[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woooo!
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman Reigns] Acknowledge me.
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
♪ Let's go ♪
♪ I got a vision I see in my head ♪
♪ A melody buried deep into my soul ♪
♪ They call us crazy We cuttin' the Edge ♪
♪ Decided our stories are gonna be told ♪
♪ Break the rules, break the laws This is the moment we change it all ♪
♪ Yeah, greatness ♪
♪ Yeah, it feels like greatness ♪
♪ Legendary in the makin' ♪
♪ Reach out and we take it ♪
♪ 'Bout to emerge, we on the verge ♪
♪ And it feels like greatness ♪
♪ Yeah, greatness ♪
♪ Yeah, it feels like greatness ♪
♪ Woo, greatness… ♪
[fireworks popping]
[crowd cheering]
♪ 'Bout to emerge, we on the verge ♪
♪ And it feels like greatness ♪
[Cole] It is a historic night here on Monday Night Raw.
We are live at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia.
The capacity crowd is ready
as we prepare for a Women's Championship match here live tonight.
She's known as "The Eradicator."
She is one of the most impressive women to ever step foot in WWE.
And tonight, Rhea Ripley goes head-to-head
with one woman who can match her power for power.
That is Raquel Rodriguez.
"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio banned from ringside tonight.
Raquel versus Rhea for the World Title.
[Wade] And not only that, the imposing Gunther
has stamped his name into history with a record
Intercontinental Championship reign
of 458 days and counting.
Imperium recognizes the greatness of The Ring General
in a championship celebration later on tonight.
[Cole] And The American Nightmare is here.
Cody Rhodes, live on Monday Night Raw.
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Samantha] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"Main Event"
Jey Uso!
[Cole] Well, the aforementioned Cody Rhodes
had a big part to play in Jey Uso's return to WWE
after he quit a month ago.
But Jey Uso is back, but he's learning one valuable lesson, Wade.
Life isn't always greener on the other side.
[Wade] Jey Uso is a big-time player.
No surprises that Raw management
leapt at the chance to get him under contract.
But I'll tell you this,
I speak to a small circle of people in the locker room.
They don't want him here.
Jey Uso is currently a toxic element to the rest of the locker room.
Aside from perhaps Cody Rhodes himself and maybe Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Well, Jey Uso made a lot of enemies over the years
as he was part of The Bloodline.
People aren't going to forget.
So, Jey Uso is going to have to prove himself here
on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] A lot of bridges that Jey Uso burned
and a lot of bridges that need rebuilding.
That will not happen overnight.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] So, The Judgment Day who has made it very clear
[crowd chanting] Uso! Uso! Uso!
[Jey] Hey!
"Main Event" Jey Uso is now in your city.
[crowd cheering]
Yo.
It feels good to be out The Bloodline, to be on my own.
Hey. But most importantly,
it feels real good to be right here on Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheering]
["Fight" playing]
[Cole] Kevin Owens, clearly a man who has an issue with Jey Uso being here.
If you think about the things that The Bloodline, including Jey Uso,
did to Kevin Owens over the past three years,
you can't blame KO for feeling that way.
[Wade] Well, if looks could kill, who would want to be Jey Uso right now?
[Cole] And it's been interesting because Kevin Owens' tag-team partner, Sami Zayn,
obviously, was very pleased with the fact
that Jey Uso returned to Monday Night Raw last week.
[Wade] Safe to say KO and Zayn have a difference of opinion,
not for the first time.
[Cole] KO's had a week to think about it. Let's see what happens here.
[crowd chanting] KO! KO! KO!
I think what you meant to say at the beginning there is
Jey Uso is now on The Kevin Owens Show.
[crowd cheering]
Look, man.
I've been exactly where you are right now.
Same situation, same place. I've been there. I know.
I know what you're going through.
See, because I'm man enough to admit it.
I did a lot of really bad things to a lot of good people.
And eventually I found myself feeling like I needed to make a change.
And then, when I tried to make that change, I tried to make things right,
I tried to make up for the mistakes that I committed in the past, it was hard.
It was hard. It took a while for me to earn people's respect.
It took a while for me to earn people's trust.
In fact, some people in that locker room still don't respect me,
still don't trust me. But that's fine.
So I… I know, I know. I understand.
Well, let me tell you this… McIntyre, Riddle.
That's just two of a lot of guys in that locker room
who don't want you here.
I have people that I don't talk to ever coming up to me and saying,
"Hey, Jey Uso does not belong in our locker room
and we should do something about it."
So let me tell you, Jey, this ain't going to be easy. It's not.
Hey, but, look, it's great, right?
Cody… Cody Rhodes seems to be willing to give you a chance.
And last week… Last week,
Sami welcomed you back with open arms.
But, Jey, look at me. That's it.
That's it. You want to earn people's trust,
you want to earn people's respect?
As far as I'm concerned, let me tell you this.
You have a long way to go to earn my trust and my respect
and prove to me that you're not just the same scumbag you were
when you were running around with The Bloodline.
-But-- -["The Other Side" playing]
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I don't believe what I'm hearing.
Nobody speaks to "Main Event" Jey Uso like that.
Jey why do you have to prove yourself to Kevin Owens?
Because you don't have to prove yourself to me. You know why?
Because "Grand Slam" Finn respects you.
Just like the entire Judgment Day respect you.
[Damian Priest] Kevin…
You don't speak for the locker room, man.
And you definitely don't speak for The Judgment Day,
because we're the ones that run the show.
[crowd booing]
Now, Jey…
I understand if you're going to need some time to make up your mind.
Just know that The Judgment Day door is always open to you.
You just got to walk through it.
Hey, man, not for nothing.
Look at "Dirty" Dom. He said no a thousand times.
[crowd booing]
They could react that way all they want,
but at the end of the day, he's his best version.
And look at him now as a champ.
[crowd booing]
[booing intensifies]
-The Judgment Day-- -[booing intensifies]
-They've always been there. -[booing intensifies]
-Through my lowest of lows-- -[booing intensifies]
-And highest of highs-- -[booing intensifies]
-Jey… -[booing intensifies]
[speaking indistinctly]
¡Cállense!
[crowd booing]
[in English] Especially when someone like Kevin Owens questions your character.
You know what? Enough.
Kevin, we came out here because we thought we had a match with you and Sami Zayn.
What happened? Where is he?
Yeah, you're right. That's why I'm dressed to fight.
And look, Sami's not here.
But you know what? It doesn't matter.
I'll fight. One, two, three of you. I don't care.
I'm here for a fight.
[crowd cheering]
Hey, hey, hey. KO, don't worry about Sami, 'cause I'm here too.
You said you want my respect or my trust. What you say, man?
"Main Event" Jey Uso and Kevin Owens versus Judgment Day.
[crowd cheering]
[indistinct protests]
[crowd chanting] Uso! Uso! Uso!
We're trying to help you!
Let's do it.
[Cole] Oh!
Kevin Owens and Jey Uso taking down The Judgment Day
and agreeing to, at least, a soft alliance here tonight.
[Wade] What on earth-- Never saw that coming in a million years, Cole.
[Cole] Let's make this match official. Can this alliance get along?
Come on! Come on!
[Cole] Yeah, the match is gonna happen.
Jey Uso is teaming with Kevin Owens tonight,
believe it or not, against Bálor and Damian Priest,
the Tag Team Champions from The Judgment Day.
-[bell ringing] -And here we go.
[Wade] Hard to believe that that tag team has been formed in the blink of an eye.
I would have thought that KO would rather tag with the invisible man,
but perhaps he's too beat up after the beating Miz gave him last week.
-Well, let's see how this. -One… two…
It don't gotta be like that. Respect. It don't have to be that way.
[crowd chanting] Ucey! Ucey! Ucey!
[Cole] So, The Judgment Day, who has made it very clear
that they'd love to recruit Jey Uso to their group,
said they will show Jey Uso the respect that he deserves,
that they will have his back.
Meanwhile, Kevin Owens came out here tonight and told Jey Uso
that there's only a couple of people in the locker room
that actually want you here.
You have to earn the respect of the others.
And that's what Jey Uso is attempting to do tonight
by teaming with Kevin Owens.
[Wade] What an acquisition for The Judgment Day Jey Uso truly would be.
"Main Event" Jey Uso, a man who can do it all in the ring.
And, of course, The Judgment Day would love to augment
their already massive power here on Raw.
[Cole] While they continue to use Dominik Mysterio as an example,
the current North American Champion, who turned his back on his father,
stabbed his Hall of Fame father in the back
to join The Judgment Day.
Oh, and there's a big right hand.
Some of what The Judgment Day has said is true.
Dominik Mysterio's career has blossomed since joining The Judgment Day.
[Wade] Virginia was for lovers, I haven't seen much love
sent the way of Dominik Mysterio by this audience.
[Cole] And Kevin Owens now.
Notice how he was glancing back at Jey Uso with a wary eye.
Of course, KO is…
There's no way he's going to trust Jey Uso 100% in this tag-team match.
[Wade] KO barely trusts his best friend, Sami Zayn.
What chance does Jey Uso have?
[Cole] Oh! Face-first to Finn. Here's the cover, hook of the leg
on the self-proclaimed "Grand Slam" Finn.
Finn Bálor, who's now won every championship afforded to you in WWE.
[Wade] Simply brilliant, Finn Bálor has been since arriving here in WWE,
and continues to strive for the great moments.
[Cole] Kevin Owens favoring his knee, as Damian Priest,
Señor Money in the Bank, comes in off the tag.
This is how Judgment Day turned this match around.
Bálor with a chop block from behind.
Remember, it was Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
who knocked off The Usos back at WrestleMania, Wade,
to stop the 622-day reign of The Usos
as the longest reigning Tag Champs in WWE history.
[Wade] One of the most incredible reigns you will ever see.
[Cole] Oh! And that's just scratching the surface
of the bad blood between KO and Jey Uso.
Owens now finally makes a tag, and here comes "Main Event" Jey Uso.
Jey from the top rope, crossbody.
Lateral press now on Priest,
and a kick-out at one.
Remember what The Bloodline cost Kevin Owens over the years.
A number of opportunities for Roman Reigns' Undisputed Title,
as you take another look at the high-flying Jey Uso.
[Wade] High-flying Jey Uso.
How's about the strikes from The Punisher of The Judgment Day?
[Cole] Oh, and a right hand by Uso driving Priest back.
Jey sidestepping Damian Priest.
Samoan drop.
And Priest's going to roll out of harm's way.
And here comes Finn Bálor, going to run into a kick by Jey Uso.
Bálor sent outside the ring as well.
And Jey Uso…
is feeling it! Over the top,
taking out Judgment Day.
And Dominik Mysterio, a cheap shot on the bad knee of Kevin Owens.
That could turn the complexion of this match-up around, live on Raw.
