WWE RAW
TOYOTA CENTER
HOUSTON, TX
AUGUST 1, 2022
Commentators: Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Now that Summerslam is over, it is now up to Triple H to reverse the damage Vince McMahon caused the last 13 years or so. Let's see what he has in store, but first.....in case you missed it, Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar on Saturday night to remain Undisputed Universal Champion, The Usos defeated The Street Profitz to remain the Undisputed Tag Team Champions, Logan Paul defeated The Miz, The Mysterios defeated Judgment Day thanks to the returning Edge and Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch to become the new Raw women's champion. We also had the return of Bayley & Iyo Sky from injury along with Dakota Kai who was released in April to confront Bianca and the now injured Becky. Things are looking up already so let's get started.
Jimmy Smith welcomes us to start the night as Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring with her right arm in a sling. We go to highlights of Summerslam where Bianca defeated Becky and Becky hugged her after to turn face. All of a sudden Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai came out basically all turning heel and confronting Bianca & Becky. I assume the idea was going to be those two and another against Bayley's crew but now Becky's hurt. Becky gets on the mic and says "Houston, welcome to the big time!" Becky basically gives a speech saying she lost herself and now she's seen the error of her ways. She says she separated her shoulder but gave it everything she had. She says a new era starts now and she wants to bring out Bianca Belair. Bianca comes out in a pantsuit missing a pantleg and gets in the ring. Bianca says she's the man and they hug much to the crowd's delight. Becky says she'll see her soon and leaves. Now by herself, Bianca says she has nothing but respect for Lynch. She goes on a speech about respect but the camera picks up Bayley, Iyo and Dakota attacking Becky with a chair. Bianca makes a mad dash to Becky's aid with the heels gone. This was their way of writing Becky off TV to heal her shoulder, she'll be back. The commentators go over what we just saw and shill tonight's main event of The Mysterios vs The Uso's for the Tag belts. We also are going to see Edge tonight and two triple threat matches. Dolph Ziggler battles Tomasso Ciampa and Chad Gable while AJ Styles takes on Mustafa Ali and The Miz. The winners will face each other later tonight in a number 1 contender's match for the WWE United States Championship. We go to more Summerslam highlights before we cut to commercial.
Back from commercial we get a nice montage narrated by JBL about the legacy of the United States championship using old footage from Mid-Atlantic, WCW and old school WWE. With HHH in charge, I guess he wants the secondary titles to mean something again. Good on him, let's get to our first match.
Match 1
AJ Styles vs Mustafa Ali vs The Miz in a Triple Threat Match
The winner of this match faces the winner of the other triple threat match to decide who's the number 1 contender to Bobby Lashley's US title. The Miz makes his entrance with a highlight package of him losing to Logan Paul with AJ taking out Ciampa during the match. Then we're shown Logan crowing about it on a Twitter video and saying he'll be back. Miz' ribs are still taped as Mustafa Ali makes his entrance during the montage. Bell rings and Miz bails immediately to allow Ali to hit a hurracarana on Styles. Miz hops up on the apron and trips up Ali. Styles hits a baseball slide on Ali and flips over into a sunset flip. Styles goes for the Styles Clash but Miz trips up AJ and pulls him outside. Miz rams Styles into the announce table but Ali suicide dives through the ropes onto Miz. Ali tosses Miz back in and fakes him out in the corner then sends him into the second buckle. Styles gets in and chops Miz in the corner but is also thrown into the second buckle. Miz charges and hits a splash before dropping Ali off the apron. Miz sunset flips Styles for a two count but Styles counters with a right hand. Styles is whipped into the corner but he blocks a monkey flip. Him and Miz battle on the second rope but Miz knocks Styles down. Ali jumps up but is sent down as well into Styles who hits a back suplex. Miz hits a ddt on Styles and covers for 1..2....nope. Graves says he forgot to hook the leg or else it would be over. Miz kicks Styles in the chest as a graphic shows Alexa Bliss facing Asuka later tonight. Styles counters with an enziguiri before Ali and Styles slug it out. Styles slaps Ali full force in the face as Graves says Ali might not know his own name after that. Styles does a reverse ddt at the same time Ali catches him with a neckbreaker. Ali covers Styles for two then Miz for two as well. Ali goes upstairs but misses the 450 splash and AJ hits a neck crusher before hitting a Pele kick on Miz to knock him out of the ring. AJ gets pulled out of the ring by Miz and AJ slams Miz rib first into the table. Ali from out of nowhere hits a top rope tornado ddt on the floor. Ali rolls Miz in the ring but walks right into the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz takes forever to cover because of his ribs and only gets a two count. Miz kicks Ali in the corner but eats a superkick. Ali goes for another 450 splash and hits hit but AJ grabs him then hits the Styles Clash right ontop of Miz. Styles covers Ali for 1...2...3...to win the match. The HHH era starts with a bang with a great match. Styles will face the winner of the other triple threat match later tonight.
