Date: September 30, 2024
Location: Ford Center in Evansville, IN
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Show Recap —
CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman (and his dog) and Bronson Reed were shown arriving. Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcomed us to the show while standing in the ring.
There was a video package of Jey Uso beating Bron Breakker last week to win the Intercontinental Championship. This included fan footage from people in the arena and watching at home.
Jey Uso segment
Jey and his son were in the concourse surrounded by fans before Jey made his way through the crowd to the ring as the fans Yeeted along. Jey posed with the title belt as fireworks went off. The crowd loudly chanted, “You deserve it.”
Jey said this was his first singles championship and he would fight every week for it against anyone who wanted it. Jey loved the fans and thanked them for having his back all these years. He appreciated being able to enter with the title and his son by his side.
His family made the road hard for him. Roman Reigns made it hard for him. He was “just a twin” for years. They didn’t know him then but they know him now.
Jey tossed his shades aside and said his biggest fan was his mother. She told him to go out there and show them who you are. Go out there and get it. “I got it and Mama, we did it.” He held up the belt.
Bron Breakker interrupted. Bron wasn’t out there to spoil his fun or crash the party. He respected the title. He respected Jey after their battle last week and on that one day, Jey was the better man. Bron wasn’t going to spear or attack Jey. Bron offered his hand and congratulated him. Jey shook his hand.
Bron was about to leave but Jey stopped him. Jey said there were some dogs in Indiana and people barked. Bron smiled and left.
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They announced that Raw would be two hours long starting next week, with the show still starting at 8 pm ET.
Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio were outside by their lowrider. Finn Bálor called Dom and let him know he wasn’t there because of travel issues but he’d be back soon.
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Xavier Woods defeated Rey Mysterio (7:34)
This was a first-time-ever match.
They went to break 90 seconds into the match after Rey hit a dive. Rey had the better of Woods after the break, hitting a springboard moonsault, seated senton and springboard crossbody. Rey went for a 619 but Woods ducked. You could see Rey release the strap on his mask just before the 619 attempt.
They awkwardly traded counters until Woods inadvertently ripped off Rey’s mask. Rey covered his face and let his guard down so Woods rolled him up for the win.
The crowd booed Woods who played innocent. Rey was not happy with him.
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Sonya Deville and Shayna Baszler approached Lyra Valkyria. Deville sarcastically said it was too bad she would be alone without Natalya or Zelina Vega at ringside. Deville told her not to worry about Baszler because she didn’t bite, “unless I tell her to.”
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The same fiery logo that appeared on the screen last week was shown again.
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Kofi Kingston approached Woods. Kingston asked if he took Rey’s mask off on purpose. Woods said no. “I respect Rey, he’s the best.” Woods thought Kingston would be there to congratulate him. Kingston was excited he won and beat a former world champion.
Kingston said Jey offered him an IC title shot next week. Woods sarcastically said he could stand by his side and watch him climb the mountain again. Kingston said he turned the title shot down and offered it to Woods instead and Jey accepted. Woods was pumped and said he knew he could beat Jey. They were excited and on the same page again.
(Karrion Kross was lurking in the background.)
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Zoey Stark (w/Sonya Devilla & Shayna Baszler) defeated Lyra Valkyria (7:13)
Valkyria fought back after an early break but Stark cut her off with a forearm and springboard dropkick. Valkyria reversed a Z360 attempt into a German suplex.
Baszler distracted the referee while Valkyria had it won with a cradle. With the ref still distracted, Deville hit Valkyria with a knee strike and Stark followed with Z360 for the pinfall win.
— The heels attacked Valkyria after the match but Kayden Carter and Katana Chance ran out to make the save. They hit Deville and Baszler with the keg stand.
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There was a video package for the Last Monster Standing match which is tonight’s main event. Adam Pearce informed security he wanted the match to stay in the ring. Why would you book a last man standing match, then?
CM Punk walked by. He’s up next.
