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KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT
SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
SAN JOSE, CALIF. AT SAP CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
Commentators: Jimmy Smith, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
[HOUR ONE]
-After the “Then, Now, Forever, Together” brand stamp, the Raw “Feels like Greatness” opening aired.
-Jimmy Smith introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd.
(1) BOBBY LASHLEY vs. SETH ROLLINS – U.S. Title match
Seth made his ring entrance first. Smith hyped the Austin Theory vs. Kevin Owens match. Corey Graves talked about Logan Paul challenging Roman Reigns to a WWE Universal Title at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. They also announced Rey Mysterio & Matt Riddle vs. The Judgment Day. Lashley then made his ring entrance. They did formal ring introductions.
The crowd sang Seth’s song early as the wrestlers exchanged some standing headlocks. Graves wondered if the crowd would be a factor as the match progressed. Seth escaped an early Hurt Lock attempt and superkicked Lashley, then went for an early Stomp. Lashley was on all fours and didn’t budge, though. Lashley landed a back elbow and then knocked Seth over the top rope to the floor. Graves said Seth has never experienced such power. Lashley checked Seth hard at ringside into the side of the ring. They cut to a break as Seth clutched the back of his head. [c]
Back from the break, Seth escaped a uranage attempt and began focusing on Lashley’s shoulder. A corner graphic hyped Miz TV with guest Dexter Lumis. A few minutes later, Seth landed a dive through the ropes, knocking Lashley into the announce desk. He went for another, but Lashley brushed him aside. Lashley then picked Seth up onto his shoulders and rammed his head into the ringpost. With both down, they cut to another break. [c]
Seth landed a bucklebomb and frog splash for a two count after the break. He settled into an STF and called Lashley a bitch. Lashley broke the grip, so Seth landed some elbows. Seth set up a Pedigree, but Lashley sat on it for a two count. Lashley then landed a running powerslam. He went for a spear, but Seth caught him with a sudden Pedigree for a two count. Seth climbed to the top rope and leaped off with a Phoenix splash attempt, but Lashley moved. Seth landed on his feet and went for a quick Stomp, but Lashley avoided it and applied a Hurt Lock mid-ring. Seth began to fade, but then pushed off the ropes with his feet and leveraged Lashley’s shoulders down for a two count. Lashley rolled his shoulders up and kept his Hurt Lock on. Seth then mule kicked Lashley after the ref got knocked down. That broke the Hurt Lock. Riddle’s music then played and he ran to ringside. Seth leaned through the ropes at him, then turned and ate a spear from Lashley for the three count.
WINNER: Lashley in 20:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Solid match start to finish. The crowd singing along to Seth’s music is “a thing to do,” but it does override the natural emotions of the match since I think fans would be cheering Lashley and booing Seth otherwise. The distraction finish isn’t a surprise, but it’s not satisfying. One of the disappointments of Paul Levesque’s run booking WWE so far is the lack of brave booking when it comes to match finishes. Just like in the NFL, good teams sometimes lose and it’s not the end of them being seen as a good team. That could be the case with WWE wrestlers if they were booked that. Seth could’ve lost clean, Riddle could’ve come out after that and irritated an irritable Seth, and the viewers would have been rewarded with a finish that meant more.)
-They aired a clip of Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky winning the WWE Tag Team Titles last week. Then they went to the parking garage where Bayley, Kai and Sky got out of a white limousine. Smith said Damage CTRL’s championship celebration was next. [c]
-The announcers talked about Survivor Series now featuring WarGames matches.
-Damage CTRL came out to celebrate their tag title win. They had balloons on the ringposts and then dropped streamers from the rafters. Bayley said she is the fans’ “Bay Area hero.” She said they are there to celebrate. Fans booed. Bayley told them to show some respect for champions “because it doesn’t seem like the Sharks can get it done for us.” Bayley thanked Kai and Sky for believing in her vision. Kai said they needed each other. They said it’s time for the former champs to go home. Bianca Belair’s music then interrupted. She danced out with Alexa Bliss and Asuka.
