Posted on 10/08/124 by Bob Magee
CM Punk promo
CM Punk entered. He walked out gingerly and remained on the
stage. His face had multiple bandages and his right arm was
taped up.
Instead of saying it felt great to be in St. Louis on a
Monday night, he asked if it felt good to be not dead. He
said he was in no condition to even be here which is why he
stayed on the stage instead of walking to the ring. It hurt
to smile but he wanted to see the fans.
“I’m alive but I don’t feel like it. I’m a winner but it
doesn’t feel like I won.” The way the Hell in a Cell match
made him feel just left him with a lot of questions. He’s
banged up worse than ever. He loved the fans but, “I just
don’t know.”
He wanted to thank three groups of people, all of whom have
more in common than they would like to admit. The first was
his fans. They chanted his name for seven years and waited
three more years for him to come home. The second was his
peers. Those in front of and behind the camera. He was
privileged to walk the hallways with them.
The third group were the people who didn’t like him at all.
There was a thin line between love and hate and he turned
their hate into cash. “I don’t know why you keep doubting
me, but keep doubting me.”
Punk was headed home to see his wife for the first time in
five weeks and he had a lot of flowers to buy. He wasn’t
sure when he’d see the fans again but he thanked them.
Seth Rollins entered. Rollins faced off with Punk. Rollins
gave him a fake smile before walking off and bumping his
shoulder.
Seth Rollins promo
Rollins entered the ring and told Punk to get well soon—
because the sooner he did the sooner Rollins could kick his
ass and retire him for good.
Rollins said things have been crazy around here while he was
gone. The Rock returned at Bad Blood (Rock was booed) and
hell must have frozen over because Cody Rhodes teamed with
Roman Reigns.
Rollins was back to destroy Bronson Reed. Reed wasn’t here
tonight but Rollins had a message and he delivered it to the
camera. Rollins finally knew Reed’s name after six Tsunamis.
Rollins offered him a singles match anytime he wanted.
Jey Uso entered. They faced off for a moment before Rollins
left. Jey’s match is up next.
(Boy, was there a stark contrast in promo quality going from
Punk to Rollins. And Punk’s promo wasn’t even anything
special.)
********
Jey Uso defeated Xavier Woods (w/Kofi Kingston) to retain
the Intercontinental Championship (6:34)
They went to break 80 seconds into the match after Woods
gave Jey an Attitude Adjustment outside the ring. Woods
blocked Jey’s comeback attempt and tried a springboard elbow
drop but Jey caught him with a mid-air superkick. Jey
followed with an Uso splash for the pinfall win.
This was nothing. More of the match happened during
commercials than on TV, although it probably didn’t matter.
— Kingston checked on Woods after the match. Jey embraced
Kingston and offered his hand to Woods. Woods walked off
without shaking his hand. Kingston left with Woods and Woods
asked why he shook his hand.
Bron Breakker suddenly speared Jey Uso in the ring. Kingston
jumped in to assist despite Woods’ protest. Breakker speared
Kingston and speared Woods outside the ring. Breakker
speared Jey once more.
********
There was a Rhea Ripley pre-taped promo. She said she should
have seen it coming at Bad Blood. Liv Morgan couldn’t beat
her on her own. She needed Raquel Rodriguez. Now Ripley
would just need to go through both of them.
********
They showed the logo we assume is for the Viking Raiders.
Jackie Redmond tried interviewing Bron Breakker but he blew
her off.
********
The announcers discussed the “incident” involving Kevin
Owens and Cody Rhodes. However, they wouldn’t specifically
mention either guy or tell us what happened. (Rollins
referenced it earlier but also said he wasn’t supposed to
talk about it.) They did show Triple H’s statement.
Cody Rhodes was shown backstage but the video cut out.
(It seemed like they were having technical difficulties
here.)
********
Karrion Kross spoke to the Miz. Miz made it clear that his
actions (turning on R-Truth) were his own and he was not in
the Final Testament. (There was another screen glitch here
but this time it was the Wyatt Sicks logo.)
Truth appeared. There was a brief moment of comedy until Miz
made it clear to him that they were done. Truth wondered how
Miz could do this to him. Their kids play together. Truth
was still confused so Miz challenged him to a match next
week. Kross was happy.
This first hour has been kind of a dud so far.
********
Donnybrook match: Sheamus defeated Pete Dunne (12:55)
Ringside was decorated with whisky barrels, shillelaghs,
cricket bats, and a wooden mobile bar with bar stools. Dunne
leaped off the bar but Sheamus caught him and slammed onto
the announce table ahead of a break.
[SECOND HOUR]
Dunne climbed atop two sets of whisky barrels for a dive
attempt but Sheamus cut him off again, this time hitting him
with a shillelagh. Sheamus climbed atop the barrels and gave
Dunne a White Noise through some tables. The crowd popped
and chanted, “This is awesome.” Sheamus hit a knee strike
and Razor’s Edge in the ring for a nearfall.
