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WWE RAW TV REPORT
JUNE 10, 2024
TOLEDO, OHIO AT HUNTINGTON CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin
Attendance: WrestleTix reported earlier today that 6,757 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 6,894
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[HOUR ONE]
-After the “Then, Now, Forever, Together” brand stamp, they went to the upper concourse and showed the arena bowl from above with the entrance stage in the far background.
-They showed Bron Breakker walking backstage and shoving a stagehand as he passed him. They showed Ilja Dragunov arriving earlier outside the arena. Then they showed Damage CTRL in the entrance aisle. And finally Lyra Valkyria rolling her bag outside the arena.
-Drew McIntyre’s ring entrance then took place for the opening segment. Michael Cole hyped Clash at the Castle, starting at 2 ET this Saturday. Fans chanted “C.M. Punk!” Drew said all he’s focused on is his match at the Clash. “Who’s ready for a new World Heavyweight Champion?” he asked. He said wherever Damien Priest goes, the rest of The Judgement Day are scurrying behind him. As he leaned on the top rope to continue his message, Priest’s entrance theme interrupted. He walked out with Finn Balor and J.D. McDonagh.
Priest told Drew that he has his title shot at the Clash, yet he’s still out there making excuses before the match. He said Drew told him last week he made this personal. He said that’s because he makes Drew look stupid playing his own game. He said Drew just made it personal for him by saying he needs his cohorts to retain his title. He said on Saturday, he’s heading into Drew’s territory in front of his people and he’s going to put him down. He said as much as he loves his crew, he doesn’t need them or anyone else in order to be champion.
Drew said it was a fine speech, but he told Priest that he hopes he’s enjoyed his time with the title because it comes to an end on Saturday. He said the only chance he has is if his idiots help him. Priest interrupted and told him to “give it a rest.” Priest suggested that Drew go one-on-one with Balor tonight, and if he beats him, then the Judgment Day will be banned from ringside. He said if Balor beats him, he gets to have his cohorts to have the honor and privilege of watching him beat Drew in his home. Drew agreed to it and said he’ll embarrass and humiliate him on Saturday when he remains champion. He asked for his music to be hit and then he headed to the back. Cole and Pat McAfee talked about how Priest has had help in his matches.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good segment to put the focus on Saturday’s main event while also setting the stage for a match on this show with stakes related to the match. Priest tripped over one of his sentences, but neither he nor Drew drew attention to it. They’re pushing the idea that Priest’s cohorts will be why he retains his title, but it’s more likely to be C.M. Punk, although if he does that, he could get heavily booed by Drew fans at the Clash.)
-Cole and McAfee commented over clips of the Dominik Mysterio-Liv Morgan interactions. Cole asked if they’re lovebirds.
-Backstage, Dom walked up to Liv who was sitting with her legs kicked up seductively in the Judgment Day “clubhouse.” Dom said, “No, no, no, no, no.” She said a gorgeous man like him shouldn’t be with a woman who makes him call her Mami. She said he should be with a “girl” who isn’t afraid to call him “Daddy.” She said if he change his mind, she’ll be in her hotel room waiting. She gave him her hotel key.
-Damage CTRL made their ring entrance.
-An aerial shot aired of Toldo, Ohio followed by footage of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City yesterday featuring Priest and Zelina Vega. Priest said everyone should be proud of where they come from. He said he looked forward to that parade every year since he was a kid.
-They showed Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Braun Strowman, and Zelina backstage as Cole hyped their six-man tag match later.
(1) IYO SKY (w/Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane) vs. LYRA VALKYRIA
Valkyria’s ring entrance took place. A clip aired of Sky attacking Valkyria backstage last week. The bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. Cole said qualifying matches for the Money in the Bank ladder match begin next Monday on Raw. After avoiding a Valkyria dropkick through the ropes, Sky landed a springboard moonsault press onto Valkyria at ringside at 2:00. Then they cut to a break. [c]
Valkyria scored a near fall after dropping her knees down onto Sky. Cole noted that’s how she beat Sky at Queen of the Ring. Sky took over and scored a two count seconds later after a double stomp to the chest. Both were slow to get up. Valkyria landed Night Wing suspiciously close to the ropes; Dakota easily broke up the subsequent cover from ringside and the ref didn’t see it. Valkyria kicked Dakota and Kairi at ringside. When she climbed to the top rope, Sky knocked her off balance and went for her moonsault. Valkyria lifted her knees and then landed a tornado DDT. Valkyria went for another Night Wing, but Sky pulled her hair and then leveraged her shoulders down for the win.
