[intro music playing]
[Triple H] Then.
Now.
Forever.
Together.
[Joe] St. Louis is home to this week's Monday Night Raw.
It comes fresh off of Saturday's Bad Blood,
a night of the unexpected it was. It sparked intrigue.
And now a big crowd comes to the Enterprise Center here in St. Louis,
feeling that there's much more to be revealed.
Sami Zayn is done chasing. He's done asking.
Now he's locked in on simply taking.
He's dethroned Gunther once before with gold on the line,
but this will be a different task.
A couple days ago, Gunther, the World Heavyweight Champion,
was riled up in Atlanta.
He poked the bear in the form of a legend,
and then found out just how fiery
and focused his new title-questing challenger is.
The championship match is ahead.
There are few in the locker room more angered than Pete Dunne.
His past brotherhood with Sheamus is forever broken.
Viewed as a torturous tenure and with a gnawing nickname.
The Celtic Warrior has seen the guy he calls Butch
take out his frustrations in and out of the ring
with much pain, delivered and absorbed.
Now it rises to a Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook Match, tonight.
Here's Xavier Woods.
He's getting a big opportunity this evening.
The New Day vet has seen some recent ups and downs.
Is this the night he breaks through for singles glory?
Oh, yeah, you can yeet, St. Louis.
Jey Uso is wasting no time delivering on that promise
to be an active fighting champ,
14 days after a classic Clash to grab the IC title.
He's putting it back on the cliff's edge.
[Samantha] Please welcome St. Louis' very own
chart toppin', lip-gloss poppin',
hood hottest, north side princess,
Sexyy Red!
["Sexy Boy" playing]
Oh, whoa, whoa! Hey, everybody.
What's up?
It's your favorite hottest princess, Sexyy Red.
And welcome to Monday Night Raw.
[crowd cheers]
Get it sexyy, yeah.
[Cole] For the first time in 27 years to the day,
the return of the Bad Blood premium live event.
Finn Bálor enters the ring against Damien Priest.
Oh, look who's here. It's The Judgment Day.
And Bálor is going to steal the damn match.
[Corey] Driven by fury, Damian Priest will not relent.
Damian Priest for the win.
[Corey] Liv Morgan, Rhea Ripley,
and "Dirty" Dom locked inside of a shark cage.
[Cole] Dominik's got the door open.
Oh, no, no, no!
[Cole] And wait a minute. Who the hell?
Raquel Rodríguez!
Can Cody Rhodes trust Roman Reigns as he takes on Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu.
[Corey] Jimmy's back!
[Cole] Spear by Reigns!
And the win!
You gave him your word, Uce!
["Electrifying" playing]
[Cole] The Final Boss has returned.
This will not be a five-star wrestling classic.
It is going to be mutually-assured destruction.
Very few men are ever the same when they walk out of this structure.
I'm going to end your career.
[Cole] it is hell on earth inside Hell in a Cell.
-[Corey] I don't have the words. -[Cole] I do.
Somebody win this damn match and end this brutality.
[Corey] Oh, my God. McIntyre may have broken his back.
Punk's got a chain.
Punk paying back the favor.
Go to sleep to the chain!
CM Punk survives hell!
["Cult Of Personality" playing]
[Joe] CM Punk knew what was coming.
And now, as you can tell, he knows what it feels like.
The idea that you're never the same.
[Samantha] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
CM Punk!
He won Hell in a Cell.
He survived Hell in a Cell.
[Wade] One of the most grisly, appalling matchups
in the history of this industry.
Both men physically and mentally broken.
One thing is clear, CM Punk,
love him or hate him, is back to his very best.
[crowd chanting] CM Punk!
Is it good to be not dead
in St. Louis, Missouri on a Monday night or what?
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] CM Punk!
I've been through enough this weekend. I've been through hell.
If we're going to set me on fire. Now's the time.
I, uh, I'm in no condition to be here.
I'm in no condition to even attempt to walk to that ring.
So if you don't mind, I'll address you from here.
It hurts to smile,
but I had to come here and see you.
I'm alive,
but I don't feel like it.
I'm a winner…
But it doesn't feel like I won.
I want to be able to come out here and say that it felt tremendous
stepping outside of hell and slamming the cage door behind me.
But the way that match Saturday night made me feel
just leaves me with a lot of questions.
I don't know what the future holds for CM Punk.
I told you all I had zero hell in the cell matches left in me, and I was right.
I'm banged up worse than I've ever been banged up in my entire life.
And as much as I do love you too, I just don't… I just don't know.
I want to thank three groups of people.
That's why I'm here.
The three groups of people that have a lot more in common with each other
than they care to admit.
The first one is my fans.
I'm talking the ride-or-die CM Punk fans,
the ones that make the signs,
that show up for seven years before I came back to wrestling.
You chanted my name and then you waited another three for me to come home.
Thank you.
There was a minute Saturday night where I didn't think I could pull it off,
even with you, but there has never been a second in my entire career
that I thought I could do it without any of you.
The second group of people I want to thank are my peers
behind and in front of the camera, the men and the women
that I feel privileged to be able to walk the hallways with.
The people I see on a weekly basis, at least most of them.
It's been a joy and my life's pleasure to work alongside of you.
The third group of people I want to thank are the people that don't like me at all.
Because there is a very thin line between love and hate.
And I've turned your hate into cash, so I thank you.
And for whatever reason you do dislike me,
whether it's your jealousy, your hatred.
I just want to say I don't know why you keep doubting me,
but keep doubting me.
I'm going to go home. I haven't seen my wife in about five weeks.
I got a lot of flowers to buy. I appreciate you all.
I'd like to say I'll see you soon, but I, I just don't know. Thank you.
["Visionary" playing]
[crowd sings]
[Joe] Well, how about that?
Seth "Freakin" Rollins coming out at the tail end of Punk's visit.
A week ago was his return with the last monster standing stomp.
Been a minute with Punk.
Last time they were together was at SummerSlam weekend
and the Raw that followed, Wade.
[crowd sings]
[Wade] CM Punk mentioned there
-are many out there who still hate him. -[Joe] Mmm-hmm.
None more so perhaps than this man, Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
St. Louis!
[crowd cheers]
You know, I got to do the right thing.
Before we get things started out here tonight,
I got to do the right thing.
After everything that he went through on Saturday night.
CM Punk, from all of us here in this building tonight,
get well soon.
[crowd cheers]
Because the sooner you get back,
means the sooner I can kick your ass and retire you for good.
[laughing]
Yes!
Now, St. Louis,
welcome to Monday Night Rollins!
[crowd cheers]
I've been gone a couple of months.
Things getting crazy around here.
Oh, yeah. Sing it, sing it loud. Let them hear it.
[crowd sings]
And things been wild around here.
I tune in to Bad Blood this Saturday, things are crazy.
I see Dominik Mysterio, he's hanging from a shark cage.
The Final Boss, The Rock is back.
While I was gone, hell must have frozen over.
Because if I'm not mistaken,
Cody Rhodes is out here teaming with Roman Reigns.
And getting punched in the mouth by Kevin Owens.
