Steve Notes Raw 6/29/21

Pearce announces Randy Orton can’t compete in the second chance match. They’re doing an over the top rope battle royale, where the winner is in the triple threat match. Riddle shows up, with a letter from “Randy Orton” saying Riddle can fight on his behalf, they sus that he wrote the letter for him. Riddle says well let me in the battle royale, and if I win, Randy is in MITB.

MITB Battle Royale Qualifier

Riddle, Gulak, Ali, Mansoor, Cedric, Raiders, Shelton, Priest, Garza, Carillo, Tozawa, Truth, Jeff Hardy, Jinder

Ali saves Mansoor from Garza, but then swerves him and tosses him out, he said DTA and tossed him

Mid-Match, GUlak wins the 24/7 title rolling up Tozawa, then Truth pins Gulak, then Tozawa gets it back

Omos comes out, eliminates BOLTH Viking Raiders

Priest eliminates Jinder

Hardy goes on a run, htiting TOF on Priest and Riddle, Ced counters and throws him out, but he talks so much shit, allows Priest to hit the lights on him, tosses him out, leaving Riddle vs. Priest

Riddle V-triggers Priest off the apron after a really good sequence.

***

After the match, Riddle demands they play his music, he does Orton’s pose

Backstage, Shayna is shuffling cards. Nia says are you getting ready for a card game or a match? Shayna says it helps keep my head clear. Shayna says it’s her fault they aren’t in MITB, now its her turn to do something about it. Alexa is behind them.

AJ Interview: AJ says his chances of winning DRASTIC GO DOWN. Kevin brings up Omos being out there, he says I was just scouting AJ’s competition. They roll footage of last week. AJ calls Kevin a hypocrite, giving Omos grief for doing the same thing they did to him. AJ says fortunately, I have the advantage with bolth other guys banged up. When I win the MITB contract, I have a full year to plan.

Nikki’s mask lost the blue eye makeup, its way better. Nikki chats with LHP, then interview, she says she finally has the courage to step up, and all the people out there have it within them to be better. This outfit represents that mindset. She says when I win MITB, I can be an inspiration to little boys and girls everywhere. Tonight, I’m focusing on Shayna and my goal of being almost a superhero.

NIkki Cross vs. Shayna Baszler

Mid-match, Shayna finds herself on the outside, Alexa comes out, Nikki funsplashes to the outside. Nia and Reggie approach her, Alexa kicks them both, taking them out. Distracts Shayna, who gets rolled up by Nikki, but Shayna counters, but is still distracted, Nikki is able to take advantage and roll her up for three

**

Kofi promo: There are moments in our lives that change us for better or worse, I’m not sure how last week affected me yet, hearing Woods screaming in pain in that cell with me on the outside- Woods came out there to have my back and when he needed me, I couldn't be there for him. A lot of people disrespect Woods, he’s not up to snuff, but last week, taking it to Lashley, he showed the world who he is, and its time for everyone to put respect on his name. Bob won the match fair and square, what happened after was not ok. MVP locked the door, dangled the key in front of me as they grated his face against the door. I can’t get it out of my head. But I will make Lashley pay.

MVP comes out, says I heard you say you’re gonna beat Lashley, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard you say. And you say some ridiculous things. To be frank, we’re looking forward to MITB, we’ll finally be where we’re supposed to be, in front of a live audience. Lets face it, you’re a feel good story, but truth be told, you’re not threat to the almighty. Bob is on vacation, but he wanted you to know, he enjoyed every second of what he did in that cage. He looks forward to humiliating you. What Brock did to you will be child’s play.

Kofi: Bob might be getting soft. Lets take a look: HIAC, if it wasn’t for you grabbing his foot, Drew could be champ. Woods came close. I already beat him. Right now, he’s looking more beatable than ever. Each week another layer is stripped away. At MITB he might be a shell of his former self. He might look like YOU. Hobbling around, trying to grasp onto some sort of semblance of success.

MVP says I do what I do for him because he put in the work, he put in the sacrifice, I do what I do for him cuz he deserves it.

Kofi: I didn’t? When I was champ I never took a day off. I took the title all over the world. I took it to Ghana, West Africa, to show kids anything is possible. You got Bob taking days off. You got him taking his eyes off the prize, when you lose the prize, someone else gains the prize. That’s gonna be me.

MVP: When you went home to Ghana, to feed your ego, you were working hard? Lemme make something clear: I respect your optimism. If I recall last week, Woods was optimistic about beating Lashley. Not only did that not happen, his injuries are so extensive he didn’t make it this week. He probably won’t make it next week.

