Bad Bunny will return to the ring at WWE Backlash.
As announced on Monday’s Raw episode, Bad Bunny is set to take on Damian Priest of The Judgment Day in a street fight at the Saturday, May 6 Backlash pay-per-view in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It will be the third career match for Bad Bunny.
Bunny appeared on Monday’s Raw, saving Rey Mysterio from a Priest attack. Bunny hit Priest with a kendo stick, then announced that he was no longer hosting Backlash, but instead would be facing Priest in a street fight at the event.
Bunny last wrestled in the 2022 Royal Rumble match. Prior to that, he teamed with Priest to defeat John Morrison and The Miz on night one of WrestleMania 37 in April 2021.
A Raw Women’s Championship match has also been added to the Backlash card.
Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women’s title against number one contender IYO SKY at Backlash. SKY won a number one contender’s match on the April 10 Raw, defeating Michin and Piper Niven to set up the title bout.
The updated Backlash lineup:
WWE Backlash, Saturday, May 6, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —
Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Matt Riddle vs. The Usos & Solo Sikoa
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar
Street fight: Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest
Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair defends against IYO SKY
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley defends against Zelina Vega
Triple threat match for the United States Championship: Austin Theory defends against Bobby Lashley & Bronson Reed
IYO SKY is the new number one contender to the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
SKY defeated Piper Niven and Michin in a triple threat match on Monday’s Raw to earn the number one contendership and a future title shot at Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
SKY pinned Michin after hitting her signature moonsault on Raw in Seattle to win the triple threat contest. The match was set up earlier in the program in a backstage segment where Damage CTRL leader Bayley said she went to on-screen authority figure Adam Pearce to secure SKY a spot in the number one contender’s bout.
Damage CTRL’s Bayley and Dakota Kai celebrated with SKY in the ring after the match, but Bayley’s body language hinted at dissension within the trio.
No date was announced for the Belair vs. SKY title bout, but WWE Backlash on Saturday, May 6 seems a logical destination for the match.
SKY is a former NXT Women’s Champion, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion. She has twice held titles on the main roster, capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles with Kai.
Belair has held the Raw Women’s Championship for 374 days since defeating Becky Lynch for the title on night one of WrestleMania 38 on April 2, 2022. Belair’s most recent title defense came at WrestleMania 39, where she defeated Asuka to retain on night two of the event.
Elsewhere on Raw, Cody Rhodes issued a challenge to Brock Lesnar to face him at Backlash. Lesnar will appear on next week’s Raw to answer the challenge.
*Match and performer of the week *WWE business in detail, explanations and comments from Nick Khan, Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon *Where revenue increased *Numbers after the first nine months of the year *WWE current value *Lots of talk on the Bray Wyatt angle and how it performed *Levesque talks the Wyatt angle *Levesque talks future booking *Notes on how the major events performed *New TV shows WWE is producing *Nick Khan talks sports rights *Vince McMahon investigation notes *How Raw and Smackdown are dong compared to the rest of television *Why the USA Network needs Raw or it will become an also-ran station *Khan talks future of television *WWE attendance *Nick Khan’s contract *Jeff Jarrett, Colt Cabana, Katsuyori Shibata and Mike Tyson in AEW *Jarrett’s planned role *Why Cabana was brought back *The back story on Shibata *WWE Crown Jewel note *The first pro wrestling show at the new Ariake Arena *Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Great Muta and how it was set up *New Japan’s Rumble on 44th Street coverage *UFC weekend coverage *The most detailed look at TV numbers over the past week *Streaming and international TV numbers *Wrestler gets heat from the family of the originator of his gimmick’ *Stardom PPV coverage *Popular wrestling TV show being revived in 2023 *Vikingo debuts outside Mexico *MLW recent hires from ROH *Dynamite ratings for the year as compared to last year *AEW stars in England *Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva PPV numbers *WWE PPV updates *WWE returns *WWE injury notes *Story behind recent WWE cuts *Sheamus wedding *Ticket sales for upcoming shows
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Tuesday News Update
WWE
As of today, Roman Reigns has reached the 800 day mark as WWE Universal Champion. He defeated Braun Strowman and then-champion Bray Wyatt to win the title at Payback on August 30, 2020.
