WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights Before Worlds Collide

WWE Raw rolled into the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee with a show focused on hyping Friday's joint AAA presentation, Worlds Collide, as well as the Wrestlepalooza premium live event on ESPN eight days later.

What went down when CM Punk and Seth Rollins were in the same building, just days removed from AJ Lee's stunning return and attack on Becky Lynch?

What did the seemingly reunited Usos have to say to the WWE Universe?

Find out the answers to those questions and more with this recap of the September 8 broadcast of Raw on Netflix.

Match Card

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Announced in advance of Monday's show:

• AJ Lee's Raw return
• AJ Styles vs. El Grande Americano
• The Usos address the WWE Universe
• Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez

The Usos Promo

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Last Time in Action (As A Team): The Usos defeated Grayson Waller and Austin Theory (Raw, March 24)

On the heels of an apparent reunion, Jimmy and Jey Uso kicked off Raw.

Before The Usos could say much, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed interrupted. The heels attacked, leaving the twins like Roman Reigns, who is still sidelined after The Vision's assault at Clash in Paris.

The Usos cut a united front, laying down a challenge for a match for Monday night, which the heels declined and instead for Wrestlepalooza. LA Knight attacked Reed and Breakker, chaos ensued, and the babyfaces stood tall to close the segment.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• There is an effortless chemistry Jimmy and Jey exude when working together that neither has when they are apart. That does not mean they should always be a team moving forward, especially considering the latter's success as a singles star, but it is obvious nonetheless.
• This was a fun, inoffensive start to the show that set up a PLE match, continued Knight's vendetta against The Vision, and further teased tension between The Megastar and Jey, which is logical given the developments of recent weeks.

AJ Styles vs. El Grande Americano

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Last Time In Action: AJ Styles lost to Dominik Mysterio (Raw, September 1); El Grande Americano defeated El Fiscal (AAA Alianzas, September 7)

One week after Americano interfered on behalf of Dominik Mysterio to seal his successful Intercontinental Championship against Styles, the masked luchador squared off with The Phenomenal One.

A raging Styles dominated early, but the appearance of a second Americano allowed the initial version to seize control of the match through the commercial break.

The babyface fought his way back, punishing his opponent and leaving him begging off.

The second Americano attempted to interfere on behalf of the original for the second time but LWO's Dragon Lee cut him off, allowing Styles to counter a roll-up attempt with the Styles Clash for the win.

Result

Styles pinned Americano

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Styles and Americano have some strong chemistry, but it's hard not to notice the former is above this midcard feud and should probably be utilized elsewhere on the show, such as in the main event, where he could be a great addition to the title picture as another top-tier babyface targeting Rollins' world title.
• The match was fine for what it was, and the multiple Americanos gimmick is fun enough, but this felt like more of the same rather than a segment that advanced anything in any meaningful way.

• Backstage, Adam Pearce revealed Stephanie Vaquer was unable to travel to Raw so her contract signing with Iyo Sky is canceled. A confrontation between Nikki Bella and Asuka led to a match between them later Monday night.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez

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Last Time in Action: Lyra Valkyria defeated Kairi Sane (Main Event, August 25); Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez defeated Sol Ruca and Zaria (NXT, September 7)

Rodriguez used her size and strength advantage to cut off Valkyria's early onslaught and seize control ahead of the commercial break.

The aggressor targeted her opponent's back, punishing her and taking the former women's intercontinental champion's core strength away from her.

Valkyria powered through her opponent's resistance in the corner and delivered a sunset flip powerbomb to turn the tide back in her favor.

Valkyria tried for Nightwing but her back injury, coupled with a distraction from Perez, allowed Rodriguez to recover momentarily.

A back and forth ensued late, culminating with the heel blocking a top-rope legdrop attempt and delivering a Tejana Bomb for the pinfall victory.