Belair said they weren’t planning to interrupt their celebration, but then they had to run their mouths and disrespect them. “Now we’ll have to teach you some respect,” she said. Bayley asked if they have no patience. She said the division spiraled out of control without them because Belair is too impulsive. She said she needs to see the big picture. She reiterated that the next time they wrestle, it’ll be on her clock. Bayley told Asuka and Bliss they don’t look like they fit the picture anymore since Belair has plenty of accessories otherwise. Bliss fired back. Bayley said she thought Lilly was the only one who bit. Bayley said she is a shell of the former Alexa. Bliss said she’d like to torment her some more. “You versus me,” she offered. Bliss said Lilly does bite, but she does too. Bayley, Kai, and Sky left the ring. Bayley tried to sneak back in, but she was knocked to the floor quickly by Bliss.
(Keller’s Analysis: Damage CTRL still is just sorta there as a faction. Bayley just feels sorta checked out of all this heel promo stuff, going through the motions like she’s stocking shelves somewhere. Bliss’s mic work there felt half-invested also. Bliss doesn’t really have a defined character at this point and seems a bit lost. No spark in that segment.)
-They showed Austin Theory warming up backstage. [c]
(2) AUSTIN THEORY vs. KEVIN OWENS
Theory attacked Owens as he began to enter the ring. He then threw him into the ringside barricade. Smith called it “a Kevin Owens move right there.” (If they were trying to get heel heat on Theory, Smith just extinguished it by saying Theory just did to KO what KO has often done. Why say that? Fans in the arena were booing Theory, but TV viewers listening to Smith were basically told KO had it coming.) Owens agreed to let the match begin after the ref checked on him. “Ring the bell! Ring the bell!” he emphatically shouted. He tackled Theory and punched away at him. When Theory bailed out to ringside, KO attacked him there too. Graves said KO knows that Theory is going to be a main event player soon because he has been there. He said he sees something in Theory that he once possessed himself “and maybe Kevin wants to get it back.” Theory knocked KO off balance on the ring apron and then gave him a neckbreaker off the ring apron. As Theory looked down at Owens and said, “Tell me who the future is now,” they cut to a break. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
KO was in control after the break. After more back and forth action, KO landed a top rope senton for a near fall. Fans chanted “Who’s your daddy?” KO climbed to the top rope and yelled, “I’m his daddy!” Theory met KO at the top rope and they exchanged wild swings. Owens knocked Theory off the ropes, but Theory popped back up and went for a superplex. KO blocked it and slapped Theory to the mat. He then landed a turning springboard moonsault. Theory moved and then caught KO with a leaping neckbreaker for a near fall. Nice sequence. Theory gave Owens a fisherman’s buster onto his knee for another near fall. Theory then noticed Johnny Gargano at ringside with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Gargano innocently offered it to Theory. KO then superkicked Theory followed by a cannonball in the corner. KO followed with his Pop Up Powerbomb for the win.
WINNER: Owens in 13:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match. Unfortunately, the ringside distraction fed into the pattern of WWE match finishes lately. I didn’t know which way this match was going to go for sure, but it would’ve been nice if the wrestlers’ actions in the ring determined the outcome rather than something at ringside.)
-After the match, Gargano entered the ring and offered Theory the briefcase. He dropped it on Theory’s crotch. Theory blocked it for the most part, but still clutched his crotch while writhing on the mat.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m not sure this was a good look for Gargano. He taunted Theory and essentially cost him a match for no reason, then dropped the briefcase on his crotch.)
-Clips aired of Finn Balor pinning Matt Riddle last week, followed by Seth stomping Riddle last week on Raw.
-They showed Riddle walking backstage when Kevin Patrick approached him for comments on his feud with Seth. Riddle said he’s going to hunt Seth down every chance he gets until he gets a rematch. Regarding facing Edge and Balor later, Riddle said he wants to help Rey Mysterio get revenge. He said Edge and Balor used to be cool kids, but now they dress up the goth kids on “South Park.” He said Rey helped him last week, so he’s going to help him this week.