[Cole] Kevin Owens, bad knee and all, fighting back
against Damian Priest in this tag-team match-up.
It's The Judgment Day against KO and Jey Uso,
cover, kick-out by Owens at two.
[Wade] KO looking in real trouble here.
We're not long removed from that Steel City Street Fight at Payback.
Put through the ringer once again is the body of Kevin Owens,
and it looks like it's starting to give out.
[Cole] You know, Judgment Day really knows how to play the game.
We saw them out here trying to convince Jey Uso to join the group earlier on,
Friday night on SmackDown,
as the Jimmy Uso saga with The Bloodline continues.
Judgment Day involved in that as well.
Sending AJ Styles to Solo Sikoa. Almost a sacrificial lamb was Styles
at the hands of Judgment Day.
No one can figure out what they were doing there.
[Wade] I'll tell you right now, a ticket to The Judgment Day clubhouse
is the hottest ticket in WWE.
You're in. You're golden.
[Cole] Nobody home as Owens slipped out of harm's way.
Tag made, and here's Jey Uso.
And Jey Uso picking up the pace.
Stops Finn in his tracks.
And Uso with a big right. Knocks Finn down.
And Finn…
Rakes the eyes, as Jey went for the Samoan drop.
[Wade] No other way to stop the momentum. Uso is on fire.
[Cole] Kick to the face.
Bálor in the corner in trouble.
[crowd cheering]
-U… -[crowd] …so!
[Cole] And Jey, as Finn moves out of harm's way.
Bálor back to his feet. Double-leg takedown, and a stomp to the chest.
[Wade] Jey Uso simply not going to have it that easy against "Grand Slam" Finn.
The man who's won it all.
[Cole] And Judgment Day, the current Tag Team Champions.
And Uso planting Bálor off that wicked neckbreaker.
And now, Damian on the apron, kick by Uso,
Bálor now, rolls up Jey, two-count kick-out.
Think Bálor had a handful of tights as well.
Kick now by Uso to Finn Bálor, and now, Bálor is in the drop zone.
[Wade] Perfect timing from Finn Bálor. Just in the nick of time.
Saving the match for Judgment Day. Watch once again.
At the last millisecond, knees up.
May well have injured his own knee in the process,
but for now, Judgment Day lives on.
[Cole] And as WWE Universe trying to rally Uso and Kevin Owens.
[Wade] KO back from the dead.
[Cole] KO pounding away on Damian Priest.
[Wade] Pugnacious as they come.
Who'd want to be Damian Priest right now?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Looking for the South of Heaven Chokeslam.
KO still favoring the knee.
Kevin Owens, second rope.
Now, what's he going to do with Priest here?
Tornado DDT!
-Cover by Owens. -One, two…
[Cole] Priest at two!
[Wade] KO with one of the deepest playbooks in the entire locker room.
Digging deep tonight,
trying to work around that wounded knee, and he almost got the victory.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, KO! Let's go, KO! Let's go, KO!
And the "Let's go, KO" chants now,
ringing throughout the Scope here in Norfolk.
[Wade] Last few weeks really starting to catch up with Kevin Owens
at the worst possible moment.
[Cole] KO with a shot to the kidney.
High above the ring here on Monday Night Raw.
Head-butts from Owens.
Tag. Here comes Bálor.
And again, Kevin Owens has absorbed so much punishment
not only tonight, but as Wade mentioned,
the Steel City Street Fight a week and a half ago.
Showing it tonight. But wait a minute! From the top rope!
Brainbuster by Owens!
[Wade] Can Owens make the cover, though?
[Cole] Kevin Owens dragging himself into the cover,
hook of the leg,
Damian Priest breaks things up.
[Wade] Well, the match was won by Kevin Owens right there
had he been able to make that cover soon enough.
[Cole] And now, Priest…
and Kevin Owens look for the Stunner.
Wait a minute, Jey Uso inadvertently took out Kevin Owens!
[Wade] Choose your friends wisely.
[Cole] Come on, Wade. That was clearly an accident.
Uso with a superkick to Kevin Owens.
Finn Bálor. Tope rope, Coup de Grace.
-Cover by Bálor… -[crowd] One, two, three!
-And The Judgment day secures the win. -[bell ringing]
["The Other Side" playing]
[Samantha] Here are your your winners, the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions,
The Judgment Day!
[Cole] That looked innocent enough. It looked inadvertent.
But here's the problem when you have the past that the Jey Uso has.
No one trusts you. Every accident looks like it was meant to be.
And that's the problem facing Jey Uso now.
[Wade] Jey Uso can say whatever he wants,
I promise you, right now, KO sees nothing but a snake.
[Cole] And it was a shame because Owens and Jey Uso
were getting along so well in this match.
Until this happened.
Now, the right hand clearly blinded Jey Uso momentarily.
Priest moved out of harm's way. The superkick was delivered.
[Wade] It's almost like Jey Uso
was doing Judgment Day's dirty work for them.
Perhaps, by chance, as you mentioned, Michael Cole.
But ultimately, you're sitting in the drop zone,
Coup de Grace and it's over.
Yeah.
[Cole] Judgment Day victorious here tonight.
[Finn] Undisputed Tag Team Champions of the world!
My bad.
[Cole] Well, to be honest, Wade, I was sort of surprised that the relationship
actually lasted as long as it did in that match against The Judgment Day
between Kevin Owens and Jey Uso.
[Wade] Well, trust takes years and years to earn,
and it's lost in seconds.
And right now, it's going to take a long, long time
for Jey Uso to rebuild his reputation.
Yeah, his reputation not only with Kevin Owens,
but with the rest of the locker room here on Monday Night Raw.
Judgment Day victorious. You didn't see Rhea Ripley out here.
The Women's World Champion's getting ready for her title match later tonight.
I want to take you back to a week and a half ago at WWE Payback.
Raquel Rodriguez, perhaps the only woman in WWE
who can match Rhea Ripley power for power,
did just that at Payback,
until Dominik Mysterio got involved.
[Wade] Absolutely. Raquel on a wave of momentum in this match-up.
That distraction, though, from Dominik Mysterio,
who ate some offense for his trouble,
opened a brief window for Rhea Ripley to counter, capitalize, hit Riptide,
and it's good night. Mami once again victorious, retaining the gold.
["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]
[Cole] Rhea Ripley was successful defending the title at Payback.
But will she be tonight?
There is the number-one contender for the Women's Title, Raquel Rodriguez.
I spoke with her earlier today.
She's actually been talking a lot to Natalya,
a former Women's Champion, about how to approach this match.
Natalya, of course, with a history with Rhea Ripley as well.
"The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley will defend the championship tonight
against Raquel Rodriguez.
However, "Dirty" Dom is barred from ringside.
Rhea, Raquel for the title tonight.
[groaning]
-KO, KO. Hey, man-- -Are you kidding me?
-My bad out there. -Your bad?
Miscue, man.
I apologize. It was an accident.
No, no. I don't need-- I've heard--
I know everything I have to know right now.
-No, you don't, man. -No, no, I do.
You know what? Why don't you go find your new Bloodline, huh?
They're in Judgment Day's locker room.
Why don't you dye your hair purple while you're at it, huh? Uce!
Get the hell out here!
The relatively harmonious Raw locker room has been nuked by Cody Rhodes' decision
to bring Jey Uso into the fold.
Have to see how this plays out.
It's not going to be an easy road for Jey Uso.
Switching gears, ladies and gentlemen.
Later tonight, there will be a celebration honoring the longest-reigning
Intercontinental Champion of all time, Gunther, who defended the title last week
in a classic match here on Raw.
[Samantha] The following contest is for
the Intercontinental Championship!
[Cole] Chad Gable looks to win
his first-ever singles championship here in WWE.
But in order to do that, he has to knock off the dominating Gunther.
For 451 days, he has ruled as the champion.
If he wins tonight, he is the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion
in history, shattering that 35-year-old record.
[Gunther] Chad Gable thinks he can stand in the way of me and my legacy.
Your little fairy-tale story is temporary.
My legacy will be forever.
[Cole] And down goes Gable, stacks him up,
as Gunther to retain, and a kick-out.
And Chad Gable still in the fight.
Now he's fired up and he's going right after the Intercontinental Champion.
[Gable] I get to add to my legacy.
I'm going to prove to you, to my crew, to the world and to my family
sitting in the front row
that I'm more than just a tag-team specialist.
[Cole] Gable for the win, and a kick-out by Gunther at two.
[Gable] Your desire to hang on to that championship…
[Cole] Gunther creates some separation.
[Gable] …doesn't even compare to my desire to take it from you.
[Cole] Bridge, cover, win,
No! Two and a half
-[Wade] Oh, my God! -[Cole] Oh, goodness!
Gable dropped right on the top of his head,
and just like that, powerbomb,
and a lariat clothesline.
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[bell ringing]
[Cole] Gunther continues his dominant march into the history books.
Congratulations to "The Ring General" Gunther.
[crowd exclaiming]
[speaking German]
[Wade in English] Arriving in style,
Imperium lead the WWE Universe in honoring the accomplishments
of the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history,
The Ring General. The celebration tonight.
["I Came to Play" playing]
[Cole] There's no celebrating for this man as of late.
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, residing in Hollywood, California,
weighing in at 222 lbs,
The Miz!
[Cole] The Miz is obsessed with LA Knight,
and that obsession cost Miz a match against Akira Tozawa
a couple of weeks ago.
Well, tonight, an opportunity for Μiz to right that wrong, in his word,
as he takes on Τozawa
coming up here on Monday Night Raw.
Ladies and gentlemen, 22 years ago today,
the United States of America was reeling
because of terrorist attacks on our own soil
in New York City, Western Pennsylvania and Washington DC.
9/11 is a day we must always remember.
Because we can never, ever forget.
[melancholic piano music playing]
[patriotic music playing]
[Cole] WWE Fastlane is presented by Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
The new expansion will be available September 26th
on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
Buy the bundle and you can play Cyberpunk 2077 today.
Rated "M" for mature.
Akira Tozawa fresh off the biggest upset of his career
over Miz a couple of weeks ago,
set for a rematch tonight.
Miz said he would defeat someone on a much higher level
than anyone LA Knight ever beat.
That would be Τozawa.
LA Knight was on commentary,
and the distraction, Wade, would cost…
[Miz yelling indistinctly]
-[Cole] …The Miz. -[Wade] Yeah, Miz was in complete control
of the match-up, but despite the fact, LA Knight did nothing wrong.
Miz was so preoccupied with LA Knight,
it cost himself the match-up.
And from despair for The Miz
straight to a BFT just to make his night complete.
[Cole] And ever since this point,
The Miz has been obsessed with LA Knight.
In fact, Miz has a match this coming Friday night on SmackDown,
live in Denver, Colorado, against LA Knight,
and Miz is looking to make an example tonight of Akira Tozawa.