Time of match: 8:41
Winner: AJ Styles by pinfall
We go to Becky being attacked from earlier before cutting to the trainer's room. Becky asks for ice with Adam Pearce looking on concerned. Cathy Kelley catches up with Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai and asks why they targeted Becky Lynch. Bayley says its not about Becky or Bianca but its about them and everyone will find out shortly. The Uso's make their way in as the ladies leave and they both check them out after saying hi. Cathy asks if they have a chance to win tonight against The Mysterios. Jey says 100% they'll win and Jimmy says it'll be business as usual. Jey says the Mysterios are the twos and Jimmy says they the ones.
Seth Rollins makes his way to ringside as we get a recap of the Rollins/Matt Riddle feud so far. Rollins curbstomped Riddle on the steel steps on Raw to postpone their Summerslam match. At Summerslam, Riddle jumped into the ring and called out Rollins for a fight. Rollins obliged and and had a free for all in the ring which ended with another curbstomp. Back in real time Rollins says welcome to Monday night Rollins and he's the host. He says tonight is a night of celebration because Matt Riddle isn't here. There's a line between gutsy and stupid and Riddle crossed the line. Now Riddle can join Randy Orton which leaves Seth free to chase Roman Reigns which actually gets a babyface pop. But wait! The Street Profitz of all people hit ring side for a rebuttal. Rollins says "No no no no no no no shut it down. Stop it! Stop it!" Rollins is irate the crowd pops and says the Houston Rockets are losers as well as the Profitz. Rollins says all they do is lose and to get lost. Dawkins says they beat Rollins for the tag belts and Seth lost to Cody Rhodes who only had one "boobie". Seth gets mad and says he'd love to fight but he's outnumbered. The Profitz play rock, paper, scissors to see who faces Rollins next and Montez tosses Dawkins the mic then heads to the ring with the ref. Brilliant!
Match 2
Montez Ford vs Seth Rollins
Ford almost gets curbstomped immediately but slides out of the way. Ford slides in and Rollins slides out to take off his ring jacket. Ford sheds his jersey and clotheslines Rollins over the top to the outside as the bell rings. Ford takes it to Rollins outside and makes fun of Seth's entrance. Rollins rolls Ford in but eats a superkick. Ford covers for 1...2....nope. Ford goes upstairs but Rollins bails outside causing Ford to follow. Rollins tries a pedigree but gets backdropped before they go back inside. Rollins front suplex's Ford across the top rope then rams him ribs first into the ring post. Rollins rolls inside and the ref starts to count out Ford. Ford makes it just before the 10 count and Rollins goes to work on Ford then chokes him on the second rope. Rollins chops Ford as Graves says Ford is one of the few that is more athletic then Rollins. Ford chops him back but Rollins gets in some knees to the ribs then delivers a gut buster. Rollins covers for 1...2...nope. Rollins goes to a waistlock then hits a back suplex followed by a replay of it. Rollins slaps Montez on the head and goes for the suplex back into the ring. Ford blocks it and hits a kick to the head. Ford goes to the top rope and hits the crossbody for 1...2...no. Smith says that took the wind out of Ford but Montez and Seth slug it out in the ring. Ford drops Rollins with a clothesline, two kicks and an enziguiri. Ford hits a moonsault and covers for 1...2...no. Rollins goes for the back suplex but Ford rolls out of it, ducks the line and hits a blockbuster. Montez covers for 1..2....noooooo. Saxton says this is where a tag to Dawkins would be but its one on one. Ford eats an enziguiri and Rollins rolls him up for 1..2...no. Rollins hits a superkick and covers for 1...2..no. Rollins calls for the curb stomp but misses. Ford's superkick is blocked and Rollins goes for a powerbomb. Ford lands on the second rope and hits a tornado DDT for 1...2...no, Seth gets the foot on the rope. Ford gets crotched on the top rope and Rollins hits the buckle bomb in the corner. Rollins hits the falcon arrow and covers for 1...2....nooooooo. Rollins goes to the top rope but misses the big splash. Montez goes to the top rope but Rollins gets his knees up on the frog splash. Rollins hits the curb stomp and covers for 1..2...3 to win the match. Hell of an effort and hell of a match by Rollins and Ford. 2 for 2 so far tonight.
