Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 19, 2024

Randy Orton heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Orton says that Gunther had to make things personal and bring up his family, which gave him more reasons to beat him at Bash At Berlin, and when Gunther turned his back, he had no choice but to hit him with an RKO. Gunther soon appears and demands that everyone shuts up as he is relentlessly booed, then takes offense to Orton mentioning the RKO he hit him with and tells him to celebrate it because it will be all the celebrating he does. He says that Orton made things personal, then chastises the fans for their "USA" chants and tells Orton that he will never be World Heavyweight Champion again. Gunther then says that when he is done with Orton at Bash In Berlin, he will leave him a bloody mess and exposed for what he is: "a very successful yet very underachieving one trick pony." Orton tells Gunther that he is only making the eight-hour flight to Berlin, Germany less comfortable with a size 15 double-wide foot up his ass, then Gunther dares Orton to fight him. Ludwig Kaiser shows up from behind, and while Orton is able to deal with him, the numbers game catches up to Orton.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Sheamus. Sheamus says Pete Dunne smashed his left hand with a shillelagh last week, but tonight, there will be retribution, and while Dunne will be targeting his injured hand, he still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

It is announced that Randy Orton vs. Ludwig Kaiser is tonight's main event.

Sheamus beats Pete Dunne after Dunne traps his injured hand in a turnbuckle pad only for Sheamus to break out and hit him with the Brogue Kick.

Backstage, Kofi Kingston tells Xavier Woods has his energy has been a bit off. Woods says he is used to Karrion Kross' mind games at this point, then says he wishes Kofi brought up Odyssey Jones joining first, as he does not want to replace Big E. Kofi says that they are family and that Odyssey is in the same boat they were in back in the day, and that as veterans, the least they can do is raise Odyssey up.

We see a video package for Bron Breakker.

Backstage, Ivy Nile is met by Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed). Gable calls them all his real family and says Ivy made the right decision. Ivy says Maxxine Dupri had a choice, but she made the wrong one. Ivy also says she is "the real deal" and that Maxxine Dupri held her back. Gable then re-focuses on The Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis).

Ivy Nile vs. Maxxine Dupri ends in a no-contest. The lights go out, then Nikki Cross shows up in the ring as Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) get in the ring, then Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan and Dexter Lumis show up on the apron. The Wyatt Sicks (Nikki, Erick, Gacy, Lumis) attack all four members of American Made (Gable, Julius, Brutus, Ivy), and Gable is alone and surrounded in the ring. Nikki Cross gets back in the ring, scaring Gable, then Bo Dallas shows up as Uncle Howdy and hits Gable with Sister Abigail.

We hear from Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. Priest says that for the last two weeks, the new "lame" version of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, Carlito, Liv Morgan) tried to take them out, but he and Ripley stood their ground while they ran. He says Dominik and Finn Balor's days are numbered because they will receive their punishment, and Ripley says that Dominik will find out that they were keeping him safe the entire time and that Liv Morgan became "a discount Rhea Ripley," and that she and Priest will put them through the mat.

CM Punk heads to the ring. Punk congratulates the Florida Panthers on winning the Stanley Cup Championship, then talks about the time he spent at Fanatics Fest and how a fan asked him why WWE is on a hot streak. Punk says it is because of the fans. He talks about how the first fan who walked up to him defeated cancer and how he was a pillar of strength to her, and how he met a woman from Taiwan who flew 15 hours for "15 seconds" and a picture with CM Punk. He also mentions another fan coming from Jordan - 5,785 miles away - to meet him, and says it has been more than ten years and that it has been fans like that that share the love who drive him. Punk then addresses Drew McIntyre, who he says hates him and made things personal to the point of obsession, then says his biggest hater is his biggest fan and has made a bracelet for him in the form of a leather strap. Punk then declares that his match at McIntyre at Bash In Berlin will be a strap match, and that he wants this so he can whip McIntyre and leave him with lasting scars while he takes his bracelet back. McIntyre shows up and says he has thought all week of what he will do to Punk, then asks Punk if he has started drinking after proposing a strap match, which he accepts. He then says that he cannot wait a week and wants a receipt for last week, and tells Punk to drop the leather strap so they can have a show. Punk says he will give McIntyre the strap if he gives him his bracelet. McIntyre takes the bracelet off as it to entertain the idea, but refuses, saying Punk is a liar and that he will whip him with the strap. Punk reminds McIntyre that he will not be strapped to McIntyre; instead, McIntyre will be strapped to him.

