WWE Raw Results (9/5): Braun Strowman Returns, U.S. Title Steel Cage Match, Owens Vs. Theory
Welcome Wrestling Inc.'s live coverage of "WWE Raw".
Tonight's show opens with Edge. He talks about his memories of Dominik Mysterio when he was just a young boy. Edge says he doesn't see him as a kid anymore, he sees him as a WWE Superstar and he'll pay the price. Edge calls Dominik down to the ring not to talk. Edge says he's going to beat his ass.
Rey Mysterio's music plays and the elder Mysterio makes his entrance. Rey says Dominik is still his son and he begs Edge for his forgiveness. Edge isn't accepting it and calls out Dominik again. Instead, now it's The Judgment Day's Rhea Ripley making her entrance.
Ripley stands on stage with a microphone. She tells Edge to calm down. She says they got exactly what was coming to them. Ripley says Dominik isn't a little boy because she saw the potential in him and made him a man. Dominik walks out on stage to now music. He's dressed in all black and his hair is slicked back.
Rey tells him to snap out of it and make amends with Edge. Dominik doesn't reply. Ripley says he doesn't listen to Rey anymore and Rey can't fight Dominik's battles anymore. Ripley says the time has passed by Edge and he can't stop his Judgment Day. The fans chant, "Who's your daddy?" as Ripley and Dominik slowly walk to the ring.
Rey stands in front of Dominik in the entrance aisle and urges him not to do this. Dominik refuses to make eye contact. The fans now chant, "Eddie's son". Rey walks away all the way backstage. Edge waves a finger, urging Dominik to get in the ring with him. Finn Balor and Damian Priest attack Edge from behind. Edge fights off both of them for a few moments before Dominik gets involved and chop blocks Edge's knee. Rey tries to return to the ring but is blocked by Dominik and Ripley. Ripley lays out Rey from behind and throws him into the steel ring steps.
In the ring, Balor and Priest continue to beat down Edge. Priest hits South of Heaven. Ripley gets a chair from under the ring and hands it to Dominik, who passes it to Balor in the ring. Balor uses it to attack Edge's knee. Balor lays the chair across Edge's knee. Priest holds Edge down and Balor hits the Coup de Grace from the top rope to the chair and Edge's knee underneath. Rey is back and gets in the ring. Priest and Balor exit without further interaction. The new-look Judgment Day makes its way back up the entrance aisle.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we see The Miz and Ciampa in the arena parking lot earlier where they find an overturned, flaming vehicle.
Back in the arena, The New Day's Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods make their entrance. They're followed by Alpha Academy, Los Lotharios, and Street Profits.
Fatal Four-Way Tag Team #1 Contenders Match: The New Day vs. Alpha Academy vs. Los Lotharios vs. Street Profits
Early in the match, Woods and Kingston both find themselves tagged into the match against one another. They try the old "New Age Outlaws maneuver" where they try to pin one another but everyone else breaks that up. A big brawl breaks out with all four teams, everyone spills outside except for Woods and Kingston who hit stereo dives over the top rope to the floor.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Humberto is in control of Montez Ford. He hits Ford with a backdrop suplex and knocks The New Day off the ring apron. Ford kicks away Humberto and Chad Gable tags himself in to cut off Ford. Humberto and Gable try a double-team but Ford avoids it and tags in Angelo Dawkins.
Dawkins runs wild on Gable and Humberto. Kingston comes into the ring and gets pounced by Dawkins over the top rope onto the wrestlers on the floor. Dawkins follows with his own dive to the floor.
Ford is now alone in the ring with Gable. Dawkins re-enters the match and they hit their assisted suplex for a near fall. Otis tags in and goes after Ford but Angel enters and superkicks Otis. Ford and Angel cut off Woods entering the ring. They lift Woods to the top rope and both go up after him. Dawkins, Humberto, and Kingston do the same on the opposite turnbuckle. Kingston powerbombs Dawkins from the top rope. Woods gets brought down with a superplex. Humberto tries a moonsault but misses. Otis hits a splash from the second turnbuckle on Ford for another near fall.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Ford is in the ring with Otis. Gable makes a blind tag. Ford slams Otis and climbs to the top turnbuckle. Los Lotharios cut him off. The New Day and Dawkins try to intervene but they get kicked away and Lotharios hit stereo moonsaults to the floor. Ford hits his frog splash to Otis but Gable breaks up the pin and grabs an ankle lock on Ford.