Wendy Choo vs. Tamina and Xyon Quinn vs. Akira Tozawa was taped for this week’s Main Event prior to Monday’s Raw.
Nikki Cross on Twitter wrote about discarding the 24/7 Championship: “Il do whatever I want with it. Dump it on the Floor, inside the trash, outside in a dump, an incinerator…..bury the thing in a graveyard. Please, by all means, try and argue with me, try to stop me. I welcome it please. Hehehehehehehe honestly I won’t bite.”
The Special Olympics has a school of strength section on their website that features Drew McIntyre.
Former WWE star Gene Snitsky attended Monday’s Raw, writing on Instagram: “Like I never left! @wwe @tripleh @wwenetwork THANKS for the hospitality my wife @mrssnitsky1 and I had a blast…. was great seeing everyone yesterday! Truly the greatest show on earth.”
AEW Road to Boston, which focuses on Sammy Guevara vs. Bryan Danielson 2 out of 3 falls, and Ethan Page vs. Eddie Kingston in an AEW World title eliminator tournament match.
Jim Ross noted on his ‘Grilling JR’ podcast that he will be speaking to Dark Side of the Ring for an upcoming look at The Junkyard Dog.
Tonight’s Tales from the Territories will focus on Polynesian Pro Wrestling, which was run by The Rock’s grandfather Peter Maivia and later his grandmother, Leah Maivia.
Matt Cardona spoke to ComicBook about his upcoming match for the NWA World Championship at NWA Hard Times 3.
Former NXT UK talent Amale spoke to PWMania about her time with the promotion while also expressing interest in the NXT Europe project. For sure. I am loving the freedom I have as an independent wrestler right now, like I want to go across the world, get better, win titles and fight for many promotions, but I would love to part of NXT Europe as it is going to be really special. Like NXT UK, it is going to be big and I’m sure it will be a place where so much talent can go, become very good wrestlers and make great matches for the fans to see. Because of that, I want to be there. This is no gimmick, this is my life and I want to realize my dreams.”
Will Hobbs vs. Rocky Romero has been added to Defy’s November 26 event.
The Kingdom vs. The Briscoes has been added to WrestleCade Supershow weekend on November 26.
Just five days after winning the titles, Alexa Bliss & Asuka’s Women’s Tag Team Championship reign has come to an end.
Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) regained the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles by defeating Bliss & Asuka at Saturday’s Crown Jewel pay-per-view. Damage CTRL were able to get the victory after interference by Nikki Cross.
Bliss was about to hit Twisted Bliss on Kai near the end of the match, but Cross attacked Bliss and laid her out with a swinging fisherman’s neckbreaker. The referee was distracted by Asuka and SKY fighting in the ring and didn’t see Cross interfere. Kai then pinned Bliss to get the victory.
Bliss & Asuka had defeated Kai & SKY in the main event of Raw this past Monday to win the Women’s Tag Team titles.
This is Kai & SKY’s second reign as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Nikki Cross reemerged on Raw last month, ditching her “Almost A Superhero” character for a return to her more chaotic and unhinged persona.
A WWE Women’s Tag Team title rematch will take place at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.
WWE has announced that Alexa Bliss & Asuka will make their first Women’s Tag Team title defense as they face Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) at Crown Jewel. Bliss & Asuka dethroned Kai & SKY as Women’s Tag Team Champions on last night’s episode of Raw.
After being laid out by Damage CTRL four weeks ago, Bliss & Asuka made their return to WWE television by saving Bianca Belair from a Damage CTRL beatdown on last night’s Raw. That led to Bliss & Asuka facing off with Kai & SKY in the main event.
