Tag: jey uso

Date: May 13, 2024
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC

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Show Recap —

Gunther, Kofi Kingston, Jey Uso (with his son), Ilja Dragunov, and Drew McIntyre (in his gear) were shown arriving at the arena. 

In fact, the shot of McIntyre was live and the camera followed him as he made his way to the ring. McIntyre was greeted with loud CM Punk chants by the Greenville crowd. 

McIntyre said Punk only made big towns like Atlanta and Charlotte and wasn’t showing up tonight. Punk once said the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing everyone that he didn’t exist. But the greatest trick Punk ever pulled was looking like a drug addict without ever taking one. 

McIntyre said another trick he pulled was getting the fans to trust him no matter how many times he broke their trust. Management and the fans both kept taking him back no matter how many times he betrayed them. 

McIntyre didn’t want to talk to people like they were stupid, “But if you’re a CM Punk fan, you’re stupid.” McIntyre noted that Punk played dumb by pretending he did see him leave last week when he showed up seconds later. McIntyre accused Adam Pearce of being Punk’s stooge on the inside. 

McIntyre would eventually get his hands on Punk and when he did, Punk would be begging him to tear his triceps. But McIntyre wasn’t going to waste his time with someone who wouldn’t get cleared for another 20 years. 

McIntyre moved on to Jey Uso who lost another title match—a match that should have been McIntyre’s—and took his spot in King of the Ring. McIntyre would deal with Jey later. 

The number one thing on his list was the World Heavyweight Championship and the paper champion Damian Priest. 

Priest interrupted. Priest dared McIntyre to finally say something to someone’s face. McIntyre said he would love to but Punk kept running away. McIntyre gave Priest credit for stepping up to him now and put him over for paying his dues — but he still didn’t deserve to be champion. McIntyre’s neighbour Dave also had an inspiring story but he shouldn’t be champion either. 

The title was making the man in this case but the Raw title was in its initial stages and it needed the man to make the title. It needed Drew McIntyre. 

McIntyre spoke about Priest’s cash-in but Priest cut him off. Priest said McIntyre chose this life and chose to be a WWE superstar. Priest urged him to look in the mirror and blame the asshole looking back. 

Priest wanted to cash in on Seth Rollins and have a main event match against McIntyre, but it was McIntyre who stopped him. McIntyre finally achieved his goal at WrestleMania and all he had to do was leave with his wife but he saw Punk and made Punk more important than himself, the championship, and his wife. He also got his ass whooped by a one-armed man. 

Priest agreed to give McIntyre a title match once he’s cleared. Priest said McIntyre could call him a paper champion but he would eat those words. 

********

Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and Damage CTRL were shown arriving at the arena earlier. They showed up at the same time which led to a confrontation between Shayna Baszler and Iyo Sky. 

(I’m glad they mixed this up a bit by having one of these arrivals lead to something. Same with McIntyre’s entrance to open.) 

Queen of the Ring quarterfinal: Iyo Sky defeated Shayna Baszler (10:43+)

Sky entered for the match but was attacked from behind by Baszler. Baszler booted her until referees stopped it. 

The match started during a break and Baszler was in control, targeting Sky’s arm. Sky dumped Baszler over the top and hit a springboard moonsault, leading to another break. 

Sky hit a springboard dropkick and a running double knee strike to the back for two. Baszler tried to get her knees up on a moonsault but Sky saw it coming. Sky kicked Baszler and tried a cradle but Baszler reversed into Kirifuda Clutch. Sky reversed that into a crossface but Baszler fought out and hit a running knee for two. 

Baszler went for another knee strike but Sky hit a dragon screw, Meteora into the corner and a moonsault for the pinfall win. The crowd got into this, which helped. 

— Jackie Redmond interviewed Sky in the ring after the match. Sky took the mic and said she would win (in Japanese). 

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A QR code appeared on the screen as the opening match got going and the announcers acknowledged it. 

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Carlito was with Judgment Day backstage and they were approached by Priest. Carlito said they could use extra muscle with Rhea Ripley out. Priest said the rest of Judgment Day could work with Carlito if they wanted but as far as he was concerned, Carlito wasn’t welcomed there. Carlito knew Priest didn’t trust him but thought he would at least trust his boys. Carlito said even the most stubborn minds can be changed and maybe one day they can be amigos. 

