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WWE RAW TV REPORT
JULY 22, 2024
GREEN BAY, WISC. AT RESCH CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that as of last night that 6,119 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 6,489. Check out WrestleTix on Patreon for final figures.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with an exterior aerial shot of Green Bay, Wisc. including Lambeau Field as Michael Cole introduced the show. Then they showed C.M. Punk arriving earlier in the lobby. Then they showed a split-screen of Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breakker. Then they showed The Judgment Day including Rhea Ripley laughing as she showed Damian Priest a photo on her phone. Carlito followed behind all of them and seemed slightly frustrated with the rolling suitcase; no one else had baggage.
-Gunther made his ring entrance wearing all black. They cut to Cole and Pat McAfee at ringside. Cole said the next two weeks they’ll be on SyFy. Cole then plugged Summerslam’s Priest vs. Gunther. Cole said it’ll be a barn-burner.
-Gunther stood mid-ring and said, “I know, I know.” Fans booed. He paused. He said he wanted to explain himself. “We don’t want to hear it, pal,” McAfee said. Gunther said he took some time to reflect on things he said to Damian Priest last week. Fans bombarded him with a chant of “You suck! You suck!” He smirked and said, “You know what, let’s skip that. I meant every word I said last week.” Louder boos. He said Priest and everyone in the arena is a bum. He said what’s at stake is what’s clearest and dearest to him – the prestige and honor of this great sport and the World Championship.
Gunther said they sent him to the ring first, not Priest, because Priest doesn’t live up to the title. “His cute little sob story about fighting from the streets doesn’t cover up that Damian Priest is a pretender and a wanna be,” he added. Gunther said a saying in German and then translated to English: “Show me your friends and I show you who you are.” He said he judges all of them as street trash.
He invited Priest to take the weight of disappointment off his shoulders and hand over the championship. He said he can get back to the trailer park. Priest made his way to the ring. Cole called Gunther “an overzealous brat, jerk.” Priest entered the ring and pretended he was going to say something, but then he tossed the mic over his shoulder and punched Gunther. They brawled as referees tried to separate them. More security came out and they pulled the wrestlers apart. “Let them fight!” shouted the crowd. Priest broke free and kicked Gunther. Priest began attacking security guys. He tossed one over the top rope onto a crowd of others below. Priest then attacked Gunther at ringside where they were pried apart again. Cole said this has been brewing for weeks. Priest broke free again and charged at Gunther as they cut to a break. [c]
-They cut backstage to Jackie Redmond when Gunther and Priest appeared behind her brawling. They were separated again by G.M. Adam Pearce and security.
(1) ILJA DRAGUNOV vs. BRON BREAKKER – Winner earns Intercontinental Title shot at Summerslam
They replayed Breakker interfering in the Sami Zayn vs. Dragunov match last week. The bell rang 16 minutes into the hour. At 3:00, Breakker countered Dragunov in the corner and dropped him over the top of the ringpost. They cut to a break. [c]
Dragunov fought back after the break, but Breakker landed a lift-and-drop gutbuster for a two count. Breakker delivered a Frankensteiner. Dragunov kicked out at two at 11:00. Dragunov knocked Breakker off the top rope and then superplexed him followed by an H-Bomb. He wasn’t able to make the cover before Breakker rolled to the ring apron. McAfee asked how either of these men are able to continue.
Dragunov lifted Breakker onto his shoulders and delivered a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Dragunov leaped off the ring apron toward Breakker, but Breakker speared him out of mid-air and sent the back of Dragunov’s head into the edge of the ring as they crashed to the floor. The ref checked on Dragunov and then called off the match. Medics came to ringside to check on Dragunov.
WINNER: Breakker via ref stoppage in 13:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: These two are great opponents for each other. Breakker does seem to be living his gimmick of breaking people for real.)
-They cut backstage to The Judgment Day Clubhouse. Ripley said, “Boys, enough games.” They stopped playing their video game and said Priest is focusing on his Summerslam match. She said it won’t be long before she regains her title and The Judgment Day holds all the gold again. Dominik Mysterio asked Rhea about Jey asking her out and her saying, “Yeet.” She said she was just messing around. She said she’s watching his socials, too, and she sees him and Liv Morgan’s interactions. Finn Balor asked fiercely if Ripley was taking Jey’s side. Rhea said she just doesn’t see the point of starting a war with him. Rhea left. Balor said to the others, “You know what you have to do.”