But… But… [laughing]
since I'm not supposed to talk about that, let's get things back on track.
I'm the man to do that because I am a visionary.
I am a revolutionary.
I am Seth…
[crowd] "Freakin" Rollins!
And I am back to destroy Bronson Reed.
Now, I tell you what, Bronson Reed… Bronson's not here tonight.
He's not here tonight. But, Bronson, I know you are somewhere watching.
I want you to listen to me real close.
Matter of fact. Come here, come here. Bring this in.
I want you to listen to me real close.
Two months ago, you ambushed me.
You tried to end my career.
And for what? For what?
You wanted to make a name for yourself?
Well, congratulations.
Six tsunamis later, and I know your damn name.
You wanted to get famous, big boy.
You want to get famous, big boy?
That's what you wanted?
I'll give you your 15 minutes.
So I'll tell you what.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins versus Bronson Reed,
one on one, you name the time, you name the place.
Except this time, I'll be expecting you.
["Visionary" playing]
[Joe] Well, it was a week ago
that he stomped "Big" Bronson Reed's head onto the steel steps.
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[Wade] Seth "Freakin" Rollins has got a long list of targets.
Target number one, "Big" Bronson Reed.
But we got business to attend to now.
Well, Seth is going to leave the ring to the IC Champ.
14 years deep into his main roster run, now, 14 days deep into his reign
as Intercontinental Champ, Jey Uso defends against Xavier Woods.
The intercontinental championship match next on Monday Night PRIME
from St. Louis.
[Joe] We are getting right to gold
right away here on Monday Night Raw in St. Louis,
as Jey Uso, 14 days in looking to defend here in St. Lou… Yeet!
This is one of the better signs we've got right here.
-St… St. Lou Yeet? -St. Lou Yeet.
You are like the conductor of the yeets concerto right now.
[Joe] I love the fact that he's doing exactly what he said,
an active defending champion.
And the whole time that Jey Uso was working his way to the IC title,
the theme was a chance at singles glory.
And you can rinse and repeat and try that on this guy, Xavier Woods,
who's been more and more expressive, Wade,
with some of his career frustrations lately.
[Wade] Yes, he has.
But man, what a turnaround last week,
pulling out an epic victory against the Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio.
A confidence boost at the right time for Xavier Woods,
who is looking to break a hoodoo of his own,
just like Jey did a couple of weeks ago
and win his first singles championship here on Raw.
[Joe] So with Kofi Kingston by his side, he gets this title opportunity.
And for the official introductions, here's the sensational Samantha Irvin.
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
And it is for,
The Intercontinental Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger.
Accompanied to the ring by Kofi Kingston,
representing The New Day.
From Atlanta, Georgia, weighing in at 215 pounds,
Xavier Woods.
And his opponent,
from San Francisco, California.
Weighing in at 242 pounds,
he is, the Intercontinental Champion.
Main Event,
Jey Uso!
[crowd] Yeet!
[Wade] You know, Joe, there is an old saying in the locker room
that you are not a true champion
until you have successfully defended
the title you have won.
Now is that moment for Jey Uso.
[Joe] It's interesting, thinking about the history of combat sports,
specifically Wade, as you talk about what is said.
There's an old axiom,
in the ring. That a champion is instantly a better fighter,
the moment that the belt is around their waist.
That you get that boost, that level of confidence
that shows through.
Do you sense that having been around Jey recently?
[Wade] I personally would not agree with that.
Now Jay has something to lose.
The pressure is really on.
And imagine how bad it's going to feel
after those 14 years of chasing a singles championship
that you let it slip through your grasp immediately.
[Joe] On the other side, Xavier Woods talked about wanting
the singles opportunity for the gold.
Yet it was Kofi who was approached by Jey.
It was Kofi who said Xavier should have this title match.
He said, it should go to him because of the win you referenced
against Rey Mysterio last week.
A win that many still view
with a questionable look as to how it came to an end.
[Wade] I would say that last week, Xavier Woods did nothing wrong
against Rey Mysterio.
When Lady Luck blows you a kiss.
You certainly don't turn her down.
And that's all he did last week.
And what a start here for Xavier Woods.
He is in control against the champ.
Can Xavier Wood win gold?
[Joe] Just before the break,
Xavier was able to hit that Death Valley driver on the floor
against the Intercontinental Champion, Jey Uso.
And Wade, he's been in complete control since.
[Wade] This has been a hyper aggressive Xavier Woods.
Jey Uso, barely getting out of the blocks thus far.
But it seems maybe the tide has finally turned.
[Joe] Right hand after right hand from Uso.
[crowd] Yeet!
[Joe] And one final one for good measure.
[Wade] Xavier Woods came into this contest
highly confident,
knowing full well he can beat Jey Uso.
He's done it before in singles competition.
But that confidence, perhaps now, starting to slip away.
[Joe] Big forearm. That confidence was bubbling up
from the entire New Day team.
Literally, if you were on X,
and following social media, just before the ring walk.
Kofi Kingston was saying, " Here we go,
new IC champ incoming."
Here's the cover, hook to the leg.
For the Intercontinental Championship and the kick out by Jey.
[Wade] There's been some tensions between New Day
over the past couple of months.
It seems Kofi Kingston doing his best
to smooth things over to support his man.
And just imagine what a boost it would be
for both men in The New Day,
if Xavier Woods can pull off a win here tonight.
[Joe] Saw that tension bubbling up in mid-September.
Woods up top.
Oh, and he eats the superkick!
[Wade] Was perfect timing from the champ, Jey Uso.
and completely wobbled now,
is Xavier Woods.
[Joe] Uso Splash!
-To defend and retain! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Joe] Yes! Jey Uso. -[bell rings]
[Samantha] Here is your winner!
And still,
the Intercontinental Champion!
Main Event,
Jey Uso!
[Joe] Wade, in a match Xavier Woods controlled for the most part,
up until Jey Uso hit the accelerator late.
[Wade] It tells you all about the championship caliber
of Jey Uso, battered from pillar to post
until this moment.
Laying in, like, pouncing at the right moment
with that superkick, splash.
Culminates in successful force defense,
that a relatively new, Intercontinental Champion.
Jey Uso.
And what does that do to the mindset of Xavier Woods?
[Joe] Great eye candy with the Uso Splash.
Wasn't it? The tongue out.
[Wade] Real hang time.
[Joe] And now some respect from Kofi Kingston.
And offering it up to Xavier Woods as well.
And Xavier a little hesitant, to extend his hand.
And he cold shoulders him and walks away?
[Wade] It's a bitter moment Joe,
when you lose that opportunity you've worked so hard for.
[Joe] And this is what we've been seeing with Woods lately.
Uncharacteristic frustration.
Yeah, he beat me. Congratulations. Why don't you shake his hand again?
[Wade] It is a bitter pill to swallow.
When you're in that position.
you know you were within touching distance,
and it's even more difficult to comprehend
when Xavier Woods controlled 98% of that match.
And let it slip through his fingers
at the last possible moment.
[Joe] Whoa!
A super spear from Bron Breakker.
The man he dethroned.
-No! No! -[Joe] Kofi saying, we gotta help.