Damage CTRL’s Bayley is challenging Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship in a Last Woman Standing match at Crown Jewel.
Belair and Bayley were at ringside for the Women’s Tag Team title match on last night’s Raw. Bayley ended up giving Belair a Bayley-to-Belly off the barricade and through a pair of tables.
The Crown Jewel main card streams live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at noon Eastern time this Saturday (November 5). Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Logan Paul
Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
Last Woman Standing match: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Bayley
Steel cage match: Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross
Braun Strowman vs. Omos
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Ridge Holland & Butch
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Asuka defend against Dakota Kai & IYO SKY
The OC (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) vs. The Judgement Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio)
It was announced on Friday that Bianca Belair will face IYO SKY, while Seth Rollins will face Rey Mysterio.
The end of Raw on Monday had Damage Control lay out Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss after Bayley defeated Bliss. The show ended with Bayley telling Belair that she will see Belair at Extreme Rules on October 8 for the Raw Women’s Championship.
Raw this past Monday also had Rollins and Riddle interfere in each other’s matches. After Riddle caused Rollins a match against Bobby Lashley, Rollins emerged during a Judgment Day vs. Rey Mysterio & Riddle bout, eventually causing them to lose the match. Later, Rollins accepted a match against Riddle at Extreme Rules in a Fight Pit match.
Here is the latest lineup for Monday’s Raw:
Bianca Belair vs. IYO SKY
Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins
Kevin Owens & Johnny Gargano vs. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis)
Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY and Dakota Kai are the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Damage CTRL defeated Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah on Monday’s Raw to win the titles after Kai pinned Aliyah with a Kai-Ropractor.
Monday’s match was a rematch of the tournament finals from two weeks ago where Rodriguez and Aliyah won the vacant titles by defeating SKY and Kai. Kai was pinned in the match but was not the legal competitor, setting up the rematch.
Kai had twice previously won the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Rodriguez as her partner, and SKY had also captured the NXT Tag titles with Zoey Stark on one occasion, but this is the first main roster title win for both competitors. SKY is also a one-time NXT Women’s Champion.
Kai and SKY returned to the company at SummerSlam in July, making their main roster debuts alongside Bayley as the three formed the Damage CTRL group. Kai had been released in April of this year, while SKY was believed to still be under contract, but considering not renewing her deal if she were earmarked to remain in NXT.
Date: August 29, 2022 Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA
Show Recap —
AJ Styles entered as the announcers previewed tonight’s show and Dolph Ziggler entered as they played a replay of the Edge/Beth Phoenix/Judgment Day stuff from last week. They really focused heavily on Rhea Ripley during Judgment Day’s entrance and said she might be the most dangerous member of the group.
Finn Bálor & Damian Priest (w/Rhea Ripley) defeated AJ Styles & Dolph Ziggler (8:34)
Styles hit Priest with a diving forearm outside the ring which led to break a minute into the match. Bálor was in control over Ziggler following the break. (They’ve been better lately at showing you what happened during the break but they didn’t do that here.) It seemed like Bálor wanted to try a Styles Clash but Ziggler countered into a fameasser.
There was a weird spot where Priest ducked a forearm and Styles held up so that he wouldn’t hit Bálor (who was on the apron) by accident. Priest shoved Styles who bumped into Bálor anyway and tried a rollup but only got two. Styles followed later with a Calf Crusher but Bálor helped Priest get to the rope.
Ziggler had Priest pinned with a rollup but the ref was distracted by Styles for no reason in particular. Ziggler fended off Bálor with a superkick but Priest dropped him with a South of Heaven chokeslam for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Edge was shown arriving at the arena in a Mercedes SUV.
********
Judgment Day paced around the ring after a break. Ripley invited Edge to the ring so she could take what was left of his manhood. Bálor thought it was ridiculous that Rey Mysterio and Edge got their own documentaries but he didn’t. Priest said they weren’t in Toronto where he had Pheonix — the pants wearer of the family — to save him.
