9/9 WWE Raw Results: Powell’s review of Steve Austin moderating the Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman contract signing, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley, Ricochet vs. Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin in King of the Ring semifinal match, Rey Mysterio vs. Gran Metalik

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Raw on the USA Network
Aired live on September 9, 2019 from New York, New York at Madison Square Garden

[Hour One] The sound of glass shattering played and then Steve Austin made his entrance. The contract signing table was set up in the ring. Austin went to all four corners and played to the crowd while ring announcer Mike Rome introduced him.

The broadcast team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Renee Young checked in. Cole said all was right in the world with Austin back playing to a sold out Madison Square Garden. Austin had a couple cans of beer tossed to him and he had a quick beer bash before picking up the mic and saying, “Oh, hell yeah.”

Austin said someone told him it had been 20 years since he’d been at the Garden. The crowd gave him the “What?” treatment whenever he paused. Austin recalled facing Bret Hart at MSG for the first time. Austin also recalled Vince taking his first ever Stunner in MSG and facing being knocked out cold by Undertaker and not knowing where he was until Earl Hebner told him he was in the Garden.

Austin switched the focus to the contract signing between Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman for the WWE Universal Championship match at Clash of Champions. Austin introduced “Strow-man” first while Cole noted that Rollins and Strowman would defend the Raw Tag Titles against Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode on Sunday before they meet for the Universal Championship.

Once in the ring, Strowman played to the crowd and then approached Austin with a handshake offer. Austin did not accept, which led to Austin chants. Austin left Strowman hanging and then introduced Rollins. Austin called for the wrestlers to sign the contract. Rollins played to the crowd and then informed Austin that Strowman thinks he may have it in for him.

Rollins noted that the crowd was giving him the “What?” treatment. He said he normally hates it, but Austin was there and he was down with it. Austin said he was too, then said someone needed to sign the contract first. Rollins said he would, then told Strowman that no one is stabbing him in the back. Rollins signed the contract.

Strowman told Austin that he grew up watching him and has nothing but respect for him, but a rattlesnake is still a rattlesnake. Strowman told Rollins that he wouldn’t turn his back on him. Strowman said he likes being a tag champion, but he’s going to love being the Universal Champion. Strowman said he would open a can of whoop ass and Rollins would get these hands. The wrestlers were about to shake hands when they were interrupted.

“The OC” trio of AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson made their entrance to Styles’s entrance theme. Styles impersonated Austin and then asked if anyone really cares about that anymore. The fans chanted “yes.” Styles responded by giving them the “What?” treatment and then told them to shut up. Styles told Austin to let things play out or he might get hurt.

The fans gave Styles the “What” treatment and he blamed Austin. Styles eventually told them that this is why no one likes going to New York. Austin told Styles to put a little bass in his voice. “Why don’t you shut up, Steve?” Styles replied. He complained that Rollins and Strowman didn’t give Gallows and Anderson a tag title rematch. An “asshole” chant broke out. Austin let Styles know that 18,000 people were calling him an asshole.

The OC climbed onto the ring apron and entered the ring. Styles said Austin has turned into a real asshole in his old age. Styles called Austin an old fart and said he must know where he’s coming from. Austin moved the contract signing table aside and said he didn’t know where he was coming from, but he new where he was going. Rollins and Strowman attacked The OC. Strowman got the better of Anderson and Gallows. Styles avoided The Stomp, then turned into a two bird salute and a Stunner from Austin, who had a beer bash to end the segment…

The broadcast team hyped the women’s tag team match for later in the show… [C]

Powell’s POV: Remember the days when Styles was considered a terrific in-ring wrestler but a lousy promo? Those lousy promo days are long gone. AJ was a terrific antagonist who got under the skin of the fans to set the table for taking the Stunner from Austin. That was a fun segment that didn’t add much to increase my interest in the Rollins vs. Strowman match, but they did a good job of explaining the dynamic with them teaming up before they meet for the title well, which is key if they got some unique viewers watching for Austin.

1. U.S. Champion AJ Styles vs. Cedric Alexander in a non-title match. Style was seated in the ring coming out of the break and then Alexander made a quick entrance to go after him. Alexander had his shoulder taped to sell The OC’s attack from last week.

Alexander sent Styles to ringside and performed a flip dive. Alexander grazed Styles and landed hard on the floor mat and came up holding his tailbone for a moment. [C] Alexander remained in offensive control and was setting up for a springboard move when he was attacked by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson for the DQ.