-Smith hyped an update on the Logan Paul-Roman Reigns match next.
-A Smackdown commercial hyped the return of Reigns on Friday, plus the Usos vs. Brawling Brutes for the Smackdown Tag Team Titles and Braun Strowman vs. Otis. [c]
-They showed George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers in the front row.
-They went to the announcers at ringside who threw to a video package on Logan Paul challenging Roman Reigns after he left his podcast and predicting he’d win. Then clips aired from Smackdown of Paul Heyman addressing Logan. Then clips aired of Saturday’s press conference featuring Triple H announcing the Reigns vs. Logan match. They flashed headlines from corporate media entities reporting the news.
(Keller’s Analysis: I get the business strategy of having that match, but Logan getting a shot at the WWE Universal Title just makes a complete mockery out of title shots actually being earned within WWE’s narrative.)
-The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) made their ring entrance. Highlights aired of the Brutes winning last Friday Fatal Four-way match to earn the Smackdown Tag Team Title match on Friday. Butch shouted, “It’s fight night!” Holland said they’re going to become champions on Friday. He said Sheamus is already preparing their celebration. The Street Profits interrupted him. They came out wearing San Francisco Giants replica uniforms. They said they went through three teams on Smackdown, but they didn’t beat them. Holland said they’re willing to see them put their money where their mouth is. The Profits said they want the smoke. [c]
(3) BRAWLING BRUTES (Ridge Holland & Butch) vs. THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
Ford and Butch had some fun exchanges early. Ford dropped Butch with a high dropkick, then tagged Dawkins in. He scored a two count. Butch went into his joint manipulation routine and stomped on Dawkins’ arm. Holland tagged in and continued to beat on Dawkins. Saxton said the Brutes have been “a quiet storm” the last seven months on Smackdown. Ford tagged back in. Holland took him down hard with a clothesline and then tagged Butch back in. Butch dropped two knees and then knocked Dawkins off the ring apron. The Brutes double-teamed Ford with a barrage of forearms against the ropes. Ford dropped to the floor and they cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, the Brutes continued to beat on Ford. When Dawkins tagged in, the heel duo soon took control again. Ford was off the ring apron at ringside, unavailable for a tag for a while. Ford finally surfaced and tagged himself in and landed a top rope blockbuster for a near fall, broken up by Holland. Dawkins knocked Holland out of the ring, then tagged in Ford who did his running flip dive onto Butch and Holland at ringside. The Profits gingerly set up another top rope blockbuster on Holland, but Butch intervened. Holland tagged in Butch, and then they double-teamed Dawkins with a superkick/powerslam combo for the win.
WINNERS: Brutes in 15:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A good tag match that earned its TV time. Smart to have the Brutes win given their tag title shot on Friday)
-Highlights aired of The Judgment Day-Edge angle last week.
-Sarah Schreiber interviewed Rey Mysterio in the ring set backstage. She asked him for an update on Edge’s future and if there’s been a reconciliation between him and his son Dominik. He said his son won’t even speak to him, and he regretted not knowing about the resentment he felt for him sooner. He said won’t give up on his son. He said he wants him to know that everything he’s ever done in his life has been to provide him a life he never had and opportunities he never dreamed of “and a future legacy for you to carry on, only if you wanted to.” He said he can’t speak the same about Damian Priest and Balor. Riddle interrupted and said he’s ready to drop the hammer of justice on The Judgment Day.
(Keller’s Analysis: Rey continues to do maybe the best mic work of his career in this storyline.)