At this point, Braun Strowman's music hits, and the man himself strolls to the ring.
Strowman faces off with Gable in the ring and the fans cheer the big surprise. Strowman runs down Gable with a clothesline. He takes out Los Lotharios. Otis gets on the ring apron and gets knocked off. Strowman stands alone in the ring. Security enters the ring and Strowman lays out them. He hits a powerbomb on one of the security personnel. Strowman goes outside the ring and runs Otis through a barricade. He lays out Dawkins and slams Gable on the floor. Strowman clears off the announce table. He grabs Dawkins and powerslams him through the table.
Strowman gets back into the ring and starts doing to "Hulk Hogan" routine to get the crowd cheering him. His music plays and it appears this four-way match is going to be ruled a "no contest."
We go to a commercial break.
During the picture-in-picture break, we could see Strowman continue to beat up wrestlers and hang around in the ring. Back from the break, Strowman finally departs and heads backstage.
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: Nikki A.S.H. & Doudrop vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah (c)
The new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah make their entrance. Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop make their entrance. Commentary mentions they just challenged unsuccessfully for the "NXT" Women's Tag Team Titles at Sunday's Worlds Collide event.
Aliyah starts off. She gets the better of Nikki but has less luck with Doudrop. Aliyah tries a hurricanrana but gets caught and slammed into the corner by Doudrop. Doudrop hits a cannonball as we get a glimpse of Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai watching on a monitor backstage. Nikki tags in and they hit a double team on Aliyah for a near fall.
Nikki grounds Aliyah but misses an elbow drop and that lets Aliyah tags in Rodriguez, who runs wild on Nikki. She hits an overhead slam and then fires away with punches on Doudrop. Doudrop comes back with a headbutt and a senton for a two-count.
Doudrop climbs to the second turnbuckle and Aliyah tackles Nikki on the floor. Rodriguez brings Doudrop out of the corner with the Tejana Bomb for the pin.
Winners: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah
Backstage, Rey Mysterio is interviewed by Meghan Morant. Rey says he loves his son and he needs to have a word in private with Dominik. He says The Judgment Day is poisoning Dominik's mind. Rey says he will never put his hands on his son, but he wants to get his hands on Balor or Priest in a match tonight.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we get some highlights from Clash at the Castle two days ago, including the ovation for Sheamus after his title match against Gunther.
Austin Theory Runs His Mouth
Back in the arena, Austin Theory (he got his first name back) makes his entrance. He gets in the ring and grabs a microphone.
Theory is still favoring his jaw after he got clocked by Tyson Fury at Clash at the Castle. He jokingly refers to Clash at the Castle as Crown Jewel and then yells at the crowd to shut their mouths. He gloats that he's still the youngest Mr. Money in the Bank in WWE history and the future undisputed champion.
Theory says when he gets knocked down he gets back up. He points out Roman Reigns is still the champion. Theory says he's glad Reigns is still the champion. Theory says Drew McIntyre embarrassed himself in front of his friends and family. Theory loses it with the crowd again and says he'll end Reigns' championship run and be the undisputed champion.
Kevin Owens music plays and he walks out onto the stage with a mic. Owens asks what's wrong with Theory's jaw. Then he remembers Theory got knocked the hell out. The fans chant, "You got knocked out." Owens asks them to chant, "You got KOed" and they oblige. Owens points out Theory found his first name again. Owens says he despises arrogant and delusional people and there have been many. Theory won't be the last. Owens says what Fury did was a favor to Theory, because if he had cashed in McIntyre or Reigns would've put him into the ground.