[Wade] Look, as entertaining as Miz has been playing the joker,
acting the fool over the past few weeks, make no mistake.
Miz is a guy who has won it all in WWE for a reason.
-On his days, as good as is-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] Good as it gets.
But this once again might not be his day.
[Cole] Oh, my goodness.
Well, Miz has been miserable
since LA Knight arrived on the scene here in WWE.
And now, just taking all of that pent-up frustration out
on Akira Tozawa.
You know, what if Μiz doesn't beat LA Knight
on Friday night?
[Wade] Miz is already in the throes of, apparently, a manic episode
losing to LA Knight once again.
This Friday on SmackDown, there may be no depths
to the low that Miz is going to hit.
His ego would implode.
[Cole] Last week, Miz was actually fighting an invisible man in the ring.
That is where LA Kight has sent the Miz, almost off the deep end.
And tonight, a much more focused Miz
taking out his aggression here tonight on Akira Tozawa.
[Wade] The invisible man is the only person
he's beat over the past few weeks.
Pretty much a highlight of the past month for The Miz.
[Cole] And Tozawa had a quick flurry at the beginning of the match-up,
but The Miz has made Tozawa pay.
-[Wade] Oh! -[Cole] To Your point earlier,
Wade, to put the jokes aside, Miz is a high-level competitor,
a former WWE Champion, main-eventer from WrestleMania.
Grand Slam Champion as well.
[Wade] This is the thing. This is not your usual self-absorbed Miz
before our eyes right now.
Don't get me wrong, still self-absorbed,
but he's got a fire lit underneath him and that's what makes him dangerous.
[Cole] Why is he so obsessed with LA Knight?
[Wade] Because LA Knight is getting the kind of reactions
that the WWE Universe has always denied The Miz
despite The Miz's long list of achievements.
[Cole] Oh, and Tozawa catches Miz
with a boot to the face.
Went for the shoulder to the guts.
-Miz sidestepped and now-- -[Wade] Oh!
[Cole] Knees to the face of Tozawa.
[Wade] Not something you see too often from The Miz.
This is Miz hitting top gear once again.
It's been too long.
[Cole] And now, Miz, intensity in his eyes.
[crowd booing]
[yelling indistinctly]
[Cole] Because it is time to put Tozawa away,
and Miz with a Skull-Crushing Finale and that'll do it.
Well, maybe not.
It appears Miz wants to set an example with Mr. Tozawa,
and another Skull-Crushing Finale.
[Wade] The referee could throw this out now.
Tozawa is done.
M-I-Z!
[Cole] Stealing LA Knight's catchphrase,
and a third Skull-Crushing Finale.
Cover on Tozawa and the win for The Miz.
["I Came to Play" playing]
[Samantha] Here is your winner, The Miz!
[Cole] So Wade, the question is, can Miz bring this aggression
Friday night on SmackDown Live into his match with LA Knight?
[Wade] It's going to take something very special
to put a stop to the Yeah Movement.
But I'll be tuning in. Cannot wait for SmackDown.
[Cole] Miz makes an example of Tozawa here tonight on Raw.
Well, The Miz gets his revenge on Akira Tozawa,
which means now he can focus all of his attention on LA Knight
this Friday on SmackDown.
Well, at this time, we focus all of our attention
on my guest at this time, Raquel Rodriguez.
[crowd cheering]
Raquel, at Payback, we saw you nearly dethrone The Eradicator.
But now, Dirty Dom is banned from ringside.
So what kind of thoughts are flowing through your mind
as you prepare for this highly anticipated rematch
against The Nightmare for the Women's World Championship?
Well, Byron, let's just be honest.
Rhea might be the most dominant woman to ever step into that ring.
Her raw strength and brutality are unlike anything we've ever seen.
Rhea has taken over the entire Women's Division,
and it's because people lose to fear before the bell even rings.
[speaking Spanish]
[in English] I'm not like most people.
Ella sabe. She knows that.
And Dirty Dom, well, Dom won't be there to help her tonight.
No, tonight, Rhea is going to get a lesson
that reality is worse than a nightmare.
Because tonight, Rhea won't be the tallest.
Rhea won't be the strongest.
And Rhea damn sure as hell won't be the angriest woman
to step into that ring.
Rhea is gonna get a taste of her own medicine.
And we'll see who walks out the Women's World Champion.
[Wade] Two powerhouses go at it
with the Women's World Championship on the line.
Can the powerful Raquel Rodriguez take down Rhea Ripley
with Dirty Dom banned from ringside?
We will find out later on in tonight's main event.
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[Samantha] Please welcome
Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.
Imperium!
[Cole] Last week, the imposing leader of Imperium, Gunther,
made history,
becoming the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.
Tonight, his Imperium brethren plan a celebration.
It's Gunther's championship celebration,
and it's live next, on Raw.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time.
"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler.
Shayna, last week, you beat a very formidable opponent
in Zoey Stark…
Let me stop you, okay?
I'll be the first to admit, Zoey surprised me.
All right?
Look, nine out of ten times, I put the Kirifuda on someone
and people are tapping immediately.
But, Zoey--
I know, right?
Honestly, the way you beat Zoey was
just like the way you beat Ronda Rousey and sent her packing at SummerSlam.
Amazing!
Speaking of amazing, I was thinking.
I'm sure you probably heard.
My tag partner is "not medically cleared,"
so I'm looking for another amazing partner.
I was thinking champion, champion?
We're basically peers.
Peers!
Do you want to be my co-partner?
Peers. You think… You think you and I are peers?
[scoffs]
How about this? How about I meet you out there
and I can show you, limb by limb,
exactly how large the gap is
between you and I being "peers"?
Fine. You're going to regret this.
I'll find someone to be my co-par--
Piper!
Oh, my Gosh. I'm so excited you're back. Totally knew you were coming tonight.
Does that mean that you--
[gasps]
Medically cleared.
Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I demand
all your gratitude
for the longest-reigning
Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion in history.
"The Ring General"
Gunther!
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] He has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Since winning the championship in June of 2022,
Gunther has been unstoppable.
Not only the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time,
but people are starting to say, Wade,
perhaps the most dominant Intercontinental Champion of all time.
[Wade] There's no doubt about that in my mind.
This guy is number one
against the entirety of history.
And this is a shocker in itself.
Gunther is a man who historically has not tended
to celebrate his massive successes.
Celebration, pleasure leads to laziness and demise.
But for once, even the big Austrian
is making a change, so significant…
[fireworks popping]
…has this reign been, and it continues.
[Cole] You know, when you break a 35-year record here in WWE,
there's a reason to smile.
And I guess that's as close as a smile as you're going to get from Gunther.
[crowd cheering]
[speaking German]
[in English] To the surprise of absolutely nobody,
The Ring General has rewritten history.
[crowd cheering]
I am now, officially,
the longest-reigning
and greatest Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion
in history.
[crowd cheering]
But first…
No, seriously, that means a lot to me.
First, I want to share some words
about all the legends that held this great title before.
You contributed…
absolutely nothing.
I elevated this championship to heights never seen before.
And as far as I understand,
I'm running a little bit out of competition here.
From now on, it seems like I'm only competing against myself.
[speaking German]
["Shoooosh" playing]
[Cole] The man who Gunther beat last week, Chad Gable.
Gunther.
Last week, man, we, uh…
we had a main event for the ages.
The world won't stop talking about it.
What a championship fight that was.
I woke up this morning and I was still feeling it.
But here we are a week later and you're the one celebrating.
You're the one that walked your way into the history books.
So, congratulations.
[speaking German]
[in English] Chad, come in the ring.
Say what you want to say to me and say it right to my face.
[Gable laughs]
But, Gunther, last week,
I saw the look in your eyes.
The look on your face after that match.
And it told me everything I needed to know.
It said, out of all the great Superstars you beat during this historic reign,
nobody pushed you to your limit,
nobody came as close to beating you
as I did.
[crowd cheering]
But…
the look on your face wasn't the only one I saw last week.
I saw the look
on my entire family's face sitting in the front row.
I saw the tears rolling down my oldest daughter Briella's face,
sitting in the front row.
Tears that you caused.
Now, Gunther, I wouldn't expect you to understand
what that does to a person.
You'd have to be a mother or a father to know what it feels like to watch
your own children weeping right before your eyes.
But what you have done is light a fire in me.
A fire that I can tell ain't going to burn out
until I make this whole thing right.
So, understand this.
I beat you once…
and I'm going to beat you again.
[crowd cheering]
I don't know when, where or how,
but I'm getting another opportunity at that championship, and this time…
for myself,
for my career and for my family.
I swear to God, I'm winning that championship.
[crowd cheering]
And I swear to God,
my daughter is walking out with a smile on her face.
[crowd cheering]
You want another opportunity?
Another opportunity for what?
To drag your family all the way from home in the first row
and see them again to receive the biggest beating of your life?
Is that what you want?
Using your children as bait to get a little bit of spotlight?
Yes, you pushed me to my limit.
And you're a fantastic athlete…
but you're a disgusting, terrible father.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Oh! Chad Gable's not going to take that.
Gable went after Gunther,
but the numbers game is just going to overwhelm Chad Gable.
[Wade] Well, Chad Gable is going to have to take that
and a hell of a lot more.
Not a smart move at all.
Some things you just have to let go.
[Cole] And here comes Otis,
Chad Gable's tag-team partner in The Alpha Academy,
coming to his coach's aid.
And now, dumping Imperium over the top rope
and it leaves Gunther alone.
Now, Gunther going after Otis,
and Otis with clubbing blows now to the Intercontinental Champion.
But down goes Otis.
And now, Gable again from behind.
[Wade] The champion is certainly not dressed to fight,
but fight he will.
[Cole] And now Kaiser back into the mix,
along with Giovanni Vinci, and Imperium having their way with Alpha Academy.
[Wade] You might get a couple of shots in--
-Oh, here we go. -[Cole] Tommaso Ciampa,
with a steel chair in hand,
sends Imperium into retreat.
[Wade] The hell has this got to do with Ciampa?
[crowd cheering]
["No One Will Survive" playing]
[Cole] Ciampa saving The Alpha Academy
from what would have been clear destruction
here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[indistinct arguing]
[Wade] Chaos out here,
but what is abundantly clear is, championship reign or not,
the threats are going to keep on coming for Imperium.
And here's the situation with Ciampa.
Remember last week, he said he had to speak with WWE official Adam Pearce?
Perhaps it was about creating opportunities,
which Ciampa may have tried to do here tonight.
Speaking about creating opportunities,
Drew McIntyre tried to create one and got himself in some hot water.
Let's take you back to couple of weeks ago.
Viking Raiders versus New Day. McIntyre and Riddle at ringside.
Ivar drives Kofi into Riddle and McIntyre,
and McIntyre takes a chair
and inadvertently fires it into Xavier Woods,
which leads to Ragnarok on Kofi Kingston.
