CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman (and his dog) and
Bronson Reed were shown arriving. Joe Tessitore and Wade
Barrett welcomed us to the show while standing in the ring.

There was a video package of Jey Uso beating Bron Breakker
last week to win the Intercontinental Championship. This
included fan footage from people in the arena and watching
at home.

Jey Uso segment

Jey and his son were in the concourse surrounded by fans
before Jey made his way through the crowd to the ring as the
fans Yeeted along. Jey posed with the title belt as
fireworks went off. The crowd loudly chanted, “You deserve
it.”

Jey said this was his first singles championship and he
would fight every week for it against anyone who wanted it.
Jey loved the fans and thanked them for having his back all
these years. He appreciated being able to enter with the
title and his son by his side.


His family made the road hard for him. Roman Reigns made it
hard for him. He was “just a twin” for years. They didn’t
know him then but they know him now.

Jey tossed his shades aside and said his biggest fan was his
mother. She told him to go out there and show them who you
are. Go out there and get it. “I got it and Mama, we did
it.” He held up the belt.

Bron Breakker interrupted. Bron wasn’t out there to spoil
his fun or crash the party. He respected the title. He
respected Jey after their battle last week and on that one
day, Jey was the better man. Bron wasn’t going to spear or
attack Jey. Bron offered his hand and congratulated him. Jey
shook his hand.

Bron was about to leave but Jey stopped him. Jey said there
were some dogs in Indiana and people barked. Bron smiled and
left.

********

They announced that Raw would be two hours long starting
next week, with the show still starting at 8 pm ET.

Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio were outside by their
lowrider. Finn Bálor called Dom and let him know he wasn’t
there because of travel issues but he’d be back soon.

********

Xavier Woods defeated Rey Mysterio (7:34)

This was a first-time-ever match.

They went to break 90 seconds into the match after Rey hit a
dive. Rey had the better of Woods after the break, hitting a
springboard moonsault, seated senton and springboard
crossbody. Rey went for a 619 but Woods ducked. You could
see Rey release the strap on his mask just before the 619
attempt.


They awkwardly traded counters until Woods inadvertently
ripped off Rey’s mask. Rey covered his face and let his
guard down so Woods rolled him up for the win.

The crowd booed Woods who played innocent. Rey was not happy
with him.

********

Sonya Deville and Shayna Baszler approached Lyra Valkyria.
Deville sarcastically said it was too bad she would be alone
without Natalya or Zelina Vega at ringside. Deville told her
not to worry about Baszler because she didn’t bite, “unless
I tell her to.”

********

The same fiery logo that appeared on the screen last week
was shown again.

********

Kofi Kingston approached Woods. Kingston asked if he took
Rey’s mask off on purpose. Woods said no. “I respect Rey,
he’s the best.” Woods thought Kingston would be there to
congratulate him. Kingston was excited he won and beat a
former world champion.


Kingston said Jey offered him an IC title shot next week.
Woods sarcastically said he could stand by his side and
watch him climb the mountain again. Kingston said he turned
the title shot down and offered it to Woods instead and Jey
accepted. Woods was pumped and said he knew he could beat
Jey. They were excited and on the same page again.

(Karrion Kross was lurking in the background.)

********

Zoey Stark (w/Sonya Devilla & Shayna Baszler) defeated Lyra
Valkyria (7:13)

Valkyria fought back after an early break but Stark cut her
off with a forearm and springboard dropkick. Valkyria
reversed a Z360 attempt into a German suplex.

Baszler distracted the referee while Valkyria had it won
with a cradle. With the ref still distracted, Deville hit
Valkyria with a knee strike and Stark followed with Z360 for
the pinfall win.


— The heels attacked Valkyria after the match but Kayden
Carter and Katana Chance ran out to make the save. They hit
Deville and Baszler with the keg stand.

********

There was a video package for the Last Monster Standing
match which is tonight’s main event. Adam Pearce informed
security he wanted the match to stay in the ring. Why would
you book a last man standing match, then?

CM Punk walked by. He’s up next.

********

[SECOND HOUR]

Katana Chance told Jackie Redmond they were out for revenge
against Pure Fusion Collective. They were planning on going
after the tag titles next. Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre showed up
to tell them they weren’t cutting the line. Chance and
Carter got irrationally upset and Chance started screaming
at them at the top of her lungs.


