By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,542)
Live from Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Fiserv Forum
Aired December 12, 2022 on USA Network
[Hour One] The Raw opening aired and then pyro shot off on the stage. The broadcast team was Kevin Patrick and Corey Graves, and Mike Rome was the ring announcer…
“Damage CTRL” Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky made their entrance for Bayley’s match. Becky Lynch showed up at ringside and ended up dumping Kai and Sky into the timekeepers area. Lynch grabbed a chair and chased Kai and Sky out of the ringside area. Alexa Bliss made her entrance. Graves noted that Bayley’s demeanor changed from confident to nervous without her sidekicks at ringside. Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair made her entrance before the opening bell…
1. Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley to become No. 1 contender to the Raw Women’s Championship. Belair took a seat at ringside to watch the match. Bayley ran Bliss into the ring post heading into the first commercial break. [C] A graphic listed The Street Profits and Akira Tozawa vs. Judgment Day for later in the show.
Bayley was in offensive control until Bliss made a comeback and kicked her to the ringside mat. Bliss performed a cannonball dive onto Bayley and then rolled her back inside the ring and covered her for a two count. Bliss followed up with a DDT for another two count.
Bayley came back and performed a sunset flip that drove Bliss into the corner and then covered her for two. Bayley followed up with a Bayley To Belly for a near fall. Bayley removed one of the middle turnbuckle pads. Belair grabbed the pad and showed the official, which distracted Bayley long enough for Bliss to kick her from behind.
Bliss ended up at ringside. Bayley swung at Bliss, who ducked, and then Belair caught Bayley’s hand. Back in the ring, Bliss put Bayley down and then hit her Twisted Bliss finisher and scored the three count.
Alexa Bliss defeated Bayley in 13:25 to earn a Raw Women’s Championship match.
After the match, Belair entered the ring and held up her title belt while offering Bliss a handshake. Bliss teased the handshake, then called for a hug instead. The Bray Wyatt symbol flashed on the big screen. Bliss suddenly set up for Sister Abigail, but then acted like she came out of a trance and released Belair. Bliss looked upset as she headed to the back…
Powell’s POV: A solid match. The post match angle was interesting, as we seem to be getting closer to a payoff of wherever the story of Bliss being affected by the Wyatt symbol is going.
Footage aired of Kurt Angle and Gable Steveson giving Chad Gable and Otis a milk bath on Friday’s Smackdown…
Footage aired from “earlier today” of Gable and Otis arriving at the building and being interviewed by Byron Saxton. Gable labeled Angle a dinosaur and said he’s not credible enough to be in the same ring as him and Otis. “The OC” AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Mia Yim walked into the shot while laughing. Gable took offense.
Styles said Karl Anderson was in Japan taking care of some business. He said Anderson sent him a video of Gable and Otis taking the milk bath and claimed Japan loves it. Gable said people talk about how good Styles used to be. Gable offered to teach Styles some lessons. Styles challenged Gable to a match… Patrick hyped Styles vs. Gable for after the break… [C]
Milwaukee sports imagery was shown… An Austin Theory video package aired… Graves hyped the Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins match for later in the show…
2. AJ Styles (w/Luke Gallows, Mia Yim) vs. Chad Gable (w/Otis). Both entrances were televised. A couple minutes into the match, Styles launched Gable over the top rope, but Otis caught him. Gable dumped Styles face first into the apron and then ran him into the ring steps. [C] A graphic listed Elias vs. Solo Sikoa for later in the show with Sami Zayn in Sikoa’s corner.
Styles caught Gable in a Calf Crusher. Gable rolled out of the hold and countered into an ankle lock. Styles rolled out of the hold and then Gable put him down with a northern lights suplex for a two count. Styles avoided a top rope moonsault and ended up hitting a Styles Clash that led to the three count…
AJ Styles defeated Chad Gable in 9:05.