[bell ringing]
-You know it was an accident. -Big D, don't even trip, man.
It's all good. We know you ain't do it on purpose.
[Cole] And then last week, this was a Tornado Tag Match.
No disqualification.
Wade, Kofi Kingston got involved
but he took out Riddle with Trouble in Paradise.
McIntyre was incensed.
[Wade] Quite the coincidence if you ask me.
Drew McIntyre furious,
and, of course, Riddle left to the wolves,
victory once again for The Viking Raiders.
I am so sorry for what happened out there. I feel terrible. It was a total accident.
-I just want to apologize, man, like… -Kofi…
-It's cool, I understand. -it's it?
I'm going to keep my eyes open
in case any more, you know, accidents happen around here.
[crowd cheering]
So, man, what's going on? I'm just curious,
what's up with last week, man?
Which part?
-The part which… -Oh, the accidental chair hit.
I thought we're past this. I apologized, you accepted. We moved on.
Yeah, no, we're good with that, man.
I'm more confused as to why you were talking trash about Kofi.
Listen, man, I said what I said.
I meant it. I've got a lot in my mind right now.
If Kofi has an issue with me,
maybe mans up, he grows a set, and, you know, talks to me himself.
Hold on, man.
I came to you, man-to-man, face-to-face.
You're going to turn your back on me?
You're going to disrespect me, going to disrespect Kofi?
Oh, I get it. It's… it's jealousy.
You're jealous that Kofi won his World Heavyweight Championship
at WrestleMania, in front of 82,000 screaming bodies.
And you…
You had the biggest moment of your career inside of an empty Performance Center.
It keeps you up at night, doesn't it, Drew?
I know what you're trying to do.
You obviously want to fight, but, buddy, I don't want to hurt you.
Mm. What?
Big bad Drew McIntyre going to run straight through Xavier Woods?
You said it, not me.
Tell you what, if you're so anxious to get beat up…
you got your match.
Tell you what. Whatever happens to you tonight,
I promise you, will not be an accident…
mate.
[Big E] ♪ It's a new day, yes, it is ♪
["New Day, New Way" playing]
[Cole] So it has come to this.
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, representing The New Day,
from Atlanta, Georgia, weighing in at 215 lbs,
Xavier Woods!
[Cole] Wade, can you believe that we're going to have
an Xavier Woods versus Drew McIntyre match
coming up right now on Raw?
[Wade] I can believe it.
Drew McIntyre is burning with fury right now.
[Cole] McIntyre and Woods.
It's about respect in Xavier Woods' mind,
Drew McIntyre says "What I'm going to do to you,
it's not going to be an accident." It's next.
[Cole] It's real cool.
If you haven't had the opportunity yet, check it out.
Last week, Cody Rhodes, "The American Nightmare,"
had the opportunity to sit down with NASCAR legend Dale Jr.
on his Speedcast.
It is available right now on Peacock.
Cody Rhodes sits down with Dale Jr.
on Dale Jr.'s Speedcast on Peacock.
Excuse me, Alpha Academy, Tommaso Ciampa.
We all just witnessed what transpired
during the Intercontinental Championship celebration,
and I don't think any of us expected to see you, Chad,
let alone you, Tommaso.
Can you… Can you comment on what we just saw happen out there?
Listen, last week, Adam Pearce advised me to seize my moment.
Gunther celebrating in that ring
as the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time?
There ain't no bigger moment than that.
At least, Chad seemed to think the same thing.
I hate Imperium.
This ain't over. Not by a long shot!
No!
Wait a minute.
I have an idea, Coach.
How about tonight…
No.
…the three of us versus Imperium,
live tonight, in a Six-Man Carnage Match.
I was worried, but that's actually a pretty good idea.
Carnage Match just means Six-Man Tag Match. What do you think?
I think he's in.
Oh, yeah!
Let's do it!
[Cole] I like that. That is going to be hard-hitting if it happens.
Xavier Woods now, set for action.
["Gallantry" playing]
[Samantha] And his opponent, from Ayr, Scotland,
weighing in at 275 lbs, Drew McIntyre!
[fireworks pop]
[Cole] Listen, I understand that there is a lot of pressure right now
in WWE,
especially when it comes to tag teams.
Everybody jockeying to get an opportunity
at the Undisputed Tag Team Champions who, right now, are The Judgment Day.
But this thing has really reached a boiling point
between McIntyre and Xavier Woods.
[Wade] Yeah, I'm going to personally take umbrage with the shot
that Xavier Woods took at Drew a few minutes ago,
saying that Drew's career highlight was in front of a crowd of zero,
like somehow that was Drew's fault.
It was a cheap shot in my book.
Drew kept the lights on in WWE when nobody could.
The WWE Champion in the crowd-less era
that we never want to go back to,
but we should be thanking Drew for what he did there.
That was an unnecessary way of ruffling the feathers
of The Scottish Warrior.
And now, I think Xavier Woods is going to pay.
[Cole] I understand your point I agree with you.
Drew McIntyre, in many ways, carried WWE through that dark time,
and Xavier Woods bringing it up tonight.
But maybe it does bother Drew McIntyre.
Kofi Kingston was involved in one of the…
one of the brightest moments of the last decade in WWE.
KofiMania, culminating in Kofi winning the WWE Championship
at WrestleMania.
And, of course, Xavier Woods is always going to defend
his best friend and tag-team partner, Kingston.
And now, McIntyre looking to manhandle Woods.
Woods looking to out-quick Drew in this match-up.
[Wade] He's certainly not going to outpower him,
but I will credit Woods for the start he's made,
smothering The Scottish Warrior.
[Cole] Xavier Woods with a lot to prove tonight.
Drew McIntyre really saying a moment ago,
earlier today, I should say. Oh, Glasgow Kiss.
That Xavier Woods didn't belong in the same ring with him.
[Wade] I don't agree with that either. That is just a little smack talk.
Now, the problem is, as we take another look at the Glasgow Kiss,
perfectly executed,
that has changed the game in this match-up,
Drew has always been a massive hothead.
His entire life.
Woods and Kofi have known Drew for ten to 15 years themselves.
It's not a surprise that sometimes, Drew overreacts to things,
like he may have done last week when he spoke to Kofi.
[Cole] Xavier Woods didn't help matters any, though.
throwing some fuel on the fire, so to speak,
and now we've got this very competitive match tonight
between McIntyre and Xavier Woods.
And let's talk also about the current situation
with the World Heavyweight Championship, Wade.
I mean, of course, Rollins and Nakamura embroiled in a battle,
but everyone also looking to position themselves
for perhaps a future title opportunity.
And the way to do that is to pick up wins in big matches like this.
-[Wade] Yeah, no doubt. -[Cole] Oh, goodness!
[Wade] Once you have been to the top of that mountain like McIntyre has,
you want to get back up there immediately.
[Cole] Xavier Woods, he's never had the opportunity
to hold a big singles championship here in WWE.
Xavier Woods now driving McIntyre right into our announce table.
And Woods has McIntyre reeling a bit.
Drew, though, using his power.
McIntyre, slinging Xavier Woods over the announce table.
Xavier Woods is in trouble.
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw.
Drew McIntyre taking it to Xavier Woods.
He's been dominating since before the commercial break.
McIntyre told Xavier Woods earlier tonight,
"I don't want to hurt you."
But he's going to if he has to.
[Wade] No believe me, at this point, Drew really wants to hurt Xavier Woods.
I know the mindset of McIntyre when that bell rings.
Nice guy goes out the window.
[Cole] Woods now up on McIntyre's shoulders,
trying to slip down here.
Perilous situation. Oh!
Powerbomb by Woods.
[Wade] What a smart move from Xavier Woods,
using Drew's 280 lbs against him.
This is your moment, Woods.
[Cole] Now, Woods from the top rope, McIntyre in trouble.
What a win this one be. Oh!
Woods, leg drop by Xavier. Cover for the win.
Near fall, as McIntyre kicks out.
[Wade] Milliseconds away from knocking out a former World Champion,
Xavier Woods, perhaps, would have been the biggest victory of his career so far,
thanks to this textbook leaping leg drop
landing perfectly across the throat of McIntyre.
But McIntyre digs deep enough to keep going.
[Cole] Xavier Woods said,
"You've been disrespecting Kofi and disrespecting me."
"Gonna take you out tonight."
Honor roll for Woods, intercepted into a belly-to-belly by McIntyre.
What a throw by Drew McIntyre.
And another one to Woods sends him across the ring.
[Wade] It's like a kid throwing his toys out of the pram.
It's that easy for McIntyre.
[Cole] And now, the neckbreaker by Drew McIntyre. Into the kip-up.
And did you notice the intense look on the face of McIntyre moments ago?
Almost stalking mode for Drew McIntyre, "The Scottish Warrior."
[Wade] Shade has been thrown and now, it's time to face the consequences.
[crowd] Three! Two! One!
[Cole] Oh, and a big kick!
Cover by Woods for the win, and a kick-out!
[Wade] A career tag specialist, Xavier Woods,
starting to hit the highs in the singles division
thanks to in-ring awareness like that.
McIntyre's in trouble here.
This is not the time to take a deep breath, Woods.
It's the time to finish the job.
[Cole] Oh, McIntyre. What a chop!
[Wade] Everything McIntyre throws at you just hurts, it's that simple.
[Cole] McIntyre…
[roars]
-Went for the Alabama Slam. -[Wade] Oh!
[Cole] Xavier Woods, though, able to roll through.
Looking for the upset win. Kick-out by McIntyre.
-[Wade] Victory roll there from Woods. -[Cole] Kick.
-[Wade] Following up with a mule kick. -[Cole] Senton!
-And Woods, cover! -[crowd] One, two…
[Cole] McIntyre kicks out again at two.
[Wade] I don't think Woods got all of the knee to the face,
but he certainly got all of this kick right to the jaw of McIntyre.
McIntyre wobbled by this volley of offense,
but nicely moving out of the way at the crucial moment,
just catching a glancing blow from that knee.
And that is why McIntyre still lives in this match-up, but only just.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome! This is awesome!
[Cole] The WWE fans here at the Scope love it. It's been a great match
between McIntyre and Woods.
[Wade] Both running on the fumes of anger.
And what a war it has been, and continues to be.
[Cole] McIntyre misses wildly.
Oh, Claymore!
-From out of nowhere! -[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell ringing]
["Gallantry" playing]
[Samantha] Here is your winner,
Drew McIntyre!
[Cole] What a match between McIntyre and Woods. But in the end,
a Claymore by Drew McIntyre takes out Xavier Woods.
[Wade] Man, that was absolutely superb.
These two men just beat some respect into one another. But you're right,
the winner, the former WWE Champion, The Scottish Warrior.
And this is the magic of McIntyre.