Time of match: 10:41
Winner: Rollins by pinfall
After the match Rollins goes for another curb stomp but Dawkins runs in to save the day. Rollins laughs his way up the ramp as the announcers put over Montez' effort. Smith talks about Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar then sends us to a clip of the main event including the tractor. It'll be a while before we see Lesnar again. Graves in real time says he has chills from that match and we have bonus footage of that night later. Then we get a graphic for Clash at The Castle coming up with Roman Reigns defending the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre on September 3rd in Cardiff. We then get a montage of all the media coverage Summerslam got. On to the next match.
Match 3
Alexa Bliss vs Asuka
Alex comes out with her demented doll and the announcers say Alexa wants a title shot against Bianca. Bell rings and they shake hands to start. They tie up but Asuka lands a forearm to the face but Alexa counters with a Peterson Roll for 1...2..no. Alexa hits a dropkick and does her pose then rolls Asuka up. Alexa drops Alexa with a shoulderblock then mocks her pose. Alexa whips Asuka into the corner but Asuka misses the dropkick. Alexa covers for a deuce then Alexa punches away at Asuka. She covers for a deuce then locks in a chinlock. Alexa does the double knee drop but misses the moonsault. Asuka does a dropkick on the ground and screams. Asuka hits chops and kicks before doing a german suplex. Asuka delivers a knee to the face but here comes Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky and Bayley for the triple team beatdown. Bayley hits a knee to the head of Alexa then Dakota hits a kick to the head of Asuka. Kai puts a chair on the faces but here comes Bianca to chase them off. Bianca grabs the mic and says she doesn't care who but she wants one of them tonight in a match. Iyo stands in front of the others and says bring it. Guess its going to be Bianca and Iyo later tonight. This match was doing well but it was broken up.
Time of match: 2:31
Winner: No one (No contest)
We cut to commercial and when we come back, we get a highlight of the post-match beatdown and Bianca's challenge. Then we get a graphic that Bianca will face Iyo later tonight. On to the next match.
Match 4
Dolph Ziggler vs Tommaso Ciampa vs Chad Gable in a Triple Threat Match
The winner of this takes on AJ Styles for the US title shot. Gable comes out with the mic and says "Shoooooosh, Houston we have a problem. He says the Houston Astros are a failure of an organization (which did not age well, the Astros went on to win the World Series two months later). Bell rings and Ciampa attacks Ziggler at the start. Dolph hits a dropkick and Gable rolls him up for nothing. Dolph hits a dropkick on Gable and Ciampa throws him off. Dolph goes up and over and Gable forearms him from behind. Gable and Ciampa double team Ziggler with both men working over the left leg. They do a double back elbow but Gable goes for the cover. Ciampa pulls him off and shoves him then Ziggler rallies with right hands. Ciampa slingshots Dolph into the ring post and Gable goes for the Oklahoma roll on Ciampa. Gable shouts Shoooosh and surfboard stomps Ciampa but Ziggler catches Gable with the fameasser. Ziggler covers for 1...2...no. Back from commercial Gable has the anklelock on Ziggler then Ciampa locks in the Cripper Crossface on Ziggler. Ciampa and Gable try to kicks each other off and Ziggler rolls up Gable for 1...2....no. Ciampa hits Gable with a fameasser and covers for 1...2....no. Ciampa works over the left leg of Ziggler and hits a Samoan drop from off the top rope. Ciampa covers but Gable hits a flying headbutt to stop the count. Ciampa hits a roaring elbow but Gable rolls through for a german suplex. Ziggler covers Gable for 1....2..no. Gable is sent outside and Ciampa does an O'Connor roll for 1....2....no. Ziggler counters with his own for 1...2....no. Ziggler hits the superkick on Ciampa but Gable throws Ziggler outside. Gable covers but Dolph pulls him outside. Ciampa knees Ziggler outside but Gable backslides for 1...2...no. Ciampa hits Fairy Tale Ending on Gable and covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Damn good match and Tommaso goes from Miz' stooge to one win away from being number one contender to the US title.
