Date: July 25, 2022
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York City
The Big Takeaway —
There were some very minor differences but this was essentially the same Raw show as usual.
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Show Recap —
No intro or recaps to start Raw. The show opened immediately with Miz and Logan Paul brawling in the middle of the ring until officials ran down to break them up.
Things quickly settled and they showed a clip of Miz charging out to the ring before they went on the air because Paul had called him out.
(Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton are on commentary as usual.)
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Roman Reigns, the Usos and Paul Heyman entered to officially kick things off at Madison Square Garden. They received a big mixed reaction including chants for Roman.
Reigns told MSG to acknowledge him. They did. Reigns said he didn’t feel like talking anymore so he handed the microphone over to Heyman.
The mic cut out as Reigns spoke and again as Heyman spoke. Heyman said they must have a sound guy from New Jersey. Heyman said, “We want your name written down, you’re the next one out the door.”
Heyman said Sunday would mark 700 days of Reigns as the champion but he knew that Brock Lesnar wanted to end Reigns’ party. Heyman noted that Lesnar ended Randy Couture when he was on top, ended Undertaker’s streak, and took John Cena to Suplex City when he was at his peak.
Heyman mentioned notable streaks in sports, whether it be the Red Sox vs. Yankees or The Rock vs. Stone Cold. However, you wouldn’t think about Lesnar alongside Reigns’ name anymore after Saturday. It was time for Lesnar to go back to Saskatchewan to slaughter hogs. In their final match against each other, Reigns would finally rid himself of Lesnar. The crowd chanted “Suplex City.”
Theory interrupted. He repeated his plan for SummerSlam again. Reigns told him to step in the ring and acknowledge his Tribal Chief. Theory was defensive as he entered the ring.
Reigns told Theory that he had no idea what to do with the briefcase so he offered him some advice. Reigns told Theory to analyze the situation. “Your daddy’s not here anymore.” This got a big pop from the crowd followed by chants of “daddy’s boy” and “who’s your daddy.” Reigns told him that the Garden belonged to him.
As the Bloodline left, Jey Uso smacked Theory in the back of the head. Theory responded by hitting him with the briefcase. Reigns held Jey back before he could go after Theory. Reigns settled things down and they left.
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Theory was still in the ring after a break and was introduced to the live crowd. Before he could say much, he was interrupted by Drew McIntyre. I guess they’re having a match.
Drew McIntyre defeated Theory via disqualification (9:37)
This match featured your usual number of rapid camera cuts and it ended in a DQ.
McIntyre hit a Future Shock DDT and set up for the Claymore Kick but Theory rolled outside the ring. McIntyre went after him and dropped him onto the announce table which led to break. Theory briefly took the advantage after driving McIntyre into the steel steps but McIntyre came back with a vertical suplex and spinebuster for two.
As McIntyre set up for the Claymore again, Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch ran in for the DQ.
As they attacked McIntyre, Bobby Lashley ran down to make the save and they cleared the ring. Theory tried attacking from behind with the briefcase but they chased him away.
US Champion Bobby Lashley & Drew McIntyre defeated Theory & Sheamus (approx. 12:20)
This match featured interference and a distraction finish.
The match started during a break. Sheamus was amused by McIntyre chopping Theory but he used a distraction to knock down McIntyre and take control. The crowd chanted “we want Bobby” as Sheamus faked a tag to Theory. McIntyre headbutted Sheamus before tagging in Lashley.
Lashley gave Sheamus a delayed vertical suplex before giving Theory a flatliner. Lashley went to spear Theory through the barricade but Sheamus clocked him with a knee strike. Butch and Holland tried to attack McIntyre but McIntyre caught Butch and suplexed him onto Holland. The referee kicked them out and they went to another break.
They briefly had the heat on Lashley until he made the hot tag to McIntyre who hit Theory with a sit-out spinebuster for two. Lashley made a blind tag and gave Theory a chokeslam but Sheamus broke up the cover with a flying knee strike. McIntyre wiped out Sheamus but Sheamus poked him in the eye and gave him White Noise on the outside.
Theory set up for his finisher but got distracted by Dolph Ziggler who suddenly appeared at ringside so Lashley applied the Hurt Lock for the submission win.
— The Usos superkicked Theory after the match. Reigns placed the briefcase on Theory’s chest and sarcastically reminded him to bring it on Saturday.