Result

Rodriguez defeated Valkyria

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Rodriguez bent Valkyria backwards around the post, pulling her hair and her feet toward each other, doing damage in a killer spot.
• This was a strong match. Rodriguez improves every week and Valkyria has been one of the best wrestlers on Raw, regardless of the division. They had great chemistry, and the result was a pleasant surprise.
• Backstage, Rusev interrupted a conversation between Pearce and Penta, demanding a championship opportunity at the same time the luchador was. The confrontation ended with a match for later in the show being made.

AJ Lee Returns to Raw

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Last Time in Action: AJ Lee, Naomi, and Paige defeated Natalya and The Bella Twins (Raw, March 30, 2015)

AJ Lee made her first Raw appearance in a decade, drawing a huge reaction from the fans in Milwaukee as she skipped to the ring, wearing the Women's Intercontinental Championship.

"Kept you waiting, huh?" she said, drawing chants of "welcome back!"

"For those of you who were not here 10 years ago and aren't sure why your millennial parents were very excited last Friday," Lee said to start her promo, injecting her personality immediately.

Lee recapped the last decade of her life, including going to therapy, to which the fans chanted, "Therapy!" Therapy! Therapy!"

She talked about watching Raw for the first time in a long time and seeing CM Punk in the same ring as Becky Lynch, who belittled him.

This brought out The Man, who trash-talked the fans, cut down Punk, and took exception to Lee wearing her title.

The babyface challenged Lynch to go get her championship, to which the heel responded by referring to her as a "Jersey trashbag weirdo." She questioned where Punk was, claiming he was hiding behind his wife, and called for her "hot husband."

Rollins joined Lynch in the aisle to "you both suck" chants. He suggested Lee give the title back, to which the returning star said she can give Lynch another black eye or the the heels champions could meet her and Punk in a tag team match.

Rollins attempted to take the title back but found himself cut off by Lee. Punk joined the fray and set The Visionary up for the GTS, only for the heel to narrowly escape and join his wife at ringside. Frustrated, he accepted the challenge for the match at Wrestlepalooza.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Backstage, Jey Uso told Jimmy that he is not worried about LA Knight or fending off The Vision, to which the latter said, "You're sounding like Roman." Jey said: "Maybe sounding like myself ain't working anymore." A great bit of seed-planting.
• While a little on the longer side, this was the big selling point of the night's show and Lee shined. Her personality was up front, she held her own against the typically great Lynch on the mic, and endeared herself to the audience. That the segment ended with another huge match for Wrestlepalooza, and an advertisement for therapy, only enhanced its quality.

Penta vs. Rusev

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Last Time in Action: Penta and The War Raiders defeated The New Day and Grayson Waller (Raw, September 1); Rusev defeated Sheamus (Clash in Paris, August 31)

Penta weathered the storm early, surviving everything Rusev threw at him while The Bulgarian Brute controlled the pace of the match.

As he mounted a comeback following the commercial break, though, The New Day and Waller made their presence felt.

The luchador avoided the distraction and delivered a Code Red for a near-fall. Later, as Penta scaled the ropes, Woods halted his momentum momentarily, allowing Rusev to recover and catch his flying opponent with a Machka Kick for the victory.

Result

Rusev defeated Penta

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The latest Bayley video aired. In it, she sported black, flashed hints of a dark side, and asked for forgiveness from Valkyria but admitted she can't forgive herself. We heard the voices of her heel alter ego, mocking her, telling her to do what is right. "I'll make it right," she said to close the latest vignette.
• This should have been a better match but for the third time in three contests, a distraction of some sort led to the finish. It is an uncreative booking trope that has plagued WWE TV of late and has increasingly been met with criticism. Sure, Rusev wins, but does it matter when three other guys cost Penta? It is a question Triple H and his creative team are not asking themselves enough, and it's leading to a predictable and repetitive product.

Nikki Bella vs. Asuka

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Last Time in Action: Nikki Bella lost to Becky Lynch (Clash in Paris, August 31); Asuka and Kairi Sane defeated Rodriguez and Perez (Raw, September 1)

Asuka dominated early and often in Monday's match, executing the kicks that have earned her the reputation as one of wrestling's most dangerous strikers.