Time of match: 10:30
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa by pinfall
We cut to a vignette of Edge forming Judgment Day and then getting thrown out of it after Finn Balor joined. Damien Priest hitting the concerto on Edge put him out on June 7th. Then Judgment Day tries to recruit Dom Mysterio in between him getting beat up by Rhea Ripley. Then we see the Summerslam match where Edge returned to aid the Mysterios against Balor and Priest.
Back from break we get some Summerslam highlights and then here comes Edge for a soliloquy to his old Metalingus theme. Edge thanks the fans for the ovation and says he's been a bit of an asshole the last few months. Edge says now we all get what we want and he created Judgment Day to help underutilized talent. He says he wanted to pass knowledge on to Rhea and Damien who get loudly booed. Edge says it felt like they were just getting started but the taste of power clouded their judgement. They were DAMN wrong thinking they knew it all. Edge admits he didn't see the attack coming but he pulled himself out of the hell they put him in, and its time to kill what he created. Edge says he's going to end Judgment Day and drops the mic. Quick and to the point, no rebuttal, no interruptions, good stuff.
The Mysterios are interviewed by Kevin Patrick about their chances tonight. Rey says Judgment Day is in their rearview and they have no idea what a savage Edge will be. Rey thanks Edge for his help and tonight they want to defeat the Usos to become champs. We get a graphic for Iyo vs Bianca coming up next before we go to break. Back from commercial we get a vignette of a tryout for the Performance Center where even Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets tried out. Next, Sarah Schreiber interviews Bayley and her new crew. Bayley cuts her off and says everyone's talking about them, not Bianca and Becky. Bayley says Raw has been a downward spiral since she left so she outsourced for help. Dakota says they know how to play the game and Bayley says they're in control. On to the next match.
Match 5
Iyo Sky (with Bayley and Dakota Kai) vs Bianca Belair
"The genius of the sky" Iyo takes on the Raw women's champion in a non-title match. Bell's gone and Bianca backs her into the corner to start. Bianca sends her into the buckle and kicks away at her. Bianca moonsaults over Iyo and dropkicks her into the corner. Iyo snaps Bianca off the top rope and hits an Asai moonsault onto Bianca as we cut to commercial. Back from break Bianca hits a scoop slam, slides outside and runs in to shoulderblock her down. Bianca hits a dropkick but Iyo counters a full nelson by jumping on Bianca's back. Iyo chokes Bianca with her boot as Graves says Bayley's team are not rookies. Iyo covers Belair for 1......2..no. Iyo takes Bianca down and locks in a chinlock then a Russian leg sweep. Iyo covers for 1...2....no and Iyo taunts the irate crowd. Iyo goes for a crossbody but Bianca rolls through it and hits a fallaway slam. Bianca tells Iyo to get up and hits a Glam Slam then a springboard moonsault for 1...2..no. Tajiri and Beth Phoenix would be proud of her. Bianca scoop slams Iyo then goes up to the top only for Bayley and Dakota to get her attention. Iyo stops Bianca with a right hand and hits a top rope frankensteiner. Iyo covers for 1...2....no. Bianca's suplex is countered into a cradle for a two count but Bianca rolls through still holding on. Bianca finally hits the suplex and goes for the KOD. Iyo lands on her feet and Bianca catches herself on the apron. Both women are on the apron and Bianca tries to german suplex Iyo to the floor. Iyo blocks it and goes for the frankensteiner off the apron but Bianca catches her. Bianca heaves Iyo into the barricade head with Bayley looking concerned. They sit on the apron and distract Bianca when Asuka and Alexa Bliss come down to even the odds as we go to break again. Back from commercial, Bianca hits a superplex off the top rope. Bianca hits a standing moonsault and covers for 1...2...no. Bianca ducks the enziguiri and Bianca goes for a waistlock. Iyo victory rolls out of it and stomps Bianca in the ribs. Sky hits the double knees in the corner but Bianca catches a second attempt, landing a spinebuster. Bianca goes for another springboard moonsault but Iyo gets the knees up. Bianca gets tripped up by Bayley but still tries for a big boot. Iyo moves and rolls up Bianca with the feet on the ropes, but Alexa pushes her feet off. All four outsiders get in the ring and brawl as the ref calls for the bell. Asuka nails Bayley with a knee to the head and Alexa does the same to Dakota. The referees get in the ring along with the Suit Brigade & Adam Pearce break them up. Jamie Noble tells Bayley's crew to get lost as Adam Pearce holds back Bianca's crew. Good match and the screwy ending actually works because you don't blow Iyo's comeback or make Bianca look weak. HHH is cooking so far. This feud is FAR from over.
