Raw 8/24/20: Keith Lee Debuts; Four Matches Made for Payback; Retribution destroys Mysterios!
Here's what's on tap for Raw tonight:
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will kick off Raw
Arm Wrestling Competition officiated by Mark Henry: Bobby Lashley vs. Apollo Crews
Kevin Owens invited Aleister Black to the KO Show
Raw Underground: Ivar vs. Dolph Ziggler
Keith Lee debuts
Lumberjack Match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship: Sasha Banks (WWE Women's Tag Team champ) vs. Asuka (champ)
Dominik & Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy
Raw is live in the ThunderDome for the first time!
Commentary tells us that at Payback on Sunday, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt will defend the WWE Universal Championship in a no holds barred triple threat match against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns!!
We kick off the show with WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre fresh off his win over Randy Orton at SummerSlam. They show highlights of the match. McIntyre welcomes the fans. McIntyre talks about his match with Orton at SummerSlam. McIntyre says he is hungrier than Orton and so proud to be champion. McIntyre talks about his journey and how it differs from Orton's. McIntyre says Orton is the best but he was better than Orton at SummerSlam. McIntyre talks about Orton's Backlash match and Orton claiming to be the greatest ever. McIntyre is saying he is looking forward to his next challenge but if Orton wants another shot then McIntyre will kick his damn head off and send him to Claymore Country. As McIntyre is leaving, HE'S ATTACKED BY ORTON!! They fight into the backstage area where ORTON PUNTS MCINTYRE IN THE HEAD NOT ONCE BUT TWICE!!! I wouldn't say they were the greatest looking punts by Orton.
We're back after a commercial and McIntyre is being helped by officials.
A video package airs highlighting Keith Lee.
Nia Jax walks backstage when she is stopped by Sara Schreiber. Nia says she has been reinstated from her suspension. SHAYNA BASZLER SHOWS UP! They talk trash and Nia tells Shayna to worry about her match with Bayley tonight. Shayna calls Nia HAYSTACKS CALHOUN!! I legit just laughed out loud. I haven't heard that name in at least a decade!! Shayna says at least Haystacks was good looking. Nia calls Shayna an Adams Family reject. Not near as good an insult!
Non-Title Match
Bayley (WWE Smackdown Women's champ & WWE Women's Tag Team champ) w/ Sasha Banks (WWE Women's Tag Team champ) vs. Shayna Baszler
Before the match can start, Nia Jax comes to the ring. We go to a commercial and it'll start next.
Nia Jax is watching from the ramp. It's all Shayna in the early going with Shayna targeting Bayley's shoulder. Bayley bails out of the ring to regroup. Once back in, Bayley hits a few strikes to take advantage. Baszler sends Bayley off the ropes and smashes her with a forearm. Bayley's offense was short lived. Baszler follows with a nice knee strike! Banks provides a distraction allowing Bayley to take control. Bayley talks major trash while delivering punches. Near fall by Bayley. Bayley sends Baszler to the outside and Nia walks closer to the ring. Just do the damn DQ finish already. WELL WHAT DO YOU KNOW? THERE IT IS!! NIA ATTACKS SHAYNA FORCING THE DQ @ 4:30!! Nia continues the post match beat down on Shayna while Bayley and Banks walk away laughing. Bayley and Banks try to convince Nia to beat down Shayna but she isn't willing to do their dirty work. Shayna and Nia both turn to Bayley and Banks. The tag champs leave up the ramp.
Backstage, Kevin Owens is looking for Aleister Black. He finds his locker room and talks to him (but we don't actually see Aleister) and Owens asks if he'll come on the KO Show. It's next!
Kevin Owens is here for the KO Show. He welcomes us to the first edition of the KO Show inside the ThunderDome!! He is rocking a t-shirt and tie!! My man!! He says his guest and him have a common enemy and he hasn't seen him for a month. He welcomes ALEISTER BLACK!! Black makes his way to the ring with his eye bandaged up. KO talks about what happened to Aleister and asks how he's doing. Aleister says let's just roll the footage of what happened. Owens thinks he knows exactly what Black is feeling. He knows how Rollins can get under your skin. KO says it's something Seth Rollins loves to do to people. KO keeps talking and Black stumbles out of his chair. KO tries to help him but Black hits him with a back fist! BLACK HITS KO WITH BLACK MASS!!!