Theory says Owens is jealous. He says he's doing things Owens can only dream of. He says Owens can be first in line after he becomes the new undisputed champion.
Owens says he knows Reigns and McIntyre would've destroyed Theory because he's been in the ring with both of them. Owens says McIntyre couldn't beat him a couple of weeks ago and he had Reigns beaten for his title 18 months ago. Owens says the only reason Theory has the MITB is because Owens wasn't in the match.
Theory says that sounds like a fairy-tale and the reality is that he's the future of the business. Owens agrees he does everything to stay relevant and that's what makes him who is. Owens says Theory was the hand-picked future of WWE, but not anymore. Owens predicts that a referee will run down to the ring at any moment. A ref shows up as predicted. Owens says, "Let's fight."
Austin Theory vs. Kevin Owens
The bell rings and Theory quickly ducks out of the ring. Owens follows and floors him with a clothesline. Owens slams Theory against the barricade and lands some chops. He sends Theory back into the ring but Theory is ready when Owens rolls in and takes control with some punches. Owens quickly turns the tide and his a cannonball into the corner.
Theory rolls out to the floor. Owens goes out to the apron and hits a splash to the floor.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Theory is in control but Owens takes it back when the fight goes to the floor. Owens slams Theory's head on the announce table and sends him back into the ring. Owens hits a senton for a two-count.
Theory avoids a charging Owens and hits his rolling pop-up dropkick for a near fall. Theory grabs a rear chin lock. They replay Fury knocking out Theory at Clash at the Castle in a picture-in-picture while they're in the rest hold.
Theory tries to ground Owens but Owens fights to his feet and punches away at Theory. Owens floors Theory with some clotheslines. Theory rolls out to the floor. Owens tries a swanton to the floor but Theory gets his knees up.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Theory is trying to superplex Owens but Owens fights him off and Theory falls to the mat. Owens hits a swanton from the top rope for a near fall.
Owens goes for the stunner but Theory escapes. Theory brings Owens out of the corner with a rack bomb for a near fall.
Theory signals it's over. He lifts Owens on his shoulders but Owens escapes and grabs a waist lock. Theory escapes but runs into a superkick. Owens goes for the pop-up powerbomb but Theory escapes. Owens charges into a boot and then tumbles outside the ring. Theory slams Owens back and headfirst into the edges of the steel ring steps. Owens barely beats the referee's count back into the ring.
Theory gets another near fall. He lifts Owens onto the top turnbuckle and chops him. Theory climbs up to get Owens. Owens overpowers him and hangs on. Theory falls to the mat. Owens goes to the top rope but Theory cuts him off. Owens catches him with a fisherman's brainbuster from the second turnbuckle. Owens hits the pop-up powerbomb. Owens hits the stunner and gets the pin.
Winner: Kevin Owens
Backstage, Ciampa is giving Miz a pep talk. Sarah Schreiber interrupts and Miz says he still doesn't want to talk about what happened to him after he was abducted by "he whose name shall not be mentioned" (Dexter Lumis). Miz says he'll defeat Bobby Lashley to become the new United States Champion.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we get a full highlight video from Saturday's Clash at the Castle event.
We see Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai (the group's name is now firmly established as Damage CTRL) walking backstage. They're coming up next, but first, we go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we get a video package on a Medal of Honor recipient.
Damage CTRL Is On The Scene
Back in the arena, Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY) makes its entrance. The commentary team says Bayley was the first woman in 10 months to pin "Raw" Women's Champion Bianca Belair at Clash at the Castle.
Bayley gloats over their six-woman tag team victory over the weekend. Kai says they are taking control. SKY says next week they're taking the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles. Kai says she wasn't legal when Rodriguez and Aliyah defeated them in the tournament final last Monday.
Bayley repeats that she pinned Belair. That brings out Belair herself.
Belair admits Bayley got the better of her at Clash at the Castle. She says if Bayley wants a challenge she can have it right here tonight. Bayley says "Shoosh, please". She says it's Labor Day so she's not working today. They're just celebrating their win.
