Monday Night Raw Review: WWE Champions Stand Off | 09/17/2024

Portland, Oregon hosted last night’s edition of Monday Night Raw, firmly focusing on the build to Bad Blood. WWE champions put their titles on the line, while other superstars faced off directly with their challengers. It was a night that further established existing storylines heading into the PLE but also gave us some entertaining matches. Our review covers these rivalries and dissects the bad blood that was evident in this evil episode.

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CM Punk Kicks-Off Monday Night Raw

In one continuous shot, the WWE camera operator captured CM Punk’s iconic journey from his car to the ring, opening the show. Punk’s temper was palpable. Punk was seething, but showed a restraint during his promo that was somehow akin to the Devil that he described himself to be. A new serious depth from CM Punk on the microphone set the tone for the upcoming barbaric match in Atlanta. The second city saint somberly delivered a cold-blooded vow to make Drew McIntyre bleed in their upcoming Hell-in-a-Cell match. The tone is soundly set for Bad Blood.

WWE World Tag Team Championship Match Drama

Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston showed more experience and that they were a step better than Judgment Day in this championship match. Fans know the playbook by now, though. When the New Day had momentum and was winning, the remaining members of Judgment Day Liv Morgan, Dom Mysterio, and Carlito entered ringside. The distraction lured Kofi to the outside, along with the LWO coming out from the back to interfere and attack Judgment Day. During the distraction, Woods had JD McDonagh pinned, but the referee did not see it. We would have had new champions! Finn Balor was able to reverse the situation and hit the Coup de Grace on Woods once the referee returned to the ring.

The challenge for the World Tag Team Championship provided not only great action and interference in the match but plenty of drama post-match between the New Day. The animosity has been brewing for some time, and it looks like WWE is moving forward with the split. Woods asked Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley not to interfere tonight, but Kingston did the opposite by asking the LWO to get involved if necessary. Woods would have had the match won, if not for the interference. Xavier Woods blames the crazy situation for their loss, so his anger is justified.

Clash of the Monsters

A match that technically did not happen was between Big Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman. The bell did not ring to ever start this match. WWE has found a way to give us endless destruction each time they pit these two against each other. Early on, once they started to fight, the two behemoth superstars violently knocked the top rope off of the ringpost in the corner! The action spilled outside. Bronson Reed then launched a random fan from the front row at Strowman! Eventually, the two beasts battled toward the backstage area. Equipment was destroyed and even a golf cart was flipped over! Utter destruction and a call for ambulances ended the wild segment.

Additional Highlights

Pete Dunne vs Sheamus: A brutal encounter, as always between these two. When Sheamus brings the powerful, hard-hitting wrestling moves like the Irish Curse Backbreaker, it seems that Dunne has an answer with quick reversals and joint manipulation torture. This rivalry is not for the squeamish, and weapons finally became the MacGuffin of this story. Sheamus used his shillelagh backstage last week, but Dunne used a cricket bat this week to hit Sheamus when the ref was not looking and secure the win.

Sami Zayn, Ludwig Kaiser, and Gunther: Another round of Sami trying to get Gunther to give him a World Heavyweight Championship match. The segment featured Kaiser seeming to need to get something off of his chest to Gunther, only to quickly sneak attack Sami and beat him down instead. As Gunther was leaving with a smile, Zayn turned the tables on Kaiser and delivered a Helluva Kick to his face in the corner.

Iyo Sky vs Bianca Belair: A great showcase for Belair to show her strength and skills, but to also demonstrate that Sky is no slouch in the ring. There were a few fantastic spots in this contest, and Belair was as over and dominant as you expect. Sky winning with the roll-up, which was a reversal to Belair’s finisher, keeps Damage CTRL in contention for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Perfectly executed.

Damian Priest vs Dom Mysterio: The match set for the main event of the evening had all of the crazy elements that we love. After-match interference by Judgment Day, as expected, and a chance for Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan to go at it always makes anything to do with Judgment Day fun. Priest wins clean with the South of Heaven Chokeslam.

Raw Review

Damian Priest vs Dom Mysterio: B+
The main event of the evening gave us main event entertainment, and as said, everything to do with Judgment Day is currently still fresh and fun. This match told the story and gave us all of the elements that we were looking for. An additional treat to see Bron Breakker spear Jey Uso when Uso was coming out to help Priest and Ripley, post-match during all of the mayhem.

The New Day vs Judgment Day: A-
A great story was told on two fronts for this match-up. The titles were on the line, and the New Day would be the new champions if not for miscommunication. The addition of the LWO attacking per Kofi’s request makes sense for the New Day split storyline. The action, the distraction, and the post-match interaction give this match the A it deserves.

Braun Strowman vs Big Bronson Reed: A+
Perhaps wrestling purists do not want to see Monday Night Raw devolve into ringside tables and equipment being destroyed, but give me more! Please. The story is being told flawlessly with these two gargantuan. What happens when they have to wrestle a real match? We can’t wait to see more, but it will also be interesting to see who can fight against them if they are not fighting each other after such demolition.

Iyo Sky vs Bianca Belair: B
This match worked well for the story that WWE is telling for Monday Night Raw’s women’s tag team division. The loss by Belair to Sky keeps Damage CTRL firmly in contention for Jade Cargill’s and Belair’s championships and is currently their greatest threat on the roster.

Pete Dunne vs Sheamus: B+
The action is always beyond good with these two and the matches always feature very painful spots. These two superstars deliver what you want a wrestling feud to be, and tonight’s match was no exception. Incorporating weapons justifies the Sheamus loss while elevating Dunne.

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Article originally written by Scott Laps