Powell’s POV: Much like most Gable matches, it was good in quality and yet lacked any mystery regarding the outcome. I continue to hope that the creative forces will pull back on the comedy that limits Gable.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano and Dexter Lumis were looking at a white board filled with ideas for how to spend the money that Lumis won from The Miz. Candice LeRae showed up. Meanwhile, Nikki Cross popped up behind the trio, who didn’t spot her. LeRae reminded Gargano and Lumis that it’s the holiday season and the time for giving. Gargano told Lumis he had an idea…
“The Judgment Day” Dominik Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest made their entrance for the six-man tag team match… [C]
Cathy Kelley interviewed Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, and Akira Tozawa in the backstage area. Ford said the question on everyone’s mind for the last seven days is why they saved Tozawa. Um, sure. Anyway, Tozawa slammed whatever was in his red cup and then slammed the plastic cup on his head before they all made their entrance…
3. “The Judgment Day” Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest (w/Rhea Ripley) vs. Akira Tozawa and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins. The teams traded offense and the crowd was quiet as the show cut to break. [C] The crowd was more engaged coming out of the offense as Ford worked over the Judgment Day members. Ford kicked Dom from the apron and then hopped down and talked trash over him. Priest came over and shoved Ford over the broadcast table. Cool spot.
[Hour Two] Once Ford was back in the ring, Dom checked in and roughed him up to good heat. Balor tagged in and tried to keep Ford isolated. Ford was able to tag out, but the referee was distracted and didn’t see it. Balor took out Tozawa and then threw Ford back in the heel corner while Dawkins bickered with the referee.
Ford eventually made the hot tag to Dawkins, who had a flurry of offense on the heels. He wound up to hit Dom, who dropped on his back and rolled out of the ring. Ford had Balor pinned, but Dom broke it up. Tozawa and Dom tagged in. Tozawa hit Dom with rapid fire punches. Dom ducked a kick and then hit Tozawa with elbows. Tozawa came right back with a missile dropkick.
Priest took out Ford and Dawkins with power moves, but then Tozawa shoved him over the top rope. Dom rolled up Tozawa for a near fall. Tozawa sent Dom to ringside and then hit him with a great suicide dive. Back in the ring, Tozawa hit Balor and Dom with DDTs and got a good reaction from the crowd. Tozawa went to the ropes, but Priest ended up giving him the Razor’s Edge into the ring while the referee was distracted, which led to Dom pinning Tozawa…
“The Judgment Day” Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest defeated Akira Tozawa and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins in 14:45.
Powell’s POV: A fun match. The live crowd was pretty quiet before the break, but they definitely got into the match by the end. Dom continues to draw good heat, and the match seemed designed to make Priest’s power moves stand out. Tozawa also got a good rise out of the crowd for his offense down the stretch.
Dexter Lumis and Johnny Gargano went to a merch table. “We’ll take it,” Gargano said. When the person working the merch stand asked what they would take, Gargano said all of it. Gargano loaded up his arms with merch and said they needed something to carry it in. Lumis grabbed some items and handed a stuffed bear to a younger fan, who thanked him… [C]
Powell’s POV: When will we get to see Johnny Wrestling in a meaningful wrestling match?
Patrick hyped Peacock’s World Cup coverage…
Johnny Gargano walked out with a mic while Lumis dragged a cart filled with merchandise. Gargano spoke about how much he and Lumis had to be thankful for. Gargano spoke about his son “Baby Wrestling” while Lumis threw various merchandise items into the crowd. Gargano said they wanted to give back to the fans by giving them some cool stuff.
Gargano hopped onto the broadcast table. Lumis pulled out a merch gun and then Gargano shot an item into the crowd. The Miz showed up with a hood over his head and shoved Lumis, who knocked Gargano down. Miz grabbed the bag of cash and removed his hood.
Miz tried to leave with the money, but Adam Pearce came out and ordered Miz to give Lumis the money. Miz got a mic and said that it was his money. Lumis started to leave. Gargano said he was going to get an ax. Pearce stopped Lumis, saying they didn’t need an ax.
Miz said he was desperate and would even face Lumis in a rematch to get his money back. Gargano whispered to Lumis. Gargano referred to Miz by his first name. Miz corrected him. The crowd started yelling “Mike.” Gargano said that if Pearce was okay with it, Lumis was willing to give Miz a chance to win his money back in a rematch next week.