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[SECOND HOUR]
Katana Chance told Jackie Redmond they were out for revenge against Pure Fusion Collective. They were planning on going after the tag titles next. Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre showed up to tell them they weren’t cutting the line. Chance and Carter got irrationally upset and Chance started screaming at them at the top of her lungs.
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CM Punk and Drew McIntyre segment
They lowered the Hell in a Cell cage for this segment. Pearce was in the ring with about eight security guards. Pearce said there would be no physicality between Punk and McIntyre tonight but wanted to give them one final chance to speak ahead of their match. (He didn’t say what the consequences would be if they did fight.)
Punk entered wearing a white t-shirt and white pants. McIntyre wore an all-black tuxedo. McIntyre said he wore a tuxedo out of respect. Not respect for Punk, but respect for his wife. After Saturday, she would have to bathe and feed Punk. She would probably leave him too.
McIntyre also wore a tux because there would be a celebration when Punk was gone and he wouldn’t come back this time. Punk has been back for less than a year and he was injured for four months. Now he’d be gone forever and it would be thanks to McIntyre.
Even after all the evidence has been presented to the fans, they still chanted for Punk. Roxanne Perez worshiped Punk but realized what kind of person he was after spending a few days with him. Eventually, the fans would have to look in the mirror and realize who the idiots were.
Punk hated McIntyre and McIntyre hated Punk. Punk taught McIntyre how to hate. McIntyre didn’t have time for hate in his life. Hate was a powerful weapon if you use it correctly but it was dangerous if it stayed with you long-term. He was lucky because, at Bad Blood, that hate would die with Punk.
Punk said people have called him a lot of things throughout his career. Among them was the “voice of the voiceless.” Tonight, Punk was voiceless because he had nothing to say to a piece of garbage like McIntyre. Except that he was filled with so much rage when he looked at McIntyre.
He couldn’t go home and has been staying at a hotel for four weeks because he couldn’t subject his wife to the man all of this has turned him into. He called McIntyre a son-of-a-bitch who turned him into the fictitious boogeyman that his harshest critics have accused him of being. That was exactly the kind of man he needed to be on Saturday to send McIntyre home to Scotland in a box.
Punk wanted him to remember that he prayed for this. When McIntyre was on his hands and knees begging, he would look up and Punk would wipe the blood in his eyes so he could see him. McIntyre wouldn’t be praying to god or the devil, “You will be praying to CM Punk.” Punk finished by saying, “I will see you in hell.”
(This was a strong segment. The death threats are a bit much but this was the go-home segment they needed after it felt like this feud had run a bit cold the last few weeks.)
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Cathy Kelley interviewed Braun Strowman. She asked if he was feeling trepidatious at all. He said he didn’t know what trepidatious meant (the fans laughed) but he was not nervous. He would show the world he was the monster of monsters when he won tonight.
Miz approached to speak to Strowman about interrupting his match last week but R-Truth quickly interrupted. Strowman was surprised to see him after getting hit by five Tsunamis. Truth didn’t remember that. Strowman left to get ready.
Miz asked Truth what he was doing there. Truth said he worked there. He also didn’t like the way Karrion Kross was speaking to him and got them a tag match against booked A-Op. Miz wasn’t sure who that was until he realized he meant Authors of Pain.
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Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn. He wasn’t necessarily bothered by Gunther’s many rejections but was bothered by the disrespect. You’d think he would be used to it but he admitted it did bother him. It hit a sore spot hearing Gunther say he wasn’t on his level.
He didn’t lose sleep over it though because he knew how good he was. He knew he was good enough to become world champion. Gunther could keep running and ducking his challenges but Zayn would not go away that easily. Zayn would not stop until he got his shot.
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Six-man tag team match: Dominik Mysterio, Carlito & Tag Team Champion JD McDonagh (w/Women’s Champion Liv Morgan) defeated Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro (7:15)
The babyfaces hit flashy offence before they went to break 90 seconds in. LWO were on offence after the break and they all hit dives. Wilde went to the top but Morgan distracted the referee so he just stopped what he was doing instead of just hitting the move.
Bálor showed up as a surprise and shoved Wilde off the top. McDonagh hit him with The Devil Inside (backdrop suplex) for the pinfall win.