WINNER: Sky 10:00.
-After the match, Sky, Kairi, and Dakota triple-team attacked Valkyria. Fans booed. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter made the save.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action. The heels were heelish with interference, hair pulls, and a post-match attack to get heat.)
-Backstage, Carlito joined J.D., Balor and Dom. They asked Dom how he was doing. Dom said he told Liv to leave him alone, but she visited him earlier and gave him her hotel room key. Carlito said that’s cool, then read the room and said it’s not cool. [c]
-Highlights aired of last week’s happenings with Alpha Academy and Sami Zayn that set up Sami vs. Otis this week.
-Backstage Miz was in a panic because he hadn’t seen R-Truth and he asked Sami if he had seen him. Sami said he hadn’t him. Miz said
“not good things” happen when Truth is left alone. He left and yelled, “Truth! Truth!” Sami then walked up to Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri. He asked Maxxine how she was doing. She said she was okay, but seemed sad. He asked if she saw the replay of what happened. She said she saw it. Sami told her she doesn’t have to take it. Otis then walked up behind Sami and stared at him. Sami said there’s not much left to say, so he’ll see Otis in the ring. Otis said he lost it last week and he wanted to explain. Sami said he’s sympathetic to what he’s going through because he had to deal with Roman Reigns and the Bloodline. He said he understood his reasons, but he said he can’t figure out why he keeps putting up with it. Otis said he had the briefcase once and had it all and he lost it. He said Gable became family and without him, he’s nothing. Sami said that’s not true. Sami said those are Gable’s words. Sami asked if Otis knows how special he is and how special he could be. He said he hopes one of these days he sees it for himself. Fans chanted, “Otis! Otis!” Maxxine and Tozawa comforted Otis.
-Carlito and Dom were talking and then McDonagh and Balor were talking when in walked Priest. Priest said he heard something about a hotel card. Balor said that was just Liv trying to distract them and not to worry. They had an action figure of Rey with “I’m a dead beat dad” written on a piece of paper above it.
As Rey’s music played and Rey, Dragon Lee, and Zelina made their way to the ring, the QR code flashed with the words “Your Patience Will Be Rewarded.” Cole told McAfee not to try to scan it because he was freaked out the rest of the night after seeing where it led. [c]
-Highlights aired of NXT Battleground.
-A vignette aired where Ludwig Kaiser said he knows that simpletons think he’s just Gunther’s mouthpiece and sidekick. He said he beat Sheamus with A+ talent and ruthlessness last week on his own. “Go ask Sheamus how it was possible for Talking Ken Doll to destroy his knee,” he said. He said he won’t be taken lightly. He said he was designed for greatness and anyone who steps in his way will be eliminated.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good vignette with Kaiser delivering some good lines really well. The music and cutaways to action were really well done.)
(2) BRAUN STROWMAN (w/Zelina Vega) & REY MYSTERIO & DRAGON LEE vs. DOMINIC MYSTERIO & J.D. MCDONAGH & CARLITO
Strowman’s ring entrance then took place. The bell rang 52 minutes into the hour. McDonagh avoided Strowman at the start, then threw Carlito across the ring. When Dom tagged in, Strowman tagged in Rey. Dom immediately tagged out to McDonagh. Cole mistook Rey for Dragon Lee and got called on it by McAfee. Strowman called Dom a coward. Dom yanked Dragon Lee down by his mask from the ring apron a minute later, then tagged in and stomped away at Dragon Lee. Rey tagged in and landed a leaping seated senton onto Dom. Dragon Lee headscissored McDonagh to ringside. Rey then slingshot himself over the top rope, but McDonagh and Dom caught him and slammed him to the mat. Dom and McDonagh flexed at ringside. Braun walked over to check on Rey as they cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
McDonagh was in control against Rey after the break. Cole said a lot of people make fun of McDonagh for making weird decisions, but said he’s a psycho in the ring and can tear you apart in the ring.