-[Woods] There's no reason to. -[Wade] What the hell is this about?
[Joe] Where did that come from?
And here comes Kofi, to get on top
of the former IC titlist.
Missed the trouble in Paradise and eats a super spear.
[Wade] Bron Breakker is just a wrecking machine.
We saw the sporting version of Bron Breakker last week.
[Joe] Where the heck is Xavier Woods now?
Oh, no.
You know the speed he generates on this.
Super spear to Woods too!
He just took all three out.
[Wade] I've seen Xavier Woods wanting no part of Bron Breakker.
He was just tending to his man, Kofi Kingston.
[Joe] The Intercontinental champ, is a sitting duck right now.
From the man he took the belt from.
He's gonna crack it up again.
Oh, man, oh, man, Wade.
Bron Breakker a destructive path
following the Intercontinental defense.
But why?
Why Bron?
As he picks up the belt.
That was once his.
if you thought he wasn't still a bad-ass,
just because he congratulated Jey last week.
Think again.
Why Bron?
[Rhea] Liv Morgan,
I should have known that you would weasel your way
out of Bad Blood with the title.
[Cole] Raquel Rodriguez assaulting
Rhea Ripley.
You just continue to prove that you cannot beat me all by yourself.
Bringing Raquel Rodriguez into it.
Yeah, it was smart.
I'll give you that.
[Cole] Liv Morgan had an ace up her sleeve.
[Rhea] But you know what would have been smarter?
If you didn't get caught.
Now, now all you've done
is guarantee another beating
and delay the inevitable.
The thing is, Liv, your need
Raquel.
I'm just gonna have to go through both of you.
[Wade] This was just moments ago.
Jey Uso, after successfully defending his Intercontinental Championship
against Xavier Woods, was brutally speared,
by the former champ, Bron Breakker.
Kofi Kingston tried to intervene
got a spear for good measure too.
As did the unwitting Xavier Woods.
Now, remember, this is a Bron Breakker who's incredibly sporting
towards Jey Uso, one week prior.
However, this week, he seems to have done a 180.
Excuse me, Bron.
We're all a little confused.
I mean, last week you were showing Jey Uso respect.
This week, it's Spear City.
Help me out here.
What's going on?
Tess, man, I'm trying, but it remains unclear
as to why Bron Breakker has seemingly had a change of heart. Back to you.
No doubt about it, Jackie, and you can try to figure out Bron Breakker's heart.
I understand there.
Hey Wade, as you know, WWE been reaching incredible heights lately.
That was proven true.
We saw at Bad Blood this weekend.
But our Chief Content Officer, Paul "Triple H" Levesque,
he never stops pushing forward.
And he made this announcement
concerning what's going to happen at Crown Jewel this year.
Because in just four weeks, one of the biggest spectacle events,
Crown Jewel.
An annual event,
where our reigning WWE Champion,
will face our reigning World Champion.
For both the men,
-And the women. -[crowd cheering]
And that winner,
will be crowned the 2024's…
Crown Jewel Champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Back at WrestleMania.
We had an interesting past partnership.
We saw Seth Rollins earlier today,
and he sacrificed his body
to help put Cody in position against Roman.
From one past partnership,
to one that has completely dissolved.
You know, the only thing worse than getting cracked with a bat.
Is getting cracked with a bat by a man you used to call a brother.
A man you used to call a friend.
And a man I still call Butch.
You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut.
Every time I hear that name, you're gonna get hurt.
You understand?
Time to put some sense into the loser, eh?
But I can see he's lost.
He's gone too far and he's about to find himself
on the wrong side of a fight night.
A Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook Match.
I'm gonna take you out.
I'm gonna beat you so bad,
that you're going to have no choice but to pass the torch.
One final banger.
So, what do you say, Butch?
["10 Beats of the Bodhran" playing]
-[Joe] Are you ready for this? -[Wade] Yeah!
-I'm ready. -[Joe] We got a bar.
We got bar stools.
We got a shillelaghs.
We have giant, thick, heavy whiskey barrels.
You've got a cricket bat over there.
[fireworks explode]
[Wade] It's fight night!
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following is a Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook Match!
Introducing first, from Dublin, Ireland.
Weighing in at 267 pounds.
Sheamus!
[Joe] It takes a lot for Sheamus to feel like someone has crossed the line.
Says, he loves a good banger, win or lose.
But being smashed by a cricket bat recently?
Yeah, that pushes it a bit.
We're getting after it.
Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook, Pete Dunne and Sheamus.
Coming up next. This thing's gonna be wild.
It was awesome, and you're the same champion.
You have no reason to doubt yourself.
Doubt myself?
You know that there is no Miz in Final Testament?
I did that for me.
I'm tired of being put in random matches on a moment's notice.
I'm tired of doing everything and getting nothing in return.
The WWE Universe has seemed to have forgotten
that I am The Miz and I am--
[R-Truth] Miz!
I've been texting you, dawg.
Look.
I know you kicked me in the head last week because you were confused.
Bro.
I am not in The Judgment Day no more.
Okay? So I forgive you.
-You forgive me? -Yes.
Truth, I wasn't confused.
Awesome Truth is done.
So you did that on purpose?
Our kids play together.
I thought we were brothers, man.
Don't let the truth weigh you down.
This is why nobody takes you seriously anymore.
And if you don't do something about this right now,
this is how you're gonna be remembered.
Look, we can fix this.
I'm gonna talk to Pearce, get you a match.
A match? Truth. That's the problem.
That's the problem.
You know what, you want a match?
You versus me. Next week.
[Joe] Oh.
Miz and R-Truth next week? Feels like we've got a theme.
Great friends turned foes.
And now we've got a Donnybrook.
Sheamus is ready for it.
I don't think the famed Temple Bar in Dublin has ever seen anything like this.
Donnybrook time.
Sheamus and Pete Dunne, Wade.
[Wade] Sheamus, already armed and ready in that ring with a shillelagh.
[Samantha] And his opponent,
from Birmingham, England.
Weighing in at 205 pounds.
the bruiserweight!
Pete Dunne!
[Joe] The man's walking out with
that solid wood cricket bat.
While Sheamus waits with a shillelagh in the ring.
[Wade] This is gonna get ugly in a hurry.
A Donnybrook Match.
Essentially, a no disqualification match
with a Anglo-Irish theme to it.
Set in a pub or a bar.
This is my kind of fight, Joe Tess.
[Joe] Remember this went all the way back to August, right?
The long standing issues that Pete says he's got with Sheamus.
That annoying nickname, as we said, Butch.
He originally attacked him backstage, injured his hand.
They've been going after it ever since.
[Wade] Well, they were tight as a unit as the Brawling Brutes.
The truth is, in Pete Dunne's eyes,
the Brawling Brutes exclusively benefited one man.
That was Sheamus.
At the detriment to a man like Pete Dunne.
Pete Dunne, a man who has won championships all around the world
until he linked up with Sheamus.
Since then, the trophy cabinet hasn't grown at all.
And this one underway, Joe.
[Joe] As Sheamus jumps right on top of Pete Dunne,
beating him down into that corner.
