WWE Raw live results: ‘In Your Face Monday’
Date: September 14, 2020
Location: Amway Center in Orlando, FL
The Big Takeaway —
The match between Drew McIntyre and Keith Lee ended in a no-contest after Retribution attacked. If Lee had won the match, he would have earned a title shot at Clash of Champions if Randy Orton isn’t cleared in time.
Seth Rollins beat Dominik in a cage match, Asuka retained her title over Mickie James (which had a strange finish), the Street Profits beat Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura clean, and Kevin Owens beat Aleister Black with help from flickering lights.
Also, Smackdown’s Braun Strowman appeared on Raw Underground.
Show Recap —
The show kicked off with thunder sound/video effects.
Michael Cole, Dolph Ziggler and Byron Saxton are tonight’s announcers. Cole said Tom Phillips and Samoa Joe were off this week. (Phillips was off last week, too.)
Drew McIntyre entered. There was a long recap of his angle with Randy Orton. It was 8:07pm by the time he spoke.
McIntyre knew that Orton intended to do more than fracture his jaw and Orton should be lucky that he still has his head after last week. McIntyre was advised to take more time off but if he did so he’d have to surrender the WWE title, which he wasn’t about to do. McIntyre would willingly leave the arena in an ambulance every week if it meant keeping the title.
McIntyre proposed that they have an ambulance match for the title at Clash of Champions because clearly the rules don’t apply to them anymore. McIntyre realized Orton may not make it to COC because of the “most deadly weapon in all of sports entertainment.”
McIntyre recalled coming up with the Claymore kick basically by accident a few years ago because his pants were too tight and he didn’t want to rip the crotch. McIntyre showed an awful photoshop of all of his Claymore victims recently (including Brock Lesnar). It was even worse than the picture Orton showed a few weeks ago.
Adam Pearce came out (and a graphic identified him as a WWE official). Pearce said Orton may not be able to compete at COC so if Lee beats McIntyre tonight, and if Orton can’t make it to COC, then Lee will get the title shot instead. McIntyre wondered who put Pearce in charge.
Lee entered and shook hands with McIntyre. McIntyre was about to leave but Lee pulled him close. Lee was about to leave but McIntyre did the same. Then they cut to commercial.
(I should mention that they also added fake crowd laughing when McIntyre showed the photoshopped picture.)
Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defeated SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura in a non-title match (9:26)
Montez Ford went for a dive but Cesaro and Nakamura caught him before dropping him hard on the edge of the barricade, which looked painful. After a break, “we want the smoke” chants played on the speakers.
Angelo Dawkins tagged in and hit Nakamura with clotheslines, a spinning back elbow and t-bone suplex for two. Cole noted that Dawkins has lost weight and is quicker now. Nakamura came back with a sliding German suplex but Dawkins caught him with a spinebuster.
Ford went for a frog splash but Nakamura got his knees up which led to a two count. Cesaro used the big swing and Nakamura hit a dropkick but Dawkins broke up the cover. Cesaro kicked out of a schoolboy and hit a big uppercut for a nearfall. He followed with a series of uppercuts in the corner.
Cesaro hit a superplex but Dawkins had made a blind tag. Dawkins gave Cesaro a frog splash for the pinfall win. Street Profits win clean.
A fine match and it was nice seeing a different matchup. Feels like it’s been months since we’ve seen the Street Profits face anyone other than Andrade and Angel Garza.
Lana spoke with Garza backstage. Lana thought it was crazy that Mickie James was getting a title shot when it should be Natalya instead. Garza started flirting with her but was quickly interrupted by Zelina Vega and Andrade. Lana left.
Vega wasn’t happy with his recent actions. Garza was tired of being blamed for everything and noted that the golden boy Andrade was the one who got pinned. Andrade and Garza argued until Vega interrupted them. She said she couldn’t do this anymore and stormed off. Garza shoved Andrade and they brawled (and they cut quickly to commercial).
Dominik was shown with his family backstage.
Hurt Business promo
MVP said business was booming and put over each guy. Alexander said everyone was throwing shade at him on social media for abandoning his brothers.
Alexander said this was his job and he had to do what he needed to succeed. The fans didn’t know what it was like being beaten down every week by the three baddest men this industry has ever seen. Being with Ricochet and Apollo Crews left him empty and broken.
Ricochet and Crews interrupted. Crews said Alexander sold them out and was weak-minded. Crews said they always had his back but Alexander disagreed. Ricochet wasn’t going to try reasoning with him because he knew there was no talking him out of it. Ricochet said the Hurt Business coming after him every week was nothing compared to what they would do.
Cedric Alexander (w/Hurt Business) defeated Ricochet (w/Apollo Crews) (8:20)
Early in the match, Crews attacked Benjamin outside the ring after he tried to interfere. Ivar ran out to attack Bobby Lashley and they brawled to the back (they have a match later).
