Tonight’s WWE Raw is live on the USA Network from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins defends against Damian Priest of The Judgement Day
Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Becky Lynch vs. Sonya Deville
Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Natalya vs. Zoey Stark
Cody Rhodes to appear on Miz TV
WWE announced this morning that they’ve entered into a multi-year partnership with online streaming platform Twitch. As part of that partnership, WWE will re-introduce its official channel, set to feature “live and exclusive content” with WWE stars. Additionally, the channel will stream a “companion sidecast” to “WWE Raw,” set to debut alongside tonight’s episode. The stream will alternate between different hosts and will include appearances from WWE stars, providing a behind-the-scenes look at “Raw” on a weekly basis.
The company announced that its Twitch channel will also stream all premium live event press conferences and “other live productions.” The company’s press conferences will continue to stream on other platforms as well, namely YouTube.
In the past, Twitch has been a source of controversy for WWE. Back in 2020, the company instructed talent to deactivate their Twitch accounts before then offering a deal that allowed performers to continue streaming — as long as they shared a cut of the revenue with WWE. This past April, an agreement between WWE and Twitch allowed talent to get back on the platform with few restrictions, and it seems this new partnership is a continuation of that relationship.
Even prior to the April announcement, a number of WWE stars have gradually returned to the Amazon-owned platform, including Drew Gulak, Dakota Kai, Zelina Vega, and Xavier Woods. It remains to be seen if other WWE stars who stopped streaming, such as AJ Styles, could return, or if the new partnership will introduce new talent to the streaming landscape.
WWE issued the following:
WWE® Announces Multi-Year Partnership With Twitch
Official Monday Night RAW Sidecast on Twitch Launches Today
–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced a multi-year partnership with Twitch that will see the return of the official WWE channel and popular WWE Superstar channels, featuring live and exclusive content.
In addition to the launch of the channel, WWE will debut today a companion sidecast to Monday Night RAW, bringing the WWE Universe behind the scenes and closer to the in-ring action. The weekly viewing experience will be led by a rotating cast of hosts and will regularly feature appearances by WWE Superstars, unique and exclusive content such as backstage interviews, and more. Viewers can stream the sidecast live every Monday beginning at 8 p.m. ET via https://www.twitch.tv/wwe or the Twitch App.
Additionally, the official WWE channel will be home to other live productions and will serve as an alternate live streaming feed for all of WWE’s premium live event press conferences.
The daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter is not happy with Lacey Evans’ new look.
As seen on Friday Night SmackDown, Evans came out wearing a drill instructor cover, similar to what Sgt. Slaughter wore during his heyday. Although he never served in the military, Slaughter’s gimmick is inspired by the United States Marine Corps. Evans enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 19 and served for 5 years.
Slaughter’s daughter tweeted, “No. This is NOT okay. @WWE Who the f**k does @LaceyEvansWWE think she is?!? There’s only 1 @_SgtSlaughter, there’s only 1 Slaughter Daughter, and she’s just a poser.”
Evans responded, “Your daddy’s biggest fan. A United States Marine. And a bad Mfer. you know who I am. And where to find me.”
The official Sgt. Slaughter Twitter account has been retweeting fan comments accusing Evans of “identity theft” and calling her a “fraud.”
Sgt. Slaughter tweeted at Lacey that she has pissed off his daughter.
“Lookout @LaceyEvansWWE You’ve Got @_sgtdaughter Pissed. She’s One Tough MF’er. I Know Jarhead I Trained Her, & Like ME, She Takes NO Prisoner’s ”There’s Only 2 Ways Out Of Camp Slaughter, On YOUR Feet or In A Ditty Bag, An Itty, Bitty, Ditty Bag” YO JOE.”
Lacey responded back:
“Between your hips and her ability, the chances of anyone in your bloodline to put me in a bag is 0. When you birth someone who can carry your legacy or take me out, call me. Until then, salute me. Like the real Marine I am. Rah.”
WrestleVotes reported today that Slaughter previously turned down WWE’s offer to be part of vignettes for Evans in January:
“Adding to the Lacey Evans / Sgt. Slaughter story… back in January WWE asked Sarge to appear in the Lacey return vignettes, where he would “teach” & pass down the Cobra Clutch. Slaughter adamantly denied any involvement.”
