The MassMutual Centre in Springfield, Massachusetts, was the home of Monday Night Raw on September 15. John Cena appeared for the final time in his hometown. CM Punk and AJ Lee confronted Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Penta battled Kofi Kingston while Lyra Valkyria competed against Roxanne Perez. Let’s look at a stacked show from Massachusetts and discuss WWE Raw September 15 Results.
John Cena is back home!
The show kicks off with the 17-time world champion John Cena in front of his home crowd. The fans brought the energy and the electricity to the arena. John Cena talked about his early days as a football player at Springfield College. He said he has friends and family members in the arena tonight. Cena praised and thanked Alicia Taylor for the introduction, and he said that the phrase “Last Real Champion” meant a lot to him.
Cena discussed Brock Lesnar, describing him as intimidating and nearly invincible. John said that he would have declined a match with Lesnar. It would be better for his health and the remaining six appearances of the Farewell Tour. The fans chanted “Thank You Cena”, and Cena said that it was the reason he didn’t say no to battling Lesnar.
Cena raised the intensity and said that he’s the Last Real Champion. It didn’t mean to wear a championship belt. The Last Real Champion leaves a place better than he found it, never backs down from a fight, never gives up and fights for the hustle, loyalty and respect. John said that he’s been Lesnar’s best shot for 20 years. Cena dropped his catchphrase, “If you want some, come get some”, before leaving.
Grades: A
Analysis: It was a proper homecoming for the Greatest of All Time. Cena is a master on the mic. He can hype you for anything in a wrestling ring. WWE has avoided any promo segment between Lesnar and Cena so far. Hopefully, there will be changes on the upcoming SmackDown before Wrestlepalooza.
Backstage
Before the John Cena segment, Jey Uso and LA Knight argued backstage, but the officials intervened to prevent any physical altercation. In another segment, Adam Pearce approached Knight and The Usos. Knight wanted Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Pearce told him to find a partner, and he picked Jimmy Uso. Jey wasn’t happy about it. Pearce asked Jey to talk to Jimmy.
Roxanne Perez vs Lyra Valkyria
With a bit of back-and-forth exchange, Lyra Valkyria delivered a leg sweep and a crossbody. Raquel Rodriguez interrupted, but the referee noticed it and ejected her from the ringside. In the ring, Roxanne Perez rolled Lyra for a two-count. Valkyria fought back with a dropkick. Valkyria hit a gut-wrenching powerbomb. Perez responded with a hurricanrana from the top rope. In the end, Valkyria got the victory with a Nightwing.
After the match, Raquel Rodriguez attacked Lyra. She delivered a big boot. Roxanne followed it with a Pop Rox. Bayley returned and saved Lyra. Bayley landed a suplex onto Perez. She laid out Rodriguez and delivered a Bayley-to-Belly suplex to Roxanne. The Hugger Bayley is back as she hugged Joe Tessitore, Corey Graves, Alicia Taylor and the fans.
Winner: Lyra Valkyria
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a short match, and half of the time was given to the post-match segment. Bayley has returned with the Hugger character again. Many fans expected her to bring a much darker and serious version. However, we’re excited to see her in the coming weeks.
Backstage
Adam Pearce was with Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer. The match was made for the vacant Women’s World Championship as the two competitors shook hands. The Kabuki Warriors arrived at the scene. Asuka said that Vaquer will face Kairi Sane tonight. Pearce made it official.
LA Knight approached Jimmy Uso in the locker room. Knight told him that they would be partners for tonight’s tag team match against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Jimmy said that he put him in a tough spot. Knight said that Jimmy didn’t screw him last week.
Penta vs Kofi Kingston
Penta chased Kofi Kingston around the ring before landing a splash. Kofi hit a dropkick and a frog splash. Penta landed a hurricanrana and a corner handstand double kick. Both men exchanged kicks. Grayson Waller tried to interrupt, but suffered a superkick from Penta. In the end, Penta jumped off the middle rope and landed a springboard Mexican Destroyer for the win.
Winner: Penta
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun encounter. Penta is always fun to watch, but WWE is currently at a loss for plans for him. Waller is a treat to watch on TV if used perfectly. He can be entertaining and an equally good athlete.
Backstage
Jey Uso told Jimmy Uso to say no to the tag team match tonight. He said that they have the Bronsons atWrestlepalooza. Jimmy wasn’t happy that Jey was acting like the Tribal Chief and giving him orders. Soon after, Jimmy reached Knight and accepted to be his tag team partner for tonight’s match.
