On the road to SummerSlam on Saturday, August 3, WWE rolled into Green Bay for a jam-packed episode of Raw aimed at the continuation of ongoing stories and the spotlighting of the men and women who will shine brightest at the summertime spectacular.

Amid his rivalry with Drew McIntyre, CM Punk returned to the red brand, hellbent on getting a match with The Scottish Warrior made official for the upcoming Premium Live Event.

Was he successful and what, if any physicality with McIntyre, would come of it?

The answer to that question and more awaited on the July 22 episode of Raw.

Match Card

Announced in advance for Monday's show from the Resch Center in Green Bay were:

• The return of CM Punk
• Xavier Woods, Otis, and Akira Tozawa vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross and Authors of Pain)
• Lyra Valkyria vs. Sonya Deville

Gunther Promo

Gunther, the 2024 King of the Ring, kicked off Monday's show with an in-ring promo.

The Ring General was unremorseful in his insults of world heavyweight champion Damian Priest from last week, doubling down on them by referring to him and the fans in Green Bay as "street trash."

He demanded Priest come to the ring and place the world title in his hand, removing the burden of the gold on his shoulders. Instead, The Archer of the Infamy made his way to the ring and leveled his SummerSlam opponent.

A brawl ensued, during which Priest attacked security and wiped them out with a dive. The show went to commercial with the fight spilling up the ramp.

Back from break, an attempted interview by Jackie Redmond was interrupted by the resumption of the brawl.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• This was an excellent, high-energy start to the show that escalated the issues between Priest and Gunther. The dislike was real and unlike last week's promo, which felt forced, this highlighted the intensity of the issues between champion and challenger.
• Michael Cole was excellent here and Pat McAfee added to the excitement of the brawl.
• This was the first time in his title reign in which Priest looked like a babyface world champion and the crowd in Green Bay ate it up.

No. 1 Contender's Match: Ilja Dragunov vs. Bron Breakker

After suffering a surprise defeat at the hands of Sami Zayn at Money in the Bank, Bron Breakker will head to SummerSlam in Cleveland to challenge The Underdog From the Underground for his Intercontinental Championship following his victory over Ilja Dragunov Monday night.

Breakker and Dragunov delivered another hard-hitting match, testing each other's grit and determination.

Late in the contest, Dragunov dropped Breakker on the ring apron and appeared to be rolling. An ill-fated dive off the apron was answered by a midair spear from Breakker, which sent The Mad Dragon back and head-first into the hardest part of the ring.

Referee Daphanie LaShaunn ruled a stunned Dragunov unable to compete and called off the match, awarding the victory to Breakker.

Result

Breakker defeated Dragunov via referee stoppage

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Justified "this is awesome!" chants for Breakker and Dragunov here.
• The intensity of the in-ring action between these two is never short of amazing. Their chemistry is off the charts, too.
• This was a fantastic match, hampered by the finish. That finish protected Dragunov and spared him from another unnecessary defeat, though, so it was probably the best possible outcome.
• Is it too much to ask for Dragunov to get a PLE match already? 

Lyra Valkyria vs. Sonya Deville

Sonya Deville continued to lead by example Monday, picking up another big win, this time over Queen of the Ring runner-up Lyra Valkyria.

A competitive match saw Deville control throughout the commercial break, only for the resilient Valkyria to fight her way back and seize control late. Zoey Stark interfered on behalf of the heel, triggering a brawl between her, Shayna Baszler, Katana Chance, and Kayden Carter.

Deville capitalized, downed Valkyria with Deville's Advocate, and secured the victory.

After the match, we got the latest from The Wyatt Sick, an abbreviated video highlighting Nikki Cross' Abby The Witch.

In the video, Uncle Howdy repeatedly told her to look at herself, to which the most enigmatic member of the group simply let out a shrill scream.

Result

Deville defeated Valkyria

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Deville's victory continued the steady legitimization of her team with Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, a necessity given how often those two were built up only to be beaten down.
• While it was important for Deville to go over, beating Valkyria threatens to damage whatever momentum she has left after a red-hot start to her main roster career. The former NXT women's champion feels like she has cooled off significantly over the last month and this did not help matters.
• Can we please have Valkyria vs. Baszler? 