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Judgment Day segment
Judgment Day remained in the ring following a break. Bálor said Damian Priest threatened to rip out his heart but he didn’t have a heart. Bálor would prove that Priest was the one who needed them and needed him. Judgment Day never needed Priest.
Morgan said she would prove she was a home-wrecking, man-stealing, heartbreaking, title-taking, greatest women’s champion of all time.
Rhea Ripley interrupted. She had stagehands bring out the shark cage for dramatic effect. Ripley knew all of Dom’s dirty secrets, including that he was extremely claustrophobic. When he was locked inside the shark cage crying and soiling himself and cleaning himself up with his new merch, he would have the best seat in the house to watch his girlfriend realize that she was not as good as her.
The crowd cheered because Priest appeared in the ring behind Judgment Day. He tossed McDonagh and Carlito aside before going after Bálor. Ripley snuck up on Morgan and Dom and chucked them into the barricade. Ripley tossed Dom into the cage. Morgan was about to jump Ripley from behind but she saw it coming and Morgan ran away. Ripley was about to lock Dom in the cage but Morgan ran back in and attacked her.
The numbers caught up to Priest in the ring and Bálor knocked him down with a slingblade. Judgment Day held back Priest as Bálor hit him with a dropkick and three straight Coup de Graces. Bálor stood tall with his buddies.
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Sheamus cut a pre-taped promo on Pete Dunne, who he called “Butch” and “loserweight.” Sheamus knew Dunne was dangerous so if he wanted to play rough, they should have one final banger. Sheamus offered Dunne to bring whatever gimmick he wanted for a good old-fashioned Donnybrook match.
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They paid tribute to Pete Rose who passed away today at 83.
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Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane cut a pre-taped promo challenging Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill to a tag title match. Sky said Damage CTRL hasn’t been the same since losing the titles and they needed them back. Sky was in Belair’s head after beating her and she would live rent-free in her head when they won the tag titles.
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Chad Gable (w/American Made) defeated Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods) (9:29)
This was yet another match that went to break after 90 seconds. Gable had a cut/bruise on his forehead before the match began and he quickly began bleeding a bit once they started.
[THIRD HOUR]
Gable hit a German suplex outside the ring before the break and a diving headbutt after. Gable cut off Kingston’s comeback with a t-bone suplex. They traded cradles until Gable hit a cliffhanger DDT for two. Gable applied an ankle lock but Kingston quickly countered into a cradle for two.
Gable blocked Trouble in Paradise and applied an ankle lock but Kingston countered again. Kingston hit an SOS but Gable got a rope break at two. Gable escaped the ring so Kingston wiped out Gable and the Creeds with a splash off the steel steps. Woods also attacked Julius Creed.
Ivy Nile distracted the referee (third ref distraction tonight) but it was Woods who took advantage by tripping Gable. It was a bad idea though because Kingston was about to hit Trouble in Paradise and tripping Gable actually saved him from the move. Gable hit Kingston with Chaos Theory for the pinfall win.
Woods pleaded with a dejected Kingston after the match.
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A few wrestlers were shown at football games over the weekend. Seth Rollins was shown at the Ravens game, McIntyre and Morgan at the Colts game, and Sheamus at the Notre Dame game.
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Jackie Redmond interviewed Bronson Reed. She asked if Rollins’ eventual return would be a distraction for Reed tonight. Reed said no. He wanted Rollins to return. He took months off Rollins’ career and next time, he would take years off his life. Reed would expose Strowman as the man that he was because Reed was the last monster standing.
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Wyatt Sicks VHS
We see your intent
Anger festering into rage
Do not go down this path
It ends in your demise
You know better
Do not force our hand
Heed our admonition
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They announced that Ilja Dragunov suffered a suspected torn ACL in a match against Gunther over the weekend and he would be out of action for 6 to 9 months.
Gunther and Sami Zayn segment
Gunther entered. He said loved every aspect of being the world champion — being the top guy, the money, the luxuries, and the amenities. But there was one thing he hated about his life right now and it was the insult of having to deal with Sami Zayn every week. He could not ask for anyone more annoying than Zayn.
