WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights After Clash at the Castle (2024)

In the wake of the Clash at the Castle, WWE Raw hit the airwaves with an episode that would lay the groundwork for Money in the Bank on July 6 and the road to SummerSlam four weeks later.

The first Money in the Bank ladder match qualifying matches, as well as the fallout from the action in Glasgow, Scotland, dominated the discussion.

But that was hardly the only major talking point.

After months of mysterious QR codes and ominous warnings, fans at the American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas were set to witness the arrival of a new force, born from the legacy of Bray Wyatt.

What was it, who was involved and what does it mean for WWE in the weeks and months to come?

Find out with this recap, including grades and analysis, for the June 17 episode of the company's flagship show.

Announced in advance for Monday's show:

Seth Rollins kicked off Raw in his first appearance since losing the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40.

And The Visionary wasted little time establishing the motivation for his comeback: A shot at the title he established and carried.

Current champion Damian Priest interrupted the proceedings and issued a challenge for the gold at Money in the Bank in Toronto.

Just when we thought we had all the answers, Triple H and WWE Creative changed the question.

Anyone who believed the SummerSlam main event would move in the predictable direction of Priest vs. Gunther was proved wrong from the jump Monday night.

That unpredictability will do wonders to help make WWE programming must-see in the coming weeks, with one of the biggest shows of the year right around the corner.

Rollins spent the last year establishing himself as a legitimate main eventer in WWE, and his presence was sorely missed over the last three months. This was a great way to reintroduce him without any unnecessary bells and whistles.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Raw general manager Adam Pearce denied Chad Gable's request for a sixth Intercontinental Championship shot, instead booking the loudmouth against Braun Strowman.

Gable fared well enough, but ultimately he succumbed to the running power slam as his larger opponent earned an impressive victory.

After the match, Gable again berated Akira Tozawa, only for Maxxine Dupri to step in front of her teammate. When the coach took her crutch and threw it to ringside, and then slapped Tozawa, Otis finally lashed out at his longtime tag team partner and shoved him across the ring.

He left the squared circle amid chants of "Otis! Otis!" while helping Tozawa and Dupri to the back.

This was a big moment for Otis, who appeared to sever his relationship with Gable after weeks of anticipation. The crowd reacted very favorably, but this felt rather tame compared to the blowoff the repeated teases seemed to be building toward.

Hopefully, this is just the first chapter in the breakup, as Otis eventually gets his hands on Gable in a high-profile match, perhaps as early as Money in the Bank.

Result

Strowman pinned Gable

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

Iyo Sky moved a step closer to a second successive women's Money in the Bank win Monday, cashing her ticket to the July 6 premium live event with a victory over Kiana James and Zelina Vega in a Triple Threat qualifying match.

Vega appeared to be on her way to victory at one point, only for women's world champion Liv Morgan to make her way to the ring and taunting her from a distance.

James wiped her out, only for Sky to take her out and score the win with her trademark moonsault.

The introduction of Morgan is interesting and would seem to point to a match between her and Vega at Money in the Bank, a contest that the prospective challenger has waited for since she lost to Rhea Ripley over a year ago at Backlash.

Sky is a logical addition to the ladder match, but it's interesting to see James eating losses this early in her run.

Result

Sky defeated James and Vega

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Intercontinental champion Sami Zayn celebrated his victory over Chad Gable at Clash at the Castle by hitting the ring for a promo.

Bron Breakker then staked his claim to the next title shot before Sheamus added his name to mix while reiterating the historical significance the IC belt plays in his career.

Three men, one title.

It is a story we have seen play out before, but it's one with a little more substance this time.

Breakker is making an impression on the main roster that establishes him as the most dangerous threat to anyone in his path. Sheamus needs the IC title to have won every major singles championship available to him.

Meanwhile, Zayn is continuing the championship reign he has worked his entire career to attain.

Breakker and Sheamus would square off later in the show, but a three-way matchup may be the best option available given the talent and storylines at play.

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Dragon Lee sought revenge for the pre-WrestleMania attack that cost him a spot on that card as he squared off against the perpetrator, Carlito.

Late in the match, Dominik Mysterio joined JD McDonagh at ringside in support of Carlito, only for Liv Morgan to make her presence felt again, teasing Dom while wearing his vest.