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Chad Gable told Maxxine Dupri she blew her QOTR opportunity and embarrassed Alpha Academy. Gable said they could make up for it tonight. Gable got matches for Otis and Akira Tozawa. He initially said Otis would face Bronson Reed but changed his mind and said his match would be against Sami Zayn. 

Gable wanted the serious version of Otis to soften up Zayn and didn’t want to see the worm or any hip swivelling. Otis understood. Gable wanted to hear him say the words and Otis said, “No matter what.” Gable told Tozawa not to blow it against Reed. 

Ivy Nile approached Dupri after the rest of the Academy left. Nile said she could have helped her train for QOTR. Dupri said Gable didn’t want her training outside the Academy. Nile told Dupri she didn’t need to listen to Gable. 

Gable came back and told Dupri to go train or do anything. Gable had some free advice for Nile: stop wasting time with Taylor Not So Swift. 

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Cathy Kelley interviewed Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods (who had a crutch). Kingston said tonight was about payback and giving Gunther what he deserved for what he did to Woods. Kingston went toe-to-toe with the greatest Luchador of all time Rey Mysterio and it reminded him that there was no room for fear, self-doubt or failure in the ring. He knew what this tournament meant to Woods. 

Woods said KOTR brought honour but he couldn’t defend that honour thanks to Gunther. Gunther would get his ass beat by one of the greatest champions ever in Kingston and he would learn why New Day rocks. 

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Samantha Irvin introduced “legendary” ring announcer Lilian Garcia who received a nice ovation. Garcia put over Irving before introducing the next match. 

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R-Truth met with Pearce backstage. Miz approached them and was nervous that Truth put them in a title match. Pearce assured him they weren’t defending the titles tonight, they just needed new contenders. Miz was still nervous. 

Kiana James entered. She looked forward to working under Pearce and would prove why she was the 1%. Pearce told her not to hesitate to contact him. James said he doesn’t hesitate, she adjudicates. Truth didn’t know what that meant and thought her comment was not PG. 

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King of the Ring quarterfinal: Gunther defeated Kofi Kingston (13:49) 

Kingston attacked Gunther before the match, specifically targeting his leg. Kingston drove Gunther’s leg into the ring post and dropkicked it into the rope. 

With Gunther down and favouring his leg, the referee thought this was a good time to start the match. Kingston hit a diving leg drop for two. 

Kingston tried a suicide dive but Gunther caught him and proceeded to give Kingston what he deserved. Gunther dropped him back-first onto the barricade and announce table. Gunther applied a Boston crab on the announce table as they went to break. 

[SECOND HOUR] 

Gunther remained in control until Kingston started going after his leg again. Gunther blocked an SOS but Kingston hit a flying crossbody. Gunther applied a Boston crab but Kingston slipped out and hit an SOS for two. Gunther dropkicked Kingston’s back and clotheslined him for two. 

Gunther wrapped Kingston around the ring post and stretched him but Kingston blocked a powerbomb moments later and flung Gunther into the post. Kingston followed with Trouble in Paradise outside the ring and Gunther just barely beat the ref’s ten count. 

Gunther avoided a Trouble in Paradise in the ring and hit a powerbomb. Kingston kicked out but Gunther immediately transitioned into a Boston crab and Kingston tapped out. 

The match itself was good and the crowd was into it. 

This didn’t do Kingston any favours, though. I appreciate Kingston was out for revenge, but Woods was injured because Gunther beat him clean in a wrestling match. Gunther didn’t do anything underhanded in the match. 

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Redmond interviewed Lyra Valkyria. Lyra said she sent a message to Damage CTRL last week and they better get used to her. Lyra also had Becky Lynch’s back. Lynch appeared and wished her luck tonight. Lynch left and the interview continued but Liv Morgan interrupted. 

Morgan said Lyra would have fun on Raw. Lyra appreciated it. Morgan asked her if Lynch has always been such a bitch. Lyra said Morgan could ask Lynch herself. 

The camera expanded to show Lynch standing behind her (which was a funny visual because Lynch exited on the other side). Lynch decked Morgan with a right hand (which didn’t look good). Lynch said she wasn’t the one scared of a face-to-face fight and called her a bitch. 

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Karrion Kross approached Kingston. He called it a tough loss but said there was always time to turn things around. Woods appeared and gave Kingston some ice. Woods asked what Kross wanted and Kingston wasn’t sure. 

