By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,627)
St. Paul, Minnesota at Xcel Energy Center
Aired live July 29, 2024 on Syfy Network
[Hour One] Footage aired of Cleveland Browns Stadium, which hosts Saturday’s SummerSlam. Another shot aired of the Xcel Energy Center (home of the Minnesota Wild!)… Footage aired of the arrival of Gunther, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri, and Chad Gable with Julius Creed and Brutus Creed…
Seth Rollins was introduced by ring announcer Samantha Irvin. Rollins made his entrance dressed in a wild referee shirt and shiny black pants with zebra print boots. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee checked in on commentary from ringside. Cole noted that they saw Jesse Ventura earlier in the day.
Rollins played to the fans and played up being the referee at SummerSlam. Rollins said he was going to lay out rules for the CM Punk and Drew McIntyre match at SummerSlam. “Let’s bring out these two morons,” Rollins said.
CM Punk made his entrance and played to fans on both sides of the stage. Cole said there were over 13,000 in attendance in God’s Country (a/k/a St. Paul, Minnesota). Cole said Punk’s match with McIntyre will be Punk’s first singles match in WWE in over 10.5 years (apparently not counting his live event matches with Dominik Mysterio).
Drew McIntyre made his entrance wearing a leather jacket and a leather kilt. Punk and McIntyre stared each other down once McIntyre entered the ring. Rollins said Adam Pearce ordered Punk and McIntyre to not lay a finger on one another or their SummerSlam match would be off. Rollins said Pearce also said the same rule applies to either one of them putting a finger on him.
Punk rolled out of the ring. McIntyre told Punk to stop being such a coward and get back in the ring. Punk said he wasn’t worried about what McIntyre or Rollins would do to him, he was worried about what he might do, so he would just stay at ringside.
Rollins said Punk just loves to call the shots. He said that’s not how this was going to work. Rollins said he volunteered to be the referee “because you two idiots” scared off the other referees. Rollins said he could hand over the referee shirt and the match would be off, but he wants to see them fight.
Rollins said that if Punk wants the fight, then he should get his ass back in the ring. McIntyre called Punk a boot-licking office boy. Punk returned to the ring and told Rollins to enjoy his power while he can.
McIntyre said he and Rollins have a professional rivalry and they both want what’s best for WWE unlike Punk. McIntyre told Rollins to remember on Saturday that Punk is the real enemy. Rollins said that if anyone hates Punk as much as McIntyre, it’s him. Rollins said that if anyone hates McIntyre as much as Punk, it’s him.
Rollins said there will be only one rule and regulation for the Punk vs. McIntyre match. “You two will listen to everything I have to say,” Rollins said. “I call the shots, I’m the boss, I’m the law. I count to three when I want to count to three. You tap out when I say you can tap out. If there’s a count-out to be had, maybe there won’t be any count-outs, I might count to ten, I might count to twenty, I might count to a million.” Rollins down played disqualifications by saying it would be at his discretion.
Punk said he thinks Rollins being referee is a hat on a hat. He assumed that Rollins would like that given the way he dresses. Punk said he did not want Rollins’ help on Saturday. McIntyre said Punk should be worried about the man he screwed over and over again.
McIntyre said he hates Punk and said he’s like Charles Manson in that he poisons everyone’s mind. He said he can’t even go to the supermarket without someone chanting Punk’s name at him. McIntyre said he wanted to rough up Punk a little bit in the Royal Rumble match and he tore his triceps.
McIntyre said he wasn’t even trying to hurt Punk that night and Punk has screwed him out of the title twice since then. McIntyre said he wouldn’t stop beating Punk until Punk’s heart stops. McIntyre said the best thing is that the match is being held in a stadium and he will be making a lot of money for something he would have done for free.
