WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Aug. 11

CM Punk continued his quest to avenge world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins Monday night on WWE Raw, which emanated live from the Centre Videotron in Quebec City.

Would The Best in the World gain a measure of revenge for the Money in the Bank cash-in that robbed him of the top prize on the red brand or did the flagship's lead villain again leave Punk seething?

Find out the answer to that question and more with this recap of the August 11 broadcast, which also featured women's intercontinental champion Becky Lynch in action.

Match Card

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The scheduled match between Iyo Sky and Naomi was scrapped after the women's world champion was not medically cleared to compete.

Announced in advance of the show:

• CM Punk promo
• Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch
• Sami Zayn vs. Rusev

LA Knight, The Vision Interrupt CM Punk's Promo

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CM Punk kicked off Monday's show, drawing a huge ovation from the fans in Quebec City. He wasted little time addressing Seth Rollins and the Heist of the Century from SummerSlam, admitting he felt like he let the fans down.

He vowed his disappointment from events at MetLife Stadium will only fuel him to regain the title and then reiterated his hatred for Rollins, who he claimed was trying to be Punk.

LA Knight interrupted to a big ovation and joined his fellow babyface in the squared circle. He said Punk had been screwed and deserved to be champion, but he warned him against getting involved in his business after costing The Megastar his opportunity to be world champion.

The situation deteriorated, with the competitors trading barbs, before Paul Heyman interrupted.

Back and forth ensued, with some great heat for Heyman, before a challenge for a match pitting Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker against Punk and Knight was laid down for the night's main event.

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• "Here's a promise, Seth: I'm gonna take my title back. I'm gonna take it from you, and when I do, you won't have to pretend to be injured, because I'm gonna break your legs," was a killer line from Punk. Still a master of the mic.
• This was right out of the "tag team partners who don't like each other" playbook, an old Attitude Era trope that has become a little too prevalent of late, as we have seen with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.
• The segment was fine, furthered the story ahead of what appeared destined to be a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Punk, Knight and Rollins, and it set up a tag team main event. Somewhat uninspired, but at least it made sense within the context of what had preceded it.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio and El Grande Americano

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Dominik Mysterio, Dragon Lee and El Grande Americano will challenge El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship Saturday at TripleMania XXXIII.

Before that, Dirty Dom and Americano partnered to battle Lee and AJ Styles in tag team action in Monday's opening contest.

The heels weathered an early storm and isolated Styles, working him over in their corner. A hot tag to Lee sparked a momentary comeback, but the heels reestablished control.

Later in the match, a much-needed tag to The Phenomenal One brought Styles and Lee back to life and instigated a wild, chaotic conclusion.

With the action breaking down, Mysterio slid Americano's trademark metal plate into the mask he had taken off multiple times in the match. He headbutted Styles with it and allowed his partner to pick up the victory.

Result

Mysterio and Americano defeated Styles and Lee

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• It still feels surreal to hear WWE promoting the biggest event on the AAA calendar, let alone the announcement from Michael Cole that Hall of Famer JBL will join Corey Graves on commentary for the show.
• Canadian crowds are always among the most electric, and they were into everyone here, singing "Dirty...Dirty Dom!" and chanting "Ludwig Kaiser" in favor of Americano, along with the predictable "AJ Styles" support.
• Lee monkey-flipping Mysterio into a Styles Clash was sweet.
• This was a fun, action-packed match that highlighted a handful of ongoing stories and featured some great in-ring action along the way. The finish only further intensified the issues between Dom and Styles, keeping their issues alive while further painting the heel as someone willing to do whatever it takes to win ahead of Saturday's AAA Mega Championship bout.

Sami Zayn vs. Rusev

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Sami Zayn enjoyed a hero's welcome Monday night when he took to the squared circle in Quebec City for his match with Rusev, with potentially high stakes for the babyface.

Before the match, Zayn discussed a potential World Heavyweight Championship match for Clash in Paris with Raw general manager Adam Pearce, who told him a win against The Bulgarian Brute would give him something to think about.

The Underdog from the Underground overcame the ferocity of his opponent's attack, including an overwhelming power advantage, and was in a position late to earn the win.

However, United States champion Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo, Talla Tonga and Tanga Loa arrived on the scene, pulling Zayn to the floor and beating him down in retaliation for his upset win over Sikoa on SmackDown.

The disqualification brought an end to the match via disqualification. From there, Sheamus appeared from out of nowhere, rocking Rusev with a jumping knee to the face and brawling with him through the crowd and out of the arena.

Result

Zayn defeated Rusev via disqualification

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Zayn anywhere in Quebec is akin to Punk in Chicago. Both are icons at home and turn it up to another level in front of their fans, friends and families.
• Rusev is ridiculously good at egging on the crowd and infuriating them. It is something he should do more often because few are better antagonistic heels when they want to be.
• The finish indicated a feud with The MFTs is up next for the babyface and again left Zayn short of that world title opportunity he covets, so it worked in that regard. Still, the match was good and a clean finish would have been a great way to wrap it up.

