Our WWE Raw results for tonight include Lyra Valkyria defending the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against American Made’s Ivy Nile, Nile stablemates, The Creed Brothers, challenging the War Raiders for the World Tag Team Championship, CM Punk returning to address the WWE Universe, number one contender IYO SKY clashes with Rhea Ripley for Women’s World Championship. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
WWE Raw Card:
- Women’s World Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. IYO SKY
- World Tag Team Championship Match: War Raiders (c) vs. The Creed Brothers
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Ivy Nile
- CM Punk to appear
WWE Raw Results:
An angry CM Punk pulls up to the arena in a truck. The Second City Saint power walks to the ring with a purpose. Punk snatches a mic from a stagehand and rips the top of the commentary desk.
The Second City Saint is Here and He’s Pissed
Punk stands on the commentary desk and says he’s going to get them canceled off of Netflix tonight. We should consider this a State of the Union address. Some people think he may have exhausted his option to get to the main event at WrestleMania. Allow him to address his enemies; since he’s CM Punk, that means everyone. The crowd calls out The Final Boss, The Rock. Punk calls a camera operator in close and calls The Rock a bald fraud.
Punk calls The Rock “Mr. Midlife Crisis” and says he would love to say all of this to The Rock’s face, but he hasn’t graced them with his presence to do his bulls*t arm slapping bullcrap while he pretends to care about WWE. CM Punk would never walk around with a fake title, and Punk EARNs his titles. Punk would never sell his soul, which brings him to John Cena. He gave Cena the benefit of the doubt when he didn’t earn his way into the Chamber match. Cena isn’t going to fool Punk twice. Hustle, loyalty, and respect? Now everyone sees what Punk has seen this whole time, Cena is full of Sh*t.
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The joke is on Cena because Punk is going to see him down the line. That brings Punk to baby brother Seth Rollins, who has all of his attention. Punk quips that Becky Lynch needs to come get her man before Punk does. Rollins is going to end up in a wheelchair. Rollins’ music hits. Punk hops off the commentary desk and sprints up the ramp. As Rollins saunters out on the stage and is met by a swinging CM Punk. Punk and Rollins trade punches, and security and officials try to separate both men. Every time Punk and Rollins are separated, they escape and lunge at each other.
Grade: A+
This may have been the best opening to a Raw in years. Punk’s anger and frustration turned into one of the best promos of the year, which led to one of the best brawls of the year. Punk has every right to be livid, and the most realistic response is precisely what needed to happen tonight. The future Hall of Famer ripped into EVERYONE on the mic and got full use of Netflix not being on network TV; profanity works when it almost never happens. This was the best use of four-letter words in wrestling history.
Backstage, Finn Bálor complains about Liv Morgan losing at the Chamber. Dominik Mysterio presses Bálor about adding a new member. Bálor says they don’t need it (again). Bálor says they need to take out Bron Breakker tonight.
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther vs. Otis w/Alpha Academy
Gunther dumps on Otis on his way to the ring. Gunther boots Otis in the face before the bell rings. Otis hits the mat. Gunther works over Otis. Otis manages a suplex out on the floor. Otis fires up and shrugs off a few chops from Gunther. Gunther bows up. Otis lands a massive clothesline. Gunther gets up to avoid the caterpillar. Otis lands at the caterpillar. Gunther kicks out. Otis eats a dropkick from Gunther. Otis counters Gunther’s powerbomb with a backbody drop. Gunther fires back with a Powerbomb for the win.
Winner- Gunther
After the match, Gunther locks Otis in a sleeper. Tozawa tries to make the save and gets powerbombed on top of Otis. Jey Uso hits the ring and brawls with Gunther. Spear by Jey. Gunther rolls out of the ring. Jey celebrates. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller attack Jey from behind. Jey eventually takes Waller and Theory out with a superkick and a Spear. Jey starts to celebrate again. Gunther sneaks up on Jey and locks in a sleeper. Jey goes to sleep.
Grade: B
This is less about the match and more about the aftermath. Jey looked like a superhero until he didn’t. Jey should cut back on the celebrating. It did not go well for him tonight. This segment worked because it proved Gunther’s point- Jey spends too much time hotdogging for the crowd, and it cost him her tonight.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Ivy Nile
Valkyria dropkicks Nile as soon as the bell rings. Valkyria is all over Nile, clearly upset about Nile’s attack last week. Nile takes over with a clothesline. Nile works over Valkyria. Valkyria goes up top. Nile sends Valkyria flying off the second rope with a dragon screw. Nile focuses her assault on Valkyria’s leg.
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After the break, Valkyria fires up and sets up Nightwing. Valkyria’s leg gives out, and Nile lands a powerbomb. Ankle lock by Nile. Valkyria gets to the ropes. Nile folds Valkyria up with a release German suplex. Nile misses a boot and gets caught in the turnbuckle. Orton-style backbreaker by Valkyria. Valkyria hits Nightwing for the win.
Winner- Lyra Valkyria
Grade: B-
This was Nile’s best match since joining the main roster. Valkyria is doing a good job attempting to establish herself as a legitimate champion. If Valkyria continues to string together these high-quality outings, the Women’s IC title may become the workhorse title for the Women’s Division.