Punk said he was absent from the company for ten years and the fans chanted his name. Punk said they chant his name and sing Rollins’ song, and McIntyre is a third wheel in the match. Punk said McIntyre has Punk Derangement Syndrome. He said the best thing and worst thing that ever happened to McIntyre was injuring him.
Punk said McIntyre is his own worst enemy. Punk said he’s not as tall, big, or as fast as McIntyre, but he has heart and he has the people chanting his name (the fans took the cue). Punk asked McIntyre what he has. McIntyre held up the bracelet that he stole from Punk.
Punk lunged forward and went face-to-face with McIntyre while Cole reminded viewers that they can’t touch. Cole also explained the bracelet has Punk’s wife and dog’s name on it. Punk’s music played to end the segment while he and McIntyre were still going face-to-face…
Powell’s POV: The segment was effective in terms of showing off the intensity of the Punk and McIntyre feud, while also establishing that Rollins won’t call it like a traditional match. I’m really looking forward to that match. I do not expect a clean finish, but I’m curious to see how it plays out with Rollins as the special referee.
Inside the Judgment Day clubhouse, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, and Carlito surveyed the damage that someone did. Ripley suggested to Dom that Liv Morgan was behind it and would pay for it at SummerSlam…
Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri made their entrance heading into a break… [C] A shot aired of downtown Cleveland while Cole ran through the SummerSlam week schedule…
Damian Priest showed up in the vandalized Judgment Day clubhouse and also assumed that Liv Morgan was responsible. Priest said he felt he should be in Finn Balor’s corner during his match with Gunther. Balor shot that down and said he would handle Gunther while they clean up the clubhouse.
Balor hoped that they would take out Sami Zayn and Jey Uso. Priest said they handled that before and it felt like they were going backwards, which Rhea Ripley agreed with. Dominik Mysterio suggested Carlito face Sami Zayn. Carlito said he would talk to Adam Pearce…
1. Julius Creed and Brutus Creed (w/Chad Gable) vs. Akira Tozawa and Otis (w/Maxxine Durpi). Julius gut-wrenched Brutus and slammed him on Tozawa for an early two count. Tozawa came back and hit a missile dropkick and then hit Brutus with a suicide dive. Brutus came back with a clothesline heading into a break. [C]
Otis took a hot tag coming out of the break and worked over Julius. Gable climbed on the apron to distract Otis and then dropped down when Otis took a swing at him. Otis put Julius down and hit the Caterpillar.
Otis went to the ropes and was hit by Brutus, who climbed onto the ropes with him. Otis sent Brutus into the ring with a backbody drop and took out Gable with a punch. The Creeds performed a double suplex from the middle rope and then Julius pinned Otis.
Julius Creed and Brutus Creed defeated Otis and Akira Tozawa in 7:50.
After the match, the Creeds held Otis by the arms while Gable jawed at him. Gable punched Otis and then put him in an ankle lock. Maxxine Dupri entered the and jumped on Gable’s back, which caused him to release the hold. Gable barked at Dupri, who responded by slapping him across the face. Dupri put her fists up while Gable jawed at her.
The Wyatt Sicks lighting wind down occurred and then the single key piano music played. The babyfaces left the ring, leaving Gable and the Creeds standing next to one another while three of the Wyatt Sicks made their entrance.
Once the Wyatts climbed onto the apron, they removed their masks and revealed themselves to be Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, and Dexter Lumis. Nikki Cross dove from the ropes onto Gable, who rolled to ringside. Gacy and Lumis put the Creeds down with uranage slams. Gacy powerbombed Lumis onto the Creeds. Rowan ran the ropes and hit a crossbody block on the Creeds.
Gable headed toward the stage and stopped when Uncle Howdy came out. Gable ran away while Howdy laughed on the stage… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good segment. Lumis has a new look with dreadlocks and an “X” drawn on his forehead. The live crowd was hot for the Wyatt Sicks despite the fact that Gable is a hometown guy who is normally cheered regardless of whether he’s a babyface or a heel in Minnesota.
