down with a release German suplex which led to
break. Riddle fought back after the break hitting an
exploder, senton, powerbomb and knee strike for two.
Gable reversed a Bro Derek attempt and applied an ankle lock
but Riddle got out of that and applied a triangle choke.
Gable hit a Cliffhanger DDT for two and Riddle came back
with a draping DDT.
Riddle set up for an RKO but was distracted by Otis. After a
couple of counters, Gable applied a backslide with his feet
on the ropes (with Otis holding Gable’s feet down) and
picked up the pinfall win. Riddle was stunned.
********
JBL and Baron Corbin played poker in the back. Corbin was
smoking a cigar (indoors). Some guy offered Kentucky whisky
to JBL but he didn’t want anything from Kentucky and
proceeded to mock the state. JBL had his own expensive
whisky from Uganda.
Akira Tozawa suddenly showed up at the table and wanted to
play. He said he’s never played poker and didn’t know the
rules. Corbin wanted him to leave but JBL laughed and told
him to stay.
********
[SECOND HOUR]
Miz TV
Miz had Byron Saxton host the segment. Saxton had questions
but Miz read from a prepared statement. Miz regretted paying
Dexter Lumis. He asked for empathy because he never asked
for time off in his 18 years there. He never got cheered or
got a pat on the back. He offered to get Lumis back on his
feet and asked for very little in return.
Saxton asked Miz why he told the private investigator a
different story. Miz was just telling her what she wanted to
hear so Hollywood would pick up his movie rights.
Johnny Gargano interrupted. Gargano claimed that Miz stopped
paying Lumis because he got caught up in the lie. Miz wanted
to know why Gargano was involved at all and claimed he just
wanted to hear people chant “Johnny Wrestling.†The crowd
chanted it and Gargano was happy to hear it.
Gargano called Miz a compulsive liar. They bickered about
Miz’s sweater for a bit before Miz eventually said “I’m
sorry†so they could finally move on. Gargano wanted Miz to
pay Lumis.
Gargano spoke to WWE officials and announced that Miz would
face Lumis in two weeks (presumably at Survivor Series). If
Lumis wins, Miz has to pay him everything he’s owed and
he’ll earn a WWE contract. Miz wanted Gargano to tell Lumis
that it would be lights out for him.
Gargano said Miz could tell Lumis himself. Lumis was in
disguise as a cameraman. Lumis was about to go after Miz but
Miz bailed. They played Lumis’ music as the segment ended
(despite Lumis not being under contract).
********
Earlier today, Kelley tried interviewing Shelton Benjamin
but they were quickly interrupted by Dominik and Damian
Priest. Dom said Benjamin has been a disappointment since
his deadbeat dad and Eddie Guerrero were a team. Benjamin
warned him to leave or he’d give him a beating. Priest
stepped in for Dom. Priest challenged him to a match but
Benjamin said he’d see Dominik in the ring. Dom was worried.
Dominik Mysterio (w/Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest) defeated
Shelton Benjamin (4:57)
Dom went for a 619 but Benjamin caught him and hit a
powerslam followed by a knee strike and exploder. Priest got
in Benjamin’s face and Dom used the distraction to apply a
schoolboy but only got a two count.
Benjamin applied an ankle lock but Ripley distracted the
referee and Priest pulled Dom into a rope break. Benjamin,
who has been wrestling for 22 years, turned his back on Dom
to argue with Priest. Dom shoved him into the ring post
before hitting a DDT and frog splash for the pinfall win.
********
Kelley interviewed Austin Theory about his failed cash-in.
Theory said nobody understood him or the pressure he was
under. He was touted to be the next big thing and he
exceeded those expectations to become the face of the
franchise. They hated him because they can’t relate and they
wanted him to fail — but he didn’t fail last week. He felt
more alive than ever.
Theory said Roman Reigns has been unstoppable and knew the
Bloodline would be there if he tried to cash in. Even in his
two previous cash-in attempts, he was foiled. He decided
instead to go against one of the greatest champions of the
past decade but Lashley stopped him.
Theory kept going until Dolph Ziggler interrupted to say,
“Worst. Cash-in. Ever.†Ziggler claimed he had the best
cash-in ever and said Theory was full of excuses. Theory
challenged him to a match and would prove there were no
excuses.
********
There was a War Games video and they explained the rules of
the match.
Dana Brooke did an interview earlier today voicing her
displeasure over Nikki Cross tossing the 24/7 title belt in
the trash.
Tag Team Champion IYO SKY (w/Dakota Kai, Bayley & Nikki
Cross) defeated Dana Brooke (3:18)
Brooke hit a DDT for two and tried a handspring elbow but
SKY caught her and hit a German suplex. SKY followed with a
running double knee strike and moonsault for the pinfall
win.