Out of nowhere, just when the dips and dives are hit,
the Claymore connects.
And, of course, any opponent eats a boot like that, they stay down.
[bell ringing]
["Gallantry" continues playing]
[Cole] The Scottish Warrior
with a big win over a game Xavier Woods here tonight on Monday Night Raw.
It didn't have to be this way.
[Cole] Rarely have we seen a World Champion as dominant
as that woman, "The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley.
Ripley is getting to the zone because later on tonight,
she will defend the WWE Women's Championship
against the number-one contender, Raquel Rodriguez.
Dominik Mysterio will be barred from ringside.
Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez.
It is our main event, for the Women's World Championship,
live tonight on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] And up next, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
is here on Raw.
When he speaks, it's usually big.
What's he got to say?
We're gonna find out next.
[Belair] For nearly ten years, we have asked the WWE Universe
to join us in fighting pediatric cancer and support the Superstars of tomorrow.
And you didn't disappoint. You found creative ways
to raise money to fund research.
Running. Baking. Tailgating.
Making art. Playing video games.
And this year, we are spotlighting the top fundraisers
with a chance to meet me…
Or me, as a thank you for raising funds for critical research.
[Cody] Go to V.org/ConnorsCureUniverse to find out more, and get started today.
[Cole] September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month,
and we're proud to support Connor's Cure and the V Foundation,
raising money for critical research.
Tag in to take action,
and visit ConnorTheCrusher.org today.
[upbeat music playing]
-["Kingdom" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Wrestling has more than one Royal family ♪
♪ Adrenaline in my soul ♪
♪ Every fight out of control ♪
♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪
♪ Crowd is here, about to blow ♪
♪ Waitin' for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
-[crowd] Whoa! -[fireworks popping]
[crowd cheering]
[Samantha] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
"The American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
♪ I built my kingdom ♪
♪ Now you bow to me ♪
♪ You took my dreams But not my name ♪
♪ You'll follow me into the end ♪
♪ I am my kingdom ♪
♪ Lights go down, I'm ready now ♪
♪ Tear this roof off for the town ♪
♪ Gonna give 'em what they came to see ♪
♪ Hear the crowd, on their toes ♪
♪ Ready for me to start the show ♪
♪ Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home ♪
[crowd] Whoa!
♪ And my father said ♪
♪ When I was younger ♪
♪ Hard times breed better men ♪
[music fades out]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
So…
-[crowd cheering] -[chuckles]
Norfolk, Virginia!
[crowd cheering]
What do we wanna talk about?
Let's talk about…
"Main Event" Jey Uso.
["It Is My Time" playing]
[crowd booing]
[Cole] What on earth could this fool want?
Cody…
I'll tell you what I wanna talk about.
[crowd booing]
Cállense.
I wanna talk about how happy I am…
[booing continues]
…that you brought "Main Event" Jey Uso to Monday Night Raw.
¡Que callen!
[booing intensifies]
Because Jey is gonna join The Judgment Day…
[booing continues]
…and when he does,
it'll make you look like a fool.
And once--
[booing intensifies]
Once--
Once Jey Uso is in The Judgment Day,
it's gonna be amazing,
and there's not a thing
that you… can do about it.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Oh! Well, of course he can. Right hand to Dominik.
Now, JD McDonagh, who's still trying to get himself into The Judgment Day,
gonna attack Cody Rhodes, as well.
Double team by JD and Dominik.
[Wade] JD McDonagh has been as effective as they come,
but not here tonight.
[Cole] Oh, Cody Cutter!
-Cross Rhodes! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Come on, Dom, get up.
One more for good measure, Cody.
Cross Rhodes!
Might think twice about interrupting Cody Rhodes.
[Wade] Whatever plan The Judgment Day had tonight,
that backfired in a big way.
-["Kingdom" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cody] "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes
sending Dominik and JD McDonagh packing.
[Wade] I wanna know what Cody was gonna say.
[Cole] Well, he wanted to talk about Jey Uso,
the man he helped bring back to WWE.
[Wade] Maybe he was gonna apologize for that.
[crowd cheering]
[McIntyre] Hey, Jey.
Now that we've both finished our business tonight,
I've got one last piece of business with you.
I wanna look you in the eye and tell you right now,
-I do not trust you one bit. -[chuckles]
Cool.
Cool? Yeah, it is cool. Mate, here's the thing.
I don't think you can stand on your own two feet.
You were with your brother for your whole life, your whole career.
Then you move into The Bloodline.
Bet Judgment Day is probably looking pretty good to you right now.
Hey, Drew, it sounds like you wanna right some wrongs, Uce.
So, how about this?
Go ahead and pull up next week, Uce!
-Next week? -Yeah.
McIntyre, Jey Uso?
-You're on. -Yeet.
[Cole] I'll sign up for that.
["Hot Mess" playing]
Jey's not making many friends. Neither is this young lady,
Chelsea Green.
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Piper Niven,
she is one half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions,
Chelsea Green!
[Cole] And, yes, Piper's back. She's now medically cleared.
Well, coming up next,
Shayna Baszler said that she is going to Chelsea Green,
limb by limb, how large the gap is for us as peers.
Chelsea Green and "The Submission Magician" Shayna Baszler,
live next.
[Cole] Chelsea Green hoping Piper Niven has her back tonight
for Chelsea's match with Shayna Baszler.
[Wade] Sounded like Chelsea was trying to dump Piper Niven
-as a tag partner not so long ago. -[Cole] Sounded like it?
["Limb by Limb" playing]
[Samantha] And her opponent,
from Sioux Falls, South Dakota,
Shayna Baszler!
[Cole] Wanna take you back to what was an extremely physical battle last week
between the third-degree black belt, Shayna Baszler,
and Zoey Stark right here on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Undoubtedly, two of the baddest women in the division
battling it out for the rights to that moniker.
Both women bringing their A-game,
digging deep into the playbook.
But it was The Submission Magician who locked in that Kirifuda Clutch.
And slowly but surely, Zoey Stark's eyes went dark.
-[bell ringing] -And the victory was claimed by Baszler.
[Cole] Yeah, but then, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark with a nice show of respect
after this match-up.
Shayna Baszler would go on to say that, "Zoey is much tougher than I expected."
"She earned my respect last week."
This coming from the woman, Shayna Baszler, who sent Ronda Rousey
-packing back at SummerSlam. -[bell ringing]
[Wade] Let me tell you how impressive that is.
Baszler respects almost nobody in that ring
because she knows she's levels above the competition.
[Cole] Now, Baszler, who loves to make her opponents suffer…
A back suplex to start things off.
…with Chelsea Green.
[Wade] You ever get the feeling Chelsea's life would be so much easier
if she just figured out a way to close her mouth?
[Chelsea] No! No!
[Cole] Oh, right to the elbow.
Chelsea Green claimed to be peers with Shayna Baszler.
Shayna laughed that off.
Chelsea was sort of trying to recruit Shayna to be her tag-team partner
until she realized Piper Niven was back in the fold.
[Wade] I mean, Chelsea and Baszler are complete opposites in this game.
And right now, it is one-way traffic in favor of The Submission Magician.
[Cole] The armbar. Green doing a nice job blocking it,
trying to use her long legs to make it to the bottom rope
to force a break here.
And she just scrambles out of harm's way.
[Wade] Chelsea in complete panic, though. Not surprisingly,
considering the opposition.
Come on. Hey, Shayna, you gotta stay in too.
Let's go! One!
Back off!
Two! Come on, that's enough! Stay back! Come on!
Keep out of my business!
Come on! Get back! Bring it in, let's go!
Four!
[Cole] And Shayna Baszler just shoving Piper Niven out of the way.
[Wade] Two women who take a step back from nobody.
[Cole] And then, roll-up by Green, looking for the win on Baszler,
-who kicks out at two. -[Wade] And I'll credit Green.
She's obviously a Tag Champion here in WWE.
She is an A-plus competitor when she stops--
[Cole] And look at that! Shayna Baszler calls that the Exterminatus,
as she takes out Chelsea Green.
I'll explain that move in a moment, 'cause I spoke to her about it earlier today.
[Samantha] Here is…
[Cole] And now, Baszler going right after Piper Niven.
And Baszler and Niven exchanging blows.
Green trying to get a cheap shot in from behind.
[Wade] Niven as big a powerhouse as they come.
I don't know if Baszler has any answers to this onslaught,
but she may not need one!
[Cole] And Zoey Stark comes in, and a kick to the face drops Piper Niven.
And again, this alliance that seemed to be fostered last week,
continues now with Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler.
[Wade] If this is a permanent alliance, Women's Division beware.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Cole] And Piper Niven gonna think twice about it, and…
waits for another day.
[Wade] Smart move by Piper Niven.
You're not gonna win that one.
[Cole] You know, Shayna's finishing move she used there, the Exterminatus,
that used to be Ronda Rousey's Piper's Pit.
She said, "I'm now The Baddest Woman on the Planet."
[Wade] I'm not gonna argue with her.
["Limb by Limb" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[tense instrumental music]
[speaking Japanese]
[crowd vocalizing]
[cackling]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
-[fireworks popping] -[crowd cheering]
["Visionary" playing]
[crowd vocalizing]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[Samantha] Please welcome the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[crowd vocalizing]
♪ Burn it down! ♪
[Cole] Shinsuke Nakamura's sadistic side continues to taunt Seth Rollins.
What will the World Heavyweight Champion's response be?
Seth's here, live next.
[crowd vocalizing]
-["Visionary" playing] -[crowd vocalizing]
[Wade] They're still singing, Cole.
Four minutes and counting.
[Cole] Our World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins.
[Wade] I need some sunglasses like that to deal with these flashing lights.
-[music ends] -[crowd continues vocalizing]
[vocalizing continues]
Virginia!
[crowd cheering]
Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!
And I am a visionary.
I am a revolutionary!
I am Seth…
[crowd] "Freakin" Rollins!
And I am…
a manipulator.
I am a deceiver.
I am a liar.
I am all the things that Shinsuke Nakamura claims that I am.
But…
I am also a father.
I am a fighter.
I am your World Heavyweight Champion!
[crowd cheering]
And I'll be honest with you guys, for a long time,
I didn't know who I was.
And so, I was trying to figure it out.
So I tried everything. In The Authority,
I surrounded myself with people who would lie right to my face.
And that didn't work, so I tried to be what I thought
everyone wanted me to be.
But that didn't work.
So I became a messiah.
[crowd cheering]
And that didn't work either, so I built this facade,
thinking I could hide from myself,
when the truth was, what I finally figured out,
what you guys have always wanted me to be…
Myself.
[crowd cheering]
That's why you guys love me.
Not 'cause I'm a good guy, not 'cause I'm a bad guy,
but because I'm Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[crowd cheering]
And that's why you sing my song.