Backstage, Carlito told Rhea and Dom that the match was made. Dom assumed Carlito was going to face Sami Zayn, but Carlito thought Dom wanted to face Zayn. Ripley and Dom told Carlito that he was now free to face Jey Uso. Ripley said Carlito would have to handle Jey on his own…
2. Sheamus vs. Bronson Reed. Both entrances were televised. Creed dumped Sheamus onto the broadcast table heading into an early break. [C] Reed avoided a clothesline from the ropes and then hit a Death Valley Driver for a near fall.
Sheamus came back with White Noise from the middle rope for a good near fall of his own. Sheamus hit Ten Beats (and beyond). Reed’s foot was somehow caught in the ropes and the referee tried to free him.
[Hour Two] Pete Dunne showed up and hit Sheamus with a shillelagh and then sat down at ringside. Reed limped to the ropes and hit a Tsunami and scored the pin…
Bronson Reed beat Sheamus in 10:00.
Powell’s POV: It was good to see Reed get a rare win even with outside help from Dunne. I suspect that Reed intended to have his foot hooked in between the ropes, but that didn’t happen. It looked odd that the referee was trying to free Reed’s foot even though it wasn’t actually tied up. Hopefully that means Reed was just selling when he was limping at the end of the match.
Cole narrated highlights of last week’s Damian Priest and Gunther segment…
A video aired with comments from Priest, who played up his heart compared to Gunther having the best training and being told he’s the best. Priest recalled Gunther labeling him as street trash. He said that translates to Puerto Rican badass, whereas Gunther is a European product of ingenuity. Priest said that translates to “you’re an asshole.” Priest said he lives to fight for what he has and is willing to die for everything he has. Priest asked if Gunther was willing to do the same…
Jey Uso made his entrance… [C] A video package aired on the Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Title. Breakker said he didn’t take Zayn seriously at Money in the Bank. Breakker said that’s on him. Breakker brought up Zayn’s comedy show and said it shows he is preparing for life after him and WWE. Breakker said the joke will be on Zayn and the Intercontinental Title will be on him…
Carlito made his entrance with an apple in hand….
3. Jey Uso vs. Carlito. Jey threw punches at Carlito and got him seated in a corner of the ring. Carlito grabbed Jey and pulled him through the ropes and into the ring post. Carlito performed a spinning neckbreaker. [C]
A small graphic listed Cole and McAfee as the broadcast team, and Jackie Redmond and Cathy Kelley as the backstage interviewers (I like this, but no love for Samantha Irvin?).
Late in the match, Carlito put Jey down with a spinebuster. Carlito grabbed his apple and took a few bites. Jey rolled him up for a two count. Jey ran the ropes and then speared Carlito, who spat the apple out and was pinned.
Jey Uso beat Carlito in 7:50.
After the match, Jey picked up the apple and took a bite…
Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviewed Zelina Vega in front of the Minnesota Wild locker room. Vega held her injured arm and spoke about how she was lucky to have help last week. Vega said she is a threat.
Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler, and Zoey Stark showed up, causing Redmond to make her exit. Deville said they should show Vega what a threat is. Vega threw the first punch, but she was quickly outnumbered. Deville and Stark held Vega against the door while Baszler booted Vega’s elbow… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s odd seeing that dressing room door without seeing Kevin Gorg interviewing a Wild player. Anyway, Jey continues to be over big with the live crowds, and the creative forces are trying hard to make Vega a sympathetic figure.
Backstage, a trainer checked on Zelina Vega while Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, and Lyra Valkyria stood by…
Backstage, The Miz was interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Miz announced that he will be the host of SummerSlam in his hometown of Cleveland. R-Truth showed up and said he thought Miz lived in Los Angeles. They went back and forth for a bit and Truth wondered if Miz would have party snacks. Miz agreed to bring hors d’oeuvres…
Cole narrated footage from WWE’s three-night tour of Japan. Cole noted that Kofi Kingston returned temporarily and then re-aggravated a shoulder injury…
Xavier Woods made his entrance and then The Final Testament’s entrance followed. Once in the ring, Karrion Kross took the mic and asked Woods if he really believed that Kofi Kingston was injured again.