********

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre segment

They lowered the Hell in a Cell cage for this segment.
Pearce was in the ring with about eight security guards.
Pearce said there would be no physicality between Punk and
McIntyre tonight but wanted to give them one final chance to
speak ahead of their match. (He didn’t say what the
consequences would be if they did fight.)

Punk entered wearing a white t-shirt and white pants.
McIntyre wore an all-black tuxedo. McIntyre said he wore a
tuxedo out of respect. Not respect for Punk, but respect for
his wife. After Saturday, she would have to bathe and feed
Punk. She would probably leave him too.

McIntyre also wore a tux because there would be a
celebration when Punk was gone and he wouldn’t come back
this time. Punk has been back for less than a year and he
was injured for four months. Now he’d be gone forever and it
would be thanks to McIntyre.


Even after all the evidence has been presented to the fans,
they still chanted for Punk. Roxanne Perez worshiped Punk
but realized what kind of person he was after spending a few
days with him. Eventually, the fans would have to look in
the mirror and realize who the idiots were.

Punk hated McIntyre and McIntyre hated Punk. Punk taught
McIntyre how to hate. McIntyre didn’t have time for hate in
his life. Hate was a powerful weapon if you use it correctly
but it was dangerous if it stayed with you long-term. He was
lucky because, at Bad Blood, that hate would die with Punk.

Punk said people have called him a lot of things throughout
his career. Among them was the “voice of the voiceless.”
Tonight, Punk was voiceless because he had nothing to say to
a piece of garbage like McIntyre. Except that he was filled
with so much rage when he looked at McIntyre.


He couldn’t go home and has been staying at a hotel for four
weeks because he couldn’t subject his wife to the man all of
this has turned him into. He called McIntyre a son-of-a-
bitch who turned him into the fictitious boogeyman that his
harshest critics have accused him of being. That was exactly
the kind of man he needed to be on Saturday to send McIntyre
home to Scotland in a box.

Punk wanted him to remember that he prayed for this. When
McIntyre was on his hands and knees begging, he would look
up and Punk would wipe the blood in his eyes so he could see
him. McIntyre wouldn’t be praying to god or the devil, “You
will be praying to CM Punk.” Punk finished by saying, “I
will see you in hell.”


(This was a strong segment. The death threats are a bit much
but this was the go-home segment they needed after it felt
like this feud had run a bit cold the last few weeks.)

********

Cathy Kelley interviewed Braun Strowman. She asked if he was
feeling trepidations at all. He said he didn’t know what
trepidations meant (the fans laughed) but he was not
nervous. He would show the world he was the monster of
monsters when he won tonight.

Miz approached to speak to Strowman about interrupting his
match last week but R-Truth quickly interrupted. Strowman
was surprised to see him after getting hit by five Tsunamis.
Truth didn’t remember that. Strowman left to get ready.

Miz asked Truth what he was doing there. Truth said he
worked there. He also didn’t like the way Karrion Kross was
speaking to him and got them a tag match against booked A-
Op. Miz wasn’t sure who that was until he realized he meant
Authors of Pain.


********

Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn. He wasn’t necessarily bothered
by Gunther’s many rejections but was bothered by the
disrespect. You’d think he would be used to it but he
admitted it did bother him. It hit a sore spot hearing
Gunther say he wasn’t on his level.

He didn’t lose sleep over it though because he knew how good
he was. He knew he was good enough to become world champion.
Gunther could keep running and ducking his challenges but
Zayn would not go away that easily. Zayn would not stop
until he got his shot.

********

Six-man tag team match: Dominik Mysterio, Carlito & Tag Team
Champion JD McDonagh (w/Women’s Champion Liv Morgan)
defeated Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro (7:15)


The babyfaces hit flashy offence before they went to break
90 seconds in. LWO were on offence after the break and they
all hit dives. Wilde went to the top but Morgan distracted
the referee so he just stopped what he was doing instead of
just hitting the move.

Bálor showed up as a surprise and shoved Wilde off the top.
McDonagh hit him with The Devil Inside (backdrop suplex) for
the pinfall win.

