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RAW kicked off with the contract signing of Seth Rollins and Dominik Mysterio for the SummerSlam match. Samoa Joe was moderating and said that it was shameful that a Superstar like Rollins would force a newbie like Dominik to face him in a match.
Rollins played the victim and then mocked Dom before telling him that he can bring the Kendo Stick and any other weapon because he wouldn't last 10 seconds in the ring with Rollins. They both signed the contracts and Rollins told Dom to leave his ring before his match with Humberto Carrillo.
Seth Rollins vs. Humberto Carrillo
We returned to RAW after a break and Carrillo was unloading on Rollins who left the ring before sending Carrillo into the barricades. Rollins returned to the ring as Dominick returned with the Kendo stick and was hanging around at ringside.
In the ring, Carrillo reversed a top rope move and before Murphy could interfere, Dominik took him down with the weapon. Rollins took advantage of the confusion and hit a powerbomb followed by the stomp for the win.
Result: Seth Rollins def. Humberto Carrillo
After the match, Murphy and Rollins attacked Dominik. Dom tried to fight back but Rollins caught him with the Kendo stick and kept beating him with it in the ring. They tied him up on the ropes and hit him in the chest while Rollins mocked Rey and his son.
Murphy took out a bunch of Kendo sticks and they started hitting him from both sides till Dom broke free and Rollins went for the stomp but decided to retreat instead.
Match rating: B
We got a recap of Retribution's attacks on RAW and SmackDown last week before the show continued. Andrade, Vega, and Garza were out and Zelina Vega said that she was not involved in poisoning Montez Ford.
Angelo Dawkins vs. Andrade
We returned to RAW after commercials to see Dawkins going at Andrade with swift fists. Angelo hit a dropkick and Andrade fled the ring for a breather. Andrade came back in and took control but Dawkins came back with an Exploder Suplex.
Andrade hit the double knees after a counter and went up top for a dive but caught Dawkins' elbow. Dawkins went for the pin but Zelina distracted the referee. Bianca Belair came in and attacked Vega before Dawkins got the three count.
Result: Angelo Dawkins def. Andrade
After the match, Bianca and Vega were still fighting before we headed for commercials. They were scheduled to faceoff next on RAW.
Match rating: B
Zelina Vega vs. Bianca Belair
Vega and Belair were in the ring as we returned to RAW and Vega went for early submission holds to slow down Belair. Bianca took Vega in the corner before taking a shot to the eye and a facebuster. Vega was dominating for most of the match and got a near fall off a big move before escaping Bianca's finisher.
Zelina Vega vs. Bianca Belair (contd...)
Bianca caught Vega in midair and hit a slam before unloading on Vega. Vega was being tossed around the ring before she sidestepped and sent Bianca into the ring post. Belair hit a powerbomb and then the KOD before getting the three count on RAW.
Result: Bianca Belair def. Zelina Vega
After the match, Belair and Dawkins said Montez was recovering and would be ready to fight at SummerSlam.
Match rating: B
MVP was out next on RAW and went on a rant about 'mysterious happenings' in the WWE, referring to the Retribution who apparently caused his loss last week by 'blinking the lights'.
Apollo Crews came out and made fun of MVP for losing his title before threatening him and his crew. Apollo went on the attack and made MVP, Lashley, and Benjamin retreat from the ring.
Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin
We returned to RAW after a break to see that Apollo and Shelton Benjamin were in a match. Benjamin got a near fall early on Apollo with a powerbomb. Benjamin was trying his best to wear down Apollo in the ring.
Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin (contd...)
Crews missed the powerbomb but hit a power slam before following up with a standing moonsault for a near-fall as the match went on. However, a distraction from Bobby Lashley cost Apollo the match as Benjamin rolled him up for the win on RAW.
Result: Shelton Benjamin def. Apollo Crews
After the match, Bobby Lashley went for a Full Nelson on Crews but MVP stopped him, in fear that he gets injured before SummerSlam. Apollo instead took out MVP and ran off.
Match rating: B
The Retribution apparently threw a cinderblock through a glass door while RAW was on the air.
Mickey James was back on RAW and Lana and Natalya came out to make fun of her not having a TikTok. That joke isn't gonna age well.
The Viking Raiders were backstage on RAW and getting ready for their match.