-They showed Drew McIntyre backstage with Adam Pearce and two referees. Pearce and Drew shook hands. Cole noted that C.M. Punk arrived earlier and then asked if Drew will “play ball.” [c]
-Cole hyped the Summerslam weekend happenings in Cleveland.
-Akira Tozawa blew out his birthday cake candles. Otis began eating frosting with his fingers. Xavier shot him a look.
-They went to Cole and McAfee who commented on the angle at the start of the show between Priest and Gunther. Cole said both have been sent home.
(2) LYRA VALKYRIA (w/Katana Chance, Kayden Carter) vs. SONYA DEVILLE (w/Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark)
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Cole said Baszler told him that she and Stark were treated unfairly until they linked up with Deville. Valkyria leaped through the ropes at Deville, but Deville avoided her and then threw her into the barricade as they cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Valkyria climbed to the top rope. Baszler distracted the ref as Stark knocked her down. Deville gave her a Deville’s Advocate for the win seconds later.
WINNER: Deville in 7:00.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside. Cole threw to the latest Wyatt Sicks video, saying it provides more insight into “the witch-like being” that has been delivering VHS tapes to them and tormenting McAfee on his show.
-The video showed Nikki Cross as a distorted voice said, “Look at yourself… They lied to you, ignored you, watched you suffer in solitude. I have been the answer all along.” Then she screamed.
(Keller’s Analysis: Not a lot to that, but sufficiently eerie.)
-They showed Punk backstage. [c]
-They showed an aerial shot of Cleveland.
-Punk made his ring entrance.
[HOUR TWO]
-Punk asked if it’s a great day to be alive in Green Bay. He noted the bay is green and his shoes are pink and he wants to stain both with the blood of a Scottish psychopath. He said he saw his surgeon on Saturday night and he’s cleared. He said he’s going to get his pound of flesh. He called Drew to the ring. Drew’s music played and he walked out as Punk wrapped his fists with tape in the ring.
Drew stared him down, but didn’t approach the ring. Drew said he’s waited so long for this moment. He said nothing will stop him from getting into the ring to tear him apart, “except the fact that I don’t want to.” Punk said, “Well, I do.” Referees ran out and cut off a charging Punk in the aisle. Drew said their match is too big for Green Bay. Drew said when he gets emotional, he turns to family to calm himself down. He held up the stolen bracelet.
Pearce walked out and said Drew is officially reinstated and Punk is officially medically cleared, so the match is now official for Summerslam. He said if they touch each other before then, the match is off, and whoever starts it will be suspended. He said the chaos has to stop. He then introduced Seth Rollins as the special referee for the match. “What did he just say?” asked Cole. McAfee asked why Pearce was so happy.
Seth entered the ring. Cole said he didn’t want to speculate. Seth said Drew and Punk hate each other, and all the chaos they have caused has scared away anybody from getting between them. He said he’s not a problem guy. “I’m a solution guy,” he said. He said he knows a guy who thrives on chaos who would love nothing more than to put the two of them in their places. Punk and Drew yelled at Seth who laughed at them.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m a bit distracted by whatever is going on with Punk’s new hairstyle. Good intensity here and overall a good way to believably keep them apart until Summerslam. Seth as special ref sets up a variety of unsatisfying finishes to extend the feud.)
-Backstage, Carlito suggested they divide and conquer. Balor and Dom went one direction while Carlito and J.D. McDonagh went another looking for Jey. Balor and Dom split. Liv Morgan just happened to be around the corner and she approached Dom. Dom said he and Rhea were perfect. Liv said, “That’s the spirit.” Balor showed up and caught Dom with her. “I leave you for ten seconds!” he said. Balor then sent Dom the opposite direction, which technically freed him up to follow Liv after she walked away.
-Xavier Woods & Otis & Tozawa made their way to the ring Maxxine Dupri. [c]
-Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn backstage and asked if he’s concerned about Breakker earning a shot against him at Summerslam. Sami said he earned it. He’s not concerned, but he is taking him seriously. He said Breakker better take him seriously, too. He said he will bring 100 percent. She said she hadn’t heard what Dragunov’s injuries are. They heard a noise. Sami went looking. Carlito and McDonagh found Jey Uso and were beating on him. Sami made the save.
-A clip aired of Otis and Braun Strowman visiting the Green Bay Packers training camp.
