Credit: WWE
World heavyweight champion Damian Priest and The Judgment Day opened Raw, just 48 hours after The Archer of Infamy defeated Jey Uso to retain his title, despite telling his teammates that he did not want their involvement in the match.
Rather than the implosion of the group, it was a night of amends as Priest apologized for expressing his frustration with JD McDonagh and Finn Bálor in Lyon, France.
An overzealous Bálor, believing he would continue Judgment Day’s momentous two days by advancing in the King of the Ring tournament via bye due to an injury suffered by Drew McIntyre, found out that would not be the case as Adam Pearce revealed he would still compete.
His opponent? The same Uso he cost the world title.
WWE @WWE
Hey @FinnBalor, say hello to your new first round opponent…
JEY USO!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/WdbKzBqASx
The Irishman worked over Uso throughout the middle portion of the match, keeping him grounded and preventing the explosive comeback.
When Jey did fight back, it appeared as though a late-match appearance by McIntyre, enraged over the turn of events that led to his disqualification from competition, would cost him the match.
Instead, the babyface stayed focused, downed Bálor with a Spear and advanced in the competition to the dismay of the Scot.
We got the latest in the Judgment Day story, an appearance from the most over guy on the brand, a quality match and the renewal of the rivalry between Uso and McIntyre to boot.
This was an eventful opening half-hour, with nearly every minute meaning something to an ongoing story.
Uso defeated Bálor to advance
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Priest’s apology to his Judgment Day teammates felt forced, like a formality rather than the assertion of a champion genuinely sorry for holding them accountable.
- Bálor acting like he got a bye in the King of the Ring due to McIntyre’s injury when it was announced before the show that he would be battling Uso was certainly a choice.
- The pop for Uso was monstrous, as has been the case for the last eight months.
- “He just got yeeted in the mouth,” Pat McAfee said on commentary, a line few could have imagined hearing on the flagship show a year ago.
- Uso benefiting because of McIntyre’s misfortune, when “Main Event” was one of the men who cost him the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle 2022, is poetic irony.