By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,467)
Live from Tampa, Florida at Yuengling Center
Aired July 5, 2021 on USA Network
[Hour One] Pyro shot off around the venue. The broadcast team of Jimmy Smith, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton checked in and hyped Money in the Bank…
The Miz was introduced for the Miz TV segment. Miz and John Morrison were already seated inside the ring with Miz in his wheelchair next to a ladder. Miz introduced Morrison as his first guest. Morrison spoke about the MITB ladder match and dropped a bunch of drip themed lines.
Drew McIntyre was introduced as the second guest. McIntyre walked out with a mic in hand. He said Miz is the reason he has a love/hate relationship with the MITB contract because Miz used it to cash in on him. McIntyre recalled the circumstances of how Miz cashed in and said he’s been working to regain the WWE Championship ever since.
McIntyre entered the ring and claimed that he’s a distant relative of Davey Crockett. He threatened to shove Miz’s head up Morrison’s ass and said he would rather die in Texas than lose MITB.
Ricochet made his entrance as the third guest. Miz took issue with Ricochet not waiting to be introduced. Miz had the footage of Ricochet’s springboard dive onto Morrison on the ringside barricade from last week. Miz said Ricochet was lucky the match ended in a double count-out and the stunt could have cost both men their careers.
Ricochet said it was just a taste of what he’s willing to do win the MITB contract. He said he would even use Miz’s wheelchair as a battering ram. Ricochet did a silly dance while spelling out his own name for Morrison.
Riddle made his entrance as the fourth guest and drove his scooter to ringside. Riddle had his foot wrapped to sell last week’s injury. He climbed the ladder and sat on the top of it. Riddle said his foot healed, but he let his bro down, so he dedicated the MITB match to Randy Orton.
The Miz wondered why Orton hasn’t kicked Riddle in the skull. Riddle said they are best buds. McIntyre credited Riddle with being a good friend to Orton. Miz threw a fit about not encouraging Riddle’s antics.
AJ Styles and Omos made their entrance. Styles said he was robbed of his chance of being in the MITB match. He explained that Orton dropped out of the second chance qualifier and thus it should not have been a Triple Threat. Styles said he should have faced McIntyre in a singles match instead. He also blamed Riddle because he was pinned in the Triple Threat.
Riddle said Styles looked like a bunny from his perch on the ladder. He said Omos was almost as tall as he was. Omos pushed the ladder over. Riddle sold his foot injury after landing in the ring. Omos threw the ladder to ringside. Styles kicked Riddle’s bad foot. Ricochet tried to check on Riddle, but Morrison hit him from behind. Ricochet recovered and tossed Morrison to ringside.
McIntyre helped Riddle to his feet, then clotheslined Omos over the top rope to ringside. Ricochet performed a springboard dropkick that knocked Morrison off the apron. Ricochet took one of the drip sticks from Miz’s wheelchair and broke it heading into a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Well, that segment did nothing to sell me on the match or even watching the rest of this episode. Yikes.
1. Ricochet vs. John Morrison (w/The Miz). A graphic appeared at the bottom right of the screen that listed the names of both wrestlers beneath their images. The action spilled to ringside. Morrison hid on the other side of Miz’s wheelchair, then sprayed Ricochet with a drip stick. Miz conveniently leaned forward, allowing Ricochet to roll over the top of him, but Morrison caught Ricochet and powerbombed him onto the barricade. [C]
Ricochet performed a nice tornado DDT. Ricochet threw a clothesline and covered Morrison for a two count. Miz sprayed Ricochet with a drip stick, which distracted him long enough for Morrison to roll him into a pin for a near fall. A short time later, Ricochet dove onto Morrison, who was standing on the apron, and they both crashed awkwardly to the floor. Miz used his wheelchair to block Ricochet’s path back to the ring, which helped lead to the count-out…
John Morrison beat Ricochet via count-out in 13:10.
Powell’s POV: Ricochet took the worst of that crash landing at ringside. No one gained anything from this match. It’s actually becoming even tougher to take Miz and Morrison seriously with all the Drip talk and drip stick nonsense. It’s not heat, it’s just plain eye rolling material.
Footage aired from earlier in the day of Jinder Mahal arriving on a motorcycle and being greeted by Shanky and Veer. Kevin Patrick approached Mahal and asked him about facing Drew McIntyre. Mahal said he was friends with McIntyre, who was with him when he picked up the motorcycle to celebrate one of his WWE Championship defenses.