[Wade] This has to be the kind of fight you would normally
argue would benefit the bigger, stronger, superstar
in Sheamus, but…
Pete Dunne is tough and tenacious as they come.
Immediately going for those small joints of Sheamus.
[Joe] Picking up the shillelagh. Here he goes.
[Wade] The smartest thing you can do in a match like this.
Nothing the referee can do about it.
[Joe] Right across his teeth.
As he's pulling with all his weight.
[Wade] Give Pete Dunne a little Chelsea grin.
Dunne wisely going for the eyeballs of Sheamus,
to get himself out of there. All completely legal in a Donnybrook.
[Joe] Alabama Slam from Sheamus.
And out onto the floor right next to those big whisky barrels.
Anything goes.
[Wade] Is it Whisky? Is it beer? Is it wine? Who cares,
give me the glass! Oh!
[Joe] Listen to that thud.
[Wade] Big old barrel meets the big old boot
of Sheamus' Brogue.
[Joe] And now, Pete, from the barrel.
[Wade] Tornado DDT and the cranium of Sheamus
just bouncing off those thin pads
underneath those concrete.
They built the skull of Sheamus thicker than most.
[Joe] Double stomp as he's down on the floor
after a Tornado DDT.
[Wade] Well, surprising this early on,
it seems like Pete Dunne in complete control.
Not many people get to do that to Sheamus.
[Joe] Pete Dunne, all that fury has been raging inside of him.
Over to the bar in this Donnybrook.
[Wade] The bar, the barman has clearly vacated rather wisely.
[Joe] Up on top of the bar is Pete Dunne.
Stomping on the hand of Sheamus.
-Seamus catches him! -[Wade] Uh-oh.
[Joe] Powerslams him onto our announced table.
Crashing through the monitors is Pete Dunne.
Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook, as advertised.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett with you
in just the fourth Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook Match in WWE history.
Sheamus and Pete Dunne.
Previous teammates in Brawling Brutes.
With all the bad blood lately between these two.
[Wade] This one certainly lived up to the billing.
This arena already trashed.
As the fight goes on,
and Sheamus has got that look in his eye, Joe.
[Joe] Big forearm from the big man.
The Celtic Warrior now picks up that shillelagh,
and gets him right across the midsection with it.
[Wade] Smashing the shillelagh in half.
Just think what it did to the ribs of Pete Dunne.
-[crowd cheering] -[Joe] And here it comes,
-the Ten Beats of Bodhran. -[crowd] One!
[Wade] Oh!
[Joe] But Pete with an opportunity to counter, and he does!
[Wade] A desperation move from Dunne, who knew what was coming, and…
Oh! Didn't see that one coming, though.
-[crowd cheering] -Big old Irish Curse Backbreaker!
[Joe] As the rallying support for Sheamus here in St. Louis.
[crowd grunting along]
Lining it up!
And he gets out of the way of the Brogue Kick.
But not that!
Remember, he put him through the table moments ago!
Hooks the leg!
He smashed our monitors to bits twice,
once before the commercial break and once during it,
[Wade] The standard brutalist affair from Sheamus,
the ultimate meat and potatoes fighter.
Nothing flashy, everything painful!
[Joe] Pete clocks him with the shillelagh.
[Wade] Half a shillelagh at this point, but it did just as much damage.
The tables have turned once again.
[Joe] Superplex,
as Pete Dunne hooks the leg for the win and the Donnybrook!
But a kick-out by Sheamus.
[Wade] Both men wincing in agony at this point.
And Pete Dunne, who carries an aura of menace wherever he goes,
looking to put this one to bed as soon as possible.
So bitter, so vengeful.
Gonna take it out on Sheamus.
[Joe] Baseball slide kick.
As, now, they're back outside. Remember, anything goes.
They have the whiskey barrels.
There's tables set up from moments ago.
He's going on top of these giant whiskey barrels
-that are stacked like a pyramid. -[Wade] The hell--
[Joe] Pete Dunne's going all the way up top!
Oh, and Sheamus picks up a shillelagh,
and is beating him down with it!
And look at the height of these whiskey barrels.
[Wade] Oh, God, that is not where you wanna be perched…
in this kind of match-up.
[Joe] They're on top of the barrels! The shillelagh's locking him up!
He's locked up for the Ten Beats with the shillelagh,
on top of the whiskey barrels!
[crowd] Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten!
[Wade] No way to escape other than a ten-foot drop!
[Joe] Is this White Noise
-from up top? -[Wade] Oh, my God!
Don't do it, Sheamo!
-[Joe] Wow! -[crowd cheering]
Donnybrook destruction!
White Noise atop stacked whiskey barrels!
[crowd cheering]
[Wade] Both fighters
likely with shattered spines after that move.
Sheamus with the ultimate high risk!
There's just no way to land that is remotely safe for Sheamus!
But just think how bad it would have felt for Dunne.
[crowd chanting] This is awesome! This is awesome!
[Joe] And listen to these fans in St. Louis.
[chanting continues]
Is it ever awesome!
[Wade] It's awesome for everyone not called Sheamus or Pete Dunne.
But this one somehow still continues!
[Joe] Running knee that pumped him right to the jaw!
[Wade] Kneecap to the dome!
And, Sheamus, perhaps looking for that High Cross!
[Joe] There it is. Set up for it.
And delivers with extra something on it!
[Wade] Pete Dunne just looking like a mannequin.
[Joe] Crawling into position for the… Kick-out at two and change.
[Wade] Well, after that volley of abuse absorbed by Pete Dunne,
there is the reason why that man from England
is championship caliber.
Should not have the ability to kick-out at this point in the match-up.
That's insanity, and Sheamus recognizes that.
[Joe] So much has been taken out of Pete Dunne. But, also, Sheamus,
taking damage just to deliver it.
I mean, that White Noise off of the stack of whiskey barrels.
And, now, the joint manipulation from Pete Dunne.
[Wade] Pete Dunne, never on the defensive.
[Joe] Oh, no! The cricket bat!
Turns it into the cover! Could Pete win it here?
Did you hear the strike of that cricket bat?
[Wade] Pete Dunne looking like a prime Ian Botham
hitting Sheamus for six! But it simply was not enough.
[Joe] But the English cricket legend, did you just cite?
-[Wade laughing] Yes! -[Joe] That is a first
-for Monday Night Raw. -[Wade] Beefy Botham!
But Sheamus still taking it in this--
[Joe] Where's he going? What in the world?
He goes into the bar,
and he just takes out the drawer and starts smashing him with it!
[Wade] Even the referee's wincing.
[Joe] He's taking zip ties out of the top drawer of the bar.
[Wade] Who the hell keeps zip ties in a bar?
[Joe] Listen, things are getting out of control.
And, now, he is zip-tying his hands, basically handcuffing Sheamus!
[Wade] What bars do you go to, Joe Tess?
[Joe] The Celtic Warrior
with his hands now zip-tied behind his back.
Anything goes, and Pete Dunne is taking advantage!
How is Sheamus gonna kick out of this?
[Wade] Well, Sheamus, utterly defensive!
