WWE RAW aired live tonight from the Capital One Arena in Washington DC. Dolph Ziggler battled Theory in this week’s main event. Bobby Lashley defended the United States Championship against AJ Styles. Dakota Kai had her first singles match on the main roster and Riddle returned after three weeks of injury.
WWE RAW Results (8/15)
- Asuka & Alexa Bliss def. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. to advance to the third round of the Women’s Tag Team Tournament
- The Miz & Ciampa def. Mustafa Ali & Cedric Alexander
- Drew McIntyre def. Kevin Owens via DQ
- Veer Mahaan def. enhancement talent
- Bobby Lashley def. AJ Styles to retain the United States Championship
- Dakota Kai def. Dana Brooke
- Theory def. Dolph Ziggler
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
The Judgment Day Beat Rey Mysterio Down
The Judgment Day (Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest) made their way to the ring for a promo. Judgment Day boasted about their attack on The Mysterios and Finn Balor claimed that Rey & Dominik will not be on the show tonight.
Damian Priest said that Edge isn’t here tonight because he is out in Toronto promoting their match next week. Priest vowed to send the Rated-R Superstar back into retirement and for his wife, Beth Phoenix, to have to wheel him around the house. Rey Mystery attacked from behind and knocked Balor & Priest out of the ring.
Rhea and Rey circled each other. Balor went for a sneak attack but Rey broke it up with several chair shots. Mysterio bashed Damian with the steel chair and went for hit Finn but Rhea slid in the way. Ripley ripped the chair away from Rey and Damian capitalized with a knee strike. Rhea set up a chair in the ring and delivered a DDT to Rey Mysterio. Damian unloaded some punches as Finn climbed to the top rope. Finn delivered the Coup de Grace on Mysterio with a steel chair on top of his chest.
Asuka & Alexa Advanced Women’s Tag Team Tournament
Alexa Bliss & Asuka faced Nikki A.S.H. & Doudrop in the first round of the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament. RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair was ringside for the match. Belair, Bliss, and Asuka will battle Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai at Clash at the Castle. Alexa and Asuka controlled the action early and knocked Nikki & Doudrop out of the ring as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Doudrop tagged in and The Empress of Tomorrow hit her with a Dropkick. Nikki tagged in and Asuka greeted her with a Clothesline and a Hip Attack in the corner of the ring. Asuka followed it up with a German Suplex and bridged into the cover for a near fall. Tamina and Dana Brooke were shown backstage watching as Doudrop leveled Alexa Bliss with a Crossbody.
Doudrop tagged in and set up for a Powerslam but Asuka bashed her in the face. Doudrop responded with a Michinoku Driver for a close two count. Doudrop went for a Splash but Asuka got out of the way at the last moment. Asuka hit a boot to the face and Bliss tagged in. Alexa hit Double Knees and Asuka tagged back in.
The Empress of Tomorrow applied the Asuka Lock on Doudrop as Alexa kept Nikki from breaking it up. Asuka and Alexa Bliss advanced to the 2nd round of the tournament for the vacant WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. They will battle IYO SKY & Dakota Kai in the next round. Bayley, Kai, and SKY appeared on the entrance ramp and talked some trash before WWE security broke it up.
Dolph Ziggler confronted Theory backstage and said that he earned the MITB contract when he won it, while Theory had to be added to the match. Theory vowed to successfully cash in the contract and keep winning he does so. The two stars then brawled backstage as RAW went to a break.
The Miz & Ciampa Picked Up A Victory
The Miz and Ciampa battled Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali tonight on RAW. Miz and Ciampa controlled the action early and applauded themselves on the apron as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Ciampa hit a Clothesline and applied a Headlock on Cedric Alexander.
Alexander escaped and tagged in Mustafa Ali. Mustafa hit Miz with a Clothsline for a near fall and knocked Ciampa off the ring apron. Cedric tagged in and Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale. Alexander countered into a Powerslam and went for the cover but Ciampa put Miz’s boot on the ropes. Mustafa tagged in and slammed Miz down to the canvas. Ali went for the 450 Splash but Ciampa slid in with a precision knee strike while Mustafa was in midair. Ciampa followed it up with the Fairy Tale Ending for the pinfall victory.
The Usos Attacked Drew McIntyre
Ezekiel’s father, Ernie Jr., delivered a warning to Kevin Owens following his attack on Ezekiel last week.
McIntyre and Owens then had a promo before a singles match. Owens tried to downplay Drew’s success but McIntyre went on an awesome rant about all he’s done to get back to WWE. McIntyre admitted he was “The Chosen One” fifteen years ago, but then he was fired and has worked his ass off to get back to WWE.
