WWE Raw opened up this week with your new Intercontinental Champion, Jey Uso. He claimed to be a fighting champion and ready to take on all comers. He also got emotional when telling a story of talking to his mother after winning the title. It was at this moment he would be interrupted by the man he beat for the title, Bron Breakker. Bron would actually pay respect and congratulate Jey, with nothing further coming of the interaction.
Bron Breakker 🤝 Jey Uso
A sign of respect from two rivals that put EVERYTHING on the line against one another. 😤#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/Ysi2Yi5IMw
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The first match of the night saw Rey Mysterio versus Xavier Woods. Woods, who has been frustrated as of late, won this match by “accidentally” ripping off Rey’s mask and then taking advantage of the situation by rolling him up. Now, that’s not very babyface of him, is it?
OH NO! 😱@AustinCreedWins just accidentally ripped @reymysterio's mask off, but took advantage to get the win…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/mU2d5GXArj
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The next match would see Lyra Valkyria versus Zoey Stark. Lyra was looking strong until Sonya Deville would hit a knee while the referee was distracted, allowing Stark to pick up the victory. The three would be poised to attack Lyra after the bell until Katana Chance and Kayden Carter came to their rescue.
The Pure Fusion Collective thought they had the numbers advantage…until they didn't!@wwekayden and @Katana_WWE are back!!! 👊#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/qmvxJwKJpD
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
Next, we would see both CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in the ring, with the Hell in a Cell cage above them. This segment didn’t really add much, but it was cool to see the cage.
"That hate will die with you."@DMcIntyreWWE is ready to end @CMPunk once and for all THIS SATURDAY at #WWEBadBlood…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/WN4SBfTAYI
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The Judgment Day would have a 6-man tag team match against the LWO. What’s Raw without another Judgment Day/LWO match crammed into the card? The match was actually pretty good with some exciting high spots. The Judgment Day would win with the aid of a surprise appearance from Finn Bálor, who did not accompany them to the ring. Finn would take to the microphone after the match to address Damian Priest. The two will face off at Bad Blood, Finn letting Priest know that Judgment Day never needed him. Liv Morgan would then start to cut a promo on her opponent, Rhea Ripley. She didn’t get too far before Rhea would make an appearance. Rhea would present the cage that Dominik would be hung above in for their upcoming shark cage match. Rhea would then announce that the talking is over, and Damian Priest would rush the ring from the opposite side. A brawl would ensue, in which The Terror Twins came out strong, but the numbers eventually caught up. Who will be on top at the end of Bad Blood?
Advantage: Finn Balor.@FinnBalor just sent a message to @ArcherOfInfamy ahead of #WWEBadBlood! 😤#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/Ja1EOtui5N
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The next match would be Kofi Kingston versus Chad Gable. This was a great technical match that went back and forth. The finish would see Xavier Woods grab the leg of Chad Gable by the ropes in an attempt to help Kofi, but it actually caused him to miss Trouble in Paradise, allowing Chad Gable to take advantage and win.
😬 😬 😬#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/XYbDuAVJAs
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The next segment would see Gunther come to the ring for a promo. He would start by announcing his disgust in dealing with Sami Zayn, which, of course, would bring Sami out to the entrance ramp. In short, Zayn would say Gunther is actually scared of him, as he is the only man to pin him in a match. When Zayn mentioned Gunther’s father will now see him as a loser and a coward, Gunther would hit a clothesline and a brawl ensued. After a short back and forth, Gunther would apply a sleeper hold before hitting a massive powerbomb. Gunther would stand over the laid out Sami Zayn and finally grant him a title shot.
"You got your match!"
After a beatdown by the champ, @Gunther_AUT FINALLY grants @SamiZayn a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship! #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/mHdv7TtVtU
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The Awesome Truth would have a tag match against the Authors of Pain. The main point of this match was a heel turn from The Miz, leaving R-Truth in the ring to get destroyed by AOP.
WHAT DID THE MIZ JUST DO?!? 😱#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/xVyh7gNvN8
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
The main event would be a Last Man Standing match between Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman. These two have been having exciting moments week after week leading up to this one. Bronson Reed would be thrown into the steel steps within the first minute. About a minute later, he was chokeslammed through the announcer’s desk. Somehow, moments later, Reed was hit off the apron onto a bunch of chairs. Reed would somehow still be able to answer the 10-count. This would make its way up the entrance ramp where Reed would mount a comeback and hit a Death Valley Driver off the side through another table. Reed would soon after hit Strowman through the barricade into the front row and then throw him in the ring where he was out for more than a 10-count, but all officials were dealing with the barricade wall that went into the crowd. Reed would decide to go out and throw numerous officials into the ring. GM Adam Pearce, along with numerous other officials, would create a huge crowd of people on the floor, into which the massive Braun Strowman would decide to jump from the top rope. Once they made it back to the ring, they would cause the ring to implode from a superplex. At this moment, Seth Rollins would make his surprise return and deliver a curb stomp to Bronson Reed on the steps, leading to victory for Braun Strowman. This was a great main event.
THE RING JUST COLLAPSED! 🤯
BODIES ARE EVERYWHERE!! 😱
SETH ROLLINS IS HERE!!! 🔥
BRAUN STROWMAN IS THE LAST MONSTER STANDING!!!! 👊#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/u8Czd7ECqw
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2024
That wraps up WWE Raw for this week. Stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles.
Howe Fresh
for Greenville Sports Media
and check out my weekly opinionated podcast “The Wrasslin Corner”