Ricochet hit a nice superkick and dragon suplex. Alexander avoided a dive and hit a Michinoku Driver for two. Alexander came right back with a Lumber Check for the pinfall win.
The celebration was quickly interrupted by a Retribution promo on the screen. They hate the machine and we’re all bad for liking the machine. There were initially five Retribution members on the screen but when the promo was over, even more members joined. Hurt Business watched their backs after the promo but nothing happened.
Sarah Schrieber interviewed Mickie James. James loved the industry and loved that the industry pushed her to be at her best. High stakes matches like tonights against Asuka brought out the best in her. It was clear to her that she always had what it took to be champion and she knew that tonight could be her last chance to win the title. Good promo.
[Second hour]
Pearce yelled at security backstage. He was approached by Hurt Business who proposed he updated his security from boys to men or else he could be out of a job. Pearce accepted and thanked them for volunteering. They laughed at him for thinking they were volunteering. MVP said they would send him a bill.
Asuka defeated Mickie James to retain the Raw Women’s Championship (11:48)
James was in control early but Asuka took over after a knee strike got her a two count. Asuka missed a hip attack and James caught her with a Mick Kick but Asuka fell to the outside and they went to break.
James used a hurricanrana out of the corner but Asuka followed with a hip attack. James came back with a flapjack and used a Thesz press off the turnbuckles for two. They exchanged strikes which Asuka got the better of after hitting a spinning back fist. Asuka followed with Yes kicks but James blocked a shining wizard and applied a single leg grab.
James tried a Boston grab but Asuka countered into a rollup for two. James followed with a Mick Kick (which looked like it missed) and only got two after Asuka got a rope break. They showed a replay of James’ Mick Kick from before the break instead of the one she just tried.
Asuka applied an Asuka Lock and James floated over into what appeared to be a cover. The ref called for the bell as if James submitted which seemed to catch her completely by surprise. The announcers were very confused. The ring announcer said the referee determined that James could not continue so Asuka was the winner. This was very strange.
Vega entered to confront Asuka as the ref checked on James outside the ring. Vega was tired of wasting her time managing two ingrates. She claimed Asuka was handed the belt by Becky Lynch and called herself one of the best in the business. Asuka basically laughed in her face so Vega slapped her. Asuka was about to go after Vega but she bailed.
US Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Erik in a non-title match (2:08)
MVP joined commentary in place of Ziggler. Cole talked about Ivar’s injury. MVP took credit for the injury.
Erik hit a few knee strikes for two but Lashley came back with a spinebuster and Dominator variant for a nearfall. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock (full nelson) for the submission win.
Schrieber asked Kevin Owens if he knew why Aleister Black targetted him. Owens said no. Maybe it was something he said, maybe it was because Hot Topic wouldn’t honour his 40% coupon, or maybe it was because he sat in a dark room for over a year asking for someone to knock on his door and almost nobody did.
Owens didn’t care why. All he cared about was how he can inflict enough pain and punishment for Black to run back to his little hiding spot. He wanted Black to learn what happens when you pick a fight with him. He told Schrieber he wasn’t worried because “I’m Kevin Owens.” After Owens left, Black appeared and smirked. Owens was very good here.
Braun Strowman approached Shane McMahon outside of the Raw Underground room. He warned Shane not to step in the way of his path of destruction. He wanted Shane’s best fighter. Shane let him in the room and was very excited.
Saxton was beside himself trying to figure out why Strowman was at Raw Underground. Cole said anyone can show up to Underground.
A sheepish Murphy approached Seth Rollins in the locker room. Rollins was happy to see him. Murphy was ashamed over what the Mysterio family did to him last week. Rollins understood and said atonement was part of the process. Rollins said the steel cage match was the perfect opportunity to send a lesson.
Rollins had an important role for him. Murphy said he was ready. Rollins smacked him in the face, grabbed him by the beard and demanded he stay in the back. Rollins smacked him again and demanded that he say that he understood. Murphy said, “yes sir.”
There was a Kit Kat commercial with R-Truth and Liv Morgan. Truth spoke to the candy and Morgan took one for herself.
The announcers talked about the Mandy Rose trade. No return was announced.
Dominik told Caruso that he can’t back down from any challenges. Rey said that he and Angie were probably more concerned than Dominik but they were there for support. Rey said Rollins was the one that needed to be worried.
MVP is still on commentary, so perhaps Ziggler is done for the night.
Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins defeated Dominik Mysterio (w/Rey, Angie & Aalyah Mysterio) (11:54)
Rollins stopped Dominik from escaping the cage very early in the match but Dominik came back with a DDT for two. Murphy appeared and handed Rollins a kendo stick and he used it to attack Dominik. Rey seemed concerned but didn’t immediately go after Murphy for some reason. They abruptly went to commercial as Cole was talking.