Kaiser Demands Your Gratitude
Kaiser says he took the spotlight back from Penta last week. No matter how much the WWE Universe boos, it doesn’t change that Kaiser is a future world champion. If Penta thinks they have unfinished business, he should think again. Kaiser notes that if Penta steps up, he’ll show Penta what fear is. Penta’s music hits. Penta rushes the ring and sends Kaiser sailing across the ring with a rana. Penta lands a flurry of offense followed by a dive.
Grade: B-
Kaiser is really coming into his own as a singles wrestler. This was an effective segment, as both Kaiser and Penta came out looking great.
World Tag Team Championship Match: War Raiders (c) vs. The Creed Brothers
Julius and Brutus double-team Erik, beating him down in the corner. Ivar gets the tag and lands a flurry. Brutus and Julius try to work over Iva, but they end up getting caught by a handspring attack from Ivar. Ivar goes up top. Julius dropkicks Ivar, causing him to hit the apron and then the floor with a sickening thud. After the break, Julius and Brutus double suplex Ivar.
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Ivar manages to get the tag. Erik clears the ring. Brutus surprises Erik with a 450 splash. Erik kicks out. Brutus misses a moonsault. Ivar misses the Doomsault. Julius flattens Ivar with a shooting star press. Ivar kicks out. The Creeds miss the Doomsday Brutus Ball. Julius falls out of the ring. Ivar crushes Julius with a low crossbody against the LED board attached to the ring apron. Back in the ring, Erik and Ivar hit War Machine for the win.
Winners- War Raider
Grade: B
Good match. Erik and Ivar are an elite tag team, managing to make their opponents look amazing while maintaining their aura of badassery. The Creeds will have their time, most likely soon.
Insert Baking Noises Here
While Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker is giving an interview in the crowd, Finn Bálor interrupts. Breakker says he embarrassed The Judgement Day last week. Bálor says he can beat Breakker for the IC title whenever he wants. Breakker power walks through the crowd to the ring. Carlito and Dominik Mysterio try to attack Breakker before he can get to Bálor. Breakker takes both men out. Breakker beats down Bálor. Dominik pulls Bálor out of the ring before Breakker can Spear him. Breakker Spears Carlito out of his boots just because.
Grade: B
This was short and sweet. Breakker crushed The Judgement Day, as he should.
Bianca Belair is out to watch the main event.
Women’s World Championship Match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. IYO SKY
Ripley and SKY trade pin attempts. Neither woman can hold the other down for a three. After another series of reversals, SKY floors Ripley with a head kick. Sky misses a 619. Ripley suplexes SKY out on the floor as Belair looks on. After the break, Ripley lands a missile dropkick. SKY lands a front dropkick off the top.SKY rolls through and lands a double stomp. Ripley and SKY trade strikes. SKY attempts a crossface. Ripley blocks it and lands a front suplex. Ripley tries the Prism Lock, but SKY kicks her out to the apron. SKY counters Ripley’s suplex on the apron into a shoulder breaker on the apron.
SKY misses a dive but lands on her feet. Ripley turns SKY inside out with a big boot. Ripley sets up Riptide. SKY reverses it into a DDT. Running knees by SKY. SKY lands the InSANE Elbow! Ripley kicks out, but SKY locks in the Asuka Lock! Bullet Train attack by SKY. SKY goes up for the Over the Moonsault. Ripley crotches SKY on the top rope. Avalanche back suplex by Ripley. SKY kicks out. Prism Lock by Ripley.SKY sends Ripley flying out of the ring. SKY lands a sunset flip powerbomb onto the barricade. Over the Moonsault by SKY. SKY gets her foot on the bottom rope to break the pin.
Ripley rolls out of the ring. SKY lands a suicide dive. SKY sets up an Asai moonsault. Ripley pulls SKY off the apron in an electric chair. Ripley drops SKY on the apron, then the commentary desk. SKY is almost counted out. Belair cheers SKY on as she gets back in the ring. Ripley rolls out of the ring and gets in Belair’s face, yelling about Belair not wanting to face her at WrestleMania. Belair and Ripley get into a shoving match. The referee steps in and stops them from fighting. Ripley sets up a top rope Riptide. Ripley yells at Belair that she will see her at WrestleMania. SKY reverses it into a rana. SKY lands the Over the Moonsault for the win!
Winner- IYO SKY
Grade: B+
This was far from Ripley and SKY’s best match, but what a finish! This writer isn’t sure if Belair is heading for a heel turn, but one could argue that she cost Ripley the title simply because she felt the need to be at ringside. Couple that with Ripley’s arrogance getting in the way of her focus, and you have the perfect mix for SKY to pull out a surprise win. What does this mean for WrestleMania? Will it end up being Belair vs. SKY? Will Ripley get her rematch before or at WrestleMania? Let us know what you think in the comments!
WWE Raw Review:
Tonight’s Raw was a hell of a show. Tons of great in-ring action, with Valkyria vs. Nile and the main event women’s championship match between Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY being the highlight. CM Punk set the WWE a flame with another fiery pipebomb of a promo where he eviscerated Cena, The Rock, and Seth Rollins. At this point, it’s safe to put all of the complaints about the road to WrestleMania to bed. So far, this has been the most unpredictable Mania build maybe ever. What do you all think? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: B
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