[crowd vocalizing]
That's beautiful, Virginia. That's beautiful.
And for the first time in my life, that is the reason
I can go home and look in the mirror.
You guys are the reason I can look my daughter in the eyes,
and I can be at peace with my past,
and I can be proud of my future!
[crowd cheering]
But, Virginia, you didn't come here to see me talk, did you?
[chuckles softly]
No, I didn't come here to talk.
I came here to fight!
[crowd cheering]
And I know that's not what management wants to hear.
They want me to slow down.
They say, "Seth, you're going too hard. You're going too fast."
"You're gonna burn yourself out." But, Virginia,
I'm just not built that way, baby!
[crowd cheering]
I'm a workhorse! I was born that way! And I need to run free!
[crowd cheering]
So, last week, I called Shinsuke Nakamura out.
I said, "Come on out here. Let's have ourselves
a World Heavyweight Championship rematch."
And Shinsuke said, "No."
[crowd booing]
[laughing]
He said he wanted to do it on his own time.
But even though Shinsuke was able to walk out of Payback, and I was not,
I have a feeling that match
took a little more out of Shinsuke than he was letting on.
So, Shinsuke, you wanna play games?
Let's play games.
You want it?
You want the World Heavyweight Championship?
Come and get it!
You wanna do this on your time?
Well, there's no better time than right now!
There's no better place than Norfolk, Virginia!
Let's have ourselves a World Title Match!
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Seth is fired up!
Let's go! Come on!
["The Rising Sun" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Rollins is ready for the appearance of Shinsuke Nakamura.
[crowd vocalizing]
-[music stops] -[vocalizing continues]
[Nakamura grunting]
[Cole] That's Ricochet Nakamura is beating up.
[Wade] Ricochet got in the face of Nakamura last week.
Seth!
You have bad timing.
I would fight you,
but I thought you are not medically cleared.
So, I fight already.
-Right, Ricochet? -[coughing]
[grunting]
-[Nakamura grunting] -[coughing]
[chuckles] So sorry.
I will take your title,
but not tonight.
[speaking Japanese]
[laughs]
[crowd booing]
[crowd cheering]
[in English] Jey, Jey, Jey! Whoa, whoa.
Easy, tiger, I come in peace.
Listen, things got a little bit crazy out there earlier, huh?
Well, listen, as far as I'm concerned, me and you,
we're both professionals.
What happens in the ring stays in the ring.
What happened with you and KO, huh?
I saw what you done there. Very, very nice.
Doesn't seem like Drew McIntyre is a fan, huh?
He's not a fan at all.
You know who is a fan? I'm a fan.
I'm a big fan of "Main Event" Jey Uso.
Know who else is a fan?
Damian's a fan.
Dom's a fan.
-Rhea's a fan. -For real?
For real.
So, like we were saying earlier,
for you, the doors to The Judgment Day…
are always open.
[Gable] ♪ Shoooosh! ♪
[Cole] Full-court press by The Judgment Day, and…
["Shoooosh" playing]
Interesting to see where that goes.
[Wade] Jey Uso is a man on an island
and needs all the friends he can get right now.
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] The following is a Six-Man Tag Team Match
scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first,
accompanied to the ring by Maxxine Dupri,
Otis and Chad Gable,
Alpha Academy!
[Cole] Earlier tonight, Chad Gable interrupted Gunther's celebration
as the Intercontinental Champion.
There was a melee that ensued.
And it has led now to this Six-Man Tag Team match-up.
Ciampa teams with The Alpha Academy against Imperium,
live next on Raw!
[Cole] Congratulations to teen tennis sensation Coco Gauff,
who won the US Open, her first Grand Slam title,
in New York this past weekend.
And not only did she celebrate with a trophy,
she celebrated with a WWE Championship Title.
Congratulations to Coco Gauff.
["No One Will Survive" playing]
[Samantha] And their tag-team partner,
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, weighing in at 201 lbs,
Tommaso Ciampa!
[Cole] So, again, I touched on this earlier tonight,
but remember last week on Monday Night Raw,
Tommaso Ciampa asked WWE official Adam Pearce,
"Is this a good time to talk?"
Perhaps, looking to create some opportunities for himself here tonight.
[Wade] No doubt about it. We saw three weeks ago,
a fired-up Ciampa in the locker room area,
saying he's sick of missing out on opportunities.
When Ciampa speaks, he doesn't waste his words.
Those opportunities may start tonight.
["Symphony No. 9 in E Minor" playing]
[Samantha] And their opponents, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci
and the Intercontinental Champion,
"The Ring General" Gunther,
Imperium!
[Cole] And Gunther is not in a good mood.
He had his championship celebration, celebrating…
Gunther becoming the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time,
interrupted by Chad Gable, who demanded a rematch.
Gunther said, "Get to the back of the line."
A fight ensued, Otis and Ciampa got involved, and here we are.
[Wade] Yeah, we were just talking about opportunities
that Ciampa has been looking for.
Not all opportunities are created equal.
And an opportunity against Imperium
is a pretty bad opportunity, if you're asking me,
-because your chances of winning are slim. -[bell ringing]
[Cole] Gable was talking about the fact that his daughter
was crying in the front row after the loss to Gunther last week.
As Ciampa starts things off with Vinci here in this match-up.
And then, Gunther would call Gable "a disgusting father."
[Wade] I agree with that. You make your kid sit in the front row
to watch you get beat up by Gunther,
then you're from the Rey Mysterio school of dreadful parenting.
[Cole] My God, you are ridiculous.
The kid showed up to see Gable win his first singles championship in WWE.
[Wade] If you invite your kid, make sure you're fighting someone who's rubbish.
Who you're going to beat easy, not Gunther.
The man who's, perhaps, unbeatable.
[Cole] Gable looking on, as Ciampa with a side headlock applied to Vinci.
Ciampa, who's…
been cold-hearted and compassionless.
All about moving up in WWE.
[Wade] He was told by Adam Pearce to seize his moment.
-Well, this is the time to seize a moment. -[Cole] Oh, nice.
Takedown by…
Ciampa, the Thesz press, and then, the piston-like right hands
by Tommaso Ciampa.
Now, Ciampa with a big right, driving Vinci to the corner.
[Wade] Ciampa knows the trio of Imperium very well from his time in NXT with them.
Knows exactly how dangers they are.
[Cole] There's the former Olympian, Chad Gable, who came so close
to winning the Intercontinental Championship.
As Kaiser who makes the tag, and now the legal man.
What a match last week between Gable and Gunther.
[Wade] Well, Gable stole the hearts of the WWE Universe
with that performance, a Rocky-like effort…
-Nein! -[Wade] …against Gunther.
I think Chad has finally realized, there is a time to be entertaining,
and there's a time to be the in-ring machine.
And if he keeps that in mind, his trajectory and his career
is gonna skyrocket.
[Cole] Does Gable deserve another opportunity
at the Intercontinental Title?
[Wade] If you're asking me, I would personally love to see it.
But the truth is, he has now had two opportunities
at the championship.
He didn't win the championship on either occasion,
albeit, he won one match via countout.
So, for me, yeah, one day, maybe. But not right now.
[Cole] Gotta earn that opportunity, as Gable puts on a clinic.
Now in control of Kaiser.
[Otis] How's that feel, pretty boy?
-How's that feel? -[Wade] Technician versus technician,
and Kaiser will not be taking it well.
Coming off second-best in that exchange,
even though he's in there with an Olympian.
[Cole] What about Gunther, earlier tonight?
Saying that the legends who have held this Intercontinental Championship,
more than a dozen Hall of Famers,
contributed nothing to the title.
It took Gunther to elevate it to the place it is today.
[Wade] I mean, there's an element of truth to that.
I won't take it personally, as you mentioned a couple of times.
[Cole] You had the championship five times in your career.
[Wade] I don't think Gunther considers anybody a legend.
-People far greater than I… -[Cole] Oh, look at this,
over the top rope goes Gable. Swift move by Kaiser.
[Wade] And that is what you have to expect against a unit
-so well drilled as Imperium. -[Cole laughs]
[Wade] It was only a matter of time before something like that
was going to happen. Chad Gable knows that as well as anybody.
[Cole] I like how you put that. It's right, well drilled.
This is what Imperium is.
[Wade] Just a militant, rapacious unit.
And now, the beating truly commences.
[Cole] Yeah, they've got Gable isolated from Ciampa and Otis.
[crowd chanting] Otis! Otis! Otis!
[Cole] "Otis" chants ringing though the Scope here in Norfolk
as Gable tries to crawl across the ring.
Kaiser will not let it happen.
In control now of Chad Gable.
[Tommaso] Come on, baby, let's go.
[Cole] Saw the look on the face, the concern from Maxxine earlier on.
She'll be the first to tell you what Chad Gable has meant
to her career here in WWE.
Gable now, trying to somehow make a tag.
Fingertips away from his partner, Otis.
[Wade] Otis want in, in a big way.
May get the opportunity here.
-[Cole] Nice takedown by Kaiser. -[Maxxine] Come on!
[Cole] Now, it's…
Trying to get Kaiser over for a German suplex, wouldn't happen.
And Kaiser with a clothesline.
[Wade] They dry out at Gunther's, but we saw that last week.
[Cole] That was the way Gunther knocked off Gable
to retain the championship.
Now, Gunther's legal.
[Wade] Everything's moving.
-[Cole] But a triple team now. -[Wade laughs]
[Cole] And the Intercontinental Champion your legal man.
-[crowd booing] -[Vinci shouting indistinctly]
[Cole] And Imperium dominating.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] We're back live on Monday Night Raw. This is Imperium,
in a Six-Man Tag Team match-up against Alpha Academy
and Tommaso Ciampa.
And Chad Gable trying to fight out of the corner.
Imperium has been dominating Gable.
[Wade] Gable has been fighting valiantly for the past five or six minutes
-just to get to that tag. -[Cole exclaims]
[Wade] But it isn't coming. Not tonight.
[Cole] A boot to Otis knocks him off the apron
after a thunderous chop to Gable.
[Wade] We've not seen anything of Otis in this match whatsoever.
-Chad Gable completely isolated… -[speaking indistinctly]
…and alone.
[Cole] And another big chop
-by Gunther. -Hey!
[Cole] Such an intimidating champion.
-Fierce, vicious. -[Gunther] What now, huh?
Where's the family now, huh?
-Come on, fight for your family. -[referee] Better protect yourself.
[Cole] And Gable trying to fight back.
-Swinging Gunther over his shoulder. -[Maxxine] Come on!
[Cole] Speak of shoulders, Gunther's hurt.
[Wade] Ciampa desperately reaching.
This has to be it for Gable, now or never.
[Cole] Tag.
Ciampa is legal, as is Vinci.
And Tommaso Ciampa, unloading on Giovanni Vinci.
Ciampa into the corner with a running clothesline.