Gargano suggested raising the stakes by making it a ladder match. Gargano said that whoever climbed the ladder and retrieved both bags of money would win it all. When Miz asked what both bags of money meant, Gargano said Lumis would putting his money, so Miz needed to do the same.
Miz said he didn’t have cash. Gargano said everyone knows how rich he is. Miz said his wife controls their money and Maryse gives him an allowance. The crowd chanted “tiny balls” at Miz. Gargano said that the other catch was that Miz needed to help them give away the rest of the merchandise while dressed as Santa’s little elf. Pearce told Miz to go get his elf costume on… [C]
Powell’s POV: Bah f’n humbug.
A brief Seth Rollins video aired… Entrances for the next match took place…
4. Iyo Sky (w/Bayley, Dakota Kai) vs. Candice LeRae. Graves barked at Patrick for not having a chair ready for Bayley, who wanted to join them on commentary. When Patrick offered his seat, Graves cut him off and said he was the gentlemen. They also didn’t have headsets for Bayley. Graves said their sound guy wasn’t taking care of things, so he would do it. In the ring, LeRae performed a neckbreaker over the middle rope. [C]
LeRae had a small cut on her left elbow coming out of the break. A graphic listed Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley for later in the show. Sky took offensive control and dropkicked LeRae off the ropes. When LeRae returned to the apron, Sky attempted to perform a sunset bomb, but LeRae stuffed it.
LeRae hit a clunky looking Poison Rana on the floor instead. LeRae brought Sky back inside the ring and covered her for a near fall. The referee checked on Sky, who got up and performed a palm strike and then suplexed into a bridge for a two count. Sky went up top for her finisher, but LeRae cut her off. LeRae went for a neckbreaker form the ropes, but Sky shoved her to the mat and then performed a her top rope moonsault for the win…
Iyo Sky beat Candice LeRae in 10:20.
Powell’s POV: Fortunately, Sky seemed to be okay after taking that rough looking bump on her head at ringside. LeRae still hasn’t clicked with the live crowds on the main roster.
Footage aired of Solo Sikoa taking out Elias and Matt Riddle on last week’s Raw… Patrick said Riddle suffered a damaged trachea and would be sidelined for roughly six weeks…
Kevin Owens was interviewed by Cathy Kelley on the backstage ring set. Kelley asked him for comments about what The Bloodline did last week. Elias strummed his guitar. Elias joined Owens on the interview set and asked him if he would be in his corner when he faces Sikoa later in the show. Owens asked Elias if he forgot about the months of mental trauma that he put him through. Elias blamed his brother Ezekiel.
Owens said that even if he believed that was true, Elias slammed a guitar over his head the last time they were in the ring together. Elias asked if they could leave it all in the past and added that he needed Owens. “You need me?” Owens asked. Owens walked off the interview set, then returned and looked at Elias before walking away again… [C]
Elias sat in the ring on a guitar stool and had a photo of Matt Riddle along with his bongo drums behind him. Elias played the guitar for a moment. Elias thanked the fans for coming to the Matt Riddle tribute concert. Elias said Riddle knew the universal truth, which is that WWE stands for Walk With Elias. Elias said Riddle’s dream was to perform with him in the ring.
Elias said Riddle won him over and he misses him. Elias said he found something while he was picking up the locker room last week. Elias pulled out a page of lyrics that he said were written by Riddle. Elias played his guitar and sang the song “Elias, You’re My Bro.”
Solo Sikoa’s entrance music interrupted Elias. Sikoa and Sami Zayn made their entrance…
Powell’s POV: Forget two hours, can we talk about making Raw a 90-minute show? Good lord.
5. Solo Sikoa (w/Sami Zayn) vs. Elias. Sikoa was jumped by Elias to start the match. Sikoa quickly took offensive control and a “Sami Uso” chant broke out. Elias dodged a move, which resulted in Sikoa ending up on the apron. Elias kicked Sikoa to the floor. Sikoa grabbed a chair from ringside. Zayn tried to talk Sikoa down. [C]
Elias dodged another move. Sikoa got up and went for a corner splash, which Elias avoided, causing Sikoa to hit his head on the ring post casing. Elias performed a couple of corner splashes and then put Sikoa down with a spinebuster. Elias hit Sikoa with a knee strike and then a neckbreaker for a two count.