Zayn interrupted. He said if he was so annoying there was one way to put an end to it. All Gunther had to do was put his title on the line. Zayn wanted Gunther to tell the world why he wouldn’t do it. Gunther said Zayn wasn’t on his level.
Zayn asked why he was the one who beat him at WrestleMania. Gunther beat former champions and Hall of Famers but it was Zayn who pinned him. Gunther thought he was so much better than Zayn and that result drove him crazy. Gunther was scared it would happen again. The crowd called Gunther a coward.
Gunther admitted he was afraid. He wasn’t afraid of Zayn, he was afraid for his reputation. Losing to the better man would have been no problem, but losing to Zayn was the biggest embarrassment of his career. Gunther was so confident he would win at Mania that he flew his family in. He had to look his father in the eye who told him he flew from Vienna to Philadelphia just to watch him lose to that bum Sami Zayn.
Gunther didn’t expect him to understand because his family was used to seeing him fail. Gunther’s family expected everything from him. He was the golden goose of his family. He was special and something Zayn would never be, the world heavyweight champion.
Zayn said he did lose a lot in front of his family but he kept pulling himself up and moved forward. But Gunther crumbled after he lost. Gunther never even asked for a rematch. He disappeared because he couldn’t show his face. All because his dad made him feel like a loser. Now he was showing his dad he was also a coward.
Gunther leveled Zayn with a clothesline. Zayn fought back but Gunther caught him in a sleeper hold before crushing him with a powerbomb. Gunther accepted Zayn’s challenge. Zayn sat up, smiled and said, “I got you.”
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Authors of Pain (w/Karrion Kross, Scarlett & Paul Ellering) defeated R-Truth & The Miz (3:02)
Miz turned on Truth.
Truth made the hot tag to Miz but he immediately turned around and booted him. The crowd booed as Miz walked off. Kross was delighted. AOP hit Truth with What a Rush (combo powerbomb/neckbreaker) for the pinfall win.
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Kelley tried interviewing Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser but they were interrupted by Bron Breakker. Bron wanted to see Gunther for himself. Gunther called him a badass and Bron said he’d find out for himself soon.
(Woods and Kingston could be seen arguing in the background.)
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Next week on Raw in St. Lous (2-hour show):
- Gunther vs. Sami Zayn for the World Heavyweight Championship
- Jey Uso vs. Xavier Woods for the Intercontinental Championship
- Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne in a “Donnybrook match”
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Last Monster Standing: Braun Strowman defeated Bronson Reed (19:12)
They went to break 90 seconds in after Strowman chokeslammed Reed through the announce table. Reed got up at a six count.
There were five chairs set up outside the ring and Strowman ran as slow as ever to knock Reed off the apron and through the chairs. Strowman attacked Reed with a chair and they wound up atop an equipment box. Reed hoisted Strowman on his shoulders and hit a DVD through some tables.
After a break, Reed tackled Strowman through the barricade but he got up at seven. Reed tackled him through another barricade, taking out some “fans” in the process. Officials ran out to check on the fans. Reed hit Strowman with a Tsunami but the referee was distracted by commotion.
Reed hit another Tsunami but the ref still “wasn’t there” to count. I’m not sure the camera was supposed to pick up on this but the referee was actually staring right at this but when Reed left the ring to confront him, his back was suddenly turned as he spoke with officials at ringside.
Pearce confronted Reed so Reed grabbed him. A bunch of security guards tried to pull Reed away and as they all huddled together, Strowman leaped off the top and wiped out everyone with a splash. Both men got up before ten.
Strowman went to the top but Reed chucked a chair at his head. Reed hit a superplex and the ring posts exploded. The ring was (probably) supposed to collapse but it actually didn’t. The crowd chanted “Holy sh-t” anyway.
Reed crawled toward the steel steps (to try to get up) but Seth Rollins ran out and stomped him against the steps. The crowd popped for Rollins. With Reed down, Strowman just barely beat the ten count for the win.