Cedric Alexander defeated AJ Styles by DQ in 8:45.

After the match, Gallows and Anderson continued to attack Alexander until the Viking Raiders made the save. Erik and Ivar hit the Viking Experience on Anderson and stood tall with Alexander…

Powell’s POV: The Viking Raiders turned babyface because they beat the enhancement wrestlers who mocked last week’s hometown. Seriously, that was it. And that’s probably all it needed to be since they hadn’t really made an impact as heels. I’m more optimistic about the duo getting over as babyfaces. Alexander winning by DQ presumably sets him up for the U.S. Title match for Sunday.

The broadcast team hyped the King of the Ring semifinal match and the women’s tag team match…

Sasha Banks and Bayley were shown backstage in their locker room. Banks said Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair were mad because of what they did to them. Banks said they should be mad. Bayley said she and Banks are back together and are stronger than ever…

A shot aired of Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair getting dressed in another locker room. Lynch glared at Flair, who looked uncomfortable while the broadcast team spoke about how they were teaming together out of necessity…

Bray Wyatt hosted a Firefly Funhouse teaser for a new episode later in the show… An ad aired for NXT on USA Network beginning a week from Wednesday… [C] Another NXT ad aired on the back end of the commercials…

Young reminded viewers that the show was in NYC at MSG while artwork of the city was shown. Cole set up a Connor’s Cure video…

Roman Reigns made his entrance wearing a Connor’s Cure t-shirt. Reigns stood on the stage and said it was almost a year ago that he announced that his leukemia returned and he took his leave. Reigns said the fans gave him the strength to heal, and when he returned it was all that love and strength that gave him the strength to change his perspective.

Reigns said he wanted to use his platform to pay it forward. Reigns spoke about visiting pediatric hospitals across the country, including one in New York. Reigns said he could go to see those kids again, but he thought why not bring those kids to the show. Reigns said all the kids who were about to come out were from New York and New Jersey. Five children made separate entrances in their wrestling personas. Reigns asked fans to join in the fight and help support tomorrow’s superstars today. A graphic listed connorthecrusher.com for more information… [C]

Ring entrances for the women’s tag team match took place with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair coming out first. A video package recapped the angle from Smackdown involving Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Flair, then Banks and Bayley made their entrance. Lynch and Flair went after them at ringside. The teams fought their way into the ring. Flair and Lynch cleared the ring going into a break. [C]

2. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley. Lynch and Bayley started the match a minor before the top of the hour.

[Hour Two] Cole noted that Lynch will be part of ESPN ads and is on the cover of Muscle & Fitness along with Seth Rollins this month. Banks interfered from ringside to help Bayley take offensive control on Lynch, who was then isolated by her opponents. Lynch eventually made it to her corner and Flair took a hot tag and worked over Banks with chops and a fallaway slam. Flair knocked Bayley off the apron with a big boot.

Banks came back and tried to apply her finisher, but Flair countered into a Figure 8. Lynch went for her finisher on Bayley, who avoided it and ended up flinging Lynch into Charlotte to break her hold on Banks. A “this is awesome” chant broke out briefly. Banks performed a meteora on Flair at ringside going into a break. [C]

Banks and Bayley isolated Flair for a stretch and then she tagged in Lynch, who worked over both heels. A short time later, Banks performed a Backstabber on Lynch, then Flair missed a big boot that Banks completely ducked and sold. Bayley checked on Banks and then they went for a double team move on Flair, but Banks caught them both with a missile dropkick.

Lynch performed a legdrop on Bayley, then Flair performed a clunky moonsault and had the pin, but Banks broke it up. Lynch put Bayley in a Disarmer on the floor that Bayley quickly broke up. Back inside the ring, Bayley went for a top rope elbow, but Flair put her knees up. A short time later, Flair performed the Natural Selection on Bayley and scored the pin…

Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair beat Sasha Banks and Bayley in 17:00.

Powell’s POV: A good match with the wrestlers working a physical and intense style. There were some missed spots and things seemed to fall apart briefly after the commercial break, but the effort was definitely there and the live crowd was appreciative and into the action.