********

Judgment Day segment

Judgment Day remained in the ring following a break. Bálor
said Damian Priest threatened to rip out his heart but he
didn’t have a heart. Bálor would prove that Priest was the
one who needed them and needed him. Judgment Day never
needed Priest.

Morgan said she would prove she was a home-wrecking, man-
stealing, heartbreaking, title-taking, greatest women’s
champion of all time.

Rhea Ripley interrupted. She had stagehands bring out the
shark cage for dramatic effect. Ripley knew all of Dom’s
dirty secrets, including that he was extremely
claustrophobic. When he was locked inside the shark cage
crying and soiling himself and cleaning himself up with his
new merch, he would have the best seat in the house to watch
his girlfriend realize that she was not as good as her.

The crowd cheered because Priest appeared in the ring behind
Judgment Day. He tossed McDonagh and Carlito aside before
going after Bálor. Ripley snuck up on Morgan and Dom and
chucked them into the barricade. Ripley tossed Dom into the
cage. Morgan was about to jump Ripley from behind but she
saw it coming and Morgan ran away. Ripley was about to lock
Dom in the cage but Morgan ran back in and attacked her.

The numbers caught up to Priest in the ring and Bálor
knocked him down with a slingblade. Judgment Day held back
Priest as Bálor hit him with a dropkick and three straight
Coup de Graces. Bálor stood tall with his buddies.

********

Sheamus cut a pre-taped promo on Pete Dunne, who he called
“Butch” and “loserweight.” Sheamus knew Dunne was dangerous
so if he wanted to play rough, they should have one final
banger. Sheamus offered Dunne to bring whatever gimmick he
wanted for a good old-fashioned Donnybrook match.

********

They paid tribute to Pete Rose who passed away today at 83.

********

Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane cut a pre-taped promo challenging
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill to a tag title match. Sky
said Damage CTRL hasn’t been the same since losing the
titles and they needed them back. Sky was in Belair’s head
after beating her and she would live rent-free in her head
when they won the tag titles.

********

Chad Gable (w/American Made) defeated Kofi Kingston
(w/Xavier Woods) (9:29)

This was yet another match that went to break after 90
seconds. Gable had a cut/bruise on his forehead before the
match began and he quickly began bleeding a bit once they
started.

[THIRD HOUR]

Gable hit a German suplex outside the ring before the break
and a diving headbutt after. Gable cut off Kingston’s
comeback with a t-bone suplex. They traded cradles until
Gable hit a cliffhanger DDT for two. Gable applied an ankle
lock but Kingston quickly countered into a cradle for two.

Gable blocked Trouble in Paradise and applied an ankle lock
but Kingston countered again. Kingston hit an SOS but Gable
got a rope break at two. Gable escaped the ring so Kingston
wiped out Gable and the Creeds with a splash off the steel
steps. Woods also attacked Julius Creed.

Ivy Nile distracted the referee (third ref distraction
tonight) but it was Woods who took advantage by tripping
Gable. It was a bad idea though because Kingston was about
to hit Trouble in Paradise and tripping Gable actually saved
him from the move. Gable hit Kingston with Chaos Theory for
the pinfall win.

Woods pleaded with a dejected Kingston after the match.

********

A few wrestlers were shown at football games over the
weekend. Seth Rollins was shown at the Ravens game, McIntyre
and Morgan at the Colts game, and Sheamus at the Notre Dame
game.

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed Bronson Reed. She asked if
Rollins’ eventual return would be a distraction for Reed
tonight. Reed said no. He wanted Rollins to return. He took
months off Rollins’ career and next time, he would take
years off his life. Reed would expose Strowman as the man
that he was because Reed was the last monster standing.

********

Wyatt Sicks VHS

We see your intent
Anger festering into rage
Do not go down this path
It ends in your demise
You know better
Do not force our hand
Heed our admonition

********

They announced that Ilja Dragunov suffered a suspected torn
ACL in a match against Gunther over the weekend and he would
be out of action for 6 to 9 months.

Gunther and Sami Zayn segment

Gunther entered. He said loved every aspect of being the
world champion — being the top guy, the money, the luxuries,
and the amenities. But there was one thing he hated about
his life right now and it was the insult of having to deal
with Sami Zayn every week. He could not ask for anyone more
annoying than Zayn.