Edge entered to a big reaction. Edge informed Priest that both he and Beth wore the pants in their family. He said it was 2022 and told Priest to stop being a caveman or he’ll be single for the rest of his life. The crowd laughed when Edge told them that looked angry and emo, mad that they couldn’t get tickets to My Chemical Romance.
Edge said Judgment Day haven’t learned their lesson because he did not come alone. Dominik and Rey Mysterio attacked them from behind with kendo sticks. A brawl broke out which left Dominik alone in the ring with Ripley.
The crowd encouraged Dominik to attack Ripley. Not only did he not hit her, she calmed him down and convinced him to hand over the stick. Edge and Rey popped back in the ring but Bálor and Priest pulled Ripley away.
********
Kevin Patrick asked Miz and Ciampa about what happened with Dexter Lumis last week. Miz didn’t want to talk about Lumis because he doesn’t even work here. Patrick brought up Lumis being arrested on NXT but Miz blew him off.
********
Six-woman tag team match: Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Asuka & Alexa Bliss defeated Kayla Sparks, Dani Mo & Katie Arquette (3:19)
Belair gave Sparks a KOD before Asuka tapped out Dani Mo.
(Kayla Sparks, Dani Mo and Katie Arquette didn’t get an official graphic with their names. The announcers seemed to refer to Sparks as “Kay Sparks” and Arquette as “Katie Arq”.)
Belair, Asuka and Bliss cut a promo on Bayley’s crew after the match.
********
Adam Pearce told Miz that Lumis was released from police custody because Miz won’t press charges or speak to the authorities. Miz still refused to talk about and told Pearce he wasn’t happy about having to face Bobby Lashley tonight.
********
Kurt Angle segment
Angle entered to a big reaction and “you suck” chants during his entrance. He said he was glad to be home before he plugged Clash at the Castle.
Chad Gable and Otis interrupted. Commercial break.
Gable called Angle a personal hero of his. Angle’s story motivated him when he went to the Olympics. Angle reminded him that he won his gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck.
Gable said Alpha Academy was looking for a new member but there wasn’t a shred of talent in Pittsburgh. The crowd booed. Gable said, “There’s an Olympic hero in this ring, not to mention Kurt Angle, so show some respect.” (Angle couldn’t help but laugh.)
Gable offered Angle a membership into Alpha Academy for one night only. Otis gave him an Alpha Academy jacket. Angle tossed it away and turned them down.
Gable couldn’t believe it. Angle said, “it’s true, it’s damn true” but Gable shooshed him. Angle told Gable to shoosh. They yelled “shoosh” at each other.
Gable was pissed and told Otis to go after him. The Street Profits ran out (wearing black and yellow).
Montez Ford challenged them to a match. Gable accepted under one condition: when his team wins, Angle must join Alpha Academy so Gable can coach him to the next level. Angle and the Street Profits accepted.
[SECOND HOUR]
Announced for Clash at the Castle: Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
The Street Profits defeated Alpha Academy (16:04)
This was a really good match where everyone had moments to shine.
They went to break after Gable gave Ford an overhead suplex off the top. Angelo Dawkins made a comeback after the break and gave Gable a Silencer for two. Gable gave him a German suplex and reversed a Ford high cross into a pin for two. Gable followed that with a Northern Lights suplex for two.
Otis slammed Ford before Gable followed with a diving headbutt but Dawkins broke up the cover. Dawkins and Otis took each other out with double clotheslines.
Gable dropped his shoulder straps and applied the ankle lock as he stared at Angle (who was watching from ringside). Ford fought out and applied the ankle lock himself. Ford grapevined the leg and the crowd thought we’d get a finish but Otis broke it up.
Otis confronted Angle so Dawkins wiped him out with an impressive pounce sending him over the announce table.
Dawkins launched Gable into a Ford suplex and Ford finished him off with a frog splash for the pinfall win.
