Raw Deal - Raw recap for August 5, 2024

Ludwig Kaiser introduces Gunther to the ring to start tonight's show. Gunther re-introduces himself and lists off his main roster accolades, then proclaims that a new legacy begins tonight and that the World Heavyweight Championship and WWE deserves more for a very long time, and implies his World title reign will eclipse the Intercontinental one. He says that he is prepared for anyone and anything and that nothing can catch him off-guard, for he is greatness personified. He says that from this day forth, Raw and the legacy of professional wrestling belong to him. Suddenly, Randy Orton shows up, despite being from SmackDown, and heads to the ring. Gunther admits he was caught off-guard, then Orton says that he would congratulate him, but that is not his style. He then says the World Heavyweight Championship looks fine over his "German" shoulders (Gunther is actually Austrian). Orton then says that he is the only reason Gunther is World Heavyweight Champion in the first place, as he beat him at King of the Ring, but alludes to now having only one shoulder down when Gunther beat him. He says that everyone has seen the footage and that even Paul "Triple H" Levesque agrees there should be a rematch, which he is now proposing. Orton says he knows that he is the only one who can match him in the ring, then says the fans need a "modern day Flair vs. Steamboat" and knows that he can fit one of those roles, then asks if Gunther can do the same. Orton mentions Gunther calling himself a living legend and says he has made his living out of killing legends, then says that he will walk out of Gunther's own home country and become champion. Gunther says everything Orton has said is true, but tells him that the voices telling him he can beat him are wrong. Gunther tells Orton that he accepts his challenge, then tells him that nothing will catch him out of nowhere, but Orton tells Gunther he wants him to see the RKO coming.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Sheamus. Sheamus says Ludwig Kaiser has somehow returned medically cleared and has demanded a match tonight, then says all the young up-and-comers want a piece of him and that he will fight them all. He plans to fracture Kaiser's ribs before putting Pete Dunne on the shelf, then asks the fans if they are ready for a banger.

Sheamus beats Ludwig Kaiser despite attempted interference by Pete Dunne.

We see a video package chronicling the last eleven years, starting with the main roster debut of The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan) leading up to the debut of Wyatt Sicks.

Damian Priest walks with purpose to the ring. He immediately calls out Finn Balor and tells him to take a beating like a man, and asks how Balor went from a prince to a backstabbing scumbag to a coward, especially after he knew about Priest and The Judgment Day gave him a reason to fight. He says that after the premiere of his documentary, he heard what people thought about him and realized that his family got a whole lot bigger, and calls the fans his new family. He says that he can become champion again but he is angry that Finn Balor took the World championship away.He says that he can become champion again but he is angry that Finn Balor took the World championship away. Priest says he cannot let that stand, and says that while Finn is suffering, he is the reason for his pain. Finn appears on the TitanTron saying Priest brought this on himself and that he betrayed The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) and that Priest decided to become a leader when he became champion. He also blames Priest for keeping him from becoming champion. Finn mentions Priest telling him to man up after that match and says that he waited until SummerSlam to do it, then says he will not fight him and that someone who has earned it will: JD McDonagh. He then says he will wait until Priest feels safest to stab him again, and that the rest of The Judgment Day (JD McDonagh, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio), Carlito and Liv Morgan will. A fuming Damian Priest heads to the back.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce is met by "Big" Bronson Reed, saying he wants a piece of Sheamus and that he does not want excuses, and realizes that he must create his own path to the top.

Lyra Valkyria beats "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler after Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville attack Lyra. After the match, Baszler, Zoey and Sonya attack Lyra, but Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane) run into the ring and send them packing.

We hear from The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Akam, Rezar, Paul Ellering). Karrion Kross says the doomsday clock has struck midnight on Raw and that The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) will put an end to The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) tonight, with the real tragedy saying it did not have to be this way for Xavier Woods. He says that Kofi Kingston carved his own path and became "the man" by winning the WWE Championship, while Xavier Woods has not and is "just a man" who will stand next to "the man" despite the opportunities he has given him. Kross says that Woods has chosen to stand with Kofi and that they will both share the same fate when The Authors of Pain end The New Day.

Backstage, Ivy Nile is talking with The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) when Maxxine Dupri shows up. Maxxine asks Ivy where she has been and what is going on. As Ivy does, Chad Gable shows up and says Maxxine has nothing of value for Ivy, then Gable says he is done with Alpha Academy (Otis, Maxxine, Akira Tozawa), who can keep their name, and says he has a new team before leaving with Ivy.