-An NXT commercial aired. They used the new black and gold NXT logo, but still used the multi-colored backdrop associated with the 2.0 era. [c]
-Chad Gable and Otis stopped Gargano as he walked past them. Gable said he cost their friend Theory his match. Gable said he’s new around there, so he’d like to give him a lesson. He said he made the biggest mistake of his career. He said when you mess with Theory, you’re messing with The Academy too. KO walked up to stand next to Gargano. KO said Gargano had his back out there, so he’s there for him. Gable said they should have a two-on-two match with even odds next week. KO said he loved beating the hell out of Gable in his home country, and next week they’ll be back in Canada in Edmonton. He agreed to the match. When Gable began retorting, Gargano “shoosh’d” him.
-The Judgment Day made their ring entrance. Graves said Dominik is clearly infatuated with Ripley. Saxton said it was disturbing. Graves said Saxton should be happy for Dominik because he’s “like 53 years old” and has never had a girlfriend. Graves said he’s high-fiving Dominic because “he’s punching above his weight class.” Ripley said they showed again last week that they run Raw. He said with Dominik by their side, no one will stop them. She put her arm around him and said “especially now that he’s all man.” Balor said he’s a brave man to stand up to his enemies and a great deal more brave to stand up to his father. Priest smiled and shook hands with Dominik. “I love this guy,” he said. He said he no longer walks in a shadow and is willing to fight his own battles. He said he proved that last week when he faced Edge one-on-one. Priest told fans to shut their mouths and show respect for Dominik. Fans booed.
Dominik absorbed the boos and smiled. He said he couldn’t be prouder to be standing alongside his new family. The boos got even louder. He said they’re his real family. Balor said that’s beautiful. “I think we’re having a moment,” Balor said. He said they should get a group portrait, “a family photo.” They posed for the ringside photographer. Riddle’s music interrupted. Riddle rolled out on a scooter. Rey’s music played next. They showed Dominik staring intently at the entrance area. Smith said Rey is devastated but he’ll have a chance at revenge in this match. [c]
[HOUR THREE]
(4) THE JUDGMENT DAY (Finn Balor & Damian Priest w/Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio) vs. REY MYSTERIO & MATT RIDDLE
Riddle began the match. After Rey tagged in, the heels beat on him for four minutes as Ripley and Dominik laughed and smiled at ringside. Riddle hot-tagged in and took it to Balor. He then went for a top rope Floating Bro, but Balor moved and tagged in Priest. Priest took Riddle down. Riddle knocked Balor off the ring apron and set up a springboard flip. Priest grabbed his throat and slammed him on the ring apron. With Riddle down at ringside, they cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Riddle down was at ringside. As Balor distracted the ref, Ripley suplexed Riddle on the ringside mat. Graves said if Ripley wasn’t already spoken for, he might’ve just fallen in love. Riddle landed the Bro To Sleep on Priest a few minutes later. Rey and Balor both hot-tagged in at once. Rey got the better of Balor with a flurry of offense. Rey landed a top rope senton on Balor, then kicked Priest at ringside. Balor made a brief comeback, but Rey took over again. Priest yanked Rey to ringside. Riddle kicked Priest and then landed a twisting Floating Bro on Priest on the floor. Meanwhile, Rey landed a 619 on Balor in the ring. When Rey climbed to the top rope, Ripley distracted Rey. Then Seth showed up at ringside and attacked Riddle. Seth grabbed a chair. Rey yanked it away form him. Rey checked on Riddle. Dominik then walked up to his dad and offered to let Rey hit him in the face with the chair. He got on his knees and put his hands behind his back. Rey dropped the chair and re-entered the ring. Balor then tagged in Priest, who chokeslammed Rey. Balor then landed the Coup de Gras for the win. Graves called it a heartbreaking loss for Rey and Riddle.
WINNERS: Balor & Priest in 17:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Another good match, but with another finish influenced by an outside party getting involved.)
-A recap aired of Dexter Lumis appearing in Miz’s home last week.
-They showed Miz and Tommaso Ciampa walking backstage. [c]
-They cut backstage to Riddle and Seth brawling and officials pulling them apart. Seth told Riddle to name the time and place for a rematch. Riddle yelled, “Extreme Rules! Fight pit!” Seth said he’s on and he’s a dead man.