A clean shaven Kross said Kingston skipped town because this match was about Woods and because no one wants to be in the hellhole that is Minnesota (you son of a bitch!). Kross said he wanted Woods to join his faction and tell the little kids at home that the power of positivity was one big lie. Kross said he also wants Woods to tell Kingston he should have retired after he lost the WWE Title in just six seconds…
4. Karrion Kross (w/Akam, Rezar, Scarlett, Paul Ellering) vs. Xavier Woods. Woods punched Kross after the Kingston insult to start the match. They cut to a break just seconds into the match. [C]
Akam caught Woods with a punch from the floor that the referee didn’t see. Woods superkicked Kross and then hit Adam with a suicide dive. Rezar charged Woods, who moved and sent Rezar into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Woods went for a top rope elbow drop that Kross avoided. Kross hit Woods with The Final Prayer and then pinned him…
Karrion Kross defeated Xavier Woods in 6:25.
Powell’s POV: This feud just keeps dragging on and never seems to generate more momentum.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Jesse Ventura speaking with Paul Levesque in the parking garage area. Cole ran through some of Ventura’s credentials and said “welcome home” to the WWE Hall of Famer…
Powell’s POV: I know Jesse Ventura and that was not him. Clearly, the deep state killed Ventura and replaced him with a clone. I can make up silly conspiracy theories too, Jesse.
Jackie Redmond interviewed Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn, who recalled beating Breakker after having a comedy show prior to Money in the Bank. He brought up Breakker taking cheap shots at him every week. He said he gets it because Breakker is a young guy who wants to make a name for himself.
Zayn said he would beat Breakker’s ass at SummerSlam and was off to take care of Dominik Mysterio. A camera followed Zayn as he walked through the back and made his entrance… [C]
An emotional Liv Morgan stood in front of dumpster fire and cried about Dominik Mysterio while throwing photos and merch in the fire. Morgan said she will complete her revenge tour by beating Rhea Ripley and leaving whatever is left of her for Dom…
Powell’s POV: With this show being held in St. Paul, I’m left wondering if Liv was inspired by one of my ex-girlfriends.
Dominik made his entrance while Cole said he didn’t understand Dom’s appeal to Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan…
5. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn vs. Dominik Mysterio in a non-title match. Zayn hit an early springboard moonsault onto Dom at ringside. [C] Dom performed Three Amigos and then went up top.
[Hour Three] Dom rolled through the top rope move because Zayn moved out of the way. Zayn hit an exploder suplex. Zayn was setting up for his finisher when he was distracted by Carlito and JD McDonagh showing up at ringside. Dom rolled up Zayn for a two count.
Zayn knocked Carlito and McDonagh off the apron. Dom hit Zayn and got him in position for the 619, but Zayn shot up and clotheslined him. Zayn performed a Blue Thunder Bomb and went for the pin, but Carlito and McDonagh ran in and attacked him for the DQ finish.
Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defeated Dominik Mysterio by DQ in 8:10 in a non-title match.
After the match, Carlito and McDonagh put the boots to Zayn until Jey Uso ran out and cleared all three heels from the ring. Jey performed a running dive over the top rope onto the three Judgment Day members on the floor.
Bron Breakker entered the ring and hit Zayn from behind. Breakker ran the ropes for a spear, but Zayn caught him with a kick and followed up with an exploder suplex. Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick, but Breakker exited the ring.
