WWE Raw live results: Randy Orton returns
Date: August 9, 2021
Location: Amway Center in Orlando, FL
The Big Takeaway —
Randy Orton returned and beat AJ Styles in the main event, with some help from Riddle. Orton laid out Riddle after the match with an RKO. It reads like a breakup, but will almost certainly lead to them getting back together soon to face Styles and Omos for the tag titles.
Show Recap —
Randy Orton entered to a very big reaction. He wore black shorts and an RK-Bro zip-up hoodie. He was smiling and appeared to be in a good mood. I don’t remember the last time I saw him play to the crowd as he did here.
Orton welcomed us to Monday Night Raw. Riddle entered and Orton’s mood immediately changed. Riddle chucked his scooter aside in excitement just before entering the ring.
Riddle said, “Randy, I missed you so much, bro.” The crowd went, “aw.” Riddle asked where Orton was all this time. Orton’s absence reminded Riddle of when his stepfather left 25 years ago to get milk and never came back. The crowd didn’t care about this story and chanted “RK-Bro” instead. Riddle was excited that they could be a team again.
Orton wondered why the hell he would team with Riddle again. Orton said he worked better alone. Riddle sadly asked if that meant they can’t team anymore. Orton wasn’t interested.
AJ Styles and Omos interrupted. Styles mocked Riddle and pointed out how untrustworthy Orton has always been. Styles continued to mock Riddle for having a broken heart until Orton told him to shut up.
Orton said he’s been home for seven weeks and was tired of hearing Styles run his mouth. He said the only thing bigger than Styles’ ego was that jackass Omos. Styles challenged him to a singles match to prove who runs Raw and Orton accepted.
Orton was about to give Styles an RKO but he saw it coming and bailed. Orton tried one on Omos but Omos shoved him off. Riddle tried an RKO out of nowhere but Omos countered that too and slammed him. Orton chose not to help Riddle to his feet and instead told him that was a bad idea.
********
Smackdown’s Baron Corbin was backstage. Kevin Patrick mentioned something about him using the brand-to-brand invitational to challenge Drew McIntyre. Corbin said he needed the money. He said he was basically homeless but Jinder Mahal gave him a call and made him an offer. Corbin wasn’t looking forward to facing someone who could decapitate him with a sword but he needed to take the risk.
Patrick interviewed McIntyre after a break. McIntyre didn’t feel sorry for Corbin and spoke about what a bad person he was. He told a story about Corbin beating up a homeless person and taking what little money he had before stealing his dog.
After Patrick asked about his sword, McIntyre said his sword was named after his late mother, Angela. Angela was told to have an abortion when she was pregnant with him but she refused because she would have rather died. She never complained when she had cancer. He somehow transitioned this to his anger toward Corbin. He told Corbin that karma was a bitch.
********
Drew McIntyre defeated Baron Corbin (9:47)
McIntyre gave Corbin an overhead suplex outside the ring prior to a break, but after the break, Corbin gave McIntyre a superplex. McIntyre came back with a headbutt, suplex, and neckbreaker.
McIntyre set up for the Claymore kick but Corbin begged him not to do it. McIntyre grabbed a mic and called him pathetic. Corbin said, “I know,” which was funny. McIntyre asked him how much money he’d need to get on his feet and take a damn shower. Corbin said $100,000. McIntyre laughed before doing the Claymore countdown and hitting the kick for the pinfall win.
Jinder Mahal, Veer and Shanky entered the stage. Before they could get any closer to the ring, McIntyre grabbed his sword and they backed off.
********
Riddle approached Orton on his scooter. Riddle asked if they can at least be friends and if he can accompany Orton to ringside. Orton said no and told him not to call him his bro.
********
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defeated Jeff Hardy in a non-title match (7:59)
Kross did an in-set promo where he said Hardy ruined his debut and he’s been planning his revenge ever since. He was staring at an hourglass and said Hardy would fall and prey.
Kross was in control until Hardy fought back but Kross yanked him off the top and they went to break two minutes in. Hardy hit a DDT after the break, followed by an inverted atomic drop, a leg drop, and a splash for a two count. Hardy tried a splash from the second rope for a nearfall. Hardy used a jawbreaker and tried a cover holding the tights, but Kross kicked out.
