WWE presented the September 8 episode of Monday Night Raw from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The show featured the most anticipated return of AJ Lee on the red brand. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch continued their story with CM Punk and AJ Lee. The Usos are back together in the battle against The Vision. Lyra Valkyria returned to the action. Let’s delve into the details of WWE Raw September 8 Results.
The Usos are here!
The show opened with “Main Event” Jey Uso joined by his brother Jimmy Uso in the ring. Jey said that the Bronies or Brusos screwed. He was referring to Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, who made their entrance. Breakker questioned Jimmy about appearing on Raw. He reminded them of what The Vision did to Roman Reigns. The Tribal Thief, Bronson Reed, also demanded acknowledgment. Jimmy said that he’s on Monjey Night Raw.
Jim called Reed and Breakker the PB&J security, referring to the J&J security Seth Rollins had in the past. Jimmy told them that they’ve talked to Adam Pearce, and the tag team match is official for Wrestlepalooza. In the meantime, LA Knight attacked Reed and Breakker from the back. The Usos landed dives to the outside. Jimmy landed a pair of superkicks. Babyfaces stand tall to close the segment.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was great seeing The Usos back together in the opening segment of Raw. They are good against The Vision in the numbers game. Knight accidentally took out Jey Uso, which could lead to an interesting angle in the future. Wrestlepalooza’s card just got more stacked with this match being added.
AJ Styles vs El Grande Americano
AJ attacked El Grande as he was making his entrance. Styles landed a baseball slide and threw him into the barricade. In the ring, AJ delivered a Pele Kick and a clothesline as the referee started the match. Styles landed a forearm plancha to the outside. Another El Grande Americano appeared and distracted Styles. Americano, who was in the match, took advantage and hit a dropkick. The Phenomenal One bounced back with an exploder into the corner.
Styles delivered a couple of clotheslines before hitting a torture rack bomb for a close fall. Americano responded with a flapjack and a springboard blockbuster. AJ hit a spin kick and prepared for his finisher. The second Americano climbed to the apron for the distraction. Dragon Lee appeared and took him out with a hurricanrana. In the ring, Styles delivered Styles Clash for the victory.
Winner: AJ Styles
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun match. Styles rarely have bad matches. The multiple El Grande Americanos story is good entertainment. AJ Styles will probably go on for the IC Title again as he defeated the champion Dominik Mysterio’s assistant tonight.
Backstage
Raw GM Adam Pearce told Iyo Sky that Stephanie Vaquer was unable to make it to the show. That’s why Pearce had to cancel the scheduled contract signing for the match between Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer at Wrestlepalooza for the vacant Women’s World Championship. Nikki Bella appeared and asked about Vaquer. The Kabuki Warriors came in, and Asuka pushed Nikki away. Bella told Asuka to respect her. Asuka said she’d beat the respect out of her, and Bella agreed. Iyo Sky was confused.
Raquel Rodriguez vs Lyra Valkyria
Raquel used her power to dominate in the opening few minutes. Lyra fought back with an arm drag and an enzuigiri. Valkyria hit a Wrecking Ball Dropkick, but Rodriguez replied with a fallaway slam. Raquel followed it with a pair of corkscrew twisting elbows. Rodriguez applied the Boston Crab, but Lyra escaped and landed a dropkick. Valkyria followed it with a running wheel kick and a tornado DDT for a two-count.
Rodriguez delivered a slingshot Falcon Arrow. Valkyria had the perfect answer with a sunset flip powerbomb for a close fall. Roxanne Perez climbed to the apron for the distraction, but Valkyria dropped her with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick. Lyra hit a running enzuigiri, but Raquel delivered a massive Tejana Bomb for the win.
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
Grades: C
Analysis: It is an unexpected win for Rodriguez. Valkyria returned to action after an absence for weeks. It appears that the mini push Lyra had as the IC Champion didn’t work out well for her, and the creative team is currently at a loss for plans for her.
Backstage
Rusev and Penta both questioned Adam Pearce about the lack of opportunities they were getting. Pearce made a match between them to prove themselves in the ring tonight. Elsewhere, Jey Uso was shown leaving the arena. Jimmy told him to stay to watch the back of LA Knight. Jey said that he’s done with Knight. Jimmy asked him why he’s sounding more like Roman Reigns. Jey told him that sounding like themselves won’t help them or get them to Wrestlepalooza.
AJ Lee is back on Raw!
AJ Lee made her entrance to a thunderous crowd ovation. She made her return this past Friday on SmackDown in Chicago. Lee had Becky’s women’s IC Title around her waist. She introduced herself to the ones who weren’t here a decade ago. AJ told the fans that she’s their favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler. Lee said that she retired a decade ago as she thought she had accomplished everything in this business. AJ said that she worked on her mental health and did crazy things in recent years.
Lee said life was good until her husband fought guys like Drew McIntyre and John Cena on Raw, but then she saw Becky in the ring with him. AJ praised Lynch and mentioned that she is a New York Times bestselling author. Lee recalled that she did it first. She said that Lynch and she could have been friends in this world, but Lynch put her hands on her husband.