Zayn played to the crowd. Breakker returned to the ring, but Zayn saw him coming and tried to clothesline him over the top rope. When that didn’t connect, Zayn pushed Breakker over the top rope…
Cole and McAfee recapped the match and then set up a Wyatt Sicks “therapy session” video…
Dexter Lumis was featured in the therapy session wearing dreadlocks and with an X painted on his forehead. Uncle Howdy asked what should they do when the buzzards start circling. “Run,” Lumis replied…
Powell’s POV: Zayn and Dom had a solid match until the DQ finish. The post match angle was laid out to make Zayn look strong heading into SummerSlam, which left me even more confident that Breakker will win the Intercontinental Title on Saturday.
Chad Gable, Julius Creed, and Brutus Creed spoke with Adam Pearce. Gable bragged that he figured out that the remaining Wyatt Sicks were Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan. Pearce said he knew and said they are under WWE contract.
Gable said they can compete since they are under contract. Gable told Pearce that he wants them in a six-man match against him and the Creeds. Pearce said it was official. Gable said he knew he liked Pearce…
Lyra Valkyria made her entrance and then waited until Kayden Carter and Katana Chance joined her on the stage area. They headed to the ring for the six-woman tag match.. [C]
Pat McAfee did his telestrator bit over video game footage of himself punting a football at Dominik Mysterio…
Rhea Ripley held a black rose while delivering a promo as Liv Morgan footage was shown. Ripley said Morgan wants to break and burn things that don’t belong to her. Ripley said Morgan so badly wants to be the victim in her revenge tour fantasy, but it’s just that, a fantasy. Ripley said there will be no more running, hiding, or manipulating come SummerSlam.
Ripley said she warned Morgan multiple times to stay out of her business. She said Morgan took three months of her career by injuring her shoulder and then took her championship. Ripley said Morgan tried to manipulate her family and her Latino Heat. Ripley said she will get her revenge at SummerSlam…
Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, and Shayna Baszler made their entrance…
6. Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, and Shayna Baszler vs. Lyra Valkyria, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance. Stark ended up at ringside and was hit with a Valkyria dropkick through the ropes. [C]
McAfee brought up University of Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck (I hope PJ hit him up for NIL money) and mentioned that Baszler is a big fan of the Minnesota Vikings (God bless her!).
Late in the match, the heels broke up the Carter and Chance finisher. Stark hit Chance with the Z360 and scored the pin.
Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, and Shayna Baszler defeated Lyra Valkyria, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance in 8:40.
After the match, “Damage CTRL” Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai came out to a flat reaction. Sky, Sane, and Kai quickly cleared Deville, Stark, and Baszler from the ring. Sky went up top and hit a moonsault onto all three heels on the floor…
Powell’s POV: The crowd was respectful, but clearly not all that invested in the match. They didn’t pop for Damage CTRL’s return either and it was hard to blame them. Damage CTRL had a long run as heels and now it seems like they want the fans to cheer them even though they didn’t have a real turn moment.
Footage aired of Gunther delivering a promo earlier in the day in the empty seats of the building. Gunther paced while saying Damian Priest took the easy way out for the second time in a row and said he had the reaction of a weak man who has no control over his emotions. Gunther said he has exposed Priest as an emotional wannabe who abuses the business as a cure for his childhood trauma.
Gunther turned his focus to the main event sand said he used to look up to Finn Balor. He said Balor is a tag team champion, but he was once destined for greater things. He said Balor became street trash once he started hanging out with Judgment Day. Gunther said he looked forward to seeing how much of the old Balor he could pull out. Gunther closed by talking about how fans would never forget the day that he saved the sport by winning the World Heavyweight Championship… [C]
An ad for next week’s Raw on Syfy played up the show as the first Raw after SummerSlam…
Cathy Kelley interviewed “Damage CTRL” Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai in the backstage area. Kai said the only reason Deville’s crew has been running the place is because they have been gone. Kai said they would reestablish an order of things. Kai challenged Deville to a match for next week. She wondered how long Deville’s social club would last once she cuts the head off the snake…
Cole hyped Jelly Roll performing the song “Liar” live at SummerSlam and then ran through the card for Saturday’s show…
Dominik Mysterio was holding his shoulder while seated on a couch in the Judgment Day clubhouse. Ripley said she told the others this would happen. Balor said Ripley was right. He said they all got in this mess together. He said after SummerSlam, they would get out of the mess together.