CM Punk heads to the ring. Punk gives a shout out to Belal Muhammad for winning the UFC Welterweight Championship, and while losing does not make him happy, he knows that the fans love him when he gets knocked down and gets back up while others hate him and want to see him knocked down. Punk says that he is proud of himself for being given nine months on the shelf and coming back in five to face Drew McIntyre, who gloated about hurting him and wanted to ruin his life and tell lies about him to feel better about himself. He then says he is happy because he is back and that his road has begun again, and while his summer did not start the way he predicted it, it is still summer and the fans deserves "less CM Punk talking and more CM Punk fighting." Punk says he wants McIntyre because he promised to put him in the ground, yet he is still here with air in his lungs, when Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows up. Rollins notes that Punk is in a good and says that he also is, then says that after ten long years, it is time to put Punk in the dirt. Punk tells Rollins he is more than willing to fight him when McIntyre appears in the crowd. McIntyre says tonight is a night of celebration and that everyone is talking about how he beat Punk, then admits that Punk shocked both him and the world by bringing the fight and proving he still had it. McIntyre then says that he, not Punk, is now the best in the world, then tries to get their attention with Punk's bracelet. Punk rolls out of the ring, jumps the barricade and runs after McIntyre. All of a sudden, Rollins is attacked from out of nowhere by "Big" Bronson Reed, but Rollins fights back. Bronson hits Rollins with a Death Valley Driver and a few sentons before hitting him with the Tsunami twice. Medical personnel check on Rollins while officials demand that Bronson head to the back, but Bronson makes his way back to the top rope for a third Tsunami. Bronson then hits a fourth Tsunami, then a fifth, then a sixth. Rollins is bleeding internally by the time Bronson is out of the ring. Bronson then goes back to the top rope again for a seventh Tsunami, but Rollins is rolled out of the ring before he can hit it. Bronson sits at the top rope, arms crossed, then leaves.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews General Manager Adam Pearce, who says Seth "Freakin'" Rollins is heading to the hospital before CM Punk is heard looking for McIntyre. Pearce tells him that McIntyre is out of the building and that he has walked him out.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) after Odyssey Jones suddenly appears and attacks Karrion Kross on the outside, allowing Woods to win with an inside cradle. After the match, Odyssey Jones gets in the ring and fights off Akam and Rezar, hitting them both with a double sidewalk slam. Kross fights Odyssey again, but Odyssey hits him with a spinning side slam. Kofi and Woods celebrate with Odyssey.

We hear from JD McDonagh, who says that Damian Priest finding out that Finn Balor betrayed him made him laugh. He says that Priest was only champion for as long as The Judgment Day allowed, that he sacrificed himself for him, and that Priest never wanted him in the group until Finn Balor convinced him because he trusted Finn's word more than anything. He then says that he is now in The Judgment Day and that he is a champion while Priest has nothing.

Backstage, Kofi Kingston thanks Odyssey Jones, who says he is honored to help out The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods). Kofi introduces Xavier Woods to Odyssey, and Woods is surprised that Kofi and Odyssey are friends. Odyssey says Kofi asked for his help with The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Akam, Rezar, Paul Ellering), then Alpha Academy (Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa) shows up and Akira Tozawa dances.

Grayson Waller and Austin Theory (now officially announced as "A-Town Down Under") beat The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) after R-Truth gets the hot tag - unbeknownst to The Miz - and accidentally knocks The Miz out of the ring hitting Grayson with the Attitude Adjustment only for Theory to hit R-Truth with the A-Town Down.

We hear from Damian Priest, who says the beating that he wants to give JD McDonagh is a long time coming, as only Finn Balor wanted him in The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) and McDonagh is about to catch the first bullet because Finn Balor sent him to take it. He says he has enough in the chamber for Finn, too, and hopes that McDonagh went to confession as he is sending McDonagh straight to Hell.

Randy Orton vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship is now official for Bash In Berlin.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bron Breakker. He says everyone loves to talk about how long they have held a championship, then says it has been less than three years since his debut to become Intercontinental Champion. He says that he has no target on his back and that he is the hunter while the locker room is the hunted, then asks who has the guts to face him for the title before saying that the Intercontinental Championship was born to be on his shoulder, not the other way around. Breakker then says there is no man who will take his name off of his title.

Damian Priest beats JD McDonagh by disqualification after Priest is attacked from behind by Finn Balor. After the match, Finn, Carlito and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio gang up on Priest alongside McDonagh while Liv MOrgan watches, but Priest starts fighting back. Finn finds himself face-to-face with Priest and runs, but Priest grabs him for the Razor's Edge. Liv distracts Priest to allow Dominik to hit Priest with a chop block, then Rhea Ripley shows up and chases Liv and Dominik out of the ring. Rhea is able to grab Liv and beat her up, then goes for a powerbomb through the announce table. Dominik is able to save Liv at the last moment before JD McDonagh attacks Priest again. Rhea gets in the ring and headbutts McDonagh, then Priest hits McDonagh with a choke slam. Rhea and Damian then hug and celebrate in the ring.

Backstage, Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane)is attacked from behind by "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville, with Baszler repeatedly kicking Dakota Kai's bad knee.

Before the next match, Sonya Deville mockingly says that Dakoa Kai will not be able to compete tonight due to being "under the weather," but Iyo Sky shows up to take her place while accompanied by Kairi Sane.

Iyo Sky beats Sonya Deville after she and Kairi take out "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark on the outside.

Backstage, Ilja Dragunov tells Sami Zayn that he is an inspiring fighter and should not forget it. Sami tells Dragunov that he will make a fine champion himself. Dragunov thanks Sami and leaves, then "Main Event" Jey Uso and says Sami will get that rematch and become champion again after Sami hesitates. Sami then tells Jey that he already got the rematch from General Manager Adam Pearce, then Jey says they will soon finish their business with The Judgment Day so Sami can become a double champion.

It is announced that Seth "Freakin'" Rollins is being checked on at a local hospital and that doctors are concerned about internal bleeding.

We see VHS footage of Joe Gacy sitting in a corner in an arena as Uncle Howdy says that "we will make them all pay for their sins."

We hear from Chad Gable, who says that Wyatt Sicks found him an easy target because he lost his family, but he has now found a new one. He says that they have never seen a team like him and The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) and that they are "American made."

Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan) beat Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) in a six-man tag match.

This week on Raw Talk: Pete Dunne! "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville! A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller and Austin Theory)!

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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