[Third hour]
Rollins rubbed Dominik’s face against the cage but Dominik fought back and tossed him into the cage. Mysterio handed Dominik a kendo stick and he used it on Rollins. Dominik repeatedly tossed Rollins into the cage before hitting a spinebuster for two. Rollins tried throwing him into the cage but Dominik held on and started climbing.
Rollins went after him and crotched him. Dominik swept Rollins’ leg, so Rollins was also crotched on the top, a spot that MVP appreciated. Dominik crawled toward the door as Rey encouraged him but Murphy attacked Rey.
Murphy swung the door at who he thought was Dominik but it was actually Rollins. Murphy tried climbing the outside of the cage but Dominik knocked him off. Dominik gave Rollins a frog splash for two. Dominik tried crawling out but Rollins caught him and hit a big superplex and falcon arrow for a nearfall.
Dominik tried a schoolboy but Rollins kicked out and hit consecutive curb stomps for the pinfall win. This was good.
Rollins attacked Murphy after the match and swung the cage door in his face. (Rey slipped into the ring to check on Dominik.) As Rollins left, he told Angie that he hoped they did a better job raising Aalyah.
Angie and Aalyah went into the ring to check on Dominik. Aalyah quickly checked on Murphy right before that.
Raw Underground
Ziggler quickly submitted some guy. Riddick Moss fought him next. As they fought, Strowman charged in and knocked Ziggler out of the ring before taking down Moss. Ziggler tried fighting back but Strowman took him down again.
Caruso interviewed McIntyre. He hoped that Lee would do everything he can to win the title. He knew Lee was annoyed that he interfered in his match but noted that he only did so after Orton gave him an RKO. Lee interrupted. He told McIntyre that he didn’t want him dragging his name and reputation. Lee recalled beating Orton when McIntyre did not interfere.
Lee thought McIntyre was worried about him. McIntyre said he wasn’t afraid and Lee said that he should be. Lee was about to touch his title belt but McIntyre smacked his hand away and warned him not to. Lee wouldn’t move his hand so McIntyre punched him in the face. Lee tackled him and this led to a brawl that was eventually broken up by officials.
Raw Underground
Strowman took out some guy before knocking down Moss again. Titus O’Neil jumped in and tackled him but Strowman beat him up. Shane and an official had to stop him.
Kevin Owens defeated Aleister Black
Black attacked Owens from behind before the match could start. They went to break and the match was underway when they returned. Owens seemed fine until Black began targetting the leg. Black applied a kneebar and Owens really sold like he might tap but he got a rope break. Owens came back with a superkick before falling back down.
Owens couldn’t stand so Black got ready to set up a Black Mass. However, he was distracted by the lights flickering so Owens gave him a stunner for the pinfall win.
MVP wondered if somebody was going to do something about the lights. Cole reminded him that they offered to stop Retribution.
Lee found McIntyre in the back and attacked him. They brawled until Pearce broke them up and threatened to cancel the match tonight and at COC.
I think Pearce should make a rule that if you interfere in a match you get fired.
Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan defeated Natalya & Lana (1:15)
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler did commentary. They defend the tag titles against Ruby and Morgan at COC. Ruby wore black gear to match Morgan (after Morgan had gear matching Ruby for a few weeks).
Ruby and Morgan won quickly after Morgan gave Lana a modified Codebreaker and Ruby followed with a Riott Kick.
After the match, Baszler chucked Natalya into the ring post and Jax gave Lana a Samoan drop through the announce table. Read into that what you will.
Raw Underground
Strowman took out some guy before being challenged by Moss again. Strowman immediately knocked him down with a right hand. Ziggler jumped in and double-teamed Strowman with Moss. Strowman beat them both up anyway.
Dabba-Kato stepped in the ring and confronted Strowman but Shane excitedly said they could fight next week. I’m not sure why they listened to him but they decided not to fight.
Non-title match: WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Keith Lee ended in a no contest
Cole said there would be an ambulance match at COC for the title regardless of if it was Orton or Lee. Both McIntyre and Lee were all-business during their entrances.
Lee booted McIntyre in his injured jaw before knocking him out of the ring. Cole said Lee was in control 35 seconds into the match as they went to break.
Lee hit him in the jaw again but McIntyre fought back and did an impressive belly-to-belly suplex followed by a flying clothesline. Lee blocked a DDT but McIntyre hit a spinebuster for two. Lee came back with a clothesline for two.
They fought on the turnbuckles and Lee nailed a superplex off the second rope for two. After Mcintyre slipped out of a spirit bomb attempt, they collided with crossbody attempts.
As they got to their feet, Retribution appeared (at least a dozen members). Lee and McIntyre attacked them but they were overwhelmed. Retribution beat up both guys as booing played on the speakers. (The match was just under 10 minutes long.)
The Hurt Business came out onto the stage. They marched down to the ring and brawled with Retribution.
The show ended with McIntyre and Lee each hitting flip dives onto the group knocking everyone down.