Ripley told Balor they would have his back if they needed him during his match with Gunther. Priest agreed. Balor said Ripley and Priest want to go it alone at SummerSlam and he wants to do the same. Balor wondered if they didn’t think he was good enough. They both denied that. Priest said he worried Gunther would try something. Balor said he would soften up Gunther and it was Priest’s job to finish him off at SummerSlam…
Gunther made his entrance for the main event… [C]
The broadcast team hyped the WWE Women’s Title match for Smackdown, and then listed Dakota Kai vs. Sonya Deville, and Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, and Dexter Lumis vs. Chad Gable, Julius Creed, and Brutus Creed for next week’s Raw…
Finn Balor made his entrance…
7. Gunther vs. Finn Balor. Cole said this was the first-ever meeting between Gunther and Balor in a singles match. Gunther dropped Balor with an early chop. Gunther went for a powerbomb that Balor stuffed. Gunther caught Balor with a big boot heading into an early break. [C]
Gunther caught Balor with a clothesline and covered him for a two count. Balor, whose upper chest was red, caught Balor with a couple of standing double stomps. Balor looked to the crowd and performed a double stomp onto Gunther’s back. Balor hit a shotgun dropkick.
Balor went up top and attempted his Coup de Grace finisher, but Gunther avoided it and put him in a sleeper hold. Gunther released the hold and then powerbombed Balor for a two count. Gunther reapplied the sleeper hold. Balor failed to break the hold and the referee called for the bell to end the match.
Gunther defeated Finn Balor in 12:10.
Afterward, Gunther reapplied the sleeper while the referee tried to talk him down. Gunther released the hold once Damian Priest’s entrance music played. Priest ran to the ring and caught Gunther with a punch.
Gunther and Priest rolled to ringside. Priest got the better of the brawl and tossed Gunther onto the broadcast table. Priest mounted Gunther on top of the table and continued to throw punches at him, then threw a kick at him. Gunther rolled off the table. Priest ran Gunther into the stupid sponsored hydration station and continued to work him over as the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: A solid match that didn’t generate much of a reaction from the live crowd, presumably because they had no rooting interest with two heels involved. Balor was more fan friendly than usual, but it still made for an awkward dynamic. The post match angle was really lopsided in favor of Priest, so read into that what you will.
Overall, this was not a memorable SummerSlam go-home show. I don’t know if they pulled back due to the show airing on Syfy and having strong competition from the Olympics or if that wasn’t a factor and they just delivered a fairly flat go-home show. It wasn’t all bad, but it did not increase my overall interest level in Saturday’s show. That said, my interest level was already high going into the show, so they did deliver a good build overall despite this mostly forgettable episode of Raw.
I will have a lot more to say about Raw’s SummerSlam go-home show during my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Raw by grading the show below.
Suddenly the thought of the judgement day clubhouse being put together in every venue they’re in has my mind racing, and I am giggling plenty.
Cool faction, but now I cannot help but see good fun silliness
I wish they could’ve gotten Ventura to commentate atleast one match tonight.
Agreed. I want to hear more about his tortilla silos and his trained dogs
Pretty flat. By why bother really. D level network (why not simulcast it on Peacock??); Olympics on every other channel. PLE is already set anyway. Don’t burn good stuff on a DOA evening
What is this report doing linked on the AEW TV reviews page? Somebody goofed!
Rubbish show again. Smackdown is bad but this was worse. The crowd was flatter than a witches tit and with good reason. You can see them rushing dwayne and reignzzzzzzzz back for the nwo / nwo wolfpac snoozefest soon.