Winners, News And Notes On August 29, 2022

Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah shockingly won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in the main event of WWE Raw with help from Asuka, Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair. The main event match, and the win, were treated like a big deal as the team celebrated with fireworks at the top of the stage.

Possibly almost as surprising, Sasha Banks and Naomi did not show up on WWE Raw despite rumors that they were backstage and a return was imminent.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE Raw stayed hot with 2.005 million viewers for Raw’s return to Toronto.

WWE Raw Results on August 29, 2022

• The Judgment Day def. Dolph Ziggler and AJ Styles
• Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss and Asuka def. Local Competitors
• Street Profits def. Alpha Academy | If the Street Profits lose, Kurt Angle must join Alpha Academy
• Bobby Lashley def. The Miz
• Kevin Owens def. Jey Uso
• Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah def. Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky

WWE Raw Ratings

• August 22, 2022 | 2.005 million
• August 15, 2022 | 1.978 million
• August 8, 2022 | 1.957 million
• August 1, 2022 | 2.230 million
• July 25, 2022 | 1.901 million

WWE Raw Ticket Sales

• WWE Raw Venue: PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, Penn.)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 7,510
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 208

WWE Raw Highlights| August 29, 2022

The Judgment Day def. Dolph Ziggler and Edge

This WWE Raw broadcast was one of the rare Raws to start with a wrestling match instead of a talking segment.

Since Dexter Lumis’ return, this was the first AJ Styles segment not to feature Lumis, confirming that Styles was a red herring for Lumis’ feud with The Miz.

The Judgment Day finally seems to be picking up steam on the Raw roster, even after Damian Priest’s loss from last week.

Edge walked out of a G-Wagon backstage after this match, which made for a great teaser as fans chanted “we want Edge” going into commercial.

Edge Confronts The Judgment Day

Finn Balor effectively whined about not getting a WWE documentary on A&E. His beef might be with A&E President Paul Buccieri, not Edge.

As Edge acknowledged, WWE was not in his hometown but you’d never know it based on the massive reaction he got.

Edge spoke at length about how both he and Beth Phoenix wear the pants in his family, and The Judgment Day need to “stop being a bunch of cavemen.

WWE continued to tease Dominik Mysterio joining The Judgment Day. It feels like only a matter of time, and Clash at the Castle would be a great place for Dominik to finally reclaim his independence.

Belair, Bliss and Asuka def. Local Competitors

This was the rare six-woman’s tag team match against local competitors. WWE is not only building up Bayley’s new stable, they’re also building up their first challengers.

With rumors of Sasha and Naomi returning tonight, I can’t help but count down the days until a potential dream match between Bayley’s group, Sasha Banks, Naomi and Belair. Having said that, the six woman tag team match this Sunday at WWE Clash at the Castle might be ever bit as good of a match, if not better.

Kurt Angle Returns; Street Profits def. Alpha Academy

As reported, Kurt Angle’s segment was interrupted by Alpha Academy.

Kurt Angle and Chad Gable’s exchange was fine, but I was expecting much more given the talent and curation by Triple H. It ended up coming off very scripted and campy, but Angle and Gable’s charm carried it through.

Alpha Academy being the new Team Angle would be a great thing for all involved. Angle is lowkey foolish for turning it down.

The stipulation for Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy was if Alpha Academy won, Kurt Angle would have to join the Alpha Academy—thereby returning to weekly television. Regardless, these people in Angle’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Penn. cheered for the Street Profits.

Corey Graves on old Otis: “Before meeting Chad Gable, the meanest thing Otis had ever done was steal Pee Wee Herman’s bike.”

Seth Rollins and Riddle Face to Face

Jimmy Smith referred to the feud between Seth Rollins and Riddle as “100% real.”

WWE Raw aired an altercation between Seth Rollins and Riddle outside the arena, which was shot on a smart phone and reminiscent of a WorldStar video. It was a nice touch.

Further adding to the realistic nature of this feud was Riddle and Rollins constantly talking over one another.

Riddle ended this face to face confrontation with an amazing bar by Riddle: “There’s only one man in your marriage, Seth, and that’s Becky Lynch, bro.”

Following the face-to-face confrontation, there was a segment where Seth Rollins asked if the cameras were still running before taking a personal shot at Riddle’s wife and family leaving him.

AEW’s locker room is falling apart because many of their feuds insist on incorporating “reality-based” storylines and promos that have worked themselves into a shoot. Yet here’s WWE with this Seth Rollins vs. Riddle storyline like “Hold My Dirtsheet.”

Bobby Lashley def. The Miz

The announce team can blame Dexter Lumis all they want for Bobby Lashley’s early dominance in this match. But Lashley was in the ring with The Miz a couple times, with the WWE Championship on the line, and Lashley easily dusted Miz both times.

Fans were into this match with chants of “Bobby” and “Tiny Balls.”

The finish came when Dexter Lumis, from the crowd, distracted The Miz into an inevitable Bobby Lashley win.

After the match, The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa began arguing, just one week after Johnny Gargano returned.

Backstage, there was a great segment between Edge and Angle in tribute to Edge’s famous segment where he shared photos that read “I suck” on the back of the card.

While driving away from the arena, Dexter Lumis was seen in the back of The Miz’s SUV.

Kevin Owens def. Jey Uso

Kevin Owens put Sami Zayn over as one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time.

Sami Zayn was great navigating his relationship with Kevin Owens while still trying to keep the Usos happy.

As heartwarming as a Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens reunion would be, there in still so much potential in Sami Zayn with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline.

Kevin Owens astutely reminded fans that Jey Uso and Paul Heyman were the only reason Owens didn’t beat Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship 18 months ago.

The finish came when Sami Zayn didn’t pull the trigger on a chair shot to Kevin Owens while Jey was holding him.

There was a great backstage segment between Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory. This episode of WWE Raw had such a variety of segments it actually flew by.

Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah def. Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky

Raquel Rodriguez are known as the Bougie and the Badass, though I don’t expect this name—or the team—to stick. Meanwhile, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai were called “the disrupters,” which is a far better tag team name.

Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah have the same relationship as cartoon bulldogs Spike and Tyke.

Raquel Rodriguez left poor Aliyah hanging for a high five as the pair was in the splits, simultaneously.

One staple that remains in WWE, post-Vince, is people standing awkwardly backstage while watching Raw.

Surprisingly, there wasn’t any mention of the history between Raquel Rodriguez and Dakota Kai, who are former NXT women’s tag team champions.

Once again, Aliyah was relegated to a “non-factor” throughout this match, though she did come through with a surprise roll-up of Dakota Kai by the end of the match.