— After the match, Dawkins and Ford gave Angle a red solo cup. Angle took a sip but immediately spat it out. Angle grabbed three bottles of milk for them to drink instead. Angle handed out bottles to the crowd too.
********
Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers were shown at ringside.
********
Jimmy Smith acknowledged that they had advertised a face-to-face segment between Riddle and Seth Rollins but because of everything that has happened, that wasn’t possible so they’d be interviewed in separate rooms.
They aired “fan footage” of Riddle and Rollins getting into a fight earlier today on top of a parking garage. It was broken up by officials and referees who I guess were parking their cars at the same time.
Riddle/Seth Rollins sit-down interview
Corey Graves hosted the interview and asked them what happened earlier today. Rollins claimed that Riddle was creeping his bus but Riddle denied that and they talked over each other before Graves got them to stop.
Riddle said Rollins was worried that he would embarrass him just like Roman Reigns did and just like Cody Rhodes did. Rollins said nobody liked him and when he ended Riddle on Saturday it would be for everyone. Rollins was happy to put Riddle on the shelf next to Rhodes.
Riddle said he would prove there was only one man in Rollins’ marriage, “and that’s Becky, bro.”
********
After a break, they showed more footage of Riddle and Rollins (after they thought the interview was over). Rollins said Riddle didn’t have a wife because she divorced his bitch-ass. Riddle demanded to know where Rollins was and Riddle repeatedly said he would “f*ck” him up.
********
They congratulated Bad Bunny on winning an MTV VMA.
Non-title match: United States Champion Bobby Lashley defeated The Miz (w/Ciampa) (10:49)
Lashley was firmly in control until a Ciampa distraction allowed Miz to take control. Lashley came back with suplexes and a chokeslam but Ciampa pulled Miz out of the ring before Lashley could go for a spear. Miz distracted the referee as Ciampa attacked Lashley. Miz hit a low DDT for a nearfall.
Miz set up for Skull Crushing Finale but let go upon seeing Dexter Lumis in the crowd (standing about 25 rows up).
Lashley put Miz in the Hurt Lock for the submission win.
— Miz tried to explain to Ciampa that he saw Lumis but Ciampa didn’t believe him.
(Smith mentioned that Lashley was defending his title but I’m pretty sure this was non-title.)
********
There was a funny segment with Edge and Angle backstage. They played off the segment from years ago where Edge showed Angle pictures of their past with insulting messages written on the back. After Edge left, Angle showed the Mysterios one of the pictures only to realize what was written on the back.
[THIRD HOUR]
There was a video on Connor “The Crusher” Michalek and Connor’s Cure.
This Friday on Smackdown: Roman Reigns celebrates two years as champion.
The Usos and Sami Zayn segment
Jimmy and Jey Uso boasted about Reigns’ title reign. Zayn announced that Reigns has named him the master of ceremonies for Friday’s celebration. Jey shot him a look so Zayn went on to boast about the Usos being the best team in WWE.
Kevin Owens interrupted. Owens informed them that their boss Roman still owed him one.
Jey asked Zayn if Owens was his boy. Owens was amused when Jey threatened to “get” Owens if Zayn didn’t do it first.
Zayn told Owens that Reigns didn’t owe him, or anyone, anything. Owens said Zayn was making himself look stupid by hanging out with the Bloodline and letting them treat him the way they do. Owens called Zayn one of the best in-ring performers of all time (the crowd cheered) but now he was their clown. Owens called it sad.
Zayn took it a moment before telling Owens that he didn’t know what he was talking about. He said Jimmy liked him and they did their special handshake. Jey didn’t reciprocate but Zayn said they were working on it. Most importantly, Zayn said that Roman liked him.
Jey mentioned what they did to Drew McIntyre and warned Owens to leave. Owens didn’t care about what they did to McIntyre but he did care what Jey did to him, costing him a chance to end Reigns’ title reign 18 months ago. He said they were celebrating two years of Jey having his head shoved up his cousin’s ass.