Dunne snapped Sheamus’ fingers and smashed him on the back
with a cricket bat for two. Dunne grabbed a wooden drawer
from the bar and cracked him on the back with it. This was a
real wood drawer so Sheamus’ back was all bruised up
immediately. Dunne zip-tied Sheamus’ hands behind his back
and hit a knee strike but Sheamus still managed to kick out.
Dunne tried using the bat but Sheamus nailed a knee strike
and Brogue Kick (with his hands still tied) for the pinfall
win. This was good.
*******
Cathy Kelley interviewed Cody Rhodes in the back and asked
about Bad Blood. Rhodes wasn’t here to speculate on what
happened at Bad Blood and said we’d find out more on
Smackdown. Rhodes was simply here to find out what it takes
to become the first-ever Crown Jewel Champion.
Rhodes bumped into Sami Zayn. Zayn said he would be the one
Rhodes was facing at Crown Jewel. Zayn offered to talk to
him about what happened at Bad Blood. Rhodes cut him off and
said he was here to watch the world title match. Rhodes said
Zayn shocked the world by beating Gunther at WrestleMania
and wanted to see him do it again. Rhodes wished him luck.
********
Earlier today, Raquel Rodriguez arrived with Liv Morgan and
Dominik Mysterio. Morgan acknowledged Ripley’s win via DQ
but Morgan still had the title as well as Dom and Rodriguez.
That means she was the only person in WWE who won even when
she lost.
Redmond asked Rodriguez if she was officially in Judgment
Day. Dom wanted to leave and Morgan agreed. Redmond told
them the show hadn’t even started yet. Redmond tried to get
something out of Rodriguez again but Rodriguez ignored her.
They left.
********
Ava met with Adam Pearce in the back. Ethan Page entered and
introduced himself to Pearce. Page complained about Punk
costing him the NXT title match and wanted him to do
something about it. Pearce told him Ava was the one who
appointed Punk as the referee. Page didn’t want to deal with
Ava and she told him she was off the clock anyway.
Sexxy Red showed up. Page was about to shake her hand until
she mentioned that Trick Williams whipped his ass. Page
left.
********
Pure Fusion Collective do the gun-pointing gesture in their
entrance. I’m pretty sure this is something they discouraged
for years but now seems to be acceptable.
Ten-woman tag match: Lyra Valkyria, Natalya, Zelina Vega,
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance defeated Sonya Deville, Shayna
Baszler, Zoey Stark, Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre (7:12)
There were a bunch of dives leading to break 80 seconds into
the match. Natalya set up for a dive too but Deville yanked
her out of the ring and shoved her into the steel steps.
Vega hit a moonsault but covered Stark who wasn’t legal.
Deville hit a knee strike but her cover was broken up and
everyone traded moves. Valkyria hit a diving leg drop on a
hunched-over Deville for the pinfall win.
This was skippable.
********
(There was a poster that leaked showing Gunther vs. Cody
Rhodes and Liv Morgan vs. Nia Jax as the matches at Crown
Jewel. They acknowledged it here and said the card could
change.)
Zayn entered for the main event at 9:32 pm.
There was a promo by Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill on
Damage CTRL. They offered them a tag title match next week.
********
Next week on Raw:
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane for
the tag titles
Kofi Kingston vs. Bron Breakker
*******
Gunther entered for the main event at 9:40 pm.
Gunther defeated Sami Zayn to retain the World Heavyweight
Championship (16:43)
Zayn feigned a dive and they went to break 70 seconds into
this world title match. Gunther countered a crossbody and
ran his boot into Zayn’s face. Gunther hit chops and boots.
Zayn tried Blue Thunder Bomb multiple times but Gunther
blocked it. Gunther applied a sleeper but Zayn countered
into the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. They went to break for
the second time in less than nine minutes.
Zayn gave Gunther a back body drop outside the ring, an
exploder suplex, and a Helluva Kick into the barricade. Zayn
struggled to get Gunther to his feet so he had to break the
referee’s ten count. Zayn hoisted Gunther on his shoulders
and placed him in the ring.
Zayn hit a Helluva Kick to the back of Gunther’s head and
went for another one but Gunther levelled him with a
clothesline for two. Gunther tried a powerbomb but Zayn
reversed into a small package for a nearfall.
Gunther hit a dropkick and powerbomb for another nearfall.
The crowd chanted for Sami. Gunther followed with another
clothesline and powerbomb but Zayn kicked out at one (which
got a pop).
Gunther applied a sleeper and Zayn was trapped. The ref
checked Zayn’s hand to see if it would drop but Zayn raised
it and tried grabbing the bottom rope. However, Zayn faded
and finally passed out. Gunther retained.
— Rhodes entered to face off with Gunther as the show ended.
(The final portion of this match after the last commercial
break was really good. But this was an otherwise skippable
Raw show despite only being two hours. This was the first
half of a double-taping, so this show was likely paced a bit
differently than it will be in future weeks.)