The action started out back and forth but Owens took control. KO knocked McInyre to the floor and hit him with a Frog Splash off the ring apron as RAW went to a commercial break. McIntyre battled back and the action went back and forth for several minutes. Drew planted Owens off the middle turnbuckle with White Noise and went for the cover. Owens kicked out and Drew set up for the Claymore.
The Usos interfered and attacked Drew from behind to end the match in a DQ. Owens hit McIntyre with a Stunner after the match. The Usos tried to attack some more but McIntyre hit them with a Claymore. He then warned The Usos that he is coming after Roman Reigns on this week’s SmackDown.
Seth Rollins & Riddle, Veer Mahaan Dominates
Seth Rollins made his way to the ring to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Rollins referred to himself as a visionary and a revolutionary. Riddle interrupted on the jumbotron but eventually rushed the ring. Riddle planted Rollins with an Exploder Suplex and knocked him to the outside. Seth battled back and cleared off the announce table.
Seth tried to hit Riddle with the Stomp on the announce table but Riddle escaped. Riddle beat Rollins down a bit before Seth retreated through the crowd. Riddle chased him before posing with the WWE Universe to end the segment. Riddle issued a challenge to Rollins but Seth didn’t accept it yet.
Veer Mahaan defeated a jobber in a squash match.
Bobby Lashley Retained The US Title
Bobby Lashley defended the United States Championship against AJ Styles to begin the final hour of this week’s RAW. Lashley dominated the action early and beat AJ down in the corner of the ring. Bobby hit a big shoulder tackle before the challenger battled back. AJ caught the champion with a Dropkick before focusing his attack on the champion’s knees. RAW went to a break with both superstars down on the floor outside the ring.
When RAW returned, Lashley launched Ezekiel into the ring post. The Miz and Ciampa showed up on the entrance ramp and started making their way down to the ring. Miz and Ciampa were ringside for the match and Lashley stared at them for a bit. Lashley went for a Suplex but AJ blocked it. Bobby sent Styles out of the ring and the referee started counting. Ciampa hopped up on the ring apron for a distraction as The Miz approached AJ Styles outside the ring. Dexter Lumis hopped over the barricadebut WWE security stopped him as RAW went to a break.
AJ hit the United States Champion with a Crossbody outside the ring when RAW returned from a commercial break. Back in the ring, AJ hit a sliding forearm to the face and then a Clothesline in the corner. Bobby threw AJ to the ring apron but the challenger responded with a kick to the knee. Styles followed it up with a forearm to the face for a near fall.
Bobby connected with a big Powerslam and went for the cover but AJ powered out at two. AJ battled back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Lashley connected with a slam of his own and went for the cover but the challenger kicked out at two and the United States Championship match continued. Lashley lifted AJ up onto his shoulders and bounced his head off the ring post.
Back in the ring, Lashley geared up in the corner for the Spear. AJ countered with a knee to the face and then locked in the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring. The champion escaped and went for the Hurt Lock but AJ brilliantly countered into a cover for a near fall. AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bobby dodged it and leveled Styles with the Spear for the pinfall victory. Bobby Lashley remains the United States Champion.
Dakota Kai def. Dana Brooke In Her Singles Match Debut
Dakota Kai battled 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke in a non-title match. It was Dakota’s first singles match on the main roster. Before the match, Dakota approached Dana backstage and warned her.
In the final hour of the show, Dakota Kai battled Dana Brooke with Bayley and IYO SKY ringside. The champion got in little offense before Kai sent her to the corner. Dakota hit the Kaio Kick for the submission victory. Dakota and IYO will battle Alexa and Asuka next week in the semifinals of the tag team tournament.
Theory def. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler battled Theory in the main event on RAW. The two Superstars brawled backstage early on the show. Theory sent Ziggler down to the mat and climbed to the top rope. Dolph hopped to the top turnbuckle and slammed Theory down face-first for a near fall as RAW went to a commercial break.
When RAW returned, Ziggler hit Theory with some elbows to the midsection. Dolph charged but Theory got out of the way and Ziggler crashed into the turnbuckle. Theory connected with a Dropkick and went for the cover but Dolph powered out at two. Theory launched Dolph into the ring post and paced around as the referee checked on him.
Ziggler hit a couple of Clotheslines and launched Theory to the corner. Dolph planted Theory with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. Theory responded with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Theory went for the Dropkick again but Dolph countered into the Fameasser for another near fall.
Theory and Ziggler traded punches in the middle of the ring. Theory got the better of the exchange and leveled Dolph with a massive Clothesline. The Money in the Bank winner went for A-Town Down but Ziggler escaped. Dolph connected with the Zig Zag and went for the cover but Theory was able to kick out at the last moment. Dolph went for a Superkick but Theory rolled up him up. Theory used the ropes for leverage but the referee caught him. Ziggler rolled up Theory for a near fall as well. Theory then hit the A-Town Down for the pinfall victory. He took a bunch of selfies in the ring to close the show.