Time of match: 17:19
Winner: No one (no contest)
The Miz is hyping up Tommaso Ciampa in the back. He starts naming past US champions and Kevin Patrick sneaks up to ask about Miz's thoughts on Ciampa and Logan Paul. Miz says he had Paul beat but AJ Styles blindsided Ciampa. Ciampa says AJ Styles chose the wrong side at Summerslam and he used to respect him. Ciampa says Paul is mocking "our home" and he's going to crush Styles. Miz says Ciampa has passion and emotion and because of him, you're looking at the next champion. Least we're getting good matches out of this. Before we go to break we get a "just say no" ad for vaping before some Kevin Owens facts like he was born in Quebec....yay. Before the next match, our special guest commentator for the US title match is.....FIVE TIME, FIVE TIME....WCW CHAMPION BOOKER T! We got four guys at the table for our next match.
Match 6
AJ Styles vs Tommaso Ciampa (with The Miz)
Winner gets Bobby Lashley and a US title shot. Graves says AJ is favoring his neck after the match he was in earlier as the bell rings. AJ and Ciampa get a test of strength to start and Tommaso gets in a headlock. Ciampa drops AJ with a shoulderblock and chokes him with his boot. Ciampa goes back to the headlock but AJ counters with a side backbreaker. AJ does a second side backbreaker but Ciampa rolls out of a suplex attempt, throwing AJ shoulder first into the ring post. Outside Tommaso gets a knee to the head and slides in to cover 1....2...no. Styles misses the Pele kick but Ciampa runs into the Lethal Combination. Ciampa regroups with Miz outside before being chased back in. Styles ducks the line and hits a dropkick to send Ciampa to the outside again. Styles hits a slingshot plancha as we got to break. Back from commercial, they slug it out in the middle of the ring before Styles hits the running forearm. A stinger splash in the corner is followed by a death valley backbreaker. Styles covers for 1...2....no. Styles goes for the Styles Clash but Ciamoa counters with a roaring elbow. Ciampa hits a fameasser and covers for a deuce before missing a running knee. Styles goes for a Canadian Destroyer but Ciampa kicks out of it. Styles suplexes Ciampa into the corner and catches his breath. AJ hits a big forearm and goes for the Phenomenal Forearm but Ciampa counters with a knee to the head. Ciampa covers for 1..2....no. Ciampa hits the Project Ciampa and covers for 1...2..no. Ciampa chops AJ in the corner and says he deserves the title shot, not AJ. Ciampa goes for White Noise off the tope rope but AJ counters it with Styles Clash. AJ covers but Miz puts Ciampa's foot on the rope. Smith says Ciampa was done but Miz saved the day. AJ clotheslines Miz into the timekeeper's table but Ciampa throws him first into the ring post, then into the timekeeper's pit as well. Styles has to run back in to beat the count but Ciampa hits him with a knee lift. Ciampa hits Fairy Tale Ending and covers for 1...2...3 to win the match. Another damn good match even with the dicked ending. Ciampa's two wins tonight are more important than anything else he's done the last six months. HHH taking care of his NXT guys big time so far. Its gonna be Bobby Lashley against Tommaso Ciampa next week.