The broadcast team hyped previously announced segments and then narrated footage of the the contract signing segment…

The OC was shown walking backstage when Sarah Schreiber tried to ask Styles a question. Styles said they run the place. Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler entered the picture and said they could be running the place if they worked together. Styles slapped hands with Ziggler to seal the alliance…

Rey Mysterio made his entrance for his match against Gran Metalik… [C] An ad aired for Undertaker’s appearance on Tuesday’s Smackdown…

3. Rey Mysterio vs. Gran Metalik. Metalik received a televised entrance. Graves put over what a big opportunity it was for Metalik to be facing Mysterio at MSG. Metalik caught Mysterio with a nice superkick at ringside, then returned to the ring and performed a springboard flip dive onto Mysterio on the floor. Metalik rolled Mysterio back inside the ring and then performed a springboard senton dive that led to a two count.

Metalik placed Mysterio on the top rope and they fought for position. Metalik got the better of it and performed a wicked huracanrana for a near fall. Mysterio came back with a sunset bomb for a near fall of his own. Mysterio hit the 619 and followed up with a top rope frogsplash and scored the clean pin.

Rey Mysterio beat Gran Metalik in 6:30.

After the match, Mysterio helped Metalik to his feet and shook his hand. Metalik left the ring to let Mysterio soak up some cheers…

Powell’s POV: A good match with Mysterio giving Metalik plenty of offense before he went over. This was the best showing Metalik has had on Raw or Smackdown thus far and hopefully it leads to bigger and better things for him.

Rollins, Strowman, and Alexander were all shown talking backstage while Graves wondered if their conversation had something to do with The OC talking with Roode and Ziggler… [C]

Cole announced Rollins, Strowman, Alexander, and the Viking Raiders vs. The OC, Roode, and Ziggler in a 10-man tag match as the Raw main event…

The Street Profits did their hype routine backstage. They spoke about the King of the Ring match, Clash of Champions, Charlotte Flair pinning Bayley, and the Raw Women’s Championship match between Lynch and Banks. Angelo Dawkins looked into the camera and told Sasha that she’s right, blue is her color. Montez Ford turned the focus back to Rollins and Strowman. Dawkins set up a video package that focused on the Roman Reigns whodunnit…

Graves hyped Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan for Clash of Champions…

Samoa Joe made his entrance for the King of the Ring match… [C]

4. Ricochet vs. Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin in a Triple Threat King of the Ring semifinal match. Corbin received a partially televised entrance and Ricochet’s entrance was fully televised. Cole recapped how the match became a Triple Threat following last week’s double pin between Ricochet and Joe. Corbin rolled to ringside once the bell rang, then entered when he could attack Ricochet. There were actually dueling chants for Corbin. Ricochet performed dives onto both men heading into a break. [C]

With Ricochet down, Joe and Corbin had a good exchange of strikes in the ring. Joe threw a big boot and Corbin ducked back early and then sold it. Ricochet returned to break up Joe going for a pin. Joe caught Ricochet with a powerslam for a near fall. Later, Corbin turned Ricochet inside out with a clothesline. Joe took out Corbin, then Ricochet blasted Joe with a kick and all three men were down at 10:00.

A wide shot showed the big screen and the iconic MSG ceiling (it still irks me that ROH somehow failed to show off the MSG ceiling during the Supercard of Honor broadcast).

[Hour Three] Corbin hit the Deep Six on Ricochet and went for a cover, but Joe pulled Corbin to ringside and put him in the Coquina Clutch until they both fell to the mat. Ricochet performed a shooting star press off the apron onto both men.

Back inside the ring, Ricochet hit the Recoil on Joe and then performed a 630 splash. Corbin pulled Ricochet to ringside, ran him into the barricade, and then stole the pin on Joe.

Baron Corbin defeated Samoa Joe and Ricochet in a Triple Threat in 14:40 to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring tournament.

A trainer checked on Joe at ringside afterward. Corbin went to the stage and put on the KOTR crown and then the broadcast team hyped Elias vs. Chad Gable in the semifinals for Smackdown. Corbin sat on the throne wearing the crown and holding the scepter…

Lacey Evans made her entrance. Cole said Evans would face Natalya after the break… [C]

Powell’s POV: I wasn’t a fan of the way they worked into a Triple Threat match in a singles tournament, but the match was very entertaining with all three guys putting in good work. So it’s King Corbin or King Elias or King Gable. I assume that Gable wins on Smackdown to set up a traditional babyface vs. heel match (and Corbin telling short jokes at his expense).

