Roman Reigns has not forgiven Paul Heyman for turning on him at WrestleMania 41. That much was made clear when Reigns harshly rebuffed Heyman’s offer to lead the group that includes Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed during Raw on Monday night.
Heyman made an offer to Reigns at the end of Raw for Reigns to take over the group while Seth Rollins is sidelined with a knee injury. Instead, Reigns pointed out that Heyman was the man who destroyed The Bloodline before brawling with Breakker and Reed.
Breakker and Reed eventually got the upper hand before Reigns was saved by Jey Uso, who ran in to help fend off Heyman’s group, potentially setting up a match for SummerSlam, which goes down in less than two weeks.
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Toyota Center Houston in Houston.
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso take out Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
Paul Heyman came to the ring with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed to close the show. Heyman said he came to the ring with the future of the industry in those two men and wanted to speak before Reigns came out. Instead, Reigns’ music hit as he made his way from backstage. Heyman said he never wanted to be disrespectful or rude to Reigns, “like someone born in Texas,” before saying Rollins would be out of action “for a long, long time.”
Heyman made a pitch for Reigns to join up with his group, saying they’re better together than opposing each other. Reigns said Heyman is not a “wiseman” anymore. Reigns told Breakker that in a few years, Heyman would take all the credit for his success, just like he did to Reigns. Reigns said The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn were responsible for him keeping his title for as long as he did and that The Bloodline was “God’s work.” Reigns said Heyman ruined The Bloodline before Breakker took the microphone. Breakker said Reigns is worthless, while he holds value, which means Heyman would never stab him in the back. Reigns said he didn’t hear anything Braekker said before offering him his microphone and hitting a Superman punch. Reigns attacked Reed before the numbers took over. As Reed and Breakker attacked, Jey Uso’s music hit and Uso ran to the ring to take out Reed and Breakker before he and Reigns hit a double spear to close the show.
It seems clear that Reed and Breakker vs. Reigns and Uso is in the books for SummerSlam. That’s a solid choice for WWE to get Reigns on the card in a safe way that doesn’t require much risk. With Seth Rollins sidelined, WWE is finding a way to keep his group relevant for as long as it takes for him to get back in action. Grade: B
What else happened on WWE Raw?
- CM Punk and Gunther came face-to-face to open the show. Punk said he knows how tough of a challenge Gunther will be at SummerSlam, but he recently remembered that he’s CM Punk and the “Best in the World.” Gunther interrupted Punk’s promo to say that they’re similar because they have the same goals: making money and winning championships, not making friends. But Punk is no longer the man capable of being the best, Gunther said, so at SummerSlam, he will leave him unconscious and with nothing but “degenerates” in the crowd chanting his name.
- Sheamus def. Rusev via pinfall after a Brogue Kick. Rusev was about to use Sheamus’ shillelagh when Sheamus hit his finisher to secure the victory.
- El Grande Americano and Dragon Lee brawled after Lee interrupted an Americano interview in which he was answering questions in Spanish.
- LWO def. New Day and The Creed Brothers via pinfall after Joaquin Wilde rolled up Kofi Kingston. El Grande Americano ran in to attack Dragon Lee at ringside before the Creeds told him to leave. Shortly after, Wilde managed to score the schoolboy pin for the win, becoming No. 1 contenders for the world tag team championship. Later, Grayson Waller approached New Day, offering to be their “ace” now that Austin Theory is injured and he lost the “dead weight.”
- Becky Lynch laid down a new stipulation to Lyra Valkyria for their SummerSlam match. Lynch reversed the terms of their last match, stating that if she wins, Valkyria can never again challenge her for the women’s intercontinental championship. Valkyria accepted but only if the match was no disqualification rules. Lynch accepted, offered a handshake and then attempted to attack only for Valkyria to turn it around into a Manhandle Slam.
- Women’s Tag Team Championship – Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) def. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria via pinfall after Rodriguez hit Bayley with a Tejana Bomb. Dominik Mysterio interfered several times before being inadvertently kicked by Rodriguez. AJ Styles appeared as a medic attempting to revive Mysterio after earlier appearing as a parking valet and janitor to harass the intercontinental champ. As Bayley and Valkyria seemed to be cruising to victory, Becky Lynch ran in and took out Valkyria, leaving Bayley in a two-on-one which the champions took advantage of to retain their titles.
- Karrion Kross def. Sami Zayn via pinfall. Kross used a steel pipe to hit Zayn in the ribs for the finish after Scarlett had attempted to hand Kross the pipe earlier in the match.
- Dominik Mysterio attacked AJ Styles from behind. Styles was with Adam Pearce waiting to hear if Mysterio had been medically cleared when Mysterio attacked. After dropping Styles, Mysterio said he would see Styles at SummerSlam.
- Stephanie Vaquer def. Iyo Sky via disqualification after interference by Chelsea Green. The very good match ended when the Secret Hervice came to the ring, distracting Vaquer before Green attacked from behind. After Sky and Vaquer tossed the group from the ring, Naomi attacked Sky from behind. Rhea Ripley’s music then hit and she attacked Naomi before Vaquer and Sky turned the tables on Green again.