Iyo Sky vs. Roxanne Perez

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Before entering the arena for her match with Roxanne Perez, Iyo Sky declined backup from former Damage CTRL teammates Asuka and Kairi Sane.

In the ring, Perez showed up to fight, dominating a portion of the match and putting Sky on the defensive.

The lengthy contest continued, with Raquel Rodriguez interfering on behalf of her Judgment Day teammate, but Sky fended her off and remained focused on her opponent.

She rolled late and appeared to be en route to a victory before a blocked moonsault, and more interference from Rodriguez, allowed Perez to attempt to expose a turnbuckle.

Asuka and Sane interjected themselves in the match against Sky's wishes, and the distraction allowed the heel to score a cheap roll-up, with a handful of tights, for the victory.

Result

Perez defeated Sky

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• It's only a matter of time before The Kabuki Warriors betray Sky and ignite a rivalry that, if nothing else, should produce several excellent matchups between three talented pro wrestlers.
• Sky is the in-ring MVP of WWE this year. Arguably the best wrestler in the company and one of the best in the business as a whole. No, that is not hyperbole.
• The former women's world champion attempted a moonsault that Perez was meant to block but Sky landed foot-first on the arm of her opponent. The Prodigy appeared to be fine afterwards but that could have been far worse than it was.
• Sky and Perez had some great in-ring chemistry, but the incessant interference and screwy finish bogged it down a bit. Yes, the intent was to tell the Damage CTRL story, but it may have been more palatable without Rodriguez playing a role on more than one occasion.

Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch

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Women's intercontinental champion Becky Lynch entered Monday's title defense against Maxxine Dupri of Alpha Academy with an abundance of confidence.

It almost cost her, though.

The Man controlled early and often, overwhelming the inexperienced competitor and looking every bit the all-time great competitor along the way. But her cockiness almost proved costly as Dupri mounted a comeback and teased an upset.

That was cut short and Lynch ultimately tapped her out with the Dis-arm-her for the win and added a cheap shot to Natalya to put an exclamation point on her night.

Result

Lynch submitted Dupri

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Lynch as a heel is so great. As strong a babyface as she is, she thrives when allowed to be a villain. Case in point: Her role Monday night as the overconfident heel against the outmatched Dupri.
• This was exactly what it needed to be. Lynch overlooked Dupri, sold her comeback and teased that the underdog might be able to win, then put her away. The cheap shot to Natalya afterward continued to tease a potential showdown between them which, based on their last high-profile match at SummerSlam six years ago, should be great.

CM Punk and LA Knight vs. The Vision

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Before the night's main event, a candid and emotionally vulnerable video package featuring Bayley aired. In it, she discussed her status as The Role Model and the numbness she currently feels.

Backstage, Rhea Ripley approached Iyo Sky and warned her about The Kabuki Warriors amid some tension between the former teammates, to which The Genius of the Sky responded by telling Mami to stay out of it.

Back in the arena, Punk and Knight joined forces to battle Breakker and Reed in a tag team main event.

The heels earned control early, isolating Punk from his partner. They worked over the former world champion, cutting the ring off from him and using their size and strength advantage to wear him down. A hot tag to Knight, though, turned the tide in the babyfaces' favor momentarily, but Breakker launched himself off the ring apron, clotheslining The Megastar over the commentary table to regain the upper hand.

The fan favorites recovered, though, with Punk receiving a tag several minutes later that jump-started his team. Unfortunately, Seth Rollins reared his head despite claiming to have left the arena earlier in the show, drawing a disqualification.

The Vision beat down Punk and Knight before Jey Uso made the save. Rollins and Co. bailed to the floor before Raw GM Adam Pearce informed the world champion of his match at Clash in Paris: a Fatal 4-Way against Punk, Uso and Knight with his title at stake.

The heels responded by laying waste to the babyfaces to close out the show.

Result

Punk and Knight defeated Reed and Breakker via disqualification

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The Bayley video package was superb and did more for her in two minutes than a majority of her booking over the last year. That is an indictment on the creative team more than an insult to The Role Model.
• A fairly good tag team main event came to a conclusion in the worst way possible, with the predictable return of Rollins and a show-closing beatdown of the babyfaces. It feels way too much like lather, rinse and repeat from a creative standpoint, especially since The Vision do not yet feel as hot as WWE probably thinks they are.
• After watching Uso, Knight and Punk getting laid out by the heels again, why would anyone have any interest in seeing them challenge Rollins when it has been made clear they are not capable of overcoming the villains?

Overall Grade

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This was the definition of a perfectly acceptable show.

There was some good wrestling, specifically the AAA TripleMania-hyping tag match and Sky vs. Perez, but the main event angle felt repetitive and questionably highlighted the heel faction just seconds after Pearce had made an announcement that should have been a blow to Rollins and The Vision.

Zayn and Rusev was fun and the direction it takes the former on should be fun. The storyline development involving Sky and her former teammates was solid, while the latest in Bayley's emotional journey was outstanding and something we hopefully see more of in the coming weeks.

The good outweighed the bad but that main event beatdown bogged things down instead of ending with Pearce's big PLE announcement.

Grade: C+