Belair says it actually took all three of them to take her down. She says Bayley has her minions but she has the gold. Belair says it's one-on-one and you have the title "you're in control of nothing."
Damage CTRL surrounds Belair in the ring before Bayley has them back off and they head back up the entrance aisle. Bayley says she has nothing more to prove. She says Belair is still the same person trying to be perfect. She says her fragile ego can't handle one loss and that's why she challenged her tonight. Bayley says they could've laid out Belair tonight but they have other things to handle first. Bayley says if and when she wants the title, she's gonna get it one way or another.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we get highlights of Drew McIntyre making his entrance and being serenaded by the fans at Clash at the Castle.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Johnny Gargano. She asks about Austin Theory saying Gargano is now swimming with sharks. Gargano says he'll remind Theory how good he is. Theory interrupts and says Gargano has done nothing but talk since he returned. Gargano announces he'll return to in-ring action on next Monday's "Raw."
Back in the arena, Jimmy Smith hypes up tonight's steel cage match for the United States Championship.
Rey Mysterio makes his entrance. We get a video recap of the dealings with Edge and The Judgment Day at the top of the show. Corey Graves says Edge was taken to a medical center for examination. The Judgment Day music plays and Damian Priest makes his entrance to face Rey.
Rey Mysterio vs. Damian Priest
Rey attacks right at the bell and kicks away at Priest's legs. Priest grabs Rey by the throat but Rey escapes. However, Rey charges right into a big boot by Priest.
Priest headbutts Rey and whips him sternum-first into the corner. Priest clubs Rey with a forearm to the back. He whips Rey into the corner and follows with a shoulder charge. Rey rolls outside to the floor. Priest follows.
Priest hits a big forearm strike and rolls Rey back into the ring. Rey kicks at Priest but gets cut off with a big strike. Priest whips Rey into the corner but misses the charge and hits the ring post. Rey kicks at Priest through the ropes.
Back in the ring, Rey hits a springboard crossbody and punches away at Priest instead of going for the pin. Rey kicks and punches Priest but Priest overpowers him. Priest kicks Rey in the midsection. Rey catches a head-scissor takedown and Priest goes to the floor. Rey hits a dropkick through the ropes. The rest of The Judgment Day walk down the aisle and that gives Priest to intercept Rey's leap off the apron with a forearm strike.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Priest has Rey grounded with a chin lock. Rey fights back to his feet and stuns Priest with a jaw buster. Priest misses his leaping back elbow into the corner and Rey starts to rally. Priest charges and misses and tumbles to the floor. Rey follows with a dive over the top rope to the floor. Rey kicks at Priest on the floor.
Rey sends Priest back into the ring and hits a seated senton from the top rope. He follows with a springboard moonsault. Rey punches at Priest as he's against the ropes. Priest carries him out and tosses him like a dart into the top turnbuckle. Priest hits a jumping thrust kick and covers Rey for a two-count.
Priest charges into a boot but catches Rey on his shoulder. Rey reverses into a swinging DDT. Rey climbs to the top turnbuckle. Priest cuts him off. Priest climbs to the second turnbuckle and puts Rey on his shoulders. Rey elbows out and hits a super hurricanrana from the second turnbuckle for a close near fall.
Rey dropkicks Priest in position for the 619 but Priest avoids it and hits a spinning sidekick. Priest lifts Rey up for the Razor's Edge. Rey reverses into a hurricanrana and Priest is back in position for the 619. However, Dominik gets on the apron and Rey stops in his tracks. Priest floors Rey with a huge lariat. He hits South of Heaven and gets the pin.
Winner: Damian Priest
The Judgment Day stands over Rey in the ring. Ripley gets a mic. She says Dominik will send Rey back into retirement because "what Papi wants, Papi gets." She says Dominik will challenge Edge on next Monday's "Raw."