After all that, Kross hit a Saito suplex and Kross Jacket for the submission win. After the match, Kross gave him another suplex and put him in the submission again.
The crowd liked Hardy but didn’t care much about Kross. He did get “you suck” chants after attacking Hardy post-match.
********
NXT tomorrow: Follow-up on Dakota Kai attacking Raquel González, plus Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly go face-to-face.
[Second hour]
There was an RK-Bro video package set to upbeat music about friendship.
Patrick interviewed Riddle backstage. Riddle was sad but said he had to respect Orton’s wishes. He called himself a stallion and rode off on his scooter.
********
Alexa Bliss defeated Doudrop (w/Eva Marie) (3:31)
This is as dumb as it gets.
Bliss entered with the doll and placed it on the top turnbuckle. The match began and some fans chanted “we want Wyatt.”
Doudrop was sort of in control until the camera cut to a shot of the CGI version of Lilly. It “blinked” and Doudrop had to act frightened. Bliss then rolled her up for the win.
(If you’re wondering, Bliss was presented as a babyface. They piped in booing for Doudrop at one point when she saved Marie from Bliss.)
********
Sheamus approached Miz and John Morrison in the back. Basically, Sheamus said he would take care of Ricochet tonight and told Morrison that he better take care of Damian Priest or else.
US Champion Sheamus defeated Ricochet in a non-title match (10:34)
There was a great spot where Sheamus was standing in front of the announce table and Ricochet hit a springboard dive, sending them both over the table. That led to a break.
Sheamus regained control after the break using a backbreaker. (They showed several replays of Ricochet’s dive as Sheamus held a rest hold, which made it seem sort of pointless.) Sheamus went to the top but Ricochet hit a jumping enziguri before bringing him down with a hurricanrana. Ricochet followed with a flying clothesline and lionsault for a nearfall.
Ricochet came off the top again but Sheamus appeared to catch him with a headbutt (using his metal mask). Sheamus followed with a Brogue kick for the pinfall win.
Damian Priest entered and got in Sheamus’ face. Sheamus tried a cheap shot but Priest saw it coming and sent him out of the ring.
Damian Priest defeated John Morrison (w/The Miz) (4:06)
They had a nice strike exchange that led to them kicking each other in the face at the same time. Morrison got to his feet and wiped out Priest with an impressive corkscrew dive to the outside. Morrison tried something off the top in the ring, but Priest wiped him out with a spinning heel kick.
Priest set up for Hit the Lights but Miz sprayed him in the face with the drip stick. Fortunately, Priest just ignored him and hit the move anyway for the pinfall win. This was good while it lasted.
After the match, Morrison tried to stop Priest from confronting the Miz but Priest knocked down Morrison anyway and sprayed him with water. Priest got in Miz’s face and by instinct, Miz popped to his feet off the wheelchair and shoved Priest. Miz was suddenly concerned upon realizing he blew his cover. Miz sprinted to the back before Priest could attack him.
Priest grabbed the mic to address Sheamus. Sheamus entered the stage because he wanted to hear this in person. Priest challenged him to a title match at SummerSlam and Sheamus accepted. Morrison tried to attack Priest from behind but Priest knocked him down with a Brogue kick. Priest warned Sheamus that would be his fate at SummerSlam.
********
WWE congratulated themselves earlier on reaching 80-million subscribers on Youtube. They also mentioned that a video of Reginald leaping in the ring reached 33-million views on Tik Tok.
********
Mansoor gave Mustafa Ali a new jacket to wear to the ring to make up for last week. Ali told him to stop apologizing before adding, “you’ll do better next time.” Ali told him to watch him and learn tonight.
T-Bar (w/Mace) defeated Mustafa Ali (w/Mansoor) (3:03)
T-Bar and Mace did an in-set promo. I suppose it’s notable that Mace said “size always matters.”
T-Bar seemed to have it won but Ali had his foot on the bottom rope and Mansoor alerted the referee. Mace attacked Mansoor before Ali gave T-Bar a tornado DDT for a nearfall. T-Bar knocked Ali off the top rope and hit Feast Your Eyes for the pinfall win.
Mace and T-Bar were going to attack Ali post-match but Mansoor made the save and actually cleared the ring on his own.
********
Akira Tozawa and R-Truth tried using disguises to attack 24/7 Champion Reginald but he escaped using flips.
