Winners, News And Notes On September 12, 2022

WWE Raw advertised Edge vs. Dominik Mysterio and Johnny Gargano’s in-ring return against Chad Gable after 281 days off. Raw also advertised Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah vs. Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, and an open challenge from WWE Raw women’s champion Bianca Belair.

Last week’s broadcast of WWE Raw garnered 2.094 million viewers, marking it the first time WWE Raw went over two million viewers in three straight weeks since March of 2020.

WWE Raw Results on September 12, 2022

• Finn Balor def. Matt Riddle
• Damage CTRL def. Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah | WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
• Johnny Gargano def. Chad Gable
• Bianca Belair def. Sonya Deville | Open Challenge for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
• Omos def. Local Competitors
• Edge vs. Dominik Mysterio

WWE Raw Ratings

• September 5, 2022 | 2.094 million
• August 29, 2022 | 2.100 million
• August 22, 2022 | 2.005 million
• August 15, 2022 | 1.978 million
• August 8, 2022 | 1.957 million

• WWE Raw Venue: Moda Center (Portland, Ore.)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 5,237
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 907

WWE Raw Winners And Match Card

Seth Rollins Brawls with Matt Riddle

Dressed in a purple silk suit, with a crop-top blazer, Seth Rollins kind of looked like he was playing the genie in I Dream of Jeannie.

Seth Rollins received huge babyface reaction as fans continue to sing his song in waves.

Fans chanted “rematch” as Seth Rollins dismissed the idea of a rematch against Matt Riddle. I can’t remember the last time I heard a chant of “rematch” in WWE. It wasn’t too long ago that fans were complaining there were too many rematches.

Finn Balor def. Matt Riddle

Damian Priest noted Matt Riddle goes way back with himself and Rhea Ripley, but unless you follow them on Twitter and know they’re travel buddies who hang out in hot tubs together, there was no storyline reason for that comment.

Finn Balor seems to have carved out an unenviable role as a setup guy in The Judgment Day.

Riddle seemed like he was finally going to defeat Finn Balor after Rey Mysterio ran off Damian Priest, but after outside interference from Seth Rollins, Finn Balor defeated Riddle.

Damage CTRL def. Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah

There was a vignette with Dominik Mysterio, who said of his father “For such a small man, you cast a large shadow.” Dominik noted he would no longer be living under his father’s shadow. Of course, Rhea Ripley whispered in his ear before he continued speaking. I like where this is going.

If Damage CTRL loses this match, it’ll be hard to take them seriously as a faction outside of Bayley. To me, this may be the first step in putting the belts on the entire stable.

Raquel Rodriguez’ comeback gets better every week. Once again, it was noted by the announce team that Rodriguez could potentially win this match “all by herself.”

Damage CTRL won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, after Aliyah took Dakota Kai’s finisher and sold it like she was doing Cirque du Soleil.

Johnny Gargano def. Chad Gable

Jimmy Smith talked up new father Johnny Gargano coming into this match with no sleep, as if he’s the only WWE Superstar on the roster who is the father of a newborn.

Fans were into Johnny Gargano, chanting “Johnny Wrestling.”

A lot of people watching an entertaining Broncos-Seahawks game missed one hell of a match between Johnny Gargano and Chad Gable.

Austin Theory attacked Johnny Gargano and was booed heavily. It is one of the rare times during his MITB run that he actually got the better of somebody.

Kevin Owens’ Promo on Austin Theory

While talking about all these opportunities handed to Austin Theory, Kevin Owens is trying so hard not to say “Vince McMahon.”

Kevin Owens reminded TV viewers how many chiseled, young athletes flamed out, which wasn’t the most ringing endorsement of Austin Theory but it was one hell of a promo.

Kevin Owens told Austin Theory “I don’t think you have what it takes to be the future,” which may or may not also have been a message to Triple H. Owens noted himself and Johnny Gargano were the “heart and soul” of pro wrestling. It had the same energy as Ric Flair’s infamous backstage promo on Carlito. It was also described by Jimmy Smith as Owens “shooting from the heart.”

Following a brawl between Kevin Owens and Austin Theory, Theory seemed to suffer a broken nose. The crowd was on fire for this segment thanks, in part to Owens’ great promo.

Bianca Belair def. Sonya Deville

Given all the surprise returns in the Triple H Era, Sonya Deville has to be considered somewhat of a letdown.

Sonya Deville answering Bianca Belair’s challenge is very consistent with this character.

Sonya Deville has now had a string of good matches against Ronda Rousey and now Bianca Belair.

Damage CTRL attacked Bayley after the match, but Alexa Bliss and Asuka made the save. The wait for Sasha and Naomi continues.

Omos def. Local Competitors

The only news coming out of Omos’ squash is that WWE isn’t giving up on Omos just because Braun Strowman is back. Perhaps they’re building up to Omos vs. Strowman.

Omos defeated on one, but two local competitors, similar to Strowman when he was first getting a push in 2016.

In a vignette, The heel Miz—portrayed as a family guy—was being stalked by the babyface psychopath Dexter Lumis.

Edge def. Dominik Mysterio by Disqualification

Dominik Mysterio has new theme music apart from the Judgment Day theme.

Rey Mysterio went to both Dominik and Edge in separate attempts to get them to call the match off. I’m beginning to understand why Dominik is branching off on his own.

Edge was really laying the shots in to play into the brutal beating he had planned for Dominik Mysterio, one which Rey Mysterio feared.

Mysterio showed well in the biggest match of his career to this point. Him and Rhea Ripley are a promising duo.

If WWE had decided to go to TV-14, Dominik Mysterio would have bled in this match.

Of course, Rey Mysterio got involved in the finish as he continues to refuse to stay out of Dominik’s life.