(3) OTIS & AKIRA TOZAWA & XAVIER WOODS vs. AOP (Akam & Rezar) & KARRION KROSS (w/Paul Ellering, Scarlett)
The bell rang 18 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break after a dive by Tozawa at ringside at 2:00. [c]
Otis got a hot-tag and a big pop from the hometown crowd. He went on a flurry of offense. When Otis set up his Caterpillar, Cole said that’s what Chad Gable wouldn’t let him do. Otis landed the elbow. Kross hit Otis with a forearm to the head. Xavier tagged in and dropkicked Kross. Tozawa leaped off the top turnbuckle onto AOP. Kross fended off Akam and then Kross gave Xavier his finisher for the win.
WINNER: Kross & AOP in 9:00.
-Chad Gable walked into the stage with the Creed Brothers. [c]
-Gable and the Creeds were standing in the ring opposite of Otis & Tozawa with Maxxine. Fans chanted, “You suck!” to the beat of Gable’s music. Gable said, “My old crew!” He said there is something in him that wants to keep helping his former pupils. He said he’s observed Otis has a leadership position with Tozawa and Maxxine. He called it an interesting choice. He said his brain isn’t his strong point. He talked about recruiting the Creed Brothers to stand by his side and fill in some weaknesses.
Gable offered Otis a chance to join them and have extra protection. Otis turned him down. Gable asked Maxxine if she’s going to let Otis speak for her. Gable then ordered the Creeds to attack Otis and Tozawa. Otis fought back and confronted Gable mid-ring. Fans cheered as he grabbed him. “Finally, Gable is going to get his comeuppance!” said Cole. The Creeds attacked Otis after Otis lifted Gable. They drove Otis into the ringpost shoulder-first. The lights then went out on and the Wyatt Sicks sounds began blaring. The Wyatt Sicks showed up on the stage. The Creeds stood at ringside with chairs. Uncle Howdy showed up behind Gable in the ring and gave him Sister Abigail. [c]
-Cole and McAfee commented on what happened before the break.
-Bronson Reed made his entrance to face Pete Dunne. Dunne made his entrance next. Before the match began, Sheamus showed up and kicked Dunne. Then Reed and Sheamus battled. Sheamus delivered a kneelift. Sheamus landed a barrage of forearms on Dunne and then played to the crowd. He pounded his chest and went for a Brogue kick, but Dunne rolled out of the way. Sheamus smiled and stared down Dunne at ringside.
-Rhea angrily asked Balor, McDonagh, Carlito, and Dom what happened. Balor said he’s had enough of being disrespected. He said they’re going to take care of Jey and Sami later tonight. He said he’s also going to face Gunther next week for calling them a joke. Rhea said no one should touch Jey Uso. When Rhea asked where Dom was when all this went down, Carlito chuckled and said she should ask Liv. As Dom tried to explain, Rhea grabbed him and said they’re headed to the ring. [c]
-Redmond interviewed Sheamus backstage and asked what’s going on between him and Dunne. He said whatever issue Dunne has with him can be easily sorted out over a pint or they can take it to the ring and find out who the real bruiserweight is.
-Ripley dragged Dom to the ring as her music played. She was upset, yelling at him the whole way. Rhea yelled, “Liv, you want him, come get him!” Cole said Dom has become a pawn. Liv’s music played. She said hello from the opposite side of the arena. She said she wasn’t coming to the ring because she actually has some self-control. She said she can wait until Summerslam. She said she has feelings for Dom. Rhea stared angrily at Dom. Liv said Dom has feelings for her too, and she can’t deny that.
Liv said, “Gorgeous men like Dom don’t go for girls that look like you.” She laughed. Dom stood in front of Rhea. Rhea shoved Dom and tried to leave the ring. Dom grabbed her wrist. She told him to let go. Dom asked her to hear him out. Rhea got in his face, fuming. Liv asked everyone to let Daddy Dom talk. Liv said she thinks she knows what Dom is going to say and she feels the same way. She said he can finally say those three little words.
[HOUR THREE]
Dom asked, “You want those three little words? I hate you, Liv! Are you stupid? Are you deaf? I don’t like you. You’ve ruined my life over and over again.” Rhea smiled as Liv began to sob. Dom raged in Spanish and threw the mic down. A camera filmed Liv turning to leave the corridor where she was standing. Rhea whispered something in Dom’s ear, then licked the side of his cheek and kissed him. Dom smiled.
(Keller’s Analysis: Liv was effectively smarmy here. This could go several ways, including a reveal that Dom and Liv were in on it, or Dom eventually changes his mind, but it could also just lead to Dom and Rhea sticking together. Rhea licking and kissing Dom suggests it is headed toward being a more overt romantic situation.) [c]
-Kelley interviewed Zelina Vega on the stage. Zelina had her right arm wrapped. She said her arm injury won’t stop her. She said she has been underestimated her whole life and it’s time she prove people wrong. She made her way to the ring. [c]
-Cole and McAfee wished Shawn Michaels happy birthday.
