Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 15, 2022

The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley) head to the ring to start tonight's show. Rhea Ripley says that they run Monday Night Raw and that this has been a harsh reality to Rey and Dominik Mysterio week in and week out, and proved to Domink that she "really [is] his papi" as she destroyed his soul. Finn Balor then says that Rey and Dominik will not be here tonight after Dominik had his soul crushed while he destroyed Rey in the middle of the ring to solidify his status in the business. Damian Priest asks the fans if they want to see Edge confront them right now, then says that is too bad because Edge is not here and promoting his match against him next week in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Priest says he does not sweat Edge and that he does not need help to beat him, and that this is where he will put the final nail in the coffin of his career. He says it will be one-on-one, man to man, and Toronto will be known as the place where he sent him back into retirement. He then says that after retirement, his wife will be feeding Edge through a tube for the rest of his life. Suddenly, Damian Priest is attacked from behind by Rey, who soon fights Finn Balor and clears out the ring until Rhea Ripley gets in the ring. Rhea distracts Rey, but when Finn gets back in the ring with a chair, Rey sees it coming and starts hitting him and Priest with the chair. Rhea then gets between Rhea and Fin, then takes the chair from Rey so that Priest can boot him. Rhea then hits Rey with a DDT on the chair before Priest continues to pound on him, then Priest and Rhea place the chair on Rey so that Finn Balor can stomp Rey through the chair.

Bianca Belair stands in Asuka and Alexa Bliss' corner for the next match.

Asuka and Alexa Bliss beat Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. to advance in the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament. After the match, Bianca Belair, Asuka and Alexa run into Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Sky on the stage. Officials have to step in before things get worse.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Austin Theory. Theory says he is still Mr. Money In The Bank and the undisputed, hand-picked future of the business, and while he may have made a slight miscalculation at SummerSlam, he is stronger and more dangerous. Dolph Ziggler tells Theory he has been crushed out there, and that the difference between them is that he earned the contract and made it matter when he cashed in. Theory says that while he was a past champion and a past Money In The Bank winner, he says that Ziggler will not be around when he cashed in before calling him a has-been, and says that when he cashes in, he will keep winning. He also says that he will not screw up the rest of his career like Ziggler did, which causes Ziggler to hit him and starts a brawl.

We see backstage from the commercial break of officials breaking up the brawl between Austin Theory and Dolph Ziggler.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa. Ciampa says he came close, and says he came to Raw to become a champion. He says he will do that when he gets another opportunity, and Miz says Ciampa is not champion because "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles interfered. He says that Styles was gifted a United States Championship match this week and tha he smells collusion, then gifts Ciampa with a matching necklace with a trading card of the two of them.

The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa beat Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander.

It is announced that Ezekiel has suffered multiple injuries and will take a long time to recover. We then hear from Ezekiel's father Ernie, Jr. - who is Ezekiel/Elias in old man make-up - who says that Kevin Owens will get a piece of his mind if he ever gets his hands on him. (We also see a photo of Ezekiel being visited by his family, and all of Ezekiel's immediately family is played by Ezekiel/Elias.) (Author's note: the guy with the Jake "The Snake" Roberts mustache has to be Enoch.)

Drew McIntyre passes by officials trying to put out a burning trash can with a fire extinguisher backstage.

Hip hop artist Wale is seen in the front row.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. Drew says that at Clash at the Castle, he will drop Roman Reigns on his own island, win championship gold and become a fighting champion because that is what both the fans and the undisputed championship both deserve. He also admits that he is suffering from a bit of a back injury mostly because he has been carrying the load of twenty men both in and out of the ring with a smile on his face for the last three years because this is his dream. He also says he is here on his day off to scout some potential opponents for his championship matches such as Ciampa, AJ Styles, Seth Rollins, and Karrion Kross. Suddenly, Kevin Owens shows up. McIntyre says he likes the idea of facing Owens too, and Owens says he never figured out why McIntyre has the need to pretend to be something he is not with a tough guy voice, a kilt and a sword, and says McIntyre is delusional. Owens says he has been the same person for his entire 22-year career and that he is as real as it gets in the business, yet others seem to have been forgotten. He then remembers that he and Sami Zayn gave people a match in tonight's arena that people still talk about six years later, then realizes it is time to bring back the Kevin Owens people called "the prizefighter." Owens says he has not held a championship in five long years and that enough is enough and it is time for a change, and that he will go after whoever leaves as undisputed WWE Champion. McIntyre says he is sick and tired of people making stuff up just to make a cheap reaction, then says he knows who he is after being known "The Chosen One" and having to fight for fifteen years to get to where he is. He then says it is time to stop talking and start wrestling, and Owens says that while McIntyre is no prize, they might as well fight.

Drew McIntyre beats Kevin Owens by disqualification after The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) attack McIntyre. McIntyre fends off The Usos after the match, but Owens hits McIntyre with a Stunner. Owens then tells The Usos to tell Roman Reigns that he owes him one, then leaves before McIntyre fights back against The Usos.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins says he is here for a front row seat when Matt Riddle does the smart thing and tells the entire world that he is retiring. He says that Riddle might go back to middle school or start a farm, but Riddle shows up on the TitanTron and announces that he is medically cleared and that "it's on" the next time he sees Rollins. Rollins says that when they are the same place at the same time, the outcome is always him stomping Riddle's head into the mat, because he is always steps ahead of him. He then wishes then Riddle was in the ring so he could stomp the last few brain cells out of him, then Riddle reveals he is here and heads to the ring to brawl with Rollins. Rollins soon gets the upper hand, but Riddle counters The Stomp on the announce desk with a knee and chases Rollins through the crowd.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Matt Riddle. Riddle says tonight was just a taste, then challenges Seth "Freakin'" Rollins to a match at Clash at the Castle.

Veer Mahaan beats Beaux Keller with the cervical clutch.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Dakota Kai, Bayley and Iyo Sky. Dakota Kai says that she will be winning tonight, and Bayley says to expect more winning when Dakota and Iyo win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Suddenly, the threesome run into Dana Brooke, who says that she is ready 24/7 and that she is not afraid. Dakota says fear is a motivating thing and that she should be a little scared.

Bobby Lashley retains the WWE United States Championship against "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. During the match, The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa head to the ring, and when Ciampa distracts the referee, The Miz goes for a cheap shot on Styles only for Dexter Lumis to jump the guardrail and get caught by security.

Dakota Kai beats Dana Brooke.

Austin Theory beats Dolph Ziggler.

This week on Raw Talk: Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai! The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley)! Drew McIntytre!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!