Gunther knocked off the apron.
Vinci looks to take advantage.
Oh! Cover by Ciampa.
[crowd] One, two…
[Wade] Nobody comes close to the grit and the drive of Tommaso Ciampa.
A one-man Mount Rushmore of NXT.
[Cole] Now Kaiser tries to get involved.
Vinci tries to take advantage of the distraction, and does,
with a clothesline to Ciampa.
[Wade] Is that the rule in Imperium? Gotta have
the greatest clotheslines in the history of the industry?
[Cole] Otis back up on the apron.
Kaiser… into the ring, trying to…
And does intercept Ciampa from making a tag.
[Wade] Keep the big man out of this match-up if you're Imperium.
[Cole] Ciampa, though,
-slinging Kaiser away. -[crowd roars]
[Cole] Otis makes the tag.
Here comes the 330-pounder.
-And the big man… Wow! -[Wade] Ooh!
[Wade] Spinning back elbow, nice moves.
Otis told me he was emotionally fired up,
watching Chad Gable's performances over the past month.
[Cole] Well, he's still fired up tonight.
[Wade] Has to climb to that level himself,
make sure he's not the weak link of this team.
Time to level up, Otis.
This is not what I had in mind.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The Caterpillar.
Elbow!
Maxxine loving it.
Otis with Kaiser up high, Kaiser lands on his feet.
Oh, into the post, shoulder-first goes Otis.
[Wade] A rush of blood to the head with that initial success for Otis.
And you're in the worst position possible.
[Cole] And Gunther telling Gable,
"Go ahead, tag in. Let's go. Let's do this."
"Show me what you got."
"Show me what you learned last week."
And Gable's going to do just that.
[Wade] Gable's been battered from pillar to post
so far in this match-up.
How he's still ticking, I've no idea.
[Cole] And Gunther says, "That is how you deliver a German suplex."
And a cheap shot knocks Ciampa off the apron.
Gunther again, lifting Gable up into a powerbomb.
And Gable slipped through, ankle lock time now
on Gunther.
Gable almost had Gunther tap last week for the championship.
Can he have him tap again tonight?
[Wade] Gunther, fighting through the agony.
[Cole] Tag.
Vinci legal, crossbody.
Gable rolls through, ankle lock time now on Vinci.
[Wade] Vinci has had ankle issues for the past couple of months.
Thankfully for him, getting out of there.
Gable! Chaos Theory!
[crowd] One, two, three--
[Cole] Gunther breaks it up with a kick to the kidney.
[Wade] Milliseconds away from victory.
But now, at the boots of The Ring General.
[Cole] And now, Tommaso Ciampa with a running knee.
Driving Gunther outside the ring.
Kaiser with a right hand to Ciampa.
[Wade] Bedlam everywhere you look.
[Cole] Otis just ploughing through Kaiser.
Gunther with a boot to Otis.
Roll-up in the ring by Vinci.
Kick-out at two by Gable.
Gable picks the ankle.
Ankle lock now to Vinci.
[Wade] Back on that damaged ankle of Giovanni Vinci.
[Cole] Gunther trying to get into the ring, put an end to this.
Tommaso Ciampa.
Ciampa, though. Ciampa with a Sicilian Stretch locked in.
He's making Gunther watch Vinci suffer in the ankle lock.
He's going to make Gunther watch Vinci tap out.
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] Here are your winners by submission,
the team of Tommaso Ciampa
and Alpha Academy!
[Cole] Gunther is irate.
Gable tapped out Vinci
while Ciampa, with a Sicilian Stretch locked in,
made Gunther watch in awe.
[Wade] Imperium losses are as rare as hen's teeth.
But we saw one tonight. It's a collector's item.
[Cole softly] Hen's teeth.
[Wade] Rare.
[Cole] Ciampa wanted to prove something tonight.
And he and Alpha Academy did,
taking down Imperium.
This loss will not sit well with Gunther.
[shouting indistinctly]
-[Otis roars] -[Gable] Thank you!
I'm sorry for beating you guys over the head with this,
but we gotta keep the pressure on "Main event" Jey Uso.
I agree, man. Look…
The more he feels isolated, the more he'll need The Judgment Day.
-[Finn] Exactly. -Exactly.
And at the end of the day, they always come around to The Judgment Day.
Don't they, Dom?
That right, Mami.
I just… I wish I could be out there with you.
That's all right.
I wish you could be too, but at the end of the day,
just like you guys are going to handle this Jey business,
I'm going to handle my Raquel business.
And you know what?
-Mami's always on top. -[all laughing]
I'll see you guys later.
-[Finn] Good luck, sis. -Thanks, man.
[Damian Priest] Go do your thing.
[Cole] Well, Dominik is barred from ringside.
Rhea Ripley goes it alone.
The Eradicator defends the WWE Women's World Championship
against Raquel Rodriguez.
It's live and it's next.
[Cole] Well, every Monday night, immediately following Monday Night Raw,
it is live, Raw Talk on Peacock.
Tonight, your guest, The Miz,
as he prepares for LA Knight Friday night on SmackDown.
The Alpha Academy, victorious just a few moments ago,
and Drew McIntyre, with a big win over Xavier Woods earlier tonight.
I's Raw Talk, tonight, immediately following Raw, on Peacock.
Earlier tonight, Shinsuke Nakamura
continued to taunt the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth Rollins, with an attack on Ricochet.
[Nakamura and Ricochet grunting]
So sorry.
-I will take your title. -[Ricochet coughing]
But not tonight.
[speaking Japanese] I told ya, huh?
Just shut up and wait, you idiot.
[Cole in English] So, Shinsuke Nakamura will now turn his attention
next week, here on Monday Night Raw,
live from Salt Lake City,
to Ricochet. Ricochet with a major score to settle
versus Shinsuke Nakamura next week.
Live on Monday Night Raw, right here on USA.
This is ridiculous, I can't believe this.
Can we make this quick? And where's Becky?
I am Tiffany Stratton, the NXT Women's Champion,
and with that comes responsibilities.
-You didn't even roll out the red carpet. -[knocking]
Please come in.
-'Sup? -[Pearce] What's up?
Tiffany, Becky, while I have you both under the same roof,
I spoke with Shawn Michaels earlier today
and we felt it appropriate to, hopefully,
get you to sign this contract for your NXT Women's Championship match
-tomorrow night. -Hold on.
Before we do this, Becky… [sighs]
I have been nothing but respectful to you.
Even apologized for calling you an NXT Women's Champion.
And I know last week, I may have let my emotions get the best of me,
but you can understand that, right?
You're The Man.
And now that we're face-to-face, I have to ask you this.
What did I do? Why are you coming after me and the NXT Women's Championship?
Well, Tiffany, I gotta be honest with you.
I wasn't really paying much attention to what you were doing before this.
But when you come to my show
to get eyes on your dead-end title reign and you use my name in vain
and you show up during my matches, then I have to pay attention to you.
Well, look at you. Here you are, the NXT Women's Champion.
Built like a goddess.
Athletic as an Olympian.
Dumb as a box of rocks.
But when I think about NXT, I think about hope, I think about passion,
I think about the future, and you, you could be all of those things.
But you're not, because you're just concerned with being famous.
And that's why you're stepping to The Man.
You want to be famous so bad, I'll make you famous,
tomorrow night, when I take your NXT Women's Championship.
Welcome to the big time.
Sweetheart, I don't need you to make me famous.
I have been doing just fine on my own.
But you want to stick your head in my business?
Okay, I have no problem beating you
and making my name at your expense.
And that name is Tiffany Stratton.
The greatest NXT Women's Champion, of all time.
Here, please.
Thank you.
[Cole] Tomorrow night, right here on USA as a part of NXT,
the biggest match in the career of NXT Women's Champion,
Tiffany Stratton,
as she puts that title on the line
against "The Man" Becky Lynch.
Live, tomorrow night on NXT.
Now, Tiffany Stratton called herself, the greatest NXT Women's Champion
of all time.
This woman here may beg to differ.
Raquel Rodriguez embodies everything that Becky Lynch is talking about
when it comes to NXT.
[Wade] You're absolutely right.
And I will say, it was a bitter disappointment
for Raquel Rodriguez a couple of weeks ago at Payback.
I don't think we saw the best of Raquel,
in what was the biggest match of her career.
Big moments like that, it can sometimes throw off young Superstars,
the first time they're in that major spotlight.
[Cole] I understand that, Wade. But I want to say something here.
Remember, Raquel Rodriguez suffered a knee injury
caused by Rhea Ripley about a month and a half ago.
Raquel was still struggling with that in that match-up.
Once Rhea Ripley targeted the knee…
Raquel says she's 100% coming into tonight.
[Wade] Here's the thing, Rhea Ripley knows Raquel
as well as anybody.
["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]
[Wade] Rhea Ripley and Raquel are former best friends.
Former training partners.
It's rare that Rhea Ripley sizes up an opponent
and realizes this opponent is that big a threat,
I need to do everything in my power
to soften this person up before I get in the ring with her.
[Cole] Remember, Raquel Rodriguez is the one, Wade,
she was the one who sent Rhea Ripley packing, out of NXT.
That was Raquel Rodriguez.
[Wade] A lot of water under the bridge since then, Michael Cole.
I actually commentated on the match you're talking about.
It was about two years ago.
This Rhea Ripley does not resemble Rhea Ripley
from two years ago in any way whatsoever.
[Wade] Ripley has climbed up about ten levels
since that day. So I don't know how much you can read into that particular match.
[Cole] I don't think this Raquel Rodriguez
is the same Raquel Rodriguez of a couple of years ago either.
And we're going to find out.
Raquel Rodriguez with the opportunity of a lifetime.
She takes on Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship,
and it's live next
on Monday Night Raw.
[Cole] We are back on Monday Night Raw,
and who will be the Women's World Champion when we get to Salt Lake City
for Monday Night Raw next Monday?
We're going to find out right now.
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the Women's World Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger.
From Rio Grande Valley, Texas,
-Raquel Rodriguez! -[crowd cheering]
And her opponent,
representing The Judgment Day,
from Adelaide, South Australia,
she is the Women's World Champion,
-Rhea Ripley! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And again, Dominik Mysterio of The Judgment Day
is banned from ringside for this match-up tonight.
So it's Rhea, Raquel, one on one
for the Women's World Championship.
Wade, what does Raquel Rodriguez need to do
to take the title from the dominant Ripley?
[Wade] She needs to focus on her strengths, which is
her literal strength and power.
-That's the only way… -[bell ringing]
…she has an advantage over Rhea Ripley.
And right off the bat it's coming to a fall.
[Cole] Yes, and the… Set the tone early.
Deliver the clothesline.
Rhea Ripley, though, and Raquel Rodriguez just too big, too strong,
for Rhea to get over into the sunset flip.