-They cut to the announcers at ringside. Graves said he doesn’t usually question Seth’s decisions, but that was the wrong one.
-Miz TV: Miz and Ciampa stood in the ring. Miz said Dexter crossed the line when he stepped foot in his home. He called him a lunatic as he described how he drew a picture of his family, left it on his dining table, and then left. He said he is sick of looking over his shoulder. He said a few days ago he was celebrating his daughter’s third birthday. He said it was a Minions themed party and he was worried Dexter was dressed up as one of them. He said he punched one of them, just to be safe, and the kids were screaming. “You hurt Stuart!” he said. Miz asked, “Why me?” He called Dexter to the ring to explain himself, “man to man, face to face.” Fans chanted “Tiny balls!” The camera caught a knife cutting up through the ring canvas. Miz called him a weak-minded sociopath. Dexter popped up from the hole and grabbed Miz and tried to pull him down under the ring. Ciampa saved him and then hit Dexter with a mic. Dexter retreated, but then popped back up seconds later. Ciampa and Miz retreated as Dexter stared at them before tucking his head back under the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m enjoying this Miz-Dexter saga. The characters are playing off of each other well.) [c]
-They went to the announcers who hyped Owens & Gargano vs. Otis & Gable and Riddle vs. Priest next week on Raw.
-They cut backstage to The Judgment Day celebrating their win when Patrick approached them. He asked what’s next for them. Ripley said it’s time to celebrate. Dominik said he has to go check on his dad, but then broke into laughter. Dominik said he has a new mommy now and looked over at Ripley. Ripley said, “Mommy knows best.” Priest said they have to go party now. The camera stayed suspiciously long on them and then they noticed A.J. Styles talking on a phone. Balor asked why they haven’t spoken in a while. Styles said they haven’t spoken since he joined Judgment Day. Styles tried to walk away, but Balor stopped him and said he never turned his back on him. Styles said he wants no part of Judgment Day. Balor said they’ve known each other for so long, but it seems like he’s looking for a fight. They had a staredown. Balor then broke the stare and hugged him and told him to remember that the offer still stands. Styles hard blinked a “no thanks.”
-They went to the announcers at ringside again. As they began to plug the main event – Bliss vs. Bayley – Graves ranted about how no one seems to care that Dexter tried to abduct Miz. Saxton said they’re all freaked out by Dexter, but he went back into his hole “and it happens.” Smith then said Bliss is part of the past that Bayley wants to move on from.
-A video package aired on Bliss.
-Bliss made her entrance, accompanied by Asuka and Bianca Belair. [c]
(5) ALEXA BLISS (w/Asuka, Bianca Belair) vs. BAYLEY (w/Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky)
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. After several minutes, Bliss took control at ringside. [c]
Fans were doing a dueling chant of “Let’s Go Bayley / Bayley sucks” after the break. Graves acknowledged the crowd was split because Bayley is from the Bay Area. Bliss was selling a sore knee from earlier in the match. The announcers talked about how it must be frustrating for her not being able to be at 100 percent. Bayley scored some near falls on Bliss. When Bayley tried to score a pin with her boots on the second rope, Belair shoved her legs off. Kai and Sky attacked her. Bliss gave Bayley a DDT in the ring, then set up a Twisted Bliss. As Kai distracted the ref, Sky knocked Bliss off the top rope. Bayley then hit a Rose Plant for the win. Smith called it a huge win for Bayley against her nemesis.
WINNER: Bayley in 15:00.
-Afterward, Asuka came to Bliss’s defense, but she was overwhelmed by the heels. Belair recovered and entered the ring, but she too was soon overwhelmed by the three heels. Graves said Bayley wants the Raw Title. Bayley kneed over Belair and said she gets what she wants, when she wants, and she wants the Raw Title match at Extreme Rules. She threw the mic aside. The show ended with Damage CTRL celebrating together.
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