Defenseless!
[Joe] Anything goes! No DQ! And he has zip-tied him!
And, now, he's got that cricket bat!
[Wade] He's about to cave Sheamus's head in!
[Joe] This is outrageous!
Oh! Sheamus finds a way!
The knee comes back!
The Brogue! Are you kidding me?
-While he's zip-tied! The cover! -[crowd] One! Two! Three!
[Joe] An outrageous, utterly outrageous win!
-["10 Beats Of The Bodhrán" playing] -[Irvin] Here is your winner,
Sheamus!
[Wade] Holy hell, Joe Tess!
No hands required for The Celtic Warrior.
[Joe] What a legendary moment for Sheamus!
Zip-tied against his former Brawling Brutes teammate,
and he still finds a way!
[Wade] Simply unbreakable!
[Joe] We're gonna catch our breath while Cathy Kelley is with Cody Rhodes.
Yeah, Joe, I'm here with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
And, Cody, saying that this weekend was chaotic
would be a massive understatement.
How are you feeling after everything that transpired at Bad Blood?
Well, I can't speculate on everything that's happened at Bad Blood.
I'm sure you'll hear more about it this Friday on SmackDown.
I am here just simply to find out what it takes
to be the very first ever Crown Jewel Champion.
-Thank you, Cathy. -Thank you so much.
[Joe] So, that is Cody Rhodes.
And, remember, he says he can't speculate,
can't discuss what many are discussing that happened at Bad Blood.
[crowd cheering]
Man, I just wanted to tell you face to face,
I want you to know
that I plan being the one that you face at Crown Jewel.
Look, I've known you a long time, so…
-if you wanna talk about what happened-- -No, no, no!
We don't have to do any of that here.
Like I told Cathy, I'm here to see what it takes.
And you yourself, can you do it again?
You shocked the world once before with Gunther.
And you wanna be the one to face me at Crown Jewel?
I'll be honest, I want that, too.
Good luck, my friend.
[crowd cheering]
[Joe] Remember, World Heavyweight Championship,
Sami Zayn will be taking on Gunther.
The winner of that will be matched up there
for the Crown Jewel Championship, as we're still picking up the pieces.
What a match. I'm not just talking about the arena,
think of the bodies of Sheamus and Pete Dunne.
It was unbelievable. I mean, that was unbelievable, the Donnybrook.
So, they pick up the pieces after the Donnybrook,
and we take you back to another destructive moment
we had here at ringside, the Last Monster Standing
with Braun Strowman and "Big" Bronson Reed
in a match so violent that neither Superstar is here tonight.
"Big" Bronson Reed!
Braun Strowman!
Who will be the Last Monster Standing?
[dramatic instrumental music]
[crowd cheering]
[dramatic music continues]
[crowd cheering]
The ring just collapsed!
[crowd cheering]
That's The Visionary!
Seth Rollins Stomp!
-And Strowman got up! -[bell rings]
Braun Strowman is the Last Monster Standing
thanks to Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
Seth "Freakin" Rollins, who we saw earlier tonight,
making a statement about "Big" Bronson Reed.
This is earlier in the parking lot area, as The Judgment Day arrived.
[crowd booing]
[booing intensifies]
Excuse me, I was hoping to get a word with The Judgment Day.
Um, Liv, I have to ask you about Bad Blood.
I mean, Raquel Rodriguez's interference in your match with Rhea Ripley
has, quite frankly, caused a ton of controversy.
-Do you care to comment at all? -You want to comment, Jackie?
Of course you want a comment.
Okay, well, yeah, sure, Rhea technically beat me by disqualification.
But you know what? I still have my Women's World Championship.
I still have "Dirty' Dom. I still have The Judgment Day.
And, now, I have Raquel Rodriguez.
Do you know what that means?
That means I'm the only person in the WWE that still wins, even when I lose.
[giggles] Do you have any more questions?
Yeah, actually. Raquel, it's been a long time since we've seen you.
Are you officially a member--
Sorry, but that's all the time we have today for interviews.
But what I can tell you is that we are moving on from Rhea Ripley
and focusing on Nia Jax and Crown Jewel.
-Let's get out of here. -You wanna go?
-Yeah, let's just leave. -Wait! You're leaving?
-Let's go. -The show hasn't even started.
-I don't think you can… -Let's go. See ya.
Raquel, are you officially a member of The Judgment Day now?
They're… Okay, they're actually leaving.
So, I guess we're gonna have to wait for some clarity
on The Judgment Day's new alliance with Raquel Rodriguez.
They… they're leaving the building.
[Wade] All is good in the world of Liv Morgan,
power continuing to accumulate.
[Joe] Monday Night Raw here in St. Louis,
home to the 630-foot Gateway Arch,
home to toasted ravioli,
home to gooey butter cake, Wade Barrett.
And, tonight, also home to Jey Uso
defending his Intercontinental Championship.
And with that, you're gonna see a lot of "Yeet" signs.
[Wade] Oh, yeah, I bet you're thrilled about this, Joe Tess.
I know you've made half of those "Yeet" signs,
dropped 'em off in the audience beforehand.
[Joe] Great crowd here at the Enterprise Center,
including a couple that just got married and said, "You know what?
We changed our honeymoon plans just to see Rhea Ripley!"
[Wade] I think I'd be more focused on the honeymoon.
But, you know, I get it. It's Rhea.
-You know, this is huge. -They killed it.
Yes, they killed! They're gonna kill it tomorrow here in St. Louis on The CW.
NXT, it's perfect! And I'm proud of you.
-Thank you. -[Ethan Page] Pearce!
-"All Ego" Ethan Page. -[crowd booing]
-Adam Pearce. Nice to meet you. -Fantastic to meet you.
-I'm sure. -I wanted to chat some business with you.
One of your Monday Night Raw Superstars, CM Punk,
wanted to stick his nose in my business, be a special guest referee.
He actually ended up costing me my Championship.
So, I would love it if you and I could chat,
course correct this whole thing, and get me back on track.
Course correct? He cost you your Championship?
Problem, I didn't appoint him the referee.
-Okay. -No, Ava did.
-Hi, it's me. Your boss. -Oh, my favorite.
Listen, I'm so flattered that you came all the way to St. Louis.
-just to complain to me. -That's very nice.
That's so sweet. Champ…
-Former champ. -Ooh!
Listen, as much as I would love to hear you yap like I do every single week,
I'm off the clock right now. So sorry.
Then, what are you doing here?
-[Sexxy Red singing] -That's what I'm doing here.
-What's up, my girl? Hey! -Hey, girl.
-Sexxy, this is Adam. -Well, hello. How are you?
-What's up? -Nice to meet you.
[Ethan Page clearing throat]
-Oh, you look hella familiar. -Yeah?
Trick whooped your ass the other day. How you doing?
-Oh, hello! -How you doing?
I've done better.
You don't gotta get an attitude!
-Wow. -Mmm.
-Don't worry about him. -What about tomorrow?
-Yes. Tell me about tomorrow. -Huge. In St. Louis, yes!
[Wade] Oh, I'll tell you what, Joe Tess, I cannot get me enough Sexxy Red!