[HOUR TWO]
Rey made a comeback at 9:00. When Rey reached to tag Strowman, McDonagh and Dom yanked him to the floor. Rey drove Carlito shoulder-first into the ringpost. Rey went looking for a tag, but no one was there for him. Carlito rolled into the ring and grabbed Rey’s leg. McDonagh then took over against Rey. Rey caught McDonagh with a DDT and then hot-tagged in Dragon Lee who went to work on Carlito. Chaos eventually broke out. Dom dropkicked Rey off the ring apron to the floor and then turned to notice Liv showed up on the ring apron.
Dom yelled at her to return to the back. Zelina knocked Liv off the apron and she landed on Dom. Liv smiled and rubbed his chest while sitting on him. Zelina attacked Liv. McDonagh pulled Liv off. Dragon Lee then hot-tagged Strowman. He charged around the ring and knocked over Dom, then McDonagh, then Carlito on three sides of the ring consecutively. Braun splashed Carlito in the corner and then landed a running powerslam. Braun launched Dragon onto Carlito for the three count.
WINNERS: Strowman & Rey & Dragon in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fun match with the most memorable moment being Liv landing on Dom.)
-They went to Cole and McAfee. McAfee was preoccupied with Liv “straddling Dom.”
-A vignette aired on Ilja Dragunov.
-Ricochet gave Dragunov a pep talk backstage. Dragunov said “there is dangerous and there is Bron Breakker at another level.” Dragunov said he’ll slay that dragon. He said he wanted to face Ricochet in a rematch after beating Breakker.
-They showed Sami backstage smiling. [c]
-Dakota and Kairi asked Sky what happened out there. Sky flipped out and screamed and walked away.
-Sami made his way to the ring. He thanked the fans for cheering him. He said it’s been a messed up couple of weeks. He said the rivalry started extremely personal and then went down strange roads with dirty attacks and manipulations. He vowed to beat Gable at the Clash and put an end to it once and for all. He said there’s no more dealing with the manipulative, abusive psychopath that is Gable.
Gable interrupted and said it was typical Sami Zayn, tearing down everything else and trying to write himself as the superhero. He said it’s pathetic. He said Sami is the manipulator, not him. “Don’t worry about the Academy; we’re good,” he said. “They trust their master, they trust my methods. Actually, we’re quite happy, come to think of it.”
Behind Gable stood a less-than-happy batch of followers. Sami asked if he’s out of his mind. He told Gable to turn around and see if Tozawa, Maxxine, and Otis look happy. They were frowning. Sami said they won’t be happy until they leave Gable’s side. Gable said nobody is leaving anyone’s side. He told Sami they’re family and families stick together no matter what. He said they’ll be with him on Saturday. He said he’s going to unleash a version of Otis who obeys him and doesn’t care who he hurts. He sent him to the ring. [c]
(3) SAMI ZAYN vs. OTIS (w/Chad Gable)
The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. Gable powered Sami into the corner early as Gable barked orders at him. “That’s the Otis I wanted,” Gable said to no one in particular at ringside. Otis landed a running splash on Sami. Gable told him to do it again. Otis hesitated. Gable stood on the ring apron and told him to start listening to him. “Now stick with the plan, you idiot,” he said. As Otis turned, Sami caught him with a Helluva Kick for the win.
WINNER: Sami in 2:00.