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There was a Rey Mysterio video package featuring words from JBL, Kurt Angle, Kofi Kingston, Batista, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and John Cena. There was a clip of Rey early in his Smackdown run where he wiped out Lance Storm and Christian with a dive off the top of the steel cage as well as clips of Rey winning the 2006 Royal Rumble and winning the world title at WrestleMania 22. They also showed Rey and Dominik winning the tag titles.
Rey, Dominik, Aalyah and Angie were shown arriving at the building.
[SECOND HOUR]
The cryptic video aired.
Ziggler told Kevin Patrick that Theory has risen fast but hasn’t done anything to earn it. AJ Styles approached him and basically agreed with him. Alpha Academy showed up to mock them and challenge them to a match. Styles and Ziggler accepted.
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Rey Mysterio’s 20th-anniversary celebration
Rey and Dominik entered. The crowd chanted “thank you, Rey.”
Rey mentioned having his first match at 14 years old in Tijuana and never imagined back then that he would perform in a WWE ring, travel the world, make money, and create legendary rivalries for the crowd to enjoy.
Rey said guys his size were not part of the business back then but he broke the blueprint of what a superstar should look like. He was a smaller guy and a proud Latino who went on to win the world title.
Rey thanked Dean Malenko, Konnan (“K-Dog”), Batista, Kurt Angle, Edge, and of course, Eddie Guerrero. The crowd chanted for Eddie. Rey choked up as he told Eddie how much he missed him. He thanked Eddie for always watching over him.
Rey was humble and appreciated the love and support the fans have given him over the years. Rey said it meant that much more to be able to celebrate it with his family. The crowd chanted “you deserve it.”
Rey thanked Angie and Aalyah for always being there. He told Dominik that he was proud of him. Rey knew that Dominik would represent the Mysterio legacy to the fullest when he no longer could.
Rey thanked the fans for always accepting him and for the most awesome 20 years. Rey especially wanted to thank the fans at the Garden. Rey spoke in Spanish and said, “Viva mi Raza!”
Finn Bálor and Damian Priest approached through the crowd and sarcastically applauded as they went to break.
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Rey & Dominik Mysterio defeated Finn Bálor & Damian Priest (approx. 10:30)
Dominik tried a dive but Priest caught him and chucked him into the barricade. Rey made a hot tag after a break and hit Priest with a springboard crossbody, kicks and a seated senton for two. Priest responded with a thrust kick for two.
Priest tried a Razor’s Edge but Rey brought him down with a hurricanrana. As Rey set up for a 619, Bálor made a blind tag and killed Rey with a clothesline. Bálor followed with a shotgun dropkick and Coup de Grace but Dominik broke up the cover.
Bálor tried the Eddie Guerrero trick by chucking a chair at Rey before taking a bump. Dominik had the ref distracted though so Rey chucked it back at Bálor and took a bump himself. As Bálor pleaded with the ref, Rey dropped both members of Judgment Day on the ropes and the Mysterios followed with 619s.
Rey gave Bálor a frog splash for the pinfall win. The crowd popped big for the win.
The celebration and match finish was a big thumbs up.
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They aired clips of Titus O’Neil and Cody Rhodes (with Brandi Rhodes) at the ESPYs.
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Mysterios/Judgment Day angle
Rey’s extended family was shown celebrating in the back. Rey and Dominik entered to celebrate with them and Rey took a shot of tequila. Aalyah had a gift for him: his original gear from Halloween Havoc 1997. Rey was surprised to see it and said he’s been looking everywhere for it.
Rhea Ripley entered the room. Aalyah told her to back off. It was a distraction and the Mysterios were attacked by Bálor and Priest. They put Rey through a table.
(During the ambush, Bálor yelled, “it’s not your anniversary, it’s my birthday!” which was pretty damn funny.)
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Bianca Belair/Becky Lynch segment
This was supposed to be a promo by Bianca Belair but she was immediately interrupted by Becky Lynch. Belair was in the middle of her catchphrase when Lynch decked her. Belair fought back and they brawled until officials broke it up.
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Sarah Schrieber asked Alexa Bliss about having Doudrop again. Bliss couldn’t blame Doudrop for asking for this match again but what she didn’t understand was her relationship with Nikki ASH. Bliss didn’t think they seemed to be gaining anything from it, unlike her and Lily. She claimed Lily was independent and made her own money — she was even number one on WWE Shop.
Bliss got serious and informed Belair and Lynch that she was coming for the winner of their match at SummerSlam.
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Medical staff checked on Rey in the back when Bálor and Priest showed up to mock him so Dominik chased them away. Ripley booted Rey and wished him a happy anniversary. Dominik returned to check on Rey.