Mixed Match Face-Off
Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch made their entrance together. The fans chanted the name of CM Punk. Rollins said that he was going to talk to them, but their behaviour is not good. So, he’d only address the fans watching on Netflix. Rollins introduced Becky Lynch, the women’s IC Champion, by recalling all her accolades. AJ Lee’s chants echoed through the arena. Lynch said that she’d talk about her face-to-face.
AJ Lee and CM Punk arrived. Punk introduced himself as AJ’s husband and said that he doesn’t need lengthy introductions. Punk started to get into Rollins and Lynch’s minds. He questioned their unity while being in a tag team. He asked whether their egos would allow them to share the spotlight. Rollins called Punk the most selfish person he had ever met. He said that the only good decision he made was marrying AJ Lee.
Seth told Punk that he had made the biggest mistake by involving his wife in the business. Punk said that it wouldn’t have happened if Rollins hadn’t used his wife as a shield. Becky noted that AJ Lee shared her mental health journey last week on Raw, but how’s her physical health? Becky brought her history of neck injuries. Lynch said that Punk was embroiled in a bloody feud over a bracelet last year. The bracelet had Lee’s name on it. Lynch said that Punk won’t bear what she’d do to his wife.
Lee said that she won championships with her neck in the same situations. She said that she has no clue what she’d do next, and this unpredictability is the biggest threat to Rollins and Lynch. Rollins said that he might not be able to predict what AJ would do, but he knows her husband well. Seth said that Punk has a habit of leaving things when they let him down. Rollins hoped that Punk wouldn’t do the same to AJ after Wrestlepalooza.
AJ slapped Rollins. Becky argued with Lee before exiting the ring. Rollins shoved Punk and left. Punk chased him around the ring. In the meantime, Lynch rushed to the ring and delivered a Manhandle Slam to AJ Lee. Lynch told Punk that he made a mistake before slapping him twice and leaving.
Grades: A
Analysis: It was a solid segment and was everything we expected from this face-off. It was intense and highly personal. Becky Lynch has been steadily improving throughout this story. We look forward to the mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza, but this story seems far from over.
El Grande Americano vs Dragon Lee
Dragon Lee started with a dropkick and a hurricanrana. El Grande Americano responded with a cutter. Lee landed a hurricanrana from the apron, followed by a suicide dive. Dragon hit a Liger Bomb for a two-count. The second El Grande Americano appeared at ringside. AJ Styles rushed to the ring and chased the other Americano under the ring. Styles threw him into the barricade.
The third Americano appeared and delivered a tornado DDT to Styles. The second Americano distracted the referee, and the first Americano tripped Dragon Lee off the turnbuckles. Americano applied the submission and submitted Lee.
Winner: El Grande Americano
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun match. The concept of three Americanos is exciting and entertaining. AJ Styles’ booking is still questionable in these roles, considering his immense star power.
Stephanie Vaquer vs Kairi Sane
Kairi Sane came in strong with a head scissors takeover, a dropkick and a flying forearm. Vaquer responded with a double knee strike. Stephanie hit a dropkick and a DDT. Vaquer hit a dragon screw, and Kairi rolled to the outside. Stephanie landed a crossbody on both Asuka and Kairi at ringside. Back inside the ring, Vaquer delivered Devil’s Kiss and SVB for the win. Asuka attempted to attack Vaquer after the match, but Iyo Sky came in between to prevent it.
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a good match. Kairi Sane is a fine performer. on the other hand, Stephanie Vaquer is the definite future of this women’s division. the tensions between Asuka and Iyo Sky will surely lead to interesting program in the future.
Jimmy Uso and LA Knight vs Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
There were quick tag exchanges in the beginning. Jimmy and Knight worked together against Reed. Knight landed multiple punches, and Jimmy followed with a hip attack in the corner. Breakker and Reed isolated Jimmy and dominated him for a while. Breakker punished him with suplexes. Reed attempted to put Jimmy away with a senton, but it missed. Jimmy responded with a whisper in the wind. Knight got the tag and hit clotheslines and a neckbreaker on Reed. Knight landed a diving elbow, followed by Jimmy’s Uso Splash for a close fall.
Reed regained control by hitting a body slam. Breakker wiped out Knight on the floor. In the ring, Reed planted Uso with the Jagged Edge for the pinfall victory. After the bell, Breakker speared Jimmy before Jey Uso stormed to the ring with a steel chair and made the save. Knight got his revenge as he dropped Jey with the BFT, leaving him laid out as Raw went off the air.
Winners: Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a decent tag team match. The theme of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed being in main event matches with predictable endings has made things boring, as seen with The Vision. The situation between Jey Uso and LA Knight is interesting. Let’s see where it ends up.
Overall, it was a fun show. What are your thoughts on WWE Raw September 15 Results?