Kofi: He’ll be back next week cuz he’s not milking his injuries like you have been the past six months.

MVP: Milking? I am injured.

Kofi attacks, MVP swings his cane, gets hit with TIP.

Eva Marie interview: Doudrop made a rookie mistake, was overwhelmed at being at the forefront of the Evalution. I requested this match so she could learn from her mistakes. I’m gonna win, the Evalution will continue.

Eva Marie/Doudrop vs. Asuka/Naomi

Asuka/Naomi get the upper hand on Doudrop, who is able to withstand a kick and a lariat attempt, but Asuka gets her back as Eva tries to get a tag, but she gets off the apron like Doudrop did last time, but this time, DD gets the win by herself with a massive funsplash. Eva grabs the mic, declares herself the winner.

**

Miz/Morrison interview: Miz says Morrison is gonna win, then Morrison says Miz might not be the biggest, fastest or strongest. Miz says BUT??? Morrison follows MIz’s lead saying he’s the smartest, Miz says he knows when to strike. HAHAHA Ricochet now has the mic. He interviews Miz. Ricochet steals their drip stick, shoots them with it.

Ricochet vs. Morrison

Mid match, Ricochet is on the outside, wants to attack, Morrison, he wants miz to leave, Miz won’t, so he launches himself off the chair to rana morrison

Morrison goes for starship pain, Rico moves out of the wayHOLY SHIT RICOCHET FUNSPLASHES OFF THE TOP ROPE WHEN MORRISON WAS ON THE BARRICADE

They can’t beat the count, double CO

***

Charlotte backstage and Nattie/Tamina all kinda recap why they have beef with their opponents.

Charlotte/Nattie/Tamina vs. Dana/Many/Rhea

Starts with a big brawl, back from commercial it’s an actual match

Not shocking, Charlotte isolates Dana brooke

Eventually Dana gets the hot tag to Rhea, who unloads on Char

Finish sees Nattie going for a sharpshooter, Mandy kicks her off, Char tags in, surprises Mandy with a big boot for the win

**

After the match, Rhea hits Char with a chop block

Ryker flagellating himself, Tozawa runs through, Truth stops, asks Ryker why he’s doing that, Ryker doesn’t answer. Asks if he wants to talk about it. Ryker says I’m preparing for battle. Tonight, we’ll be bound together, there will be nowhere for Elias to hide. He says I’m purging myself of any weakness and exploring ways to inflict the most pain on my opponent. Truth cracks a joke and Ryker glitches out and doesn’t acknowledge him.

Elias promo: I’m gonna sever our ties when I take that strap and compose a new whatever

Elias vs. Ryker

Ryker gives Elias like the easiest finishing move they could come up with

**

Backstage, Priest comes up to Riddle, says good luck Riddle, Riddle says I’m not Riddle, I’m Randy Orton, what do you want? Priest says OK Randy, if you’re looking for him, tell him the new BK king burger is out, that wakes Riddle up, he admits he’s not Orton, Priest says, hey man, it’s cool what you’re doing for Randy, HE is lucky to have YOU as his partner. Riddle says AW, then he snaps back into character.

Drew interview: Can you win tonight? Drew has a story: English vs. Scots vs. Irish, Scots beat them easily, he goes on with some ridiculousness, then he says in the end he saved Xmas. Kevin is like what? Drew is like NO I DIDN’T SAVE XMAS, I’m gonna go claymore everyone and win mitb.

Drew vs. Riddle vs. Styles

This is brutal, Riddle and Styles put Drew through commentary table

Riddle channels orton, hits draping ddts on styles, tries for rko gets countered into burning hammer

Riddle gets rid of AJ, Drew takes it to Riddle, Riddle comes back on the outside, laying in kicks and knee strikes to both, til AJ ducks a PK and Riddle hits the steel steps instead, the refs check on him, they start to carry him off, leaving AJ and Drew

Aj takes control, hits a neckbreaker over his knee for 2

Aj hits strikes, Drew counters with michinoku driver

Drew loads up, AJ counters with strike to the knee, goes for calf crusher on Drew, Riddle limps back out, takes AJ into bromission, AJ elbows Riddle’s knee, gets him back in, Drew grabs Riddle, who counters with a kick, AJ goes for PF, eats a VTRIGGER AND RKO FOR-- OMOS PULLS AJ OFF, Drew hits CLAYMORE for 3

****