WWE Raw live results: World Heavyweight title no. 1 contender tournament begins
The eight man tournament to determine the challenger for WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns in Mexico City next month begins on tonight’s live WWE Raw from Norfolk, Virginia.
The sole tournament match features former WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta going one-on-one with Laredo Kid who will be making his Raw debut and his first main roster appearance since last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. This will be their first singles match in more than two years.
After making their surprise returns last Monday, both Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaquer will return in separate segments to share more of what’s on their minds.
In a women’s tag team match, Sol Ruca will team with a mystery partner against WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez.
The announced matches and segments are rounded out by Austin Theory taking on Akira Tozawa.
Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.
******************
Live from Norfolk, Virginia.
Michael Cole & Corey Graves were on commentary.
The fans were lined up outside the building!
— Royce Keys will be out indefinitely after a bruised larynx and a cervical strain.
Solo Sikoa Handled Family Business
While Cole and Graves were updating us on the condition of Keys, Solo Sikoa stood in the crowd singing the lyrics to the Usos music. The said he was here to handle some family business.
This brought out Jey Uso. He told Sikoa the tribal chief “called the play” and now it was time for Sikoa to fall in line. Sikoa asked if Jey fell in line or just fell off? Jey won the Rumble, Jey beat Gunter, and Jey made the kids happy playing his music. But now, all that crap is out the window, and now it “sucks” to be Jey Uso. Solo Sikoa isn’t coming back to the Bloodline, and everyone loves where he is at right now.
Jey Uso told Sikoa to shut up. Sikoa only has his big house, he only has his job in WWE because of the Bloodline. Uso challenged Sikoa to a match tonight, so and when he wins, Jey will deliver Sikoa to the Tribal Chief. That’s Sikoa’s warning shot.
After Sikoa checked the folks behind him to make sure no one was shot, Sikoa agreed to the match, but when he wins, the Bloodline has to leave Sikoa only. And that’s Jey’s warning shot! “Pew!”
— Penta and Laredo Kid cut dueling promos in a pre-taped segment to hype up the tournament where the winner gets to lose to Roman Reigns.
— In the back, The Usos and Jacob Fatu argued about who’s running whose play.
Penta v. Laredo Kid in a #1 Contender’s Tournament First Round Match
Laredo Kid hit a top rope dropkick early. Penta sent Kid to the floor with a step-up rana. With the fight on the floor, Laredo Kid came off the top rope and his a moonsault. Back in the ring, Kid hit a twisting senton off the middle rope for a near fall.
After a commercial, Penta hit a sloppy slingblade and a pair of tilt-a-whirl backbreakers. Laredo Kid escaped the Penta Driver and hit a poisoned rana. Kid delivered a 450 splash for a near fall. Kid charged into a superkick from Penta. Penta caught Kid with a back stabber for a near fall.
Penta and Laredo Kid exchanged strikes, which ended when Kid charged into a superkick from Penta. Kid went to the floor, and Penta followed him out with a tope con hilo.
Back in the ring, Penta hit the Penta Driver for a near fall. Kid caught Penta with an inverted Michinoku Driver. Kid missed a tornio off the top, and Penta hit the Mexican Destroyer for the pinfall.
Match Result: Penta pinned Laredo Kid to advance to the Semi-Finals of the the #1 Contender’s Tournament. (10:44)
— Byron Saxton interviewed the Vision. Saxton called Alpha Academy losers. Maxxine Dupri put over Austin Theory. Everyone but Bron Breakker, who was staring off into space, left. Breakker asked Saxton what he thought of Oba Femi, who said Femi was the future. “You sound just like Paul.”
Akira Tozawa v. Austn Theory (w/ the Vision)
This match was a backdrop for the commentators to talk about Bron Breakker & Oba Femi, and for the fans to chant “Logan sucks!” Bron stood outside staring off into space, probably thinking that every minute he’s spending with these geeks is lowering his stock.
Theory gave nothing to Tozawa for the first few minutes. Then he dropped to the floor to gloat about giving Tozawa a backbreaker.
After a commercial, Tozawa missed a rolling clothesline in the ring and got hit with a DDT. Tozawa actually got a near fall after a senton, then tore off his t-shirt like he was Hulk Hogan. Tozawa hit kicks to the chest. Out of nowhere, Theory floored Tozawa with a forearm and that was it.
Match Result: Austin Theory pinned Tozawa (8:24).
This match went far too long for what it was. It didn’t need two segments, that’s for sure.
After the match, Theory and Maxxine went for a chair, but Adam Pearce and his gaggle of geeks broke that up. Breakker jumped into the ring to spear Tozawa until Oba Femi’s music hit.
Oba didn’t run out to save Tozawa, he did his full-on entrance. Breakker stood in the center of the ring waiting for Oba. Theory tried to attack Oba but ran into a boot. Oba stepped into the ring but the Adam Pearce and the geeks jumped into the ring before something awesome could happen.
— Cathy Kelley interviewed Rey Mysterio about the tournament, which lead to Dominik Mysterio showing up and complaining (rightly) that he wasn’t in the tournament. Dragon Lee defended Rey’s honor, and went to find Adam Pearce about setting up a match between he and Dominik later tonight.
Stephanie Vaquer Addressed the Crowd
Four months ago, The Judgment Day took out Stephanie Vaquer the night after WrestleMania. Last night, Becky Lynch and Vaquer made their returns to Monday Night Raw, and both want Liv Morgan’s World title. Now that we’re all caught up, Vaquer came out to address the live crowd.
Vaquer talked about how she missed Raw, the ring, and the live crowd. But mostly, she missed watching the Judgment Day run from her. Vaquer threatened all women in the Judgment Day.
Becky Lynch came out to add her two cents, which I guess we have to round up to a nickel now. Lynch wants to take Liv Morgan’s title because her reign is taking the championship back to the mid-2000s. Lynch thought that Vaquer had made a lot of impact on Raw, but she thinks that Vaquer doesn’t deserve the Women’s title because she’s injured too much. Lynch was fine with Vaquer getting her revenge on Morgan, but the title was coming back to Lynch.
Vaquer left, and Liv Morgan attacked Becky Lynch from behind. Lynch blocked the Oblivion attempt and suplexed Morgan. Vaquer and Lynch had another staredown while Live Morgan ran.
— Solo Sikoa wanted help from LA Knight tonight with the Bloodline, but Knight reminded Sikoa that teaming up with him was a one night only situation at SummerSlam.
Dragon Lee v. Dominik Mysterio
Dragon Lee took Mysterio down with a step up rana, then dropkicked Mysterio in the corner. Mysterio went for a sunset flip, but Lee countered with a double stomp for a near fall. Lee countered a suplex attempt with a small package. Mysterio floored Lee with a clothesline. Lee missed a boot in the corner and tumbled to the floor, and Mysterio followed him out with a springboard dive.
TV recapper for the Observer website, starting in 2021 with AEW Dark. Currently covering the Monday Night Raw beat.