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews United States Champion Bobby Lashley. He says Miz isn't very smart. Lashley says Miz thinks he'll be safe inside the cage from Dexter Lumis but he'll be trapped inside with the most dangerous man in WWE.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, we get a recap of Braun Strowman's return earlier in the show. Backstage, a camera catches up with Strowman and he says he'll see everyone Friday night on "SmackDown."
Back in the arena, the commentary team tosses to a highlight video from the match between Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle and Clash at the Castle.
We then get a post-match interview with Riddle saying he let his emotions get the best of him. He says he wants another match against Rollins and he wants it now. We also see a post-match interview with Rollins where he says there won't be a rematch because he's moving on to bigger and better things.
We see a split-screen of Lashley and Miz walking backstage. The title match is coming up next.
Back from the break, the steel cage lowers into place for our main event. The Miz makes his entrance, accompanied by Ciampa. Bobby Lashley then makes his entrance.
United States Championship Steel Cage Match: The Miz vs. Bobby Lashley (c)
Miz attacks Lashley from behind with the title belt. The bell has not rung. Lashley spills outside the cage and Ciampa pounces on him. Miz and Ciampa batter Lashley at ringside and throw him into the side of the cage. Miz gets the steel ring steps and smashes Lashley's left arm as Ciampa was holding him against the cage.
We go to a commercial break.
Miz and Ciampa continued the assault on Lashley's left arm at ringside during the picture-in-picture break.
Back from the break, the match is just underway inside the ring and Miz gets a couple near falls. Miz starts to climb the cage but Lashley is back up and pulls Miz back down. Lashley is heavily favoring his left arm and apparently can't climb the cage.
Lashley can't execute a suplex and Miz takes him down by his left arm. Miz fires away with the "it kicks." He covers for a two-count.
Miz opens the cage door but Lashley pulls him back inside. Lashley misses a clothesline and Miz climbs the side of the cage. He pulls Miz down onto the top rope. Lashley runs over Miz with a series of clotheslines and follows with an overhead suplex. Lashley hits a running shoulder into the corner on Miz. Lashley throws Miz into the side of the cage. He hits a Flatliner for a two-count on Miz.
Miz drops to the mat to avoid a spear and crawls for the door. Lashley pulls him back inside despite an attempted assist from Ciampa. Lashley repeatedly slams the back of Miz's head against the side of the cage. Lashley goes for the Hurt Lock but Miz attacks his injured arm to escape.
Miz climbs the cage again and Lashley goes after him. Miz almost makes it to the top but Lashley brings him back to the top rope and tosses Miz to the floor. Ciampa hits the side of the cage with a steel chair. Lashley falls and turns around into a running knee by Miz for a close two-count.
We go to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Miz has a cross-face locked on Lashley. Lashley powers up to his feet and puts Miz on his shoulders. Lashley rams Miz into the side of the cage. Lashley lines up Miz for a spear but Miz attacks the left arm to stop him. Miz climbs up the corner of the cage. Lashley climbs up after him. Ciampa climbs up from the outside to try to help Miz but can't reach him. Lashley sets up for a superplex from the top turnbuckle and hits it. Miz avoids a spear and Lashley crashes into the side of the cage. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale and Lashley kicks out at two.
Miz crawls for the cage door. Lashley grabs him and pulls him back inside. He whips Miz into the corner. Lashley goes to the door but Ciampa tries to slam the door on him. Lashley blocks it and pushes the door back into Ciampa's face. Miz recovers in time to reach the door and repeatedly pulls it back shut into Lashley's head. Miz climbs to the top of the cage and starts to come down the outside but when he looks down, Dexter Lumis is laying on his back on the arena floor, sticking his head out from under the ring. Miz climbs back into the cage. Lashley hits a spear and that gets the pin.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Lumis climbs into the cage as Lashley makes his way out the door. Miz appears to be paralyzed with fear. He crawls for the door but Lashley shuts the door, trapping him inside. Lumis grabs Miz in his Silence choke hold and Miz starts to fade. Lumis cradles the unconscious Miz in his arms.
That's our show!