The August 22 Installment of Monday Night Raw Was Live from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was the penultimate episode of RAW ahead of the Clash At Castle pay-per-view taking place in Cardiff, Wales on September 3rd.
Raw Kicked off with Seth Rollins and Riddle Brawling backstage ahead of their match at Clash at The Castle. They brawled from the Gorilla area position area (where Wrestlers stand backstage before coming out to the ring) to the Arena through the steps in the crowd down to the ringside area and back to the romp before they were separated by WWE Officials.
Trish Startus came out to the ring to a huge pop from her Hometown crowd which she addressed before she was Interrupted by Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Sky. Bayley asked why Trish was on the show and said she was old news and they are the now. The RAW Women Champion Bianca Belair then Interrupted and told Bayley to rather thank Trish for paving the way as a legend and trailblazer instead of being disrespectful.
Alexa Bliss and Asuka then came out to the ring for their match against Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai as Trish Wished the heels luck.
Alexa Bliss and Asuka Vs Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai: WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Final Match.
Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai Defeated Alexa Bliss and Asuka after Iyo Sky pinned Asuka via a Roll up.
MY TAKE
Good Victory for the former NXT competitors Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai as they progressed to the finals of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship to Crown the New Women’s Tag Team Champions. They have defeated Tamina and Dana Brooke in the first round and now have defeated Their newfound rivals Alexa Bliss and Asuka and will now wait to see who they will be facing in the finals from the Smackdown Angle which is disrupted at the moment due to injuries. Nonetheless, this will also serve as a morale booster for Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky ahead of teaming up with Bayley to face the team of Asuka, Alexa Bliss and the RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair in a Six Women’s Tag Team match at Clash at The Castle.
Backstage Dolph Ziggler was Interviewed where he said last week Theory was the better man in their match and said he just wanted to help Theory who has the future in his hands but is arrogant. Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley then Interrupted and Mocked Ziggler saying he’s like Rey Mysterio and Edge who attach themselves to younger Superstars so they can be relevant. Ziggler then dropped Balor with a Slap and then asked if Balor was coming to the Ring or would just sit there.
Dolph Ziggler Vs Finn Balor
Finn Balor defeated Dolph Ziggler by Pinfall after he delivered a Coup de Grace from the top rope.
MY TAKE
A good match between the two men who had the fans at the edge of their sits. Worthy of note was Finn Balor getting a new Entrance theme song and the distraction and Cheap shot from Ripley who was ringside which aided Finn Balor’s victory. Not a good one for Dolph Ziggler who returned a few weeks ago but lost his first match on his return last week to Mr Money in the Bank Theory. We would have to wait if the Rivalry Between Dolph and Theory would continue and Dolph’s loss now to Balor.
Kevin Owens Vs Chad Gable
Kevin Owens defeated Chad Gable with a Pin after a Pop-up powerbomb in the middle of the ring.
After the match, Otis attacked Kevin Owens but was taken out by KO who delivered a Stunner on him. Gable then attacked KO but Owens also Countered and Delivered a Pop-up powerbomb on Gable on top of Otis.
MY TAKE
A good match but you have to love this new side of Kevin Owens with the former attitude, former gear and former finisher. He is getting back to the Prizefighter we knew In his NXT days and his early days on the Main Roster. The way he showed ruthlessness In dealing with Alpha Acedemy post-match was great to see just like he did with Ezekiel a few weeks ago on RAW.
Also loved the way his Hometown Crowd chanted for Sami Zayn in a bid to push what the Fans have been pushing for seeing a Tag team reunion for Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens just like their early days in NXT. It is also not looking good for Gable and Otis who have been on a losing streak on RAW for a long time now.
Aliyah Vs Bayley
Bayley defeated Aliyah with a Pin after a Rose plant finisher.
MY TAKE
A good win for Bayley who wrestled in a Live Televised Match over a year after her ACL injury although she competed in q non televised house show over the weekend against Bianca Belair. Bayley also has a New ring gear now different from what she used to wear before her injury. Not a good one for Toronto’s very own Aliyah who was visibly emotional in her first Singles main Roster match in her Hometown of Toronto and hoped to have gotten a Victory in this one. She has been on a single losing streak although she and Raquel Rodriguez defeated Xia Li and Shotzi in a Tag team match last week on Smackdown.
The Miz and Ciampa Vs Bobby Lashley and AJ Styles
The Miz and Ciampa defeated Bobby Lashley and AJ Styles by Disqualification after Dexter Lumis grabs the Miz over the Ring Barrier and dragged him away through the crowd.
MY TAKE
It was a great match Before Lumis came into the Mix. We have to wait and see what the plan is with him from WWE as he has been used to constitute a Nuisance on RAW since first appearing two weeks ago in a Car Crash situation backstage and attacking Corey Graves on Commentary last week. Maybe a Rivalry with the Miz?
We still have to see if AJ Styles or Cimpa would have another chance to face Bobby Lashley for the United States Championship as the three men were involved in this tag team match.
After the match, Ciampa tried to Attack both Bobby Lashley and AJ Styles but both men beat him down.
Former NXT Champion Johnny Gargano returned to WWE to a huge pop from the Crowd as he made his way to the Ring. He grabbed a Mic as the crowd chanted “Johnny Wrestling” as he said he’s been out for 9 months after leaving NXT and listed some of his Accomplishments saying there were questions about his future as he was yet to accomplish some of his dreams in WWE so he decided to bet on himself and announced Johnny Wrestling is Back in WWE.
Theory Interrupted and said he has accomplished everything Gargano dreamed of after he listed some of the main roster Accomplishments. He then recalled how Gargano took him under his wings at NXT but they’re on RAW now and He’s like the Veteran and Gargano the Rookie and said Gargano can stand behind him to carry his bags and Money in the Bank Briefcase when he cashes in.
The theory then suggested a high five but Gargano instead dropped him with a Superkick.
MY TAKE
A great Segment from both men and a Surprise return to WWE for the First ever NXT triple crown Champion Johnny Gargano but this time on The Main Roster after he declined to renew his contract after 7 years on the developmental brand due to the birth of his son who he wanted to raise with his wife. This fellow the trend of bringing back former NXT stars to the Main Roster by Triple H since assuming creative control of WWE and Gargano would hopefully do well on his return and feuding with his former protégé, in Theory, would be a good way due to the chemistry between both men. But it seems Theory’s brewing Rivalry with Dolph Ziggler would now be cut short due to the return of Johnny Wrestling.
Announced for RAW Next Week
Seth Rollins And Riddle come face to face
Kurt Angle Returns
Damian Priest Vs Edge
Edge defeated Damian Priest with a Pin after a Spear.
After the match Edge wanted to smash the Head of Priest with a steel Chair but was low blew by Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor delivering a Coup de Grace on Edge. They tried to continue the attack but Beth Phenoix came out with a Ring chair to clear the ring as the Judgement Day stood tall outside the Ring as Beth tended to her husband as RAW went off the air.
MY TAKE
What a Match! This was an Awesome Main event between both men with near finishes and great to see the “Canadian Destroyer” Edge win in his Hometown to a Huge Pop From the Crowd. His wife, the Glamazon Beth Phenoix coming into the ring to help her husband out might also signal a return for her into the ring shortly. No doubt this is not the end of this Rivalry with the Mysterios still in the mix.
