This week’s WWE RAW aired live from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. The Rated-R Superstar battled Damian Priest in the main event. In addition to the takeaways below, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle was announced for next week’s edition of RAW live from Pittsburgh.
WWE RAW Results (8/22)
- IYO SKY & Dakota Kai def. Asuka & Alexa Bliss to advance to the finals of the Women’s Tag Team Tournament
- Finn Balor def. Dolph Ziggler
- Kevin Owens def. Chad Gable
- Bayley def. Aliyah
- AJ Styles & Bobby Lashley vs. The Miz & Ciampa ended in a no contest
- Edge def. Damian Priest
Here are the takeaways from this week’s WWE RAW:
Riddle & Rollins Brawled
Riddle and Seth Rollins were shown brawling backstage to kick off the show. The brawl went through the crowd and all the way to the ringside area. Riddle leaped off the barricade and knocked Rollins and a bunch of security down. The brawl continued up the entrance ramp until WWE security broke it up.
Trish Stratus Returned
Trish Stratus made her way to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. She thanked the crowd as they chanted “welcome back!”. Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY interrupted as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Bayley asked why Trish was at RAW and she said she was there to support Edge. IYO then cartoonishly laughed at Trish and said she didn’t like her after claiming to be a fan. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair joined the party and trash talk continued. Bianca said that Bayley should be thanking Trish instead of insulting her. Alexa Bliss and Asuka interrupted and it led to the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournmament match.
IYO SKY & Dakota Kai Advanced In The Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament
Alexa Bliss & Asuka battled Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky in the semifinals of the Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament. Asuka and Alexa controlled the action early and sent Kai and Sky out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial.
When RAW returned, Alexa hit a Senton on Iyo for a two count. Asuka tagged and had a stare down with Iyo before the two WWE Superstars circled each other in the ring. Dakota tagged in and beat The Empress of Tomorrow down and unloaded several kicks to the face.
Asuka responded with some kicks of her own and tagged in Alexa. Asuka hit Dakota with a Running Bulldog and Alexa went for the cover but Kai kicked out at the last moment. Alexa knocked Dakota out of the ring and then leaped onto her off the ring apron. Tamina and Dana Brooke were shown watching backstage. They were eliminated from the tournament in the first round. Kai and Sky battled back and isolated Alexa in the ring as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Bliss tagged in and climbed to the top rope. Alexa went for Twisted Bliss but Dakota got her knees up. Iyo followed it up with a Dropkick to the face that knocked Bliss out of the ring. Asuka tagged in and Kai went for her finishing kick but The Empress of tomorrow dodged it. Asuka applied the Asuka Lock but didn’t realize that Iyo tagged herself in. Iyo broke the hold on Dakota and rolled Asuka up for the pinfall victory. Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai advanced to the finals of the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.
Finn Balor def. Dolph Ziggler
The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley approached Dolph Ziggler backstage. Balor accused Dolph of latching himself onto younger superstars to get ahead. Dolph slapped him in the face and called him a little bitch before making his way to the ring. Rhea Ripley accompanied Balor to the ring for the match and Finn had new entrance music. Finn controlled the action early as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Dolph connected with an elbow to the midsection for a two count. Balor connected with a Powerbomb and went for the cover but Ziggler kicked out at two. Rhea shouted at the referee to count faster as the match continued. Dolph responded with a Fameasser but Finn kicked out at two. Rhea hit Ziggler with a cheap shot and Finn followed it up with the 1916. Balor delivered the Coup de Grace for the pinfall victory.
Kevin Owens vs. Chad Gable
Chad Gable battled Kevin Owens tonight on RAW and Otis was ringside. Gable issued an Open Challenge and KO answered. The action started off back and forth. Owens looked to deliver a Powerbomb on the ring apron but Gable countered into a Back Body Drop. Owens crashed to the floor outside the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Owens sent Gable to a corner with a German Suplex and followed it up with a Cannonball against the turnbuckle. Owens connected with a Pop-Up Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. After the match, Otis tried to attack but KO fought him off. Owens hit Otis with a Stunner and then Powerbombed Gable on top of him.
Bayley def. Aliyah
Aliyah got a great reaction from her hometown crowd and got emotional. Bayley returned to the ring in her first TV match in over a year. She performed at a live event over the weekend. Aliyah got in some offense early but The Role Model quickly took control of the match. Aliyah launched Bayley out of the ring and posed for the crowd. Aliyah responded with a flurry of punches in the corner of the ring. Bayley battled back and hit the Rose Plant for the pinfall victory in a sloppy match.