[Third hour]
WWE congratulated John Cena for The Suicide Squad being number one in the box office and The Rock for Jungle Cruise being number two (in its second week).
AJ Styles did a quick interview where he said he would break Orton just like they broke Riddle’s scooter.
Bobby Lashley and MVP promo
MVP ranted for a while about Goldberg and what happened last week. He claimed to have four bruised ribs and two cracked ribs thanks to Goldberg’s spear. However, the only thing more devastating than Goldberg’s spear was Bobby Lashley’s spear.
MVP had a message for Gage: your dad better not show up at SummerSlam because he will be destroyed and annihilated worse than you’ve ever seen and Lashley will end his career. The upside was that Gage will be able to spend all the time in the world with his dad after that.
Lashley grabbed the mic and basically repeated the warning. He finished with, “you’re not next, you’re done.”
********
Sarah Schreiber asked Rhea Ripley if she was still confident facing Nikki ASH after seeing her beat Charlotte Flair last week. Ripley gave Nikki credit but “almost” isn’t good enough to remain champion.
Ripley said, “As a former Raw Women’s Champion, I understand the balance between light and dark that is needed to hold on to that title. Does Nikki A.S.H. have a dark side? Because I haven’t seen it.” Ripley said Nikki didn’t have what it took to stop her from becoming champion again. (Yes, this did sound very scripted.)
After a break, Nikki told Schreiber that she knew she had to be prepared when things didn’t go her way. Tonight, she knew that her dream could become a nightmare but she had a nightlight in the form of her spirit and drive. Yeesh.
Nikki said she didn’t “almost” beat Charlotte last week, she did beat Charlotte. She was almost positive that she would beat Ripley tonight and would do what it took to remain champion at SummerSlam.
********
They showed pictures of Titus O’Neil giving away 30,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.
********
Raw Women’s Champion Nikki A.S.H. defeated Rhea Ripley via DQ in a non-title match (9:18)
This went almost ten minutes (with a commercial break in between) and ended by disqualification when Charlotte pushed Nikki off the top. Charlotte laid out both women and posed with the belt. That was that.
********
There was an Elias video package. He was outside and walked up to a fire. He reminisced over “walk with Elias” chants but strung the guitar one last time and chucked it in the fire. “WWE stood for ‘walk with Elias,’ but Elias is dead.”
********
Schreiber asked Charlotte about attacking Nikki and Ripley. She said they should have known that the attack was coming. She called herself the most decorated woman in WWE history and everyone can stop waiting for her downfall. She planned on winning the title at SummerSlam.
(This is a minor complaint, but Charlotte was standing behind the stage in the back, obviously on the way back from ringside. That means Nikki and Ripley wouldn’t have been far behind and would have known where to find her if they wanted revenge. But nothing happened.)
Elsewhere, Patrick asked Orton why he’s separating himself from Riddle. Orton said he worked better alone and planned on beating Styles.
********
Randy Orton defeated Raw Tag Team Champion AJ Styles (w/Omos) (11:18)
Styles hit a springboard forearm to the outside after Orton was distracted by Omos and that led to break two minutes into the match. After the break, Jimmy Smith let us know it’s been an incredible match thus far.
They traded fists until Orton took the advantage with clotheslines and a powerslam for two. Styles used a kick to the leg but Orton came back with a backbreaker for two. Styles avoided a superplex and applied the Calf Crusher but Orton quickly got a rope break.
Styles set up for a Phenomenal forearm but Orton rolled out of position. Styles saw that coming but wasn’t quick enough to block Orton’s clothesline. Orton followed with a draping DDT and set up for an RKO but Omos pushed Styles out of the way.
Orton and Omos yelled at each other and the distraction allowed Styles to kick Orton in the head. Riddle attacked Omos from behind and shoved him into the post. Riddle tried putting him in a sleeper but Omos drove him into the post.
Styles went for the Phenomenal forearm but Orton countered into an RKO for the pinfall win. Crowd popped for the finish.
Riddle wanted a hug from Orton. Orton refused and went to leave the ring but Riddle brought him back in. Orton finally did give him a hug and the crowd popped.
Riddle raised Orton’s hand and they posed until Orton laid him out with an RKO. Orton smiled and chuckled. Byron Saxton, who couldn’t let this breathe, yelled, “I think they’re back together! I think they’re back together!”