We hear from "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. Liv says Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley are out of their mind if they think they will win at Bash In Berlin and that nobody gets away with getting their hands on Dominik. Dominik says he does not want to wait until Bash In Berlin to get his hands on Priest; instead, he wants him right now in a one-on-one match with no seconds at ringside.

NHL Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo is seen in the crowd.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Odyssey Jones beat The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, Rezar). During the match, Xavier Woods is disappointed that he is not tagged in.

Backstage, Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley talk about "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio wanting a match with Priest. Ripley thinks it is a trap, but Priest says chance to get his hands on Dominik will be worth it. He says that they will not stop until they bring Judgment to "the lame ass Judgment Day (Finn Balor, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, Carlito, Liv Morgan)."

In memory of Afa Anoa'i, 1942 - 2024.

Former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler is seen in the crowd.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce talks with The Miz, who says Bronson Reed is only hear because Miz is having this next match, but wants to know if Miz really wants it. Miz says he would rather have Bronson be suspended, but he he has few friends in the business and he fights for them, and says he has to have this match.

"Big" Bronson Reed beats The Miz in a no-disqualification match. Before Bronson can go for another Tsunami after the match, Braun Strowman shows up and confronts him.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Sheamus, who says that he and Pete Dunne put on a banger, then Ludwig Kaiser shows up and asks why he is not being interviewed before bragging that he will beat Randy Orton in the main event. Sheamus has a moment with Kaiser, who says that when he is done with Orton, they will settle things once and for all. Sheamus says that if Kaiser wants the rubber match, he knows where to find him: watching in the corner as Kaiser takes an RKO.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Bron Breakker. Breakker says it is a good thing he went to a highly respected university, as there is a tournament to determine his next challenger and General Manager Adam Pearce cannot stand that he is going through the locker room so quickly. He says it is not his fault that he is a badass and a genetic freak and that he earned the Intercontinental Championship, and warns the winner of the tournament that he will Spear him through the floor and give him the beating of a lifetime, which will be his fault.

Damian Priest vs. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio ends before it can start due to a failed ambush by the rest of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, Carlito). Priest takes them all down, then Rhea Ripley shows up behind Dominik and she and Priest beat him up. Ripley clears the announce table to put Dominik through it with Riptide, but she is attacked from behind with a metal folding chair by Liv Morgan. The Judgment Day soon go on the attack, and Damian Priest is forced to watch as Liv throws Rhea around on the outside and targets her injured shoulder as she does. Afterwards, the rest of The Judgment Day gang up on Damian Priest, with Priest receiving a Coup de Grace and an Eddie Guerrero-style Frog Splash as Liv Morgan hits Rhea Ripley with Ob-Liv-Ion.

Backstage, Finn Balor tells Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley that earlier is just a little sample of what will happen to them. "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Carlito brag about Priest being and not being World Heavyweight Champion because of them, and Liv Morgan says that she will make Rhea Ripley her bitch like she made Dominik her man.

The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against Pure Fusion Collection (Zoey Stark and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler) and Damage CTRL (Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane) in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews "Main Event" Jey Uso. Jey says Sami Zayn had to take some time off to clear his head, but he will be back. He then says Sami told him if that he cannot be champion, that does not mean Jey Uso cannot be one, and Jey has gotten a match with Bron Breakker for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

It is announced that Pat McAfee will be gone from Raw for the next couple of months for the football season, and we see a video package of Pat McAfee's moments since his return.

Randy Orton beats Ludwig Kaiser. After the match, Gunther gets into the match with Orton and brawls with him as the show ends.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

This week on Raw Talk: The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn)! The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Odyssey Jones! The Miz and Braun Strowman!

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