(4) ZELINA VEGA vs. ZOEY STARK
The bell rang 10 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break. [c]
Cole said Stark dominated during the entire commercial break. Zelina sent Stark into the second rope. Deville distracted the ref and then Baszler tripped Zelina running the ropes. Carter and Chance ran to ringside and went after Baszler and Deville. Zelina escaped Starks’s grip with an elbow to her head. She followed with another shot with her wrapped elbow and then finished Stark with a Code Red.
WINNER: Zelina in 8:00.
-Xavier asked Pearce for a match against Kross next week. Pearce asked if he was sure, then granted it. Drew walked up to Pearce and said he should have given him a heads up about Seth. Pearce said if he has an issue with him being a ref, he shouldn’t have put his hands on them. Drew said he and Seth have existing issues and asked how it’s fair. Pearce said they’re going to give Seth official referee instructions next week and Drew and Punk are required to be there. Pearce then said he had to leave to get a drink. Drew asked, “What does that even mean?”
-They showed Balor and McDonagh warming up backstage. [c]
-Redmond interviewed Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn backstage. She asked about their plans to go to Smackdown to address the challenge issued by Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill. They were interrupted by Baszler, Stark, and Deville. Baszler said they’re running the division on Raw lately. Deville said Belair & Jade aren’t their biggest threat. Dawn said they can try to take their belts and then giggled.
-They went to Cole and McAfee at ringside. Cole again plugged Raw moving to SyFy the next two weeks. McAfee said, “A dream come true.” (That was hilarious.)
-A vignette aired with Gunther who spoke about champions in the past who went down due to fragile egos. He said the World Hvt. Championship needs him in order to create a new mountaintop. He said Seth did a fantastic job, but the burden of being the workhorse drove him into the ground. He said as Punk could barely stay healthy for five minutes. He said Priest’s foundation is beginning to crack. He said it’s a shame. He said as he looks at the cast of challengers, it’s disgusting. He said he is the only one who can redefine the prestige of the title and bring it to levels it has never seen before.
(Keller’s Analysis: So well done. Him standing in front of the big screen as he delivers the message with the edits really are top shelf.)
-They showed Jey and Sami working their way through cheering fans in the concourse. Then the camera followed them down the stairs through the crowd. [c]
-Cole hyped next week’s Raw including Xavier vs. Kross, Deville & Baszler & Stark vs. Lyra Valkyria & Kayden Carter & Katana Chance, and the Punk-Drew-Seth segment.
-Cole and McAfee plugged the Summerslam line-up. McAfee said it was a loaded line-up.
(5) FINN BALOR & J.D. MCDONAGH (w/Dominik Mysterio, Carlito) vs. SAMI ZAYN & JEY USO
The bell rang 43 minute into the hour. At 3:00, Sami springboard-moonsaulted onto McDonagh and Balor at ringside. Dom approached Sami, but Sami backed him away. Carlito then rammed Sami into the ringpost as the ref was preoccupied with Dom. They cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Sami landed a Blue Thunder Bomb on McDonagh. Both crawled to their corners and made hot tags to their respective partners. Fans popped for Jey. The lower left corner of the screen showed “Tonight’s Headlines” and recapped what happened earlier. The crowd broke into a “This is awesome!” chant as Sami and McDonagh exchanged a series of big moves. Sami and Jey hit the 1D on McDonagh for a near fall, with Balor breaking up the cover. Balor dragged McDonagh to his corner and tagged himself in. Balor caught Jey with a slingblade. Jey caught a charging Balor with a superkick. McDonagh snapped Jey’s neck over the top rope, then Balor tagged in and landed a Coup de Gras. McDonagh landed a top rope moonsault for a near fall, with Sami breaking up the cover at two.
Balor threw Sami out of the ring. Sami re-entered and threw Balor out of the ring. Sami gave McDonagh a Helluva kick and then dove onto Balor at ringside. Jey then finished McDonagh with a frog splash for the win.
WINNERS: Sami & Jey in 16:00.
-As Sami celebrated, Breakker snuck in and speared Sami, then retreated.
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 Darrin Lilly from PWTorch to review Raw LIVE along with VIP member video caller, viewer emails, and chat room interactions plus often an on-site correspondent. 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.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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