-Afterward, Gable ordered Tozawa and Maxxine to leave the ring. He then lifted Sami and told Otis to hit him. Otis turned away. Gable dropped Sami and told Otis that they talked about this. Gable shoved and slapped Otis as fans chanted for Otis. Gable slapped Otis a second time harder. Sami stood behind Gable. Otis charged at Sami in the corner and then slammed him. Gable smiled as Otis looked down at Sami. Fans booed. Cole said it’s a case of serious Stockholm Syndrome. Otis turned to Gable and looked fed up. He snorted as Gable backed into the corner and cowered. Otis wound up, but didn’t go through with it. He then left. Gable forced a smile as Otis walked to the back alone. Cole said Dr. Frankenstein might’ve created this monster.
(Keller’s Analysis: This does seem ready to break the way the fans want it to on Saturday. Everyone performed their roles well here.)
-Miz asked Sonya Deville if she’d seen Truth. She pointed him toward him. Truth said he was meeting with a fortune teller and they have a tag team title defense tonight. Truth said it’s written in the stars and it’s their destiny. He said they’re facing APA, Farooq and Bradshaw. Miz said they can’t fight them. Truth told Miz not to be scared. Truth said he sees unicorns. Miz told Truth that fortune tellers aren’t real. The fortune teller walked out. It was Scarlet and she gave Miz a card. She said her men, AOP, look forward to wrestling them.
(Keller’s Analysis: This was better than recent Miz-Truth comedy segments, but I still don’t think it achieved “funny” or “clever.”)
-Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair made their way to the ring. [c]
-Cole and McAfee commented on a Cody Rhodes “tweet” saying something about Trick Williams and Ethan Page. Then they plugged that he’ll be on NXT on Tuesday night. Then they recapped happenings at NXT Battleground.
-A video package aired on Jey Uso, showing audiences going crazy for his entrance and hyping his Money in the Bank announcement.
(4) ZOEY STARK & SHAYNA BASZLER vs. ISLA DAWN & ALBA FYRE
Belair and Cargill were seated at ringside as ring entrances took place for the tag match. Stark & Bazler’s ring entrance took place. Then Cathy Kelley interviewed Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre backstage about their chance to win the tag titles in Scotland this Saturday. Then they headed to the ring. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour.
Baszler finished Fyre with her Kirafuda Clutch.
WINNERS: Baszler & Stark in 3:00.
-A vignette aired on Bron Breakker.
-Breakker made his ring entrance. [c]
-Cole plugged tickets for Smackdown and Summerslam in Cleveland this summer on Aug. 2 and 3. He noted Robert Griffin III tweeted that Breakker is the next big thing.
(5) BRON BREAKKER vs. ILJA DRAGUNOV
The bell rang 53 minutes into the hour. Breakker got in the first shots. Dragunov fired back with an enzuigiri. Breakker tackled Dragunov seconds later and yelled in his face intensely. Dragunov broke free when Breakker lifted him and chopped away at him in the corner. He landed a running paint-brush kick to Breakker’s face. He took time to play to the crowd briefly and then charged at Breakker. Breakker threw Dragunov into the second rope neck-first. Dragunov fell to ringside and they cut to a break. [c]
Breakker beat on Dragunov for a couple minutes after the break.
[HOUR THREE]
Dragunov hit a series of suplexes including a bridge for a near fall. Breakker made a comeback. Cole said it was a hell of a match between two up-and-coming Superstars in WWE. Dragunov drove Breakker hard into the corner. The ref checked on Breakker. Dragunov leaped off the top rope with a Coast-to-Coast dropkick and then a top rope senton for a near fall at 11:00.
Breakker hit a Steinerline and went for a spear a minute later. Dragunov kneed him, though. He followed with his H-Bomb diving forearm. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Dragunov kicked Breakker at ringside, knocking him over the announce desk. Dragunov cleared the announce table and set up a move, but Breakker reversed it and dropped him ribs-first over the edge of the table. He dropped him over the ringside barricade next and then rammed him into the ringpost. Dragunov cried out in pain. Breakker threw him into the ring. He speared Dragunov, who rolled out of the ring before Breakker could cover him. Breakker then speared Dragunov at ringside. Then he hit a spear in the ring for the win.
WINNER: Breakker in 17:00.