Zelina Vega attacked Morgan, a brawl between The Judgment Day and the LWO broke out, and McDonagh tripped up Lee. Moments later, Carlito scored the win off the Backstabber.

It took a bit of work to get Mysterio at ringside and for Morgan and Vega to get involved, but it all made sense en route to the heel victory.

Carlito continues to prove himself as an ally of The Judgment Day, while Morgan and Mysterio added to their story. And we got a nice brawl between Vega and the women's champ to hype a potential match between them at MITB.

A solid segment of television, even if there was a bit too much going on at the end to focus on one specific development.

Result

Carlito defeated Lee

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

Drew McIntyre, fed up and frustrated after CM Punk screwed him out of the World Heavyweight Championship at Clash at the Castle, abruptly quit WWE and walked out despite insistence by Triple H and Adam Pearce that he reconsider.

It will be interesting to see where this goes from here but considering SmackDown is in Chicago this week and CM Punk is confirmed for the show, don't be surprised if The Scottish Warrior shows up to repay his embarrassment.

Back in the arena, Damage CTRL's Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane battled Kayden Carter and Katana Chance in tag team action as a result of last week's confrontation.

A rushed contest saw Lyra Valkyria come to ringside to support the babyfaces and distract the heels, allowing former tag team champs Carter and Chance to score the upset win.

There was nothing to the match as it was far too quick to establish anything of substance outside of The Valkyrie earning a measure of revenge.

Grade

C+, but mostly for the McIntyre development

Top Moments and Takeaways

Intercontinental champion Sami Zayn watched from ringside as Sheamus and Bron Breakker waged war, each looking to establish himself as the next No. 1 contender to the title.

The Celtic Warrior absorbed everything Breakker threw at him, to the point that he was moments away from delivering a Brogue Kick that would have won him the match when Ludwig Kaiser pulled him to the floor and caused a disqualification.

Breakker wiped out Sheamus on the floor with a Spear, then rushed around the squared circle and leveled Kaiser with the damnedest one you will see.

It was a ferocious display that further enhanced the unstoppable badass Breakker has been on the main roster.

That the segment ended with a tense staredown between the heel and Zayn suggests that is the IC title match, presumably at Money in the Bank.

Result

No-contest

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

Jey Uso is headed to Money in the Bank after defeating Rey Mysterio and Finn Bálor in the main event of Monday's Raw.

The match was an action-packed affair that highlighted all three competitors appropriately, with Mysterio shining while Bálor was the glue that held the match together.

Uso made good on his vow from two weeks ago to win Money in the Bank by first qualifying for the match, following up Bálor's Coup de Grace with an Uso Splash for the pinfall victory.

While Uso qualifying for a high-stakes match is big news, it was the arrival of the Uncle Howdy-led faction that made headlines at the conclusion of the show.

Security, wrestlers and crew members were shown lying astray backstage. There was even blood painting a way just above an unconscious management member.

And around every turn as the camera surveyed the scene, a new member of the group.

Nikki Cross introduced the lantern. Erick Rowan, in a monster bunny mask, was next, followed by Dexter Lumis. Joe Gacy was next before Uncle Howdy was finally revealed, leading the group into the arena, where they joined Cross.

"We're here!" Howdy said before blowing out the lantern and sending the show to black.

It was an unforgettable introduction for the group and a great cliffhanger, almost demanding the audience tunes in next week to see what is next for the absolutely-not-supernatural faction.

Result

Uso defeated Bálor and Mysterio

Grade

Top Moments and Takeaways

The hype for Money in the Bank got underway Monday, with WWE Creative focused on building one of the most anticipated cards of the year.

From the return of Seth Rollins at the top of the show to the the two MITB qualifying matches, this was a focused show that set out to make it clear that the July 6 PLE is a big deal.

We got the latest in the Chad Gable-Otis story, the introduction of Bron Breakker and Sheamus as potential contenders to Sami Zayn's intercontinental title, and the continued teases of an evolution for Damage CTRL.

Ultimately, though, the episode will be remembered for the introduction to Uncle Howdy and his bunch of monsters. The debut was excellent, with chaos and violence taking center stage.

Triple H and WWE Creative gave the group about as great a debut as possible and will give it every opportunity to succeed. Whether it does will depend on how well WWE walks the fine line between the haunting and the absurd.

For now, color it a massive success.

Grade: A