The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship is finally unified in the form of a singular physical title belt. On the June 2 episode of “SmackDown,” Roman Reigns was presented with a new belt by Triple H as a part of the festivities to mark him reaching 1,000 days as Universal Champion.
Although the new belt doesn’t have a radically different design from the two pre-existing belts, its introduction does appear to mark the retirement of both the WWE Championship belt and the Universal Championship belt. The reveal of a new world championship belt had previously been reported to be in the plans for Friday night’s “SmackDown.”
Though celebrations were held Friday night, Reigns hit his 1,000th day as Universal Champion this past Saturday, on May 27. His run with the belt started in 2020 when he defeated “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat Match at the Payback premium live event. Since then, Reigns has defended against a cavalcade of WWE stars and picked up the WWE Championship to go with the Universal Title at WrestleMania 38.
Though Reigns’ days with two belts have apparently come to an end, he came close to holding four title belts this past Saturday at the Night of Champions PLE. Reigns and Solo Sikoa challenged Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship but came up short after Reigns was struck with a superkick from Jimmy Uso. The turn from both Usos was reiterated on Friday night’s “SmackDown,” when the pair interrupted Reigns’ celebrations with his new championship belt only to be betrayed by their brother, Sikoa.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
There was reports that former WWE Universal champion Braun Strowman was sidelined indefinitely with the fear that he may need to undergo some sort of unspecified surgery. As per an Instagram post this morning, Strowman has already gone under the knife, revealing that he underwent neck fusion surgery. It is not clear how long he will be sidelined, but usually this type of surgery would see the patient back to 100% within six months.
“Road to recovery starts now!!!! Level one #fusion on my c4/c5 #vertebrae was in the great hands of #DrCordover at @andrews_sports_medicine was a great experience considering. Thank you to @wwe for always taking the up most care of us.
This was very scary to find out about having to have done and they were there every step of the way reassuring that I was going to have the best care possible. This will take a little bit of time to heal from. But I assure you ( in the words of the #Terminator ) I’ll be back!!!! Thank you all in advance for the well wishes.
Much Love
Adam Scherr”
Source: rajah.com
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown, which is the fallout from last Saturday’s Night of Champions, will air live on FOX and emanate from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Mustafa Ali and Baron Corbin has returned to the WWE NXT brand.
On Tuesday night’s episode of WWE NXT, Ali came to the ring to do commentary during a match featuring Wes Lee & Tyler Bate facing off against The Dyad. While on commentary, Ali noted that he’s a free agent and can show up on any brand he wants. He went on to say that he’s interested in capturing a title.
After Lee & Bate defeated The Dyad, Joe Gacy attempted to attack the winners. That’s when Ali ran in and took out Gacy. So it appears an Ali vs. Gacy feud is in the works.
Following the main event of Tuesday night’s episode of WWE NXT where Carmelo Hayes defeated Noam Dar to retain his NXT World Championship, Corbin attacked Hayes as the latter was walking up the entranceway.
The show went off the air as Corbin hit the End of Days on Hayes and posed with the title.
Ali and Corbin are free agents and can appear on any show.
WWE NXT on the USA Network at 8/7c this evening from Capitol Wrestling Center inside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
Tonight’s WWE RAW live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York on USA Network.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
Wes Lee (c) def. Joe Gacy vs. Tyler Bate
NXT HERITAGE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Noam Dar (c) def. Dragon Lee 2-1
Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend ran in and helped Dar score the second pinfall to retain.
LAST MAN STANDING MATCH:
Ilja Dragunov de. Dijak
Duke Hudson says everyone did well in the latest test for Chase University, except one guy, who sucks. He’s brought Drew Gulak and Charlie Dempsey in for a guest lecture. Thea Hail gets upset and leaves. Duke gets mad at them and says they’d better have a better lesson planned for next week.
NXT Great American Bash is going to be a premium live event on Sunday, July 30.
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Gallus (c) def. The Creed Brothers
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Tiffany Stratton def. Lyra Valkyria to become the New NXT Women’s Championship
NXT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Carmelo Hayes (c) def. Bron Breakker