And we're getting more of her tomorrow night on NXT on The CW.
[Joe] St. Louis's very own Sexxy Red
performing on NXT on The CW tomorrow night.
We got a whole lot coming your way right now
with the Ten-Woman Tag Team Match.
Unholy Union will be involved.
Fyre and Dawn, from recent champs to constant contenders.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is a Ten-Woman Tag Team Match
scheduled for one fall!
Introducing first, Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre,
Unholy Union!
[Wade] Couple of mean girls from Scotland
linking up with some locker room bullies tonight
to form a five-woman power group.
[Joe] You mentioned bullies.
-PFC. -["Run For The Hills" playing]
[Wade] The ultimate bullies.
[Joe] Pure Fusion Collective,
Sonya, Shayna, and Zoey.
They're a big reason why we're having this Ten-Woman Tag Team Match.
-Everywhere they go, getting involved. -[Irvin] And their tag team partners,
Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, and Sonya Deville,
Pure Fusion Collective!
[Wade] Now, this is just three women who are not solely satisfied
by winning matches.
They have to take a chunk of opponents away with them.
And by that, I mean, injure opponents.
They've done it to several Superstars in the past.
The likes of Dakota Kai
and, indeed, two of the women they will be facing tonight,
in the form of Zelina Vega and Katana Chance.
How much chaos can be sown by these five women in the ring tonight?
[Joe] Yeah, and you'll see it with Katana as soon as she comes out.
["Run For The Hills" continues playing]
[Wade] Let's be clear, these five women in the ring right now
Unholy Union and Pure Fusion Collective, don't particularly like one another.
But a chance to cause some damage together?
Yeah, they're totally down.
[Joe] Oh, and Natty is leading the way with this group.
[Irvin] And their opponents,
the team of Lyra Valkyria,
Kayden Carter, Katana Chance
Zelina Vega, and Natalya!
[Joe] Natalya has been gathering serious momentum this fall.
That homecoming win in Calgary sparked it. Now joins forces with good friends
who she has mentored and looked after.
As you see Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.
There is Zelina Vega, who had to deal with Pure Fusion Collective.
And one of the random attacks injured her arm this summer.
["New Foundation" playing]
But what's most noticeable is the face mask on Katana Chance, Wade.
[Wade] Covering up the fact that her nose was plastered across her face
by that woman, Zoey Stark, a couple of months ago.
That's why we didn't see Chance and Carter for a little while.
Zoe Stark starting this one off with Kayden Carter.
[Joe] Kayden Carter and Zoey Stark.
You mentioned Carter and Chance, so great to have them back.
[Wade laughing]
[Wade] Zoey Stark just mocking Katana Chance and her protective mask.
[Joe] And they're just gonna get after it.
Ten of 'em out there. Why not?
Find a rival and just start throwing!
[Wade] Lost their minds early on.
The brawl is on! Referee already losing control,
and the battle has only just rung.
[Joe] Lyra through the ropes with a big kick!
[Wade] A woman who's had more than enough problems
with Pure Fusion Collective in recent weeks!
[Joe] Oh! And spinning over the top rope that time is Katana Chance.
[Wade] A bunch of acrobats have escaped the circus!
[Joe] Carter up to the top rope!
She goes flying!
Unholy Union is down on the floor after that!
[Wade] Absolute jaw-dropping offense.
And it's smart of these women to team up, team up with a fivesome.
You simply need something to combat the numbers game
of Pure Fusion Collective.
And Unholy Union, who may well have just taken control.
Natalya, the vet, is in trouble!
[Joe] Ten-Woman Tag Team Match. Joe and Wade with you, ringside.
You say, "How do you get to a match like this," Wade.
Well, last week, Kayden and Katana came out to help Lyra
when she was in the midst of her battle.
Natalya and Vega were not around.
In fact, there was an Instagram post that went out earlier today,
where they were apologizing to Lyra Valkyria, saying,
"Hey, sorry about last week, We got you covered now."
[Wade] Well, finally, Natalya got a way out of there,
and that is a tough thing to do against the Pure Fusion Collective,
who simply love using that numbers game against you, Joe.
And, now, it is Zelina Vega setting her heart ablaze
against Zoey Stark.
[Joe] And Zoey Stark, turning things around for a moment,
as Zelina Vega, up top.
[Wade] This is the kind of fire that took Zelina Vega to championship opportunities
at Backlash in Puerto Rico.
We know how good she can be.
But Zoey Stark, as tough and as aggressive as they come.
Vega, however, resourceful there.
[Joe] Zelina coming after the attack to Sonya Deville.
[Joe] Zelina Vega filled with emotion
when it comes to going up against PFC
after what happened to her this summer.
The damaged arm.
[crowd cheers]
[Joe] Moonsault and the cover.
[Wade] Oh!
[Joe] And coming in and attacking with that knee.
And then a cover of her own, Sonya.
[Wade] There's a tag to Sonya Deville
that Zelina Vega simply wasn't aware of,
and that cost her.
And there was a knee
to the nose, again, of Katana Chance.
This one breaking down.
Absolute mess in the ring.
And now Lyra Valkyria cleaning house.
-[loud thud] -[crowd gasps]
[Joe] Alba Fyre.
Vega gets back involved.
Springboard!
Missile dropkick from Zoey Stark.
[Wade] Just danger every way you look.
That is Pure Fusion Collective discus clothesline.
[Joe] A big kick,
and then the knee.
And Sonya getting the best of Natalya.
[Wade] It's almost impossible to keep track
of who is legal at this point.
Referee taking a close look.
However, Deville might be fading.
[Joe] Lyra just tagged in.
[body thuds]
[Joe] There she goes with the leg drop from up high,
-[Joe] Turns it into the cover. -[audience] One…
[audience] …two, three!
-[bell rings] -[Wade] That was The Peripeteia
from Lyra Valkyria.
-[Joe] That's great. -[Samantha] Here are your winners…
[Samantha] …the team of Kayden Carter
Katana Chance,
Zelina Vega.
Natalya and Lyra Valkyria.
[Wade] What a shocker from Lyra Valkyria.
Digging deep into the playbook with that move, The Peripeteia,
a move she made famous
during her time in NXT UK.
And clearly,
Deville,
Pure Fusion Collective, and The Unholy Union
far from happy with that result.
[Joe] Less than four weeks away from an unprecedented event
with new Crown Jewel championship titles going to be awarded.
The question before us tonight is
who will be the man facing Cody Rhodes?
This is the promotional poster that was released to the world
in the last 24 hours.
Yes, of course, if things were to take place
based on the current status,
Cody versus Gunther,
best versus best champ versus champ.
[Wade] However,
the poster could change.
It could look like this tomorrow, Wade.
Because Sami Zayn has a shot
at the World Heavyweight Championship.
He finally gets it to challenge Gunther.
[Gunther] Life as the world heavyweight champion
has been fantastic.
But there's one thing I really hate
about my life right now,
that I have to deal with Sami Zayn every single week.
[man 1] There's a very easy way to put an end
to all of this once and for all.
Put your Heavyweight Championship on the line, one on one.