[Hour Three] Elias bickered with Zayn and then spotted Sikoa coming after him and rolled him up for a two count. Sikoa stuffed an up and over spot and then Elias landed awkwardly on the ropes. Sikoa superkicked Elias and then followed up with the Spinning Solo uranage slam for the win.
Solo Sikoa defeated Elias in 8:15.
Sikoa roughed up Elias after the match. Zayn picked up Elias and held him while Sikoa used his taped right thumb to spike Elias. Sikoa rolled to ringside and returned with a chair. Sikoa jabbed Elias with a chair and then wrapped it around his neck. Sikoa backed into the corner.
Kevin Owens ran out without entrance music and entered the ring. Owens kicked Sikoa and then gave him a Stunner. Zayn fled to ringside. Sikoa wanted to go after Owens, who picked up the chair. Zayn told Sikoa that it wasn’t the right time and talked him into heading backstage. Elias put his hand on the shoulder of Owens to thank him, but Owens kicked him and put him down with a Stunner…
Powell’s POV: Why in the hell did Solo Sikoa need eight minutes to beat Elias? Owens dropping Elias with a Stunner was the biggest babyface move of the night in my book.
The broadcast team set up a video package on the WWE Tribute to the Troops that was narrated by John Cena. The video included footage from the first show. Cena said the show will go on wherever the troops are stationed around the world… The live crowd was shown applauding the video and then a USA chant broke out. Graves hyped the Tribute to the Troops special for 2:30ET on Fox…
Asuka made her entrance for her match against Rhea Ripley… [C] Still shots were shown of an angry Miz dressed in an elf costume while he handed out merch to fans… Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio made their entrance. Ripley whispered to Dom. Patrick asked Graves what he thinks she whispered. Graves said he couldn’t say because there were kids watching and he’d get all of the neck beards and incels on the internet all riled up. Funny…
6. Rhea Ripley (w/Dominik Mysterio) vs. Asuka. Ripley used her power to shove Asuka to the mat early on. Asuka rolled Ripley into an armbar. Ripley tried to power her up, but Asuka rolled her over and held on until Ripley reached the ropes to break it. Ripley brought Asuka to the apron and failed to suplex her. Asuka used a hip attack to send Ripley into the ring post and then Asuka performed a Codebreaker on the apron. [C]
Asuka hit Ripley with a nice spin kick, which Ripley sold by acting dazed while falling to the mat. Asuka covered her for a two count. Moments later, Asuka knocked Ripley off the apron with a hip attack. Dom checked on Ripley. Asuka went to the floor. Dom told Asuka that she would have to go through him in order to get to Ripley. Asuka threw a spin kick that Dom avoided by falling onto his backside. Ripley took advantage of the distraction by running Asuka into the post.
Back in the ring, Ripley went for her finisher, but Asuka countered into a rear naked choke. Dom pulled Ripley’s leg to the ropes to break the hold. Dom jawed at Asuka, who blew mist in his face. Ripley shoved Asuka into Dom and then hit her Riptide finisher on Asuka before pinning her…
Rhea Ripley defeated Asuka in 11:40.
After the match, Graves said Christmas was cancelled due to Dom being sprayed with mist. Ripley tended to Dom and helped him up while yelling for help. “Somebody get some water,” Ripley yelled on the stage before taking Dom to the back. The camera focused on Asuka lying on the mat looking distraught over her loss…
Footage aired of Bobby Lashley spearing producer Pete(y) Williams last week. Lashley was shown warming up for his match in the backstage area… [C]
Powell’s POV: The Dom and Ripley act continues to be really fun. Asuka ditched the face paint and they seemed to focus on her a little more than usual after the match. Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but I am hoping that the creative forces recognize the need for Asuka character to shake things up.