Alexa Bliss defeated Doudrop (w/Nikki ASH) (4:22)
Bliss set up for Twisted Bliss but Nikki knocked her off the ropes. It didn’t matter though because Bliss countered a Doudrop powerslam into a DDT for the pinfall win.
The crowd was silent for this.
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AJ Styles told Logan Paul that he liked what he did to Miz earlier. Styles told Paul that he didn’t really like him that much (“I don’t know you that well”), but he liked Miz even less. He told Paul to do us all a favour and shut the Miz’s mouth at SummerSlam. They bumped fists.
[THIRD HOUR]
impaulsive TV with host Logan Paul
Logan Paul noted that his brother would be fighting in MSG next week which drew a smattering of boos. He said that was next week but tonight was the debut of “impaulsive TV.” He called out Miz.
Miz didn’t show but Maryse did. She plugged her show before warning Paul to never talk about her kids again. She didn’t appreciate Paul’s comments about Miz’s “package.” (Maryse had a purse or something shaped like silver balls.) She said Miz had average-sized testicles and Paul wondered who measured their testicles.
Miz entered to his music and said he measures his testicles. He warned Paul that he was getting big-match Miz at SummerSlam. Paul told him to shut up. Paul mentioned his balls again so Maryse tried smacking the mic out of his hand. Paul said she had bigger balls than Miz.
Ciampa tried attacking from behind but Paul fought him off. Paul tackled Miz so Ciampa pulled him off and they double-teamed him until Miz gave him a Skull Crushing Finale. There was a modest “one more time” chant as Miz and Ciampa stood tall.
This was quite bad.
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Patrick interviewed the Street Profits and the Usos. Jeff Jarrett (wearing a referee shirt five days early) stood between them. The teams exchanged words before Jarrett told them to shut up. He warned them to keep the peace or else.
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Chad Gable told New York not to boo an Olympian and not to boo a man with a Master’s degree who did it with a 4.0 GPA. He warned them that the island they live on would collapse to the bottom of the ocean under the weight of human garbage and that was just science speaking. He said Ziggler and Styles weren’t a real team and would fail just like the Knicks.
AJ Styles & Dolph Ziggler defeated Alpha Academy (7:29)
They went to break a minute into the match and Alpha Academy took control during the break after Otis dropped Styles onto the barricade. Ziggler made a tag but was quickly cut off by Otis. Gable followed with the Chaos Theory suplex (he used this recently as a finisher but didn’t go for a cover here). Gable tried a moonsault but Ziggler dodged and hit a superkick. Otis broke up the cover so Ziggler and Styles worked together to take him out.
Styles blocked a Gable suplex attempt and Ziggler gave him a Zig-Zag for the pinfall win.
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The announcers ran down the SummerSlam card. A no disqualification match between the Mysterios and Judgment Day was added to the show.
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I feel obligated to do this before the main event every week, so here goes:
10:28pm – Bloodline enter
10:31pm – Commercial break
10:35pm – Street Profits enter
10:36pm – Riddle enters
10:37pm – Main event begins
10:40pm – Commercial break
10:44pm – Main event resumes, heat on the babyfaces
10:49pm – Commercial break
10:53pm – Main event resumes
10:57pm – Main event concludes
Six-man tag team match: Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Riddle & The Street Profits (19:23)
This opened with the usual sequence. Ford wiped out the Usos with a flip dive which led to break less than three minutes into the match and the heels were randomly in control after the break.
Ford (who earlier yelled, “acknowledge me” at Reigns) briefly ran wild before Reigns cut him off with a Uranage. Ford got busted open at some point here (possibly after getting driven into the turnbuckle).
The Bloodline continued to work over Ford after another break. Reigns knocked Angelo Dawkins off the apron as he set up for a spear and the distraction allowed Ford to hit a blockbuster.
Riddle tagged in and handed out suplexes and sentons to Jimmy and Jey Uso before wiping them out with a dive. Riddle gave Jimmy a powerslam but Reigns had tagged himself in and hit a superman punch.
Ford broke up the cover and took out Jey with a dive. Jimmy knocked down Ford with a suicide dive before Dawkins tackled the Usos into the barricade. Reigns then drove Dawkins into the steel steps.
The crowd popped for Riddle who gave Reigns a draping DDT. However, Reigns blocked an RKO and hit a spear for the pinfall win.
— Seth Rollins entered after the match as the Bloodline was leaving. Rollins and Reigns exchanged looks before Rollins attacked Riddle. He hit Riddle with the steel steps and stomped him. Rollins hit one more stomp onto the steel steps.