I tried to tell you.
[Gunther] I tried to beat it into you.
You are just not on my level.
[Sami] If I'm not on your level, then how come
I'm the one who beat you at WrestleMania?
You are scared
that it will happen again.
Losing to the better man
would have been no problem.
But losing to you
has been the biggest embarrassment of my career.
[dramatic music playing]
[Gunther] You want this so bad, Sami, huh?
You got your match.
[man 2] Sami Zayn will not go away.
He's got what he wanted,
a "yes" from the world heavyweight champ, Gunther
Will lightning strike twice?
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[crowd roars]
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
[audience] Let's go!
[crowd cheers]
[Joe] Sami has been in this spot before.
A walk to the ring to try to take a title from Gunther.
Of course the last time he did it
it was like receiving a line of support,
from his wife to his son,
KO slapping him in the chest
before he went out there
for that crescendo to deliver at WrestleMania.
So, Wade, he knows what it takes to win,
but can he do it now?
Two times within six months
against Gunther.
The world Heavyweight Championship match.
Sami gets what he wanted.
The Ring General Gunther's in there next.
Now that my girl B and I are done hosting Bad Blood,
it's time to get back to business.
[Belair] And Damage CTRL,
we heard your challenge last week.
Well, let me say this with my chest.
We can't wait to face y'all
for our Tag Team titles.
[Jade] We see y'all, and let's keep it real.
We're not taking our titles for granted.
[Belair] Damn right.
You know what? I'll give credit where credit's due.
Y'all been tearing up this women's Tag Team division.
And IYO,
you call me slipping a couple weeks ago.
[audience] One, two, three!
[Belair] But if y'all think for one second
that Damage CTRL is about to take back over, oh,
y'all got another thing coming.
See, they must not know about us.
[Jade] You and I, we fought through the trenches
to get our titles back.
We actually took these titles from Damage CTRL.
[Jade and Belair] That's right.
[Belair] So you best believe we're not about to let y'all return the favor.
-[Belair] Since you're challenging us… -[Jade] Hmm
[Belair] …next week,
let's run it back.
Let's run it back.
[Wade] Let's talk about next Monday
because Damage CTRL, they've been on a tear of late.
Well, they've got a reward.
Next week on Raw.
WWE Women's Tag titles on the line
as IYO SKY and Kairi Sane will challenge
The Superlative Best,
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
[Joe] And you saw the wreckage that Bron Breakker did
with the super spears
after our Intercontinental Championship match earlier today.
Well, now Kofi Kingston will get in the ring with him.
Kofi Kingston against Bron Breakker,
next week on Monday Night Raw.
[Joe] The World Heavyweight Championship match is set.
Sami Zayn is ready, of course. 119 days he had the IC title.
That came after ending Gunther's record setting reign.
Now, he targets him again
for even greater gold right now.
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[Joe] He has been the World Heavyweight Champion for 64 days.
You think about the first part of Gunther's reign.
Big part of it was focused on one of the big challenges
in the industry, Randy Orton.
He aced that tough test at the Bash in Berlin.
Retained that gold.
But the next part of his reign
has really been him wanting to swat away
what he feels is a pesky Sami Zayn.
And it took him reflecting on his father's disappointment at WrestleMania
for Gunther to arrive at this.
[Wade] What bigger motivation do you need
than your father's approval
to wipe away the biggest embarrassment of Gunther's career,
that loss to Sami Zayn?
Gunther gets a chance to wipe that away now.
[Joe] Here's the sensational Samantha Irvin.
[bell rings]
[Samantha] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for
the World Heavyweight Championship.
[crowd cheers and applauds]
Introducing the challenger.
From Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
weighing in at 212 pounds,
Sami Zayn.
[crowd cheers]
And his opponent,
representing Imperium
from Vienna, Austria.
Weighing in at 250 pounds,
he is the World Heavyweight Champion.
The Ring General
Gunther.
[crowd booing]
[Wade] Gunther looking at his stoic, resolute best.
And I'll tell you this, Joe Tess.
That victory, on Sami Zayn beating Gunther at WrestleMania,
that was a lightning in a bottle moment.
I don't think anyone saw it coming,
but here's the thing about lightning, it does not tend to strike twice.
[Joe] Let me put this out there.
-[bell rings] -[Joe] Wade…
[Joe] …when it comes to what you reference,
There are folks out there that think perhaps
Sami could be his kryptonite.
You consider Gunther and what he's done
since April of 2022.
Since debuting on SmackDown,
He has only been pinned once.
Sami Zayn was the man who did that.
Sami Zayn is the man
who conquered him.
[Wade] But that gives an inverse relationship to logic here,
because Gunther knows
that Sami Zayn embarrassed him at WrestleMania.
Gunther is a prep machine.
He leaves no stone unturned.
Well, ten x that
because he now has the opportunity
to remove that embarrassment.
Sami Zayn is facing,
probably, the best version of Gunther
we have ever seen tonight,
because he's motivated.
[Joe] And yet there are some who could doubt that,
saying the hesitation to even take this as--
Sami was smart to pull down
that top rope.
[crowd cheers and applauds]
[Joe] As Gunther got out of the way of the suicide dive,
Sami seated springboarded his way back into the ring.
We'll take a quick break. We'll be right back.
[Joe] Sami Zayn challenging
Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship.
And remember what's around the corner,
as we are less than four weeks away
from Crown Jewel
and the newly announced Crown Jewel Championship
where the men's and women's champions will collide.
So the winner tonight, of course, the World Heavyweight Champion,
but also will go up against Cody Rhodes
for that 50 carat diamond belt.
And look at the brutality
from Gunther.
Just driving that big boot right into the throat.
[Wade] So in about ten seconds there
why Gunther is so effective.
Just raw power turned into technical creative skill
in the blink of an eye.
That is why this guy is so strong,
so dominant, and perhaps
unbeatable.
[Joe] Second title defense of his reign
as World Heavyweight Champion.
Of course, Bash in Berlin a masterpiece against
Randy Orton.
[Wade] On the early goings of this particular match-up
was all Sami Zayn.
You got a glimpse into the mindset of Gunther
just when it looked
like the Big Austrian was starting to question himself,
He turned this match around and took full control.
[Joe] Sami looking right, but he eats a big knife edge chop
as he came off that top rope.
[Wade] Sami knew he'd softened up the champ there,
but the champ bounces back faster than most.
You take your eye off Gunther for a split second,
he's already back on the attack.
[Joe] A couple weeks ago, Sami Zayn coming up with the victory against
Gunther's right hand man, Ludwig Kaiser.
[Wade] Big uppercut from Gunther.
[Wade] It's incredible how quickly Gunther can control a match-up,
take away an opponent's game plan,
take away his best qualities,
and control
the match-up at his own pace.
[Joe] But it brings us back to that WrestleMania 40 match
where he was in complete control.
So much to the point
where he was actually taking his sweet time.
Talking to Sami's wife was almost mocking Sami.
And now a counter blocking that right hand
and coming back with power punches of his own, it's Sami Zayn.
[Wade] The biggest mistake you can ever make with Sami Zayn is
to write him off as an underdog.