Mahal said he reached out to McIntyre to go riding recently and it took him three days to respond to inform him that he was too busy. Mahal took offense to McIntyre using the number “2” rather than typing out too. Mahal said he demanded a match with McIntyre because he’s always been better than him and he would prove it tonight…
Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, and Reginald were shown talking backstage. Reginald pointed out that Alexa Bliss was standing behind the women, but she wasn’t there when they turned around. However, she was there the next time the camera cut back to the place she was standing… The broadcast team hyped an eight-woman tag match… [C]
A video package focused on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods’ feud with Bobby Lashley and MVP…
Backstage, Naomi and Asuka spoke favorably to Nikki Cross about her new superhero gimmick. Nikki spoke about winning Money in the Bank. Naomi and Asuka both said they would do the same. Nikki made her entrance. Alexa Bliss showed up and told told Naomi and Asuka to lower their MITB expectations. Cross was still introduced as Nikki Cross, but her graphic read “Nikki A.S.H” (almost superhero). Bliss made her entrance… [C]
2. Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Naomi, and Nikki Cross vs. Eva Marie, Doudrop, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax (w/Reginald). The remainder of the entrances were televised. Eva tagged out quickly, then avoided Asuka and Cross moves from the apron that took out Doudrop. Eva entered the ring and bowed. Bliss snuck up on her and screamed, causing Eva to rush to ringside. [C] Jax and Doudrop performed a double standing splash on Asuka in the middle of the ring. Jax covered Asuka for a near fall.
[Hour Two] The broadcast team announced Riddle vs. AJ Styles for later in the show. Meanwhile, Bliss hypnotized Reginald from the apron. Baszler pulled Bliss down and threw her into the barricade while Asuka continued to be isolated. Eva tagged in and stopped Asuka from tagging out, but Asuka hit her with some strikes and Eva quickly tagged out.
Baszler checked in and traded arm bar attempts with Asuka, who was able to tag in Naomi. Doudrop appeared to be late to break up a Naomi pin on Baszler. Moments later, Cross performed a tope rope cross body block on Baszler and had the pin, but Eva broke it up. Jax made a blind tag and hit a Samoan Drop on Cross for the win.
Eva Marie, Doudrop, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax defeated Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Naomi, and Nikki Cross in 12:00.
After the match, Eva took the mic and announced herself as the winner of the match. Reginald held Jax back from going after Eva…
Powell’s POV: It feels like everything is in a holding pattern and they are just reenforcing things they’ve done previously. Here’s hoping they have big plans for when they go back on the road because this show desperately needs a boost. The first Raw on the road will be held two weeks from tonight.
Bobby Lashley and MVP were celebrating with the ladies when killjoy Kevin Patrick showed up and asked them about Lashley vs. Xavier Woods being changed to a tag match. MVP wondered how Patrick gets in their room every week. He said Woods doesn’t deserve to be in the ring with Lashley, who took the mic and said he would send New Day on a permanent vacation. He specifically said he would hurt Kofi Kingston. “Because we are the Hurt Business and that’s what we do,” Lashley said to close…
Mustafa Ali made his entrance for a match against Mansoor… [C] Footage aired of Ali eliminating Mansoor from a battle royal and later telling Mansoor that he doesn’t want his character to end up like his own career… Mansoor made his entrance…
3. Mustafa Ali vs. Mansoor. Ali got his foot tangled in the ropes. Mansoor helped the referee free Ali’s leg. Ali sold an injury. When Mansoor checked on him, Ali caught him in a pin for the win.
Mustafa Ali beat Mansoor in 2:55.
Afterward, Ali told Mansoor to stop thinking with his heart and start thinking with his head…
Powell’s POV: So Mansoor is the latest in a long line of gullible WWE babyface. Got it.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber asked Drew McIntyre how he feels about Jinder Mahal claiming that McIntyre took away his chance to compete in the MITB ladder match. McIntyre spoke about things are earned. He showed off his sword and claimed it was made from the tooth of the Loch Ness Monster. He told a story about a Claymore Kick knocked the monster’s tooth out of its mouth and the monster gained respect for the warrior who did it. McIntyre made his entrance for his match against Mahal… [C]
Powell’s POV: McIntyre’s history lessons and tall tales are turnoffs. This guy is such a good inspirational babyface. It’s a shame to see him delivering these cornball promos.
4. Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal (w/Veer, Shanky). Mahal’s entrance was televised. The broadcast team acknowledged the 3MB history between the two. McIntyre suplexed Mahal, who rolled to the floor. McIntyre followed and was distracted momentarily by Veer and Shanky, allowing Mahal to sneak in a cheap shot. Mahal slammed McIntyre on the broadcast table. [C]
McIntyre blocked Mahal’s Khallas attempt, then dropped him with a Future Shock DDT. McIntyre went to his corner and started the countdown, but Veer and Shanky attacked him for the disqualification.
Drew McIntyre beat Jinder Mahal by DQ in 10:20.
After the match, the heels worked over McIntyre. Mahal performed the Khallas and then mugged for the camera while the production team pumped in boos. Mahal stole McIntyre’s sword, boasted about doing so on the stage, and then headed backstage…
Powell’s POV: Bad promo material, repeated references by heels and even babyfaces to how many title shots he’s had, and now a feud with Jinder Mahal. Poor Drew McIntyre. The company still wants him to succeed, right?
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were interviewed by Kevin Patrick, who asked them how they would adjust their strategy against Lashley and MVP. Kingston spoke about their tag title history and said they didn’t need to adjust. Woods spoke about being in front of a crowd at MITB and how they would see Kingston win the WWE Championship. Kingston yelled that anything is possible and said he would prove it at MITB…
Mace and T-Bar made their entrance… [C] Lucha House Party’s entrance was televised coming out of the break…
5. Mace and T-Bar vs. “Lucha House Party” Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik. T-Bar caught Dorado diving at him and then tossed him to ringside. Mace tagged in, ran Dorado into the broadcast table, and then threw him back in the ring. Mace and T-Bar both picked up near falls on Dorado and continued to isolate him. They hoisted him up for their finisher, but Metalik broke it up. Metalik took out Mace with a springboard dive at ringside, then Dorado performed a Frankensteiner on T-Bar and pinned him…
Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik defeated Mace and T-Bar in 3:30.
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable television match in terms of the underdog duo being dominated to start and then coming back to get the win.
Backstage, Riddle told Damian Priest a story about breaking his foot when he was younger Priest warned Riddle to be careful to avoid injuries during his match so that he doesn’t miss the MITB ladder match. Riddle finished his story and spoke about how the broken foot didn’t keep him down. Riddle used Orton’s RKO closing line and instead said “RK-Bro” before walking away. “Wow, man,” Priest said while watching Riddle walk away…
AJ Styles and Omos made their entrance… [C] Riddle made his entrance.
[Hour Three] Riddle sold his foot injury when he set up for his usual flip flop routine…
6. Riddle vs. AJ Styles (w/Omos). Riddle continued to sell his ankle injury. Styles kicked the bad leg. Riddle fell to the mat to sell it. When Styles approached, Riddle used his legs to pull Styles over the top rope. Styles climbed back on the apron. Riddle kicked Styles with his bad foot. Styles wrenched the bad leg over the ropes.
When Styles returned to the ring, Riddle hit him with a Karate Kid crane kick. Riddle went on the offensive briefly, but he sold his foot again after throwing another kick. Styles caught Riddle going for a kick and gave him a dragon screw leg whip. Styles bickered with the referee. Omos swept the legs of Riddle heading into a break. [C]
Riddle made a slow climb to the top rope and went for a Floating Bro, but Styles moved. Riddle landed on his feet and sold his bad foot. Styles performed what looked like a Torture Rack Driver for a near fall. Styles set up for a Styles Clash when The Viking Raiders showed up behind the barricade. Styles lost focus and then Riddle rolled him up and scored the pin…
Riddle beat AJ Styles in 13:00.
The broadcast team hyped Charlotte Flair delivering a medical update… [C]
Powell’s POV: The followed up the underdog tag team win with an underdog singles win. Worse yet, viewers who watch the show regularly have to be numb to all of these bad distraction finishes.
Charlotte Flair stood in the ring using one crutch. She spoke about how the NBA Playoffs had been ruined by injuries. Even worse, she said she could miss Money in the Bank due to her own injury. Flair said Rhea Ripley knows that she can’t beat her and wouldn’t have to face her if she took out her knee. Flair pondered what she would do if she was scheduled to face an opponent who is better than her, then said no one is better than she is.
Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley mocked Flair by using a single crutch. One of the broadcast team members called Ripley’s antics classless. Once in the ring, Ripley told Flair that she did exactly what Flair would have done. She said she saw through Flair and called her a drama queen.
Flair and Ripley went for kicks at the same time and both dropped their crutches and dropped their limps. They both picked up their crutches and tried to use them as weapons. Flair knocked Ripley’s crutch away. Ripley ducked Flair trying to hit her with a crutch, picked up her own, and knocked Flair’s away. Ripley hit Flair in the gut with a crutch, then Flair rolled to ringside…
The broadcast team hyped a tag team match for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I can’t believe I’m still asking the same question about the Ripley vs. Flair feud. Who do the creative forces want the fans to root for?
Ripley, Ricochet, and the team that wins the main event tag match will be the guests on Raw Talk…
7. Cedric Alexander and Elias vs. Jaxson Ryker and R-Truth. All four men received televised entrances. Before the bell, WWE 24/7 Champion Akira Tozawa ran out and was rolled up by Truth for a two count. Tozawa fled the ring and was chased by a group of wrestlers. Truth joined in on the chase, leaving Ryker to fight the heels alone.
Ryker got the better of Alexander and then ordered him to tag in Elias, who dropped off the apron and headed up the ramp. Alexander tried to attack Ryker, who hit him with his finisher and scored the pin.
Jaxson Ryker and R-Truth beat Cedric Alexander and Elias in 1:00.
Powell’s POV: I can’t be the only one who was hoping that Ryker and Elias were going to join R-Truth in chasing after the WWE 24/7 Champion.
Lashley was doing pull-ups while MVP stood by. Kevin Patrick showed up and tried to speak with Lashley, but MVP stopped him and asked, “Does that look like a man who has lost his edge to you?”…
New Day made their entrance for the main event tag match… [C]
The broadcast team hyped Ricochet vs. John Morrison in a Falls Count Anywhere match, Sheamus vs. Humberto Carrillo for the U.S. Championship, Erik vs. Omos, and Ivar vs. AJ Styles for next week’s show. They also announced Styles and Omos vs. The Viking Raiders for the Raw Tag Titles for the July 19 edition of Raw… Lashley and MVP made their entrance…
8. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley and MVP vs. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. The heel duo ended up at ringside. Saxton said MVP seemed overwhelmed. Woods dropkicked Lashley through the ropes, then held down the top rope while Kingston performed a dive onto Lashley on the floor. Production pumped in “New Day Rocks” chants. [C]
The heel duo isolated Woods coming out of the break. MVP did his pose, pointed at his knee, and dropped an elbow on Woods without running the ropes first. Woods fought free and made the hot tag to Kingston, who worked over MVP and got a two count. Kingston knocked Lashley off the apron and then performed his own version of MVP’s Ballin’ routine that he capped off with a leg drop.
Lashley returned to the apron and distracted Kingston, allowing MVP to go back on the offensive. Lashley tagged in and slammed Kingston to the mat and had the pin, but Woods broke it up. Lashley tagged out and was hit with Trouble in Paradise. Woods took out Lashley at ringside. In the ring, MVP went for his Playmaker finisher, but Kingston ducked it and hit him with a Trouble in Paradise kick that led to the three count.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods beat Bobby Lashley and MVP in 15:00.
Powell’s POV: The predictable outcome with MVP taking the loss to Kingston. Regardless of what they actually have planned, it’s hard to believe that this finish would make anyone view Kingston as a bigger threat to beat Lashley at MITB. By the way, MVP wore a bulky brace and limped noticeably throughout the match.
Overall, this was a forgettable episode and is definitely missable if you turned this into a long holiday weekend and have the show on the DVR. The biggest positive I can come up with to close is that there’s only one more Raw episode left inside ThunderDome. I will be back shortly with my weekly same night audio review of Raw for Dot Net Members. Let me know what you thought of tonight’s show by grading it below in our post show poll.
They had a fantastic Smackdown last week. Now a god awful Raw. Why can’t the SD bookers / writers just book Raw too.
I think a lot of the good about Smackdown is that Fox is demanding certain things from WWE while USA is willing to take whatever they’re given.
They must be waiting to see who the fans cheer for in the Charlotte/Rhea feud