Zayn warned Owens that he was inviting Jey to kick his ass. Owens said this is where they get a referee to the ring so they could fight. A ref ran down and they went to break.
********
Kevin Owens defeated Tag Team Champion Jey Uso (w/Jimmy Uso & Sami Zayn) (12:26)
Owens was about to give Jey an apron powerbomb but Jimmy distracted him and Jey hit a superkick before hitting a Samoan drop onto the steel steps. After a break, a battle on the top led to Owens hitting a fisherman’s buster. Owens followed later with a Swanton for two.
Jey blocked a stunner before Owens blocked a superkick and hit one of his own. Jey slipped out a pop-up powerbomb, hit a superkick and a diving splash for two. Owens handed out superkicks to both Jey and Jimmy before giving Jey a frog splash for two.
Owens again set up for an apron powerbomb but turned his attention to Zayn. Jey used the distraction to hit a suicide dive.
Jey demanded Zayn grab a chair as Jimmy distracted the ref. Jey held down Owens so that Zayn could hit him but Zayn wouldn’t do it.
As Jimmy admonished Zayn, Owens gave Jey a stunner for the pinfall win.
*********
Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY did a promo about tonight’s match and the match on Saturday. Basically, they planned on getting to the top and staying there.
Miz was shown frantically leaving the arena (a good 40 minutes after his match ended). As Miz drove off in his SUV, Lumis could be seen sitting in the back.
********
Johnny Gargano/Theory segment
This started as an interview with Gargano. He said that “Johnny Wrestling” wasn’t just a nickname — wrestling meant everything to him. The interviewer asked if Theory ruined his return but Gargano said no, he was actually happy to see him.
Gargano spoke about Theory’s talent, which is why he was with him in NXT. Theory had every genetic gift that he didn’t have so didn’t have to start at the bottom. Gargano said he didn’t hear from Theory for nine months, not even after his baby was born.
Theory showed up and asked why Gargano didn’t call him when he was the US title. Theory said Gargano was jealous and he expected more from him. Theory pointed at his MITB briefcase and said it was lonely at the top. He warned Gargano that he was swimming with the sharks now.
********
The announcers ran down the Clash of the Castle card. There was also a video package highlighting the two teams fighting for the Women’s tag team titles.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah defeated Dakota Kai & IYO SKY (w/Bayley) (11:17)
Kai and SKY drove Aliyah into the steel steps and Kai hit Rodriguez with a PK which led to break. Kai and SKY used a combination of strikes on Rodriguez to remain in control. Rodriguez launched SKY into Kai but couldn’t tag out because Aliyah was down from being knocked into the steps again.
Rodriguez made a comeback anyway and gave SKY an elbow drop for two. SKY responded with a Code Red for two. Rodriguez turned SKY inside out with a clothesline but SKY got an assist from Bayley as Kai distracted the referee. Kai hit a running boot and SKY followed with the moonsault but Rodriguez kicked out.
Belair, Bliss and Asuka marched out to chase away Bayley.
As SKY and Kai were distracted, Aliyah tagged herself in and hid. SKY and Kai double-teamed Rodriguez but Aliyah slipped in the ring and rolled up Kai to score the pinfall win.
Belair, Asuka and Bliss congratulated Rodriguez and Aliyah who posed with their new belts as fireworks went off.
(This was an odd way to end the tournament and crown new champions. Aliyah was absent for most of the match and they didn’t exactly come across like the better team.)
The finals for the Women’s Tag Team title tournament has been set.
Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah will face Dakota Kai and IYO SKY on this coming Monday’s Raw to determine the new Women’s Tag Team Champions. Rodriguez & Aliyah defeated Sonya Deville & Natalya to advance, with Rodriguez pinning Deville with the Tejana bomb.
Earlier in the show, Deville and Natalya won a four-way last chance match to advance to the semifinals. Although they were eliminated in the first round of the tournament by Toxic Attraction, the last chance match was made after Gigi Dolin suffered a concussion, taking the team out of the tournament.