And now back to her feet, another clothesline by Rodriguez.
And Raquel now,
trying to establish dominance early.
And show Rhea Ripley that, oh, you can't mess around with Raquel.
And we mentioned this at Payback. Rhea Ripley…
[referee] Out of the turnbuckle. Come on.
[Cole] …is in a match-up with a woman just as powerful,
maybe even more powerful than she is.
[Wade] Raquel is more powerful than Rhea Ripley.
There is no doubt about it.
-And it is a rare sight. -[Raquel yells]
[Cole] Oh! Powerslam.
Cover by Raquel for the title, and Rhea kicks at two.
[Wade] Take a look at how this match started.
Right off the bat.
Setting the scene, and then followed by this.
Raquel Rodriguez, a commanding start.
And Rhea Ripley, 95% of her victories
come by her physically dominating and bullying opponents.
She cannot get away with this tonight.
She has to hit that rare 5%.
[Cole] Now the bear hug locked into Rhea Ripley by Raquel.
Squeezing the abdomen, the lower back.
Don't pull her hair, Rhea. Get off her hair.
[Cole] And Rhea trying to create some sort of separation here.
[Wade] You heard Raquel talking earlier tonight
how most of Rhea's victories happen before the bell rings,
because her opponents are so intimidated and scared of The Eradicator.
That wasn't the case with Raquel tonight.
However, that head-butt has changed things.
[Cole] And Rhea, oh, nice dropkick off the top rope.
And now, Rhea Ripley looking to take over.
[Wade] Ripley, so well rounded.
"Take away my power game, no problem, I'll go airborne."
[referee] Come on, let's go. Come on.
[Cole] Rhea has all the tools.
As you mentioned, just such a well-rounded champion.
So much is made of her power, but there's so much more,
like the agility and the athletic ability
that is being displayed by Rhea in this match.
[Rhea Ripley] You want to hit me? Get up.
-[referee] Four! -[Wade] Rare we ever see
this side of Rhea Ripley, because she normally doesn't have to dig
this deep in the playbook.
[Cole] And Rhea now with that running knee.
Almost runs through Raquel, into the cover.
And a kick-out by Raquel at two and a half.
[Wade] Dismissive pinfall attempt too. Take a look at this.
Just something you don't really need to see too often
from Rhea Ripley, pulling out all the stops tonight
against a physically more powerful opponent.
[Cole] "Dismissive" is what you called that pinfall attempt.
I agree with you there, but it's also psychological for Rhea.
-Can you imagine being Raquel… -[referee] Watch the hair.
[Cole] …being pinned that way by the champion?
What Rhea's done nicely here, Wade,
is she knew there would be an emotional flurry at the beginning of the match-up.
She knew Raquel was going to come out on fire.
She was able to weather that storm,
and now, put the pace of the match where Rhea likes it.
[Wade] That the thing, if you're Raquel, who is less experienced than Rhea,
once you've given it your best shot,
once your opponent has ridden out that early storm,
which, let's face it,
Raquel throws that offense at pretty much anyone else in the division,
she's winning the match.
It didn't work tonight. What else have you got?
[Cole] Nice dropkick by Ripley.
And now, measuring Raquel Rodriguez.
Raquel, though, able to… Launched Rhea out of the ring, and she hit hard.
The champion hit hard, but remember,
champions advantage tonight.
Raquel must pin or submit Rhea.
Countouts, disqualifications don't matter.
And now, Raquel Rodriguez driving Ripley into the barricade.
Champ's in trouble. Raquel Rodriguez has got an opportunity.
[Rhea Ripley screaming]
[Cole] We're back on Monday Night Raw.
Rhea Ripley, the Women's Champion right now,
dominating Raquel Rodriguez.
Raquel had a flurry before the commercial break,
but Rhea's taken over now.
Working the leg of Raquel Rodriguez, we mentioned the injury earlier on,
as we take a look at Raquel Rodriguez and the power during the commercial break.
[crowd groaning]
[Wade] Just destroying our security barrier in the process
with the body of Rhea Ripley.
But Rhea bouncing back
and once again taking a commanding role in this match.
[Cole] Rhea Ripley now, controlling Raquel Rodriguez.
Will Raquel tap?
Rhea's got her locked up here.
[Raquel groans]
[Cole] And Ripley just pounding away on the number-one contender
for the Women's Championship.
And Raquel trying to fight out of it.
[Wade] Desperately trying to release the pressure on that knee.
Worked eventually.
How much damage has been done to Raquel, however?
[Cole] Raquel, hung up on the top rope.
Rhea Ripley…
makes her pay and now, Raquel up on Ripley's shoulders.
Face-first into the top turnbuckle.
[Wade] When you think of the amount of offense
that has been thrown the way of Rhea Ripley,
she looks fresh as a daisy already.
So much resilience, that is why she is so dominant.
[referee] Get off there. One, two…
And Rhea just continuing to punish Raquel.
Four, unhook her. Come on, stop.
[Wade] It really is the mind of Raquel that is taking a beating
as much as the body at this point.
"I've thrown everything at the champ,
and nothing has worked."
Again, I'm going to count now, one…
-[Cole] And again, Rhea continues… -…two, three!
[Cole] …to torture Raquel, though, back to her feet.
Raquel now, with Rhea Ripley up on her shoulders.
Rhea trying to somehow hang on, now she goes face-first
off the top turnbuckle and Raquel's got an opportunity.
[Wade] With that power once again.
That is the last asset that Raquel Rodriguez
is going to lose, and it is her key to victory tonight.
[Cole] Raquel trying to fight back to her feet.
Trying to take control of the match.
Couple of jabs now by Raquel.
Right hands now to Rhea Ripley. The champ now is stunned.
[Wade] The champ is rocked at this point.
[Cole] Really rocked after that forearm.
[Wade] And Raquel needs to stay on top of it.
What chance does anyone have?
[Cole] And Raquel…
misses wide with a clothesline.
Oh! Both women down, center of the ring.
What a collision between Ripley and Rodriguez.
[Wade] Absolutely appalling collision in the middle of the ring.
Boots to jaws.
[Cole] Boom!
[Wade] Both women taking an equally bad landing
and have barely stirred.
[Cole] Monday Night Raw is at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, tonight,
capacity crowd looking on for our main event.
It's for the Women's Championship, the World Championship.
Rhea Ripley defending the title against Raquel Rodriguez.
And, Wade, this is a critical moment in the match-up with both women down.
[Wade] The crowd's been chanting, "This is awesome." And I agree.
[Cole] Who has the will to survive in this match-up?
[Wade] We know all about the depths
to which Rhea Ripley can pull the magic from.
Can Raquel Rodriguez match her?
[Cole] Raquel and Rhea now, exchanging blows.
Who will get the upper hand in this Women's World Championship match?
[crowd exclaiming]
Rhea with a kick to the midsection.
[Raquel screams]
[Cole] And now Raquel… Rhea, though, lands on her feet.
[Wade] What a reversal.
[Cole] Another big kick and Rhea now, wow, great suplex.
Cover now to retain the championship, Raquel kicks out.
Exhaustion setting in for both of these women
in this World Championship Match on Monday Night Raw.
[Wade] Talking about the mind of Raquel earlier,
after that Northern Lights suplex.
We'll see that again.
Did not work.
It is perhaps the champ, Ripley, who is starting to despair.
[Cole] Frustration may be setting in
for Rhea Ripley, as she just continues to pound
the spine of Raquel Rodriguez.
[Wade] When does frustration turn to panic for Rhea Ripley?
"Can I get the job done without Dom-Dom at ringside?"
[Cole] Rhea, a clubbing blow right to the back of the neck.
[Wade] Just indefensible.
Going for Riptide, Cole.
[Cole] Raquel, though, able to block.
Rhea, though, hooked her.
One!
[Wade] Too big, too strong, denied.
[Cole] And now, it's Raquel… with Rhea up.
And in the corner, face-first off the turnbuckle.
Big back body drop, here come Rodriguez.
Raquel's starting to build momentum.
Boot now to Rhea Ripley. Cover, for the championship.
Grabs both legs this time. Ripley's gotta kick at two.
[Wade] Rhea Ripley simply is not used to receiving this kind of offense.
[Cole] Yeah, for this extended amount of time as well, Wade.
This has been a long, grueling match, between these two competitors.
[Wade] Rhea Ripley is not conditioned to take the kind of power moves
and being thrown around
that she's receiving tonight from the challenger.
Ripley's glassy-eyed.
[Cole] Raquel steps over her opponent, from the second rope.
She was going for that corkscrew elbow.
And Ripley had it well-scouted, was able to block.
[Wade] Ripley is dragging now.
[Cole] Rhea looking to dig down deep.
Drag herself up to the top rope, Raquel Rodriguez…
in trouble. Ripley measuring her opponent.
Rhea, Frog Splash.
Cover, hook to the leg on Rodriguez,
who kicks out.
[Wade] Little tribute to her Latino Heat, Dom-Dom.
So close to pulling out the victory.
[Cole] Rhea with a Frog Splash à la the late, great Eddie Guerrero,
but nonetheless, Raquel able to kick out at two.
[Wade] Raquel Rodriguez, just Texas tough.
[Cole] Now, Rhea with a baseball slide,
driving Raquel outside the ring.
[Wade] The look of disgust written on the face of Rhea Ripley.
She wants her night over.
[Cole] Ripley with a cannonball on the apron.
And now, Raquel Rodriguez grabbing Ripley, and now,
slinging her into the announce table.
Raquel looking to do more damage to Ripley.
A bomb onto the apron.
But Raquel's got to get the champ into the ring.
[Wade] All of the impact on the lower back
-of the champion. -[Cole] What the hell?
Who the hell?
Oh, my goodness!
The Annihilator.
The Irresistible Force.
Nia Jax is here!
Nia Jax…
from out of nowhere.
[Wade] Nia Jax has just changed the complexion of this match.
[Cole] Nia Jax taking out Raquel Rodriguez.
Riptide by Rhea Ripley.
-Stacks up Raquel. -[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell ringing]
[Samantha] Here is your winner,
and still the Women's World Champion,
Rhea Ripley!
["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]
[Cole] I cannot believe…
what we just witnessed.
[Wade] Well, that was an epic battle for the ages,
but the victory ended up as a layup
for Rhea Ripley thanks to Nia Jax.
[Cole] Nia Jax isn't done yet. First, she went after Rodriguez.
And now a head-butt to the champion, Ripley.
And Jax is laughing about it.
[Wade] Jax is wrecking everything in sight.
[Cole] The former Women's Champion,
Nia Jax, with a massive leg drop
for Rhea Ripley.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] And now, Nia heads to the second rope.
Ripley goes splat.
Nia Jax makes it perfectly clear.
"I'm back."
"The champ's in my crosshairs."
[crowd clamoring] crosshairs."