Becky Lynch interrupted and said that she has nothing to do with AJ’s husband. She pointed out that everyone is stupid in Milwaukee because they didn’t notice that AJ is wearing her championship. Lee teased her by saying that she was skipping all weekend at her house with the title around her waist. Becky took off her sunglasses and revealed a black eye. Lee sarcastically apologized for that. AJ laid the championship belt in the ring and asked Lynch to come and take it.
Lynch started to walk to the ring, but then stopped. Seth Rollins arrived at the stage. He told AJ to give the title back so that all of them could leave this city soon. Lee gave them options. Either Lynch would take the title from the ring by risking her other eye, or they would agree to a mixed tag team match. Rollins was furious. He said that he’d take the title and give it back to his wife. Seth came into the ring, but AJ stood in his way.
CM Punk walked past Lynch and entered the ring. Punk attempted a GTS, but Seth escaped. Rollins furiously accepted the tag match for Wrestlepalooza. AJ Lee picked the women’s IC Title and threw it towards Lynch. Punk and Lee embraced in the ring as Rollins and Lynch weren’t happy on the ramp.
Grades: A
Analysis: It was an excellent segment. AJ Lee’s return to the red brand was booked perfectly, giving her enough time and blending it with the progression of the ongoing storyline. The mixed tag match between both couples is official for Wrestlepalooza. The card for the first-ever ESPN premium live event is more stacked than ever. The segment ran a bit long, but there was no moment of dullness.
Rusev vs Penta
Penta chopped Rusev’s chest, but Rusev responded with a clothesline. Penta came back with a head-scissors takeover and a backstabber. At ringside, Rusev slammed Penta onto the commentary desk. Back in the ring, Penta landed a reverse sling blade and a slingshot handstand dropkick.
New Day and Grayson Waller interfered. Penta handled them with a somersault senton to the outside. Penta delivered a Code Red to Rusev for a near fall. Penta climbed to the top rope, but Xavier Woods jumped to the apron for interference. This allowed Rusev to hit a mid-air Machka Kick for the win.
Winner: Rusev
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a filler match. It will be worth it if it brings something for Rusev in the future. On the other hand, Penta has been irrelevant in recent weeks. He’s getting TV Time, but it’s nothing close to the push he received immediately after his debut. WWE really needs to fix this booking inconsistency in the Triple H era. Multiple stars have been affected by this in recent months.
Asuka vs Nikki Bella
It was back-and-forth action at the start. Asuka avoided some attacks and hit a knee strike. Nikki avoided the hip attack and delivered a boot and a clothesline. Bella landed a Spinebuster for a near fall. Asuka bounced back with a snap German Suplex. Bella delivered a pair of clotheslines and a dropkick. In the end, Asuka avoided the Rack Attack 2.0 and delivered Empress Impact. Asuka applied the Asuka Lock, and Bella tapped out.
Winner: Asuka
Grades: C+
Analysis: It was a dull battle for most moments. The main thing going on is Asuka’s character change. She’s turning to a proper heel, and we can’t wait to see a program between her and Iyo Sky.
LA Knight vs Bronson Reed
In the main event, it was LA Knight against Bronson Reed in a singles encounter. Reed dominated in the early few minutes. Knight moved out of the way of a cannonball. Knight hit a pair of clotheslines. Reed responded with a clothesline and an elbow drop. Knight landed a baseball slide. He quickly sent Reed into the ring post and the steel steps. Reed delivered a front slam to regain the upper hand. Knight hit a jawbreaker.
The action spilled to the ringside area, where Knight sent Reed into the timekeeper’s area and landed a flying forearm from the barricade. Back in the ring, Knight landed a neckbreaker and a double jump up elbow drop. Bronson avoided the BFT, and Knight hit Breakker, who was on the apron. This slight distraction allowed Reed to hit Jagged Edge for the win.
The attack from The Vision continued after the match. Jimmy Uso came for the save and superkicked Bronson. Bron Breakker speared him, and Reed landed a senton splash. Jey Uso made the save this time. However, Breakker speared him as well. Reed stacked Jimmy and Jey and climbed to the top rope. Knight attacked him with a steel chair. The Vision retreated as Jimmy and Knight shook hands in the ring. Jey Uso speared LA Knight as the show closed.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a decent match, but the post-match scenario was better. It is starting to look like a recurring theme in all matches and segments related to The Vision. WWE needs to come up with new ideas, or things will get stale soon. On the other hand, Jey Uso’s new character is serious and good. It was a really needed thing, and WWE should pull it off well.
Final Word
It was a fun night with excitement throughout. The main event should have been the AJ Lee segment, as it was far more engaging and meaningful than the actual main event. It is nostalgic to see AJ Lee and CM Punk back together on weekly shows. This feud between CM Punk and Seth Rollins will be etched in the history books as one of the all-time greatest rivalries.
Wrestlepalooza is approaching, and it promises to be a stacked show. WWE is pulling out all the stops to make it a significant show to kick off the historic ESPN deal. On tonight’s show, two tag team matches have been added to the card. Jey and Jimmy, The Usos, will battle Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. CM Punk and AJ Lee will face off against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in a mixed tag team match.