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Bronson Reed defeated Akira Tozawa (w/Chad Gable) (1:12) 

Reed won with a Death Valley Driver and Tsunami. Gable berated Tozawa. 

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Kelley approached Gunther for an interview but he blew her off so Ludwig Kaiser took over. Kelley mentioned that Ilja Dragunov beat Gunther the last time they wrestled, while Gunther’s win over Jey Uso was partially thanks to Jimmy Uso. Gunther’s win over Sheamus last week was also thanks, in part, to Kaiser. 

Kaiser reminded her that Gunther was the most successful Intercontinental Champion in history. Sheamus was delusional if he thought he lost to Gunther thanks to him. Sheamus has accomplished a lot but he has never beaten Gunther. If Sheamus had a problem, Kaiser had no problem exposing him.  

*******

Redmond was with Pearce who had an announcement regarding the tag titles. An overly eager Tyler Bate barged in and dragged Pete Dunne in with him. Bate wanted him to know they appreciated the opportunity to be on Raw. Dunne dragged him out of the room. 

Pearce announced to Redmond that there will be a fatal four-way to determine the new tag title contenders between the New Catch Republic, Authors of Pain, The Creed Brothers and Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh. 

Redmond asked why Bron Breakker wasn’t in KOTR. Pearce said Breakker had unlimited potential but the Raw wrestlers in the tournament earned their opportunities. Pearce didn’t want to shove Bron into the deep end. 

Breakker appeared. Bron said his opponents in KOTR would’ve been in the deep end with him. He would’ve watched them drown and smiled why they did. He said, “I should have been in the damn tournament,” and left. 

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Queen of the Ring quarterfinal: Lyra Valkyria defeated Zoey Stark (8:58) 

This went through an early break and Lyra fought back when they returned, spiking Stark with a tornado DDT. They traded counters until Stark hit a reverse suplex for two. Lyra hit a spinning heel kick but Stark suplexed her into the turnbuckle for two. Lyra blocked a Z360 and hit Nightwing for the pinfall win. 

— Redmond interviewed Lyra in the ring. She called herself a former NXT Champion who travelled as the crowd flew — straight to the top. 

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Jey Uso cut a backstage promo. He said he was in the tournament because McIntyre couldn’t cut it and Bálor received a Yeet-down last week. He welcomed Dragunov to Raw but he would get a Yeet-down just like Gunther would next week. Jey would get that crown and become King of the Ring. Yeet. 

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Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defeated Otis (w/Chad Gable) in a non-title match (2:02) 

Zayn took a big corner bump which usually leads to Otis doing the Caterpillar. Otis couldn’t help but start gyrating but Gable hopped the apron and told him to stop. Otis ripped off his shirt and did the Caterpillar anyway. Gable was pissed and told Otis to go to the ropes. Otis missed a Vader Bomb and Zayn hit Helluva Kick for the pinfall win. 

— Gable berated Otis and shoved him while he was seated in the ring. The crowd booed until Zayn marched back down and suplexed Gable. Zayn went for Helluva Kick but Gable bailed. 

Otis helped Gable to his feet but Gable told him this was his fault and slapped him. The crowd chanted for Otis as he left with Gable. 

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That was a long second hour. 

[THIRD HOUR]

Backstage, Braun Strowman put over the Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile and told them he enjoyed what they were doing. JD McDonagh confronted Strowman. McDonagh told him Judgment Day ran Raw and they didn’t appreciate him sticking his nose in their business. McDonagh called this a warning. Strowman did not take this seriously. 

******* 

Non-title match: Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch defeated Dakota Kai (w/Damage CTRL) via disqualification (9:59)  

They had an unentertaining match that ended in a DQ. 

Kai gained control briefly after a distraction but it didn’t matter because Lynch fought back. They were off the mark with one sequence that did not look good at all. Moments later, Kai missed a running boot in the corner and Lynch followed with a thrust kick (which may have been the sequence they tried hitting earlier). 

After a break, Kai stomped Lynch as she was draped over the middle rope. Lynch avoided a second attempt at this and hit a diving leg drop as Kai was draped over the middle rope. 

Lynch hit a superplex and transitioned into an armbar for two. Kai tried a few counters but Lynch applied a Disarmer. Sky and Kairi Sane attacked Lynch for the DQ. 