Dexter Lumis Kidnapped The Miz
AJ Styles and Bobby Lashley battled The Miz and Ciampa in a tag team match. Styles and Lashley dominated the action early. Bobby showed off his power and launched Ciampa onto The Miz outside the ring. The Miz grabbed his knee in pain as RAW went to a break.
When RAW returned, Ciampa and The Miz were back in control. Ciampa connected with a slam and Miz tagged in. The Miz got AJ in a Headlock in the middle of the ring as Lashley pleaded for a tag on the ring apron. Ciampa launched AJ into the barricade outside the ring. Miz and Ciampa gave themselves a round of applause on the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Ciampa got Styles in another Headlock. AJ escaped and tagged in the United States Champion. Lashley sent Miz and Ciampa to opposite corners of the ring and delivered a couple of Splashes. Bobby brought Ciampa to the outside and launched him into the ring post.
Lashley set up for the Spear but Miz dragged Ciampa away. Bobby chased after them and decked Miz with a Clothesline. As Bobby was getting back into the ring, Ciampa caught him in the ropes and hit a DDT. Ciampa went for the Fairytale Ending but Lashley blocked it. Bobby then delivered a Spear and went for the cover but Miz broke it up.
AJ knocked Miz out of the ring and leveled him with a Phenomenal Forearm. Styles leaned up against the barricade and someone grabbed him. Security took the person away before The Miz then leaned up against the barricade. Dexter Lumis showed up with a helmet on. He took the helmet off and dragged The Miz away with a psychotic look on his face. Ciampa then got hit with a Spear after the match ended in a no contest.
Johnny Gargano Arrives On WWE RAW, Theory Confronts Him
Johnny Gargano made his WWE return tonight on RAW. He made his way to the ring to a great reaction from the Toronto crowd. They chanted “Johnny Wrestling!” as he stood in the ring. Johnny noted that it has been 9 months since he’s been in a wrestling ring and he needs to remind himself how to do this.
Gargano introduced himself as a former NXT Champion, three-time North American Champion, and former tag champion. Johnny noted that he won the tag titles in this building. Johnny claimed that he wondered if he even wanted to do this anymore for a bit. He said he wanted to become IC Champ, US Champ, WWE Champ and wrestle at WrestleMania, and wanted to teach his son that even impossible dreams come true. Theory interrupted and we a The Way reunion from NXT.
Theory boasted about already accomplishing all of Gargano’s dreams as the crowd gave him the “what?!” treatment. Theory called the fans idiots and suggested that Johnny carry his bags for him. Johnny leveled Theory with a Superkick and posed for the crowd on the entrance ramp to end the segment.
Edge def. Damian Priest
Edge battled Damian Priest in the main event of this week’s episode of WWE RAW. Beth Phoenix was in the front row for the match. The Rated-R Superstar knocked Damian out of the ring to start off the action. Priest responded with a shoulder tackle but Edge sent him flying out of the ring once again. Damian paced around ringside for a bit as the crowd loudly chanted for the hometown hero Edge.
Back in the ring, Edge sent Damian to the corner and beat him down. The action spilled to the outside once again and Edge connected with a Powerbomb on top of the barricade. Damian then fell into the timekeeper’s area as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Edge and Damian went for a big boot at the same time. They both connected and collapsed the canvas. Damian brought Edge out of the ring and Powerbombed him on the ring apron. Damian followed it up with a Razor’s Edge through the announce table as RAW went to a break.
Back from the commercial break, Edge hit a Hurricanrana off the top rope and sent Damian down to the canvas. Edge went for a Spear but Damian countered with a big boot to the face for a near fall. Priest followed it up with an elbow to the face but Edge responded with the Impaler for a near fall.
Edge accidentally knocked into referee Charles Robinson and he took a big bump out of the ring. Edge broke off a piece of a steel chair and locked in a Crossface but there was no referee. The Rated-R hit an insane Canadian Destroyer and followed it up with a Spear for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Edge went to hit Damian with the con-chair-to but Rhea broke it up with a low blow. Finn Balor then delivered the Coup de Grace to Edge. Finn went to hit Edge with the con-chair-to but Beth Phoenix ripped the chair out of his hands. Beth dared Rhea and Balor to come at her but Judgment Day retreated to close the show.