The winners of the match on Raw will win the vacated championships. Sasha Banks and Naomi, the former champions, were stripped of the titles and suspended indefinitely by WWE back in May after walking out of an episode of Raw.
Here is what has been announced for Raw:
WWE Women’s Tag Team titles: IYO SKY & Dakota Kai vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah
IYO SKY has commented on her recent name change, main roster call-up, and what her time wrestling Asuka in Japan has meant to her career.
The 32-year-old spoke with Tokyo Sports recently and said that she’s been busy since her return at SummerSlam last month.
“My life has changed in a good way. It’s been less than a month (since my promotion), but I’ve been so busy that I don’t even know how much time I’ve spent (laughs),” reads a translation of her comments.
SKY also commented on her name change from Io Shirai to IYO SKY.
“I think it is a good name because the ‘sky’ in it conveys the image. The first letter of ‘Io’ was capitalized and the second letter was lowercase ‘Io.’ So it looked like a lowercase L and O (lo), or like a number, and some people misread it. Now it’s all capitalized ‘IYO,’ which I think makes it easier to understand.”
SKY made her main roster debut at SummerSlam alongside Bayley and Dakota Kai. She says that the three of them had been training in Orlando together before making their returns.
“Yes, all three of us made our comeback to the ring at the same time, although in different situations, so we have a strong bond. In fact, the three of us practiced together in Orlando (Florida) before our return,” she said.
SKY and Dakota Kai defeated the team of Asuka and Alexa Bliss in the semifinals of the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament on Raw this week. Asuka and SKY have a long history together in Japan.
“It was a period of my career that was very important for me,” SKY said. “I learned a lot from her, and she was like a big sister to me, and she has been ahead of me in the WWE as well. I am proud to be categorized as Japanese, but the fans tend to focus on Asuka-san. I want to break through that and express something different.”
SKY also spoke about the ankle injury she suffered at NXT Stand & Deliver in April that kept her out of action until her return at SummerSlam.
“I hit my foot on the announcer’s table and broke my right ankle and had to have surgery. I was referred to a ‘master ankle surgeon’ in Alabama, who is a WWE official. Now I have one bolt in to hold the bone in place. I was unable to put any weight on my right leg for about a month, and I had to use a crutch and a wheelchair. It took me about three months to be able to put my full weight on it,” she said.
IYO SKY and Dakota Kai have advanced to the finals of the WWE Women’s Tag Team title tournament.
On Monday’s Raw, they defeated Alexa Bliss and Asuka to advance. The finish had Asuka putting Kai in the Asuka lock. However, Asuka was unaware that SKY had tagged in. The confusion allowed SKY to roll up Asuka and pin her to advance in the finals.
With the win, SKY and Kai will next face the winner of the match between Aliyah & Raquel Gonzalez and the winner of a “second chance fatal four-way match” that will take place on SmackDown this coming Friday. Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin of NXT’s Toxic Attraction had originally advanced to the semifinals, but the team was pulled from the tournament after WWE announced Dolin had suffered injuries during the match that took place on Friday.
Tonight’s Raw opened with Trish Stratus coming to the ring. Bayley, SKY, and Kai came out and confronted Stratus, asking why she was there. This brought out Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Bliss to even the odds against Bayley’s stable, leading to the tag match.
A new WWE trademark filing may have revealed the name of Bayley, Dakota Kai & IYO SKY’s faction.
On August 16, WWE applied to trademark the term “Damage CTRL.” The full trademark filing is available below:
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; providing information in the fields of sports and entertainment via an online community portal; providing a website in the field of sports entertainment information; fan club services, namely, organizing sporting events in the field of wrestling for wrestling fan club members; organizing social entertainment events for entertainment purposes for wrestling fan club members; providing online newsletters in the fields of sports entertainment; online journals, namely blogs, in the field of sports entertainment
Bayley, Kai & SKY have been using the word “Control” in association with their group since it debuted at SummerSlam last month. Kai also captioned a social media post on Friday night with “Taking Over. Damage Control.”
