Welcome to the season premiere of Monday Night Raw! A jam-packed show indeed, with the headline news that Raw is temporarily returning to a 2-hour format starting Monday, October 7th. So, clear your calendars – less might just mean more!
The Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, were shown looking sharp as ever, while their opponents for the night, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, were prepping backstage.
Street Fight: Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross) vs. American Made (Chad Gable, Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, and Ivy Nile)
It’s been a hot minute since Nikki Cross had a match, but she more than made up for it with a brawl that saw her locking horns with Ivy Nile. Punches were exchanged, and before long, the ring action spilled outside. Chaos ensued, as Cross delivered a sitout front suplex to Nile on the floor, before making the kendo stick her weapon of choice – battering Nile, who was hidden under a trash can for good measure.
Elsewhere, Julius Creed was manhandled by Rowan, while Brutus sent Gacy into the apron. Lumis, meanwhile, hit a full nelson slam on Gable, because why not? In a final act of mayhem, Cross gave Nile a neckbreaker onto steel chairs, leaving Lumis to wrap things up with a Superfly Splash on Gable for the win. Carnage in all the right ways!
Winners: Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross)
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley at Bad Blood Announced!
Balor, flanked by Carlito, JD McDonagh, and Dominik Mysterio, had a bone to pick with Priest. Things quickly escalated, and The Judgment Day boys ganged up on him. But just when it seemed Priest was done for, out came Rhea Ripley (crutch and all) to save the day…only for Liv Morgan to turn up and attack Rhea! The tide turned as Morgan, armed with a crutch, targeted Ripley’s injured knee. Priest tried to shield Ripley, but Jey Uso came out with a chair to chase the heels off. Drama!
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn)
The champs, Belair and Cargill, kicked things off with a mix of power and agility. A few impressive double-team moves gave them control early on, but Fyre and Dawn fought back with some crafty maneuvers. Fyre nearly pinned Belair after a double team Gory Special facebuster, but Jade saved the day.
In the end, Jade finished things off with a German suplex to Fyre, giving the champs another win in their already glittering reign.
Winners: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
Post-match, the Women’s Tag Team Champs crossed paths with Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane of Damage CTRL, who warned them not to get too comfortable with those shiny titles. Belair and Cargill’s response? Polishing their titles a bit more.
Natalya, Lyra Valkyria, and Zelina Vega vs. Pure Fusion Collective
It was the return of Natalya, as the “surprise” partner to join Lyra Valkyria and Zelina Vega in this six-woman tag team match. The crowd was all in for the return of the veteran, and she didn’t disappoint. Natalya, as sharp as ever, applied the Sharpshooter to Zoey Stark, who promptly tapped out. Not to be outdone, Lyra and Vega each applied their own submissions to the other members of Pure Fusion Collective, completing the clean sweep.
Winners by submission: Natalya, Lyra Valkyria, and Zelina Vega
Backstage, Natalya was feeling the love after her return match, sharing a sweet moment with Uncle Bret “The Hitman” Hart, who gave her a hug and insisted, “This is your moment, not mine.”
And there you have it – a lively season premiere for Monday Night Raw! Big news on the 2-hour format change, thrilling matches, and the return of one of the finest technical wrestlers in WWE history. What’s not to love? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!
