You could’ve tried to hold onto your hat with all of your strength and it still would’ve been blown away by some of the events of this year’s Money in the Bank in Toronto. On Saturday, the WWE witnessed two of the best ladder matches in the history of the promotion, and that is not an exaggeration, along with CM Punk returning to give hands to Drew McIntyre; and feet, and a chair, and a title belt to the face.
And in doing so, he assured Priest remained champion, infuriating Seth Rollins in the process and reigniting that feud in a big way ahead of Summerslam on August 3; and the actions of Punk and McIntyre have led to severe consequences for the latter … if they can actually be enforced.
Hint, hint.
FULL RECAP OF CONTROVERSIAL MITB EVENT HERE.
Oh and, by the way, John Cena announced his retirement tour — a bombshell dropped in the middle of all of the action.
The Bloodline found a way to steal victory from Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, by way of an injured and discombobulated referee, keeping their trajectory pointed north with the return of Roman Reigns looming.
Date: Monday, July 8
Time: 8 pm ET
Location: Canadian Tire Centre (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Broadcast: USA Network
WATCH: MCINTYRE GOES BALLISTIC AFTER CM PUNK ATTACK.
The women’s division saw Tiffy Time become Tiffy in the Bank after Stratton took the victory and the briefcase following a jaw-dropping showing by each of the six contenders, then pulling up on Trish Stratus to challenge her to in-ring action in what could be a wonderfully-timed program serving as a possible passing of the torch opportunity.
And as the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour continues to scorch the Earth beneath it, her social media and in-ring war with Zelina Vega has evolved into Morgan’s first-ever tag team match with none other than “Daddy” Dom Mysterio — after having accidentally cost Dom a win over Rey last week and promising to make it up to him.
It’s time for the MITB fallout episode of RAW, and there is a lot to unpack going into it, and inevitably plenty more to sift through by the time the credits start rolling.
Punk Rock
CM Punk is doing just fine, even after being hit with one — a fine — for his actions at Money in the Bank in screwing over Drew McIntyre for a third time, this time also making the men’s briefcase completely moot for the next 12 months. McIntyre went ape sh-t afterwards and assaulted Adam Pearce, leading to an indefinite suspension, or so we’re to believe.
For Punk, that means there’s no better time to cut a visceral mic promo without having to look over his back as he did in Chicago a few weeks ago when he was assaulted out of nowhere by McIntyre.
#ScottishKeyboardWarrior 😂 pic.twitter.com/XumPm5UALT
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2024
Punk first paid homage to John Cena by congratulating him on his retirement, though he did promise to “drag him out of retirement” one day, also stating he hopes to “lace ‘em up one more time” with Cena before the retirement becomes official in December 2025.
“But John Cena is not here. I’m here, but there’s someone else who isn’t here and that’s Drew McIntyre,” said Punk before reminding everyone about the promise that McIntyre would never again be champion while Punk is breathing.
“Promise fulfilled,” he shouted.
Then cave the curveball: Punk actually asked Pearce to lift the suspension on McIntyre.
But instead of getting Pearce to the ring, he got Seth Rollins, and to a stellar pop. Punk might’ve forgotten that the other consequence for his actions at Money in the Bank is throwing a lit match back onto the pool of gasoline that is Rollins’ rabid hate of him.
“If I somehow screwed things up for you and your little pipe dream — I’m trying to apologize to you so pay attention — I’m sorry,” said Punk. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to screw anything up for you. I’m a little snow blind with rage … but because it’s you, I can’t really be that sorry, can I?”
Ah, there it is, the sneaky backhand slap.
What has CM Punk so infuriated right now?#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/9uf61maq1u
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2024
Rollins made a promise of his own: that Punk “won’t be able to say Drew McIntyre’s name before I snap your arm again and put you back on the shelf.”
Triple threat match at Summerslam, anyone?
Book it, Paul.
Chad Gable vs. Jey Uso
Result: Uso wins “clean” (pinfall)
Reaction: This one started to simmer prior to Money in the Bank, when Gable interrupted Uso’s MITB in-ring promo to basically tell him he’s not worthy of the briefcase and that only Gable is, considering what he’s “been through” (air quotes here) regarding the Alpha Academy and the Wyatt Sicks (6).
Neither AA nor TW6 appeared in Toronto though, and it was simply Gable losing out on a chance at the briefcase as Uso was nearly the winner before McIntyre threw a ladder upwards at him as he was trying to unhinge the case.
The journey for both Gable and Uso to earn their first-ever singles title in WWE continues, and they’re apparently now in each other’s way.
The last time these two were in the ring together, the Wyatt Sicks (6) made an appearance, so eyes were peeled for more potential terror in that regard.
Gable, ribs wrapped from his brawl against Uso and Co. in the Money in the Bank match, got off to a fast start and that included with his taunts. As a related sidebar, thank goodness that near-botch by Jey outside of the ring on the bump from the body toss ended favorably because, for a split second, it looked like he was going to land on his neck.
Disaster averted by the talented veteran, who literally adjusted at the last second in mid-air.
Now back to the match itself.
It felt as if most of the punishment handed out was at the hand of Gable in this one, seemingly far more angry and focused than was Jey, at least mostly. A suicide dive helped change that a bit for the lone wolf of The Bloodline. Throw in several Yeet slaps and he was finally eating, that was until he took his time climbing the top rope and got yanked off of it.
Gable went for the ankle lock and … black out … fireflies ….
THEY’RE HERE.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/C9rR3wa9Z5
— WWE (@WWE) July 9, 2024
Superkick to a terrified Gable, pinfall. Jey Uso wins … and then high tails it out of there as the smoke emanated into the ring around a downed Gable.
THE WYATT SICKS WANTS YOU, CHAD.
They also want Michael Cole’s attention for a third consecutive week, as Abigail the Witch placed yet another package in front of him, and we all need to know what Brad Pitt demanded to know from Morgan Freeman in the legendary movie Se7en:
“What’s in the box?!”
Gunther Confronts Priest
Reaction: TBD
Liv Morgan + Dom Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio + Zelina Vega
Result: TBD
Reaction: TBD
Braun Strowman + The Awesome Truth vs. Finn Balor + JD McDonough (TJD)
Result: TBD
Reaction: TBD
Damage CTRL vs. Lyra Valkyria, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter
Result: TBD
Reaction: TBD