Cole touted the WWE categories in the E! People’s Choice Awards. Raw was nominated for the show of 2019 award. Cole also recapped last week’s Evans and Natalya segment, then Natalya made her entrance…

5. Lacey Evans vs. Natalya. Evans hit Natalya early, then Natalya went on an offensive flurry. Natalya went for a Sharpshooter, but Evans avoided it and rolled to ringside. Natalya followed and took a kick to the gut and then Evans performed a neckbreaker on the floor. Evans placed Natalya on the apron and then covered her face and with the ring skirt and pulled down on it until the referee’s count reached four.

A short time later, Natalya avoided a moonsault. Natalya played to the fans and then went for a discus move, but Evans kicked her in the gut. Evans took a tissue out of her top and threw it at Natalya, who came back with a kick. Natalya applied the Sharpshooter and got the submission win…

Natalya beat Lacey Evans in 5:05.

A teaser aired for the Firefly Funhouse… [C] Another ad aired for Undertaker’s appearance on Smackdown…

Powell’s POV: The crowd seemed to be getting restless during the match. Natalya going over made it feel like this feud is getting the parity booking treatment, which never helps anyone.

Cole hyped Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the guest on “Straight Up Steve Austin” for after Raw on USA Network…

Powell’s POV: The guest is listed as Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias. The description notes that the hilarious comedian and Austin spend the day at a race track, so I’m not sure if Earnhardt shows up or if someone is promoting the wrong episode.

Young put over the show being in NYC while the artwork was shown…

Cole narrated footage from prior to Raw of NBA player Enes Kanter winning the 24/7 Title before the show went on the air. Kanter removed his warmup gear to show off his Boston Celtics jersey. Truth rolled up Kanter and pinned him to take the title back…

The new Firefly Funhouse aired. Bray Wyatt said he had a special lesson planned. Ramblin’ Rabbitt popped up and spoke about “stranger danger.” Wyatt wondered if he meant Steve Austin. The other puppets appeared and spoke about how Wyatt always hurts legends. Wyatt said The Fiend does it. A clock was stuck at 3:16. Wyatt yelled at them to be quiet, then said they take turns talking at the funhouse.

Wyatt smashed the clock with a hammer until it changed to 11:19. Wyatt said the others took something from him, while you can’t blame a rattlesnake for doing rattlesnake things. Wyatt spoke about Rollins and Strowman having a trio of new friends (Viking Raiders and Alexander). Wyatt said friends won’t help them where they are going. Wyatt said friends forgive, but The Fiend never forgets. “See you in hell,” Wyatt giddily said before waving goodbye to end the show…

Graves hyped the 10-man tag main event… [C] Another ad aired for NXT on USA Network next week…

6. Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Cedric Alexander, Ivar, and Erik vs. AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode. The babyfaces were in the ring coming out of the break and the heels had full entrances (not even the Miami Dolphins are as awful as Ziggler’s entrance music). All ten wrestlers brawled. Strowman was alone in the ring and Ziggler leapt at him from the top rope. Strowman caught him and chokeslammed him. The babyfaces stood tall going into the break. [C]

At 11:00, Strowman powerslammed Anderson and had him pinned, but Rollins was shoved into the pin by Roode and Ziggler. Strowman was upset with Rollins and asked him what he was doing. Rollins bickered back and said he was pushed. [C]

Rollins was isolated by the heels coming out of the break. Later, Ivar performed a senton dive off the top rope onto a group of wrestlers. In the ring, Alexander hit the Lumbar Check on Styles and pinned him.

Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Cedric Alexander, Ivar, and Erik defeated AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode in 19:30.

After the match, Steve Austin’s music played and he returned to the ring and joined the babyfaces for a beer bash. A graphic appeared on the screen for Austin’s show along with guest Dale Earnhardt Jr. (even though it’s Fluffy)…

Powell’s POV: An entertaining main event that offered a little hype to some of the pay-per-view matches. Alexander’s win is clearly setting up a U.S. Title match with Styles for Sunday. I’m surprised that Austin was never attacked by The Fiend like the other legends have been, but at least they tried to explain that away on the Firefly Funhouse. Perhaps Austin wasn’t game or they just felt like it would have raised expectations for Austin to seek revenge.

WWE goes all out at MSG and this was no exception. We’ve seen hotter Garden shows in the past and while this show peaked for me with the opening segment, it was a consistently solid effort. The company wisely left most of the Smackdown wrestlers off the show to save them for Smackdown in the same venue tomorrow night. Dot Net Members will hear my weekly audio review of Raw coming up shortly. Stop back and join Jake Barnett for his live review of WWE Smackdown on Tuesday night. Thanks for watching along with me (or just checking in for updates while you watched football).