She controlled the match, working over Bella through the commercial break and keeping her on the defensive.

Bella absorbed everything Asuka threw at her and mounted a momentary comeback late, but The Empress of Tomorrow caught her in the Asuka Lock and forced the tapout for the submission victory.

Result

Asuka defeated Bella

Grade

C

Top Moments and Takeaways

• This was an interesting match in that Asuka dominated almost from start to finish. Bella was presented as someone looking to make up for her lackluster performance against Lynch at Clash in Paris, but she struggled against a superior wrestler. Where the story is going remains to be seen, but nothing about this presentation, outside of Corey Graves referring to her as one on commentary, did anything to suggest the babyface is a Hall of Famer.
• Backstage, The Judgment Day took exception to Dominik Mysterio's absence, leading to the intercontinental champion storming off. Perez went after him and offered her help.

LA Knight vs. Bronson Reed

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Last Time in Action: LA Knight and Jey Uso lost to Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker (Raw, September 1)

Knight's war with The Vision continued in the main event of this week's show as he squared off with the man who previously damaged his ribs with his trademark Tsunami splash: Reed.

A momentary distraction by Breakker at ringside allowed Reed to halt The Megastar's early onslaught and down him, seizing control of the match and putting the popular star at a disadvantage.

The Badass remained involved, taking every cheap shot he could behind the official's back. Still, Knight dodged an incoming Reed and mounted a comeback, exploding with a barrage of right hands to the big man.

At ringside, Knight dodged a sprinting Reed, who exploded over the guardrail and into the timekeeper's position. The babyface leapt from the announce table, onto the guardrail, and then onto his opponent to continue his comeback.

Knight allowed himself to become distracted late, though, and Reed made him pay for it. He delivered the Jagged Edge (Death Valley Driver) to secure the victory.

The Vision beat down Knight after the match until Jimmy Uso rushed the ring to make the save. He ate a Spear, though, as the heels regained the upper hand.

Jey then took the fight to the heels, appearing to clear them out but ultimately suffering another Spear.

Knight made the save with a steel chair and helped Jimmy to his feet, only to find himself on the receiving end of a Spear from Jey, who drew boos and was overheard telling his brother, "We good now."

Result

Reed pinned Knight

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The story of Knight needing someone to watch his back may have hit a little harder had we not seen the same story development with Styles earlier in the show. This being a higher-profile program means it hits harder, but the creative team must be more careful not to repeat the same tropes in a single broadcast.
• Graves compared Reed to the great Bam Bam Bigelow on commentary and it might be one of the best comparisons in a long time. A big, athletic heavyweight, Reed does a lot of what Bigelow did so well.
• The match itself was overshadowed by post-match events. Jimmy supported Knight, but Jey, fueled by mounting frustration and Roman Reigns' return, seized his own moment of revenge. Jey's actions have suddenly made him one of WWE's most compelling figures, perfectly setting up the next chapter in The Bloodline saga.

Overall Grade

Cooper Niell/Via Getty Images

Wrestlepalooza feels like a legitimately huge show, and this week's Raw did a strong job of hyping the event on September 20.

We had the addition of two high-profile matches in The Usos vs. The Vision and CM Punk and AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, the latter of which was set up in the most significant segment of the night.

The Bloodline saga appears to be reintroducing itself to the WWE Universe in the form of Jey Uso's descent into becoming exactly what he fought against when he broke free of Roman Reigns' control and set out on his own path.

Add to that the impending match between Sky and Vaquer, and the mounting tensions between The Genius of the Sky and her Damage CTRL teammates, Asuka and Kairi Sane, as well as the involvement of Rhea Ripley, and you have two threads to keep an eye on in the women's division.

Solid in-ring action capped off the broadcast and earned it an above-average grade.

Grade: B