CM Punk Is Cleared, SummerSlam Is Official, and Seth Rollins is Guest Referee

CM Punk is cleared to compete.

The Chicago native took to the squared circle to make the announcement live on Raw before demanding Drew McIntyre make his way to the ring so they could fight.

The Scottish Warrior made his presence felt, but not in the ring. He stood at the top of the ramp, taunted Punk, and then watched as security and officials held the babyface back.

Raw general manager Adam Pearce appeared, then announced McIntyre's reinstatement, and revealed that at SummerSlam, the hated rivals will clash in one of the night's marquee matches.

He had one last major revelation: Seth "Freakin" Rollins will be the special guest referee for the match.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Punk knows how to take any segment and ramp up the heat and intensity. He can take a quiet crowd and fire them up. It is a trait only the true masters of crowd manipulation possess and few can achieve it at the level he can.
• The segment was red-hot and resulted in an announcement fans have waited quite literally months for.
• The introduction of Rollins as guest referee is giving major Bret Hart vs. Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as referee at SummerSlam 1997 vibes. It is not the first time the story of Hart vs. Michaels has been teased or hinted at in this overarching Punk storyline. 

Xavier Woods, Akira Tozawa, and Otis vs. The Final Testament

Karrion Kross and The Authors of Pain continued The Final Testament's tormenting of Xavier Woods Monday night as the treacherous trio defeated the former King of the Ring and tag team partners Otis and Akira Tozawa in a six-man tag team match.

The action was far better than expected, thanks to Tozawa being allowed to be the wrestler fans have wanted him to be on WWE TV for years. Couple that with a molten-hot stretch featuring Otis following a hot tag and you have a match that had the fans in Green Bay on their feet until its conclusion.

Late in the match, Kross used Woods' emotions against him, taking advantage of a momentary opening to deliver the Final Prayer and score the pinfall victory.

Result

Final Testament defeated Tozawa, Otis, and Woods

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Before the match, The Judgment Day attacked Jey Uso, interrupting an interview featuring Sami Zayn. The IC champion made the save for his former Bloodline teammate.
• The action here was infinitely better than expected, thanks in large part to a strong showing from Tozawa and a babyface explosion from Otis.
  
• Kross winning the match is a much welcomed change of pace as the former NXT champion tends to lose more than he wins, something that has stunted the growth and evolution of Final Testament to this point. 
• Would someone in WWE Creative please produce a video package or take 10 seconds to explain what The Final Testament is supposed to be so fans at least have a shot at caring about them?

Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers Confront Alpha Academy

Ever the opportunist, Chad Gable attempted to prey on Tozawa, Dupri, and Otis following the group's disappointing defeat, offering them a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to join him and The Creed Brothers.

Otis denied his former mentor and tag team partner, as did the others, leading to a beatdown by the heels as Dupri watched from the outside. Just as the assault was about to intensify through the use of steel chairs, the arena darkened and The Wyatt Sicks appeared at the entrance.

As Gable and the Creeds watched, Uncle Howdy entered the ring and drilled the Olympian with Sister Abigal before the show abruptly cut to the commercial break.

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The crowd genuinely loves Otis. He might be the most organically over babyface on the roster, especially when you consider how many incarnations he has been through and how loyal the crowd remains.
• "There you are," Howdy said to Gable, further establishing that as his calling card motto.
• The crowd's reaction to Sister Abigal from Howdy was heartwarming and proof that Bray Wyatt will live forever in the hearts of the WWE fans.
• This all feels like it is leading to the first in-ring appearance of The Wyatt Sicks at SummerSlam, against Gable and the Creeds.

Sheamus Avenges His Beatdown from Last Week

Before a scheduled match between Pete Dunne and Bronson Reed could get underway, Sheamus rocked The Bruiserweight and unloaded on the massive Australian.

Hellbent on proving he is not welcome mat to be walked all over, he cleared the ring of both men as Cole exclaimed on commentary that Sheamus is coming for Dunne.

Backstage, Rhea Ripley criticized The Judgment Day for attacking Jey Uso.

Finn Bálor, tired of him and his teammates being disrespected, revealed he got Adam Pearce's permission for a tag team match tonight pitting The Judgment Day against Uso and intercontinental champion Sami Zayn.

Oh, and next week, he has a one-on-one showdown with Gunther.