Bayley and Banks argue backstage. They are interviewed so they suddenly stop arguing and claim Banks will become "2 Belts Banks" again tonight and then they'll take care of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
On this Friday's Smackdown, the Fiend, Roman Reigns, and Braun Strowman will sign the contract for their triple threat match at Payback.
Fatal Four Way Match for the 24/7 Championship
Shelton Benjamin (champ) vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Tozawa vs. R-Truth
Everyone tries for pins early with no success. Alexander picks up the pace as him and Shelton battle. A big knee by Shelton sends Cedric outside. Truth misses a scissors kick on Shelton. Shelton power bombs Tozawa outside but the ninjas catch him! Truth throws Shelton over the top rope and TOZAWA PINS TRUTH WITH A ROLL UP TO WIN THE GOLD @ 1:27!! Shelton beats the hell out of the ninjas. Alright then...
Randy Orton is walking backstage and Sara Schreiber asks if he has any comments about what he did to Drew McIntyre tonight. He says "I do" as he makes his way to the ring as we go to a commercial.
Randy Orton makes his way to the ring. He says he has been doing whatever he wants whenever he wants but that wasn't the case at SummerSlam. Orton says you can call him a lot of things but he promises that he is a man of his word. He talks about being the Legend Killer. Orton says he enjoyed kick McIntyre in the skull. Orton says he did it because he offered Orton a rematch out of pity. Randy reminds McIntyre who he is. HERE COMES KEITH LEE TO INTERRUPT!! Lee gets a mic and say Orton seems perplexed. Lee introduces himself and says he has an opportunity for Orton to BASK IN HIS GLORY!! Lee runs down Orton's nicknames and then talks about his own nicknames. LEE CHALLENGES ORTON FOR A MATCH RIGHT NOW!!! Orton says "maybe later" and bails out of the ring.
Charly Caruso is backstage talking to Angel Garza, Demi Burnett, and Zelina Vega. Caruso brings up Vega poisoning Ford again. Garza says so what if Zelina did it and Zelina says Garza isn't helping his case. Demi says she's been talking to Ivar and Garza tries to flirt with both Bennett and Caruso. Garza is in action next.
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton is official for later tonight.
Angel Garza w/ Andrade & Demi Burnett vs. Montez Ford w/ Angelo Dawkins (WWE Rag Tag Team champs)
It's raining red solo cups again! Quick pace to start with Ford getting the better of Garza. However, Ford leaps off the top right into a drop kick by Garza! THE PANTS ARE OFF ALREADY! Garza hangs Ford in the tree of woe and hits a running knee. Near fall. No Zelina Vega at ringside. IVAR makes his way to the ring and Garza seems distracted. Ivar goes over to talk to Demi and gives her a turkey leg!! HAHA!! Demi leaves with Ivar!! Ford and Garza battle on the top turnbuckle. Ford knocks Garza off and FORD HITS A BIG FROG SPLASH FOR THE WIN @ 3:14!! Garza looked like a complete chump here. Kind of entertaining and sad at the same time. The Profits celebrate.
Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax talk backstage. Nia talks to her about possibly winning the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Nia wants the titles. Baszler says if she helps Nia, Nia has to get off her back. Nia shoves Shayna and Shayna slaps Nia. Shayna walks off.
Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott are walking when they are joined by Bianca Belair. They have some kind of match next against the IIconics.
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley is official for Payback for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
Six Woman Tag Team Match
The IIconics & Zelina Vega vs. The Riott Squad & Bianca Belair
Billie Kay and Liv Morgan start. The IIconics try to isolate Morgan early but have no luck. Riott comes in but the IIconics trade tags to work on her. Vega in now and she hits running knees in the corner on Riott for a near fall. Zelina knocks Liv and Bianca off their corner but then Ruby tags Bianca!! Bianca dominates Zelina and takes out the IIconics! GLAM SLAM BY BIANCA ON ZELINA! Moonsault by Belair but the IIconics break up the count. Zelina tries an unsuccessful roll up on Belair but then BELAIR HITS THE KOD ON VEGA FOR THE WIN @ 3:27!! Belair is just on another level compared to the other five ladies. No disrespect. This was a Belair squash disguised as a six woman tag.