Bayley, Kai & SKY’s faction was formed after Paul “Triple H” Levesque took charge of WWE creative. On WWE After the Bell, Bayley explained her vision for the group.
“This is something that I’ve wanted for a while — I would say a couple of years. And actually something that I’ve talked to [Triple H] about before. Just wanting something different for the division and using girls that I think were either underutilized or that didn’t get that opportunity or didn’t get that spotlight. And just a way to evolve myself [in] many different variations of this faction or group that I wanted,” Bayley said.
“But as I got injured and got to spend more time really thinking about it, I knew that I wanted literally girls who haven’t had the opportunity for Raw or SmackDown or that haven’t been given the opportunity to feel what WrestleMania is like. Because that’s the ultimate goal of everybody. I just felt like if I looked for girls that haven’t had that yet, just the hunger is gonna be that much stronger. It’s just gonna be fresher for the fans and fresher for the locker room where they’ll get excited to work with different people. So once I thought of it like that and thought let me look at NXT, it was so easy. I knew who I wanted and I knew who could benefit from it. I knew who I can benefit from. And I knew who would give to the locker room, really.”
Bayley returned at SummerSlam after having been out of action for more than a year due to a torn ACL. Kai was brought back to WWE after having been released from NXT this April, while SKY’s contract had been set to expire soon prior to her main roster call-up.
Kai & SKY are currently taking part in WWE’s Women’s Tag Team title tournament. They’re facing Alexa Bliss & Asuka in a semifinal match on this Monday’s episode of Raw.
Dakota Kai and IYO SKY are the first team to advance to the second round of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.
Kai and SKY defeated Tamina and Dana Brooke on Monday’s Raw episode to advance to the second round.
The eight-team tournament bracket was also revealed on Raw, and Kai and SKY now await the winners of Alexa Bliss & Asuka vs. Nikki ASH and Doudrop.
Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah vs. Xia Li & Shotzi, plus Natalya & Sonya Deville vs. NXT’s Zoey Stark & Nikkita Lyons are the other first round matches.
Kai and SKY re-debuted with WWE at SummerSlam on July 30 as part of a new faction led by the returning Bayley. The trio will take on Bliss, Asuka, and Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair in a trios match at the Clash at the Castle event on September 3.
After then-champions Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of a Raw episode on May 16, the Women’s Tag Team titles were officially vacated on the May 20 episode of SmackDown.
A six-woman tag team match has been added to Clash at the Castle.
Bianca Belair issued the challenge on behalf of Asuka and Alexa Bliss. Bayley accepted for her, ISO SKY, and Dakota Kai, agreeing to a match for September 3 in Cardiff, Wales.
Bayley made her return to WWE following knee surgery at SummerSlam last month, introducing Dakota Kai and IYO SKY to the main roster. The following Monday on Raw, Bayley, SKY, and Kai made their intentions known by attacking Asuka and Bliss during their match against one another. Later, a match between SKY and Belair ended after Bliss and Asuka attacked Bayley and Kai in the ring.
Here is the current lineup for Clash at the Castle:
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship
Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY
WWE’s new era continued with the first Raw since SummerSlam taking place last night.
After making their returns at SummerSlam, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY wreaked havoc last night, targeting Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka. A match between Belair and SKY ended in a no contest as Belair, Bliss, and Asuka brawled with Bayley, Kai, and SKY.
A push for Ciampa began as he became the number one contender to the United States title. He defeated Dolph Ziggler and Chad Gable in a triple threat match before going on to defeat AJ Styles later in the night.
In last night’s main event, The Usos retained their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against Rey & Dominik Mysterio. The Judgment Day attacked The Mysterios after the match until Edge made the save. But Edge accidentally speared Dominik when Rhea Ripley pushed him in the way as Edge was trying to take out Finn Balor.