Austin Theory, The OC, and The Judgment Day were advertised for Raw Talk…
Dom was being treated on the trainer’s table. “Mami, it burns,” Dom said. He questioned who the trainer was and whether he has a license. Priest told Dom that “something else could burn worse.” Funny…
Graves went on a rant about Asuka assaulting Dom and questioned how Dom could treat Ripley properly under the mistletoe. Patrick shifted the focus to recapping highlights of Austin Theory’s attack on Dolph Ziggler from last week…
Backstage, Dolph Ziggler delivered a promo about the U.S. Title. He called it the workhorse belt and said that Rollins and Lashley would go to war just to get a shot at the title. Ziggler said Theory has done a lot in a short period of time, but he walks around with a chip on his shoulder. Ziggler spoke about putting the title over his shoulder and carrying the company and added that Theory doesn’t know about that. Ziggler said that the cocky arrogance will be Theory’s downfall and why he’s not a deserving U.S. Champion…
Powell’s POV: Dolph Ziggler has moved on from his Paula Poundstone attire and is now dressing like Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction for reasons that only make sense to Dolph Ziggler.
A brief Bobby Lashley video aired and then he made his entrance for the main event… [C] Additional still shots of Elf Miz handing out WWE merch to fans were shown… The broadcast team hyped The Miz vs. Dexter Lumis in a “winner takes all” ladder match for next week’s Raw… Seth Rollins made his entrance…
7. Seth Rollins vs. Bobby Lashley to become No. 1 contender to the U.S. Championship. Lashley clotheslined Rollins to ringside. Rollins came back and hit Lashley with a flying knee off the apron. Austin Theory was shown watching the match on a backstage television. Lashley picked up the top piece of the ring steps, but the referee talked him out of using them as a weapon. Rollins charged Lashley, who backdropped Rollins over the barricade. [C]
Lashley set up for a suplex, but Rollins stopped it by kneeing Lashley’s head. Rollins countered with a falcon arrow for a near fall. Lashley rolled to the floor. Rollins joined him at ringside and charged. Lashley caught Rollins and hoisted him up before running him into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Lashley set up for a spear. Rollins leapt over Lashley and rolled him into a pin for a two count, then immediately superkicked him and covered him for another two count. Rollins went up top and frogsplashed Lashley for a near fall.
Rollins went for a Stomp, but Lashley didn’t budge while he was down on all fours. Lashley powerslammed Rollins and put him in the Hurt Lock. Rollins backed Lashley into the corner while still in the hold. The referee got in the way and dove to ringside to avoid contact. The referee sold a leg injury.
Lashley speared Rollins and covered him. The referee eventually returned and made a a two count. Lashley barked at the referee. Lashley went for another spear only to have Rollins leap up and put him down with a Pedigree. Rollins covered Lashley and got the three count.
Seth Rollins pinned Bobby Lashley in 12:55 to earn a shot at the U.S. Championship.
After the match, Lashley grabbed the referee and pushed him into the corner. A second referee came out to talk Lashley down. Lashley accidentally elbowed the second referee in the head. Adam Pearce ran out scolded Lashley and recalled telling him that his hands would be tied. Lashley shoved Pearce aside. Pearce stopped Lashley and yelled, “You are fired.” Pearce walked to the back. “Are you… I’m what?” Lashley asked while some fans near the camera obnoxiously sang the goodbye song to close the show…
Powell’s POV: It only took a two hours and 59 minutes to get an interesting storyline development. Okay, so I’m embellishing, but it was the biggest development on a pretty forgettable night overall. The No. 1 contenders matches had purpose, while most of the other matches felt like filler. Whether it’s the lack of a premium live event to build to this month or the company phoning it in for the holiday stretch, I’m anxious for January to get here so they can kick in the hype for the Royal Rumble event. I will have more to say about Raw in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Well I guess Bobby is injured again. Ugh.
“When will we get to see Johnny Wrestling in a meaningful wrestling match?”
Hopefully never.
I can’t believe they are going back to this Wyatt/Bliss supernatural crap again.
Asuka has announced on Twitter that she is taking “a trip” suggesting some time off. This would explain the lack of face paint and the post match dejection.
The Garganos both should’ve signed with AEW.