Ricochet and Cedric Alexander are arm wrestling backstage when Mark Henry comes in and says to get ready for Apollo Crews and Bobby Lashley. MVP comes in now and gives Cedric a hard time for arm wrestling when he just lost his opportunity at the 24/7 title. MVP talks about his offer to Cedric and runs down Ricochet before saying he has to go attend to Hurt Business.
Mark Henry is out now to get ready for the arm wrestling competition. God love Henry as he is still claiming to be the World's Strongest Man. I don't doubt that he was 20 years ago. Henry introduces Bobby Lashley and then brings out Apollo Crews with praise for his victory last night. This won't end well. Henry has told the Hurt Business, Mustafa Ali, Ricochet, and Cedric not to come out. Fat chance of that happening. Lashley talks trash saying he won't beat Crews too bad so he has no excuses for Payback. Crews says Lashley saw what happened to MVP last night and Crews claims he will win this. They go to lock up and Lashley pulls away. He has to take his jacket off. They lock up and Crews stomps Lashley's foot and wins immediately!! Crews laughs while Lashley complains to Henry! Lashley tries to attack but Apollo takes him out! The rest of the Hurt Business runs out but Crews dives to the outside and takes them out as well before leaving!
Highlights of Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio from SummerSlam.
The Mysterio family is interviewed backstage by Charly Caruso. Rey is proud of Dominik no matter what. Charly asks if Dominik was nervous last night and he says he was terrified but his family gave him courage. Rey says some day Seth Rollins will have a family and understand what he put Rey and his family through. Rey says tonight isn't about winning or losing but it's all about the night he got to share the ring with his son. Rey will be damned if Seth ruins it. Rey calls Dominik the future of Raw.
Natalya and Lana are out now. God help us. Lana says they are inducting a special woman into the Hall of Fame. What the hell?! Lana starts talking about Natalya's accolades. Natalya says she'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame someday but they are talking about Mickie James. They have a highlight video of Mickie James to show us and it's nothing. HERE COMES MICKIE!! Mickie shoves Natalya and Mick Kicks Lana in the head!
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton is next!
Shane McMahon is talking to his usual security guard as we get ready for Raw Underground. The Hurt Business confronts Shane and Lashley wants to fight someone tonight and he doesn't care who it is. Shane says tonight is going to be good.
Back from a commercial, Lashley quickly destroys a man in Raw Underground. Dolph Ziggler gets in the face Lashley!! Ziggler take him down! Dolph holds his own until LASHLEY POUNCES ZIGGLER OUT OF THE RING INTO THE CROWD OF PEOPLE!! Lashley kills another guy!
Randy Orton vs. Keith Lee
This is too good to be true so some shenanigans will happen. They lock up and Orton gets a head lock but Lee over powers him and shows off his agility! Orton with some strikes but Lee no sells and over powers Orton again. A standing over the head belly to belly by Lee! They go outside and Orton sends Lee into the ring post. Back in the ring, Orton does his trade mark stomps! Orton only gets a 1 count! Orton tries a sleeper but Lee powers out and splashes Orton in the corner before hitting him with a cross body. Lee launches Orton out of the ring with a shoulder tackle. They go to get back in and ORTON HITS THE HANGING DDT! Orton stalks Lee to setup the RKO. MCINTYRE IS HERE TO ATTACK ORTON FOR THE DQ @ 4:49!! McIntyre beats on Orton and Orton takes off through the crowd! My problem with this besides the DQ finish (which I expected) is that Orton lays out all these legends with the punt then he punts McIntyre TWICE and McIntyre is chasing him two hours later. Not good in my opinion.
Commentary talks about Roman Reigns surprise return for the third or fourth time tonight.