Viking Raiders, Ricochet & Cedric Alexander vs. Akira Tozawa & the Ninjas
Ricochet kicked off the match with Ninja #1 and then tagged in Cedric before Erik and Ivar came in as well and hit the Viking Experience on a Ninja to get the quick win after Tozawa took his title and left the apron, giving up on the match effectively.
Result: Viking Raiders, Ricochet & Cedric Alexander def. Akira Tozawa & the Ninjas
Match rating: C
As Tozawa was retreating on RAW, a Ninja attacked him and made the pin to win the 24/7 championship. As the treacherous ninja took off his mask, it turned out to be none other than R-Truth!
R-Truth is once again the 24/7 Champion.
Backstage on RAW, Drew McIntyre said that Randy Orton's days were gone and the Evolution has passed him by.
Peyton Royce vs. Liv Morgan
Royce was dominating early on but Morgan rolled her up for a near fall before hitting a kick. Kay tried to interfere but Riott came up on the apron and stopped her.
Royce managed to hit her finisher while Morgan was distracted by the interference and picked up the win. After the match, Morgan made it clear that she was not happy with Riott's performance at ringside.
Result: Peyton Royce def. Liv Morgan
Match rating: C
We were back with RAW Underground in its second appearance on RAW. Riddick Moss was demolishing some random guy all around the dangerously unsafe arena before getting a knockout win in the 'no rules' competition.
Back on regular old RAW, Asuka was facing Bayley and will get a title shot on SummerSlam if she wins.
Asuka vs. Bayley
Asuka kicked right off with a dropkick and took the early advantage but was caught on the ropes by Bayley who hit a suplex for a near fall. Asuka slammed Bayley's head on the mat before sending her into the barricades outside.
Back in the ring, Bayley was in control with a headlock and the lights were again flickering in the arena. Asuka caught her in a backslide before hitting a kick. Asuka hit a German Suplex and a hip attack for a near fall.
We returned to RAW after a break to see Banks run a distraction, letting Bayley get a lot of shots in. While the referee was distracted, Banks even took shots at Asuka's injured leg on the apron.
Asuka was caught in a submission and countered it into an ankle lock before hitting the double knee strike for a near fall. Bayley hit an elbow drop for another near fall on RAW.
Asuka vs. Bayley (contd...)
Bayley hit a spinning back fist before mocking Kairi by showboating. Asuka was furious and got the Asuka Lock in, making Bayley submit in no time. She punched her ticket to SummerSlam and will challenge Sasha Banks for the RAW Women's Championship.
Result: Asuka def. Bayley
Match rating: A
Back on RAW Underground, a Brazilian former champ, Arturo Ruas was pummeling a guy in the ring. He picked up the second Underground win on the show tonight.
Dabba Kato was back for a second night and destroyed a guy using 'questionable submission holds'. Shayna Baszler was out to challenge someone and attacked a random person before all the women in the arena came out to fight her at the same time.
Shayna destroyed all of them before picking up the next win on RAW Underground.
Outside RAW's venue, Retribution flipped a car in the parking lot and ran away.
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
Owens was dominating early on and Randy had to flee the ring for a breather after hitting the mat. Owens hit a Superkick in the ring and then the Cannonball before Randy rolled outside again. KO hit a second cannonball onto the barricades before we headed for commercials.
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens (contd...)
Back on RAW, Owens hurt his shoulder at ringside before being smacked onto the barricades by Orton. Orton was in control for a little bit before Owens hit a senton and looked to be worn down by Randy's offense.
Orton Suplexed Owens into the announce desk before KO managed to kick out. Owens went for the stunner but Orton reversed it into the RKO for the win.
Result: Randy Orton def. Kevin Owens
Match rating: A
After the match, Randy said he had to talk to Ric Flair before RAW headed for a break. Back to it, Randy was mad at Flair and called him a liability before talking about his health issues and that he was addicted to the spotlight.
Flair said he took it very personally and said he wanted Orton to beat his title record someday. Ric broke down and talked about him being a coma and waking up before Randy hugged him, only to hit a low blow as he turned around.
Randy was about to hit the punt but the lights went out just as he was doing it but it looked like he had hit it when they came back on. Drew McIntyre came out and chased Randy out before Flair was being checked up on. Drew vowed to hurt Randy at SummerSlam as RAW went off air.
Episode rating: A
Asuka booked her place for SummerSlam, while the Orton and Ric Flair delivered one of the most intense segments in recent memory on RAW.