Zayn interrupted. He said if he was so annoying there was
one way to put an end to it. All Gunther had to do was put
his title on the line. Zayn wanted Gunther to tell the world
why he wouldn’t do it. Gunther said Zayn wasn’t on his
level.

Zayn asked why he was the one who beat him at WrestleMania.
Gunther beat former champions and Hall of Famers but it was
Zayn who pinned him. Gunther thought he was so much better
than Zayn and that result drove him crazy. Gunther was
scared it would happen again. The crowd called Gunther a
coward.

Gunther admitted he was afraid. He wasn’t afraid of Zayn, he
was afraid for his reputation. Losing to the better man
would have been no problem, but losing to Zayn was the
biggest embarrassment of his career. Gunther was so
confident he would win at Mania that he flew his family in.
He had to look his father in the eye who told him he flew
from Vienna to Philadelphia just to watch him lose to that
bum Sami Zayn.

Gunther didn’t expect him to understand because his family
was used to seeing him fail. Gunther’s family expected
everything from him. He was the golden goose of his family.
He was special and something Zayn would never be, the world
heavyweight champion.

Zayn said he did lose a lot in front of his family but he
kept pulling himself up and moved forward. But Gunther
crumbled after he lost. Gunther never even asked for a
rematch. He disappeared because he couldn’t show his face.
All because his dad made him feel like a loser. Now he was
showing his dad he was also a coward.

Gunther leveled Zayn with a clothesline. Zayn fought back
but Gunther caught him in a sleeper hold before crushing him
with a powerbomb. Gunther accepted Zayn’s challenge. Zayn
sat up, smiled and said, “I got you.”

********

Authors of Pain (w/Karrion Kross, Scarlett & Paul Ellering)
defeated R-Truth & The Miz (3:02)

Miz turned on Truth.

Truth made the hot tag to Miz but he immediately turned
around and booted him. The crowd booed as Miz walked off.
Kross was delighted. AOP hit Truth with What a Rush (combo
powerbomb/neckbreaker) for the pinfall win.

********

Kelley tried interviewing Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser but they
were interrupted by Bron Breakker. Bron wanted to see
Gunther for himself. Gunther called him a badass and Bron
said he’d find out for himself soon.

(Woods and Kingston could be seen arguing in the
background.)

********

Next week on Raw in St. Lous (2-hour show):

Gunther vs. Sami Zayn for the World Heavyweight Championship
Jey Uso vs. Xavier Woods for the Intercontinental
Championship
Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne in a “Donnybrook match”
********

Last Monster Standing: Braun Strowman defeated Bronson Reed
(19:12)

They went to break 90 seconds in after Strowman chokeslammed
Reed through the announce table. Reed got up at a six count.

There were five chairs set up outside the ring and Strowman
ran as slow as ever to knock Reed off the apron and through
the chairs. Strowman attacked Reed with a chair and they
wound up atop an equipment box. Reed hoisted Strowman on his
shoulders and hit a DVD through some tables.

After a break, Reed tackled Strowman through the barricade
but he got up at seven. Reed tackled him through another
barricade, taking out some “fans” in the process. Officials
ran out to check on the fans. Reed hit Strowman with a
Tsunami but the referee was distracted by commotion.

Reed hit another Tsunami but the ref still “wasn’t there” to
count. I’m not sure the camera was supposed to pick up on
this but the referee was actually staring right at this but
when Reed left the ring to confront him, his back was
suddenly turned as he spoke with officials at ringside.

Pearce confronted Reed so Reed grabbed him. A bunch of
security guards tried to pull Reed away and as they all
huddled together, Strowman leaped off the top and wiped out
everyone with a splash. Both men got up before ten.

Strowman went to the top but Reed chucked a chair at his
head. Reed hit a superplex and the ring posts exploded. The
ring was (probably) supposed to collapse but it actually
didn’t. The crowd chanted “Holy sh-t” anyway.

Reed crawled toward the steel steps (to try to get up) but
Seth Rollins ran out and stomped him against the steps. The
crowd popped for Rollins. With Reed down, Strowman just
barely beat the ten count for the win.

• F4wonline