Charly Caruso interviews a pissed off Drew McIntyre backstage. McIntyre looks into the camera and ORTON ATTACKS HIM!! ORTON PUNTS MCINTYRE FOR THE THIRD TIME TONIGHT!! We go to a commercial with McIntyre out cold in the back.
Charly Caruso is outside the trainer's room trying to get an update. Charly says McIntyre may have a skull fracture or a brain bleed. Oh geez man!
Lumberjack Match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship
Sasha Banks (WWE Women's Tag Team champ) w/ Bayley (WWE Smackdown Women's champ & WWE Women's Tag Team champ) vs. Asuka (champ)
Shayna Baszler, the Riott Squad, the Iiconics, Bianca Belair, Natalya, Lana, and Mickie James are the lumberjacks. Banks goes for a quick roll up but it doesn't work. Asuka throws Banks out but Banks threatens the lumberjacks. Banks gets back in but Asuka sends her back out and we go to a commercial.
Back from the break, Banks is beating on Asuka outside and Bayley gets a few shots in. Near fall for Banks back in the ring. Banks charges Asuka but runs into a boot. ASUKA HITS A JUMPING DDT FROM THE CORNER!! Asuka locks in an ankle lock. Banks rolls through and sends Bayley to the outside. Banks dives from the apron but Asuka ducks and Banks takes out the Riott Squad! Asuka takes out Banks and stalks Bayley. Asuka is kicking all of the lumberjacks ass in order to get to Bayley! Banks attacks Asuka from behind. Back in the ring, BANKS HITS A FROG SPLASH!! 1...2...NO!! BAYLEY GRABS A CHAIR BUT SHAYNA STOPS HER!! BANKS IS DISTRACTED BY THIS ALLOWING ASUKA TO LOCK IN THE ASUKA LOCK!! BANKS TAPS OUT @ 7:48!! Banks is upset and crying with Bayley next to her. Shayna stares them down while she walks off.
Drew McIntyre is being loaded into an ambulance. Charly Caruso says he is on his way to the hospital. Keith Lee is here. Keith Lee wishes McIntyre didn't interview in his debut but it's unfortunate what happened. Lee says McIntyre will be alright but Orton won't be.
Dominik & Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy is the main event next!
Bobby Lashley and Cedric Alexander go at it in Raw Underground. LASHLEY CHOKES HIM OUT EASILY! The Viking Raiders brawl with the Hurt Business!!! THE HURT BUSINESS STANDS TALL!!
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton is official for Payback!! Wow!!
Dominik & Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy
All four men brawl around the ring before the match can even start!! Rollins and Murphy take out Rey so the match officially starts with Dominik against Murphy. Rey is still down on the outside. Dominik holds his own in the early going sending both Rollins and Murphy to the outside. Rey is back now and the Mysterio's double team Rollins. Rey looks for a 619 but Murphy pulls Rollins out of the ring. Dominik takes out both Rollins and Murphy with a dive to the outside as we go to a commercial.
We're back and Rey is being isolated by Rollins and Murphy. Rollins hits a big gut buster on Rey for a near fall. Rollins taunts Rey trying to make a tag and then knocks Dominik off the apron. Rey begins building momentum and is able to tag Dominik!! Dominik runs wild on Murphy! Dominik hits a spring board cross body on Murphy for a near fall. A rana by Dominik sends Murphy into the ring post and he follows up with a nice tornado DDT!! 1...2...Rollins breaks it up!! Rollins distracts Dominik allowing Murphy and Rollins to take advantage. Dominik avoids a buckle bomb and tags Rey!! Rey sets up the 619 but Dominik wants the tag! DOUBLE 619 ON MURPHY!! THE LIGHTS FLICKER!!! RETRIBUTION IS HERE!!! Rollins and Murphy bail!! RETRIBUTION DESTROYS THE MYSTERIOS!!! I guess this match is over around the 10 minute mark. The crowd boos as the beat down continues. Rollins and Murphy watch on from the ramp. RETRIBUTION STANDS ON THE APRON OVER THE FALLEN MYSTERIOS TO END THE SHOW.
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