Frustrated by the ordeal, Ripley dragged Dominik Mysterio out of the locker room and to the ring for a promo.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Sheamus vs. Dunne will be an absolute banger but a three-way involving Reed could be equally as fun.
• Carlito portraying the guy who chimes in with the obvious in the middle of every Judgment Day spat is unexpected comedic gold.

Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan Promo

Dominik Mysterio is back in Rhea Riley's good graces after an intense, anger-fueled rant directed at women's world champion Liv Morgan.

The third-generation star's promo came moments after Morgan claimed "gorgeous men like Dominik go for girls who look like" her.

She was mistaken.

Morgan left the arena in tears while Ripley licked Mysterio's face, then she planted a kiss on his cheek to end a segment that did not overstay its welcome.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Something about this felt too convenient for Mysterio like it was an act to give Ripley what she wanted so that he could continue deceiving her with Morgan. It will be interesting to hear what he said in Spanish and whether Damian Priest could have called tomfoolery on it had he still been in the building.
• The match between Ripley vs. Morgan is going to have unreal heat. It will be interesting to see how they go about booking the match between there is no way fans will realistically believe Morgan can hang with Mami. Expect heavy creative leading to a big twist, and a finale that propels the story forward.

Zelina Vega vs. Zoey Stark

Just about an hour after Lyra Valkyria suffered a loss at the hands of Sonya Deville following interference from Zoey Stark, she, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance proved turnabout is fair play.

The trio of babyfaces hit the ring, fending off Deville and Shayna Baszler and providing a distraction that Zelina Vega took advantage of.

Vega overcame an arm injury that Stark exploited throughout the match, proving her toughness and resiliency before twice blasting her opponent with the brace she wore on her left limb and scoring the pinfall victory.

Result

Vega defeated Stark

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

• Vega has long been one of the more underutilized talents on WWE programming so it is a welcome change to see her on television and actually winning matches.
• What is the endgame with the trios feud? Deville, Stark, and Baszler have been dominant to this point. To think that one win by the babyfaces will change that is, at best, naive.
• After the commercial break, Baszler, Stark, and Deville confronted women's tag team champions Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre and once again staked their claim to the next title opportunity.

Jey Uso and Sami Zayn vs. The Judgment Day

Jey Uso gained a measure of revenge for the beating that set up Monday's main event as he teamed with Sami Zayn to defeat world tag team champions, The Judgment Day's Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh, in a non-title match.

The action was stellar, with great chemistry from all involved. We know how great Balor and McDonagh are as a tandem based on their recent work together, while Uso and Zayn have history from their days in The Bloodline, but have also been tag team champions.

The finish was great, too, with Zayn depositing Bálor to the floor, and then rocking McDonagh with the Helluva Kick. Uso followed with the top-rope splash for the win.

As the show went off the air, Bron Breakker attacked Zayn from out of nowhere with a spear, delivering another message ahead of their rematch at SummerSlam.

Result

Zayn and Uso defeated Balor and McDonagh

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

• The crowd was right along with all four guys in this one. The heat was off the chart, the match was great, and the finish was fantastic.
• The tag team champions probably should not be losing at this point, but Balor and Co. are essentially bulletproof, thanks to the overarching Judgment Day storyline that is currently ongoing. They will recover just fine.
• Breakker attacking Zayn and standing tall is effective for two reasons. One, it heightens the profile of the Intercontinental Championship in WWE and two, it positions the heel, future face of the company as the last Superstar fans see as the show fades to black.

Overall Grade: B

The build to SummerSlam continued Monday and WWE did a solid job of creating buzz and excitement for the show.

We had the official announcement of Punk's match with McIntyre, and the revelation of Rollins as the referee.

There was an excellent brawl by Priest and Gunther to start the show, the latest drama in The Judgment Day, Mysterio's rejection of Morgan and reunion with Ripley, and Breakker's escalation of his rivalry with Zayn.

Sprinkle in some nice advancement of the Sheamus-Pete Dunne story, a whole lot of the new Deville-Baszler-Stark trio, and a better-than-expected trios match featuring The Final Testament, and you have a show that continued the recent string of above-average broadcasts from the WWE's flagship brand.

How it puts the final touches on the the hype for the summertime spectacular next week will ultimately determine if the company sticks the landing or not.