Time of match: 13:41
Winner: Ciampa by pinfall
Back to Kevin Patrick with Bobby Lashley himself. He asks what he thinks of Ciampa and Lashley says he'll defend his title every week if needed. He praises Ciampa for getting this far and he's dangerous with Miz in his corner. Lashley says he'll take anyone and he humbled Austin Theory, he'll put Ciampa in the Hurt Lock. We get a graphic for our main event as we go to break. Back from commercial, its time for the tag title match.
Match 7
The Mysterios (Rey Jr and Dominik) vs The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) for the WWE Tag Team Championships
Before the match, we see the carnage of Summerslam after they went off air with Brock Lesnar tipping his hat in the elevated ring. Rey starts with Jey Uso and Jey runs into the corner but heave Mysterio under the rope. Rey pulls the top rope down to send Jimmy flying and he makes the tag to Dom. Dom dives on top of both Usos as we go to break. Back from commercial Jimmy is in the ring with Rey. Jimmy chops him in the corner and sends him sternum first into the buckle. Jimmy locks in a chinlock until Rey powers out of it. Jey tags in to prevent the tag and he taunts Dom. Jey calls for the ass bump and hits it and covers for 1..2....no. Jimmy tags in but Rey rallies with right hands. Rey lands a headscissors to send Jimmy into the ring post. Dom gets the hot tag and hits a crossbody on Jimmy. Dom rallies with clotheslines to an interfering Jey. Dominik hits a neckbreaker on Jimmy for 1...2..no. Dom hits a bulldog on Jimmy and dropkicks him into the second rope. Dom goes for the 619 but Jimmy rolls outside. Dom goes for a plancha but both Usos catch him, ramming him into the ring post as we go to break. Back from commercial, Jimmy goes for a top rope samoan drop but Dom counters with a tornado DDT. Rey and Jey get the tag and Rey hits a spinning arm drag on him. He hits a baseball slide on Jimmy outside and hits the West Coast Pop on Jey. Rey runs right into a superkick by Jey and he covers for 1......2.....no. Rey blocks the 1D and dropkicks Jimmy into the second rope. Dom tags in for the double 619 and Dom hits the frog splash off the top rope. He covers for 1......2.....NOOOOO, Jey breaks up the count at the last second. Rey throws Jey out of the ring and he pulls Rey out with him. Jey hits Rey with the superkick but Dom takes Jey out with a suicide dive. Dom goes back to the top rope but Jimmy uppercuts him. Rey blocks the superplex and shoves down Jimmy. Dom flips over Jimmy and hits a dropkick to send him to the second rope. Dom dials up the 619 but Jey tags himself in. Dom runs right into the 1D and Jey covers for 1..2...3 to win the match. Awesome match and the Mysterios looked like they had it a few times. The Uso's incredible reign continues.
Time of match: 15:34
Winners: The Usos by pinfall (Still tag team champions)
Post match Judgment Day attacks the Mysterios and the Uso's just shake their heads and walk away. Rhea Ripley wraps her legs around Dom in the corner with Finn and Priest kicking away at Rey. Here comes Edge to even the odds, clotheslining Priest over the top to the floor. Edge hits Edgecution on Balor and goes for the spear but somehow Rhea pushed Dom in the way. Edge spears Dom out of his shoes and Judgment Day bails. Rey gets in and looks at Edge with an angry look, he must not have seen Rhea push Dom in the way. EMTs and Rey tend to Dom inside the ring as we sign off.
Triple H came out of the gate firing bullets tonight. Bayley's crew are established as a threat, Tommaso Ciampa gets pushed, Montez Ford had a hell of a battle with Seth Rollins and babyface Edge is back. The Usos still are the tag champs and things are looking up. Less comedy, more wrestling, was that so hard? Hopefully Smackdown will pick up where Raw left off and they got the guys to put on great matches too. Judgment Day got one over on Edge and the Mysterios and it looks like Dom might turn soon, he didn't seem to happy Rey praised him earlier and then this happened. The next show after this is tomorrow night's NXT. I'll see you there.
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