This is a man who has been consistently winning
for the past 20 years.
And hey, he might not look the part as far as Gunther is concerned,
but when that bell rings,
Sami Zayn truly is special.
-[Gunther yelling] -[body thuds]
[Joe] It's amazing how Sami thought he's gathering momentum
to get a Blue Thunder Bomb. And the next thing you know,
it's Gunther right back to business.
Chop after chop.
[Wade] That's what Gunther does.
He takes the special and makes them look ordinary.
[Wade] Sami Zayn has to get himself to new heights.
Higher than he has ever climbed before in his career
if he's going to beat this version of Gunther.
[Joe] He did it beautifully back in April in Philly
to win the Intercontinental title,
when he ended the record setting reign
of Gunther. Once again just couldn't get it up and going
for the Blue Thunder Bomb.
[Wade] Sami Zayn must feel like
he climbed Mount Everest at WrestleMania,
but this Gunther, even better,
has just made-- oh, slapping in that sleeper.
[Joe] And Sami able to roll out of it. He locks it in again.
So dangerous.
Sami this time able to deliver.
[audience] One, two, three!
[Joe] And a kick out by Gunther.
From the sleeper to the Blue Thunder.
Big moment for Sami.
[crowd cheers]
[Joe] Capacity crowd here at the Enterprise Center in St Louis,
and they are watching Gunther,
The World Heavyweight Champion,
in control against Sami Zayn.
What a path it has been for Gunther this year.
Winning King of the Ring,
defeating Damian Priest at SummerSlam
and becoming World Heavyweight Champion
and then the title defense against Randy Orton.
And now this moment tonight against Sami Zayn
who wants to rally back.
[Wade] Well, Gunther is currently
at his imposing, uncompromising best.
Zayn is giving it everything he's got.
Somehow there are still fires burning inside the challenger.
[Joe] What we see time and again
is just the pure fire in the heart of Sami Zayn.
Even when he's seemingly down and out.
[crowd jeering]
[Wade] And if Sami Zayn is going to make something happen,
this has to be the time.
Is Sami Zayn that kryptonite that you mentioned, Joe?
[Sami grunts]
[Joe] Gunther was looking for the powerbomb instead.
Sami, able to counter.
[Wade] Thunderbolt, shooting up the spine of the champion.
Landing hard on that thin mat.
[Joe] Right off to the side is that prized belt.
Exploder into the barrier.
Big moment for Sami.
[Wade] The tables may be are turning.
The people in this arena are starting to believe.
Oh!
[crowd cheers and applauds]
[Wade] Connecting with that helluva kick
[Joe] A helluva with Gunther up against the barrier.
[referee] Three!
[Wade] It's done a massive amount of damage,
but Sami Zayn needs to get the champ in the ring.
[Joe] He's got to get him in there.
Try to take this championship.
[Wade] That is a huge frame of Gunther
as the count is getting higher and higher,
a countout does not serve Sami Zayn here.
[Joe] And Sami will reset that count.
[Wade] He had to. He can't win the championship on a countout.
Sami Zayn, wisely,
breaking that
count.
[crowd chanting and clapping]
[Joe] Sami.
-[Wade] How much time is-- -[Joe] …outside on the floor--
[Joe] And now he's just got to fireman's carry.
the big champion back into the ring.
Can he take advantage?
He toppled him once for the Intercontinental title.
This, a bigger task with this version of Gunther,
with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Wants to line it up again.
[crowd cheers]
[Joe] Sami Zayn,
could it be
connection number two.
and it's not enough.
[crowd cheers]
No! Clothesline.
Lariat as Gunther meets him and lays him out.
[Wade] Just when it was looking like game over.
[Joe] And a 2.9 Kickout by Zayn.
[Wade] Who the hell bounces out of two helluva kicks
and connects with a clothesline like that?
If you want to be the world Heavyweight Champion here on Raw,
that is the level you somehow need to surpass.
[Wade] Look at this connection.
[Joe] And look at Sami.
Heels overhead.
[Joe] He was looking to do this outside, on the floor.
Sami, able to counter, rolls him up
to become the World Heavyweight Champion.
Oh, the kick out by Gunther.
[Wade] And all eyes on him at this point, pinpoint dropkick,
going for that powerbomb.
[Joe] Here it comes. Powerbomb delivered!
-[audience] One, two… -[Joe] Stacks them up.
[Joe] And Sami finds a way again.
[crowd cheers]
[Wade] The pin was as high and tight as possible
after Sami Zayn's head and neck
bounced off the mat.
[audience] Sami!
[Joe] And now, Gunther,
you can almost see it.
Seemingly going through his offensive arsenal,
saying, "What more can I throw at him?"
[Wade] This must feel like PTSD for Gunther.
It's like WrestleMania all over again.
You can't put Sami Zayn down.
[Joe] We asked the question earlier.
Is Sami his kryptonite?
Another powerbomb and stack.
And that time Sami kicks out at one,
and looks like a whole new man.
Pumping fresh breath through his lungs,
rallying with support from these fans,
[Wade] The soul of Gunther just left his body.
[Joe] The sleepers locked in.
Gunther,
looking to win by submission and retain
and defend
this World Heavyweight Championship.
[Wade] It was the first time I've ever seen a look in Gunther's eye
where he didn't know what to do next,
but he might have stumbled into exactly the right answer.
This might be checkmate.
[Joe] Sami has gotten free of everything,
has kicked out of everything.
But can he withstand
this sleeper by Gunther?
Trying to reach for the rope.
[Wade] Gunther completely regaining his composure.
He hasn't locked in deep,
and Sami is fading.
[Joe] He is fading badly, Wade.
Sami
has to get free.
-[Wade] Oh, he's still gonna-- -[Joe] Find something.
[crowd cheers]
[Wade] And Gunther is in despair.
[Joe] Can he get to that rope
and force the break of the sleeper?
[Wade] Clinging on for dear life.
[Joe] Inches away from doing it.
Oh, no!
Gunther in complete control.
-[bell rings] -[Joe] And that's it. That's it.
[Joe] That's it. Submission win.
Gunther retains.
[Samantha] Here is your winner,
and still the World Heavyweight Champion,
The Ring General,
Gunther.
[Wade] Well Gunther just showed the world
something different with his back
against the wall.
Just made his father incredibly proud,
but more importantly,
successfully holds on to the World Heavyweight Championship
after Sami Zayn pushed him to the limit.
[Joe] He somehow was able to kick out of that brutal powerbomb.
as well as this, Wade.
[Wade] And stacked it up high.
And this is the moment where Gunther's soul left his body.
He began questioning himself,
"Can I actually beat this man?"
The answer, finally, was yes.
But make no mistake, it took everything, and I mean everything,
in that man's arsenal
to put Sami Zayn away.
[Joe] Successful second title defense.
for the World Heavyweight Champion.
And that means,
come November 2nd,
less than four weeks away, Crown Jewel.
It is best versus the best.
The World Heavyweight Champion
against the undisputed WWE champion,
Cody Rhodes.
Riyadh season for the first annual Crown Jewel Championship. g,