— After the match, Yim entered. He informed Damage CTRL that
she was joining Bianca Belair’s team at Survivor Series.
Belair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss entered to pose with Yim.
********
Back at the poker game, Tozawa had most of the chips after
winning 12 hands in a row. Corbin went all-in and claimed he
had three aces but he was lying. Tozawa challenged him to a
match before running off with the chips.
********
Theory entered without his cell phone and the announcers
made a note of it. They’re trying to tell the story that the
MITB briefcase was an anchor and Theory could be more
dangerous now without it.
Dolph Ziggler defeated Austin Theory via disqualification
(14:38)
[THIRD HOUR]
The crowd was quiet for the first portion but got into it
after a break. Ziggler applied a sleeper but Theory powered
out of it before Ziggler caught him with a knee strike and
fameasser for a nearfall. Theory twice drove Ziggler
shoulder-first into the ring post but Ziggler returned the
favour after Theory tried it again. Ziggler followed with a
Zig-Zag for a close nearfall.
Ziggler set up for a superkick but Theory clocked him with a
right hand and hit A-Town Down. Theory had the match won but
he hit his finisher again before hammering away at Ziggler.
The ref implored Theory to stop as he launched Ziggler into
the steel steps. Theory rammed Ziggler’s head into the
announce table and the ref called for the bell. Theory
chucked chairs at a helpless Ziggler until officials ran
down to stop him. Theory walked off and acted pissed.
********
Damage CTRL seemed concerned in the back when they were
approached by Ripley. Ripley added herself to their Survivor
Series team now that Yim was on the other side and wasn’t
going to take any objections. Ripley left. Damage CTRL was
thrilled. (Cross was off in her own world in the
background.)
********
Baron Corbin (w/JBL) defeated Akira Tozawa (3:34)
Tozawa was all over Corbin and hit a suicide dive but he
tried another one and Corbin launched him into the
barricade. Tozawa fired back and hit a shining wizard but
Corbin caught him off the top rope and hit End of Days for
the pinfall win.
********
Kelley interviewed Belair and her team. Belair said they
were dangerous now but just wait until we see who their last
partner was. Kelley asked who would represent their team in
the singles match to determine who would have the War Games
advantage. Belair wouldn’t reveal that just yet.
Gable and Otis approached Kelley as Belair and friends left.
Gable bragged until Rollins appeared. Rollins was just there
to sing his theme song.
Elsewhere, Saxton asked Bálor if he would accept Styles’
challenge. Bálor said “of course†he accepted. Everyone
should know who he is by now and if they didn’t, just ask
Edge and Rey Mysterio. He planned on becoming the US
champion right now.
********
Seth Rollins defeated Finn Bálor to retain the United States
Championship (21:12)
They went to break two minutes in after Rollins hit a dive
but Bálor took control after the break when he shoved
Rollins into the corner of the announce table.
Rollins fought out of an abdominal stretch and hit a suicide
dive followed by a flying knee strike and clothesline for
two. Bálor avoided a stomp and hit a slingblade but ran
right into a Rollins superkick. Rollins went for a frog
splash but Bálor countered into a cradle for a two count.
After a second commercial break, Rollins tried a powerbomb
into the barricade (the move that injured Bálor in their
Universal title match years back) but Bálor slipped out and
dropkicked him into the barricade.
Rollins hit a sit-out powerbomb in the ring for two. Bálor
hit a dropkick but Rollins cut him off and hit a superplex.
Before Rollins could transition into something else, Bálor
hit 1916 for two. They traded counters until Rollins hit a
falcon arrow for two.
Judgment Day ran out for a distraction and Bálor used a
schoolboy for two. Rollins was distracted again allowing
Bálor to hit a double foot stomp.
The OC and Yim ran out to brawl with Judgment Day. Anderson
and Dom ended up in the ring. Anderson wiped out Dom so
Bálor clotheslined Anderson out of the ring.
As the brawl continued, Bálor hit a dropkick and went to the
top. The ref was distracted by Dom so Styles tripped Bálor
off the top rope.
The two teams brawled through the crowd and Rollins hit
Bálor with the curb stomp for the pinfall win. Rollins
retains.
— Theory attacked Rollins immediately after the match.
Theory gave him A-Town Down, tossed him around ringside, hit
A-Town Down again and hit him with the title belt. Theory
held up the US title belt as the show ended.
(This match was really going along well until all of the
interference. Styles vs. Bálor is happening at Survivor
Series and it’s hard not to think about how much
interference there will be, assuming it remains a singles
match.)