Damage CTRL attacked Lynch until Lyra ran out to make the save. 

With their backs turned, Morgan jumped Lynch from behind and tossed her into the ring post. Morgan bailed as Lyra checked on Lynch. 

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Redmond interviewed Ilja Dragunov backstage. He said it was a dream for others to be in this spot but it wasn’t enough for him just to be here. He was there to make a moment night in and night out. He was the Czar of the ring. He knew just when to strike in his win over Ricochet last week and he would do the same to Jey Uso tonight. 

He let us all know that he beat Gunther and it was not over between them. Gunther suddenly appeared beside him. Gunther smiled at him and left. 

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Truth and Miz watched the upcoming number one contender’s match from ringside. 

Fatal four-way: Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh defeated New Catch Republic, Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering) and The Creed Brothers (10:42) 

The smaller wrestlers wrestled for a bit until AOP laid them all out. They launched McDonagh over the top into everyone else ahead of a break. (Bálor was not among those in the collision.) 

AOP stood tall before the break but Bálor and McDonagh were in control after the break anyway. Julius Creed tagged in and gave Bálor and McDonagh a double Northern Lights suplex. Bálor came back with a slingblade and running dropkick. Dunne and Bate wiped out AOP with dives as Julius ran up the ropes and hit Bálor with a nice superplex for two. 

AOP powerbombed Bálor and McDonagh before chucking Dunne and Bate from the ring. Brutus Creed suplexed Akam before wiping out Rezar, Dunne and even Julius with a Brutus Ball to the outside. Dunne gave Akam an airplane spin which delighted the crowd. Dunne and Bate gave Bálor a double-team suplex but McDonagh broke up the cover. Bate wiped him out with a dive. 

Dunne went after McDonagh on the table but was attacked from behind by Carlito. Carlito gave Dunne a backstabber on the table. (This was obviously silly because it would hurt Carlito more than Dunne, but they can explain it away by saying Carlito was sacrificing himself for Judgment Day). 

McDonagh headbutted Bate and tossed Dunne in the ring. Bálor hit Dunne with a Coup de Grace for the pinfall win. Judgment Day are the new number one contenders. 

This was a chaotic but fun match. 

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Ricochet approached Dragunov as he warmed up. Ricochet wanted to show respect as they had a hell of a match but told him that the outcome of their match will be different when they did it again. Ricochet wished him luck and told him to get the crown. 

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Priest was with Dominik Mysterio backstage and he asked if everything was good with Ripley. (Dom didn’t answer.) Bálor, McDonagh and Carlito joined and they were very excited about the win. 

Carlito was worried Priest wasn’t happy but Priest said what he did was “cool.” They were all happy for a moment until Priest told Carlito he needed to handle his business with Rey Mysterio. Priest wasn’t interested in doing business with him if he let them down. 

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Raw next week: 

• IC Champion Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable – non-title
• QOTR semifinal: Lyra Valkyria vs. Iyo Sky 
• KOTR semifinal: Gunther vs. Jey Uso or Ilja Dragunov 

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King of the Ring quarterfinal: Jey Uso defeated Ilja Dragunov (12:49) 

Jey knocked Dragunov off the top and hit a suicide dive, sending him into the announce table. Dragunov came back with a boot and cleared the table. He tried an H-Bomb off the barricade but Jey moved and speared him over the table. 

After the break, Jey hit strikes as the crowd chanted “Yeet,” but Dragunov cut him off with a boot and German suplexes. Jey blocked a third German suplex but Dragunov hit an enziguri and clothesline for two. The crowd chanted “Let’s go Uso,” before Dragunov chopped Jey in the corner and hit a running boot. Jey came back with consecutive superkicks for two. 

Dragunov blocked a spear and hit a running knee and powerbomb. Dragunov hit an H-Bomb but was in too much pain to make a good cover so Jey kicked out. 

Dragunov went for another H-Bomb but Jey speared him and hit an Uso splash for the pinfall win. The crowd popped big for the win. 

— Gunther marched to the ring for a staredown with Jey as the show ended.

This started well with the physicality outside the ring but it turned into a fairly normal Jey Uso-style main event and it was fine in the end.

That said, the right guy probably won. I know a lot of people expected McIntyre to cost Jey Uso, but they referenced earlier that Gunther has been winning a lot due to interference, so they could be saving it for next week.