-Ricochet springboarded from ringside and surprised Breakker with a tackle before Breakker could further attacking Dragunov.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match. Dragunov lost, but really looked impressive against the previously dominant Breakker.)
-Priest told the rest of The Judgment Day and Carlito they need to deal with the Liv situation. Balor said they don’t need Liv’s key card and slammed it on the desk. Priest said Dom has to put his foot down regarding Liv and tried to direct their focus. They all fist-bumped.
-Miz and R-Truth made their entrance with Truth rapping on his way. [c]
-Sheamus told Drew backstage that this Saturday he’s on the cusp of greatness with a boisterous Glasgow crowd. Drew said Sheamus better be there to celebrate with him. Sheamus said he’s going to win Money in the Bank and stop Kaiser from accomplishing that. Drew brought up a possible cash-in. Sheamus said if he does, it’ll be like old times. They said, “Banger after banger after banger” together.
-Kelley interviewed Karrion Kross backstage with AOP and Paul Ellering. Kross said when AOP win tonight, maybe then can convince Xavier Woods to side with them. Scarlett said they’d never leave Xavier’s side like Kofi Kingston did.
-A clip then aired of Kross telling Xavier to trust him. Then a clip aired of what happened last week, which Cole said didn’t happen the way Scarlett framed it.
(6) MIZ & R-TRUTH vs. AUTHORS OF PAIN (Akam & Rezar w/Karrion Kross, Paul Ellering, Scarlett) – WWE Tag Team Titles
Formal ring introductions took place. The bell rang 23 minutes into the hour and then they cut to a quick break. [c]
Miz leaped and hot-tagged in Truth after the break. He rallied with shoulder tackles on Akam. He played to the crowd and then ducked a charging Rezar. Miz and Truth then double-slammed Akam. Scarlett protested on the ring apron. Kross tripped Miz and Truth as they set up a double fist-drop. Kofi and Xavier charged out and attacked Kross. Truth then hit Akam from behind with the tag belt. Akam no-sold it and turned to Truth and snarled. Miz rolled up Akam from behind for the three count. New Day danced on the stage.
WINNERS: Truth & Miz in 6:00 to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
-As Ricochet helped Dragunov backstage, Breakker tackled Dragunov and then brawled into the parking lot with Ricochet. Breakker got the better of Ricochet and threw him into a bus like a dart. Next he powerslammed him through a windshield of an old blue sedan (from a local used car lot, I’m sure). Officials ran to check on Ricochet and yell at Breakker. [c]
-They showed Samantha Irvin, the ring announcer, who is Ricochet’s fiancé, reacting with concern at ringside as she watched what happened. Then they cut to Ricochet being rolled into an ambulance as Irvin cried.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside. Cole said the social media team will be all over this with updates on Ricochet. He said it’s one thing for violence to happen in the ring, but Breakker went too far. McAfee agreed.
-Drew’s ring entrance took place. McAfee took over ring announcing duties, standing on the announce desk. [c]
(7) DREW MCINTYRE vs. FINN BALOR
Drew’s ring entrance took place next. The bell rang 46 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 3:00 as they brawled at ringside. [c]
Drew took Balor down with two hard clotheslines. Drew eventually kipped up and shook the top rope. Drew went for a Claymore, but Balor cut him off with a Sling Blade. Balor landed a running leap over the top rope. He followed up in the ring with a running dropkick. When he climbed to the top rope, Drew headbutted him and then superplexed him for a two count. Priest walked out as Drew set up a Claymore. Drew looked over at him as Priest stood on the ring apron. Carlito stood on the ring apron. Drew knocked him down. McDonagh went after Drew, but Drew slammed him and threw him out of the ring. Balor then landed a Slingblade and another dropkick. He set up his Coup de Grace, but Drew moved and then landed the Claymore for the win as Priest watched from the ring apron. Cole said it’d be an even playing field on Saturday as Priest and Drew had a staredown to end the show.
WINNER: McIntyre in 13:00.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
On the episode, Wade Keller will be joined by Brandon LeClair from PWTorch to review Raw LIVE along with an on-site correspondent reporting on happenings in the arena. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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